Showing posts with label korean skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label korean skincare. Show all posts

Korean Beauty Things You Should Never Do!

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Ok, so I felt like this video deserved a post on the blog as well. I've noticed that although Korean Beauty has been gaining popularity, there are also some things that are being done...incorrectly. I don't like using that term because I feel like I'm being very patronizing. Also, let's face it...there's really no definite way to do anything. There always several ways to do something and different methods in makeup and skincare. However, there could be certain things you're doing that's not utilizes Korean Beauty to its maximum potential. So, I'm here to clarify! But hey, if you are doing these things and they work for you... by all means... don't let me stop you!


Let's get to the breakdown... 


My Related Product Recommendations



1. Not washing off your sleeping pack
Sleeping packs are meant for...well...sleeping. I know all of us sometimes get lazy in the morning and decide to skip washing our face. If you applied a sleeping mask the night before, then this is a HUGE mistake. Leaving sleeping masks on the following day can causes breakouts because it's collects dirt and oil ... and then you're applying makeup on top of that *cringe*. I've experienced it myself. I literally forgot to wash my face (hey, I get wrapped up in work!) and then immediately had little breakouts all over my skin. I understand, sometimes we're running late or don't have time for a whole skincare routine in the morning. At least, use a cleansing water or face wipe on your skin though. Moral of the story, start your day off with a fresh face... ALWAYS!

2. Rubbing vs. Patting 
If you're familiar with Korean dramas or you've watched Korean skincare commercials, you'll notice that everyone majestically pats skincare onto their face. Is this just a ploy to sell skincare and make it look more luxurious?! No. It's actually a technique. The idea behind this is that through patting, you're increasing the absorption of your skincare. You're essentially slapping (ok, don't slap that hard!) the skincare into your pores so it absorbs more effectively and faster. Also, when you pat your skin, you don't agitate your skin as much as you would when you rub your skin. It also bring blood flow to the area, which is thought to be healthy for your skin. Side note: I once took a yoga class where we started each class off with 5 minutes of patting the skin on our bodies. I always thought this was silly (I'm sure it looked silly) but I have to say, my skin and body did feel more energized. If anyone knows the science behind this, please share!

3. You're not double cleansing your skin
Double cleansing is a Korean technique where you use a cleansing oil/balm first to break up your makeup and then you cleanse your face with a face wash. Why is this important? Simple. When you don't double cleanse, you're not really cleaning your skin. The first step is using a cleansing balm or oil to breakup your makeup, sunscreen, etc. I know what you're thinking... if I don't wear makeup, should I still double cleanse? Yes, because I'm assuming you're at least using a sunscreen everyday (SMH if you're not! Protect that skin!). After you breakup all that makeup and rinse your skin, then you can use a cleanser to wash your skin. This step actually works into the pores and removes all the impurities. If you just go straight to your face wash without using a cleansing balm or oil first, your face wash is working hard to remove the makeup, sunscreen, free radicals. It doesn't actually get down to your skin.

Here's what I use to double cleanse if you're curious! 

4. You're not toning your skin 
Toning in North America is a little different than toning in Korea. In North America, toners are usually very astringents and harsh on the skin. It's not suitable for dry skin because it dries your skin out. It could also over-strip oily skin and cause your skin to produce more oil. In Korea, toners balance your skin after cleansing and adds moisture to your skin. Think of it as a reset for your skin after washing. It's super important and helps the rest of your skincare routine absorbs more effectively.

5. Don't be too rough with your skin
For this point, I'm also referring to toning. You'll notice some people really pull at their skin when they're toning. You don't need to be rough with your skin! Just gently swipe the toner over your skin. The toner will do the work! Also, always swipe in an upward morning. You do this to fight gravity and prevent premature sagging/wrinkling!

6. Pat on cushion compacts, don't swipe
Wow, I talked a lot about applications methods! Now this one, I can't really fault people for. Cushion compacts have become more popular in the last year and I've noticed a lot of bloggers reviewing cushion compacts. However, most of them are not into Korean Beauty, nor do they research or follow it. Because of this, it's assumed you're supposed to swipe on the foundation. However, the correct method is to pat the foundation on. The foundation will have higher coverage, will look more smooth, and will blend better. Plus, I LOVE air puffs and I want everyone else to see how amazing they are! To do this, you must pat, not swipe and you'll experience the magic that is the air puff!

7. You're using eyelid glue or tape
*Sigh* I know this is going to be rough for those of you guys who use eyelid tape or glue. I'm really doing this as a PSA so you understand the consequences of using these products. They might make your eye appear larger and give you the effect of a double eyelid, but they could permanently stretch your eye. Anything that is pulling at your eyelid for prolonged periods of time will stretch the skin and cause it to sag. So even though it might correct something, it could also be causing another issue. Just keep that in mind! I know that some people also use them thinking that it'll eventually create a double eyelid but unfortunately, this is not how it works. This might be slightly controversial but there's no way that these will permanently create a crease. If you don't believe me, just do a little research. A lot of doctors and plastic surgeons (who are professionals!) say that these do pull at the skin and cause sagging.  

I hope you guys enjoyed this video and maybe learned something! Let me know of some other things you've noticed are being done incorrectly or videos you'd like to see! 

xoxo, 
Morgan 

[HAUL] Asian Beauty Products + MASSIVE Laneige Haul

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Preview alert! So later today, I'll be releasing my haul from Singapore! (One of the benefits of following my blog... seeing things earlier than everyone else :D )While I was there, I picked up some Asia exclusives, Japanese beauty products, and a BUNCH of stuff from Laneige. I was looking for Singaporean beauty products, but I guess for the most part, they import a lot of their beauty. I took the opportunity, however, to look at some Asia exclusive products and pick up some other things because it's a little cheaper while I'm in Asia versus buying it overseas. Anyways, I'm talking to much so let's get into the haul :)

Let's get to the breakdown...
Laneige Beauty Products
Ok first let me say I did get all my Laneige products given to me. Laneige was a big sponsor of the Clozette Style Party, so they supplied me with all these goodies! Thank you so much :) Also, if you want more info on some of these products, let me know! For the most part, this is going to be a very pic-heavy post. Also, watch the video to get more of my thoughts on the products and the actual shade names. This post is for getting a closer look of the products :) 
Laneige Skincare
From left to right: Water Bank Moisture Cream, Water Bank Eye Gel, Water Bank Mineral Mist, and Water Bank Essence_EX
 From left to right: Clear C Advanced Effector, Multiberry Yogurt Repair Pack, Lip Sleeping Pack, Foam Cleanser Moisture_EX 
 From left to right: White Plus Review Original Essence_EX, Water Science Mist Sparkling Water, Perfect Pore Cleansing Oil, Firming Sleeping Pack 
 From left to right: Regenerating Sheet Mask, Capsule Sleeping Pack 
 Sun Block Sensitive SPF 30 PA ++
 From left to right: Collagen Supplemental Drinks, White Plus Renew Sample Kit 
Laneige Point Makeup Products
Two-Tone Shadow Bars (shades listed in the video)
 Two tone lip bars
 Whitening, Anti-Aging and Pore Control Cushions 
 From left to right: Intense Lip Gel, Lip Tint Gel
 From left to right: Vibrating Pro Brush, String Longlash Mascara, Water Cushion Conceale, Brush Pact, and Cushion Highlighter
 From left to right: Eyeshadow quad and Blush
 Japanese Beauty and Asia Exclusives 
 These are what I consider Asia exclusives because I can't find these in the United States (well, they're a different version). From left to right: Maybelline White Superfresh UV Whitening Long-Lasting Two Way Cake and Super BB Super Cover Cream 
 Kiss Me Heroine Liquid Liner and Tube Mascara
L'areal Cushion Glow Blush in Pink Fantasia and Sunkissed Coral
 Japanese Sunscreen
When I had a layover at the Hong Kong airport, I popped into the drugstore and picked up these sunscreens! I hear Japanese sunscreens are the best, so I wanted to pick some up to try :) 
From left to right: Biore UV Perfect Spray, Biore UV Perfect Sun Milk, Biore UV Aqua Rich Whitening Sunscreen, and Sunplay 130 SPF Sunscreen
 Alright guys, so that's my Beauty Haul from Singapore :) I hope you guys enjoyed and like I said above, check out the video if you want more info like my thoughts or shade names! Wishing you the best!

xoxo, 
Morgan 



[First Impressions] MASK FROM HELL! Tosowoong Monster Cocoon Pack Review

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Alright, alright... this is a post I've been putting off for a little bit.. Probably because I can't stand to look at my poor skin in these pictures. SPOILER ALERT: This mask tore up my skin. I feel like you deserve a proper review however, so I'm relieving this horrifying experience.. for you guys! Anyways, today's review is going to be on the Tosowoong Monster Cocoon Pack. I should've known by the name of this product that this was not going to turn out good.

Let's get to the breakdown...


Packaging...
The product comes in a squeeze tube. There's nothing complex about the packaging but I do like that it's spooky looking. As a Halloween fanatic, I love anything that reminds me of my favorite time of the year! The packaging is probably the only thing I liked about this product. haha. 

Directions...
You're supposed to apply this mask on cleansed skin and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Then you rinse your face to remove the mask. YOU DO NOT PEEL THIS MASK. *sigh* So many people do not read the instructions/my comments/look it up online and comment on my video that I did this mask wrong. People.. this is a wash off mask. It's not a peel off mask. If I'd peeled this off my skin, my skin would've been really sad. haha. Oh and I'd like to note this was terrible to take off.. so hard to rinse off!!
Experience...
Within a couple minutes, this mask started to tighten on my skin. Now that's supposed to happen. Through tightening, it's supposed to tighten the skin and this also helps to remove dead skin cells. You're not supposed to really move your face during this part. I'm aware of this, so I tried to talk whilst barely moving my face. Now, I understand all this. However, this mask was WAY TOO TIGHTENING. I get that it's supposed to tighten, but if a mask tightens to the point where it's tearing your skin... it's a little too much. I feel like that was the biggest issue with this mask. In the process of trying to be interesting looking, it failed to be effective. Actually, it's was more harmful than anything! 
Results...
Well, it's clear to see what happened to my skin. It got SUPER irritated from this mask. Like I mentioned above, through tightening this mask actually hurt my skin because it was pulling at it. I don't understand how they can actually say that this is designed for all skin types?! This would be absolutely terrible for sensitive or acne-prone skin types! I mean, there's not much more to say about this mask.. I won't be using it again and I think there are a ton of other masks that are more effective and gentle. Also, I do want to note that I always patch test products. Proper patch testing is to be done on the side of the neck/behind the ear since the skin there is about the same thickness of your face and because it's more similar to your face. My neck turned out ok but that goes to show.. sometimes with skincare you never know! Just proceed with caution :) Oh and my skin was fine after a couple days. Just a little tender and in need of some TLC but everything is fine. Thank you for those of you who left sweet comments! I love you guys :) 

Overall: NO STARS! (well, except for packaging haha)
Packaging: ****
Ingredients: *
Experience: 
Results:

Mini Korean Beauty Haul: 3CE, Biege, and A True Makeup and Skincare

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Hellooooo everybody! I wanted to do a follow up post of my most recent K-Beauty Haul! I had fun checking out this website, surfing through the pages, and looking at the different products and brands I'd never tried before. I was particularly interested in Cupidrop because they carry a lot of brands that are harder to find including 3CE! The only other websites that I've found 3CE are either way overpriced or kill you in the shipping department. So I was happy to see Cupidrop is a good option for those of us living in the United States!

Let's get to the breakdown...


A True Sweet Song Black Tea One-Step Cleansing Water
I'm always down to try cleansing waters! Lately, I've been using them as an extra cleansing step, particularly to remove excess makeup on my neck and chest at the end of the day. This one I found really interesting because instead of being water-based, it's actually black tea water based. I like how gentle this is on my skin and it seems very effective! 
 A True Black Tea All Day Long Sun Cream
I burn through sunscreen like crazy. I wear it everyday and it's super important that you are too! Protect that skin!! Anyways, this is a nice sunscreen for those of you with dry skin because it's a little thicker. I feel like it moisturizes my skin while it's protecting it. However, I wouldn't recommend this for oily-skinned people because it's probably a little too heavy. 
 Beige 3 Seconds Perfect Eye Remover
Ok, let's get things straight. This is a makeup remover. It does not remove your eyes. haha. This is an oil-based remover and you have to shake it before using. It does remove my makeup very quickly and I like how gentle this is. It also does not leave any residue behind! 
 3CE Highlighter in #BlingPeach
I was really confused with this product at first. When you initially touch it with your finger, this powder seems to be chunky and rough. I didn't think I was going to be impressed by this. However, when you use a brush and apply this to your cheeks, it is B.E.A.utiful! I love this. It looks amazing and I've been obsessed with it ever since I got it! If you're curious to see what this looks like on my skin, check out my video above! I'm wearing it :) 
Alright friends! That's my mini Korean Beauty haul from Cupidrop! Let me know if you tried any other products from these brands and what you'd recommend! I'm always looking for new, amazing products :) 

xoxo,
Morgan 

[Review] KICHO and CU Skin Natural and Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Hey everyone and welcome back to The Beauty Breakdown! It's a new year, which means experimenting with new products and brands so today I want to introduce you to KICHO. KICHO is a newer brand that is available at your local Whole Food Stores and at Green Alley. Before I get ahead of myself though...

Let's get to the breakdown...


Brand Background
I think this is why I'm most excited about this brand in particular. If you're just starting off in skincare or if you're a skincare aficionado, you might have an issue finding a variety of brands that offer natural ingredients, that are paraben-free, and animal cruelty-free. We all want what's best for our skin and obviously natural tends to be the way to go. It's extremely important to find products that prioritize the quality of their ingredients. This is where KICHO and CU Skin comes in. KICHO uses botanical ingredients derived from Mother Nature herself.
KICHO Natural Mineral Foaming Cleanser
Proper cleansing is extremely important because it removes all the dirt, leftover makeup, and oil from your skin. Without a proper cleanser, your skin will look dull, will feel heavy, and will not be at its best overall. Because of this, I'm a little picky when it comes to cleansers, especially foam cleansers since they're my favorite form of cleanser! I've been testing this out for a couple weeks and I have to say, I have to say that this is a pretty nice cleanser. It's formulated for all skin types and can even be used on children! There are no harmful additives in this cleanser, so you can rest assured you're not stripping your skin. It's also made with 7 types of sprout extracts (which sprout extracts.. I'm not sure. haha) which are supposed to help with purifying the skin and soothing your face. My only complaint with this cleanser is I find it's a little too drying on my skin. I do feel that it's excellent at cleansing my skin and removing all the gunk, but since I have dry, sensitive skin, I've found that I can't use this everyday or my skin does feel a little more dry. This would most likely be excellent for oily skin types though! And I'd like to add that the foam is super soft :) 
CU Skin Vitamin U Cellbio Hydro Gel Mask 
 I LOVE hydro gel masks. They're my favorite form of sheet masks because I feel that they hold moisture longer, fit my face better, and are better quality overall. Because of this, I was looking forward to trying this. This mask is also supposed to have EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) and ceramide to help tighten and improve the overall appearance of the skin. How great does that sound? When I applied this mask, I immediately noticed how nice and thick the mask itself was. As you can see in the picture below, the quality of the mask is really great and it also stretches a good amount so it really does feel like a "second skin". I wore this mask for about an hour (because heck, the longer the better right?!) and then removed it. I did feel like it really plumped up and nourished my skin. I love how smooth and wonderful my skin felt the next day and I definitely feel like I noticed a difference after using this mask. 
KICHO Foundation Brush 
This foundation brush is composed of synthetic fibers so again, you can rest assured that there were no cute little animals harmed to create this brush. I also like synthetic fiber brushes because they wash clean, don't absorb makeup like natural fiber brushes do, and they feel so soft. This one is exactly that. This brush is so soft and smooth and doesn't fray at all. I've also noticed NO shedding whatsoever (and trust me, I put my makeup brushes through the wringer!). I like the shape of this, as well, because it's very versatile so I can use it for different purposes. I've used this to blend my cream contour, apply foundation, and to flawlessly conceal my dark under eye circles. On top of all the things I love about this brush, I also like how sleek and pretty it looks :) 
Well there you guys go! For the new year, I'd like to research and find more natural skincare so I thought this was the perfect post to kick off 2016 :) Let me know if you've also tried any products from this brand or any other natural skincare lines that you've been into :)

xoxo,
Morgan

Beauteque November Fresh Produce Mask Maven Bag Asian Beauty Haul and Review

Monday, November 30, 2015

Alright guys... you know I've got to post about Mask Maven if I post about the Beauteque BB Bag! Mask Maven is a subscription service that provide 9-11 mask type products every month. Now they can range from anything from sheets masks to clay masks to wash offs... you name it! For the month of November, the theme is Fresh Produce..

Let's get to the breakdown....


 Green Harmony Pear and Pumpkin Mask Pack
So far, I've only tried the pumpkin one, but boy are these interesting! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I wasn't expecting a cream mask. I was thinking this was going to be a jelly mask or a clay mask, but they actually apply like a super heavy cream. I applied the pumpkin one in a thick layer onto my skin, left it on for 20 minutes and washed it off. It left my skin nice and soft so I think this will be great for winter :) 
 No:HJ Healing Mask Pack in Lustre and Anti-Pore
These are AWESOME! I saw this on Get it Beauty, and was super excited to see this in my Mask Maven! They're a thinner sheet mask, so they adhere really nicely to the skin. Plus, they have flakes of 24k gold on them (which I show in my video), which just seems super luxurious! I can't wait to try the lustre one :) 
 Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheet Avocado
I'm not super familiar with Nature Republic products (besides their aloe vera soothing gel) and I've heard great things about their sheet masks! Can't wait to try this one and love that it's avocado since my skin loves anything that adds moisture. 
 Foodaholic 3D Natural Essence Mask in Orange and Blueberry
I didn't realize this at first when I pulled this out of my Mask Maven bag, but these are 3D MASKS!!!! I love 3D masks since they adhere better to my skin! I love these and think this really helps make Mask Maven such a good deal. These, plus the NO:HJ masks really introduce those who are new to sheets masks to new and innovative Korean technology! Yay! 
 Tony Moly Pureness 100 Collagen Sheet Mask Elasticity and I'm Real Broccoli Sheet Mask
I've also never tried any Tony Moly sheet masks, so YAY for trying new things :) I love that they included the I'm Real line.. how cute is the packaging?! 
So that's this month's Mask Maven bag. Again, I am such a fan of all kinds of sheet masks, especially sheets masks (hey I made a whole video on how much I love them! :) ) so I love that I get to try different ones at such a low cost :) I think it's such a great deal and think you'd love them too! Hope you're all doing well!!

xoxo,
Morgan