So I'm finally posting about my experience using the Yourtea Tiny Tea Teatox System. I posted about this when I first started a while ago, but just got to posting my video/website review about it now! I had to postpone posting them because of the 12 HoliDAYS of Beauty on The Beauty Breakdown Channel! Don't forget to read my first impressions of the tea! Anyways here are my thoughts!

What the program is... 

The Teatox I did was the 14 day one. You're supposed to drink the tea 3 times a day for 2 weeks 30 minutes before or after your meal. The box comes with a set of instructions that details this, but that's the jist of it.

The tea is specifically designed to help with: bloating, indigestion, problematic skin, cellulite, increase energy, reduction of excess weight, and increase energy.

For more information and FAQ, visit their website! It's more thorough with the information they provide!

You can see the instructions included in the box of tea below. 

Ingredients....

The ingredients of this tea are listed on the website and on the back of the box. It contains all natural Chinese Herbal medicine, and it's actually gluten free!

Now for my experience...
Taste...

I honestly had some mixed reviews about the taste. If you've ever tried Chinese herbal medicine or really any type of Asian herbal medicine, it tastes fairly similar to that! It's kind of hard to explain it any other way, but I guess you could say it definitely has that "natural" taste. Now for me, it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't super delicious. I started having an issue with the taste simply because I was getting tired of drinking the same tea, 3 times a day for 2 weeks. I ended up adding some lemon or honey just to change it up! 

Side Effects....

Unfortunately, I did experience some side effects. The main side effect I experienced was some nausea. Luckily, it wasn't too mad. It was more annoying than anything. I was describe it as mild nausea. I experienced this about day 3 or 4 and it only last for a day or two.  I also mentioned in my first impressions that I had a little bit of a headache the first day or so but that could've just been a coincidence. After that, it was smooth sailing! 

Benefits...

This may seem kind of odd, but the main benefit I experienced from drinking this tea was the psychological effect. I know, sounds crazy. But the idea that I had to drink the tea 30 minutes before practically every meal forced me to plan out what I was going to eat and make a conscious decision to choose something healthy. For me, that made it worth it. Plus, I did feel "lighter". I didn't lose any weight however (my weight fluctuates a little bit anyways). I did notice my bloating went down a little bit in my tummy area, which could've been the tea or my improved diet. Either way, I'm not complaining!

Overall....

I enjoyed this Teatox and loved the benefits from it! The only thing I would change about it is I wish they offered different flavors in the pack! But since this is the first time I'd tried something like this, I would say my experience overall was a positive one! :) 

xoxo, Morgan

[Review] TONY MOLY Tony Tint Delight Lip Tint in 02

I received the Tony Moly Tony Tint Delight as a freebie with my recent haul from Beautynetkorea! I love this site and think it's awesome they give you a free full-sized product after you spend so much money. I was excited because I'd heard some good things and immediately decided to try it out.

Let's look at....

The packaging...

This is just your typical lip tint packaging. I love the shape of the cap though, which is in the shape of a heart!

Like I mentioned, the shade number I have is No. 02

The applicator...

I have mixed feelings about this applicator. I like the shape because it is pointed, which makes it easier to apply this precisely. However, the doe-foot applicator is really long, which makes it kind of difficult to use the flat side to apply it to your lips. It kind of gets everywhere. You can also see in the picture that on the flat side of the applicator, there is a fair amount of product just sitting on it. Because the bottle doesn't scrape the lip tint off for you, you end up getting it everywhere. I had to actually use my fingers to wipe off lip tint that had gotten on the skin around my lips, and then I washed my hands so it wouldn't stain. 

The color and formula....

I like the consistency of this lip tint. It's nice and watery, which makes it feel very light. It's slightly sticky at first, but once it dries, it feels nice. It's a little on the dry side, but it's not the driest formula I've encountered. As for the shade, I love these type of red colors. They look so nice, and I don't feel like I need a ton of makeup on my face to pull it off. This is also a layer-able color, so if you want it to appear darker, you can apply one coat, let it dry, and then apply another!

The wear of the formula...

Ok, so this is where is gets tricky for me again. Since this is a watery lip tint, I don't expect it to last all day. Usually with these types of lip products, expect to reapply through out the day (so take it with you if you're leaving your house for a while!) Like most lip tints, it starts to wear off in random places, so it does look a little weird after a while. In the picture below, I had it on for a couple hours, and you can see it's wearing off on the edges of my lips and really staining the dry parts of my lips (near the center). It's not terrible but it's not the most flattering thing ever so you will have to touch it up every couple of hours! 

Here's a super close up to show what I'm talking about! 

The Breakdown....

Packaging: ***

Color: *****

Formula: ***

Lasting Ability: **

Overall: ***

[Review] Clio Virgin Kiss Lipnicure Lip Stain Color in #8 Guilty Pink

Ah, so this begins the 2 weeks of reviews everyday! For my first post in this series, I'm going to be reviewing their Clio Virgin Kiss Lipnicure in #8 Guilty Pink. Even though they're mainly known for their eye makeup, I wanted to give this product a go!

This first caught my eye while I was browsing in the Clio Store when I saw their bright display of all the beautiful, super pigmented colors. I'd heard some mixed reviews so I knew I wanted to try one myself. I picked this color in particular because it's unique, bright, and a color I think would look good on every skintone.

Let's look at:
The packaging...

I really love the packaging of this lip stain. It's cute, chic, and looks just like a little bottle of nail polish. 

The color, which is like I mentioned, #8 Guilty Pink. 

Here's a picture of the box if you're interested!

The english description...

The Korean on the side of the box....

The top of the box, which tells you what color you're buying. 

The applicator...

Whoa, this applicator is awesome. I love how it curves to your lips, which helps apply the color more evenly, and that it also has a somewhat pointed tip, which helps you apply it more accurately. This applicator is so nice and accurate, I actually don't find myself using a lip liner with it! It's also pretty sturdy, so it doesn't bend when you're using it!

The color and formula...

Like I said, I love this color. It looks nice on my skin tone and I can tell it would work well for others too. The swatch below is a pretty accurate depiction of what it looks like in real life, so it's VERY bright! And it's nice and opaque. As far as the formula goes, it's actually very creamy when you initially apply it. After it dries, it does feel a little dry. Nothing a quick layer of balm on the top of couldn't fix! It also, surprisingly, dries to a fairly matte finish, which I wasn't aware of until I started wearing it. 

The wear of the formula

OK, I'm going to be totally honest. I really want to give this lip stain an awesome review. But it's doesn't wear super nice. After a couple hours (or eating/drinking) you can see where it starts to peel/wear off. Sorry for the awkward pic, but I really wanted you to see how it wears off on the inside of the lips. However, I'm a little hesitant to dock to many points off because I have NEVER found a lip stain that wears off nicely. That's pretty much how they come off. Of course, in a perfect world, the lipstick would come off all at once and gracefully come off. But that's just not the nature of lip stains. So it's really up to your judgement! 

Overall...

Packaging: *****

Color: *****

Formula: ****

Lasting Ability: ***

Overall: ****

[Announcement] 2 Weeks Straight of Korean Beauty, Makeup, and Skincare Reviews!

That's right, you read the title correctly! Like I mentioned in my post about my New Year's Resolutions, I am going to be better about adding more posts, mainly Korean product reviews, to my website. Afterall, that's really what this website is supposed to be dedicated to! Haha. So I just wanted to make this post to let you all know that starting Monday, January 12, 2015 to January 26, 2015, I'll be posting a new product review everyday! Yes, EVERYDAY! So don't forget to put your email in that little subscribe box on the right or follow my Google Plus page to be updated on when I add a new post. And while you're at it, don't forget to check out The Beauty Breakdown Channel as well!

SO enjoy :)

xoxo, Morgan

It's a New Year, Which Means New Resolutions of Course!

Hi guys! So I'm a little sad that I've been so bad with updating my website! Hey, it's hard when I've been so busy doing an everyday video series on The Beauty Breakdown plus the holidays! Anyways, no excuses! So this is my new plan for this website and my channel!

I explain a little bit more in this video!

Anyways, here's the gist of it!

Out with the old, in with the new...
I got a new start with my makeup/skincare collection by finally going through it, and throwing away/giving away products that I don't like, use, or that are just plain old. I utilized the back-to-mac program and redeemed some new goodies with old products and now I have room for new products (woooooo!)

Makeup items I'm giving away/donating

Whoa baby! Look at all that trash. haha 

So yes, expect a major Korean makeup/skincare haul in the next couple weeks! (Be sure to subscribe to both this website, my youtube channel, and social media accounts to be updated on when I get my package!)

My personal New Year's Resolutions
As I mentioned in the video.. I am the QUEEN of starting projects and then never finishing them. So for 2015, I plan on being better about finishing what I start. (I already finished that quilt from the video. hehe)

My New Year's Resolutions for The Beauty Breakdown Channel
I NEED to finish my Korean vlogs. So yes, those will be coming soon! Plus, I have a couple other series like "WTF Beauty" that I want to finish. By the way, the "WTF" literally stands for "What The F." Because Korea/Asian beauty companies tend to crank out products that make my wonder what they were thinking.

My New Year's Resolutions for The Beauty Breakdown Website
MORE PRODUCT REVIEWS. I know, I'm so bad at putting them up! But I have SO many Korean products that are worth reviewing that I'm sure you'd like to read about! So stayed tuned for that.

Anywho... those are my New Year's Resolutions and my thoughts in general :)

xoxo, Morgan

GD X Taeyang "Good Boy" Music Video Korean Makeup Tutorial

I'm so excited that GD and Taeyang have collaborated and come out with a new music video! I love "Good Boy" and love the direction YG Entertainment is taking with this sound. It's got a great beat and the colors of the video are awesome! I saw the video, and although G Dragon and Taeyang aren't necessarily wearing this makeup, I figured if they were, it'd be something along the lines of this!

Here are the products I used!

These are the eyeshadows that I used in the tutorial. Notice they are all matte! The eyeliner I used is the Clio Gelspresso Pencil in "Frosted Lavender". I also used MAC's Fluidline in "Black Track", but it's not pictured!

I mixed MAC's Fix + Spray with my eyeshadows so I could use them as an eyeliner!

For my face, I used SkinFood's White Grape Fresh Foundation and Salmon Dark Circle Concealer. For my cheeks I used the pH Matchmaker bronzer and MAC's blush in "Personal Style".

For my lips, I used the NYX long pencil lip liner in "Cabernet" and G-Dragon's Global Eco Red from The Saem.

And those are the products that I used :) Be sure to watch the video and subscribe to my channel, The Beauty Breakdownwww.youtube.com/user/morgansbbd! The support means the world to me :) 

xoxo, Morgan

Korean Skincare 101: How to Layer Skincare Products

Here's something that makes the difference between an effective Korean skincare routine and a subpar Korean skincare routine... and that would be the order in which you layer your skincare products. So for today's post, I'm going to discuss how to properly layer skincare products! So let's go ahead and breakdown how to create your own skincare regiment :)

First of all, let's talk about why Korean skincare is so notorious. Have you ever noticed that Koreans have amazing skin? It's because most Koreans religiously follow a multi-step regiment complete with cleansing, massaging, exfoliating, moisturizing etc. It may sound like a lot of honestly, it seems very intimidating. When I first starting reading up on Korean skincare, I was extremely overwhelmed. That's why I would like to try to simplify the process for you :) If you're curious as to which products I use, be sure to check out my posts on my Nighttime Korean Skincare Routine!

When creating a skincare routine for your skin, the cardinal rule for layering skincare products is you must apply products from the thinnest to the thickest.  The typical order of application is as follows:

1) Cleansing (i.e. the "Double Cleansing Method" + Exfoliating)
2) Toner
3) Booster
4) Essence or Serum
5) Ampoule
6) Emulsion
7) Eye Cream
8) Night Cream
9) Sleeping Pack/Sheet Mask (Optional)

Cleansing: In order to prep the skin for your skincare products, you MUST make sure your skin is properly cleaned. This, in my opinion, is one of the most important steps because you must start off with a good "foundation" for your skincare so it can be properly absorbed. This is where the double cleansing method comes into play...
Double Cleansing: This refers to using a cleansing balm or oil cleanser to remove your makeup first. Typically, you massage your skin with the balm or oil to work the makeup, oil and dirt out of your skin and rinse this off. Massaging is important because it increases blood flow to your skin, allowing your body to bring nutrients and oxygen to your skin. Next, using a foam, milk, or gel cleanser to remove the excess makeup, oil and dirt. This is important because your skin should be squeaky clean after washing it! I also take this opportunity to remove my eye makeup with a q-tip and makeup remover. I love Skinfood's Milk Shake Point Makeup Remover.
Exfoliating: To remove dead skin cells, exfoliate your face 1-2 times a week. One of my favorite exfoliators of all time is Skinfood's Black Sugar Wash Off Mask. It's great for sloughing off dead cells! Exfoliating is important because it encourages cell turnover and collagen production. However, don't overdo it! You don't want to scrub your face raw..
Some of my faves:
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil , Etude House Real Art Cleansing Oil, Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam , Skinfood Milkshake Point Remover

Toner: Next, you need to tone the skin. This means prepping it for skincare. Since toner is very watery, this step is first. Unlike Western skincare toners, Korean toners do not contain alcohol or other ingredients that dry or strip the skin of oil. Instead, Korean toners further purify the skin of pollutants, add a very light layer of moisture, and prep the skin for absorbing more skincare products! I recommend Etude House's Wonder Pore Freshener! This toner is very popular!
Some of my faves:
Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner and Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence

Booster: Technically, boosters and toners are very similar. Some people differ than me and feel that boosters should go before toners, but I personally like to apply my booster RIGHT AFTER my toner. Literally, I try to not waste anytime between the two because they're more effective this way. Just like the name implies, boosters are intended to boost the effects of any serums, ampoules, and essences you apply. A skin booster I really enjoy is Holika Holika's 3 Second Starter.
Some of my faves:
Holika Holika 3 Seconds Starter Hyaluronic Acid and Nature Republic Collagen Dream 90 Skin Booster

Essence or Serums: Essence and serums are very similar, in my opinion, and interchangeable. The only difference is essences contain essential nutrients and vitamins and serums are a concentrated version and they are slightly thicker than essences. I personally use either an essence or serum, not both. I only want to give my skin what it needs and I feel that using both is a little excessive. If you do choose to, however, more power to you! Koreans add this step to their skincare routine because this is the most direct way to supply your skin with the vitamins and nutrients it needs. It's also important because you can find targeted essences and serums for whatever you feel like your skin needs (for example, you can find brightening, anti-aging, etc essences or serums).
Some of my faves:
Etude House Pearl Aura Brightening Essence and Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum

Ampoules: This is the most concentrating version of an essence or serum. This should also serve as the most targeted version of your skincare routine meaning if you have issues with hyperpigmentation, sunspots, wrinkles, etc. this should be the product that is intended to correct this. My favorite ampoule is Missha's Time Revolution Night Repair New Science Activator Ampoule. This is a very famous ampoule because it's a dupe for Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum, which is almost 3-4 times the price!
Some of my faves:
Mizon Snail Intensive Repair Ampoule and Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule

Emulsion: I consider emulsion a light moisturizer. I love emulsion because since I have dry skin, I can periodically apply emulsion throughout the day whenever I feel like my skin need a pick-me-up and it will absorb quickly and freshen my face. My favorite emulsion it Etude House's Collagen Moistfull Emulsion.
Some of my faves: Etude House Moistfull Collagen Lotion

Eye Cream: You can't neglect the delicate skin around your eyes. It's important to make sure you take care of this area because it's the first place on your face to show signs of aging and wrinkling. I always applying my eye cream by tapping the product on with my ring finger. I like Elizabeth Arden's Perpetual Moisture 24 Eye Cream.
Some of my faves: Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture 24 Eye Cream

Night Cream: It may seem excessive to apply another layer of moisture but this step seals in all your skincare and makes sure your skin is nice and supple. To me, I am a firm believer that keeping your skin moisturized is the most important part of skincare and preventing signs of aging. My favorite night cream is SkinFood's Gold Caviar Collagen Cream.
Some of my faves: Elizabeth Arden Good Night's Sleep Restoring Cream and Skinfood Gold Caviar Collagen Cream

Sleeping Packs/Sheet Masks: If you feel your skin is in need of more treatments, a sleeping pack or sheet mask is an optional tool that can give your skin what it needs. Sleeping packs are great for another step of moisture, brightening, etc. My favorite sleeping pack is the famous Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX. Sheet masks can serve all different kinds of purposes for your skin. There are anti-trouble (i.e. acne prone skin), anti-aging, brightening, whitening, firming, collagen boosting, etc. sheet masks so you can always find a sheet mask to suit the needs of your skin. Koreans firmly believe in the use of sheet masks, and typically use them 1-3 times a week. Some Koreans even sleep with the sheet mask on their face (I'm sure you've seen this in K-Dramas)!
Some of my faves: Laneige Water Sleeping Pack

Overall, this is just a guide as to what a typical Korean skincare routine would be like. Feel free to alter the steps or products to the needs of your skin and let me know what your favorite Korean skincare products are! I'm always on the lookout for new additions :) Thanks for reading and I hope this helped! Please let me know if you have any questions :)

xoxo, Morgan

First Impressions: Starting my 14 Day YourTea.com Tiny Tea TeaTox

Hi gems! :) Recently, I was contacted by Yourtea.com to see if I would be interested in doing one of their TeaTox programs. Of course, I said yes because I've never tried one of these programs before and I'm also on the lookout for new and different ways to add healthy fixes to my life! I just received the box of tea yesterday and wanted to give you a first impressions of what I think of the tea so far. Officially, this is my second day, so I'm just giving a brief explanation of what my goals are and what I think of the tea so far :)

Disclaimer: I was sent the product, but the views and opinions I express are completely my own. I am, in no way, influenced by the company to post in a particular way. Just to let you know :)

So first off, they sent me their 14 Day Tiny Tea Teatox. This program costs $35 on their website. Here's a quick breakdown of what this is specifically supposed to do.

Ingredients: oolong tea, jue ming zi, he ye, shan zha, lai fu zi (Chinese herbal ingredients)

Directions: My teatox came with 42 packets of tea bags. Since this is a 14 day program, you're supposed to drink the tea 3 times a day, 30 minutes before or after a meal. 

What it's supposed to do: In a nutshell, what this teatox is supposed to do is aid digestion, balance the body, and restore digestion. On the website, it does say that it will can help you lose weight, but technically this is not what the tea is designed to do. Essentially, this would be good for someone who is looking to reboot and restore your body. 

What makes this tea unique: According to the website, the main difference between this teatox and other teatox is it doesn't have a laxative effect. Therefore, you can confidently complete this program without having to worry about it inhibiting your daily lifestyle (aka no running to the bathroom every 5 seconds!)


For any other questions or information, please be sure to check out their website! They have a very thorough explanation of how the teatox works and how it can affect your body. 

Sorry for the blurry photo -_-

Now, I want to discuss my experience with the teatox so far! 

Taste: Ok, this is where I'm a little "if-y". I do like tea, but I actually prefer coffee over tea (If that's any implication as to what my tastes are like). And this tea does have a very "herbal" taste to it. If you have any experience with Chinese or Korean herbal medicines, I would liken the taste to that except very mild. So if you don't like that "natural" taste, I would definitely drink this with lemon or honey. If you don't like tea.... then why are you reading this?? (haha I'm kidding of course.. )

Smell: Again, it has a very natural smell. If you've ever smelled any type of Asian herbal medicine, or gone into a store that has natural asian medicine, it smells just like that!

Side Effects: So far, I've drank 4 of these teas (I started yesterday). I did experience a headache last night, but that's gone away. I don't know if this has anything to do with the teatox specifically, but I haven't experienced much yet (Hey, it's still the 2nd day!)

Anyways, let me know if you've ever done a tea tox! I'll keep you updated on my experience so please check back or check my Youtube Channel, The Beauty Breakdown, as I will be doing a video about it when I finish!

xoxo, Morgan   

Wanna see the final results??