Maybelline SuperStay 24 Color

This is a very nice color, however this is a 2-step product.
You need to apply the lip color first, let it dry for 1 minute and then you must apply the lip balm otherwise your lips will feel sticky and weird.
Not a re-purchase because it's just too complicated.
Applying lipstick should be simple!

THE FACE SHOP Face Tone Controller SPF4 PA++ 01

THE FACE SHOP Face Tone Controller SPF4 PA++ 01 Reddish and dull skin $10

For $10 this seems like the dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer color adjust green to minimize redness.

If you get rub away the "white cast" then it is a dupe for the smashbox.

However, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who is darker than Korean shade 21.

SEPHORA+PANTONE UNIVERSE Modern Watercolors Eyes Palette 2016

SEPHORA+PANTONE UNIVERSE Modern Watercolors Eyes Palette 2016

"An exclusive palette of 24 deliciously enticing shimmer and matte eye shadow shades, including the two Color of the Year shades: Rose Quartz and Serenity."


The Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette was on my wish list for this year but the second I saw this on sale on the Sephora page, I quickly ordered it because I saw 24 colors including Bright White, Antique White, Oyster Mushroom, Fruit Dove, Rose Quartz, Mushroom, Coral Haze, Honeydew, Pelican, Pale Mauve, Cascade, Café Crème, Chinois Green, Café au Lait, Lantana, Mellow Yellow, Cedar Wood, Boa, Linden Green, Ash, Citadel, Serenity, Marina. There were some pink and reds colors along with almost all the colors of the rainbow so I can use this all year long. I don't use a primer and it doesn't flake or smear which I'm so happy about because usually I have bad luck with Sephora Collection eye shadows, but this palette made me happy. I have been using this one every day for work for the past two months and it doesn't disappoint.





"From pastels to brights, this palette has everything you need to create an impactful look. The set of 24 matte and shimmer shades come in a sleek, sophisticated palette. Inspired by the Pantone Colors of the Year, but open to your own interpretation, this mix of pastel shades invites you to transform this timeless pastel duo from sweetly conventional into 2016’s most modern color story."





"Sephora + Pantone Universe invoke the primal wonders of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to forecast a season of elemental thrall. Introducing a spectrum of rare umbers, ethereal lilacs, rapturous vermillions, and deep sea ceruleans—all harmonized to create the perfect storm of supernatural beauty."

Sephora Favorites Customizable Skin Care & Hair Gift Set

Sephora Favorites - Sephora Favorites Customizable Skin Care & Hair Gift Set - $25

You can pick 5 products from about 10 items so that is why it is called "customizable".
There were products from skincare to hair, but mostly skincare.

1. Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment - I have used this for the dry winter, I have used it all in a week, but it didn't do enough for you to notice any drastic change. But I do have thin fine hair and my ends look pretty nourished after a week's use. 
2. REN Glyco Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask - disappointed that's its so small. I was expecting something beigger for a wash-off mask. And for a tiny sample sized for $5 is a bit pricey for the REN brand.
3. COOLA Mineral Face SPF 30 - Matte Tint - sunscreen and BB cream that I will save for next summer.  On the website, it states that it is "A mineral face sunscreen featuring broad-spectrum UVA/UVB plus environmental protection and antiaging benefits".         
4. Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream - something that I was looking forward to a long time. I haven't been a fan of any of their oils probably due to the heavy scent that it has but this is "an advanced brightening, refining treatment infused into a next-generation water cream". Just seems like a regular cream to me. 
5. belif Creamy Cleansing Foam Moist - On the website, it states that it is a vitamin-C packed creamy foam cleanser with natural herbs that gently yet effectively remove makeup and impurities while hydrating the skin. This luxurious cleanser is a unique blend of time-tested apothecary herbs that are rich in vitamin C: wormwood to prevent breakouts, soapberry to detoxify, and sweet flag to cleanse and soften. These botanical ingredients are effective, natural, gentle, and non-stripping cleansing agents. Ideal for normal to dry skin, the creamy lather immediately removes impurities while respecting skin's natural moisture barrier." I'm not picky about cleansers but since it's from belif than it must be good.     

Sephora Play December 2016

Sephora Play December 2016

The Partygoers

Stellar Products are only the Beginning

Bobbi Brown - Smokey Eye Mascara - I don't think it's a good idea to give a mascara in every single Sephora Play box each month. I don't think people can go through one mascara per month. I can't even go through them in 3 months and then I'm forced to throw them out because it's prone to bacteria buildup.
MakeUp Forever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer - gave it to my mom cause she likes primers more than me.
DryBar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot - I have used this in a previous Sephora Favorites box and it was just a hair treatment/conditioner thing for me. Nothing special.
Urban Decay All Nighter MakeUp Setting Spray
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red - can't go wrong with a bright red color. It came in time to use for Christmas in NYC, since I left all my lipstick in Philly.
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon - it smells neutral with a bit of autumn wood musk and vanilla. Very light scent, not long lasting.

I kind of hope that there was something rose gold in the bag since the theme color was rose gold. Hope next month is better!

Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation 20 creamy

Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation in shade 20 creamy


I was looking for a foundation at Sephora and thought why not give Sephora Collection a shot with their foundations. It was light weight and moisturizing and the coverage is buildable to medium coverage. I was looking at the shades online and picked whatever color that look the same to my skin based on the shades that were provided. However, I think that the color was one shade too dark for my skin, but overall there was nothing wrong with this foundation.








The ingredients are listed below from the Sephora website:

Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isododecane, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Alcohol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Viola Tricolor Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. May Contain: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides).

Laniegn Water Sleeping Pack

Laniegn Sleeping Pack

A very light sleeping pack. I wasn't too happy about it because my moisturizing creams are thicker then this sleeping pack. Yes, this is perfect for summer nights, but not enough moisture for the harsh winters.
Not recommended for people with dry and combinational skin. Perfect for oily skin.

Somang Keratin Silk Protein Hair Aqua Essence

Somang Keratin Silk Protein Hair Aqua Essence - I was happy about trying this new product because I do get split ends in my hair. I'm a bit glad that they are trying to venue out to more hair products. It has a nice floral smell when you spray it on your hair. Plus 110 ml is a lot for a "hair spray" and you just spray and you are good to run out the door. My hair feel moisturized and smooth.

it cosmetic lip liner

Absolutely Dry and a complete NO. I was looking forward in using this it cosmetics but I was highly disappointed that I didn't even wanted to write a review about it.The nude color does stay on your lips but the feeling is just straight out uncomfortable. Maybe if you wear lip gloss or lip balm over it then it could probably work, but I just gave it to a friend.

General Haul #42 - NYC Kbeauty MeetUp 2016

     

I was honored to be able to participate in the First Annual NYC Kbeauty MeetUp where all us Asian Beauty Skincare addicts came together to talk, gush, love and shop.

First CupidDrop came by when the group met up for coffee in the morning at CaffeBean.

They were so generous to talk about their website where you can buy Korean stuff for free shipping within the US. I know that I will be using their services because I hate buying for international shipping to have my goodies ship from Korea.

   

Next Amy ( @ ) carried these goodies all the way from Delaware to NYC to give these to us. CosRX was kind enough to provide us these generous package of goodies including the popular blackhead cream, acne patches, and the toner. I am so excited about the one-step pads because I never tried that and I find them perfect for lazy people like me during the AM skincare routine. Plus the socks, which I have on now, are so comfy and perfect for the winter season which is 17 degree F now outside.



After coffee, we walked over to Nature Republic to do some shopping. I loved all their products that had Bulgarian rose scent in it. They ended up suprising us with a goodie bag which contains the popular aloe gel, hand cream, ampoule and the ginseng royal silk mask. I couldn't wait much longer so when I got home that night, I used the ampoule and the ginseng royal silk gold mask and I loved it. This brand totally took me by surprise!  

To continue onto with our shopping trip, we went to Club Clio which is one of my favorites Korean makeup stores in NYC. I ended up buying a cushion foundation, which to be honest I still have to get through 20 other cushions foundations. But I couldn't resist this waterkill cushion in shade 03 ginger. Plus the aqua line sheet masks were only $1 each so I got one to try out.

At checkout, Club Clio surprised us with a huge goodie bag including the Dr. G gel serum, a gift set and many sheet masks.

I didn't know that there was a TooCoolForSchool flagship in NYC.
The prices are a bit pricey but it's nice to know that it's accessible to people who can't get it from Korea. I do love their egg cream products such as the sheet masks. I'm looking forward to try their pumpkin 24K Gold mask. And I do think the hand cream will definitely be used during this winter.

After the morning shopping, since we were at Koreantown, I went to get a bun from bunn and green tea from BesFren. Very tasty!

 


While we are on the topic of BesFren, this store has became my favorite Asian skincare/makeup place in NYC. Great thing is that it's in midtown so it's easy to get to from subways and trains. They have so many brands in the store from skinfood to habolabo. The masks are always on sale and the prices are the lowest that I have seen in NYC. This is where I brought the most stuff on during this entire shopping tour,

 

 


At the end of the day, we received goodie bags from our wonderful coordinators, ranging from Naruko to pixie.

  
Overall, it was a successful meetup and shopping tour and there will be more meetups in the future!!

Lagom Cellus Deep Moisture Cream

Lagom Cellus Deep Moisture Cream - perfect for winter time

 




I was quite surprised with the results that I got from using this cream for half a month.
Sadly, I am in in the environment where there is dryness in the air and it's winter time, so my skin needs all the moisture that the heat is sucking up.


I use this deep cream as a night cream and it locks the moisture in my skin.
My skin doesn't feel dry when I wake up the next morning also.


You do see the "dewy" part after you apply it to your face and I will agree that I saw some whitening and brightening to my skin after a month of using it.

SkinFood - RICE Brightening Cleansing Oil 170ml

SkinFood - RICE Brightening Cleansing Oil 170ml

I was actually quite surprised with skinfood's cleansing oil.
It removed mascara and foundation. I think this is comparable to the Bioderma micellar water.

No scent and didn't sting my eyes.
Definitely a re-purchase.

DR.JART+ Silver Label Plus BB 40ml

DR.JART+ Silver Label Plus BB 40ml - 29,000won

I brought this over at Asia during a trip.
There were no testers at the store and I just purchased it.
When I got home, the color was a bit too light for my skin.
I have used it a couple of times during the late summer and fall while using a brush as a base and adding the Hera CC cream over this BB cream and I look human again!
I prefer using this during the summer because it helps with sun control and whitening.
 
I ended up gifting it to a friend that I met at the NYC kbeauty meetup and she wanted to try this product plus her skin was a bit lighter than mine. I gladly gave it to her.

Make beauty matte lipstick in Scarlet

I I got this at the MAKE beauty booth during Generation Beauty NYC 2016 in September.
I didn't get a chance to use it until one day I just wanted to apply a red lipstick.

It was matte but it was also very very dry.
Maybe I'm not a fan of matte lipstick so I think I will pass this one onto someone who loves red matte lipstick.

3W CLINIC Bit Dam Eun Soo Jeong Yoon Cleansing Foam

3W CLINIC Bit Dam Eun Soo Jeong Yoon Cleansing Foam - 180ml



I actually didn't think much of this cleanser when I first brought it and I totally forgot about it.
It wasn't until that I was packing to move to Philly that I brought it over to use.

Philly's weather is so dry that my skin needed all the moisture it can get.
This is a high moisture cleanser, meaning it doesn't strip all the moisture from your skin as much as the regular cleansers that I have used in the past.

Tosowoong TimeShift First Essence AP Therapy

Tosowoong TimeShift First Essence AP Therapy - 150ml I didn't see this on the Peach and Lily website when I brought this at their sample sale this past summer, but the packaging looks like a dupe for the SK-II.

After I tried it, it is totally a dupe for the sk-2 essence. However, it stung my eyes when it accidently got in my eyes which I didn't like at all. My skin really did brighten and firmed, my skin even cleared up a little after using this for a month. The "timeshift" line is probably based on anti-aging properties.

I gave the rest of the bottle to one of my friends when she came over and used it once and liked it.

It's nice to share.

 

Taiwan Foodie Experience 2016 Part 2 - Airplane Food

       
Arriving in Taiwan using Cathay Pacific Airlines.


 

Leaving Taiwan using China Airlines to get into Hong Kong

   


 

It seems that Cathay Pacific carries Haagen-Dazs on their menu.