Sephora August 2017 Play Box review

Sephora August 2017 Play Box review

Elements of Beauty

Get to know the hardworking ingredients that power your beauty routine.

This was one of the better play boxes that I have received so I think I will stay subscribed for a bit longer.

1. BeautyBlender micro mini - It's so small that I know that I will never use it.
2. Clinique HIM Dual-Ended High Impact Mascara and Primer Duo - I don't think I need another mascara cause I have many and I don't use it but it has a primer with it, so I might give it a try.
3. Hourglass - Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Shell - I've never been into foundation sticks so I might only use this during the wintertime.
4. Korres - Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum - great for traveling and I will definitely be taking this on my trip next week.
5. Caviar - Anti-Aging Miracle Multiplying Volume Mist - this is the haircare product in the box. Great for people with thin hair who wants a little volume.
6. Burberry - Black - I love all the Burberry scents because there is a tint of floral and matureness to it.

Sephora July 2017 Play Box review

Sephora Play
Beauty Staycation
Good Beauty Vibes?
More like my most hated bag!

1. It Cosmetics - SuperHero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara - I have it and I no longer use mascaras anymore after my eyes would get teary after the usage of mascara.
2. PeterThomasRoth - Cucumber Gel Mask - I don't like this brand at all. The gel mask is just too thin for a mask for me.
3. Clinique - Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Woppin Watermelon - on the sale page and I hated it. It's just a lip balm with hardly as tint of color that I returned when purchased.
4. Ren - Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream - already have it and great for an day cream but how many day creams can you feature in a subscription box every month? I need something new.
5. Madame CJ Walker Beauty Culture - Dream Come True Wonderful Deep Conditionig Masque - I never care much about hair mask and they are piling in a box in my room which I give to friends when they come over.
6. Mon Guerlain - ok scent

This bag was a disappointment. This is the second box which nothing is new and I've used all the products featured in this box. Some of them I've seen on the "sale" page website on Sephora. This is horrible. I just gave the entire bag away to a friend over this weekend. What a waste of money. I though subscription boxes are suppose to introduce you to new products but these are all re-runs that I've seen so many times. Let's see how next month's play box is otherwise three strikes and you're cancelled!

Sephora Favorites - Refresh, Set, Glow!

Sephora Favorites - Refresh, Set, Glow!

Boost Your Beauty Anytime, Anywhere!

This was more of a put together mini-travel sized pouch.

It has everything from makeup wipes to hair to perfume to lip balm

Bumble and bumble - BB. Repair Blow Dry

Olehenriksen clean truth cleansing cloths

Clean Rain Rollerball

Clinique Pep-start Hydroblur Moisturizer

Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask with Echinacea GreenEnvy - Deep Moisture Cucumber - this is a hydro gel mask and after 30 minutes it was still functional

Foreo LUNA play in Mint/T-Sonic facial cleansing device with up to 100 uses

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF15 - nice lip balm for the summer

Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturizer - one of my favorite moisturizers

Sephora Set of 2 Mesh Hair Ties - mediocre

SuperGoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50 - nice setting spray

TooFaced Better than Sex Mascara - it has fallouts

Sephora February Play Box

Sephora February Play Box

The Soft Side

Make a Radiant Understatement

"Natural Beauty" theme

Liked 3 out of 5 products.

I was surprised with the pink silk bag but it was a bit light so I guessed that there will be lipsticks involved and I was right!

In the box/bag are the following:

Clinique - Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer - this is a great moisturizer/primer for the summertime.

Nars - Velvet Lip Glide in Bound - this is my first Nars product and this lip color matches the bag and it is great for this upcoming spring.

Sephora Collection - Lashcraft Length and Volume Mascara - stop giving me mascara! I have enough to last me a lifetime!!

TooFaced - Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake - I think I have "enough" lip for an Asian person. Plus I heard about the burning sensation and I'm not about to put uncomfortable stuff on my lip.

Origins - Ginzing Refreshning Eye Cream!!! I love eye cream!! I love Origins!!! that's enough said!

Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence - it's a very LIGHT scent so you can use this for brunch.

Sephora Play January 2017

Beauty, Set, Go
Stellar Products Are Only the Beginning

tarte FRXXXTION Stick - a gel cleanser in a stick form. This is something new to me with an western brand. Usually I have seen this with Korean brands such as su:m37 and neogen.

Ouai Treatment Masque - yes! A hair product that will help me with damaged hair. I really enjoy hair products that aren't in a spray form so I was glad about this one.

Tory Burch - Love Relentlessly - I'm a fan of the Tory Burch perfume so I was excited to receive this in the bag

Farmacy - Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask - I love a honey mask given to me during the winter months.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey - nothing wrong with lip balm plus a little color

AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ - finally a cushion foundation sample!!

I loved this month's Sephora Play.

Spring (March/April/May) 2015 10-step skincare routine

I went from an easy, low-maintenance to trying the famous 10 (or 12)-step skincare routine . 

I wanted to get products from a broad number of brands, I didn't just want to stick with one brand, I shopped around and compared all. 

This is just a list of products that I just on "my skincare routine" since I just got into this routine this month, more to come next month. 

Step 1: Pre-cleansing Oil/Wipes- Peter Thomas Roth Cleanser Un-wrinkle Creme Cleanser

"Rich, creamy and nourishing gentle crème cleanser with Jojoba, Shea Butter, Vitamins A, C and E and Pro Vitamin B5. Fragrance-free. For all skin types."

This is a very light watery cleanser. I didn't like it at first because I was using it as a cleanser, but when I found out about the 10-step routine, I decided to use this as my pre-cleanser usage. I have been slowly moving from Sephora (VIB member cause I got all my skincare from Sephora beforehand) to venturing out into the Asian world of skincare routine. 

Step 2: Cleanser -  True Blue Spa Citrus Exhilarating & Exfoliating Face Scrub by Bath and Body Works

This product is discontinued and will be my last cleanser before I start to use Asian cleansers. More next month. This product help me alot with my combination skin and blackheads.

Step 3: EXFOLIATE -  Origins Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores
Hyaluronic Acid became a term that I paid attention to because I wanted to find a product that can get rid of blackheads. I'm not sure if this product contain hyaluronic acid, but it was raved about throughout Asian skincare bloggers, and I wanted to give it a try. I've only used the origins pore clay mask once or twice a year, it does make your skin feel smooth and clean right after. FYI, I do this step usually one a week usually on Saturdays.

Step 4: Refresher/Toner - Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2

I was never a fan of toners, but when I heard about the benefits of a toner and that it can lift the remaining residue that you might have from your cleanser and mask, I decided to try it. I got the (2) because I have combination skin. Does the job, but it burns a little once in a while, so I don't use it daily.

Step 5: Essence - SEPHORA COLLECTION LIQUID MOISTURIZING SKIN CONCENTRATE

I wouldn't call this product a essence, but it's also not a toner. It's refreshing, but I think it is time that I tried some Asian products. 

Step 6: Ampoule/Serum/Emulsion - SKIP for now
Back then, my skincare regime consist of a cleanser, serum and moisturizer. I never heard of the word, ampoules, and the step is for your problematic spots. This step can include either one or many. Each ampoule is mainly for one thing. To me, I will skip this part for now, but I have previously used Soap & Glory Clear Here to minimized my pores-didn't do much for my skin and its discontinued.

Step 7: Sheet Mask - SK-2 Facial Treatment Mask. 
It think this step is preferable for people who have dry skin. If I use sheet mask, yes, once in a while when I'm doing a spa day to treat myself. I will stock up on many when I visit Asia at the end of the year.

Step 8: Eye cream - Tarte - Maracuja C-Brighter™ Eye Treatment
Mom always tell you that you don't have to get any product, but eye cream are a must. If you smile and laugh a lot, you are prone to eye wrinkles. See, life has pros and cons. I have stopped using heavy cream (tarte) when I noticed that I keep getting milia under my skin surface, so I have limit my use of this.

Step 9: Moisturize! - (AM) Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream
click here for review

Step 10: Sleeping Pack/Night Cream (PM)  - Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel
Here is a problem with this product applying with the Missha Super Aqua. I have experimented with applying this product before or after the Super Aqua and I found out that the best way is to either use this product or the super Aqua because I think that both has chemicals that are incompatible when using together because I would experience pilling (where the skin cells balls up). So at nights, I just use this gel product and in the daytime, I use the Missha Super Aqua. This product absorbs VERY quick into your skin and does its magic. However, Ole Henriksen has discontinue this as a night gel and making it a night treatment which sells this product with a pump now, making it more sanitary.

Step 11: Sunscreen (AM) Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 
I'm starting to see (Asian version) freckles on my face from skin damage so trying to repair the damage I have done to my past quarter of a century skin.  But it has this dry and weird to wash off texture.