I’ve been controlling my makeup splurges and focusing more on my skincare lately. Over the past couple year, my collection of Origins skincare products have been slowly growing. What I like about is Origins is that it uses natural ingredients and is not as expensive (especially if you get them from the airport! I love duty free shopping.) [Read more…]
Korean Skincare Products- LANEIGE
When my mom was in Hong Kong last year, she brought back some skincare products from the LANEIGE line. LANEIGE is a Korean skincare line. The name means “snow” in French. LANEIGE studies different kinds of water and incorporate it into their skincare products that provide long lasting hydration.
My favourite is the Water Bank Essence (the blue bottle on the right.) This is a moisturizer that can be used day and night. It is also one of the top 3 global sellers, and I do not doubt that! I’ve been using this for a while and it takes forever to finish. It is extremely hydrating and my skin absorbs this product extremely quickly.
Product Benefits (from LANEIGE)
– A 24-hour long-lasting moisture essence that contains mineral water for skin regeneration and Water Pump System for moisture circulation to safeguard skin moisture and hold it in to leave the skin moisturized and smooth.
– Instantly dampens the skin with ample moisture and forms a natural moisture barrier on skin surface to protect the moisture that is in the skin.
– Contains chestnut extracts and seaweed extracts to enhance keratin turnover to fight roughness and energizes the skin for a smooth and healthy texture.
If you check out this link here– LANEIGE breaks down the scientific properties of this product and how it can deliver long lasting moisture.
This is one of my favourite all time moisturizers! It can be purchased via online from SASA, or the SASA branch here (Aberdeen Centre/Metrotown) but it is a lot cheaper if it is purchased from Hong Kong’s SASA.
The next item that I want to showcase is LANEIGE’s Strawberry Yogurt Pack.
I absolutely hate yogurt, but I love this (although this is not to be eaten!) This is a a great hydrating mask for all skin types. I love layering this on my nose when it gets dry after cleansing it. It’s a light, creamy, and a bit runny- and it’s very easy to spread out. I use this approximately 1-2 times a week (or whenever I remember). I use a bit more than a coin sized amount, since I love layering this over my skin. I don’t break out or anything from it, and I let it rest on my face for 15- 20 minutes.
I’m not sure if it makes my skin bouncier or whatnot in the long term, but after one use, I feel more refreshed and my skin looks brighter and more supple! Unfortunately, I don’t think LANEIGE sells this product anymore, because I couldn’t find information on its website. This product can only be bought via online shopping like amazon or yesstyle.
If you are looking for foreign cosmetics (unless you reside in Asia, so this would not be foreign) LANEIGE is a great brand that gives good hydration. However, it is more expensive to buy it in North America, so I would have to stock up when I or my mom go back to Hong Kong.
Two B or not two B: Dr Jart++ Water Fuse (BB) Beauty Balm
The last time I was in Sephora, I was in the states and bought my first BB Cream. I opted for Dr Jart++ Water Fuse BB Cream since I read fairly good reviews on it,and it is in Asian brand, so I gave it a try. I don’t have/wear foundation, so I thought this BB Cream would be a to-go product for my bad skin days.
What it is:
A one-step skin perfecting balm that minimizes the need for foundation or concealer.
What it is formulated to do:
A moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum, this all-in-one product also hides imperfections. Made with 50 percent water, Dr. Jart’s Advanced Water Bead Technology helps hydrate and maintain healthy moisture for a dewy, fresh look. Like a drink for your skin, once applied, tiny droplets of water appear before being quickly absorbed, generating an instant soothing and cooling effect.
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A little goes a very long way for this product. 1.5 pea sized amount would cover my face. It has a very sheer coverage, which is fine with me. I’m worried about clogged pores. This BB Cream does a fairly decent job hiding the redness around my nose without primer underneath.
This product is supposed to be hydrating- and it is! My face didn’t feel dry, nor did I see any dry patches. When I apply it to my face and start spreading/dabbing it, water droplets actually form. Water is infused in this, for sure! It’s very light weight and it absorbs quickly, so I have to pat in my face hastily. I also like the sunscreen inside, however, I wish the SPF was higher. It also looks very natural on my skin, so it doesn’t look like I put anything on at all.There is a slight scent, not irritating ,and it goes away after it is put on my face.
A disadvantage of this product is that, there is only one colour available for this. So if your complexion is slightly off, it will show. Please sample this before buying to make sure your skin tone matches this!
I am pleased with the consistency, colour, and moisture content of this BB Cream. The freshness this product gives me is great for the summer! This definitely replaces my lack of foundation and concealer!
Origins: A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea Review
On Earth Day, Sephora gave out a tube of Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea. I was lucky enough to get one during the morning (see haul here) and I have used it for a while to test it out so it’s time to review on it!
What it is:
An antiaging moisturizer with the protective powers of white tea.
What it is formulated to do:
Research at several major universities has proven that white tea is among the most potent antioxidants, anti-agers, anti-stress, anti-smoke, and anti-pollution antidotes. Now its protective powers are energized and optimized in a moisturizer that surrounds skin in a virtually impenetrable protective bubble. This barrier intercepts damage before it causes lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of firmness.
What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Synthetic Dyes
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates
– GMOs
– Triclosan
What else you need to know:
This product contains several powerful natural ingredients. Ferment of sugarcane acts like a mini-sparkplug to start skin’s ability to
neutralize free radicals before they deface skin. Murumuru butter maximizes skin’s moisture barrier. Rose fruit oil hydrates. Centella Asiatica firms. Vitamin C brightens and helps even out skintone. And aromatic orange, bergamot, and spearmint fortify the feel-good factor. Keep your skin in A Perfect World™ 24/7
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This is a full sized product, and it costs $49CAD online. It comes in a tube bottle- where the tube is made with 30% post consumer plastics and the cap is made with 100% recycled plastics.(The original container is a jar.)
When I first opened the it and squeezed out the product, the first thing I notice is the smell. It’s not the most pleasant, delightful smell. It’s pungent in a sickly, sweet way which can throw some people off. Despite the smell, I proceeded to try out the product anyway. I tried it before going to bed, and I woke up in the morning hoping my skin was still okay. My skin was actually fairly soft. It absorbed the product easily and moisturized well.
It’s a bit thick, so it’s a bit sticky when I first dab it on, and it’s pungent- so I prefer using it as a night cream; although you can use it night and day.
This is my first Origins product, and although the formula works well with my skin, the smell is a bit of a put off for me. I am interested to try their other products though, since it seems to use lots of natural products!
Anyone else have experience with Origins?
Earth Day Haul: Sephora,Kiehl’s, Starbucks, Bath n Body Works, Candy + Lindt
Today is Earth Day! Happy Earth Day!
This was one of my best post-finals-shopping day ever! Got so many good deals today!
1) I made my first stop at Sephora, twenty minutes after the store opened, at Pacific Centre. I gave my empty cleanser and got my free Origins moisturizer.
This is the “A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea” – it is sold for $49USD when I checked online, and I got the full sized product in the tube. SUCH A GOOD DEAL!
Here’s a description from Sephora online:
“This product contains several powerful natural ingredients. Ferment of sugarcane acts like a mini-sparkplug to start skin’s ability to neutralize free radicals before they deface skin. Murumuru butter maximizes skin’s moisture barrier. Rose fruit oil hydrates. Centella Asiatica firms. Vitamin C brightens and helps even out skintone. And aromatic orange, bergamot, and spearmint fortify the feel-good factor. Keep your skin in A Perfect World™ 24/7.”
So happy about this little pick up! They ran out of it quickly, so I was glad I was able to wake up early and get to Sephora for this 😀
2) The next freebie stop I went was to Kiehl’s.
They also have a promotion that started on April 18th and it goes until April 30th. If you bring in any empty cosmetic jar, you get a Starter Kit in their environmentally friendly pouch. The sales there were very friendly and explained about the products they were giving me. Also, I said my T-Zone was oily, and she also gave me a sample of Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion.
The kit consisted of
- 1.0 fL oz/ 30mL Ultra Facial Cleanser
- 1.0 fL oz/ 30mL Ultra Facial Moisturizer
- 1.0 fL oz/30mL Original Rich Nourishing Cream
Very excited to try this out and this kit is very travel friendly 🙂
3) Me and my friend also wandered into Bath and Body Works and the sale associate gave us each a $5 coupon off any purchase (no minimum purchase necessary.)
I was going to be a troll and just buy a soap for $5.50, so I’ll get $5 off and just pay $0.50 + tax. However, Bath and Body Works shampoo/conditioner was on sale, and I love their hair products, except I never wanted to pay full price for them. I usually buy them during Boxing Day sales, and it’s been a while since I’ve used them. The sweet pea shampoo/conditioner was fabulous, as I recall.
Today, some of the hair products were $4 today! So I grabbed a Mango Mandarin Moisturizing Conditioner! I also got a Malibu Citrus gentle foaming hand soap.
I paid a total of $4.50+ tax on all this! What a steal!
4) I also went to Lush because I wanted something to exfoliate my skin or make it smoother. The sales associate put the Lush Lime Smoothie on my hand, and the smell is AMAZING. So was the aftermath of washing it off. My hand was instantly smoother Because there is lime in it, it “chemically peels” and cleanses your skin making it smooth and clean.
Ingredients:Fresh Butternut Squash Infusion (Cucurbita Moschata) , Glycerine , Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Olea europaea) , Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) , Rapeseed Oil , Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera) , Fresh Organic Lime Juice (Citrus aurantifolia) , Sodium Lauryl Sulfate , Fresh Strawberries (Fragaria vesca) , Water (Aqua) , Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi) , Orange Flower Absolute (Citrus Aurantium amara) , Sodium Chloride , Sodium Hydroxide , EDTA , Tetrasodium Editronate , *Limonene , Perfume , Methylparaben , Propylparaben
Can’t wait to try this tonight!
This is also a limited edition product, and they were selling it because it was LUSH’s anniversary party product.
5) Candy!
I went to London Drugs to find some candy, and my favourite gummies, Haribos, were on sale! Haribos are originated from Germany, and I swear their gummy bears are so much better than Maynards, or any other brand so far. 3 packs of gummies for $5!
I already started eating the cola gummies.
6) When my friend and I were at the Bay, Lindt chocolate bars were 25% off, and she got me a cranberry-dark chocolate bar since I had a stressful week. ^^
6) Lastly, FREE Starbucks tea! Bring in any traveller’s mug and they fill it up with either brewed coffee or tea. I don’t drink coffee, so I opted for their teas. I chose passion tea!
Passion is a blend of hibiscus, lemongrass, mango and passion fruit. It’s a red color and it tastes like sweet, fresh, juicy tea.
Needless to say, today was a very successful shopping day!
On the downside, I couldn’t find the Marc Jacobs mouse flats (refer to my previous post here). There were none left in my size 🙁 I want to order online, but I’m worried about its fitting. NOOOOOO it’s just not meant to be 🙁
What did you do on Earth Day?