Review: Tony Moly Brightening Eye Base

So I have seen sooo many mixed reviews about this product. While scrolling through the reviews on Amazon, I thought to myself "is it actually any good?!" Well, despite my better judgement, I ditched my apprehension and bought myself one at Ulta. So here's my initial thoughts about the product: it does what it's supposed to. I will elaborate what that means in the paragraphs below.

About My Skin: I have very dry skin. I have large pores on my nose and flaky skin especially on my cheeks, and forehead.

Product Description: I have decided not to include the product description here because I think it has caused a bit of confusion. This product DOES NOT lighten the under eye area over time. It is an eye base, which is different from an eye lightener.

How to Use: Before applying makeup, apply under eyes or on eye lids for an instant brightened, awake look.

Review: So let me explain what this product does. This product does not lighten your skin over time. It is a brightening base for eye makeup and to lighten your dark circles. You apply this before putting on makeup. A bunch of people seem to think that this product is supposed to lighten their dark circles over time. Let me be the first to say, No. It does not do that. So now you know what it does, lets move onto the review. So the product glides on really nicely and doesn't really smell like anything. The texture is really smooth, kind of like a highlighter stick and it is bright white. When I applied it under my eyes, it flaked a little bit because I guess I didn't apply enough moisture to my skin before using it. Once I remedied this issue, it glided on smoothly and blended out really nicely. I have pretty bad bags and it made them mostly disappear, even without foundation on! When I applied it to my eyelids, it helped my eye shadow glow brighter and last longer. This is a big deal because I have  hanging eyelids and for some reason oily eyelids as well. Meaning eye shadow DOES NOT last very long on my eyelids at all. However, this product extends its life a little bit. So, knowing that this does not brighten dark circles, this product works very well! Even on my dry skin. It glides on smoothly, lasts a long time, and makes me look awake (and not zombie-like). I don't really have anything negative to say about it. :)

Tip: Moisturize skin well before using because sometimes it flakes a little bit.

Rating: 10/10
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
Safe for Dry Skin: Yes
 

Korean Makeup Trends for Beginners

Alot of people asked me why I studied East Asian Studies in college. My answer is and always will be that I have been fascinated with East Asian culture long before my teenage obsession with Hannah Montana. Frankly, its a culture that is both foreign and familiar to me. Especially Korean culture, I often find myself feeling very comfortable with Korean cultural trends and practices. With that said, it is plain to see why I grew so fond of Korean makeup. I naturally have a baby looking face, and have always hated it. In western culture, the one that looks like a mature woman is the one who carries the most fame. Sure a couple baby faces can make their way in, but the ideal is the ideal. Girls who look mature and filled out, are favored in the west. However, Korean makeup has given me the chance to love myself the way that I am, and because of that I embrace K-Beauty whole heartedly. With that in mind, I'm going to share some K-Beauty trends that you have GOT to incorporate into your makeup routine.

1. Puppy Eyeliner 

 

Puppy liner (yeah, you heard that right) is supposed look like a childish pout. Its a very simple and subtle addition to the K-Beauty routine that makes your eyes appear larger and youthful. To achieve this look use your liquid liner to make a very thin line right above the water line, then flick downwards instead of the upwards. It takes some getting used to, but give it a couple tries and you'll be glad you did.

2. Gradient Lips 

Gradient lips are essential to mastering the K-beauty look! Gradient lips are intended to mimic the look of naturally plump and juicy lips. Gradient lips are a must. Its a very simple technique that guarantees a sweet and delicate appearance. To achieve this look simply apply concealer over both lips. If you tend to have dry lips, put on lip balm before applying concealer. Then apply stain or lipstick to the center/inner lips. Blend outward and voila!

3. Orange Blush 

Orange blush is a stable of the Korean beauty look. It adds a pop of color to a very simple look. To achieve this look simply dab a little bit on your cheeks until you have created a "circle" of color on your cheeks.

4. Less Contour, More Highlight

Korean makeup is supposed to be bright and youthful. So make sure to keep your contouring to a minimum. To achieve a Korean contour, simply contour around the nose, under the cheekbones and around the bottom of the face to create the illusion of a rounded off face. Everywhere else is highlighted! So pull your illuminator out and get to it!

5. Aegyo Sal 

 Aegyo sal means cute eyes. Aegyo is a big deal in Korea! Girls aspire to encompass everything aegyo in their look and guys love to see girls with a child-like, innocent appearance. Picture it, every time you smile your under eyelids swell to show how happy you are. Isn't it adorable! To achieve the aegyo sal look, say cheese! Apply white liner to the area on your lower lid that swells. Blend. Apply brown liner directly beneath that to create a shadow. Blend. Voila!

Korean Skincare Product Review: Etude House Moistfull Collagen Deep Cream Moisturizer

As fall approaches and we ready ourselves for the chillier weather, I wanted to share a review for a very hydrating moisturizer that is intended to rid you of your flaky skin blues.

Product Description: This deep moisturizing cream, enriched with collagen, penetrates deep into pores to provide long lasting moisture.

How To Use: (Note:This product is the last step of your skincare routine) Use the provided applicator stick to apply pea sized amounts to forehead, chin, and cheeks. Rub in cream thoroughly.

Review: Initially, I was pretty apprehensive to use Korean products because my skin is both sensitive and dry (I know, how lucky am I). However, I was advised that Etude House products would be a safe bet due to its moisturizing contents. So I purchased the new and updated formula of Moistfull Collagen Cream, the Deep Cream Moisturizer that came out last year. After it arrived, I immediately noticed that there was an applicator stick so you don't contaminate the cream by putting your fingers into the cream. So hygienic! The first week, I didn't see much improvement. Still had flakes here and there and my skin still looked patchy. After applying the cream for about two weeks, I've noticed some decent improvements! My skin looks hydrated and supple. Since using the cream, I have seen no flakes, no patches, and minimized pores. My skin looks very youthful and glowing!

The cream is not terribly thick, but very creamy. It glides on like silk provides long lasting moisture that is some how also pretty light. I feel as though being lighter is a good thing, since being too heavy could cause clogged pores or white heads. Even on dry skin. I have also noticed that my makeup glides on much more smoothly. No flakes after applying foundation or concealer (the biggest threat) or even highlighter!

Note: This product does not work with only one application. I have observed that a lot of girls think a single product will work miracles for them. They set their expectations astronomically high and are disappointed when they realize that one product alone will not suffice. Korean skincare is meant to be layered. So don't expect one item to be your skins savior. With this in mind, assign at least one product in your routine for dealing with your troubled areas. For example, in addition to dry skin I also have huge pores on my nose. To deal with this, I use Fresh Apple Pore Emulsion to moisturize and close my pores. This moisturizer is only for providing deep hydration and reducing other issues associated with super dry skin.

Rating: 9/10 

I only deducted one point because it takes a couple weeks for the cream to really take affect. So be patient with it!

Korean Skincare Product Review: Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur

So as you know, I have decided to partake in the Korean makeup sensation to see for myself what it can do for my dry, flaky, skin. I've heard delightful things about how Korean skincare reduced redness, acne, dry patches and dark spots. Immediately I thought, "Well, sign me up!"  Skincare products in the states dry out and irritate my skin, and I was fed up with it. I did my research and figured out a couple products to start with. This particular beauty product is pretty popular in both Korea and the states, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. So lets just jump right in!

Description: The product is a lightweight cream primer that tones skin, soothes flakes away, and hides pores. In essence, its supposed to blur all imperfections to leave your skin looking bright and flawless.

How To Use: Dab a dot on your cheeks, forehead, and chin. Rub the product into your face until the cream is perfectly blended. (When its not blended well, it leaves white streaks)

Review: The product is a very light cream that is almost watery. When I rubbed it into my face, it glided on very smoothly! I really like the light consistency, especially since I am using a pretty heavy moisturizer for my extra dry skin. As a blended the cream in, I noticed that it made my skin appear a shade or two brighter than my natural complexion. It didn't bother me too much, because it didn't look like I was wearing a mask. It look more like a youthful glow. In addition, my acne scars disappeared and my flakiness was no more. It was amazing!

Note: This product is not intended to provide moisture to dry skin. So if you have flakes before you apply the product, you will have them after application. Apply a heavy moisturizer before applying if you have dry, flaky skin like me. I tried to put on the product without moisturizer and the affects were disastrous. My skin looked flaky and patchy! In other words, this product isn't a miracle worker. It adds a lovely glow under your makeup and evens your complexion. That's it! So if you have dry skin, like me, hydrate your skin really well before using this product.

Results: Its been about two weeks since purchasing the product and I can still see the improvements. My skin looks radiant, my complexion looks even, and my makeup glides over it very naturally. It also reduces the look of big pores, which is also a big problem for me. I am very impressed with this product as a primer! Will purchase again!

Rating: 10/10

The Korean 10 Step Skincare Method

Hey all! Those of you who are into K-Pop or watch K-Dramas, myself included, are definitely familiar with the Korean Skincare Method. For those of you who haven't heard of it, let me enlighten you. The Korean Skincare Method is a ten step (give or take a few steps depending on what your skin needs) process that almost guarantees glowing, healthy, clear skin. Finally, a skincare method that can rid me of my dry, flaky, skin!! When I heard about this method, I immediately took to the internet to do my research. Does it really give you healthy, dewy skin? Is it okay for my sensitive skin? Will it get rid of my flaky skin? After thorough research my conclusions were yes, yes, and yes. Despite the unbelievably long routine (10 steps and counting!!), this method is well worth the effort. Korean women take pride in their skincare routine, so they take their time, relax and enjoy their 'me-time'. As a strong believer in 'me-time' I am absolutely thrilled with this method. I'm also tired of my dull, dry skin.  Here is the suggested 10 step process. However, keep in mind that you may need either fewer or more steps depending on what your skin needs. So far I have only 5 steps, because I'm new. So keep an open mind. I recently did a makeup haul so I'll do reviews of the products I bought.