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asian cosmetics beauty Chiara Ambra PR Sample review

Review: Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Face & Eye Mask

20. November 2017

//PR SAMPLE / BEAUTY / SKINCARE //

Lace always give me that feeling of luxury and mystery! I love lace on clothes, since it makes them look more feminine and noble. But lace is not only limited to clothes and cloth in general, but we can also enjoy its beauty in our skincare. One example are the Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Face & Eye Masks, which were provided to me for reviewing purpose by Chiara Ambra.

Chiara Ambra is a German skincare company, that is influenced by the new skincare trends. They have a nice range of sheet masks by now, like animal print sheet masks, bubble masks, cotton sheet masks and masks for lips, hand and feet. They also offer other skincare products for your face and body though. I want to show you their Hydrogel Firming Face and Eye Mask here:

Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Face Mask

This Hydrogel firming sheet mask containing green tea and hyaluronic acid is providing intensive moisture to the skin and thereby improves the skin’s elasticity. The mask is divided into two parts, one for the upper and one for the lower part of the face. Both hydrogel sheets are folded in a clear plastic separating foil and additionally have a black plastic foil folded separately.

The sheet mask comes in a sachet with descriptions in English, German, and French on the backside. Other important ingredients to mention, apart from hyaluronic acid and green tea, are red algae, soy bean, urea and allantonin. The ingredient list is also stated on the sachet:

Hydrogel Lace: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sucrose,Chondrus Crispus Powder, Cellulose Gum, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Agar, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin,Disodium Edta, Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane,Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone,C12-13 Pareth-9, Parfum, Ci 77891, Ci 77491.

Serum: Water, Butylene Glycol,Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26,Peg/ppg-17/6 Copolymer, Trehalose, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol,Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Urea,Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid,Tartaric Acid, Gold, Glycine Soja Seed Extract,Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylic Acid, Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose,Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-13 Pareth-9, Parfum, Linalool.

You can also check for the ingredients on Skincarisma. There are some irritants regarding sensitive skintypes it seems, like citric acid, tataric acid, glycolic acid, and it also contains fragrance. I personally didn’t experience any irritations, but my skin is mostly dry and not too sensitive either. It was very happy about the many moisturizing ingredients instead.

When you remove the plastic layers you will be left with the hydrogel sheet with a beautiful lace pattern imbedded into it. Also there are golden shimmer particles inside the hydrogel.It really looks beautiful and luxurious.

Since it is made from two parts it also fits very nicely, and surprisingly it also has a very good adherence. Usually, I have problems with hydrogel sheet masks sliding of my face, but this one stayed perfectly fine during the 15 minutes I used it.

I rarely post a full-face sheet mask picture on my blog, but the lace pattern is so beautiful I had to share it.

The mask really makes the skin feel hydrated and cared for after the time I used it. Instead of removing the serum with a tissue as recommended I left it on my skin to absorb. I also used the left-over essence in the sachet on my neck and arms. I was very happy with the mask and its moisturizing properties. However, the essence does leave a tackiness on the skin. It is not a very unpleasant stickiness though, but it also doesn’t absorb trackless.

Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Eye Mask

This Hydrogel Firming Eye Mask can be seen as the little sister of the face mask. These pads are designed for the under-eye area and will help to make your eyes look less tired and cool them down.

The ingredients of the Hydrogel Firming Eye Mask are pretty much the same as for the face mask. Instead of green tea it contains grape seed extract though. It still also contains hyaluronic acid, red algae, soy bean, urea and allantonin. The ingredient list is also stated on the sachet:

Serum: Water, Butylene Glycol,Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26,Peg/ppg-17/6 Copolymer, Trehalose, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol,Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Urea,Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid,Tartaric Acid, Gold, Glycine Soja Seed Extract,Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylic Acid, Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose,Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin,Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-13 Pareth-9, Parfum.

As for the face mask also here there are some ingredients that people with sensitive skin should be aware of, namely citric acid, tataric acid, glycolic acid and fragrance. Check out the full ingredients on Skincarisma.

The Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Eye Mask is a white laced hydrogel pad, in contrast to the black laced face mask. Also here the lace pattern is really nicely made and embedded inside the hydrogel. You will also discover sparkles of shimmer gold particles inside.

Also here, the hydrogel really clings nicely to the skin and doesn’t slide around or fall off. I really loved that fact!

It delivers a refreshing and cooling sensation on the skin under your eyes and makes you look more awake after application. The skin also feels moisturized due to all the ingredients inside the serum.

All in all, I’m happy about these hydrogel sheet masks from Chiara Ambra. It was the first time for me to use laced sheet masks and I really like the appearance of these. also, I really was happy that these hydrogels didn’t slip off my face, because usually, that’s my downside about hydrogel masks. Instead they fit very nicely and stayed in place. My only downside would be the irritants for senstive skintypes. I can understand why glycolic acid was included, especially with regard to its smoothing properties, but I could think of natural fragrance instead of perfume.

Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Face Mask retails for 9.95€

Chiara Ambra Hydrogel Firming Eye Mask retails for 7.95€

Have you tried laced hydrogel sheet masks before? What is your opinion?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by https://www.chiara-ambra.de which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review Wishtrend

Review: By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash

12. November 2017

// PR SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINKS / KBEAUTY //

I love drinking tea and green tea is one of my favourites! The scent makes me feel awake in the mornings and also I tend to love skincare products containing green tea a lot regarding their scent. A new product from Wishtrend called By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash has just launched and I am so happy to be able to report to you about my experiences on testing this product for the last weeks.

Probably, you know that Wishtrend does not only sell other Korean brands but also has a step in the beauty industry itself. Apart from known brand names Klairs or Jungle Botanics they also have products named under the brand “By Wishtrend”. Well-known products from By Wishtrend are the Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum, Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Vitamin Mask, or the Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water which I reviewed not long ago. The latest addition to the By Wishtrend product family is the By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash.

By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash is a cleanser that comes in powder form. In order to make the product ready for cleansing your skin you have to add water or your favourite watery toner to the powder and lather it up. Powder Wash are probably one of my favourite cleansing types for travelling, since the product will never leak and create a mess during transportation if it breaks. The powder wash comes in a pale green plastic bottle which makes it very lightweight and perfectly portable. The packaging is very simple and only shows the product name and some minor description on the backside. The cardboard box has the same green color and simple design, but it contains more thorough information on the sides in Korean and English.

Green Tea

Green tea does not only have health benefits when consumed, but also has many benefits for the skin when applied topically. It contain polyphenols and Vitamins A,C, and E, which have anti-oxidant properties, and so it acts anti-aging and protects the skin from UV damage. Moreover, it also has moisturizing, soothing and smoothening properties on the skin. It is practically an all-rounder and has been used for many years in cosmetics products, especially in the asian region, where drinking green tea and tea in general is a major part of the culture.

Other key ingredients of the By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash are Papain, Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Powder), and Amino Acid Surfactants derived from coconut. Papain is an enzyme that mildly exfoliates your skin and acts as skin conditioner. Baking powder has skin conditioning and exfoliating properties as well. It is more abrasive than papain and suited to help acne-prone skin to get rid of skin troubles. Last but not least, the amino acid surfactants have a weak acidity and moisture retaining properties. The ingredients list in total is not very long and you can find the full english ingredients listed on the cardboard box packaging:

Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Sorbitol, Papain, Betaine, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate

You can check the ingredients via COSDNA or Skincarisma to see what the single ingredients are for. The product is free from alcohol, paraben and sulphates. It has mainly brighteing, exfoliating and anti aging properties and is in generally suited for all skintypes, but it contains corn starch and citric acid. Corn starch can be irritating for acne-prone skintypes and citric acid has to be used with care for sensitive skintypes. I personally have dry skin and didn’t react in a negative way the Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash.

As I said before you have to mix this powder with lukewarm water (or your favourite toner) to lather it up. The Wishtrend description recommends lukewarm water to activate the enzyme properties of the cleanser. Also, it is recommended not to use AHAs/BHAs, highly concentrated Vitamin C, Retinol, etc. together with the product, because the cleanser already contains exfoliating ingredients and you do not want to over-exfoliate your skin. For sensitive skintypes it is recommended to use the cleanser only 2-3 times a week.

First of all, the By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash smells amazing! It has the scent of fresh matcha tea or matcha latte and just is sooo yummy if you are a green tea lover like me. I feel directly refreshed by the scent when I’m using this cleanser. The foam that is created is not a lot, but only a very watery lather, but on the other hand it is not drying on the skin either. The pH I tested was at 7, but it largely depends on your tap water (or toner) in this case. Regarding it cleansing properties I can recommend it as second step cleanser. It won’t do the work as full makeup remover, so I would use an oil cleanser or balm cleanser to remove my makeup first and then use the powder wash. More often I preferred to use this wash in the mornings as only cleanser though! The powder wash will make the skin feel really refreshed, but not dried out. Moreover the skin feels super soft after application and you can feel that it really works with all these exfoliating ingredients.

For me the By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash is perfect as once in a while morning cleanser. Usually, I only use water or cleansing water in the mornings. This powder wash adds some nice exfoliating effects and has an amazing scent that makes you feel awake! Since it contains many exfoliating ingredients people with sensitive skin have to try it out slowly, using it only few times in the week. I can imagine that it will act very positively on people with acne prone skin and make the skin feel smoothened out.

If you are curious about the By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash, too, it usually retails for 22.00 US$ and is available at Wishtrend. But at the moment it is on launching sale until 16th November for only 17.60US$. Keep in mind the friend-referral program from Wishtrend: You can receive a 5 Us$ referral coupon if you use my invitation code 17939205 upon registration and you’ll receive this voucher immediately. There will be a specific field in your registration form called “friends invitation program” where you can put the code mentioned above. This way new customers can safe 5 US$ which is a great possibility to safe some money. Also, Wishtrend has a Free-Shipping Area, were you can find products that can be bought with free shipping. There won’t be any Wishtrend Coupons for this months because of the upcoming Black Friday sales. But there are special prices available for the powder wash in combination with the Vitamin 75 Maximizing Cream and 21.5 Enhancing mask.

What is your impression on the By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash? Have you tried powder washes before?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://www.wishtrend.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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beauty PR Sample Rossmann

Review: Revlon Colorstay Brow Crayon

3. November 2017

// PR SAMPLE / BEAUTY / MAKE UP //

Using brow pencils on your eye brows makes such a difference in your whole appearance and yet many people here in Germany do not dare to use them, because they fear it could appear to much like painted. Together with the Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolors I reviewed previously I also received all shades of the Revlon Colorstay Brow Crayon from the German drugstore Rossmann. I think you might be interested in the swatches for these brow crayons, because they could be really an opinion if you want a very subtle and natural look!

As I said in my last Revlon post, I’m happy to have Revlon back in German drugstores. After many years of abstinence people can now buy Revlon products in the German drugstore chain Rossmann .Welcome back, Revlon!

The Colorstay Brow Crayons are thick brow crayons containing wax, that melt down to a powdery finish when applied. They are supposed to be waterproof and last for 24 hours.

The Crayons are available in 4 different shades:

305: Blonde

310: Soft Brown

315: Dark Brown

320: Soft Black

As you can see from the swatches below (from left to right: 305, 310, 315, 320) the color payoff of the crayons is very soft and powdery. Although it is a crayon it has a very subtle and powdery finish. The colors are perfect to create a soft look. The brightest color 305 barley shows up on my skin, so it may be a great choice for very pale skintypes and fair hair. Even soft brown will be a good option for many people with blonde or light brunette hair. In terms of staying power the swatches are resistant to rubbing, too. I couldn’t check if they last for 24 h yet though.

For me personally, having black and dense eye brows, these crayons are too soft in terms of color payoff. On the other hand I’d say that these are perfect for beginners in terms of eye brow make up, because the soft and powdery finish doesn’t show errors too much. If you never have used any brow pencil you definitely have to try out one of these!

The Revlon Colorstay Brow Crayon is available for 6.39 € at Rossmann (currently on sale from 7.99 €).

Are you using brow pencils or crayons?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://www.rossmann.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics bbcosmetic beauty PR Sample review

Review: 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment

21. October 2017

// PR SAMPLE / SKINCARE / AFFILIATE LINKS //

Roses are the queens of all the flowers, and that’s for a good reason. Since the ancient times these flowers have been used for therapeutic benefits. The rose essential oils are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants antibacterial and therefore widely used in cosmetics products. I’m one of those rose-loving people when it comes to skincare and I’m really happy that BBCOSMETIC introduced me to the 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment:

9Wishes is a Korean beauty brand which was unknown to me before. If you look at their official site you will also see that have a small range of beauty products and that the page is relatively new, so I guess the brand is quite new as well. The products have a sleek and pretty design and make me curious to try more.

The 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment comes in a pale pink cardboard box with English and Korean description written onto. It doesn’t look especially fancy, but very simple. But inside you will discover the beautiful bottle containing the product and on my first glance I fell in love it! Look at that gorgeous pump bottle with rose-gold cap. And the treatment has even a pale pink color contains bits of rose petals (I guess) in it!

The 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment is supposed to maximize the skin’s natural night-time renewal process and uses their special oil encapsulation technology for it. Although it is targeting the night-time renewal of the skin it can be used in the mornings and evenings on your cleansed face before using your moisturizer.

The ingredients of the treatment are listed below:

Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Water, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Akyl Acrylates Crosspolymer, Argnine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Beeswax, Allatoin, sh-Decapeptide-9, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Ethylhexylylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, Jadminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Vaccinum Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extractm Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Rose Canina Fruit Oil, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extractm Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Rose Flower Oil, Cl 77491, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolysed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolysed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid

You can see that there are various plant-based ingredients and especially a lot of rose extract and oils. The product is alcohol-free, sulphate-free and paraben-free. Apart from rose it contains a lot of Hyaluronic Acid for moisturizing, but also macadamia oil. Further more it contains Licorice Extract, which is one of my favourites. At the moment I’m trying a new tool for ingredients analytics and it is quite nice and I can recommend you to have a look at it: it is called Skincarisma and you can find the analysis of the 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment >>here<<.

As you can see from the ingredients this treatment is especially suited for dry skintypes, but also contains some ingredients that promote wound healing. Since it contains jasmine oil and geranium oil people with sensitive skintypes should keep in mind whether they react to these ingredients or not. According to COSDNA and Skincarisma the ingredients are safe to use, only the jasmine oil has to be noted for sensitive people.

The 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment is a gel type essence with a rose scent. Despite of the oils the application feels moist and watery and the product absorbs very quickly into the skin. The pink particles dissolve while rubbing the essence into the skin. Once absorbed there is no trace of oiliness or stickiness noticeable.

The glow and shimmer that you see on the picture below is only visible during the short moment while it absorbs. Afterwards there is no glow left on the skin, but it fully absorbs and leaves the skin matte, leaving only the rose scent behind. The skin feels hydrated on the area where you apply the essence.

You only need one or two pumps of the product to cover your face and in the time I’ve been using it I never had a bad reaction. Of course everyone is different, so be sure to check the ingredients before using and make a patch test on another part of your body if you know that your skin could react to it.

I’m completely happy with the 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment and I feel sad that there is only one-third left in my bottle. I received this essence from BBCOSMETIC where it retails for 19 US$ and is on sale. You can use the code Q2C8JX9N45R3O for a chance of 10 % off your order, too! You can also get the 9Wishes Rose Hydrating Capsule Treatment on amazon.com for 35.20US$.

Did you hear about the brand 9Wishes? Have you tried any of their products? What do you think about roses as ingredients in cosmetics?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://bbcosmetic.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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beauty PR Sample review Rossmann

Review: Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolor

14. October 2017

// PR SAMPLE / MAKE UP / LIPS //

A while ago I received an amazing package containing all 15 colors of the new Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolor by the German drugstore Rossmann. I want to share my impression and the swatches of all 15 shades with you today:

I remember years ago that the brand Revlon was available in German drugstores. Then, suddenly, the brand was taken off the German market. Many people who loved that brand had to get the products from this brand during vacation in other countries or order from abroad. This year the German drugstore Rossmann announced the relaunch of Revlon in Germany. Welcome back, Revlon!

As the name says, the Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolor is a gel formula lipstick containing hyaluronic acid for moisturizing the lips. They glide on very smoothly and don’t feel drying on the lips, rather they feel very lightweight on the lips. Furthermore, they have a nice shine that they leave on the lips and yet have a good pigmentation. If you are scent sensitive I have to tell you though, that these lipsticks have a fruity and noticeable scent (mango nd whipped vanilla according to the description).

I will start with the nude colors of the available shades from top to bottom:

700 “Sand”: a light beige shade and the nudest color of the lipsticks

705 “Dawn”: a dusty rose color

710 “Desert”: a pink-brown shade

715 “Arabica”: a brownish, rusty shade

720 “Pink Cloud”: a light girly pink color

Despite being the nude colors from the range all colors show up nicely and look different from one another. My favourite here is Arabica since it fits perfectly for the autumn season.

The next shades are in the bright reds and pinks from top to bottom:

725 “Sunset”: a dark coral shade with great pigmentation

730 “Tropical”: A vibrant ad bright pink

735 “Garden”: a darker, pigmented pink

740 “Coral”: a bright and vibrant coral shade

745 “Rhubarb”: a pigmented cherry red

From these colors “Sunset” and “Rhubarb” are my favourite colors.

The last 5 swatches are the darker berry shades from top to bottom:

750 “Lava”: a classy and beautiful red shade

755 “Adobe”: a dark red shade

760 “Vineyard”: a mauve color

765 “Blossom”: a vibrant purple shade

770 “Twilight”: a dark purple shade

This is the color range I love the most shades from. Favourites are “Lava”, “Adobe”, and “Vineyard”.

As you can see there is so much versatility in the shades and despite the shiny and lightweight formula the color pay-off of all the shades is visible and shows up nicely. My personal favourites are from the darker shades, simply because pale pink colors don’t suit me much and the lighter shades don’t show up nicely because of my natural lip color. I really love the feeling when applying the lipsticks because they glide so nicely and leave a pretty sheen on the lips as well. They do not last forever though, but at least fade away nicely. The Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolor comes in a slim pen-size and retails for 10.99€.

What do you think about the color selection? Which is your favourite color?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://www.rossmann.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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Barbara Box beauty PR Sample

Unboxing: Barbara Box No. 3 / 2017

12. October 2017

// PR SAMPLE / UNBOXING / SUBSCRIPTION BOX //

The third box of the newly launched Barbara Box arrived at my doorsteps a while ago and I would love to share the content with you again. I loved the concept and the products in the boxes so far, and if you live in Germany and love subscription boxes with a good mix of products you might love this, too. If you missed my other unboxings you can head over >>here<<. The third Barbara Box is dedicated to cozy autumn moments to share with your best friends:

The Barbara Box ambassador is also the donor of the name, a German celebrity called Barbara Schöneberger. The box is not only advertised by her, but also she selects the products. The topic of the boxes revolve around “Girls Night” with your best friend(s)and contain food, drinks, beauty, decoration, games…so as you see the Barbara Box seems to be very versatile.

The box is not a monthly box but is released every three months and comes together with a print of the Barbara magazine, a magazine curated by Barbara Schöneberger aswell and addressing women in their 30s.

All boxes I received so far were heavy and full of products. I’m always surprised about the weight when I receive the parcel from the post. This time the box contained 8 different products which I want to show you below:

Baileys Iced Coffee Latte

This newly launched Iced Coffee Drink came twice, so you can share it with your best friend on the next occasion. It combines the taste of Baileys with Arabica- and Robusta Coffee and milk. Each can contains 200 ml and retails for 2.49 US$.

Dr. Grandel Hyaluron Moisture Flash Ampoules

A deep and intense micro hyaluronic acid treatment, which supplies the deeper layers of the skin with hydration. The package contains 3 ampoules containing 3 ml each, which retail for 14.90€.

Wilco Classic Jojoba Nailcare Pen

This pen is perfect to be taken along with you in your bag. It helps to nourish your nails with jojoba oil, vitamins and keratin. It is super easy to use and even has replacement tips included. The pen retails for 6.95€.

Erwin Müller Walk-Frottier Guest-Towel “Tübingen”

What’s better than to be offered a soft and cozy towel when staying over at a friend’s place?! This towel is perfect, small and very soft. Perfect for your beauty routine, as well. It retails for 3.50€.

Barbara Box Mug

Autumn and Winter are usually the seasons when people drink a lot of hot beverages like tea. So mugs are always very useful to have at hands. This mug retails for 11.90 US$.

Messmer Cake Teas

And of course a mug would not be complete without some proper tea for it. My box contained the Messmer Cake Tea variation with Strawberry Cheesecake Taste. Perfect to share with your friends. One pack containing 18 tea bags retails for 2.19€.

Ultrasun Overnight Summer Recovery Mask

This sleeping mask contains hyaluronic acid and brown algae for moisturizing and refreshing the skin after a sunny autumn walk…unfortunately our autumn has not been really sunny yet. Still this mask sounds nice to use. 50 ml retail for 39.00€.

Tropicai coconut chips “Crispy Cacao”

These coconut chips are really addictive! ME and my boyfriend ate it right away and couldn’t stop. It is so delicious! The coconut flavour together with the cocoa and the coconut flower sugar is a perfect combination. 120g retail for 2.98€

Another versatile box containing some beauty products, drinks, and snacks. My favourite items this time were the sleeping mask and the coconut chips. From the three boxes I received so far this is not my favourite (No.1 is still my favourite box so far), but it is still a good variety and the value is nice as well. Barbara Box is released every three months, which makes it even more appalling in my opinion. The box retails for 29.95 €, but there are also options for a yearly or half-year order with 4 or 2 boxes, respectively. Considering the prize of the included products in the boxes so far it makes up far the retail price definitely. I’m really curious how they will continue in the future.

How do you like the autumn edition of the Barbara Box?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by https://www.barbara-box.de which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty review

Review: Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream

11. October 2017

We all know how delicate our skin around the eyes is, and it is also the first area where we will observe fine lines and wrinkles. Therefore, it is important to use moisturizer around your eyes, even in younger ages. My current eye cream is the Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream, which I heard many positive things about prior to my bought. After testing this cream for the past months I would like to share my impression with you.

Innisfree is an eco-friendly Korean skincare and makeup brand focusing on natural ingredients from Jeju island and recycle packaging. The design of their products is simple and neat and nicely reflects the ideology of the brand. Innisfree products are usually free from harmful ingredients. They belong to the Amore Pacific group.

Innisfree has different lines for their skincare products. The Orchid line with its purple packaging design is dedicated to total care. It contains Jeju Orchid as a key ingredient, which is rich in antioxidants and thereby acts anti-aging. The Jeju Orchid Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream makes your skin smoother, more healthy and elastic and also improves the skin tone.

The Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream comes in a jar containing 30 ml, which is a lot! Although I’m already using this for months I’m still in the top quarter of the jar. Since the area around our eyes is not that large you only need a bit every day. It would be great if Innisfree comes up with a tube version of this product because it guarantees a more hygienic use of the product.

Ingredients of the Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream

The ingredients of the eye cream are listed on the cardboard box and also on the official Innisfree page. You can also find the ingredients listed on COSDNA and Skincarisma:

WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, SQUALANE, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, ARBUTIN, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, ORCHID EXTRACT, CAFFEINE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, ADENOSINE, C12-20 ALKYL GLUCOSIDE, C14-22 ALCOHOLS, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, LAURIC ACID, MYRISTIC ACID, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, STEARIC ACID, ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE, ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL, XANTHAN GUM, PALMITIC ACID, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE, POLYSORBATE 20, POLYACRYLATE-13, POLYISOBUTENE, PROPANEDIOL, PEG-100 STEARATE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, DISODIUM EDTA, FRAGRANCE

The product is free from parabens, sulfates, alcohol, and EU allergens. It has brightening functions by using arbutin, and anti-aging properties due to the adenosine. Caffeine will revitalize and there are a bunch of plant-based ingredients included, too!

The Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream has a thick cream formula with a floral scent. It clings to the skin when you apply it and feels very nourishing, but also has a cooling feeling to it. It absorbs very quickly, once patted in and leaves a very light tackiness at first, but does not feel sticky. The tackiness disappears after some moments as well and leaves the skin with a more firm and elastic touch. It does not cause any problems with makeup applied on top once it is absorbed and feels lightweight, too.

I started to use this cream on my lids as well for some months because I had the feeling that the skin there was starting to lose its elasticity. At first, it was a strange feeling to have cream applied above the eyes, but once it dries down you will not feel it any longer. In my experience, the skin above my eyes now feels much better than it did before. Also in general, this eye cream provides enough nourishment and moisture to make the lines less visible and the skin more elastic.The skin feels very smooth after applying the cream.

If you are looking for a nourishing and anti-aging eye cream I can recommend you the Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream. I feel that it has improved my skins elasticity and gives it the right amount of hydration and moisture. If you are sensitive towards scents you won’t be liking this eye cream, though: the floral scent is noticeable and lingers for a while. I’m personally very happy with my purchase and I can only confirm the other positive reviews about this cream. I bought the Innisfree Orchid Eye Cream from Beautytap, but there are also other suppliers for this product:

Beautytap for 24US$ (check out my Coupons & Discount page for special deals and codes)

Beautytap for 24US$ (15% off coupon upon registration)

Beautytap for 24US$

Did you try any products from the Innisfree Orchid line? What is your favorite eye cream? I will definitely consider to try out more products from this skincare line.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review W2Beauty

Review: SanDaWha Camellia Flower Hydrating Mist

8. October 2017

// PR SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINKS / KBEAUTY //

When it comes to mists I’m really more of the lazy type. I know how refreshing the feeling is when you spritz some good quality mist on your face and sometimes I use mists as replacement of my toner. I must admit that I was primarily intrigued by the packaging design of the SanDaWha Camellia Flower Hydrating Mist, which was provided to me for reviewing purpose from Beautytap. But it was also another chance for me to try to use mists more often in my skincare routine.

SanDaWha is a natural cosmetics brand from Korea. Its products are free from mineral oils, free from alcohol, free from animal based ingredients, synthetic perfume and fragrance free, and free from artificial pigments and artificial preservatives. From the high quality plant-based ingredients Camellia flower is their key ingredient. Camellia japonica is a member of the tea family and grows naturally in Korea and Japan, where it is also known by the name “Dongbaek” (Korean) or “Tsubaki” (Japanese). The oil from the Camellia flower is widely used in asian cosmetics and has moisturizing properties.

The SanDaWha Camellia Flower Hydrating Mist is a multi-purpose mist designed for refreshing and relaxing you, but also as replacement for toner, or even to be used as makeup-fixer. Also, if you need some glow and fresh-up throughout the day this mist does a good job.

The SanDaWha Camellia Flower Hydrating Mist comes in a beautiful pinkish-red spraying bottle made from hard plastic and a red metallic part around the cap. It contains 80 ml and is the size of my hand regarding its height. Maybe you would not consider it travel friendly in size, but it is definitely not heavy or too large either. The backside of the bottle contains English and Korean descriptions of how to use the product and what it is, but the ingredients are only listed in Korean. Yet, I found the English ingredients listed on Beautytap:

Camellia japonica Flower Extract (92.52%), Licorice root extract, Green tea extract, Pea protein, Pea extract

You can also check Skincarisma for the ingredients analysis. As you can see the list is short and to the point. Exactly what I want a mist to be like. The main part of the mist is the Camellia japonica flower extract, which gives the product also its name. The licorice, green tea and pea extracts are a plus.

Oh, and look at this little detail on the cap of the mist! A single Camellia flower! So beautiful, isn’t it?

The mist comes out very finely when you push down the nozzle. First, you will recognize a nice flowery scent of the Camellia flower, which is lightweight and not overpowering. A hint of the scent will remain, but it won’t be really noticeable too much any longer once the product is absorbed and dried down. It absorbs very fast and doesn’t leave a sticky scent, neither a film. Of course, a mist always feels refreshing and relaxing once you apply it on your face. I love to use them on hot summer days. In winter, a mist replaces either my toner, or I use it to fix my makeup, especially if it is very powdery or matte and I want some glow instead. This mist works well for that, since it is a very fine mist.

If you are one of those people who use mists very frequently and love that refreshing feeling throughout the day the SanDaWha Camellia Flower Hydrating Mist could be a nice choice. I love the fact that it contains only very few ingredients and all of them are plant-based. That means it is vegan and doesn’t contain any additives. Since it doesn’t contain any preservatives though, you have to keep in mind to use it up quickly before it gets bad. The mist is also very fine, which makes it suitable for fixing makeup.

At Beautytap the SanDaWha Camellia Flower Hydrating Mist retails for 16 US$.

You can also check out the Discounts & Coupon Page for saving some bucks.

Do you love mists? And are they part of your daily skincare routine?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by https://w2beauty.com which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty Olivarrier PR Sample review

Review: Olivarrier Dual Moist Hyaluron Essence

7. October 2017

// PR SAMPLE / SKINCARE / KBEAUTY //

Here is the last product I received from Olivarrier for reviewing purpose, the Olivarrier Dual Moist Hyaluron Essence. I already reviewed the Olivarrier Gentle Glow Seed Polishing Mask and the Emolient Extra Comfort Cream before, so if you are curious about the brand be sure to check these out as well. But first, let’s see what this essence is about:

Olivarrier is a new Korean beauty brand focusing on the key ingredient in their product, which is olive squalane. The name is a mix of “olive” and “barrier”, since the olive squalane in their skincare products is supposed to moisturize and penetrate the skin and helping to protect its natural moisture barrier.

Olive Squlane

What is olive squalane exactly? First of all, there is squalene and squalane. Squalene occurs widely within animals and plants, since it is part of the synthesis of sterols. It occurs in our sebum for example. But also in plant oils and in a high concentration it is also found in shark liver. Squalene is unsaturated and therefore it oxidizes easily. In order to prevent oxidization squalene is hydrogenated leading to saturated and stable squalane. Olive squalane is an animal friendly alternative of using squalane derived from sharks for example and has the same benefits for skin. Squalane is a great emollient, humectant and suited for sensitive skins by being non-irritating.

When I heard about the brand first time on Fiftly Shades of Snail I was attracted especially about the word “olive”, but also because of the simple and minimalistic design of the products. They have a beautiful skincare range that you can check out on their official web page. It consists of a cleansing bar, a toner, an essence, two different creams, a mask, and .

The Olivarrier Dual Moist Hyaluron Essence comes in a simple white cardboard box with descriptions in Korean and English. It is a highly moisturizing essence containing hyaluronic acid and panthenol. The essence comes in a grey colored, plastic pump bottle.

Below the ingredients of the essence are listed:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane (Olive Squalane), Panthenol, Madecassoside, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Arginine, Allantonin, Olea Europaea (olive) Fruit Oil, Ceramide NP, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Carbomer, Octyldodecanol, Isohexadecane, Dodecane, Isoeicosane, Octadecane, Tetradecane, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extracts, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-60 hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated LEcithin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid

You can also check the ingredients via COSDNA or check out the ingredients analysis by Skincarisma. Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane,Panthenol, Olive oil, Ceramides…all those ingredients are contributing to moisturize and hydrate your skin. Additionally, the list contains Madecassoside, a triterpenoid compound found in Centella asiatica. Madecassoside has anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and anti-oxidant activities. It is supported by Allantoin, which also has wound-healing and cell-regenerating properties.

The essence itself has a gel-cream consistency. The milky essence is quite fluid and spreads to a moist and hydrating layer and absorbs quickly. The skin does feel hydrated after using it. The Olivarrier Dual Moist Hyaluron Essence is weak acid based (pH 5.5), free from chemical preservatives (parabens & phenoxyethanol), moreover, it is fragrance-free, coloring-agent free and dermatologically tested.

If you are looking for a cruelty-free, vegan hydrating essence, which is free from chemical preservatives you will do nothing wrong here. It does a descent job as essence and worked well with my skincare products. It didn’t break me out during the whole time I’ve been testing it and I’ve used it happily, but keep in mind that everyone may react in a different way.

You can buy the Olivarrier Dual Moist Hyaluron Essence from:

RoseRoseShop for ~30 US$

Jolse for ~30 US$

Did you try any of the products from the brand Olivarrier already?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://olivarrier.com which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review Wishtrend

Review: By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid %5 Skin Prep Water

4. October 2017

// PR SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINKS / KBEAUTY //

A while ago I received the new By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid %5 Skin Prep Water for reviewing purpose by Wishtrend. I’ve tested it for quite some time and I’m almost through the bottle and I’m positive about this product so far.

Probably, you know that Wishtrend does not only sell other Korean brands but also has a step in the beauty industry itself. Apart from known brand names Klairs or Jungle Botanics they also have products named under the brand “by Wishtrend”. Well-known products from By Wishtrend are the Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum or the Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Vitamin Mask. The Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water is the newest addition to the By Wishtrend product family.

Mandelic Acid

Is this a toner? Yes and no! It is a hydrating liquid to treat your skin after cleansing and acts as mild chemical exfoliant. This prep water uses a low concentration of mandelic acid for exfoliating your skin. In contrast to harsh AHAs and BHAs Mandelic Acid is a mild AHA with a large molecular size, so it is better suited for people with sensitive skin or people who want to start incorporate chemical exfoliant into their skincare. It has antibacterial properties and helps to reduce pigmention of the skin.

Apart from the key ingredient, which is mandelic acid, this product contains some more beneficial ingredients:

Water, Mandelic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sorbitol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Carbomer

Panthonol, Beta Glucan, and Sodium Hyaluronate are acting moisturizing and hydrating. Centella Asiatica Extracta acts regenerating on damaged skin. Licorice extract helps to even up the skin tone and acts soothing. You can check out the ingredients analysis on Skincarisma, too.

I use the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid %5 Skin Prep Water after cleansing my skin. I pour the clear and watery liquid on a cotton pad and swipe it over my face, especially over my T-zone. Afterwards I continue with the rest of my skincare routine. Sometimes, I also add a toner after using the Skin Prep Water to add some additional moisture.

I discovered that this mild exfoliator doesn’t irritate the skin at all, but yet it makes the skin feel softer and smooth. When I started using this again after my vacation I felt that it made my freckles disappear really quickly. It doesn’t have any special scent to it and absorbs quickly, too, without any trace of stickiness. I use the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid %5 Skin Prep Water in the evening almost every day. During day I use a Vitamin C serum. I’m wearing sunscreen during day aswell.

I came to like the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid %5 Skin Prep Water very much. It is a mild exfoliation and a perfect start to get your skin to like AHAs. It makes the skin soft and smooth and can be used along with my regular skincare routine without any problems (if you are interested in what products I’m using you might want to check out my Instagram account where I share my skincare from time to time.

If you are curious about the Mandelic Acid 5 % Skin Prep Water , too, it retails for 22.00 US$ and is available at Wishtrend. Also keep in mind the friend-referral program from Wishtrend: You can receive a 5 Us$ referral coupon if you use my invitation code 17939205 upon registration and you’ll receive this voucher immediately. There will be a specific field in your registration form called “friends invitation program” where you can put the code mentioned above. This way new customers can safe 5 US$ which is a great possibility to safe some money. Also, Wishtrend has a Free-Shipping Area, were you can find products that can be bought with free shipping. Check out my post on the current Wishtrend Coupons. Until end of October you can try out the Skinmiso Spot Repairing Serum worth 24.99 US$ for FREE (you only have to pay the shipping costs) with the code >> SPOTFREEOCT <<!

What is your opinion on chemical peeling of the skin? Do you use AHAs/BHAs? Would you consider Mandelic Acid as an alternative?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://www.wishtrend.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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