TesterKorea | Berries in the Snow

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Mamonde High Cover Cushion Perfect Liquid | TesterKorea Beauty Tester

5. October 2018

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / MAKEUP //

Long time no cushion review! This Mamonde High Cover Cushion Perfect Liquid is the last product of the round-up by TesterKorea within the frame of their Beauty Tester Event. I love using cushion foundations, because of the natural finish and the convenience they have. You can take them along and touch up your makeup whenever needed. Let’s see how this cushion from the KBeauty brand Mamonde will perform:

First, some information about TesterKorea: if you know me and my blog for some time you will know that TesterKorea is my favorite online retailer for larger KBeauty hauls. I’ve purchased products from them many times and they never failed me. Also, they are quite popular for offering many free samples and having a LARGE variety of samples for sale as well. If you do not know a specific product and you want to test it I can recommend you TesterKorea. Also, they have a huge amount of different products from many brands, so you can be sure to find what you are looking for in most cases. Unlike other online retailers they do not offer free shipping, though, but their shipping is based on weight. The cheap prices of the products themselves totally balances out the shipping costs in my eyes – especially for larger hauls. They even have a specific topic where you can request a product if it is newly launched. They are also quite fast in listing the latest products from most brands. Considering the fact that I know they are a reliable retailer and have a good reputation makes me even more happy that I’m part of their new Beauty Tester round-up.

The funny thing about the brand Mamonde is that I have known it for ages, but I hardly ever reviewed their products…strangely enough! Mamonde is a brand by Amore Pacific and has been founded over 25 years ago. The brand’s motto is to believe in the power of flowers and use flower extracts in their cosmetic products. I’ve always been drawn to the rose skincare line of this brand because I love everything with roses!

The Mamonde High Cover Cushion Perfect Liquid Cushion is my first cushion from the brand and it is a cushion foundation that comes in three different shades. I have selected the darkest shade, which is No.23, a beige, but still quite a light tone. Sorry, for all the tanned people out there at this point! The cushion is a high coverage cushion with a matte finish and SPF 34/PA++. The cushion is perfectly suited for people with acne and skin irritations and for combination and oily skin types, but it also can be used on other skin types.

As all cushion foundations, the Mamonde High Cover Cushion Perfect Liquid comes in a compact pact with a mirror and an application puff. The liquid foundation is located inside an airtight packaging, unlike many “first generation” cushions, that had simply a soaked sponge as the cushion. Pressing the packaging releases the liquid foundation through the cushion. It is advised to apply the foundation first with a foundation brush ( or the so-called Mamonde Flower Petal Brush, which is sold separately) and use the included puff for touchups. This foundation has finer cover powder thanks to Mamonde’s Fine Pixel Cover Technology, which results in a flawless finish. Additionally, it has a reflecting effect due to the Volume Up Light Powder. Round-shaped silica powder and silicon gel fill the pores and gaps and make the skin look even and smooth. The puff also sticks very closely to the skin and helps to create this smooth effect.

I was very skeptical at first because usually high coverage cushion foundations with a matte effect tend to make dry skin types look even drier and flaky throughout the day. I loved the airtight cushion at first glance though and that fact that it wasn’t simply a soaked sponge, but the product was only released when needed. Then I was a bit shocked that the darkest shade I selected (23) was still a bit too light even for my skin tone. Usually, shade 23 fits my skin just right. I was almost hopeless and didn’t want to wear it, but after some consideration, I gave it a try anyway. Yes, it is still a bit too light for my summer skin, but I hope that it will adjust within the next months. But my fears regarding dryness have not been confirmed and I must say that this cushion has a great coverage and lasting power! Even though it was raining and windy throughout the day the skin looked smooth and good when I returned home. That was the biggest surprise of all!

The Mamonde High Cover Cushion Perfect Liquid has fulfilled all its claims and surprised me with a great coverage and long-lasting effect without making my skin flaky and dry. The airtight liquid cushion container is a great way to keep the foundation as fresh as possible, too! I would even love this more when it’s available in more shades for people with tanned skin and darker skin tones!

The Mamonde High Cover Cushion Perfect Liquid retails for 21250Won at TesterKorea, which makes around 22 US$.

What is your favorite cushion foundation at the moment?

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Too Cool For School Glam Rock Double Proof Brow | TesterKorea Beauty Tester

4. October 2018

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / MAKEUP //

I received a few items from TesterKorea within the frame of their Beauty Tester Event. Today, I want to talk about the Too Cool For School Glam Rock Double Proof Brow. When it comes to brow products I prefer pencils to be honest because they are precise and quick to use. Nevertheless, I give over brow products a try from time to time. This Double Proof Brow is a 2in1 product with brow ink and brow mascara combined.

Too Cool For School is a Korean brand, known for a unique packaging design. Their products are in the mid-pricey region and slightly more expansive than Etude House, for example. I have reviewed a bunch of their products in the past and the Too Cool For School Artclass By Rodin Contour is my favorite compact pact when it comes to contouring. You can also find other reviews of the brand >>here<<.

The Too Cool For School Glam Rock Double Proof Brow is a double-lasting brow mascara and ink to create cleaner and more refined brows that last double-time according to the description. There are three different shades available called Natural Brown, Ash Brown, and Light Brown. I selected Ash Brown (02) because it seems to fit most with my black eyebrows according to the promotional pictures.

The Too Cool For School Glam Rock Double Proof Brow is designed with two caps, one for the brow ink, and one for the brow mascara. In a first step, the brow ink is used to define the shape of the brows and fill in the gaps. The applicator is a sponge-like applicator that reminds me of lip tint applicators. The brow mascara comes with a classic brush and is step 2 for adjusting the color of your own brow hair to the color of the brow ink.

The color is a nice ash brown, very light and natural. Its color is water- and smudge-proof once tried, too! Unfortunately, the brush applicator for the ink is not very precise and convenient to use for me, since I’m used to pencils. I couldn’t manage to create a decent brow look with it. Also, the ash brown shade of the mascara is too light to show off on my black brows.

Unfortunately, the color I picked for the Too Cool For School Glam Rock Double Proof Brow doesn’t show up on my brows visibly, so this one was a miss for me. I will try to apply the ink with another brush in future and see whether the result is more promising. Regarding the staying power this brow product is great and will last you all day! If you have lighter or less dense brows than I have you might want to check these out!

The Too Cool For School Glam Rock Double Proof Brow retails for 13600Won at TesterKorea, which makes around 14 US$.

What is your favorite eyebrow product?

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: A;T Fox Tea Toc Water Cream | TesterKorea Beauty Tester

3. October 2018

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / SKINCARE //

I received a few items from TesterKorea within the frame of their Beauty Tester Event. This one was the only skincare related product within the bundle I received, the A;T Fox Tea Toc Water Cream! Tea and water sound definitely like my cup of tea XD ! This gel cream uses green tea extract and comes packed with a lot of moisture and can be used as a regular moisturizer or as a sleeping mask!

A;T Fox is not the most famous KBeauty brand, but it has a good reputation and some really cute designs, too. I had 3 cupcake shaped creams back in the days of the MeMeBox craze, and I loved the tiny cute jars! The brand has a lot of products containing tea, btw!

The jar of A;T Foc Tea Toc Water Cream comes in a cardboard box. Both have a very cute design with leaves and green colors, which fit great with the key ingredient green tea. Also, look at the beautifully illustrated lid of the jar! It looks very pretty!

The ingredients of the A;T Fox Tea Toc Water Cream are listed below:

Water, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Allantoin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Glycol, Butoxydiglycol, Raspberry Ketone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance

According to SkinCarisma, the cream is paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free and silicone-free! There are also a bunch of plant-based extracts, like green tea, Centella, licorice, aloe, rosemary, and chamomile! All these plant-based extracts come with notable properties for skin care. As you might know, Licorice is good for fighting acne because of its anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, it has brightening properties. Centella has wound-healing properties and acts soothing and is one of my favorite ingredients atm (check out other products containing Centella Asiatica >>here<<). Aloe, chamomile, and allantoin all have soothing properties, too, and help with moisturizing the skin.

The A;T Fox Tea Toc Water Cream comes in a big jar containing 100ml of the gel-type moisturizer. It comes with a spatula for keeping the jar as hygienic as possible, which is important for big product sizes in my eyes.The gel texture feels cooling and refreshing, which I always love about products with that kind of texture. The plant-based extracts even promote this freshness and cooling effect!

The gel melts into water while applying it and has a pleasant fresh scent, that is not overpowering. It absorbs very quickly and soaks into the skin without leaving greasiness or a sticky after effect. I love the way that it feels like nothing on the skin! This makes the cream also a great sleeping mask! Usually, for daily use, I would use a good dollop of the cream to apply all over my face. When using this as a sleeping mask I simply take the double amount and apply it. It feels so refreshing! Since there is no trace or film I can imagine that the product is even great for all skin types. It may not be nourishing enough for very dehydrated skin types though who prefer heavy creams.

The A;T Fox Tea Toc Water Cream is a nice 2 in 1 product that can be used as a daily moisturizer, but also as a sleeping pack. It has refreshing and cooling properties and the soothing effects of the plant extracts make it great for sensitive and irritated skin types. It may be not rich enough for very dehydrated and dry skin types seeking more nourishment, but I can imagine that this is a great moisturizer for hot and humid weather. If you like lightweight moisturizers that don’t leave a film or trace and are simply absorbed you will love this!

The A;T Fox Tea Toc Water Cream retails for 14400Won at TesterKorea, which makes around 14 US$.

Do you prefer gel type ord cream type moisturizers? Are you familiar with A;T Fox?

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: The Face Shop Gelato Tint | TesterKorea Beauty Tester

1. October 2018

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / MAKEUP //

I received a few items from TesterKorea within the frame of their Beauty Tester Event. The first item that got my attention was the The Face Shop Gelato Tint, which I want to show you today! Let’s face it: The packaging is so cute and unique, no wonder it screams “Buy Me!” into our faces. Moreover, I love Korean Lip Tints! It already seems like this one will be a hit for me.

The Face Shop is a Korean brand that “shares the benefits of nature”. It launched in 2003 in Korea and tries to bring together science and nature in their cosmetics products. They have a huge range of items and most of the items I tried from this brand I actually did like. Also, from time to time the brand comes up with unique packaging designs and it comparable to Tonymoly or Etude House. This The Face Shop Gelato Tint is a perfect example!

The Face Shop Gelato Tint is a creamy lip tint that comes in 6 different shades that come in ice cream shaped containers in pastel colors. The description says that these tints melt like soft ice cream on our lips with the melting mousse texture, long-lasting color, and 4 different plant oils, which are rose hip, safflower seed, apple, and mango oil. The color I selected is called Strawberry&Cream (No.02) and is a vibrant strawberry pink shade.

Let’s take a moment to look at the beautiful and perfect packaging design of The Face Shop Gelato Tint! Despite being made from plastic, the plastic has a soft touch and doesn’t feel cheap. Even look at these details: there are sprinkles on the ice cream and the cone has a typical waffle pattern, too!

When removing the lid you see the attached angled brush applicator. The lip tint is scented like strawberry bubble gum!

The product has a mousse texture, as stated in the description. The tint is thick and vibrant in color and applies smoothly.

The Face Shop Gelato Tint is not drying when applied to the lips. On the contrary, the mousse texture feels more like a lip butter. The color is pigmented and shows nicely even on my lips. It will not last a meal, but the stain stays on the lips some time and disappears in a nice and even way. The tint comes with 4.2g of volume.

I enjoy using the The Face Shop Gelato Tint, and although we have autumn now the cute ice cream shape reminds me of summer and makes me smile. I love the packaging design and the fact that it is not made from simple and cheap plastic but feels like a nice fabric and has all these tiny details. If you love mousse tints and cute packaging this one is for you! If you are sensitive to strawberry bubble gum scents in cosmetics products I would not recommend this tint though.

The Face Shop Gelato Tint retails for 9000Won at TesterKorea, which makes around 8 US$.

Do you like The Face Shop? And are you team lip tint or lipstick?

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Nakeup Face Waterking Cover Cushion | TesterKorea

9. March 2016

This is the product from the second round of products by TesterKorea I’m most excited to review, because of its reputation: the Nakeup Face Waterking Cover Cushion! It is also the last product from TesterKorea as 1st Real Tester. I hope you enjoyed the couple of reviews I shared and if you missed them out check my list at the end of this post.

First, some information about TesterKorea: if you know me and my blog for some time you will know that TesterKorea is my favorite online retailer for larger Kbeauty hauls. I’ve purchased products from them many times and they never failed me. Also, they are quite popular for offering many free samples and having a LARGE variety of samples for sale aswell. If you do not know a specific products and you want to test it first the place to recommend is TesterKorea. Also, they have a huge amount of different products from many brands, so you can be sure to find what you are looking for in most cases. Unlike other online retailers they do not offer free shipping, though, but their shipping is based on weight. The cheap prices of the products themselves totally balances the shipping costs in my eyes – especially for larger hauls. They even have a specific topic where you can request a product, if it is newly launched. They are also quite fast in listing the latest products from most brands. Considering the fact that I know they are a reliable retailer and have a good reputation makes me even more happy that I’m part of the 17 members of their 1st Real Tester round-up. I linked my previous reviews at the end of this post.

Nakeup Face is a Korean brand which is very new to me. I still cannot believe how many Korean cosmetic brands exist…It seems I’m always discovering a new brand. The brand name is a combination of Naked Face and No Makeup. Nakeup Face products should allow you to achieve a natural look and on the same time recover your face in a way that you feel comfortable with your naked face. They seem to have gained quite some popularity in Korea and there are some magazine appearances as well, according to the description of the Nakeup Face Waterking Cover Cushion. The Waterking Cover Cushion is a hydrating cushion foundation for creating flawless and radiant skin.

The square-shaped cushion compact of the Nakeup Face Waterking Cover Cushion comes packed in a cardboard box. The box contains Korean description only and unfortunately I do not have much information about the ingredients of the cushion. The key ingredients are propolis extract (vitalizing), aloe vera extract (moisturizing), rose-water (smoothing), and lotus extract (brightening). It also contains mineral water and has SPF 35 / PA++. Unlike other cushions the shape of this cushion compact is not round but square. It also has a silver material, making it also useable as mirror when closed. You will find a mirror on the inside of the lid as well.

Cushion foundations consist of a cushion soaked with the foundation / bb cream and a sponge /puff applicator which you press on the cushion in order to apply the foundation on your skin. The sponge for applying the foundation is a rubycell sponge with a black color. It has a dense structure and antibacterial properties. I would advise you to wash your sponge after a while or exchange it with a new one (there are plenty of sponges available online).

I think the square shape and the silver and black colors make this cushion look very luxurious and mature. I really like the design, although it is simple. The shade I’m showing you here is No. 23. There is a lighter color available as well, but 23 fits my skin color quite well. The container with the cushion can be removed from the case and there are refills available for this cushion.

The foundation is very creamy and by pressing lightly you will already receive more than enough of the product. The foundation has a rose scent, which I absolutely adore. It is not too strong, but very light. The plastic lid of the cushion container closes very tightly and keeps the cushion from drying out too quickly.

The Nakeup Face Waterking Cover Cushion has a medium coverage, which is buildable up to high coverage. It can be build up without a caking effect and this is also the claim it has. It combines foundation, concealer, and essence. Although it looks matte on the image below I would consider it to be semi-dewy, leaving a natural, but very pretty glow to the skin. It contains pearl particles for diffusing the light from any angle. My pictures really do not do the product enough justice here. The finish is really pretty and since it is semi-matte/ semi-dewy it is not as sticky as some other dewy cushions would be. You will feel a very slight tackyness, but it is hardly noticeable. The foundation covers up rednesses really good, and I even could use this on my dark circles. It needs touching up after some hours, especially around the nose and smilelines, so it is not 24 h lasting, but I didn’t expect that anyways :D It does not make the skin feel dry though.

I didn’t expect this cushion to be very special, but actually I really enjoy using this one. I’m using it quite often and I really like the semi-dewy finish and how it looks when freshly applied. Also, it has a really good coverage. The packaging design is also really pretty and I like to have this elegant looking cushion compact in my collection. The cushion contains 15 g and retails for 19600 Won (~16.61 US$) at TesterKorea. You can also get it together with a refill for 31600 Won (~26.77 US$). Did you know the brand Nakeup Face? What are your impressions?

Also, check out my previous reviews for TesterKorea:

Missha Lighting Tone Up Base

Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter

Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack

Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream

Etude House Tint My Brows Gel

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Missha Lighting Tone Up Base Peach | TesterKorea

8. March 2016

The Missha Lighting Tone Up Base is a newly launched product by Missha and was provided to me by TesterKorea. It is available in three different colors, which have different properties on how they effect your skintone. Depending on your skin concerns you can choose between a mint, a peach, and a purple base.

The product I’m reviewing here is from the famous Korean brand Missha. Missha has a lot of online stores all over the world and are available in US/Canada, Australia and even in Germany. It is the first Korean brand with a physical store in Ingolstadt in Germany, too! Missha is against animal testing. The products always come in a very mature and luxurious packaging and the design is usually very elegant although simple. I think that it can be liked by almost everyone. The Missha Lighting Tone Up Base has a very simple packaging though. The tube containing the base comes in a cardboard box with only Korean description. So unfortunately, I do not know the ingredients of the base. The packaging is almost to simple and doesn’t really stand out. The base is available in the three shades I mentioned at the beginning (mint, peach, violet) and I selected the peach color here. Usually, pink/peach bases are designed to brighten up the skin and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation or dark circles, whereas green bases reduce redness and violet bases reduce yellowish undertones.

The product comes in a tube containing 20 ml. It’s a quite small tube, but unlike BB creams you won’t need as much of the base on your face. A little goes a long way, and is also more easily to spread on the skin. The base has SPF 30 /PA++, but I would still advise to use a sunscreen before applying the base. The base has a clean and soapy scent, which is not overpowering, but rather mild. Applying the base on my face makes the skintone appear brighter and more even. I doesn’t make much of a difference for redness (but you should use the green base here anyways), but for people with clear skin this can be a good product for on-the-go. It can accentuate dry skin, for example around the nose, and settle in a powdery way in these areas – but this effect was minimal for me.

All in all the Missha Lighting Tone Up Base Peach is a solid and affordable base product. It does not do any miracles, but it has brightening properties and makes the skintone more even. If you are interested in a simple, but effective skin correcting base you can find the Missha Lighting Tone Up Base on TesterKorea for 7920 Won (~6.71 US$). Did you try any color correcting bases so far? Do you have a favorite one?

Also, check out my previous reviews for TesterKorea:

Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter

Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack

Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream

Etude House Tint My Brows Gel

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter | TesterKorea

7. March 2016

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / SKINCARE //

This is round No. 2 for the 1st Realtesters from TesterKorea. I have prepared three more reviews (see my Instagram) for you which I will be sharing within the next days. I will start with the Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter. I love body butters / lotions / milk / oils. I’m using them after each and every shower…since I have dry skin and I love hot showers, which makes the skin even drier (I know…but I simply cannot stand a lukewarm shower except in hot summers).

Nature Republic is a Korean brand founded in 2009 and using the slogan ‘journey to nature’. They are one of many Korean brands addressing natural cosmetics and their consumers. One of their most famous products is probably the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel, which comes in this huge container and is super affordable, too. I haven’t tried many products from that brand although many of their products really look interesting…somehow I decide to buy rather from Innisfree and Etude House in the end. And the moment I’m deciding to buy something from Nature Republic it is usually sold out…:D

The Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter comes in a cute jar in a peachy-pink color, showing some illustrations of peaches as well. The illustration fits nicely to the key ingredient of this body butter, which is obviously peach. The descriptions on the jar in Korean, but if you peel up the sticker on the bottom of the jar it reveals the English description. I discovered this after I made the pictures for this post. You can check the ingredients of the body butter on COSDNA. Taking a look at the list you will spot that the body butter contains kernel extract, leaf extract, fruit extract, and flower extract of peach, which have great moisturizing properties. But it also contains cocoa seed butter, which is a great moisturizer, too. Furthermore, Glycerin provides the skin with moisture. A second closer look will reveal two silicones in the ingredients as well (Cylclohexasiloxa and Cyclopentasiloxane). It is common for body products that they contain silicones, because they have the effect of making the skin smoother. The disadvantage of silicones in body creams is that they build a layer on top of your skin instead of sinking into it. This causes a peeling of the product after a while.

The texture of the Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter is thick and silky-smooth. It feels like hardened butter, but can be spread nicely on the skin, making it soft. The body butter smells amazingly of peaches. I do not like too artificial peach scent, but I liked this one. I already used it excessively on my body and it really makes the skin silky smooth (silicons), but also feels moisturizing. I had the peeling problem in areas like elbows and knees, where the product started to build crumbles after a couple of hours, especially when I rubbed with my fingers onto the skin. Apart from this I cannot say anything negative about this body milk.

Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter reminds me of the body butters by The Body Shop. I loved and still love using these, but this one from Nature Republic comes close to them as well. The scent is divine. If you like peach scent you will be in peach- heaven here. The design is cute, too. It retails on TesterKorea for 13500 Won (~11.44 US$) for 150 ml of volume.

What is your favorite body care product? Do you prefer body butters or oils / lotions /milks?

Also, check out my previous reviews for TesterKorea:

Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack

Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream

Etude House Tint My Brows Gel

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack | TesterKorea

18. February 2016

Now, this is not a newly launched product like the two previous reviews, but a product with a good reputation in Korea: The Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack, a multifunctional product for exfoliation, brightening and lifting on the same time. As I announced via Instagram I’m honoured to be part of TesterKorea’s Real Tester, who offered me this product for reviewing purpose, amongst two other products, the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel and the Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream.

The Korean brand Proformula was new to me up to now. The name is made up by the two terms “Skin Professional” and “Formulation”. Proformula has a 3-Step System. The first step is to examine the active ingredients, the second step is the dermatological test, and the third step is to provide an optimized solution for the skincare concerns. Proformula doesn’t have many products, but all I saw on the official page were skincare products. The packaging design is simple black and white with no frills or pretty illustrations, simply text. This can be professional looking and attract customers this way. The Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack comes together with a brush for applying the mask. Both come in a cardboard box containing mostly Korean, but also some English description.

The cardboard box states that the product is free from parabens, synthetic fragrances and dyes, minerals, benzophenones, silicones, propylene glycol, triethanolamine and SLES. If we look at the full ingredients list we see that there are no harmfull ingredients included. According to COSDNA almost all ingredients are green flagged. Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack contains 7 % of AHA and is a mild chemical exfoliation. The AHA used is Lactic Acid:

Lactic Acid: Lactic Acid is an AHA (Alpha hydroxyl acid). It is derived from sour milk that hydrates the skin by sloughing off old dead skin cells. It has whitening properties and is an astringent.

Also, a couple of plant extracts and fruit extracts have skin conditioning properties and help the exfoliation and make the skin feel smooth. Another two key ingredients are Niacinamide and Adenosine:

Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of Vitamin B, which has a firming effect with anti-inflammatory properties.

Adenosine: Adenosine is known for having anti-aging properties and providing for healthy skin and elasticity.

Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Leaf Juice provide the skin with moisture. Furthermore you will find a couple of other moisturizing chemicals in the ingredients lists.

Some words about Peptides in Cosmetics:

Also, according to the description the formulation uses peptides for elasticity and a lifting effect. The three peptides used are Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8. I know that many of you do not know what peptides do and if they can do anything at all when applied topically on the skin. Peptides are chains of amino acids. Usually, the name of the peptide tells us how many amino acids are part of the peptide. A tetrapeptide is made from 3 amino acids for example. Our body uses peptides for messaging, that means a peptide is a molecule which sends a signal to a cell. Let’s think about collagen for example: the breakdown of collagen forms peptides, which give the signal to make new collagen. By applying this specific peptides on our skin we might be able to tell the skin to produce new collagen.

The Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack comes in a sleek tube containing 30 g. The included brush has a good length and is used to apply the product on your face. The formulation of the Lifting Pack is a lightly yellow colored gel with a high viscosity. It’s similar to glue and very sticky. The product has a slightly bitter scent with a hint of fruityness.

The bristles of the brush are very soft, but once you start to spread the pack with the brush it becomes sticky and makes the application a bit harder. Nevertheless, I still think it is better to use the brush than to use your fingers. It is recommended to use the pack 2-3 times a week. You apply the pack in a thin layer from the inside of the face towards the outside. After 15-20 minutes the pack dries and you can wash it off with luke-warm water.

Below you can see the process of using the pack on my skin. First I applied a layer of the Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack. After 15 minutes the mask dries. You will feel how the skin tightens up. It really looks frightening, because your face looks suddenly so wrinkled and dried…almost as if you were dying :D This was the moment when I decided that it was time to wash off the pack. My skin felt smoothed and firmer after using the mask. Nevertheless, my skin was feeling dry, too. The pack contains some moisturizing ingredients, but this was not enough for my skin. I have dry skin, so the experience might vary for people with oily skin. If you have dry skin like me I would recommend to add an especially rich cream to your skin after using this pack.

The Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack convinces with a good ingredients list and is perfectly suited for people who want to start to incorporate AHAs into their skincare routine. I liked using it and I do feel that it is lifting and smoothing out the skin. It leaves my skin a bit dry after all, which is why I can only recommend you to use a rich cream or oil after this pack if you have dry skin. This mask has also some creepy side-effects, since it really looks horrifying on your skin after 15 minutes. The skin looks so wrinkled up and old, as if the pack wants to tell you how you will look like if you do not use it, haha. You can get the Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack from TesterKorea for 30400 Won, which is around 25.51 US$. What’s your favorite AHA containing product?

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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Review: Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream | TesterKorea

17. February 2016

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / SKINCARE //

The Missha Super Aqua Marine Stem Cell Defending Cream was the first Korean skincare product I used and I bought two, or even three jars of it because I liked it so much back then. When I heard about the newest addition to the Missha Super Aqua family I was really excited to try it: the Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream is part of a full new moisturizing skincare line consisting of toner, emulsion essence and the cream which I’ll be reviewing here. As I announced via Instagram I’m honored to be part of TesterKorea’s Real Tester, who offered me this product for reviewing purpose, amongst some other products, like the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel I reviewed before.

First, some information about TesterKorea: if you know me and my blog for some time you will know that TesterKorea is my favorite online retailer for larger Kbeauty hauls. I’ve purchased products from them many times and they never failed me. Also, they are quite popular for offering many free samples and having a LARGE variety of samples for sale as well. If you do not know a specific product and you want to test it first the place to recommend is TesterKorea. Also, they have a huge amount of different products from many brands, so you can be sure to find what you are looking for in most cases. Unlike other online retailers they do not offer free shipping, though, but their shipping is based on weight. The cheap prices of the products themselves totally balances the shipping costs in my eyes – especially for larger hauls. They even have a specific topic where you can request a product if it is newly launched. They are also quite fast in listing the latest products from most brands. Considering the fact that I know they are a reliable retailer and have a good reputation makes me even more happy that I’m part of the 17 members of their 1st Real Tester round-up!

The product I’m reviewing here is from the famous Korean brand Missha. Missha has a lot of online stores all over the world and are available in US/Canada, Australia and even in Germany. It is the first Korean brand with a physical store in Ingolstadt in Germany, too! Missha is against animal testing. The products always come in a very mature and luxurious packaging and the design is usually very elegant although simple. I think that it can be liked by almost everyone. The Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream follows these criteria as well: The signature color of the Super Aqua Ice Tear collection is ice-blue. The cream comes in a blue cardboard box with descriptions in both Korean and English. It states description, directions and the ingredients of the products.

According to COSNDA the ingredients in this hydrating and refreshing cream are safe to use. It contains Alcohol den., which can be a potential irritant, but apart from this is used to thin down the consistency of a cream. Glycerin is the main moisturizing ingredient in the list, but the cream also contains Urea. You’ll find a bunch of plant extracts from the Ice Plant, Oarweed, Devil’s Apron, Spirulina Platensis, Lotus Flower, and Chinese Plum. The algaes Oarweed and Devil’s Apron are also used in products of the high-end brand ‘La mer’. They act as skin protectors. The other extracts act as humectants and have moisturizing properties. Sea Water provides minerals and trace elements. Raffinose, which is a sugar and also included in the list, has moisturizing properties. Lactic Acid has brightening properties. All in all, a nice ingredients list for a moisturizing cream. The cream comes in a sturdy jar containing 50 ml, but it doesn’t come with a spatula unfortunately. If you want to keep it hygienic you should use a spatula instead of your fingers for taking out the cream. The Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream is a mixture between gel-type and regular cream. It feels light upon application and emollifies into a watery essence-like product on the skin. This makes it feel refreshing, too. It also leaves the skin moist. The scent is nice and a mixture between flowery and soapy.

The Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream is a simple, but effective moisturizer. Although the list of the ingredients is not too overfilled with fancy ingredients it still contains some important ones for moisturizing the skin: There are Urea and Glycerin for one, and a bunch of plant extracts, most of them are algae ( I was surprised to see two of the ingredients being part of products from the famous brand ‘La mer’ as well). On top, you have Raffinose and Lactic Acid and the Sea Water. I really like the list and although a simple moisturizer I can definitely see that many people might like this skincare range. I didn’t use it for a long time yet, but so far it didn’t break me out and was a hydrating and refreshing experience. The product retails on TesterKorea for 11520 Won, which is around 9.69 US$. The price is really affordable and perfect for people starting a skincare routine, aiming at a hydrating and light cream. It might be a nice refreshment during hot seasons, too, because the formula feels very watery. If you are looking for the deeper nourishment of the skin this cream might be too lightweight for you. Did you try any products from the Missha Super Aqua line? What do you think of the Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear line?

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review TesterKorea

Review: Etude House Tint My Brows Gel | TesterKorea

15. February 2016

I love Etude House’s eyebrow products! I’ve been using the Etude House Color My Brows and I’m still using the Etude House Perfect Brow Kit, and the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel is the newest addition to my collection. As I announced via Instagram I’m honoured to be part of TesterKorea’s Real Tester, who offered me this product for reviewing purpose, amongst some other products I cannot wait to share with you.

Let’s start with the review for the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel: The Korean brand Etude House is one of the best known Korean brands for cute packaging. If you are a lover of cute, girly and pink packaging, reminding you of being a child and the princess you always dreamt to be, THIS is your brand. Their packaging is usually so adorable that you cannot keep yourself from impuls-buys – only because you saw the packaging…Looking at the packaging of the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel it appears simple, but yet feminine. The combination of the gray-brown color and the pink makers it look adorable in a way. The product comes in a cardboard box which shows the Korean and English description. The product is one of the newer products from Etude House. The gel comes in 3 different shades and works similar to lip tint like the Berrisom My Lip Tint Pack, that means you apply a layer of the gel, leave it to dry and peel it off after a while. This new-concept eyebrow gel tint is designed for a long-lasting eyebrow makeup.

The three shades available are #1 brown, #2 light brown and #3 gray brown. I chose gray brown, because I have naturally black eye brows and I think the gray brown will suit my eyebrow color best. The ingredients of the Etude House Tint My Brow Gel are harmless according to COSDNA. There are minor irritants, but no bothersome ingredient. And although the product is made for simply tinting your brows it contains some plant derived ingredients with anti-inflamatory, antioxidant and moisturizing properties. As I said before, the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel works like a kind of non-permanent tattoo. The bottle reminds of a liquid eyeliner and comes with a thin brush-type applicator. The gel has a sticky consistency and reminds of brown colored glue. The brush is thin enough to create proper outlines for your brows. Below you can see how the gel looks when swatched on the back of my hands. First you apply a proper amount of the gel. After a while it will start to dry. When you peel off the dried product you will see that it stains the skin. After 1.5 h waiting the stain is already properly visible and shows in a light gray brown. After one day (including washing hands and showering) the stain is still visible, but is looks more light and the color changed to a light yellow-brown.

When using the product on your eyebrows Etude House advises you to trim your eyebrows first and not to apply skincare products or makeup. Then you should apply a liberal amount according to the desired shape of the eyebrow. Dry the gel for at least 2 hours. For stronger coloration you can apply the gel before going to bed at night and remove it the next morning. After the gel dried completely you can remove it starting from the tail of the eyebrow, but don’t be too forceful. Etude House also says to not use a cleansing product (product with detergents) or apply force on the eyebrow area within 24 hours of using the product. Below I applied the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel on my eyebrows. As you can see, my eyebrows are dense and very dark, but I have some spare areas at the front and on the arch of my eyebrow. I applied the gel according to the desired shape of my eyebrows and waited for 2 hours. You can see that the spare areas look slightly more filled, but it doesn’t look too strongly pigmented and not unnatural either. The effect is comparable to a light brow powder, giving a natural finish.

Do I like the Etude House Tint My Brows Gel? Yes, I do, and I think people with spare eyebrows or very bright color of eyebrows will like this product a lot! It looks natural and it is long-lasting. The downsides are that you have to be patient and maybe you need to practice a couple of times before you know how to paint your desired eyebrow shape. The gel contains 5 g and depending on the thickness of the layers you apply on your eyebrow it will last for a while. The price for the gel is not expansive either, so it is worth a try, especially if you love using eyebrow products. If you are already too lazy to use an eyebrow pencil or powder this product will not make it any easier or quicker though. The product retails on TesterKorea for 7650 Won, which is around 6.50 US$.

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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://testerkorea.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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