Berries in the Snow

asian cosmetics beauty lovemycosmetics PR Sample review

Review: Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish

29. June 2017

/ Beauty / PR Sample /

Another product I received from LoveMyCosmetics as part of their ambassador program for the Korean brand Klairs is the Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish. I talked about the Klairs Gentle Black Cleansing Oil previously, so now it is time for the product that pairs up perfectly with the oil cleanser. By now those who are reading my blog for some time know how much I love the products from this brand. I almost tried all their products at least once and they never disappoint me. A good thing is also that Klairs frequently updates their products regarding their ingredients or their packaging and volume. I also did a review for this scrub in the past, but since then the product has been updated:

Klairs is a Korean brand which is eco-friendly, producing products which are animal-testing-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, artificial-color-free and recently they are vegan, too. Their products address people with sensitive skin and people who want to moisturize their skin. I reviewed some of their products before, like the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum or the Klairs Midnight Blue Cream, which both convinced me in their effects. I also love the Klairs Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner, which by the way has been updated and improved, too. Their saying “Simple but Enough” really nails it and I think that many people will agree in that point with me.

The Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish is a peeling mask containing sugar to make your skin smooth and supple. The black sugar also helps to reduce the appearance of blackheads and yet the mask doesn’t make your skin feel dry afterwards. In the past my first remark about the product was the small size of the jar. In the past the jar only contained 60 g and was quite expensive regarding the small volume. Now, they changed the size to 110 g, which is almost double in size. Definitely love this renewal already!

But how did the product itself change, and how has it been reformulated? As usual, Klairs shows also english description on their cardboard boxes. Lucky to all of us who do not speak Korean, but love Korean cosmetics brands. Comparing the two ingredients lists >>here<< (old one) and >>here<< (reformulated) we can see that the ingredients list is as short as before. What strikes my eyes directly is that they have removed Beeswax and replaced it with microcrystalline wax. This makes the product free from animal based ingredients and therefore can be labelled vegan and fully cruelty-free. The Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish is also free from silicone and pigments. The full ingredients are listed below:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Black Strap Powder, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Candelilla Wax Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polysorbate 20, Microcrystalline Wax, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Powder, Fragrance, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

Another change for me was that they included a spatula! The old version didn’t include anything like that, but now you can use the plastic spoon to keep your jar as clean as possible.

Luckily, the texture of the product didn’t change at all! It still has the same texture as before: a thick, brown and grainy paste that spreads smoothly. It reminds a bit of butter and you can definitely feel that it also contains shea butter after all. The sugar particles are coarse enough to give your skin a mechanical exfoliation.

When hearing mechanical exfoliation people with sensitive skintypes run away as quickly as they can. But you shouldn’t! This is where the cleansing oil comes in handy: if you want the texture to me more gentle just add a pump or two of cleansing oil (or water). This will make the sugar particles melt a bit and makes the polish so much more gentle. I remember I loved using the combination in winter and it helped me to get rid of flaky skin while keeping my skin nourished due to the oils in both products.

I really love the fact that Klairs really listened to the critics of their products and made all these changes. These were also part of my remarks in the past: the volume and spatula. I also love how Klairs tries to make all their products not only cruelty-free, but also vegan. I wish that more brands would listen to their customer reviews like they did here! The scrub retails for 23,95 € from LoveMyCosmetics. Oh, and here is a little bonus for my lovely readers: You can get a discount of 10% using the coupon code “misslavenklairs” while shopping on LoveMyCosmetics!

Did you try the Sugar Scrub from Klairs?

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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.lovemycosmetic.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty Honeysu Official PR Sample review

Review: Leaders 7 Wonders Biocellulose Masks

26. June 2017

Those who follow me on Instagram know that I love masks, especially sheet masks. I have a huge stash of sheet masks that seems to be never-ending :D Lately, I discovered my love for biocellulose sheet masks. and I’ve become obsessed especially to the Leaders 7 Wonders Biocellulose Masks I received kindly from Honeysu.

The Korean brand Leaders is one of the most popular brands for sheet masks. It is almost a shame that I have to confess that I hardly ever tried any of their sheet masks. The brand has a long history of more than 10 years founded by dermatologists of the Seoul National University.

Not long ago the brand launched a new sheet mask line called 7 Wonders. These sheet masks were using biocellulose material instead of the regular cotton sheet mask fabric for the sheet masks. There are 7 different masks available, targeting various skin conditions and problems.

The biocellulose fabric is made from fermented coconut juice and the masks are dedicated to different regions od the world, using characteristic key ingredients. I had the chance to try 3 different kinds of the Leaders 7 wonders Biocellulose Masks and apart of the beautiful and colorful packaging design there is more to say about the masks:

Leaders 7 Wonders Amazonian Açaí Revitalizing Mask

AMAZONIA DESTINATION: Immediate boarding for dull skins!
Re-vitalizing mask – enriched in Acai mask

Pollution, stress, fatigue… Every day the skin is subject to external aggressions related to urban life. A real sponge, it absorbs everything and reacts negatively: dull complexion, acne, premature aging…

The Amazonian Acai mask protects the skin while bringing freshness. The skin is rehydrated and recovers its original suppleness. The invigorating benefits of Acai oil restore radiance in just a few minutes. A great escape in the Amazonian forest and a breath of fresh air from your bathroom!

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Perfume (Fragrance), Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ledum Palustre Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Propylene Glycol, Citrus Lemon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Fumaria Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Alcohol, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf/Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fumaric Acid, Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid.

Leaders 7 Wonders Mediterranean Olive Brightening Mask

MEDITERRANNEE DESTINATION: Immediate boarding for a flawless skin!
Radiance mask – enriched in Olive oil

With excesses and hectic lifestyles, the skin often show signs of fatigue. The complexion looses its radiance and blemishes may appear. And, since we can’t just be on holidays all year round, a solution must be found!
The Mediterranean Olive mask is the beauty essential for a radiant complexion. Thanks to its olive oil extracts, the skin is smooth and refined. Used since ancient times, olive oil is recognized for its revitalizing action. Full of essential fatty acids and vitamins, it protects the skin and participates to cell renewal. Let’s embark immediately for a flawless cruise!

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ledum Palustre Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alcohol, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oligopeptide-68, Sodium Oleate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid.

Leaders 7 Wonders Oriental Camellia Calming Mask

ORIENT DESTINATION: Immediate boarding for irritated skins
Soothing mask – enriched in Camellia oil

With the cold weather, all skin types – dry, combination or oily – is subject to aggression and responds to protect itself. The result? Redness may appear and give a sensation of tightness. With stress and pollution, the complexion becomes duller… SOS skin in distress!
Keep calm ! The Oriental Camellia mask was specially developed for the most sensitive skins. Formulated with camellia oil, (recognized for years as the “miraculous oil” of Asia) it relieves and soothes the skin. Redness is reduced and the complexion restores its freshness and radiance. A well-being excursion in no time!

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Betaine, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Parfum (Fragrance), Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ledum Palustre Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alcohol, Linum Alpinum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid.

The 3 masks were really a nice experience and what I especially loved was the nice fit. The material is soft and yet elastic and can be folded perfectly onto the face. It is layered with protective paper sheet, which you can see above, but on the pictures below you see how the actual material looks like. The biocellullose also adheres nicely to the skin and doesn’t fall or slip around while wearing it.

After using each of the masks my skin felt always hydrated and more bouncy. Of course, by using the masks once each it is difficult to say something about their specific effects on the skin, though.

All in all, I’m heavily in love with these masks: wonderful fit, very adherent and super nice effect in terms of how they act on the skin. Additionally, the packaging design which is simply gorgeous! I can highly recommend you to try these masks, despite the fact that they are a bit more expensive. Each mask retails for 5 €, a set of 5 masks retails for 19.90€.

What is your opinion on biocellulose masks? did you try any 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 https://www.honeysu.com which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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beauty beauty boxes Glossybox

Unboxing: Glossybox May 2017

13. June 2017

// PR SAMPLE / BEAUTY BOX / UNBOXING//

After my positive re-discovery of the Glossybox I was more than happy when I received another box in May, although I didn’t expect any box at all. Here is my unboxing of the German Glossybox May 2017:

Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription box containing a selection of 5 beauty and wellness products packed in a box and delivered to your doorstep. The box was founded in 2011 and has spread in over 10 countries all over the world.

As mostly, the Glossybox comes in its signature pale pink box and is beautifully packed inside with a ribbon. It contains the so-called Glossy Magazine for the month of box containing all the information about the products that were added in the boxes.

The topic of the Glossybox for May 2017 was “Wild At Heart”. May is the start of summer and outdoor time and therefore it’s the perfect month to show our wild and rough styles at the next outdoor event. Therefore, Glossybox supplies us with skincare and makeup products.

Although the magazine says that the box contains 5 of the products which are mentioned in the magazine I spotted 6 products in my box. The products that I received are super versatile reaching from hair to body, over to makeup.

got2b Dry Shampoo

There was the option to receive the got2b dry shampoo for volume or for extra freshness. My box contained the blue version for volume. I love and use a lot dry shampoo, especially for camping and festivals…or when I cut my bangs. It is nice to see that more brands start to launch their dry shampoos after there were hardly any brands 10 years ago. Now there are all kinds of scents and colors and brands available. I still have my dry shampoo from batiste in use, but I’m looking forward to try this one from got2b.

full-size product (200 ml) retails for 3.99 €

Ultrasun Anti-Age SPF30

This cream combines anti-aging and sunscreen in one product and protects your face from UV rays this summer. It is a mild sunscreen sold at the pharmacy and contains no perfume, mineral oil, PEG/PGG, emulators, silicon, ethylhexylmethoxicinnamate, octocylene, butylmethoxydibenzoylmethan, aluminium and aluminium compounds, and preservatives. The sunscreen is water-resistant too, leaves a slightly greasiness, but all in all absorbs relatively fast. I would recommend it for people who are especially on the look for a sunscreen that avoids the mentioned ingredients.

full-size product (50ml) retails for 24,00€

travel size (25 ml) retails for 13,00 € and was included

Dr. Severin Women Original Body After Shave Balsam

This is probably my favorite product from the box and I’m so sad that it is only a travel-sized version of it. This gel can be applied on the parts of your body that you have shaved or depilated to remove body hair. It contains Witch Hazel, Menthol and Rosemary and helps to calm down the skin and make it soft. Oh, and it is vegan, too.

full-size product (200ml) retails for 33,10€

The box included a travel sized tube containing 30 ml

Rodial Glamolash Mascara XXL

This lash maximizer enhances the volume of your lashes and gives a pitch-black color on top. The included travel size fits perfect into your bag. The included waxes nourish your lashes and keep them smooth and soft.

full-size (13 ml) retails for 26,50 €

travel size was included

Absolute New York Pure Metal Veil

This liquid eyeshadow is available in 6 different shades. The liquid eyeshadows have a metallic shimmer and can be worn as eye-makeup base, solo or even on the lips as highlighter.

full-size (1,5 ml) retails for 8,95 €

The box also came with two extras: the 8×4 Deo “Pure” and a sample of a pad.

Another well-balanced box in my opinion. I really like how this box and the previous one really try to have a versatile range of products. I also like how for this box everything fit into the festival/travel/summer theme. I will definitely use all the products from this box (or have already started using them).

Glossybox is available as flexible subscription for 15 € per month. There are also other subscription options available, like a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month subscription for 14,50 €, 13,50 €, or 12,50 € per month, respectively. Check out www.glossybox.de for more information.

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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.glossybox.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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accessoires fashion PR Sample

Sunglasses from GlassesShop Eyeglasses

11. June 2017

// PR SAMPLE/ ACCESSOIRES / FASHION //

In summer my favorite accessory are sunglasses. They are useful for your eyes and they come in so many colors and shapes and can definitely complete an outfit to its perfection. A while ago I was asked by GlassesShop Eyeglasses whether I would like to try any of their products and since it is summer and travel-time I decided to try one of their sunglasses.

GlassesShop are a retailer for glasses online. They have a selection of prescription glasses and sunglasses. Each pair of glasses will be delivered including a plastic case including a micro-fabric tissue for cleansing.

Among their sunglasses I knew from a first glance that I loved the Edith Round Multicolor Sunglasses. Those sunglasses looked already pretty from the picture, but when I received them they were even more stunning than I thought.

Look at the beautiful purple mirror coating of the sunglasses.

The frame of the Edith Round sunglasses is full and the shape of the sunglasses is round, with a cat-eye shape. The material around the eyes is brown colored marbled plastic while the metal temples have a golden color and have beautiful ornaments.

I love the polarization effect and the blue and purple colors it reflects.

I love the color and shape of these sunglasses from GlassesShop. I hope they will be a good choice for the summer vacations. Although GlassesShop also has prescription sunglasses I chose sunglasses without prescription for myself because I wasn’t sure whether my prescription has changed. Since I’m wearing contacts most of the time it would be my regular choice anyways. The sunglasses retail for 34.95$. If you want to check out GlassesShop for yourself I have a coupon code GSHOT50 for you to have 50% off on eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses (sale frames excluded).

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

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asian cosmetics beauty lovemycosmetics review

Review: Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

3. June 2017

A while ago I was contacted by a Germany-based retailer for Korean cosmetics called LoveMyCosmetics to be part of their ambassador program for the Korean brand Klairs. By now those who are reading my blog for some time know how much I love the products from this brand. I almost tried all their products at least once and they never disappoint me. A good thing is also that Klairs frequently updates their products regarding their ingredients or their packaging and volume. I did review the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil in the past, but I thought I might still retry it and see whether my opinion on this cleansing oil has changed or not:

Klairs is a Korean brand sold and by Wishtrend. It is eco-friendly, producing products which are animal-testing-free, vegan, alcohol-free, paraben-free, and artificial-color-free. Their products address people with sensitive skin and people who want to moisturize their skin. I reviewed some of their products before, like the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum or the Klairs Midnight Blue Cream, which both convinced me in their effects. I also love the Klairs Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner, which by the way has been updated and improved, too. Their saying “Simple but Enough” really nails it and I think that many people will agree in that point with me.

If you never have heard of cleansing oils you surely missed out a thing. I love cleansing oils especially for removing makeup efficiently without making your skin dry. Especially people with dry skintypes are recommended to use an oil cleanser. I do use the double cleansing method when I wear makeup, which means that I use a makeup remover, like a cleansing balm or oil first and then wash again using foam or gel cleanser. The Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is perfectly fit for the first step.

The product comes packed in a cardboard box which is designed very minimalistic, typical for the brand Klairs. The brown colored plastic pump bottle of the cleansing oil has the same design. The descriptions on the product and packaging are written in Korean and English.

The Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil doesn’t come with many ingredients. The few are listed below and can be checked via COSDNA, too:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate , Isopropyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate , Polysorbate 20, Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

One glance on that list already reveals that the product mainly consists of different plant-based oils, like (black) sesame and black currant. Hence also the name “Deep Black”. Black Sesame oil is rich in antioxidants whereas black currant contains a bunch of vitamins and minerals. Apart from the oils there is shea butter included, too. Since it contains so many oils it may be irritant to people with sensitive or acne prone skin. Please be sure to do a patch test of the product before starting to use it regularly.

Since the product comes in a pump container it is super easy to use, too. Just take 2 pumps of the oil and apply it over your face and massage it gently. Afterwards wash it of with lukewarm water for 2 or 3 times until the oil emulsified and is washed off. You can use a foam cleanser or cleansing gel afterwards. The oil is quite runny, but has a nice scent. To me it smells like sweet black tea and I really love the scent a lot and loved it two years ago as much as now.

The pump comes with a clip to prevent the pump from being pushed down. I love this clip, especially if you want to take the bottle with you on vacation for example. It makes it much more secure to take along without spilling.

Since it is a cleansing oil it is super effective in removing makeup. Plus afterwards the skin doesn’t feel tight or “Squeacky Clean”, but still nourished.

The Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is a very good and gentle makeup remover and I can recommend it for dry skintypes and people who prefer the double cleansing method. The oils prevent the skin to feel dried out and the scent is also really nice. The oil retails for 23,95 € from LoveMyCosmetics. Oh, and here is a little bonus for my lovely readers: You can get a discount of 10% using the coupon code “misslavenklairs” while shopping on LoveMyCosmetics!

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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.lovemycosmetic.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty Naruko PR Sample review

Review: Naruko Snail Essence Intense Hydra Repair Mask

23. May 2017

I’ve heard so many positive opinions about the products from Naruko that I was feeling so blessed when I was send a couple of sheet masks to test out for myself. The first mask I tested was the Naruko Snail Essence Intense Hydra Repair Mask, because it contains snail extract, which is always something you cannot go wrong with. Here is my opinion about this sheet mask:

Naruko is a Taiwanese brand and it has a steady amount of followers that love their products. I guess that many people simply do not know the brand because they are not as well spread as other brands like Etude House for example. Yet, Taiwanese sheet masks have always had quite a good reputation in my eyes. And this mask doesn’t let you down either.

Let’s first appreciate the packaging design. The pink color pops up directly and the snail illustration is really crazy and cute on the same time. It shows a big snail with a whole town inside its shell and even a small snail-like a crane building up new houses…You will directly know what the key ingredient of this mask is supposed to be: snail! I talked about the benefits of snail extract several times and it helps wonders for irritated and damaged skin and acts very moisturizing.

No wonder the Naruko Snail Essence Intense Hydra Repair Mask is directed towards replenishing moisture and repairing damaged skin. The ingredients list of the mask is listed in english on the backside of the sachet:

Purified Water (Aqua), Algin, Snow Fungus (Tremella Fuciformis) Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit extract, PEG-45M, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Snail Secretion FiltrateAllantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Avena Sativa (OAT) Kernel Extract, Triethanolamine, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Polyglutamate, Fragnance, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

You can also check the ingredients via COSNDA. The list contains some potential acne triggers and irritants but I personally didn’t observe any breakouts or irritations. On the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised about the texture first. This mask has the thickest and most chewy texture, that you really believe it is some snail slime you are putting on your face. Actually, the texture is mostly influenced by the algin, which give the essence that viscosity. Then there is so many moisturizing goodness in this list: snow fungus extract, sodium hyaluronate, glycrin, aloe extract, cucumber extract...no way that this mask won’t deliver moisture to dry skintypes

My only personal downside was the fit of the mask, which wasn’t perfect, but this downside is negligible. The moist and chewy texture makes up for all of it and leaves the skin perfectly pampered. Naruko Snail Essence Intense Hydra Repair Mask is definitely worth a try. You can get a box containing 10 pieces of this mask from the official Naruko store for 22.99 US$ with free shipping or from Amazon.com for 16.15 US$ plus shipping costs.

Did you try products from the brand Naruko 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://www.narukoboutique.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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beauty Catrice Cosnova review

Review: Catrice Lip Cushion

22. May 2017

Recently, there have been several product launches from Catrice Cosmetics that I really loved. One of their inspirations for their new products comes from asian beauty products, which makes me -as asian beauty product lover – super happy. I’ve already been excited when the first oil cleansers and sheet masks launched by western brands appeared at the drugstores and now it is even makeup. Here is my impression of the Catrice Lip Cushion:

Catrice is calling out for the term “asianification”, which means the creation of products that are inspired by the technology and ingredients used in the asian beauty industry. At the moment cushion products are one of the focus points. Apart from cushion foundations cushions have been used with asian beauty products for all kinds of makeup: lip cushions, eye liner cushions, blush cushion…Catrice Cosmetics has chosen the lip cushion amongst other things.

Catrice Lip Cushion is a lip gloss with medium pigmentation which is applied via a jumbo sponge applicator. There are a total of 6 colors available. Here I show you shade 050 A Little Soulfruit:

This lip gloss contains avocado oil to moisturize the lips and leaves – as typical for a gloss – a glossy finish on the lips. If you remove the cap you will spot the sponge applicator. It is still white and unused.

If you want to apply the lip gloss you have to twist the bottom part of the Catrice Lip Cushion Pencil.

For the first application I twisted 2-3 times until I saw that the sponge gets slowly soaked with the tint.

The sponge tip is very soft upon application and is very easy to use.

And this is how the Catrice Lip Cushion in 050 A Little Soulfruit looks when applied on my lips. Below I also show you the swatch of the product on my arm. Since it is a lip gloss it still has that sticky feeling to it, to my personal dislike. I prefer tints and lipsticks over the sticky texture, but on the other hand your lips won’t feel dry when applying the lip gloss and it also gives some more volume to the lips than tints and lipsticks.

I’m happy about seeing more products that are inspired from asian beauty trend. The Catrice Lip Cushion clearly remind me of the lip cushions by Etude House. Unlike the Catrice Lip Cushion the ones from Etude House were no lip gloss, bur creamy lip paint. That caused that the sponge applicator was after a while completely blocked by the dried product. Other brands started to provide their products with a second applicator sponge which you could exchange, one the first one was to dirty or unusable. I would wish that Catrice also offers these additional sponges at some point. It would also help to keep the product more hygienic. But considering the price of only 4.99 € each you cannot complain to be honest.

Did you try the Catrice Lip cushion already? What are your thoughts of “asianification”?

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beauty beauty boxes Glossybox PR Sample

Unboxing: Glossybox April 2017

7. May 2017

// PR SAMPLE/ UNBOXING /BEAUTY //

It’s been a long time since my last Glossybox unboxing. I think my last one was in 2014, if I remember correctly. There are so many new beauty boxes and subscription boxes on the market these days that it is hard to decide for a favorite one. Glossybox was probably the first beauty subscription box, at least to my knowledge. I remember how excited I was when I received my first bundle of surprises back then. I’m also happy that I can share their latest box, the Glossybox April 2017, with you today, which was provided to me for reviewing purpose.

Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription box containing a selection of 5 beauty and wellness products packed in a box and delivered to your doorstep. The box was founded in 2011 and has spread in over 10 countries all over the world.

The topic of the German Glossybox for April 2017 was “Frühlingserwachen” (engl: spring awakening) and the products selected for the box are revolving around the first warm sun shine and colorful flowers.

My box contained 6 different product, although I only expected 5. This was a nice surprise! The products were well-balanced between, skincare, bodycare, and make-up and below you can see the content of the box. Unlike with the past boxes there is no product description card any longer, but a small magazine, containing descriptions for all the possible products that were included in the April boxes. Apart from the product information the magazine also includes a recipe and a preview for the next box.

Merci Handy Hand Cleansing Gel

Merci Handy Hand Cleansing Gel is probably one of the highlights of the box. The small and colorful bottles of the hand cleansing gel/ hand sanitizer fit into a small hand bag and are perfect for taking them along with you. For the application you apply a drop of the gel into your palms and rub it into the skin. The blue pearls inside the gel provide moisture and prevent the drying of the skin. There are seven different versions available: Chérie Cherry, New Wave, Flower Power, Oh my Lemon, Lollipop, Coco Rico, and Black Vanilla. I received Black Vanilla in my box, which would not have been my first choice, but the scent reminds me of vanilla candy and is not too overpowering. By the way, the size and the blue pearls inside remind me of the hand sanitizer of Nature Republic, which I love!

full-size product (30 ml) retails for 3,00 €

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water Ultra

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water Ultra is my personal highlight of the Glossybox, although it only comes in a 100 ml travel-size. I’m using cleansing water very frequently and if you have dry skin it is one of the better ways to prevent your skin from drying out and still cleansing it effectively. The cleansing water from La Roche-Posay removes make-up and eye-make-up and also soothes the skin by using thermal water. When using cleansing water you do not need to wash your face afterwards, which makes it a great companion for camping and outdoor vacation. Personally, when I’m using cleansing waters at home, I still use water afterwards.

full-size product (200 ml) retails for 12,50 €

travel-size product (100 ml) retails for 6,90 €

Icona Milano Beautyfing Touch Mattyfing Primer Base

Icona Milano Beautyfing Touch Mattyfing Primer Base is a paraben- and scent-free primer with a creamy formula. It reduces the appearance of pores and wrinkles, evens out the skin-tone and prepares the skin for the upcoming make-up. The weightless and resident-free formula is perfect for spring and summer and doesn’t make your skin feel greasy.

full-size product (30 ml) retails for 24,50 €

n.6 Beauty Experience Colour Studio Super Gloss

n.6 Beauty Experience Colour Studio Super Gloss is a long-lasting and moisturizing gloss with a soft texture and five different available vibrant colours. It has an applicator made from natural hair and is supposed to last up to 6 hours. I’m not the type that wears lip gloss a lot, so I didn’t try this product yet, but the vibrant orange colour (shade 2 “Techno Orange”) that was included in my box looks like a nice colour for spring.

full-size product (6 ml) retails for 14,90 €

Betty Barclay Fragrances Pure Pastel Mint Cream Shower

Betty Barclay fragrances Pure Pastel Mint Cream Shower makes your skin soft and refreshes with a floral fruity scent. It moisturizes the skin and keeps it silky soft. The product included was a 75 ml travel-sized tube. I’m looking forward to take this with me on my next short vacation.

full-size product (150 ml) retails for 10,75 €

Kneipp Pampering Cream Oil Peeling

The 6th product that was added as an extra was the Cream-Oil Peeling from Kneipp. I’ve wanted to try this peeling since they released it in winter, but I always forgot to bring one sachet from the drug store along with me. Perfect thing that this was included in my Glossyboy now. I’m looking forward to try this one soon. This vegan sugar-based peeling removes dead skin cells and moisturizes and nourishes the skin in the same time. It is free from preservatives, paraffins, silicone and mineral oils and free from animal testing, too.

full-size product (40 ml) retails for 1,49 €

How do you like the content of the Glossybox for April 2017? There are some products which I’m really excited to try, like the cleansing water, the hand sanitizer, and the peeling. The other product from my box were okay, but nothing that I would have bought on my own. The total value of the products lies around 56 € which is far more than the prize you pay for a box. Considering the value this box was amazing, especially if you are new into skincare/beauty products and in need of the products shown here. For me personally, the primer and the gloss, which make the most value of the box are nothing that need necessarily at the moment. There were other variations of the products for the April box which would have been more suiting for me personally, but since it is a surprise box, you never know what’s inside. That’s part of the surprise after all.

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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.glossybox.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review Stylekorean

Review: Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion

2. May 2017

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / MAKEUP //

You know that I love cushions and I have quite some in my stash, but I didn’t have a sunscreen cushion in my collection until recently. During last summer vacation, I thought that it might be nice to try a sunscreen cushion for touching up the sun protection during the day and therefore I decided to go with the Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion in a first test which was provided to me for reviewing purpose by StyleKorean.

Aprilskin is a Korean natural cosmetics brand which was raved a lot about during last year, especially for their cushion foundation. The brand is fairly young and was founded in 2014, but since then has won a numerous amount of prizes for their products. All though I love cushions I didn’t buy ny of their raved cushions and so I was happy to be asked by StyleKorean and be able to choose a product from this brand. I decided for the Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion.

The Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion is an ultra-lightweight sunscreen that comes in a cushion compact. It is mildly formulated, making it suitable for children and adults according to the description. Furthermore, it doesn’t leave a white cast and yet has SPF 50+ /PA+++. The UV-protection is mineral based and still, it claims to leave no white traces. As you know, sun protection has to be renewed from time to time, but I personally am quite a lazy person. I discovered that I hardly ever touch up my sun protection on my skin and a cushion would make that far easier than a tube.

The Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion comes packed in a cardboard box in a light pink color. The cushion compact itself has also a nice pink pattern on the lid and looks really feminine. The description on the cardboard box is only in Korean, but Aprilskin’s official site offers an English translation, too.

Here are the ingredients of the product, which I also added in COSDNA:

Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Triethanolamine, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lavender Oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Evening Primrose Flower Extract, Blackberry Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Raspberry Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Tea Tree Leaf Oil, Banana Fruit Extract, Apple Fruit Extract, Pear Fruit Extract, Orange Fruit Extract, Grape Fruit Extract, Serine, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pseudoalteromoonas Ferment Extract, Alanine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Proline, Madecasoside

I marked the sunscreens within the list in blue.

Frankly, I’m no sunscreen expert. The field is so complex and until now I never had the time to really go deep into the topic. The product description says, that this cushion only uses physical sunscreen. I spot already two chemical sunscreens from looking at the list: Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) and Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane)….mh…that’s the first disappointment … Checking the other sunscreens I spot that Octocrylene and Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (Uvinol A Plus) are chemical sunscreens, too. Commonly used physical sunscreens are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, but I do not spot any of these here. I’m quite confused…is this product using physical sunscreens at all?!

Inside the cushion compact is the typical application sponge. In order to use the sunscreen cushion, you dab the application puff on the cushion sponge until the product is transferred. Then you dab the puff on your face in a patting motion. Don’t smear or rub it on the skin.

Of course, the cushion compact comes with a mirror inside the lid, too, so it is perfect for carrying around and use it while not at home, too. Unlike cushion foundations, the sponge in the compact is not soaked with BB Cream or Foundation, but with sunscreen. Therefore the color of the sponge is white.

The sunscreen has a creamy consistency. It gives a visible glow to the skin but doesn’t leave any white cast. While applying it on the skin I can feel a cooling effect of the product. The scent of it is also flowery/fresh. It contains some plant-based ingredients like Lavandula, chamomile, and tea tree oil, which create the scent of the product. I didn’t have any problems with the application of the product and it also can be touched up and layered without any further problems.

Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion has a nice texture and finish, but I’m disappointed that it is not a physical sunscreen as it states on their page. I personally am not someone who refuses any chemical sunscreens, but I prefer it if the description of products are correct. As I said, I’m no sunscreen expert, so if there is anyone who can explain more about the chemicals used here I would be happy to hear about it. Let me know in the comments or write me an email/PN. Oh, and since some of the chemical sunscreens may have effects on hormones and hormonal pathways I would not use this sunscreen on children, despite its mild formulation.

I received this product from StyleKorean, but they do not have it listed in their shop at the moment. They have other cushions from Aprilskin though, so have a look if you are interested. The Aprilskin Magic Snow Sun Cushion retails for 26.99 US$ from Amazon.

Did you try any sunscreen cushion already? If you have a favorite let me know. Oh, and what is your favorite sunscreen? I’d be interested to hear about it.

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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.stylekorean.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 Emollient Extra Comfort Cream

24. April 2017

Let’s continue my brand introduction for Olivarrier! You might have seen it in my Instagram popping up occasionally and finally I have some time to write up the reviews for it. I received a couple of products, courtesy of Olivarrier, and I already reviewed the Olivarrier Gentle Glow Seed Polishing Mask before. Today, I will be talking about the Olivarrier Emollient Extra Comfort Cream:

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 (unfortunately, the last days it seems to be not available). It consists of a cleansing bar, a toner, and essence, two different creams, and the mask I’m showing you here.

The Olivarrier Emollient Extra Comfort Cream comes in a simple white cardboard box with descriptions in Korean and English. It is a skin-barrier strengthening cream designed for dry and sensitive skintypes containing 5 % of panthenol. The cream itself comes in a tube, which I personally prefer over jars.

Olivarrier Emollient Extra Comfort Cream is weak acid based (pH 5.5), free from chemical preservatives (parabens & phenoxyethanol), moreover, it is fragrance-free, coloring-agent free and dermatologically tested. The ingredients are:

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Squlane (Olive Sqialane), Cerearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Arginine, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitane Olivate, Carbomer, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Oryza Sativia (Rice) Bran Wax, Camellia Sinsenis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Ectract, Dodecane, Isohexadecane, Isoeicosane, Octodecane, Tetradecane, Dimethicone, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Ectract, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linoleic Acid

You can check the single ingredients >> via COSDNA here <<. Most of the ingredients in this cream are safe to use, but there are some potential irritants marked aswell. Many of the ingredients are moisturizing ones, like panthenol, shea butter, olive oil, avocado oil, camellia oil, olive squalane, ceramide and hyaluronic acid. Apart from all these moisturizing ingredients, the cream also contains Madecassoside, 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-regererating properties. However, for those avoiding silicons and silicon-based products, the cream also contains Dimethicone, a silicon-based oil.

The texture of the Olivarrier Emollient Extra Comfort Cream is like you expect from a moisturizer. The white cream emollifies quickly upon application and absorbs, leaving the skin non-sticky and non-greasy. It leaves a cooling sensation behind after it absorbed. The cream is scentless, too. I absolutely cannot say anything negative about my experience with this cream, while using it during daytime. It didn’t irritate my skin, and it works well with makeup, too. My skin feels sufficiently moisturized, too.

The only downside for the Olivarrier Emollient Extra Comfort Cream which I can thing of is that it contains the silicon-oil Dimethicone, which some people would love to avoid. Other than that the ingredients list is really to the point perfect for moisturizing and soothing skin and I can imagine that sensitive skintypes, and people with dry and irritated skin might love this cream. There is another cream from Olivarrier, called Dual Moist Comfort Cream. I think that cream is lighter than the Emollient Extra Comfort Cream, but I didn’t try it yet. The tube of the cream is grey instead of green and can therefore be easily distinguished from each other. You can buy the Olivarrier Emollient Extra Comfort Cream from RoseRoseShop for 19600Won (~20 US$).

Did you try any of the products from the brand Olivarrier already? What is your opinion about silicons and silicon-based 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://en.olivarrier.com which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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