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Unboxing & Giveaway: Kawaii Box February 2017

19. March 2017

It’s been a long time since I did an unboxing for Kawaii Box, but here I am again and as usual in combination with a giveaway, so you can win your own Kawaii Box, too! Thanks to Kawaii Box for sponsoring the giveaway and sending me this box ♥ Here is what was inside my Kawaii Box February 2017:

I reviewed the Kawaii Box a couple of times ago and it is always filled with so many cute items from Japan and Korea, reaching from stationary, stickers, charms, and even plushies. Those of you who love these kind of overly cute items will have the chance to win a Kawaii Box for yourselves :D Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post. The giveaway is sponsored by Kawaii Box and we will pick the winner randomly and the prize will be send out by KAwaii Box to the winner. Please no cheating! We will check the entries ;)

As usual, the Kawaii Box came packed in a cute box with purple hearts and a pink scalloped ribbon printed on the box. It is obvious that this box will contain adorable products already from the packaging. Opening up the box reveals many densly packed products inside:

The Kawaii Box February 2017 contained 11 different products this time. reaching from plushies, to stationary, small cute accesories, stickers, and so on. The cute card lists all the items. I love that cat illustration on their product card so much *_*

Let’s start with the products that were inside the Kawaii Box: This was actually the first time I saw and heard about a phone ring holder and stand. The kawaii bunny shaped ring holder can be attached to the backside of your phone (or your phone’s case) and used to pop up your phone on the desk. I’ve been loving this, especially it gives me additional secure grip while holden the phone in the bus or train for example. I also was very happy to discover the Ghost Pop Pocket Mirror in this box, because I love pocket mirrors and I love to exchange them regularly in my makeup pouch :D A cute Ribbon Hair Clip and a Harajuku Badge were also included, as well as a Pocky Stick Ballpoint Pen. I love Pocky Sticks to eat, and every time I go to the asian grocery store I pick up Pocky Sticks, if they are available. And a pen shaped like a Pocky Stick?! What else could I wish for :D ?!

Every Kawaii Box comes with a DIY Kit and some sweets. This time Kracie Popin’ Cookin’ DIY Kit Colorful Ramune Land was included., as well as Glico Popcan Disney Lollipop. Stickers are also part of the Kawaii Box usually. Here, we have got Valentine’s Plush Stickers ( it was the Valentine’s Box, so this fits perfectly), and Twinkle Deco Jewels.

Last, but not least, the box contained some Korean Meal Erasers and a Nemuneko Plushie. The plushie was of course the highlight of the box for me :D Isn’t it adoreable?!

All in all, the Kawaii Box February 2017 was filled with many and versatile products, being cute and adoreable from top to bottom. But as usual, since it is a surprise subscription box you never know what’s inside and there will be items that you will like more, and items that you will like less. I think the Kawaii Box can be a wonderful gift for children and fans of kawaii stuff from Japan or Korea.

You can get the Kawaii Box >>here<<. There are different options of subscribing for the box. You can choose between several options: either to order only one box, to order three boxes (3 months subscription), 6 boxes (6 months subscription) or 12 boxes (1 year subscription). Each box retails at 19.80 US$. For the 6 months and the 12 months subscription you pay a bit less per box.

And here comes the promised giveaway! You can take part via the Rafflecopter widget below. Please keep in mind that the giveaway is hosted by Kawaii Box. They will send the box to you in case you win. It is open internationally. Good luck everyone! ♥

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you try the Kawaii Box already’? Would you be intrigued to buy 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 http://www.kawaiibox.com which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty guestpost

Guestpost: Round-up: The Cutest Cat Cosmetics

9. March 2017

Here is a guestpost by the lovely Anne from the blog Cat Obsessed. I hope you will enjoy reading it:

I love Asian cosmetics for two reasons: firstly, the quality is great. I have very sensitive skin. Most western drugstore brands make my skin react. However, I have no problem with Korean and Japanese products from inexpensive brands like Etude House and Nature Republic.

The second (less important) reason is the packaging. When I see something cute, it’s easy to get me to part with my money! Korean brands often team up with some of my favorite characters like Line Friends and Gudetama.

Given that I run a cat blog, it’s no surprise that I’m a sucker for any makeup with a cat theme. Many brands have made adorable cat items. It’s mostly just the outer packaging that has a feline appearance, but Japanese company Felissimo recently made a hand cream with the fragrance of a cat’s paw!

In this post, Fräulein Schnee has kindly invited me to share five of the cutest cat-themed makeup items I’ve ever seen.

1. Skin79 – Animal Mask (Angry Cat)

Sheet masks with animal faces have become very popular in the last year or two. Not only are they fun to look at, but they have all the benefits you’d expect in a Korean sheet mask. In the animal mask series from Skin79 there are three options – Angry cat, Dry money or Dark panda. These have different properties for various skin problems. Angry cat contains aloe and tea tree extracts to soothe irritated and troubled skin. It claims to moisturize and purify rough, flaky, dry and lifeless skin.

2. Miss Hana x Choo Choo Cat – Waterproof Eyeliner Kit

The Choo Choo cat series is a range of adorable cat artwork from Korean company Jetoy. The cats can be found on postcards, teacups, purses…and now a makeup collaboration with Miss Hana! The Miss Hana x Choo Choo Cat Waterproof Eyeliner kit contains four colors – black, brown and glitter versions of both. The pretty metal case also includes a sharpener. This is one item I’d buy just for the packaging. The blue-eyed white cat actually looks like a lot like my pet Saus (you can see my favorite picture of her at the top of this post – she’s so silly!). I found the advert for this collaboration set and it’s so adorable I melted:

3. Holika Holika x Audrey Jeanne – Dodo Cat Glow Cushion BB

Holika Holika is a famous Korean makeup brand. You can’t walk down a street in Seoul without spotting one or two branches! But have you heard of Audrey Jeanne? Probably not. She’s a French illustrator specialising in adorable cat drawings. The Holika Holika x Audrey Jeanne collab is a strange combination but definitely a cute one. The Dodo Cat Glow Cushion contains both foundation and brightener for a natural skin glow. Used together they create a natural, radiant and flawless complexion.

4. The Face Shop – Mini Pet Sweet Perfume Hand Cream

I have already mentioned Felissimo’s strange cat-paw fragranced hand cream – but other brands have created feline-themed hand creams too! The Face Shop is one of my favorite brands when it comes to moisturisers. They are generally effective while being gentle on my sensitive skin. This Mini Pet Sweet Perfume Hand Cream has a floral fragrance (maybe how my cat smells after after I’ve washed her with scented shampoo!). It’s only 30mls so it’s small enough to pop into your handbag. There are also three other animal options to choose from if cats aren’t your thing.

5. White Cat – Super Berry Silky Eye Balm

Another Korean brand which I hadn’t come across before is actually named after a cat – White Cat. This brand is known for using nature-friendly and hypoallergenic ingredients. Not all of their products are feline themed but many of them have leopard print packaging. One such example is their Super Berry Silky Eye Balm. This product claims to provide moisture and increase elasticity in the sensitive eye area. It also improves wrinkles – I’m sold! And look at the lovely fluffy pet in their promotional image:

I would buy anything that this kitty is selling!

I hope you enjoyed this round up! If you’re not a cat lover, these items would make a good gift for a friend who is. Crazy cat ladys are easy to buy for. I would certainly love to receive them!

Where to buy?

Skin79 – Animal Mask (Angry Cat)

Miss Hana x Choo Choo Cat – Waterproof Eyeliner Kit

Holika Holika x Audrey Jeanne – Dodo Cat Glow Cushion BB

The Face Shop – Mini Pet Sweet Perfume Hand Cream

White Cat – Super Berry Silky Eye Balm

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beauty review

Review: L’Oréal Infaillible Lip Paint Matte

19. February 2017

I mentioned in my Valentine’s Day post about my Top 6 Favorite Lip Products the L’Oréal Infaillible Lip Paint Matte. I just bought this one recently and I love it! I’ve been wearing it almost every day since then. Here is a more detailled review about this liquid lipstick:

L’Oréal Infaillible Lip Paints were recently released in Germany with 8 shades in total. These liquid Lipsticks are highly pigmented, with vivid and intense colors. L’Oréal released 4 Lip Paints Matte and 4 Lip Paints Lacquer. The Matte liquid lipsticks have a matte finish, whereas the Lacquers have a glossy finish. Both products claim to be long-lasting.

I selected one of the Lip Paints Matte in shade 205 “Apocalypse Red”. In the promotional pictures it looks more like a dark velvet red shade, but in real it is more of a berry/plum shade. The Lip Paints come in a tube packaging.

The tubes contain 8 ml of product each. The applicator is integrated into the cap and has a regular doe shape, which makes it very easy to follow the curves of your lips.

When swatched, the product first has a semi-matte finish, which can be blended out easily using your fingers or a Q-tip. The color is super vivid and and also very pretty. The finish is not super matte, but kind of moussy-matte. It doesn’t dry down like some other matte lip products, which also leads to a very light and comfortable feeling while wearing it on your lips. I did not have the feeling that it makes my lips feel dry. Also it has a bubblegum scent. The stain of the product is really great, though it does transfer when drinking or eating. It also is not like it sticks to your lips for all day, but because of the slowly faiding stain I would call it long-lasting still.

I really like this product maybe because it is simply the best mixture between almost-matte finish and nice feeling on the lips without dryness. L’Oréal Infaillible Lip Paint Matte retails at your local drug store or at Amazon.de for 7.95 €. Did you try any of the L’Oréal Lip Paints?

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asian cosmetics beauty review

Top 6 Favorite Lip Products for Valentine’s Day

13. February 2017

// AFFILIATE LINKS / LIPS / VALENTINE'S DAY //

Tomorrow it is Valentine’s Day again. Do you celebrate it? I do not really celebrate it except for cooking something together or dining out. But no fancy presents or stuff like that. Spending time is more important after all. ♥ Nevertheless, it is never wrong to make yourself more pretty than you are by putting on some makeup…or at least put some more efford into your daily makeup. I have selected a bunch of lip products which I considered perfectly suited for this occasion. Here are my Top 6 Favorite Lip Products for Valentine’s Day:

Since Valentine’s Day is about love of course the first thing that comes into my mind is kissing. Last year I wrote about how to achieve kissable lips in 3 steps (>>click here<<). After you have pampered your lips it is time to put on some color. I love red lips! It is the most sensual and classic color for lips. But there are so many different shades of red that it is not easy to decide on one. I picked 6 different shades of red and each of the products has their own special texture, reaching from glossy to matte.

Innisfree Real Fit Lipstick in shade 5

I reviewed this lipstick before and I must admit I’m a fan of Innifree lipsticks in general. I love their sleek design and their textures. The Real Fit Lipsticks have a good pigmentation and are a mixture between matte and shiny lipsticks. What I love especially is the rich raspberry shade of this lipstick. The Innisfree Real Fit Lipstick retails from W2Bauty for 14.27 US$.

Etude House Twin ?shttp://w2beauty.com/?s=088505=088505Shot Lips in shade RD302

The Etude House Twin Shot Lips has been one of my favorite to-go lip products during the last months. I love that it has two sides with two different colors and texture. One side has a mousse texture and a beige/nude color, the other side has a tint-type texture and a bright red shade. You can create beautiful gradient lip tones with this product, or use each of the sides by their own. The Etude House Twin Shot Lips retail for 14.40 US$ from the official Etude House.

L’Oréal Infaillible Lip Paint Matte in shade 205

This is my latest addition to my lip products collection and I love it so much, that I had to include it in this post. This red shade called Apocalypse Red is a rich dark red shade. The texture of this liquid lipstick is velvety and appears matte after drying down, without making your lips dry out. The L’Oréal Lip Paints retail for 17.87 €/ 7.96 € on Amazon.de.

Mac Retro Matte Lipstick in shade Ruby Woo

This is the shade that every women should have in their collection! The most classy cherry red matte lipstick! It retails for 24.94 US$ on Amazon.com.

Pony Effect Staying Matte Fit Lip Colour in shade Flawless

Another lip product that I’ve reviewed previously. This lipstick is a truly matte liquid lipstick in tomato red. The shade is so pretty and on top the product doesn’t leave a heavy or dring feeling on the lips. The Staying Matte Fit Lip retails for 26.26 US$ from W2Beauty.

Tonymoly Perfect Lips Shocking Lips in shade Red

Another product I already reviewed and mentioned several times on my Instagram. This is also one of the lip tints I’m using most often, especially when going out. First of all the red is super vibrant. Second, the stain of this tint is super super long-lasting. Even from all these swatches here, this one was the hardest to remove. This lip tint retails for W2Beauty for 13.07 US$.

Below you can see the swatches of all the shades. They look so versatile although all of them are simply red shades! I love how different red can actually be, not boring and old-school at all in my opinion. Which of the shades is your favorite?

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample q-depot review

Review: Banila Co. It Moist Seoul Tint

18. January 2017

I have a new review for a lip product for you. You might know that I love lip tints and lipsticks and that I have really a lot, but the Banila Co. It Moist Seoul Tint had caught my attention several times before, but I always forgot to buy and try it until it was sent to me by Korean cosmetics online shop Qdepot.

Banila Co. first came into my focus when everybody started to rave about their Cleansing Balm. I even bought a couple of samples of it in order to try but I didn’t have the chance to write the reviews yet. Other than that this Korean brand reminds me of benefit when I look at their logo and design of their skincare and makeup products. Also their design is modern and trendy, appealing to young women.

What caught my attention in first place was the packaing design. The lip tint comes in a cardboard box with the illustration of a beautiful yound and stylish woman. Banila Co. It Moist Seoul Tint is a mousse type tint providing a velvet finish. There are 5 shades available in total.

I selected shade #04 called Beeone, a red peach shade according to the description. The bottle of the tint is quite adoreable. It shows the phrase “I ♥ Seoul”, showing the color of your tint through these letters.

The tint comes with a angled brush applicator, that can be easily used to apply the liquid product. It has a thicker texture than a gloss and the term mousse really describes it best, although the finish is appearing moist. It feels velvety on the lips though. If applying a thick layer the product tends to bleed out, so I would recommend this lip tint for a more soft and gradient finish. It is also not transfer-proof and dissapears after eating and drinking, but the color itself is super pretty and it doesn’t feel drying on the lips.

The color of the Banila Co. It Moist Seoul Tint is defintely a hit for me. I love the tomato red shade and in my eye the description of a red peach shade can be confusing. I also love the mousse texture of the product. Of corse because it is not long-lasting it is not the perfect tint, but it is good for everyday use and has also a nice packaging design in addition. You can buy the Banila Co. It Moist Seoul Tint from QDepot for 16.35 US$.

Q-depot is an online retailer for Korean cosmetics. They have already quite a variety of the most popular Korean brands and they keep adding products frequently. The site is easy to navigate, too. And they offer free samples for each order and free shipping for orders above US$ 49. They are committed to contributing 3% of their group’s net profit for social causes in different countries. So you can shop for your favorite Korean products and do something good, too. Also, Q-depot is having a promotion were you can get 5 US$ off your first order by using the code SW5OFF (orders +50 US$) or 10% off your first order using SW10OFF.

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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://q-depot.com/, which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample q-depot review

Review: Tonymoly Black Gel Eyeliner

17. January 2017

Eyeliner is the a product that I really use on a daily basis. I could leave the house without foundation, or mascara…but I always use eyeliner. Pen and pencil shaped eyeliner are easy to use, but still I love the depth and color that can be created by gel eyeliners. My current favorite here is the Tonymoly Black Gel Eyeliner, which I received by Korean cosmetics online shop Qdepot.

The Korean brand Tonymoly is best comparable to Etude House regarding its popularity. Unlike, Etude House though, the packaging is not princessy-cute, but offers other cute and fun designs, too. Especially fruit-shaped products (apples, bananas, mango, peach…) and other creative packaging shapes make this brand interesting for western consumers and therefore very popular. I remember that my first Korean makeup products were from Tonymoly actually.

The Tonymoly Black Gel Eyeliner comes in a 4 g jar. It looks like nothing special and has simply a black color, except for the bottom part of the container, which is made from clear see-through plastic, but the surprise lies in the cap, which includes a small eyeliner brush.

The Tonymoly Gel Eyeliners are available in 6 different shades: black, brown, pearl brown, khaki brown, pearl black, and choco brown. Wow, that’s a lot of shades to select from. I usually stick with my regular black color, but I could imagine to try the brown colors, too.

The brush included has a nice shape and is suited perfectly to create bold and fine lines and wings to your lid. I really like working with the brush and it is easy to use, too. The gel eyeliner itself is soft and can be easily spread. The color is a real matte black, which is the perfect classic color for eyeliner.

The formula of the Tonymoly Black Gel Eyeliner is made in a way that it creates a waterproof film and makes it long-lasting. I can only assure you, that the swatches that I did on my hand really were annoying in terms of removing. Of course the color gets less pigmented, but the stain did not vanish completely after several hand washes. On my lid the eyeliner has a great staying power too. Except from the wing which I tend to rub away during the day the eyeliner lasts all day until I remove my makeup.

I simply love the Tonymoly Black Gel Eyeliner! It has that deep black color that I want for my makeup and it is long- lasting too! And even more, the product comes with an included brush! You can buy the Tonymoly Black Gel Eyeliner from QDepot for 10.19 US$, which is a steal for such a great product in my eyes!

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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://q-depot.com/, which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty MeMeBox PR Sample review

Review: Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam and Mist

3. December 2016

Here is the last review for the Oolu skincare range I received from MeMeBox and it is about the Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam and Mist. I already shared reviews for Oolu by Dr. OhKims and reviewed the Oolu Orchid Emulsion and Toner and the Oolu Moisture Liquids previously, so if you are curious about the brand head over to my other reviews, too.

Oolu is a sister brand of Whamisa. If you know Whamisa you might already have thought about the resemblance in their packaging design and style. Both products are belonging to Dr. Ohkims Cosmetics. That is why both brands are focussing on natural cosmetic products and especially fermented plant extracts. The description for this brand stated at MeMeBox says:

“When plastic surgeons from Korea, the world’s leading nation in plastic surgery, create an organic skincare line, everyone ought to take note. The doctors behind Oolu, by Ohkims Cosmetic, believe natural beauty is the best beauty, so they curated choice floral leaves that help strengthen skin’s self-regenerating powers. A 1,656-hour fermentation process from selection to blending and steeping maximizes the natural benefits of these organic ingredients. Then the premium products, from toning mists to mask packs, are hand-made to ensure the highest quality. As they say, true beauty takes patience.”

Again, like the products I reviewed before both products are beautifully packed in flowery cardboard boxes.

What makes Oolu cosmetics so special is that the key ingredient is preserved in the fluid products. For the Oolu Moisture Liquids there were jasmine and rose petals and blossoms inside the bottles, for the there was one single Orchid Flower inside the bottle of Oolu Orchid Toner. Here, the Oolu Ginseng Gold Mist contains a piece of ginseng! Also, the ingredients used in Oolu Cosmetics are Ecocert and from organic origin and they are free from animal testing!

Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam

I will start with my impression of the Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam, since cleansing is usually the first step in your skincare routine. I expect from a foam cleanser to create a nice lather and be gentle to the skin by being at maximum pH 7, but even better be slightly acidy. Also, since I have dry skintype I do not like the squeaky clean feeling but prefer some moisturizing, or at least some mild formulation that doesn’t dry out.

The Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam claims to be purifying, refreshing and moisturizing. This handmade organic cleanser is infused with Ginseng and Gold as the name already suggests. The ingredients are listed below:

Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Myristic Acid, Palm Kernel/Coco Glucoside, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gold, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Rosewood Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

You can also check the ingredients in COSDNA. The ingredients list is not too long and most of the ingredients are plant derived extracts. Ginseng extract, which is the key ingredient has skin conditioning properties. It is also said that it boosts the collagen production of the skin and has soothing properties. The cleanser also contains Lactobacillus and Bifida Ferment Filtrate. According to COSDNA the ingredients are all green labelled apart from the gold, which is labeled yellow. But mostly the amount of gold is so small that it won’t be responsible for any harm.

The performance of the cleanser is okay for a foam cleanser. It won’t remove your waterproof makeup completely, but all in all it cleanses the skin of most products. I measured the pH at 8 lathered up with water, which is slightly higher than I would love it to be. Still I didn’t experience drying of my skin luckily either. I guess it is an okay cleanser but probably not my first choice, although I like the ingredients lists. The Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam comes in a plastic tube containing 130 ml.

Oolu Ginseng Gold Mist

After cleansing your face it is time for a moisturizing toner. The Oolu Ginseng Gold Mist can be used directly after using the Ginseng Gold Cleanser to lock in the moisture in your face, but since it is a mist you can also carry it around, for example during summer and use it to refresh your face. The key ingredients of the mist are the same as with the cleansing foam, ginseng and gold. According to its description it will keep your skin dewy without any stickiness, while helping brighten, firm, and reduce signs of aging. Plus, other natural extracts nourish the skin, strengthening it and preventing damage.

The ingredients of the mist are listed below:

Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Royal Jelly, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Ginseng Root, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gellan Gum, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Gold, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Rosewood Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

You can look up the ingredients on COSDNA. Again, most of the ingredients are plant-based and green flagged.

I really love this mist! It has a liquid jelly consistency and feels like more than water on your face. It actually makes the skin feel hydrated. You can see a piece of ginseng root inside the bottle, too. The is a clip to protect the pump of the spraying bottle from being released. I kept it, in case I want to carry the mist in my bag sometime. After spraying I pat the moisture until fully absorbed and it doesn’t feel sticky on the skin at all. The pH of the mist lies at 5 which is great, because you can use actives afterwards.

The Oolu Ginseng Gold Cleansing Foam and Mist are another couple of nice products from Oolu. I love the fact that Oolu cosmetics uses natural and organic ingredients and mostly plant extracts. I also love their packaging, especially their cardboard box, design and the idea of the key ingredients inside the solutions. Out of the two products I would love to repurchase the mist! I like its texture and pH and the hydrating effect it provides. Both products are available from MeMeBox for 18 US$ (cleanser) and 28 US$ (mist).

What do you think of Oolu Cosmetics so far? Would you like to try them?

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

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Unboxing: YumeTwins Box November 2016 “Breakfast”

2. December 2016

TokyoTreat also offers a subscription box for Japanese cute things called YumeTwins. I received the YumeTwins Box November 2016 a couple of days ago and I’m happy to share its content with you today. The topic of this months YumeTwins Box was “Breakfast”, the most important meal of the day, as it is said!

YumeTwins Box is a monthly subscription box service located in Japan and delivering cute and kawaii stuff from Japan. They state that it centers around the terms Yume Kawaii, which is a new Kawaii movement that has developed, being a mix of cuteness, fairytale and darkness.

Each YumeTwins box contains 8-10 items reaching from plushies, squiechies, collectible keychains and figures, stationary and accessories. The box can be either subscribed monthly, or in packages of 3, 6 or 12 months. The YumeTwins Box November 2016 contains exactly 8 items and revolves around the topic “Breakfast”, since breakfast has an important role in Japanese culture. Traditional Japanese breakfast is very hearty, serving fish, rice, eggs, pickles and miso soup. But of course there is also western breakfast available in Japan.

The box was packed to the top, mainly because it contained a HUGE plushie this time: the Shinada Baby Nature Plushies are suuuper soft and fluffy and there were different types available in the boxes. My box contained a baby alpaca *_* Isn’t it adorable? The plushie is not really related to breakfast, but still it is so adorable..and maybe it can be part of a tea party instead ;)

Another Hit-item in the YumeTwins Box November 2016 were the Re-ment’s Sailor Moon Sweets Mascot. These are blind boxes containing one out of 6 cute and tasty looking Sailor Moon themed charms. In my box the Tuxedo charm was included. Since the charms are designed as sweets this fits nicely into the breakfast topic.

Another charm was also part of this month’s box: the Sumikko Gurashi Sushi Rubber Keychain Charm! In Japan you can have Sushi for breakfast at fish markets, although it is not really a typical breakfast food. Still, the key charms are so cute and I love the rubber material they have.

Japan is known for their adoreable stationary and of course the box needed some notepads, too. My box contained a Obento Mate Mini-Notepad, illustrated with cute pandas/bears and typical food which is part of a japanese bento (onigiri, bunny-apple-slices, octopus sausages…). I love these kind of mini-notepads!

More stationary of course: the Sanrio Kirimichan Post-Its and Sanrio Gudetama stickers! I know you guys love Gudetama and lately there have been so many fun beauty product collaborations with this egg mascot. Egg is the key breakfast product in most countries all over the world, so it is super fitting into the breakfast theme. Kirimichan is not so well-known as Gudetama, but it is also a food themed character from Sanrio, depicting a salmon piece. Fish is very important in traditional Japanese breakfast, so this one fits in perfect, too!

I fell in love with the Rilakkuuma Tea Party Darjeeling Tea Bags at first sight. These adorable teabags have a cardboard Rilakkuuma illustration which acts as a holder for the teabag on the same time. So adorable and perfect for a tealover, especially for breakfast!

The last item of the YumeBox November 2016 is the Enogumasan 2-Way Marker. Enogumasan is a bear character from popular japanese stationary maker Kamio. The marker has two sides, a thicker and a thin side. And of course it is super cute. Not necessarily a breakfast themed products but still I love it!

YumeTwins Box made me totally happy and I love the concept of this subscription box. If you are a Japan stationary and cute stuff lover you will adore this box. I love how they have a theme for it and try to find products that fit to the theme. In the magazine which is included in the box you will find the descriptions from the products but also some more information about the topic, which also gives you more insight about japanese culture. The YumeTwins Box retails for 29.99 US $ including worldwide shipping. The 3,6, and 12 month plans have a discounted price. EDIT: I just read the news that they made a Makeover for YumeTwins Box. The new YumeTwins Box will contain only 5 items, but they will include in EACH Box high Quality plushies, lifestyle goods and premium character goods worth over 50 US$. The new YumeTwins Box changes are based on a survey among their subscribers. For their launch there is a Grand Renewal Sale, where subscribers can get UP TO $60 DISCOUNT on the YumeTwins plans until Dec 8th, 2016 using coupon NEWYUMETWINS! Don’t miss your chance to try it!

If you are interested in TokyoTreat and YumeTwins Box visit their webpage, their instagram, or their facebook page.

What do you think about YumeBox?

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

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asian sweets food PR Sample TokyoTreat

Unboxing: TokyoTreat Box October 2016 | Autumn Flavors and Halloween

17. November 2016

While I’m writing these lines I’m already nibbling some chocolate from this Japanese candy and snack subscription box. I did an unboxing for TokyoTreat Box in the past and here is another one, this time for the TokyoTreat Box October 2016, which was themed “Autumn Flavors and Halloween”!

TokyoTreat is a monthly subscription box service located in Japan and delivering handpicked candies and snacks directly from Japan. The range of their snacks and treats reaches from sweet to savory and the best part is that they have free worldwide shipping for their subscription boxes.

They have differently priced and sized boxes for subscribing. The smallest and also cheapest retails for 14.99 US $ and contains 5-7 full-sized Japanese candies and snacks. The medium (called regular) sized box contains 8-12 full-sized candies and snacks and a DIY Candy Kit for 24.99 US $. Lastly, there is the premium option for 34.99 US $ containing 13-17 candies and snacks , one DIY Candy Kit, 1 drink and one special item, which can be a drink, Gachapon Toy or Premium DIY Kit.

The TokyoTreat box I received is the one from October and it is the Premium box containing all the possible products you would have received (including the products from the small and regular box). Since October is mid of autumn and also the Halloween month the items in this box revolve around these two topics! I will divide the products into the box categories, so you will get a better overview of how the box is structured.

TokyoTreat Box Small

The SmallTokyoTreat Box for October contains 6 different products: Lotte Koala’s March Halloween Edition, Pipo Chocolate, Uncle Pierre’s Strawberry Cream Roll Cake, Hip Hop Berry Soft Candy Stick, O’Zack Hot Carnival Chili Lime Flavor, and Onion Taro. I love the Koala March Biscuits and every time I’m at the Asian super market I will grab one of these. The Halloween edition is most adorable and so cutely designed. If they had been available during Halloween here I would surely have bought a bunch of them for the Halloween Party! While writing this post I’m eating the Pipo Chocolate. These small balls of covered chocolate remind me of m&ms (without nuts) and are nice to eat in-between. The Uncle Pierre’s Strawberry Cream Roll Cake was a perfect desert to bring to work. Cute design and soft and fluffy cake. Despite being a chocolate and biscuit lover I also really liked the O’Zack Hot Carnival Chili Lime Flavor chips. I love the combination of chili and lime generally! Onion Taro are onion flavored corn puffs. I didn’t try them yet, but corn puffs are always popular with everyone. I also didn’t try the Hip Hop Berry Soft Candy Stick yet, but it is a soft candy stick with two flavors. Soda on the outside and berry flavor on the inside. Sounds nice!

TokyoTreat Box Regular

In addition to the products mentioned above the Regular TokyoTreat Box contains four more products: Nyoki Nyoki Corocon, Look Purple sweet Potato and Sweet Chestnut Chocolate, Premium Hi-Chew – Chardonnay White Grape Flavor, and Peppered Soybean Jerky! Nyoki Nyoki Cocoron is a DIY Candy Kit creating three different types of candy with grape, melon or orange taste. You only need to add some water. I didn’t try it yet, but those DIY candies are fun especially with kids. The Look Purple sweet Potato and Sweet Chestnut Chocolate was again my highlight and also a perfect Autumn themed product. these chocolate bites are either filled with a purple sweet potato filling or a chestnut filling and I loved both of them! And most of all I loved the idea of that kind of fillings! I didn’t try the Premium Hi-Chew – Chardonnay White Grape Flavor but they are chewy candies with a center made from Chardonnay Grape Juice. The outside coating is made with the juice of Muscat of Alexandria. I’m looking forward to try these, although grape flavor is usually not my favorite for candies – but Japanese love grape flavored candy! A completely new world for me was the Peppered Soybean Jerky! I tried beef jerky in the past, but I didn’t know that there was actually a vegetarian version for it! These are tasteful, salty and slightly spicy. Thumbs up!

TokyoTreat Box Premium

Last but not least, there were 6 more products and one Sticker for the TokyoTreat Premium Box in addition to all the products above: Tropicana Season’s Best – Mix Fruit Juice, Kinoko No Yama – Chestnut Chocolate Autumn Edition, Wasabi Nori Taro, Bubbly Salty Lemonade Puccho Gummy, Meiji Grape Wine Gums, Halloween Themed Chopsticks, and the TokyoTreat Original Halloween Sticker. The Tropicana Season’s Best – Mix Fruit Juice contains highly seasonal persimmons in addition to apple, pear, peach, grape and oranges. Unfortunately, the Persimmon taste was not really recognizable. For me it tasted like a typical multivitamin juice. I didn’t try the Wasabi Nori Taro and I’m a bit hesitating to do. It is a dried fish snack with wasabi flavoring. I also didn’t try the Bubbly Salty Lemonade Puccho Gummy yet. These lemonade flavored gummy have a pinch of salt added. I liked the Meiji Grape Wine Gums, a soft whine gum with grape flavor. As you can see from the sticker it was a bonus item! My favorite from these 6 prosucts were the Kinoko No Yama – Chestnut Chocolate Autumn Edition! I loved them and they were the first product to be opened and consumed from the whole box. Loved the chestnut taste in the chocolate filling and love the shape…tiny mushrooms, so adorable! Additionally to the sweets there were Halloween themed Chopsticks included and a Sticker from TokyoTreat! Really a lovely idea!

All in all they made a good themed box which fits perfectly into Autumn and Halloween mood. I loved that the box included chestnut flavors for example. I’m a sucker for chocolate and biscuits, so the Koala March and the Kinoko No Yama were the first to be eaten!

I love how the TokyoTreat Box October 2016 fits into its Autumn and Halloween theme. The products were also well balanced between sweet and savory. It is also super nice to have three sizes of the box to select. Of Course, if your taste is not open to everything food subscription boxes are not really the best option, but if you are curious for Japan’s typical snacks I can recommend this box. Ah, you can also check out my giveaway here, by the way.

If you are interested in TokyoTreat visit their webpage, their instagram, or their facebook page.

What is your impression of the TokyoTreat subscription box and the products for October?

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

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asian cosmetics beauty MeMeBox PR Sample review

Review: Oolu Orchid Emulsion and Toner

13. November 2016

Let’s continue with the reviews for the wonderful brand Oolu by Dr. OhKims: Today I’ll share my impressions with the Oolu Orchid Emulsion and Toner! First of all, who else loves orchids? Such a beautiful and exotic flower which is great in retaining nutrients and water and thus it is also popular in skincare. The Oolu Orchid Emulsion and Toner, which were sent to me by MeMeBox uses these flowers as key ingredients for their skincare here:

I received a whole bunch of products from Oolu but I didn’t want to fit them all in one post, instead I divide the post into three parts starting with the Oolu Moisture Liquids, which I reviewed a couple of days ago and now continuing with the Oolu Orchid Emusion and Toner. Again, both products are beautifully packed in flowery cardboard boxes. The products themselves come in plastic bottles with metal screwing caps.

What makes Oolu cosmetics so special is that the key ingredient is preserved in the fluid products. For the Oolu Moisture Liquids there were jasmine and rose petals and blossoms inside the bottles. Here the Oolu Orchid Toner contains one single Orchid Flower. It is so pretty to look at! Also, the ingredients used in Oolu Cosmetics are Ecocert and from organic origin and they are free from animal testing!

Oolu Orchid Toner

Of course the signature color for the Oolu Orchid Emulsion and Toner is purple. The Oolu Orchid Toner is a liquid solution, almost like water with a light purple color. Toner is used after cleansing the face. You spread a bit into your palms or onto a cotton pad and pat it into your damp skin. I usually use my hands instead of a cotton pad, so I can benefit from the warms of my hands. The product tends to absorb more quickly then. The ingredients of the Oolu Orchid Toner are:

Orchid Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Helichrysum Italicum (Everlasting) Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Orchid Flower, Adenosine, Rosewood Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Beet Root Red

You can check the ingredients on COSDNA, too. According to COSDNA all the ingredients are safe to use and green-labelled. As I said before, the ability of orchids to retain moisture and nutrition makes it a great ingredient for anti-aging and strengthening the skin’s barrier. Additionally, the Oolu Orchid Toner contains Hyraluronic Acid and Glycerin for providing the skin with moisture. Moreover, the toner features a bunch of plant extracts and oils. This is why the toner doesn’t feel like water, although it is a runny liquid. The oils make it feel richer and it feels more nourishing on the skin, but doesn’t make it greasy. In contrast to the Oolu Moisture Liquids the Oolu Orchid Toner doesn’t contain alcohol. The scent of the product is mild and flowery.

Oolu Orchid Emulsion

The emulsion also features the signature color of the Oolu Orchid line, which is a purple color. The Oolu Orchid Emulsion is a lotion-type, light cream. It has a more runny texture than thick creams and is perfect for daily moisturizing. It is used after the toner. If you have serums and essences you should use them after the toner but before the emulsion. The ingredients of the emulsion are listed below:

Orchid Extract, Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil, Rice Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Shea Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Rosewood Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Beet Root Red

You can check the ingredients via COSDNA for their properties. According to COSDNA there are three potential irritants included, which are Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Oil and Apricot Oil. If you know that you react to these ingredient make sure to patch test before you use them. Apart from this all the ingredients are safe to use and green labelled. Also here, the key ingredient is orchid extract with its anti-aging and smoothing properties. Additionally you will find mostly plant extracts and oils in the ingredients list. Although the texture of the lotion is very liquid and light it needs more patience until it absorbs into the skin. It needs a couple of extra rubs and pats as I discovered. Once it absorbs it doesn’t leave the skin sticky or greasy but simply hydrated. It has a pleasant flowery scent.

For the Oolu Orchid Emulsion and Toner I can say that both products are really nice. I love the fact that Oolu cosmetics uses natural and organic ingredients and mostly plant extracts. I also love their packaging, especially their cardboard box, design and the idea of the flowers in the solutions. I especially like the toner here, because it contains the oils and feels nice and smooth on the skin. In contrast to the Oolu Moisture Liquids it doesn’t contains alcohol either, pure essences and extracts instead, which is lovely! The emulsion has the downside that it really takes a bit longer to absorb and to rub it into the skin. Once it is absorbed it feels nice though! My second downside for the emulsion is the bottle. I hate it when emulsions come in bottles like this! I always prefer pump containers here! It makes it so much easier to use…Both products are available from MeMeBox for 28 US$.

What do you think of Oolu Cosmetics so far? Would you like to try them?

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

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