Illi Archive | Berries in the Snow

beauty empties

Graveyard: September and October Empties

6. November 2014

I completely forgot to make an empty post for Septmeber and here are now my product empties from two months. Again, I’m really trying hard to use up all my opened products at the moment and it starts to show some progress slowly. I didn’t keep the sample sachets or sheet masks though…It would be too much of a mess. Nevertheless, I hope you’ll have fun reading!

1. Dita Von Teese Rouge Body Lotion – Repurchase? Yes.

I love the scent of this line by Dita. I tried all the perfumes and the Rouge Line is my favourite scent and at the same time this body lotion smells great. The scent lingers on the skin for a long time and it absorbs fast and makes the skin feel nice. I will repurchase this (I still have the shower gel in use atm…*_*).

2. Naobay Protective Shampoo and Shower Gel -Repurchase? No.

This was part of one of my older Glossyboxes. I used it as shower gel only, so I cannot say anything about the quality as a shampoo. The scent was not my favourite scent but it wasn’t bad either. Nevertheless, it didn’t convince me in a way that I would repurchase it.

3. Illi Fresh Moisture Body Lotion – Repurchase? Maybe.

You will find my review >>here<<. This was part of one of the Global MeMeBoxes. It is a citrus scented moisturizing lotion. I liked that the citrus/lemon scent was natural and not like bathroom cleaning products. It absorbs quickly, too and was not sticky at all. It was a tiny bit to runny for my tasting but I could imagine to try one of their other lotions.

4. The Faceshop Face It Auro Color Control Cream- Repurchase? Yes.

I really do like this CC cream from The Faceshop. It has a nice coverage and lovely finish. I’m sad that it is emptie now, but there are refills available. As soon as I have used up 2-3 of my other BB/CC cream tubes I will repurchase this. I also like the fact that you can buy refills for it. See my review >>here<<. I’m sorry, that my older posts have blurry images…this is because of the switch I made to my new domain. I’ll try to fix all the older posts as soon as I have some spare time. :/

5. CaoLion Mool Pool Deep Cleansing -Repurchase? No.

Actually, I didn’t like this too much. It didn’t remove everything, it had a almost watery consistency and I didn’t like the scent.

6. Balea Diamantentraum Bodylotion – Repurchase? Yes.

Balea is a German drugstore brand, which is easily available and has fair prices. This bodylotion was a limited edition and I liked the scent. It made a nice feeling of the skin. Since it is affordable I would definitively repurchase their bodylotions, but maybe another version, just for the variety.

7. Kneipp Hautöl Mandelblüten Hautarzt – Repurchase? Yes.

Another German brand :) This almond blossom oil has such a nice scent. It is perfect for dry skin and delivers deep nourishment. I enjoyed using it, and I have a second travel-sized version of this oil still in use.

8. Pure Smile Muddy Girl Charcoal Face Mask – Repurchase? Maybe.

This charcoal-type mask pack from the Japanese brand Pure Smile was in my first MeMeBox My Cute Wishlist. It has a heartshaped packaging and contains enough product for 2 times usage. It is a mud-type mask which dries on your face. It has some cooling effect and I heard that some reacted to these pacs, but luckily I just experienced the cool feeling and a tightened skin. I would like to purchase other masks from this brand just to see how they compare.

9. Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence – Repurchase? Maybe.

Since I tried samples from Missha’s Time Revolution First Treatment Essence and was overwhelmed by it I wanted to get the essence. Unfortunately it is not the cheapest product. I found some reviews on Secret Key’s Starting Treatment Essence and read that it was comparable with the one from Missha, and even cheaper. So I decided to get the travel size. I enjoyed using it- but I enjoyed the one from Missha even better. Especially since the effects were much quicker visible and the scent of the Missha product is much nicer.Nevertheless, considering the price, I might buy the one from Secret Key again…

10. The Body Shop Vitamin E Nightcreme – Repurchase? Yes.

I love this cream! It was only a tiny sample jar, but it lasted for quite some time. This rich and nourishing night cream has a wonderful flowery scent and a perfect consistency for a night cream. It absorbs fast and makes the skin silky. I used it in combination with the Vitamin C serum from Tunemakers (see below).

11. Tunemakers VC-3 Serum – Repurchase? Maybe.

This stabilized vitamin C serum is a good alternative to O.S.T. Vitamin C Serum because it is mild and suited for sentitive skin, too. Unfortunately, the bottle is not large, but it lasted for 2,5 months. In general, both of the products from Tunemakers that I tried ( the toner and this serum) were nice products with few ingredients only. This brand is worth a closer look.

12. Shiseido Ibuki Protective Moisturizer – Repurchase? Yes.

I had quite some samples from the Ibuki line and I like the scent and the effect of the products. This emulsion is really great. It absorbs super fast into the skin and makes ist feel soft and moisturized without any stickiness or greasiness. If I had the money for it I would buy it immediately.

12. Only You Green Tea Jamine Bodyscrub – Repurchase? Maybe.

I didn’t know this brand but I received a set of products as a gift. I love drinking green tea and jamine, so I was very pleased about the scent. It is a milder body scrub with shower gel. I’m still using the shower gel and the body lotion, which have the same nice scent.

These are quite some products. Do you know any of these and did you try them yourself? What is your opinion on these products I showed above? I’d be happy about your comments ♥

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asian cosmetics beauty review

Review: Illi Fresh Moisture Body Lotion

6. August 2014

// KBEAUTY / SKINCARE / AFFILIATE LINKS //

Another product from Illi, and it is from the same MeMeBox Global No. 11 like the sheet mask I reviewed previously: Illi’s Fresh Moisture Body Lotion. As the name already says, this is a body lotion with a fresh citrus scent. I never ordered a body lotion from a korean brand, because it is much more conventient to use one from a local drugstore – and cheaper, too, but since I received it, I want to share my opinion with you.

Illi is a Korean skincare brand, part of Amore Pacific group which is known by famous brands like Laneige, Etude House, Innisfree and many more. The products known are mainly focussing on body care, like lotions and body washes. The package design of the Illi products are simple and appear very clean or medical. They have a range of different lotions, each addressing a certain skin type. The lotion can be used on body and face, but I only used it on my body. The Illi Fresh Moisture Body Lotion is designed for hydrating dry skin and giving it back its elasticity.

This is a deluxe size sample containing 100 ml of the product. The full size product contains 350 ml and comes in a pump bottle. The description is only written in Korean on the backside of the bottle. The material is very sturdy. This is also the reason I would have preferred a pump for this smaller bottle, too, because the plastic is hard to squeeze and a pump would be easier to work with.

The product has a light yellowish color and smells of citrus. The main ingredients according to Illi’s product site are Gingseng for vitality, Yuzu lemon for stimulating and camllia oil for the glow. The product is lightweight and absorbs quickly and leaves no stickiness or greasiness on the skin. After application the skin has a silky soft touch which is very nice. Unfortunatelly, I think it is too light for addressing very dry skin. Since it is designed for moisturing, I was a bit dissapointed about this point. Other then this I really like how the skin feels afterwards. Again, it is not easy to find Illi products, but you can check out Jolse for this specific body lotion. The full sized product is quite expensive in my eyes and costs 20.98 US$. On W2Beauty or testerkorea you’ll find some other body lotions from Illi, but all are in the same price range.

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asian cosmetics beauty review

Review: Illi Green Tea Brightening Mask

5. August 2014

I received the Illi Green Tea Brightening Mask with MeMeBox Global No. 11 and I tried it almost right away. Only writing up the review took me again too long :D I’m so sorry! Green tea is one of those ingredients with work quite well for advertisement for beauty products, because a lot of people know about the benefits it provides. Especially in Asian skincare you’ll find the ingredient often, just think of the super popular green tea line from Innisfree. Also, a lot of people love the scent :) like me for example ♥

Illi is a Korean skincare brand, part of Amore Pacific group which is known by famous brands like Laneige, Etude House, Innisfree and many more. The products known are mainly focusing on body care, like lotions and body washes. They also have a selection of sheet masks and this green tea brightening mask is part of it. The package design of the Illi products are simple and appear very clean or medical. The sheet mask has a description on the backside, but it is in Korean only. Nevertheless, there are images to explain how to use the mask, if this should be necessary at all.

You see the production date printed on the bottom of the backside. The sheet mask is a cotton type sheet mask. It consists of two parts, one for the upper facial area, the other for the lower facial area. The folded cotton sheet is separated with a plastic grid, which makes it easier to unfold the cotton sheets. The main ingredients of the mask according to the product page are ginseng for vitality, green tea for brightening, beans for moisture and camellia oil for protecting the skin.

The cotton sheets are soaked very deeply with a gel-like type of essence. This essence makes the cotton sheets cling perfectly to the skin. The cotton sheet material is very thick, too, and feels very soft. There is enough essence left over in the pacaging after taking out the sheet mask. The essence has a mild green tea scent, mixed with a typical skincare scent. When applied to the skin, the mask feels very soft and smooth. Since the mask is composed of two parts, it fits perfectly. I think it is the best fitting mask I tried so far, because it even covers my nose perfectly. The mask has a refreshing effect, which can be enhanced by putting it into the fridge before. The essence is so thickly on the sheet, that it doesn’t absorb completely and thus leaves a slight sticky feeling. After using, the skin looks shiny and fresh. I cannot say anything about the brighteing effect since I only used one mask. All in all, I’m amazed about the thickness and softness of the cotton sheet. I didn’t like that it didn’t absorb, but I would consider to try more sheet masks from Illi. Since the brand is not very popular, it is not easy to find the products. Testerkorea has some Illi products for example and among those also the Illi Green Tea Brightening mask. It costs 2500 Won, which is around 2.50 US$.

Did anybody try this mask, too? What’s your opinion? Do you know other Illi sheet masks?

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asian cosmetics beauty beauty boxes

Unboxing: MeMeBox GetItBeautyBox Global No. 11

8. June 2014

It’s another unboxing post for MeMeBox GetItBeautyBox Global No. 11. Yeiiih! :D I have to keep up with the product reviews for the items I receive- there are so many product reviews in my draft, I have to start making a list in order to publish all of them as soon as possible. The problem is that I’m far to lazy for being organized, haha. Okay, let’s see what was in this box finally:

MeMeBox is a box service company, offering a wide amount of different beauty boxes. Unlike most western beauty boxes which have to be subscribed for on a monthly basis, MeMeBoxes can be preordered but that doesn’t force you to buy more than the desired box. They ship to many countries and the products they send in their boxes are mainly Korean. Apart from their monthly Global Boxes like this one, they also have a huge amount of themed boxes, Mini Boxes, Boxes where you know what is inside, so called Superboxes with a higher value and so on…just check out their online store and you’ll find a huge selection of different boxes. Since they have become very popular within the blogger community they sell out pretty fast, but they bring up new beauty boxes so fast, that you cannot keep up with them anyways XD

The first thing jumping into my eyes when opening the box was the product from Too Cool For School. I was uber-happy when I say the mint colored packaging because I knew directly what it was. That’s the first time I receive a MeMeBox featuring a product from Too Cool For School. A double-plus because it is a product from their Dinoplatz line, with the most adorable packaging ever!!! I reviewed another product from TCFS Dinoplatz before :)

Here is the product card with the English description for each of the products. I like the constellation of product types this time.

MeMeBox GetItBeautyBox Global No. 11 contains these products:

Dear by Eprani Moistful Booskin (65 ml) – full size (120 ml) costs US$ 31

If you combine Booster and Skin toner you come out with the word “Booskin”. It’s a moisturizing first step for the skincare routine. I heard some about Eprani products and I was eager to try a product. At the moment I’m testing another toner, so didn’t open this one yet.

Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Cinema City (10 ml) – full size (30 ml) costs US$ 30

Yeeiih, I love the super cute packaging of the TCFS Dinoplatz line. This is a CC cream from this line…I love the packaging so much and I’m overly happy to be able to try this. Review will be up in a couple of days.

Hope Girl Nail Travel Bling Bling Set No. 04 Gold Shine (full size product)

A nail polish set in a cute packaging. I received the Gold Shine Kit, but there were other kits available , too. I’m happy with the golden polish, because I don’t have any golden polishes yet. I didn’t try it yet.

Witch’s Pouch Radiant Lolli Tint No. 3 Funky Bloom (2.5 g) – full size (4.5 g) costs US$ 14

Again, a super cute packaging. I love the travel size, because it is so tiny and fits into any pouch! The color is nice, too, it is a nice pinish color, making your lips look more healthy and youthful. I will review this, too.

Illi Fresh Moisture Body Lotion (100 ml) – full size (350 ml) costs US$ 24

I would never spend so much money on a body lotion. But I love using body lotions and that’s something you can never have enough from. The scent is fresh and citrus-y and it feels nice on the skin. A review is planned for this one. It can be also used on the face, which is nice.

Illi Green Tea Brightening Mask – full size costs US$ 3

You can never have enough sheet masks and thanks to MeMeBox there will be one addition to my mask stash with every box. I love green tea, so I’m looking forward to use this. Maybe today, since the weather is so hot…

Purederm Botanical Choice Pure Solution Eye Cream (30 ml) – full size (30 ml) costs US$ 34

Last box contained an eye serum, this time we have an eye cream. It seems to be a good cream according to the price. I didn’t open it, since I just started a new eye cream but I’m always happy with eye creams.This one contains Niacinamide, so I guess it will give you a more radiant look.

Although this box only contains 2 full size products (the mask and the eye cream) I’m very happy. There is some decorative make up and some skincare, so the balance is nice. As I said, especially the TCFS CC cream is a highlight, but the other products look promising, too. Again, a nice box and I absolutely don’t regret buying it. Also, seeing this, I’m super happy about cancelling my Glossybox subscription…

The value of the box is amazing, too, considering the fact that you pay 23 US$ normally, plus shipping (6.99 US$ for standard shipping). But I think I never paid the full price for any of the MeMeBoxes I ordered up to now. They always have so many ways to save money, by coupons and other promotions. I can definitively recommend you to check out MeMeBox online store.

Here is a list of the current events/ promotions to save some money:

For signing up you receive 10 MeMePoints worth 10 US$ at the moment

Free shipping on orders above $70 from Memeshop: FREESHIPPING

$5 off on orders over 3 Memeboxes: MEMEBUNDLE3

For ordering the MeMeBox From Nature you’ll receive 3 MeMePoints worth 3 US$

Also, when making orders of some of the boxes you might get MeMePoints, too, this helps to save the shipping costs for your next order if you get addicted like me XD

You can also read my previous unboxing posts:

MeMeBox GetItBeautyBox Global No. 10

MeMeBox GetItBeautyBox Global No. 8

MeMeBox GetItBeautyBox Global No. 6

Do you know MeMeBox already? Were you happy with the products so far? And if you have any requests for reviews of the received products, feel free to leave a comment :)

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