Missha Archive | Berries in the Snow

Review: Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule

8. October 2018

// SKINCARE / KBEAUTY / AFFILIATE LINKS //

If you saw my latest empties post on Instagram you probably discovered the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule in my picture there. Unfortunately, I used up the last drops of it and I’ve probably never been more sad about using up a serum or ampoule this time. This ampoule has probably been reviewed a lot of times before and there have been comparisons to another high-end brand night serum in the past. I have no comparison to other products here, only my honest review about using this serum in the last months.

The Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule is from the famous Korean brand Missha. Missha has a lot of online stores all over the world and are available in US/Canada, Australia and even in Germany. It was the first Korean brand with a physical store in Germany, too! The products always come in a very mature and luxurious packaging and the design is usually very elegant although simple. I think that it can be liked by almost everyone. The aim of Missha is to create quality products that are affordable.

The Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule is directed towards anti-aging and brightening, using purple botanical ingredients like blueberries, aronia, beets, red cabbage, and purple carrots and combining these with lactic acid fermentation ingredients. It’s a powerful ampoule designed for nighttime use, making the skin smoother, firmer, revitalized, and stronger.

The ampoule comes in a signature purple color that refers to the purple plant ingredients used. The elegant glass bottle with an attached dropper comes packed in a cardboard box of the same color and design. The packaging looks timeless and elegant!

The ingredients list of this highly concentrated ampoule might put you off at first glance, but don’t fear the long list. The ingredients are very beneficial and combine a lot of goodness!

Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycereth-26, Juniperus Chinensis Xylem Extract, Sorbus Commixta Extract, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Betaine, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethyl Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Grifola Frondosa (Maitake)/Ophioglossum Vulgatum Extract Ferment Filtrate, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethanolamine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Octyldodecanol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, Acacia Arabica Stem Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Aronia Arbutifolia Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclomethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium Edta, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Manilkara Multinervis Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Ferment Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Dimethiconol, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Beta-Sitosterol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Propylene Glycol, Cholesterol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ceteth-24, Choleth-24, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Ubiquinone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Maltodextrin Crosspolymer, Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Retinol, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Biotin, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterol, Peg-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Bht, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Copper Tripeptide-1, Silica, Tripeptide-1

First of all, according to SkinCarisma the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule is free from parabens, sulfates, alcohol, and EU-allergens. The ingredients are safe to use, and there is only one ingredient that could be irritating for sensitive skin types. This ingredient is Retinol! So if you have been looking for effective anti-aging ingredients you will have stumbled upon Retinol. Retinol, or Vitamin A, can cause skin reactions, including peeling, redness, scaling, itching, and burning, and also increases the risk of sunburns and sun-induced mutations. Although retinol is a great anti-aging ingredient you have to keep these points in mind and use sunscreen during the day to protect your skin from the UV rays to avoid its side effects. I guess the percentage of retinol in this ampoule is very low, but still, you should keep in mind to use sunscreen during the day while using ingredients that have these kinds of chemical peeling properties.

Most of the ingredients of the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule have moisturizing properties and are perfect for hydrating the skin. Panthenol, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or chamomile extract are some of these ingredients. The latter is also a great soothing ingredient, while panthenol and hyaluronic acid also have wound-healing properties. Other ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin C derivates, adenosine, and retinol have brightening and anti-aging properties. Additionally, there are four different kinds of ferments included, combining Lactobacillus, Bifida, Lactococcus, and Leuconostoc! I love Fermented ingredients! Ferment filtrates have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity when applied in concentrations of 5% or more. They have skin conditioning properties, are nutrient-rich, and contains many vitamins, amino acids, and proteins and helps to improve the moisture level of the skin.

In order to use the product you take out the ampoule and dispense the desired amount into your palms and apply it to your skin. The best way is, of course, working upwards and outwards along your facial features. The warmth of your hand will help the ampoule to sink into your skin. I used this product as the last step before my sleeping mask or night cream. In the next morning, I’ve always used a sunscreen. The attached dropper makes it easy to dispense the product. since it is a glass dropper you can see the slightly red/orange colored ampoule. The serum absorbs fast and glides easily across the skin. It doesn’t feel heavy, despite all the ingredients included.

In my opinion, this ampoule really makes the skin feel smoother, hydrated, and more firm. I loved the effects in the next morning. The only downside is probably the price, sometimes 50ml are sold for around 40US$ or more. The second point is (I don’t know if that is a downside though) that Missha constantly has new formulations of their products, especially for this ampoule and the Missha Time Revolution First Essence. This can be irritating and makes it sometimes complicated to read the proper review for it. If you love to have one concentrated product that combines many beneficial ingredients in one you will love this ampoule. If you rather prefer a highly moisturizing serum, without any fuss, you can more likely switch to a serum or ampoule with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid and achieve satisfying results as well. I personally love the extra smoothness of the ferments here, and all these good anti-oxidants from the purple plants.

The Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule retails from:

Missha Germany for 46.80€

Missha US for 49 US$

Amazon.com

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Review Reloaded: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream & Instagram Giveaway

3. May 2018

// KBEAUTY / GIVEAWAY / MAKEUP //

In honor of my 5ths Blog Anniversary I want to redo my review on the one BB cream that started everything: the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream!

Many years ago, I was looking for a BB cream that helps to give some natural coverage and yet was good for troubled skin. While searching the world-wide web I discovered a particular interesting review, and that is when I decided to by my first BB cream from the korean brand Missha. I ordered via ebay and waited eagerly for 2 weeks before I received my travel tube of the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream. It came in a small cardboard box together with some samples of it and a cute note. Unfortunately, I don’t remember from which seller I bought this particular tube, but I was so wowed that I bought back-ups and up to today this is one of my favourite BB creams!

After trying some more products from Missha and other KBeauty brands like Liolele, Etude House, and Tonymoly, I discovered that it was not so easy to find reviews on the products. I decided to start a blog to write down my own experience and the first review I did was on this BB cream. It is a short and not very informative review that lacks proper images, but you will still find it somewhere buried here on my blog. Today, I want to re-do the review, and hopefully, this time it will be more informative compared to back then.

The Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream is probably the most famous product of the Korean brand Missha. Missha has a lot of online stores all over the world and they are available in US/Canada, Australia, and even in Germany. It is the first Korean brand with a physical store in Germany, too! Missha has always been and still is against animal testing. The products usually come in a very mature and luxurious packaging and the design is very elegant and timeless. I think, that it can be liked and appeals to almost everyone!

The classic Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream comes in signature dark red and golden colors. The tube with 50 ml content comes with a pump applicator, unlike the smaller versions of the BB cream, that come in a regular tube. Usually, one pump is enough for a light and natural makeup for me. The pump is also hygienic and keeps the product from drying out, especially compared to makeup products that come in jars for example.

The Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream is a multi functional BB cream. It combines skincare and makeup with sun protection. In the past I only used a moisturizer and the BB cream and I was ready to go. It did help my troubled skin so much, and after using it regularly my skin troubles improved and I was more than happy and convinced about asian beauty products.

The ingredients of the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream are listed on the cardboard box:

Water(Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide/Talc/Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Arbutin, Mineral Oil, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenyltrimethicone, Disodiium Edta, Adenosine, Caviar Extract, Algae Extract, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Micadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis(Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Ceramide 3, Bees Wax (Cera Alba), Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10-1dimethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol, Polyethylene, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Iron Oxides (Yellow), Iron Oxides (Red), Iron Oxides (Black), Fragrance, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha – Isomethyl Lonone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol.

The list is quite long, but you will see that it contains a bunch of plant-based ingredients, like algae extract, caviar extract, jojoba oil…but also hyaluronic acid, collagen, cermides, and adenosin. It also contains sun protection (zinc oxide/titanium dioxid/ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), which gives it SPF 42 PA+++. It is not free from parabens, mineral oil, or silicones though. You can check all the ingredients on Skincarisma, too.

The BB cream is available in various shade options, and by now even more shades are available than they were in the past. But for me shade No. 23, natural beige, is the best suited for my skin tone and usually fits during all the year (except for vacations in very hot and sunny countries, but Germany is not that kind of country unfortunately :D).

The beige colored cream has a dewy finish and medium coverage. It appears a bit grey-ish at first, but once blended in it will gradually adapt to your skin tone. I have dry skin, and the dewy finish reduced over the day while wearing the BB cream. I heard that some people with oily skin types didn’t like the BB cream because it looks greasy on them. I can advise you to get your hands on a travel size or on single samples before buying the BB cream if you worry about the greasy-ness. After all, reviews are only a personal opinion and that doesn’t mean that you will make same experiences that I have made.

Below is the picture of the BB cream when blended in.

And here is how the BB cream looks when I apply it on my skin. It looks so natural and nice and still has a perfect amount of coverage for me.The skin looks evened out and clear! Of course, during the day, and depending on how often you tend to touch your face, blow your nose, etc, the BB cream will start to fade, but the process can be slowed down when using a primer before. The BB cream has a flowery scent, by the way. I like the scent, but if you are sensitive to scents you should keep that in mind.

After so many years I’m still convinced by the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream, and though it might not seem perfect, especially regarding all the ingredients. It delivers what I expect from a BB cream: it gives me a natural, but clear finish, and it is not as heavy as a foundation is. Moreover, it contains some sun protection and also some beneficial ingredients for the skin. This BB cream is like a first love for me, it will stay in your memory and make you feel happy and comfortable.

>>Now, let’s talk about my last blog anniversary giveaway: Head over to my Instagram Account to have the chance to win a full-sized tube of the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in Shade 23!<<

Get the Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream here:

Missha Germany for 14.80€

Missha US for 22US$

Beautytap for for 15US$

Also check out my page for current coupon codes and discounts.

♥ Thanks again at this point for everyone who read and reads my posts! I really appreciate it! Thanks for 5 years of Berries In The Snow ♥

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Review: Missha Lighting Tone Up Base Peach | TesterKorea

8. March 2016

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

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

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

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

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

Also, check out my previous reviews for TesterKorea:

Nature Republic Body & Nature Provence Peach Body Butter

Proformula Skin Reset AHA 7 Lifting Pack

Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream

Etude House Tint My Brows Gel

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

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asian cosmetics beauty review TesterKorea

Review: Missha Super Aqua Ice Tear Cream | TesterKorea

17. February 2016

// PR SAMPLE / KBEAUTY / SKINCARE //

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Valentine’s Day Special: Kissable Lips in 3 Steps

12. February 2016

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

Valentine’s Day: Some love it, others hate it utterly! Either way, I have some pampering tips for you today, no matter if you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not: I will show you my 3 steps routine for achieving soft and smooth lips. ♥

There is nothing more bothering than dry and flaky lips. Especially in cold or very dry seasons almost everybody has made experience with dry and chapped lips. Not only does it feel bothersome, but also does it make any lip color makeup much more difficult. I hate it when special colors accentuate any dry flake on your lips! But apart from drinking a lot of water and using lip balm you can follow some easy steps to make your lips smoother and give them a nice pampering session.

First Step: Scrub Your Lips

First, you have to get rid of all the dead skin cells. Using a lip scrub is the most convenient way to do this. You can either buy a lip scrub, or make a simple DIY lip scrub using honey, sugar, and olive oil. I’m using the Missha M Soothing Care Lip Scrub and the Shara Shara Kissing Sugar Lip Scrub at the moment. I love the lip scrubs which come in a tube like the one from Missha, because you can take them with you while you’re showering and give your lips an occasional scrub. I’m using my fingers for scrubbing over my lips, but you can also use a tooth-brush (maybe another from the one you are using for your teeth…). The best way is to use circular motions to get rid of most of the dead skin.

Second Step: Lip Mask Patch

The second step gives your lips deep nourishment and moisture: Lip Mask Patches are hydrogel masks designed for the area around your mouth and for your lips. I love the lip patches from Pure Smile, but also other brands have these kind of lip patches. The Pure Smile Choosy Lip Patches have different types of essences: milky, fruity, honey, herb, peach, and many more! They contain Vitamin E, Collagen, and Hyaluronic Acid, which will make your lips soft and hydrated. The best part with lip patches is, that it looks ridiculously funny while wearing them, because the patch is shaped like an oversized lip.

Third Step: Lip Balm

The last step is the one we probably use mostly: Every woman has some lip balm somewhere in her handbag at least…or too many different lip balms which makes it difficult to decide which to use. After you scrubbed your lips and boosted them with a lip mask you can use a lip balm to seal them and keep them hydrated. My favorite two lip balms at the moment are the Tonymoly Mini Peach Lip Balm and the Classic Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm. I also do love the Smith’s Rosebud Salve, but my jar is almost empty and the tin is so worn off that you cannot read the label anymore :D.

When using these easy steps of lip care on your lips they will be like new! Smooth and hydrated lips, perfect for your Valentine’s Date or any other occasion you want to – or even just for yourself, to feel even more pretty than you already do! ♥

Where to get the products mentioned above:

Missha M Soothing Care Lip Scrub – W2Beauty for 10.43 US$, Missha Germany for 7.80 €

Shara Shara Kissing Sugar Lip Scrub – Testerkorea for ~5 US$ (currently sold out)

Pure Smile Choosy Lip Patches – Amazon.com for ~5 US$, also on ebay

Tonymoly Mini Peach Lip Balm – Qdepot for 8.99 US$

Classic Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm – Amazon.de for 5.79 €, Amazon.com for 6.98 US$

Smith’s Rosebud Salve – several stores for ~6 US$

What are your lip care remedies? Do you have any favorite products or DIY tips?

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asian cosmetics beauty review

Review: Missha Chiffon Painting Rouge

8. November 2015

// AFFILIATE LINKS / KBEAUTY / LIPS //

It’s been a while that the Missha Chiffon Painting Rouge liquid lipstick (or better to say lip laquers?!) have been released, and I bought one of the shades back then in order to review it quickly and close to the release date. But then my computer crashed and it took ages to repair it. Finally, after many weeks and months here is my review for the Missha Chiffon Painting Rouge in shade CRD01!

Missha is one of the worldwide famous Korean brands, especially their Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream is one of the most famous BB creams. They have a lot of online stores all over the world and are available in US/Canada, Australia and since some time they even opened up an online store for Germany, and a physical store in Ingolstadt in Germany! The products always come in a very luxurious looking packaging and the design is usually very mature and elegant and I think that it can be liked by almost everyone. The Missha Painting Rouge line, a collection of liquid lipsticks, was released with two version. There is the Missha Syrup Painting Rouge and the Missha Chiffon Painting Rouge. The words “chiffon” and “syrup” explain how the lip rouges feel when applied on your lips. The Syrup Painting Rouge leaves your lips with a gloss and moisturized, whereas the Chiffon Painting Rouge has a feeling like velvet on the lips, yet it is not a matte lip rouge, but has a lipstick like glow. The packaging design of both versions is similar and also very neat and simple. In total there are 5 different shades for each the Syrup Painting Rouge and the Chiffon Painting Rouge.

As you can see, the packaging of my Missha Chiffon Painting Rouge comes only with Korean description, but you can find the English and the German version (and many more) for both products on the official Missha pages. Although it may be that the product is not available in all countries yet.

Honestly, the name “chiffon” made me think of matte lips first, but already on the advertorial pictures you can see that it is a soft finish, but shows some glow. I was really curious about the texture. The Missha Chiffon Painting Rouge comes in a rectangular container with a doe-foot applicator and the first time I used I was really surprised about the feel of the product on the lips. Similar to the Skinfood Milky Rose Vita Color Lip Lacquer it feels super soft on the lips, more like some velvet canvas. It is not sticky, but feels powdery when you press your lips against the back of your hand for example. Nontheless, it looks moist. The more you dabb it with your finger the more the gloss dissapears and it can be blended out to a soft tinty color without glossyness. Having said that, you can already imagine that this product is not transfer-proof. But the texture makes it useable as a blush, since the finish is powdery after blending it. The applicator is easy to use, but is not ideal for creating sharp lines. I would use a lip brush for creating sharply defined lips with this product, otherwise there is the risk of feathering borders. Generally, this is perfectly suited for creating gradient lips and applying it in the center of the lips mainly and blur it outwards.

Despite the application of the Missha Chiffon Rouge Paint, which can be tricky if you are a perfectionist, I totally love the color and the powdery feeling instead of a sticky gloss feeling! The pigmentation of the color is great, too, although it transfers easily and is not long lasting. Nevertheless, the stain will stay on your lips for quite a while, but for the pigmented lips you will have to reapply it. You can get the Missha Chiffon Rouge Paint from W2Beauty for 8.92 US$. For those living in the US you might want to check out the prices Amazon, too. If you live in Germany you may also get these lip rouges from the German Missha store for 7.90 € and it will be at yor doorstep after a couple of days.

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asian cosmetics beauty review

Review: Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture

14. September 2015

// AFFILIATE LINKS / CUSHION / KBEAUTY //

I already loved the Missha M Magic Cushion, but here is another cushion version of Missha’s BB creams called the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture! As the name says, this BB promotes a dewy/moist look of the skin which is quite popular these days- not only in Korea! Another reason why I bought the whole cushion and not only a refill is the limited edition packaging with the illustration of Betty Boop ♥

Missha is one of the worldwide famous Korean brands, especially their Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream is one of the most famous BB creams. They have a lot of online stores all over the world and are available in US/Canada, Australia and since some time they even opened up an online store for Germany, and a physical store in Ingolstadt in Germany! The products always come in a very luxurious looking packaging and the design is usually very mature and elegant and I think that it can be liked by almost everyone. The Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture regularly comes in a similar simple design like the Missha M Magic Cushion. Instead of the silver colored rim of the lid, the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture has a rose-gold colored rim. This edition has additionally an illustration of Betty Boop on the lid. The cardboard box shows the same illustration:

You can find Korean description on the cardboard box (click to enlarge the image below). I picked up shade 23, which is the darker shade of the two available shades. Like the Missha M Magic Cushion, this product has SPF 50+/PA+++. The sunscreens used are Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. The ingredients are listed on COSDNA >>here<< and are safe to use. The Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture contains some plant oils and extracts, so if you have any known allergic reactions please make sure to check the ingredients first. The product contains Niacinamide, like the regular Missha M Magic Cushion. Moreover, it contains yeast extract, which was not part of the ingredients of the regular Missha M Magic Cushion.

Like all the cushion foundations/bb/cc creams the product comes in a compact shape like regular powders do. You can flip open the lid and you will find a sponge applicator and a mirror inside. The product is stored in a container inside the compact, which is sealed by a plastic lid. This is also the part which can be taken out and replaced by a refill. The refills of the Missha M Magic Cushion and the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture are interchangeable.

The product is soaked into a sponge inside the container and by pressing the application puff on the sponge with the BB cream you can get the product out of the container. By dabbing the puff now on your face (not pulling it over the skin!) you will get a nice and natural finish.

The Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture has thereby a light, flowery scent which is kind of a signature scent for Missha BB creams. It has a moist texture, like the name already tells you, and is not as creamy as the regular Missha M Magic Cushion. The soft, moist texture blends in a bit easier than the texture of the Missha M Magic Cushion, but both can blend in easily with the skin color. The finish of the regular Missha M Magic Cushion is a powdery/satin finish, whereas the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture does not hide the natural glow of the skin.

Below you can see how the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture looks on my skin. It makes the skin tone even and has medium coverage. It is a natural finish and the skin doesn’t feel dry after using it but rather refreshed. A quick reminder though: the dewier the finish of a BB cream is, the easier you can see marks on your face when you touch it. Eg. when I’m using a tissue on my nose I usually try to blend in the BB cream on the sides of my nose by dabbing a bit with my finger. Usually, this already does the trick…and for any other moments, you can always put the cushion compact in your handbag and touch up in-between.

I cannot say whether the regular Missha M Magic Cushion or the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture is the better products because I like both equally. Usually, it depends on my mood and the finish I want to achieve. For hot days I prefer the satin finish of the regular cushion, but if the weather makes my skin feel dry I grab the moisture cushion. For those who want to have their favorite BB cream as a cushion, I can recommend you to try the Missha Magic Cushion Case, a DIY empty cushion, which makes it possible to create your own.

I love using the Missha M Magic Cushion Moisture and I love the packaging! The finish is very natural and keeps your face’s natural glow, which I do like a lot. Moreover, the Missha M cushions are not too expensive. I got mine at W2Beauty for 11.07 US$. The refill is for 8.21 US$. For those living in the US, you might want to check out the prices Amazon, too. On testerkorea there is also the cushion plus two refills for around 10 US$ available.

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asian cosmetics beauty Missha PR Sample review

Review: Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive

3. September 2015

// PR SAMPLE / SKINCARE / AFFILIATE LINKS //

In the last years many brands have started to release essences containing fermented yeast filtrate, similar to the famous SKII Facial Treatment Essence. One of these many products has been claimed a good dupe, or even an improved version of the SKII essence: the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence. I tried some samples from this essence in the past and I really did like it back then, but never purchased a full size version. Then, earlier this year Missha announced to reformulate the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence (short: Missha FTE), which was called the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive. Many people were not happy about the reformulation. Nevertheless, I wanted to give this version a chance and started to in-cooperate it into my daily skincare routine after I kindly received this from Missha Germany for reviewing purpose. I do not have any direct comparison between the two versions (apart from my weak memory using the samples), but I will do a short breakdown on the new and removed ingredients. As far as I can tell I do like the new Missha FTE intense nonetheless!

The Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence is a highly concentrated essential essence, which is used as first step after cleansing your face. It rises the skin moisture and radiance level and has soothing and smoothing properties. It claims to have wrinkle repairing and whitening properties. The Korean and English description is included on the cardboard box (you can click to enlarge the image below). A label with the German description is added on the packaging, since I received the product from Missha Germany. The bottle of essence comes with 130 ml of product and has a shelf-life of 9 months after opening.

Ingredients: old vs. new

The ingredients are listed on the cardboard packaging, but also on the official Missha web pages. The list is also included in the COSDNA databank, and you can check whether the single ingredients are rated positively or negatively. Luckily, the Missha ingredients are safe to use, as you can check here. Since I mentioned the reformulation of the Missha FTE earlier here is a quick info about it. Below, the ingredients of the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence are listed:

SACCHAROMYCES FERMENT FILTRATE, BIFIDA FERMENT LYSATE, PROPANEDIOL, NIACINAMIDE, POLYQUATERNIUM-51, AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS SEED EXTRACT, BETAINE, ULMUS DAVIDIANA ROOT EXTRACT, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, PIPER METHYSTICUM LEAF/ROOT/STEM EXTRACT, WATER, TREHALOSE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, HYDROLYZED CORN STARCH, PHENOXYETHANOL, BETA VULGARIS (BEET) ROOT EXTRACT, PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE BARK EXTRACT, CASSIA ALATA LEAF EXTRACT, DISODIUM EDTA, ADENOSINE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, RAFFINOSE, TROMETHAMINE, ACETIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, HEXAPEPTIDE-9

The newly added ingredients are marked green. These ingredients are not included in the old version of the Missha FTE. I will go through the properties of these 8 new ingredients in the following:

Betaine: a anti-inflammatory stabilizator, which has calming/soothing properties for the skin

Trehalose: moisturizing properties

Butylene Glycol: has similar properties as propylene glycol, but with a lighter texture; skin conditioning properties and acts as solvent

Disodium EDTA: stabilisator, chelator, and preservative

1,2-Hexanediol: humectant, emolient

Caprylyl Glycol: skin conditioning and moisturizing properties, also a preservative

Potassium Sorbate: preservative

Hexapeptide-9: a synthetic peptide containing Glutamine, Glycine and Proline residues (different amino acids), it acts as skin conditioner/ smoothening

The ingredients which have been removed from the formulation are: Licorice Root Extract (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Polyquaternium-51, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, and Pentylene Glycol.

Licorice Root Extract: an antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory and skin-conditioning properties, also used for fragrance

Centella Asiatica: skin conditioning and calming/soothing properties

Portulaca Oleraca: anti-inflammatory and skin conditioning properties

Rosmarinus Officinalis: anti-inflammatory, used for fragrance

Chamomilla Recutita: skin conditioning/ smoothening

Pentylene Glycol: anti-inflammatory, emollient

Polyquaternium-51: humectant

When I’m comparing the two lists of the new and removed ingredients I see that mainly ingredients have been changed into ingredients with similar and same properties. So why did they change it at all? My first idea was, that they wanted to get rid of the fragrance ingredients the product had. The new formula doesn’t have a specific scent, or rather smells like many essences with fermented ingredients smell of. The old formulation didn’t have any specific scent to me either. The second idea is, that many people react to specific plant extracts. By removing some of the plant extracts and changing them to synthetic ingredients the risk for allergies is reduced. The third point might be that the cost for the new ingredients is cheaper than the old ones. The last idea seems to be the most likely one :D The only ingredient which is not really replaced properly is the Licorice Root extract. This is such a powerful ingredient considering brightening and anti-aging that it is really sad they removed it. Yet, we do not know the concentration of the Licorice Root extract in first place, so it is not really sure how much this effects the properties of the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence as a whole.

Apart from the newly added and the removed ingredients the key ingredients of both formulations are the same: yeast ferment filtrate, also known as “Pitera”. The Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence contains two types of yeast ferment filtrate: Saccharomyces and Bifida in a concentration of 80%. Yeast ferment filtrate is nutrients-rich. It contains many vitamins, amino acids and proteins and helps to improve the moisture level of the skin. Other great ingredients of the Missha FTE are sugars, like Raffinose and Trehalose, which have moisturizing properties and ingredients like Niacinamide and Lactid Acid, which have brightening properties.

I’ve been using the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive since I received it 8 weeks ago almost every day twice (morning and evening routine). From time to time I switched to the May Coop Raw Sauce alone, mostly I used both together. There is no scent / light fermented scent. The consistency of the Missha FTE is water-y. It is clear and runny, but absorbs into the skin quickly. It feels the skin hydrated and smoothed instantly, like a thin film on the skin. I really like this feeling and it makes you want to touch your face constantly. The overall face looks brightened and less dull. Adding other products on top works nicely and doesn’t cause any flaking at all.

Unfortunately, I cannot compare the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive to the old version directly, but I really love how this product works in my skincare routine. It leaves the skin with a nice feeling and -having tried the Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence before- I can say that I prefer the Missha FTE. The Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence has a much more intense yeast ferment scent (contains 90% of yeast ferment filtrate) and yet doesn’t leave the skin as smooth as the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intense does. I’ve bought the COSRX Galactomyces 95 White Power Essence recently, but have not tried it yet (this one has even 95% of yeast ferment). I will be comparing it to the Missha FTE Intensive for sure. In terms of wrinkle-care I do not know how much the Missha FTE impacts on this, since every change will be also an effect of my whole skincare routine. Adding products with moisturizing properties is never wrong if you want to prefer skin-aging though. And the Missha FTE does definitively moisturize and brighten up my skin instantly and makes it feel super smooth. There are so many brands these days, each with their own yeast ferment filtrate essence that it can be difficult to decide for a specific one, but considering the price the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence is definitively preferable to the SKII Essence. The Missha Time Revoltion The First Treatment Essence Intensive retails for 38.90 € from the German Missha store (49.00 US$ from Missha US!).

You can also get this product from:

W2Beauty for 38.50US$ (use coupon berries10 for 10% off and free shipping)

Amazon.de for 18.01€

Amazon.com for 28US$

Btw.: Missha Germany also deliveres outside Germany. So if you are somewhere in Europe it might be faster to consider ordering from them instead of Korea. My package arrived after 2 days, which is awesome when thinking about the 2-4 weeks of waiting when ordering from Korea :D Take a glance at their webpage, instagram, and facebook and support the spreading of Korean cosmetics within Europe! Also, Missha is one of the Korean bands which are against animal testing!

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.missha-germany.de/ 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: Missha The Style Silky Shadow Duo

14. August 2015

It is one of the rare moments when I’m reviewing an eyeshadow :D Here is my impression on Missha The Style Silky Shadow Duo kindly sponsored by Qdepot. This two-colored tiny eyeshadow contains two complemetary colors, one for base color and one for point color.

The shade here is called “Peach Princess” (#20), but there are other shades available. I think there are 9 shades in total. “Peach Princess” is a combination of a light peach base color and a wood brown point makeup color. Both are powdery with a satin, shimmery finish. The eyeshadow has a relief-imprint which looks like a crystall. Although so simple I really like this relief.

The ingredients of the Missha The Style Silky Shadow Duo are listed on COSDNA. No harmful ingredients are used, furthermore the eyeshadow contains titanium dioxide for UV protection. Swatched with my fingers the pigmentation is not very strong, typical for many Korean eyeshadows. When using my brush it kind of produces a lot of fall-out in the pan (but not on my face while applying it). Nevertheless, the color combination is really pretty, and using a primer will probably bring out the colors better.

Without primer, when used on the eye, the colors barely show up on my skintone. It gives your eyes deepness, and looks very subtle and natural, but if you are looking for something with bright,vivid colors and visible shine this eyeshadow is not the perfect choice.

Missha The Style Silky Shadow Duo is a tiny, simple eyeshadow combination, with subtle pigmentation and natural looking outcome. It is not my first choice eyeshadow though. If you are a beginner I would suggest rather to buy a small palette with 4 colors for example, so you can create more variation, or try cream eyeshadows. Some of my favourites are the A’Pieu Creamy Butter Shadows or the Innisfree Shadow Pencils. If you are curious about the Missha The Style Silky Shadow Duo you can check out Q-depot, an online retailer for Korean beauty products. They have a 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$69. What I like especially, that they have an extra section for cruelty-free products, which contains brands like Iope, Innisfree, Etude House, etc. I didn’t see that before for most of the online stores, so that’s something really innovative and nice. Also, they are committed to contributing 3% of their group’s net profit for social causes in different countries. So you can shop for your favorite Korean products and do something good, too. Missha The Style Silky Shadow Duo retails for 5.60 US$ each- an affordable price, but consider it only contains 1.8 g of product. Q-depot is having a promotion were you can get 5 US$ coupon upon signing up. The coupon is useable for a minimum purchase of 69 US$.

♥ If you have time feel free to join my giveaway! ♥

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 Missha PR Sample review

Review: Missha Honey Butter Pack

8. August 2015

I do not know what it is, but every time I see ‘honey’ on some product I really want to try it. It is no secret that the Korean trend ingredients in the last winters were either honey, donkey/goat milk or mayu, which help the skin to get that glow-y look that so many Korean celebrities present us. The Missha Honey Butter Pack lurks us with these promises exactly: Korean acacia honey and French gourmet butter are supposed to “deliver moisture and give the skin the radiance, promoting a beautiful beautiful glowing complexion.”

The first time I saw the Missha Honey Butter Pack I was attracted mainly by the packaging, because it is really cute and unusual for Missha products. The second thought was that I wanted to compare it to the I’m from Honey Mask, which I love really a lot. Since I received the Missha Honey Butter Pack from Missha Germany the backside of the tube is labelled with a sticker showing the German description and the ingredients. I tried to remove the label, but it is kind of sticky, so I left it as it is. The original backside seems to contain Korean description only, anyways. The shelf-life of the Missha Honey Butter Pack is 12 month after opening and it contains 120 g of product. The key functions of the Missha Honey Butter Pack are: Moisturizing by using Korean Acacia honey and french gourmet butter extract, brightening using potato extract enriched with vitamins and nourishing by the easily absorbed texture.

You can find the ingredients on COSDNA, too, and the first thing I noticed was, that it contains coconut oil and grape seed oil. Honey and butter extracts are quite at the bottom of the list, which doesn’t give any indication on the amount used in the whole product, though, when having a look at the product and a first sniff if doesn’t smell like honey at all. The scent is nice, but it smells of coconut cream. Not the usual coconut scent, but really more like the coconut cream you use for cooking. The texture is a creamy/buttery one. Spread it even reminds me more of butter, but the spreadable kind. I can detect a sweet, but light honey scent once the cream is spread, but in thicker layer it smells more like coconut cream.

According to the description you have to use the Missha Honey Butter Pack after cleansing and toning. You apply a layer of the pack and wait for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. The thicker you’ll put the layer the longer you will have to wash your face, since the oils (coconut oil) leave a heavy residue. And it is important to use lukewarm/warm water, since with cold water you won’t be able to remove it properly. Once removed the skin feels noticeably softer, but it is not as glowy as when using the I’m from Honey Mask. The removing of the product is also more bothersome than the I’m from Honey Mask. In the description of the product on the Missha Germany webpage it suggests to use a tiny amount of the Missha Honey Butter Pack as sleeping mask. For using it as a mask regularly I discover to be a bit too lazy when thinking about washing it off for such a long time, but when you only use a very little amount (so much it still can blend into the skin) as sleeping mask overnight works great!

First of all, the Missha Honey Butter Pack won’t substitute my I’m from Honey Mask. Considering the very affordable price of the Miisha Honey Butter Pack I was hoping for that, but the I’m from Honey Mask really give me that glowy, hydrated look and has this amazing honey scent. The Missha Honey Butter Pack is a good pack though, and it softens the skin after using it, but it takes some effort to be removed, otherwise it will leave residue on your skin and I think that this will lead to clogged pores and reactions especially for sensitive skintypes. If you wash it off properly nothing happens off course. Also, I suppose that everybody has to find the right amount of product to use. I discovered using a thin layer as sleeping mask works great for me. Maybe I should also try different thickness of the Missha Honey Butter Pack as wash off pack. The price of the Missha Honey Butter Pack is awesome and it retails for only 8.90 € from the German Missha store (6 US$ from Missha US!)…and of course, last but not least: I love the design of the tube :D

♥ If you have time feel free to join my two giveaway! ♥

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

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