Dear Packer Jeju Cherry Blossom Mask

Sunday, 29 July 2018

Another Monday, another mask review! I love reviewing sheet masks and getting a collection of what masks worked for me and how they benefited my own skin in a way. It also helps others delve into the chaotic mayhem that is sheet masking and to figure out which ones to try. Today is one from Dear Packer and is part of their Jeju Flower range, containing a selection of 4 different floral essences. This one inparticular is their Cherry Blossom mask, which, as you probably know already is my favourite flower. I received this mask in the #BeMine box from Mask Time earlier this year
C L A I M Containing cherry blossom extract, this mask aims to brighten and give your skin that 촉촉~ feeling.
I N S T R U C T I O N S
After cleansing and toning, apply the mask evenly to the face. Leave on for 15-25 minutes, remove mask and pat the remaining essence into the skin.
I N G R E D I E N T S
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Trehalose, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.
S C E N T A N D E S S E N C E
As expected from a floral mask, this mask has a strong scent of cherry blossoms. It's a little overpowering initially but your nose soon gets used to it. There is a lot of a thin essence in this packet, maybe a little too much. It was dripping all over the place and even after I took the mask off, there was still an amount dripping from it. Not the worst thing in the world, but made it a little bit messy to wear.
F I T A N D M A T E R I A L
I found this mask to fit reasonably well, however, it was a little small around the eyes so part of the mask was elevated at the outer corner of my eyes. However, it was still comfortable to wear. The material is made out of 100% pure cotton, which makes it super soft to wear. The thickness of the sheet is of an average thickness, if anything it's possibly a little bit thinner. It doesn't slide on the face and adheres to the skin well.
R E S U L T
I found the mask did as it intended. My rather dull, dehydrated (thank you humidity) skin looked so much more vibrant than it was. I looked dewy and glowy, just overall healthy. My skin felt soft and made me look naturally bright. Despite there being a massive amount of essence in the packet, it didn't leave me feeling greasy after I had patted the product into my skin.
O V E R A L L
This is a mask I would definitely grab a few packets off whenever I get the chance. They're decently affordable and work very effectively. Plus it's cherry blossom themed, of course I want it again!
Have you tried any of the other Dear Packer Jeju Flower masks? What has been your most recent sheet mask you've used?

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REVIEW // Etude House x Red Velvet Matte Chic Lip Lacquer | Wendy Brown + Ready for Red

Friday, 13 July 2018

When it comes to lip products, I generally find I tend to prefer a matte finish for the most part. So, when Etude House came out with a range of matte liquid lipsticks I knew I had to grab at least a few to try them out. The Matte Chic Lip Lacquer range is a collaboration from Etude House with Kpop group Red Velvet, who are the current faces of the brand. The range contains 12 different shades with a varied number being either cool, warm or neutral toned. Each member of Red Velvet was also assigned a lip colour which was, in turn, named after them. To help promote the line, the girls had a pop up store and spent time in the store helping customers, most of which were fans of the group.

The lipsticks aim to be mattefying without drying the lips out, long lasting, highly pigmented and smudge resistant. It contains a quick fixing oil which coats the lips and helps the colour fully lock in without worry of make a mess.

T H E S H A D E S

M Y C H O S E N S H A D E S

I didn't want to go all out and purchase a whole pile of these in case I ended up not liking the product so I thought two would be a good start just to give them a tryout. It was a challenge to narrow it down to just two because the majority of the warm/neutral shades are right up my street and I had to fight the urge to just add them all to my basket. In the end, I picked BR401 Wendy Brown and RD301 Ready For Red. My whole lipstick collection is almost 98% bold, bright colours so I wanted some more muted colours that would suit daily wear.

So the one that I knew I was buying before I looked through all of the shades thoroughly was Today is Wendy Brown, a shade that caught my eye when I saw the initial promotional photo of Wendy on the Etude House page. Was it because Wendy is my favourite Red Velvet member? Partially. But I wanted to add some more rose toned shades to my make up collection. This one in particular is a neutral (best suited for summer or autumn seasonal toned people) rose-brown.
This one is my personal favourite out of the two ♡ It also seems to be the most popular out of all of the shades

I N G R E D I E N T S

ISODODECANE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, SILICA, POLYISOBUTENE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, METHYL HYDROGENATED ROSINATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, POLYETHYLENE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, LAURYL PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE, POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, FRAGRANCE [+/- (MAY CONTAIN) TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), YELLOW 10 LAKE (CI 47005), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), RED 22 LAKE (CI 45380), RED 6(CI 15850), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), RED 7 (CI 15850), RED 33 LAKE (CI 17200), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090)]

A red lipstick should always belong in your collection. It's a colour that suits everyone (provided you get the right undertones for your skin) and can transform a look into either sultry or bright and playful. I have a large selection of reds, but the majority of them are very WOW HI I AM RED HI bright and while I live for that, I wanted a more subtle red that didn't look so glaring. So, I picked Ready for Red which falls into the warm-autumn palette so it's my ideal tone of red.

I N G R E D I E N T S

ISODODECANE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, SILICA, POLYISOBUTENE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, METHYL HYDROGENATED ROSINATE, BARIUM SULFATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, POLYETHYLENE, ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, LAURYL PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE, POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, ROSIN, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, FRAGRANCE [+/- (MAY CONTAIN) TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), YELLOW 10 LAKE (CI 47005), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), RED 22 LAKE (CI 45380), RED 6(CI 15850), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), RED 7 (CI 15850), RED 33 LAKE (CI 17200), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090)]

One key feature that caught my eye when using this product is the rather unique applicator shape. Rather than being that of a typical doe foot it has a curve that allows for two different methods of application. Using the small inner curve you can use that to create a gentle gradiation of colour on the lips while the full edge can be used for full coverage.

The colour pay off is amazing! I wasn't sure what I was expecting at first but I'm more than impressed. I found I didn't really have to dip back into the tube to get more product. It becomes matte in about a minute and a half (the photo above was immediately after applying to the skin) and doesn't feel drying initially. However, I found after a few hours my lips felt ridiculously dry, painfully dry at points. When you include eating and drinking throughout the day, the colour seems to last but I found it started to clump and peel off. Quite often I was left looking like I just had lip liner on as it had all been removed from the center of my lips. I tried to use a little bit of lip balm on top afterwards but this tended to change the finish and make it lose it's smudge-proof trait.
For me, I found it a little difficult to apply these neatly, in order to show a tidy lip line, but I feel that's perhaps more to do with my lack of skill rather than an issue with the product, but it is a little on the messy side and I've found it to go on my teeth sometimes with application. The formula is relatively thin in comparison to other liquid lipsticks I have tried which also maybe part of the issue. I think I'm just not used to such thin and pigmented lipsticks. Perhaps its a bit better for me to apply a small amount and smooth out for my own style rather than a full application.

I'm incredibly happy with the two shades I have picked, they're two gorgeous colours, a little darker than I would normally wear as I'm so used to wearing bright corals and pinks on my lips. However, I feel they do suit me.
I personally think Etude House have a great base for a product, but the formula needs a little tweaking to prevent it from drying out. I'm not 100% sure if this is just my own ordeal with it, but I have seen one or two others mention that the lipsticks are too drying for them. I might just have more drying lips than others. I think they're still worth trying out to play with colour and textures. Perhaps not the best product for those who are liquid lipstick noobs like myself. These lipsticks are generally quite affordable at about an average of £8~, this of course differs from place to place and I personally bought mine from eBay for £7.81 each. You can also get your hands on the special set containing the five namesake shades for the Red Velvet members which also comes with a selection of exclusive photocards. There are also miniature versions available that come box with an image and signature of the assigned member. However, you're paying nearly the same price for a smaller product so it's up to you whether you want more product or merchandise. Which shades have your eye the most and who out of Red Velvet is your favourite member?

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Review // Dear Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

This product was sent to me for review by Skinsider, however opinions are my own.
Dear Klairs is a brand I have quickly come to really love as I've tried more and more of their products. Maintaining a high standard across their products, I've always gotten just a little bit excited every time I get one and see that they have new ones being released. One product in particular that I had wanted to try for a while is the Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil, which I had seen being featured on quite a few pages that I follow being highly commended. So, Skinsider graciously gifted me with one to try out and give my opinion on.

The idea of using oil to clean your face may seem a little intimidating or even a bit counterproductive, but it's highly beneficial. Oils help remove excess make up, skin debris and believe it or not, oils. I used to have incredibly oily skin but I have found in the past year or so that the type of skin I have has changed slightly. Even so, when my skin was oily, I found oils to be the most beneficial type of cleanser for me.

I N G R E D I E N T S

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

One thing that always grabs my attention with Klairs products is the packaging, it has this minimal, eco kind of aesthetic to it which gives an impression of natural beauty. The bottle is a high quality, sturdy plastic in an amber brown with a black slimline pump.

There is a small clip stopper underneath the pump which prevents it from leaking in transit to you, but it's also very handy to keep a hold of so you can take it with you in your skincare while travelling.

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Take an adequate amount of Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil onto the palms of dry* hands

2. Gentle massage over dry face in order of forehead, nose and cheeks

3. After massaging, do not wipe off with a tissue but rinse with lukewarm water 2-3 times.

*It's incredibly important to make sure that your skin is dry on both your hands and your face, as not doing so will lead to the oil turning milky in texture and not getting the results intended.

T E X T U R E

Your first impressions of oils would be that of a greasy feeling and not something you would want near your skin. However, despite being an oil, you don't actually get that from it. It's a thin oil that feels very light on the skin. There's enough lubrication from it to massage your skin well with it, but not so much that you don't feel so clean after.

S C E N T

One thing that really makes using this product so enjoyable is the fact it just smells delightful. It has a very natural scent combining herbs and fruit. This has become a product I use as part of my morning routine, purely because I quite enjoy massaging my face to wake me up in the morning and the scent from this really helps and makes it a relaxing process for me. It may be a little strong for those with sensitive noses, but for me personally, it's a lovely little scent.

C L E A N S I N G

Double cleansing has become a more and more popular aspect to a skincare routine, usually using an oil based cleanser initially and a separate cleanser of a different formula as a follow up. This combination allows for your skin to get really clean but isn't always necessary to be done every single time you do your skincare. I only ever double cleanse in the evening if I have been wearing make up that day, as I don't want to over cleanse my face when it isn't necessary for it. So, the Klairs Cleansing Oil is used in this situation for me. I find it easily takes off face make up, lip make up (though not always the stronger tints in some cases) and eye make up. I have a few waterproof mascaras that I find it lifts well, if anything on occasion I might have to cleanse the eye area twice to fully remove some of it.

O V E R A L L

I've been so impressed with this cleanser and is definitely one of the top oil cleansers I've used out of both Western and Korean branded ones. It does the job it's set out to do, gently cleanses your face while removing make up. I've found over my testing period of using this, that it's improved my skin texture slightly. My skin has more of an overall glow, especially to the cheek area, it just feels like my whole face is glowing with kind of minimal effort in a way.

Would I recommend this to my readers? Of course! If you're a little apprehensive about trying out oil on your skin, this may help you ease into them as it's so mild and gentle on the skin and once cleaned away, it doesn't leave any stickiness or residue. I'm definitely going to be buying a new one when I get this one finished as I'm 2/3 of the way through the bottle already!

This cleansing oil can be purchased from Skinsider for £21 here. If you happen to spend an extra £9 on the store (stock up on some sheet masks for yourself!), you will get free express delivery in the UK.

Let me know your favourite Klairs product below!