Review: Kose Clear Turn Hyaluronic Acid Mask

Today I will be reviewing a product! It's another mask... Yeah I know I've been only reviewing masks these days but I haven't been applying makeup lately due to stress induced acne (so sad right?)

Also I've been having some ear piercing infection problems since last week. I first got my earlobe pierced in August so my piercing is not that old yet. I wear all 14-18k gold/white gold earrings so not a problem with the metal allergy. Last week I had some yellowish puss, redness and swelling but I did a hot water sea salt bath for my ear everyday for 1 wk. I shouldn't have stopped but this week my ear seemed to be normal so I stopped. However now it's getting itchy again and my earlobe is still swollen (no redness though). I don't think it's really necessary to go to the doctor since there's no puss or bleeding. Right now I'm doing the salt bath again and using the solution from the piercing place. What do you all do when you get piercing infections?

Anyway on to the review!

Kose Clear Turn White Hyaluronic Acid Mask

This mask is sometimes available in Mitsuwa but I would recommend checking Sasa out

Instructions and some details about how hyaluronic acid works. Read more about Hyaluronic Acid in my review for the Hada Labo Facewash.

When you open the package

On my face

Pros:

- Very, very moisturizing! A+

- Mask fabric is thin but liquid solution is gel-like and very concentrated

- Mask fabric reminds me of a paper towel, sticks so well to my face and fits my face well

- After I pat residue on my face, my face is very smooth

- No scent, no irritation

Cons:

- Leaves a slight stickiness but goes away immediately after patting in residue

Overall Rating:

5/5 :)

For my Japanese class I had to make a Kyaraben or Character Bento. Bento is a very big cultural aspect of Japanese life, bento is basically a lunch box or box food. There are varieties of bento from cheap convenience store bento to very deluxe and high quality bento with gourmet food (some cost 100 dollars or more...).

A kyaraben was originally a creation made by mothers for their children to make food appealing to eat. Also the kyaraben was made to combat picky eaters or other problems that some children have such as the dislike for vegetables. In general, the kyaraben is just so fun to look at and eat!

So this is my kyaraben...

Isn't it kind of scary and cute at the same time?

It's actually supposed to be Totoro but I'm not very good at making kyaraben to look exactly like the character so this is my best.. Haha. I'm going to try to make bento for myself at least once a week and maybe improve my cooking skills. Most kyaraben use cute cutters to make shapes and various accessories like decoration toothpicks. I have these little rice shaping molds that make rice into cute animals like rabbits, frogs, and bears but I don't know where those molds went!

Hauling: Sasa and Shu Uemura

Happy Belated Halloween! I didn't go out yesterday for any halloween celebration, I celebrated on Friday.

I also finished the early app that was due for November 1st :) Thank you to all of those who left very nice and comforting comments!

Here's my Halloween costume:

Do you know who I am? Take a guess. I'm a popular 60's cartoon character--which one? :)

I was in a group with a bunch of people doing all of the characters from this particular cartoon.

So I've made some hauls during the month of October that I haven't shared with you guys. I decided to take advantage of the sale at Sasa and go for the Silk Whitia buy one get one free deal. I picked three types of masks and and got 6 boxes in total... I'm not really sure if I love the Silk Whitia masks as some others do. I've used two kinds so far: the Anti Oxidation Whitening Mask and the Whitening and Moisturizing Mask. I also got the free little cookie mirror that came with the special free shipping deal but I found out I have the SAME exact one--my friend gave one to me last year.

My Initial Thoughts:

- After leaving it on for 25-30 minutes (maybe that's too long?), I felt the mask creating some filmy substance that peeled from my skin if I rubbed it

- No sticky residue but again, the strange peeling layer after drying on the skin

- Whitening action was moderate, moisture was good

- High quality fabric and very gel-like consistency

- Scent is a bit like baby wipes--not really appealing but not a bad scent

Can somebody tell me if this peeling thing happened to you too? It's like I put on a peeling mask and rubbed my face to remove the mask... Haha. Maybe it's because I left the mask on for too long...

Second haul was from Shu Uemura. I bought some items from the new Holiday '09 collection that features Tsumori Chisato. I bought only two items and none of them were makeup items. For some reason, the eyeshadow palettes didn't really appeal to me at all, most colors were not so special so I didn't buy them. I wanted the lipstick but I was afraid of the brownish color (however now that I see swatches.. I want it LOL). So I decided to get the two items that would really show the cute pattern and design of Tsumori Chisato.

The Cosmetic Pouch

Cute box!

Haha this pic reminds me of a black animal opening its mouth.

Isn't the star zipper adorable?

The puffiness of the pouch makes it look a little large... but it's cute!

2nd item: The Mirror

The box is not as cute but it's nice and simple.

It comes with a little pouch which is like this strange fleece like fabric... Reminds me of Old Navy pajamas that had the label: don't leave near fire/flame. I wish it came in a satin or velvet pouch!

Cute pattern right? I'm comparing it to my freebie Minnie Mouse mirror I got from the MORE magazine for September. It's very similar... -_-; The angle is a bit different though. I prefer the Tsumori Chisato/Shu Uemura mirror angle better.

Size is overall about the same. The pattern is adorable though! Maybe the cat mirror is a teeny bit studier than the Minnie mouse one.

Hehe, silly pic of my shooting myself in the mirror. Do you like my orange nails? They complemented my Halloween costume (the sweater especially). The shade is from Zoya.

Where I am.

Hello everybody!

Long time no update. It's been quite a while.. I don't think I've gone this long without updating.

My early action college application is due on November 1st so that's the reason why I'm not blogging. I'm still alive!

I noticed that 1-2 followers unfollowed me... Oh well. Who wants to read a blog that isn't updated regularly? I feel for you. Hope I don't disappoint!

I hope to update sometime during this weekend because I need to submit the application before November 1st anyway (don't want to be a last minute lady haha).

And Halloween! Oh stressful.

Sorry if this post isn't coherent, this week is busy.

Talk to you all later. Many thanks to those who have asked me if I was okay.

Spring Magazine Scans feat. Makeup Tutorials

Happy Weekend everyone! I think as time goes on I update later and later every week. This week was so busy for me! I had 4 tests and other assignments due...

Today I will be posting about the GWP in the November Spring magazine, which was the Jill by Jill Stuart makeup pouch! Isn't it adorable? I love the heart print. I bought this about 2-3 weeks ago in Sanseido at the NJ Mitsuwa but my local Sanseido is really fast in stocking new magazines so maybe your local Kinokuniya or other bookstores might still have this magazine in stores.

It's actually quite roomy, look how much makeup and tools I can storage in here! That's about four eyeshadow palettes in there with more space available, 3 mascaras, 1 blush palette, two eyeliners, one E/s duo, a mirror, an eyelash curler, a powder foundation, and 3 concealers.

The pouch also extends on the sides so you can fit even more.

The goods inside! Haha I'm so proud that I made a dent in the Kevin Beautymaker concealer.

Mesh lining on the side

3 slots for mascaras, eyeliners, any other cylindrical shaped item, and another slot.

Now for some magazine scans! :) The cover features Miho Kanno who is 32 years old and looks so young! Please click to enlarge pictures!

The eye makeup article special: "Eye Popping Eye Makeup - 5 Ways"

Eyelining and mascara instructions

Monolid Eyes

Smokey Eye for Monolids

Large Double Lid Eye

Droopy Eye

Wide Spread Narrow Eyes

Small Eyes - How to look more awake!

Sad Expression Eyes - How to look happier!

Tense, Harsh Eyes - Transform to Softer look

Also small notice: I'm selling some magazines for a school fundraiser, if anyone is interested in ordering or renewing magazines, please contact me at ixheartbear (at) gmail (d0t) com. You will be buying at prices up to 85% off cover prices! For example: 1 year subscription of Marie Claire is only $12, 2 years is $15. This offer is only for US residents~ :) Thank you for supporting!

Also, my blog sale has been updated with 2 new things. Go check it out by clicking on the link up by the Bulletin Board!

Review: My Beauty Diary Lavender Mask + Lookbook

Wow it's already been a week since I've last updated!
How time flies so fast...

Today I will do another mask review (I've been really into masks lately).

Product Review: My Beauty Diary Provence Lavender Mask

Out of the Package: Folded

On my face!

Pros

- Very soft and thick fabric! Not cheap material. Packaging is cute and compact too.

- Non sticky liquid, absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn't leave sticky residue

- Relatively cheap (but I received this from a friend. Thanks Penny!) Sold on Sasa, etc.

- Left my face very cool, soft and moist. Left it on for 25-30 minutes

- I hate artificial Lavender smells but this one didn't smell bad at all!! Smelled mild too :)

Cons

- Stung a tiny bit after the mask started drying in the end of 30 minutes

- The shape of the mask doesn't perfectly fit my face so I often have to fold over the sides

Overall Rating

5/5 - Can't wait to get more!

Lookbook of Last Week

Wednesday

I'm very grunge these days. Plaid shirts, leather jackets, studded and embellished accessories, skinny jeans, converse, beat-up sneakers. Maybe it's a phase or just my style in general?

Outfit Info

Leather Jacket: Zara

Long sleeve Tee: Zipia :)

Jeans: Hudson Jeans

Flats: Dolce Vita

Close up of Zipia shirt

It's a baby with a red lightning bolt... haha

Newest Acquirement

Dolce Vita studded flats!!! They were on sale on Freepeople.com for $49.95 :D

The only bad thing... they are those bendy flats so they hurt a little when I walk (esp. ankle and toe area)

Thursday

My mickey/skull sweater :) Look up literary theory of Deconstruction that explains the duality.

Outfit Info

Sweater: Disney Vintage

Jeans: Zipia!

Flats: Dolce Vita

Will try to update more outfit posts since I'm being very lazy with makeup... Also the jeans, long sleeve tee, and plaid shirt were all of my purchases from Zipia. Small I know! But I shared the order with other people so that's a good enough amount for the first time.

Hope to update again later this week if I get the chance! Thank you for new followers and old, I've reached 250+! :)

Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick + Outfit

Happy Wednesday! (I'm still in Tuesday mode however).

I had the day off yesterday due to Yom Kippur Jewish holiday, my school is mainly Jewish and Korean so the majority wins and we had a day off :)

I'm going to be reviewing the Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick today. It's been popular in the blog world lately because it's a new release and it's also a new favorite!

Here is the lipstick on my lips - the shade is Pink Me Up.

Close Up (Flash)

I forgot to do a swatch so I'll save that for later but one thing that I'd like to say is that this lipstick is pretty pigmented!!

Here are my thoughts in condensed form so it is easier for all of you to understand.

Pros

- Easily available in most drugstores

- Affordable price (around $7-8)

- Not too creamy, buildable pigmentation (vary from light to heavy application)

- Smell is not offending like European brands (Chanel, Dior, Bourjois, etc.)

- Can achieve watery look if desired

- Variety of colors available (4 categories: Nude, Pinks, Reds, Purples)

Cons

- Some batches of these were bad (smelled bad and tasted bad) Be careful! Sniff before buying.

- Packaging is a little annoying to remove entire plastic cap (but not that big of a deal)

What I think:

This is my first drugstore lipstick purchase in a LONG LONG time. I was hesitant to buy any lipstick from the drugstore after I experienced bad smelling, bad tasting stuff. This lipstick totally changed my perception of Maybelline lip products because it wasn't as nasty smelling as some other stuff in drugstores. I personally don't like lipsticks or any lip product that smell like roses or the "old lady smell." I am very sensitive to scents and I get nauseous if something too fragrant is on me for too long. This lipstick smells a bit like coconut or some buttery smell. It's not too bad but if you apply a lot it might be a tad strong. And as I stated above, BE CAREFUL, some batches were not good and the smell was terrible (like chemical).

I like this lipstick a lot, the color is buildable and I personally like a light hand for my lips. Usually I apply a lipbalm beforehand and then use this lipstick. Or if I want more shine, apply lipbalm, lipstick, then lipgloss.

If you have pigmented lips, I believe this lipstick can cover the color of your natural lips if applied with a heavy hand. Try it out! :)

Outfit/Clothes Update

I was fortunate to be able to order some articles of clothing from Zipia.net in a joint order with one person who I've been emailing back and forth (Thanks Davlyn!!) It came out successfully and this is one of the plaid shirts that I ordered that I love! It's very light and soft, perfect for those fall days that seem to be imitating summer.

I will post an outfit/lookbook post soon on some of the things I got from Zipia!

Outfit Info

Plaid shirt: Zipia

Tank top: Aerie by A&E

Jeans: Zara (3 yrs old skinny jeans.. love them!)

Camera: Olympus E500 DSLR hehe

Sleepy... Still in love with that shirt :) Also wearing the lippie!

Sidenote: Hating the red tint in my hair... Experimenting with purple Kool-Aid to get rid of brassy tones. Will update on how that works out!

Nails of last week:

Zoya - Flora

Review: Etude House 02 White Mask Sheet

How is the week going for everyone?

I haven't been totally absent from the blog world (I somehow still find time to comment sometimes... haha) but I've been negligent with my blog posts. FOTD is kind of out of the question since I don't have time to take a picture in the morning and most times the makeup has faded a bit by the time I come home. But I'll try one day!! :)

Product Review: Etude House 02 White Mask Sheet

So this post will cover a review on the Etude House O2 White Mask Sheet. I got this mask from Millie (Miu Miu) in a love pack back in July in return for some hair care things I sent her. I read somewhere that this mask is not actually a store product and is only offered as a free sample with purchase. The real product is called Etude House 02 White Mask and it comes in a big tub. You can read full reviews on the original product here at Ning*Star and Amynaree.

I didn't know what to think of this product when I first looked at it. I wasn't sure whether it was supposed to make my face "breathe" better or whiten it. Then I just guessed that it would be a whitening mask, after all, the WHITE is rather capitalized. Also I'm not able to read Korean so I didn't know what its main features were.

Scary Mask Pic:

Pros

- Whitened my face! A lot! Noticeable difference. I had uneven skin tone because I had gone scuba diving and got a weird uneven tan on my face... This mask improved the overall appearance of my skin tone

- Very soft and velvety mask material -- definitely not cheap material. It was thick, moist, and fit very well to my face.

- Scent was not overpowering and pleasant soapy/flowery perfume scent

- Liquid smoothed my skin and did not leave a sticky residue

- Slight tingly feeling when applied on my face

Cons

- This product is not sold in stores (I believe). Comes only in a tub, which is the original product. I received this as a gift and I read on some other blog that it was only offered as a GWP or something. However original tub product is available on Etude House USA website.

- It was scented -- I like unscented products. Sometimes I get scared that perfumes will irritate my skin but this scent was neither powerful or irritating! :)

Final Result

My skin is glowing!!! :) I like to use masks at least once a week or so. I used this one last week and prepared photos for a blog entry but didn't get to do a post last week. I wish this product was sold in stores because I really like it. Some people said that the original product that comes in the tub is not as pleasant smelling - like somehow chemical smelling? Not really sure... But now I want to get my hands on the tub product since I like this one so much. I have one more of this mask that I got from Millie so I'm going to save it when I really need it.

Overall Rating

5/5 - hope to purchase in tub form

Hopefully this week I will be able to update again. During the weekend it is harder to update nowadays because of my part time job. I can't even wear nail polish... T_T So what I do is I apply polish either on Sunday night after I finish my job or Monday and then remove on Saturday night. Other than that I'm busy with school work and college applications (ugh my god. Help me! lol!)

Hope the review was helpful and the next review should be the Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick! :) Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them for you.