Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil

Cleansing oil is one of the products that was a game changer for me.  I have to say I've been using cleansing oil since the day I discovered them.

The perks of cleansing oils are that it doesn't make your skin feel dry after washing and removes leftover makeup residues.  My little JM cleansing oil was running out and I decided to go for a new brand to try something different.  I read some reviews on Tatcha's products and most of them generally positive.  So, I chose my new cleansing oil from Tatcha.

Tatcha's Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil is suppose to cleanse the skin without stripping natural moisture and leaving it balanced and nourished.  When I want to try something new, I always hope that the brand has travel sizes so I can test enough of the product before actually investing in a full size.  Thankfully, Tatcha's cleansing oil has a travel friendly size and that was the one I got.  I can definitely say that they have one of the best travel size product packaging so far.  There's a cap and the little container feels sturdy.  The best part is that you can pump the oil out as oppose to the push and squeeze bottle caps.  The oil is clear and has a nice floral scent. I pumped two times to get enough product to cleanse my face.  Then, I washed it off.  Like my JM cleansing oil, Tatcha's oil also effectively removed my makeup (brow specifically) and didn't over dry my skin.  

However, the only part about this oil that I didn't really like was the after wash feeling.  It just feels like the oil is still on my face even though I washed all of it out.  Overall, Tatcha's cleansing oil is good, but could be better. Definitely props for have a great packaging for a travel size product!

         

It's Skin Mint Cookie & Body Ice Cream

After a certain age, I soon realized that my skin was not the way it used to be. It's more dry and easier to get wrinkly.  So, I put on body lotion after every shower and every night to make sure my skin is moisturized of course!

Back in the days I just use whatever body lotion my mom bought to moisturize my skin. Soon after going to college, I became in charge of what body lotion to get.  In the beginning, I used the same lotion from home, but I gradually shifted out of the known zone.   I wanted to explore other brands and find what will meet the needs of my skin as I age.  Up until today, I continue to change brands and types of lotion as I run out.

As you may know from my previous posts, I study abroad to South Korea for a few weeks and was very impressed with their skincare and makeup products.  Since then, I always wanted to get Korean products, but it was not easy to find them.  Fast forward a few years, Korean brand products started popping up to local stores close to me.  If you can guess, I was super pumped and excited to see them.  The brand names seem so familiar and reminded me of the great times in Korea.

I didn't run out of body lotion yet, but it was my b day and I got to pick my present.  I was walking around sephora and noticed a cute jar of mint body cream.  It seemed interesting so I picked it up to look at it.  I have never heard of the brand It's Skin and it was a Korean brand to my surprise.  Mint cookie and body ice cream seemed like a new body cream to try and I decided to get it (also I like mint chocolate chip ice cream :D).

The packaging of mint cookie & body ice cream is like a mini tub of ice cream. Once I opened the lid, the cream looks exactly like mint chocolate chip ice cream.  The cream has a mint color and there's mini black dots that resemble chocolate chips.  I used it right after my shower to try it out and it glides on smoothly and smells nice (makes me want to eat some ice cream).  The cream dries pretty well and it doesn't make my skin feel oily.  Also, the black chocolate chip blends right away and does not leave any color on my skin.  The body cream overall is moisturizing and is so adorable. Although I have never heard of this brand, their body cream did leave a strong impression on me.  I hope to see more and more K products in the future!               

     

Fresh Rose Face Mask

If you have read my older posts, I'm sure you've seen many of my posts relating to this beauty product. Yes, it's a MASK!

The first mask that I have ever seen was my mom's DIY mask: egg white, honey, and oats (can't remember exactly).  She mixd those simple ingredients and applied the mask with a brush. Although the mask does not look very appealing, she says it works very well.  I think I was either in elementary or middle school at the time and the thought of using a mask stayed in the back of my mind since then.  I finally tried masks during my college career.

I didn't DIY masks at first. Instead, I bought already made sheet masks. Over time, putting on sheet masks for 10-15 minutes became some me time. It's only during that short period time where I don't have to think about anything and just relax.  In between sheet masks, I also started DIY masks (yogurt, cucumber) and wash off masks.  Sheet masks are always my favorite to use, but I like to try new things as well.

I try to treat myself at least once a year because it is important to be good to yourself and be happy. So, here I am.  I got Fresh's rose face mask as a part of my birthday treat to myself.  The rose mask is supposed to hydrate and tone your skin and contains real rose petal in there.  It is travel friendly and will definitely last more than once.  I opened the jar and saw that the mask does have petals in there and it looks like brown jelly.  The smell is not quite rose like, but like a jelly candy.  I cleansed my face and rubbed the mask on my face.  Then, I let it sit for about 14 minutes.  Per usual, I closed my eyes and relaxed.  I washed the mask off and I did feel a bit refreshed and my skin looks brightened.

Overall, this is a pretty nice mask and I do enjoy using it.  

  

P.S. It's feels real good to be back at blogging! I love sharing my thoughts about different products to the community.  No worries more posts will be coming up. Thank you for reading my post today :)  

Tarte Clay Pot Waterproof Liner (Re-imaged Packaging)

             I have always been a tarte lover and used their products quite often.  The one product that I consistently buy is their clay pot waterproof liner in bronze.  My liner was close to running out a couple of weeks ago and so I decided to buy another one.  To my surprise, I could not find my liner any more (the one that came with a liner brush).  However, I did see a tarte Clay Pot Waterproof Liner, but the packaging was not the same and it did not come with a brush.  Apparently, my liner was updated with a re-imagined packaging and it supposedly contains the same formula.  I read a few comments about this newly packaged liner and the reviews were generally positive.  I mean if the formula is still the same, then I don't really mind too much to purchase the newly packaged one.  I bought the liner and started using it like I normally do.

           The quality of the new lid felt like the gold plastic used for toys or gold coins.  Once I opened the lid, I noticed that the bronze color was darker than before.  I used the same liner brush from my former tarte liner and applied the new liner to my eyes.  This liner felt smoother and seems more liquid based than the old version.  I mean the liner made my eyes look fine and I was pretty satisfied.  The real issue came up when I looked into the mirror after a couple of hours and I looked like a panda.  The liner on my waterline completely smeared and I had to rub the smeared liner out.  My old version liner has not done that to me and now I do believe the formula has changed along with the packaging.  I am still using this new version liner everyday, but I had to add an extra step to make it smear less.  Once I drew the liner on my waterline, I added a layer of brown eyeshadow on top of it to make the liner smear less.  The eyeshadow definitely helps, but the re-packaged liner still smeared more than the old version.

             Overall, I am a bit disappointed because I was not expecting my favorite liner to change so much.  Maybe the new liner doesn't fit well with my skin like the old version.  I am most likely going to rethink about getting this liner again.

Josie Maran Whimsical Wonder Argan Oil Skincare Essentials Set

             It is about time to review my JM whimsical wonder skincare set :)  As you already know, I love JM's products ever since the first time I tried it four years ago, so this set made me very excited.  I even had my reactions filmed (personal entertainment), which I re-watch occasionally.  Yes, I could not stop smiling.  I have been using this set for two weeks and I am in love with it!!
             This skincare set comes with five travel friendly argan oil products: 100% argan oil, argan milk, argan daily moisturizer SPF 47, argan infinity cream intensive creamy oil, and be joyful whipped argan oil.  I already love argan oil and argan daily moisturizer, so I was excited to try the other three.  I read a lot of good reviews on the creamy oil and argan milk, but not the whipped argan oil.  What's better than to test these products out myself?
             The creamy oil is basically argan oil in a non-greasy, creamy oil form.  It can be use to hydrate the skin and used with makeup.  It is winter, so my skin (especially my chin and neck) has been feeling very dry.  I do use lotion, but it just does not seem to work very well so I was hoping that this creamy oil could help.  This creamy oil has a transparent light milk color and is scent free.  The texture feels like a light vaseline.  I squeezed a little bit and put on my chin and neck every morning and night after using argan oil.  To my surprise, my neck and chin did not feel as dry as before.  I think I'm in love with it too :)
             Argan milk is a hydrating treatment serum made with purified water and argan oil.  It is also used for skin hydration and suppose to provide radiant glow.  The direction recommends that you use it before applying argan oil.  After I cleansed my face, I squeezed 2 drops on my hand and it looked clear and barely any milk color.  At first I was confused, but then I realized I forgot to shake it...-_-The color is milky when you actually shake it before use (-_-'||).  It also does not have a strong scent.  I applied the 2 drops on my face and used argan oil right after.  I noticed that my face did indeed look brighter and I had less break outs in these past two weeks.  In the past I just used argan oil and my skin felt hydrated, but combining the milk with my oil made my skin hydrated and brighter at the same time.  So, I use it morning and night.  The downside of using it in the morning was my eye makeup gets easily smeared.  I decided to change it up and only use 1 drop in the morning so my makeup does not smear as bad and that worked well.  Also, the milk is very bubbly.  I don't think my face has looked this bright ever.  Argan milk's price is slightly on the high side, but it truly works so I definitely recommend it.              
            Be joyful whipped argan oil is a vanilla apricot scented cream made from cold-pressed argan oil.  I was very surprised that the cream had a scent because I thought it was scent free at first (that shows how great I pay attention).  The cream is filled up all the way, which surprised me again.  The smell of apricot was very soothing.  I dabbed some on my hand at night and it felt somewhat oily, but moisturizing.  I wouldn't recommend using it during the day because it doesn't dry fast.  I have been using it for a while now and I like it.  Although it was filled all the way up, there was a mid-size air bubble near the bottom.  I mainly use this as a hand cream, but I am sure you can use it for your body too.  
           I am definitely in love with this set <3 and I use these 5 little gems everyday.  I can't wait for new holiday sets!



  

P.S. I bought 2 more sets two weeks later.....From an argan oil lover ^_^

Sephora Rose Mask

         It's has been a long time since I used a mask (maybe year and a half ago?).  I remember the times when I would put on a mask right after my shower and relax for 15-30mins (sometimes falling asleep ^^).  This past year and a half was filled with unexpected events, some good and some bad. I couldn't really relax and rarely gave myself some me time.
        Last year I bought some beauty things and sephora's rose mask was one of them.  The thought of putting on a mask already made me feel excited.  This mask is suppose to be ultra moisturizing and brightening.  It is a cloth mask so there is no need to rinse it off.  The directions suggest to leave it on for 15 mins and massage your face to let the excess serum penetrate.  This mask really smells like fresh roses and it is a very familiar smell to me.  The mask is like any other cloth mask.  It has openings for the eye, mouth, and nose.  However, the nose part was a bit short because it could not cover my nose completely.  Usually masks are longer vertically, but this one is longer horizontally.  I would suggest cutting the sides if you want to feel more comfy :)  I left it on my face for about 14mins and I did fell asleep...  It was relaxing to not have to think about anything.
        I took it off and massage my face according to the direction.  It dries off relatively fast and I do think my face looked brighter (maybe the sun helped?).  Overall, the mask was not bad, but the price is relatively high compared to the masks I've bought in the past.  The masks that I used to buy are cheaper because they are from asia (it's very common there).  I do hope to have more posts like this because that means I got some me time :) 

Preview: Josie Maran Holiday Sets

          I normally don't do this, but I would like to share a preview of what's coming up :) I used up my last bit of argan oil a few weeks ago and I'm in need of getting more. This time I decided to wait to buy my oil because of the possible deals or limited edition sets. As a result, I picked up two holiday sets and I'm already in love with them. These two sets count as a bonus to myself for working hard and got a part time :)  I know I haven't been updating, but I promise to update as I start using my sets.