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My Monthly Favorites - March/April 2020 Favorite Products

by Rosy Day Blog

I've added some new and old products to my routine between March and April so I've decided to combine my favorites from those two months. Sometimes you don't realize how much you like a product until you give it a second chance (or re-introduce it back into your routine). My point is a favorite is still a favorite whether old or new.

Disclosure:

I bought all of these products with my own money from various websites. I was not given anything in exchange for reviewing any of these products. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. I do not work for any of the brands featured here or any of the online stores I bought them from. » View All Monthly Favorites

All-in-One Pads

Peach & Lily Lazy Day Moisture Pads

This isn't a new favorite (it was my favorite exactly a year ago in 2019), however with COVID-19 lockdowns/restrictions going on all over the world right now - I crave a more simple routine. Especially since there's no point in piling on so many products on your face when you're just going to cover it up with a face mask anyway. And those face masks can be hard to breathe sometimes if you wear them for a prolonged period of time. A couple times I've gotten a pimple around the area where my face mask is rubbing against. These moisture pads make it feel like you had a refreshing sheet mask or a multi-step routine without necessarily using an actual sheet mask or having a multi-step routine. Also, even though we have more time during quarantine life, sometimes we still get lazy and want "the quickest way to a complete routine" - and for my oily/combo skin, this is pretty much it. Now more dry types might feel a bit naked so they might want to top it off with moisturizer, but oilier types (especially now that the weather is warming up) can get away with using just this product during the day after cleansing. These Peach & Lily pads are a lot more moisturizing than I expected. It’s not like it’s only a few pads that are soaking wet - every single pad seems evenly wetted down. Also, the pads never dry out while I’m wiping my face. Sometimes when you use a cheap quality pad product, it seems to dry out faster than you can get to the rest of your face. After one round on my face, the pad is still moist enough for me to do a second round (if I wanted to LOL). These are also perfect for using prior to makeup application. Interesting ingredients include spinach (antioxidants), carrot (sun damage protection & anti-aging), broccoli (detoxify & anti-inflammatory), cabbage (anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory), kale (reduce dark circles & tighten skin), pomegranate (anti-aging & strengthens skin), peach (fatty acids & firming), and prickly pear (hydrating & fatty acids). Final Rating = 5/5 (For those who are into all-in-one products these are quite possibly one of the best). » Buy Product

Brightening + Smoothing Serum

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum

This was actually one of my favorite products of 2018 (the year this product was released). However this serum was so popular at the time of its release, that it kept getting sold out and I never had the chance to repurchase. While I did give it a 4/5 back then, because I couldn't repurchase, naturally I started using other serums and completely forgot about this. I recently overdid it with vitamin C and 10% niacinamide (don't combine the two unless you know your skin doesn't react to the combination). I wanted a serum that brightened my skin as well as have some soothing properties. Now that this serum isn't constantly selling out, I've decided to go back to this and you know what? I think I love this even more now than I did back then. You probably won't appreciate this product as much if you're already hitting it hard with actives but as someone who is pretty much omitting a dedicated vitamin c serum and high percentage (10%) niacinamide from her routine, this still gently and effectively brightens my skin with 2% niacinamide. A high percentage is not everything if it's going to irritate your face in the long run. This also helps with redness and irritation to a certain extent. Overall my skin looks nice and healthy again. I do wish this had stronger firming and redness reducing properties, but overall this is a great serum that really tackles a bunch of different issues. Not everyone will be impressed but if you have similar skin issues like me, this is definitely worth a try. With the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, I feel like I get that “freshly exfoliated” look every day. This serum contains Peach & Lily’s properietary hyaluronic acid complex which according to them a “…blend of short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain hyaluronic acid molecules helps provide hydration at every level of skin; short-chain molecules sink into the deeper layers, while medium-chain molecules fill in the layers closer to the surface of the skin, and long-chain molecules lock in moisture on the skin’s surface so that skin is plumped up from within while the outer layer becomes radiant.” Other interesting ingredients include niacinamide (brightening & balancing), peach extract (fatty acids & firming), East Asian mountain yam (fighting collagen loss & reducing skin flakiness), madecassoide/beta-glucan (anti-inflammatory & collagen synthesis), and peptides (firming). Final Rating = 4.75/5 (This might not be for you if you're already using actives but it's a great alternative for similar effects at a slower pace for sensitive skin) » Read My Full Review (originally posted in 2018) » Buy Product

Anti-Aging/Retinol Treatment

The INKEY List Retinol Anti-Aging Serum

As part of incorporating more gentle products into my routine, this is probably the gentlest retinol product I've ever used (without necessarily using the retinol alternative bakuchiol). This time released retinol combined with squalane, really makes you not notice that you've been using retinol on your face. By that I mean I don't have to deal with irritation or extreme dryness and peeling, often associated with using retinol every night. I've never really been able to use retinol every night for these reasons, but with this product, I easily can. Glow Recipe also makes a good retinol product but sometimes I feel like the retinol and PHA combo makes it a tad strong for me to use everyday (I can probably use it every other day without issues). The only bad thing I have to say about this product is that for some, it might be "too gentle" in that you might question if it's really working. I only really use retinol for preventative measures so aside from all the irritation and dryness, I actually never really see that much anti-aging effects. It's more like something that exfoliates and keeps my acne away, LOL. So I can't really say that "stronger" retinol products necessarily have a better effect for me - they're just more irritating if anything. This is also probably the cheapest retinol you can buy, making it a great starter to retinol as well. Final Rating = 4/5 (Unless you like your retinol on the stronger side of course). » Buy Product

Antioxidant Moisturizer

Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream

I have to admit, I didn't think that much of this moisturizer when I first used it since there was another similar moisturizer that I enjoyed using more at the time. However this actually has quite a bit going for it. Yes it is a bit basic in that it doesn't really have any strong brightening or firming/anti-wrinkle properties. It does have matcha green tea (a great antioxidant and for protecting your skin). It's also a nice medium weight pudding-like texture. It might not be ideal for oily skin, but it's good for normal to dry (drier types might still want something heavier for night though). What I love about this lately is that it plays nicely with the rest of my routine and even though it's medium weight, it doesn't make my combo skin breakout (though with the weather warming up I might have to use this at night). For me, it provides sufficient enough moisture that my face (around the eye area and smile lines) don't look all sunken in by the end of the day. The older that I get, the more that I look for moisturizers to plump and firm my face even if they're just temporarily flooding it with moisture (still a good thing). Lots of moisturizers aren't hydrating enough for aging skin that you actually do look a bit crepey at the end of the day. Final Rating = 3.5/5 (It might not "do much" but it's gentle and sufficiently hydrates while providing antioxidant protection). » Buy Product

Multi-Tasking Lip Product

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Lip Pop

At first this does seem like an expensive lip product. However if you're like me who can't use the majority of (often cheaper) lip products without just as, if not having drier than before - Glow Recipe has created like the perfect product for you and me. I want a good lip scrub, lip balm, and tinted color and this product does all 3 making it perfect for traveling and even lazy days when you just want to consolidate your lip routine (if you have other lip products you still use). I never use lip scrub anymore because this does a great job at keeping my lips hydrated. My lip lines are even less noticeable the longer I wear this. I do try to only wear this during the day because of the tint, however when I'm too lazy to scoop out product from my Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, just a few quick swipes of this is sufficient before I go to sleep. I mostly sleep on my back by the way, so I never worry about getting product on my pillow/blanket. I think that if you use this every day, this product should last you at least 2 months. It's been about 2 months since I first got this product and I still have some left. If you use this sometimes, then it should definitely last 3 months or so. It's a good value and despite the price, it lasts pretty long and can replace multiple products. You barely notice that it's exfoliating your lips, who wants to go back to a messy lip scrub? Final Rating = 5/5 (Glow Recipe put a lot of thought into this - I've never thought of a 3-in-1 lip product before). » Buy Product

Scented Hand Soap

Raw Sugar Liquid Hand Soap Watermelon + Mint

If you're looking for a cruelty free and vegan hand soap (and also love the smell of watermelon), look no further than this one from Raw Sugar. Normally I don't spend much on hand soap nor do I look at more "fancy" hand soap brands. However since COVID-19, there has been a shortage on all the cheaper hand soaps so I've started looking elsewhere. I love anything watermelon (thanks to Glow Recipe and their watermelon line). This was no exception - it's smells like watermelon with hints of mint and it smells so good. It makes me look forward to washing my hands, LOL. While I didn't think this was super moisturizing at first, I think it is working because overtime, I noticed my hands weren't as dry from the constant washing. Right now as I'm typing this, I haven't even applied any moisturizer or hand cream to my hands and they're still not dry or crepey looking. According to Raw Sugar, they use cold pressed plant-based nutrients and organic aloe vera, olive fruit, shea butter, and jojoba oils to hydrate. The mint is anti-inflammatory while the watermelon adds antioxidants. This hand soap sounds about a good as a nourishing face wash. I will definitely repurchase this as soon as it runs out. Also important to note, Raw Sugar donates a bar of soap to a family in need for every product purchased. I can definitely get behind beauty brands that make thoughtful products while also performing thoughtful acts. Final Rating = 5/5 (If you don't mind paying for "bougie" hand soap - this is definitely quality). » Buy Product

Dry Wash Spray

Love Home & Planet Rose Petal & Murumuru Re-Wear Dry Wash Spray

I've never heard of a dry wash spray before, but I quickly found multiple uses for this product. This is basically a product to quickly refresh clothing or accessories that are not quite ready to be thrown in the washer just yet. This is definitely useful for things you might wear more than once in a week, such as jackets or accessories. Or if you want to quickly refresh a piece of clothing that you haven't worn in awhile. With its anti-odor technology, it does smell like fresh roses but isn't powering. It also really helps get the wrinkles out of clothes. I haven't tried this on a work/dress shirt, but I had a sweater that was super wrinkled after I took it out of the dryer. I sprayed this all over, smoothed the sweater down a bit and then hung it to air dry. When I checked it later, the wrinkles were all gone. Definitely a life saver when you're constantly battling with wrinkly clothes. Sometimes my clothes start wrinkling faster out of the dryer than I can hang them all up back in my closet. I will always keep this product around! Final Rating = 5/5 (Worth it if you plan to use it like I do above - plus it will last a long time if you just only use it as needed). » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Peach & Lily/Sephora/Target

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My Monthly Favorites - February 2020 Favorite Products & Briogeo Scalp Revival Product Reviews

by Rosy Day Blog

If you’ve read my previous favorites post for January 2020, then here I am doing another combo post. Once again I’ve decided to combine my monthly favorites post with some mini product reviews since the products I’m reviewing this month, also happen to be my February 2020 favorites. After doing a post a few months ago featuring a travel-sized version of a Briogeo product, they contacted me directly to see if I was interested in trying out their Scalp Revival line. I was already very interested in the brand, so naturally I jumped at the chance to try more from Briogeo.

Briogeo

You’ve probably seen Briogeo all over Instagram by now, but no they’re not just a fad or passing trend. In fact, one thing that I respect about Briogeo is that despite being in a market saturated in hair care (sometimes I feel like we’ve hit the peak) - Briogeo still manages to offer high-performance, naturally based hair care with actual visible results. Often times you do see a hair care brand being backed by some celebrity stylist, or sometimes even a celebrity themselves (an actress). Not trying to knock those off (I’m sure they’re all good and offer something for everyone in their own way), but Briogeo brings it back to the basics in a no-frills, just results kind of way. “Brio” is Italian for “vibrant and full of life” - also a nod towards their whimsical/artistic packaging. “Geo” is Latin for “of Earth and nature” - true to the brand’s potent, but natural recipes/formulas. While Briogeo has different lines within their brand, I will be specifically talking about their Scalp Revival line, which I definitely recommend if you have dry a and/or itchy scalp.

Disclosure:

I was not given anything in exchange for reviewing any of these products. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. I do not work for Briogeo. » View All Monthly Favorites

Clean & Silicone Free

Scalp Benefits:

*The following below was copied and pasted from a different post I've written a long time ago as my thoughts below are pretty much the same with regards to the Scalp Revival Line from Briogeo. Finding a good shampoo and conditioner that works for you is just like skincare. Some people might rave about some product, but what works for them may not necessarily work for you. I’ve always struggled off and on with a dry scalp. Often I would think my head looks ok before I leave the house (and I’ve just showered) and then mid-day when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror I see flakes forming like I just shook some salt on my head. I first tried using your typical dandruff shampoos but those only seemed to work temporarily and didn’t really tackle my issue. I eventually developed an itchy scalp. Then I figured I’d try shampoos directed towards a dry, itchy scalp, but the problem still persisted. I felt like I needed the hair care equivalent of an exfoliating scrub and hydrating mask. If my story sounds similar to yours or you have a similar problem, you might want to consider going clean and silicone-free due to the benefits below.

Healthier hair - Silicones coat your hair shaft giving it synthetic shine and potentially damaging your hair in the long run.

Hair is more moisturized - Silicone is hard to remove and prevents moisture and essential oils from getting to your hair shaft.

Less itchy/irritated scalp (which can lead to hair shedding) - Ever wondered why your scalp is so itchy, even after you regularly shampoo? Check to see if it contains silicone in the ingredients. Itching/irritation in general doesn’t do anyone any good. Hair will require less washing - While I do enjoy shampooing and conditioning every time I shower (it makes me feel clean & refreshed from head to toe), I do understand if you’re not able to wash your hair all the time. With silicone-free products, you can get by not washing your hair as much and not worrying about having greasy hair the very next day.

More volume - Especially if your hair is typically fine/flat, ditching the silicone will keep your hair cleaner, possibly giving it a more lifted look/volume.

Healthier curls - If you have curly hair, silicone is especially bad for it as it can’t slide off your strands as easily as someone with straighter hair. You can potentially have even greater product build up than someone with straight hair using silicones.

Detox + Exfoliate

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Sometimes a good (moisturizing) shampoo isn’t enough and you do need a bit of physical exfoliation to slough off the surface dead skin cells you already have on your scalp. According to Briogeo, “This unique shampoo infuses Binchotan charcoal to draw impurities from the scalp and hair follicle to provide the foundation for optimal scalp health.” Peppermint and spearmint oils feel cooling on the scalp and helps reduce itchiness while tea tree oil helps soothe irritation and inflammation. Finally coconut oil adds a bit of moisture to help prevent future dryness and flakiness. This definitely feels nice to massage on your scalp and you don’t necessarily have to replace your existing shampoo with this (if you already have a favorite). You can just use this micro-exfoliating shampoo 1-2 times a week or as needed. Depending on how bad your scalp condition is, you will have to consistently use this a few times until you get your desired result. Then you can dial back the usage a bit for maintenance. The only downside is that since this is in a jar, I’m constantly dipping my wet fingers into this and I feel like a bit of water from my shower always goes in. I feel like the consistency is watery enough to be in some kind of pump bottle Final Rating = 4/5 (Good but I’m sure the ~$42 USD for 8 oz. might turn some people away). » Buy Product

Soothe + Hydrate

Briogeo Charcoal & Tea Tree Scalp Treatment

I’ve never thought about massaging any kind of leave-in treatment onto my scalp until I came across this product. Similar to the Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo, this also contains Binchotan charcoal (to draw impurities), peppermint & spearmint oils (cools & reduces itchiness), and tea tree oil (soothes irritation & inflammation). Instead of coconut oil, this treatment has witch hazel to help balance your scalp and prevent it from getting too oily. Now this doesn’t feel as cooling on my scalp as the shampoo, but whenever I put this on an irritated spot, I do get a bit of that tingling sensation (nothing bad). With consistent use, this definitely works because I’ve been putting this on an eczema-like patch on the back of my head, and it’s been healing faster than before I started using this treatment. Now the patch is almost completely dry and I just have a few leftover dry flakes. This has made the biggest difference on my dry patches, so if you could only afford one product from the Scalp Revival line, I would recommend this. It comes in a small dropper bottle too, so it’s very travel friendly. I like to use this treatment at night before I go to bed and then use the Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo the next morning. The only thing is that I kinda wished this was in a larger bottle or they offered a larger size. Sometimes I just really wanna slather this on, but since it’s so small I have to restrain myself a bit. Other than that, I love this! Final Rating = 4.75/5 (Small bottle but mighty!) » Buy Product

Refresh + Balance

Briogeo Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo

I’ve only tried one other dry shampoo before, and it was the spray kind. Despite it having a brown tint to better blend into dark hair, it did not make my hair feel refreshed. Maybe because I tend to get a bit oily if I don’t shampoo everyday, but that dry shampoo weighed my hair down and didn’t give much life to it. This Briogeo dry shampoo is the complete opposite. Despite it feeling like you’re just squeezing baby powder all over your head, this actually does a nice job of refreshing your hair. Similar to the Scalp Treatment, this also contains Binchotan charcoal (to draw impurities), and witch hazel (to balance scalp). Clay, tapioca, and rice starches are also included to help absorb oil. And since it does combat the excess oil you might have, it also makes your hair have a bit more volume than before you used the dry shampoo. If I dare say, I looked almost as refreshed as if I had taken a shower and blow dried my hair (keyword: almost). Since the previous dry shampoo I used weighed me down (literally), this Briogeo one is my new standard for dry shampoos out there. I would definitely use this for traveling and lazy mornings. I think as long as you take the time to properly blend the dry shampoo into your hair, you shouldn’t have any issues with it (and I have black hair by the way). Final Rating = 4.5/5 (Unless you really dislike the thought of sprinkling white powder all over your head). » Buy Product

Massage Therapy

Briogeo Stimulating Therapy Massager

This in my opinion is the least necessary in the Scalp Revival line. It does not make it a bad product, just that if you don’t necessarily want to spend $16 USD on a scalp massager, you won’t be missing out on too much. However, if you can afford it/want it, you will find it useful. I like to use this in the shower to help spread the Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo, and I’ll sometimes use this on my scalp to help massage in the Scalp Treatment. Of course I can do all these things with my own hands, but I don’t always have nails to really scrub and massage things in. Let’s just say it’s both a luxury and a convenience - one that I definitely won’t complain about now that I have it. Can you buy a cheaper scalp massager? Of course, but I haven’t tried other scalp massagers so I wouldn’t be able to tell you, if you can find anything comparable or better than the quality of the Briogeo one. Definitely a neat beauty tool regardless, and one I’m happy to add to my beauty tools collection. Final Rating = 3/5 (Unless you already have a scalp massager that you love). » Buy Product

NATURAL + PERFORMANCED BASED HAIR CARE

In short, if you have tried everything including those cheap drugstore brands (Head & Shoulders I'm looking at you) and nothing has worked for your scalp problem (or possibly made it worse), then definitely look into the Briogeo Scalp Revival line. I was attracted to the brand in the first place because their Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo had good reviews on Sephora and they had a travel-sized version which I bought during one of Sephora's holiday sales. Of course Sephora reviews aren't always "accurate" in that you can still possibly hate a product despite it getting rave reviews. The small sized Briogeo Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo I tried that time was definitely worthy of praise. I'm thankful that Briogeo reached out to me to try more products after I posteda photo of the travel sized Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo on Instagram. I probably would have tried the other products anyway, but I'm constantly trying to budget so I'm not sure how soon I would have gotten the chance to, had Briogeo not sent me some products to try. Thank you Briogeo and I hope to try your Blossom & Bloom line in the future! If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Briogeo

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My Monthly Favorites - January 2020 Favorite Products & BeautChat 2019 Best Skincare

by Rosy Day Blog

I've decided to do something different this month since I previously received some goodies from BeautChat a Korean beauty review/blog site, and many of them happened to be my favorites in January. This post will serve as both my "Monthly Favorites" for January 2020, as well as my mini-reviews for the items received from BeautChat's 2019 Best Skincare winners. The back story is that I was contacted from BeautChat around October 2019 to participate in a "Best of Beauty" poll. I didn't know many of the products on the poll, so I just voted for what seemed the most interesting. The winners were eventually posted late December 2019/early January 2020, and BeautChat started contacting all participates for their mailing address. Each participant was given one of two different sets. I believe I got all of the winning items except for the sunscreen. Obviously not everything was a hit with me, but I will still provide a mini-review as a courtesy/special mention. I just wanted to say thank you to BeautChat for the opportunity and also to online store Jolse, which I believe supplied most/if not all of the winning products.

Disclosure:

I was not given anything in exchange for reviewing any of these products. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. I do not work for BeautChat, Jolse, or any of the brands featured in this post. » View All Monthly Favorites

BeautChat 2019 Best Cleanser

ONEOSEVEN Low pH Chaga Cleanser

Oneoseven’s brand ingredient of fermented vinegar, sounds like something that belongs in a pickled dish rather than your face, LOL. But this is actually a very good, all-rounder type of ingredient (kind of like centella asiatica). It’s very healing and anti-bacterial. The cleanser has a nice jelly kind of texture with little bits of green tea, that lathers into a nice little foam. It does smell like vinegar & green tea which is actually enjoyable if you like herbal/earthy kind of scents. People say you shouldn’t invest too much money into cleansers. However, this cleanser is 1. Not expensive, and 2. I can actually see and feel it gently exfoliating my face everytime I use it. I no longer use AHA or some kind of scrub in my routine. Just this and my Son & Park Beauty Water, have been keeping my sensitive face extra smooth and flake free. I’m very impressed with both this and their Illuminating sheet mask. I want to try more from Oneoseven, but they’re not exactly the easiest brand to find in the U.S. I am now a believer in fermented vinegar. Other interesting ingredients include: 1,000ppm chaga mushroom extract and 10 Complex (10 different skin brightening plants/flowers). Final Rating = 5/5 (Unless fermented vinegar as an ingredient and/or scent doesn’t excite you very much). » Buy Product

BeautChat 2019 Best Serum

TIAM My Signature Red C Serum

This scared me at first because I had a bad experience over exfoliating with Tiam’s original vitamin C serum (when they were still OST). However, despite this version having 20% vitamin C, it was a lot more gentle with the addition of vitamin B12 (repairs and promotes growth of healthy skin cells) and glutathione (antioxidant - protects from free radicals). Since I have sensitive skin, I’m still a bit cautious and mix this with another serum designed to soothe irritation and redness. I even sometimes use this twice a day and I still haven’t over exfoliated. I have an extreme fear of over exfoliation. I’ll probably never try any other 20% vitamin C serum except this lovely gem from Tiam. Thank you Tiam for restoring my faith in vitamin C. In terms of results, you can expect the usual effects from vitamin C, though I’ll have to say vitamin C works a lot better with niacinamide. I often use a niacinamide serum after this and I become bright like a diamond. Final Rating = 5/5 (I can’t find a fault with this unless you don’t think it’s “strong” enough for you). » Buy Product

BeautChat 2019 Best Cream

Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream

Trying the Cicapair Cream couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m fed up with a lot of different products/ingredients, so I’m actually trying to go more soothing with my skincare this year. This cream is not only soothing (cica is a good all-rounder ingredient), but it’s a good hydrating cream for my combination skin, yet keeps me fairly matte and doesn’t add any excess oil. I have tried this on warm days as well, so I’m sure it will wear well into the summer (unless there’s a heatwave). You probably already know how great cica/centella asiatica is, so I won’t talk more about that. While I’m still on the hunt for a good anti-aging cream for night, this is my go-to for during the day. Final Rating = 5/5 (Unless you have very dry skin - this won’t be enough for you without facial oil). » Buy Product

BeautChat Top Sheet Mask

ONEOSEVEN Botanics Illuminating Moisture Mask

This claims to brighten and hydrate skin with niacinamide, propolis, andrice extracts, as well as 3 types of hyaluronic acid and 6 types of flower extracts. The mask sheet itself is made of a combination of tencel and eucalyptus extract which is 100% eco-friendly. The mask does smell like a fresh bouquet from all the flower extracts (if you don’t like floral scents - this might not be for you). I’m not sure about brightening effects as I already use vitamin c and a niacinamide serum, but considering I didn’t use either of them when I used this sheet mask, my face did look more even and not as dull looking. It was definitely plump and hydrated from the hyaluronic acid, and I do feel that the tiny bumps I had on my face were a bit soothed and less severe from the propolis. I would totally purchase this sheet mask for myself. I would say the effects are similar to the Oneoseven chaga cleanser but obviously in a sheet mask format. Amazingly as I’m typing this, taking a quick glance in the mirror again, any darkness under my eyes have disappeared (I have minor dark circles by the way) and the minor bumps on my face are almost gone now. I guess this sheet mask does continue working even after you’ve long taken it off, LOL. Final Rating = 5/5 (Unless you don’t like floral scents and/or can’t handle some of the ingredients such as the flower extracts). » Buy Product

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Please note that although the products listed below didn't quite work for me or just weren't to my liking, doesn't mean they can't work well for someone else. It's always important to know that your mileage may vary and I do try to see some positives with the products despite any negatives.

BeautChat 2019 Best Toner

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner

Despite this having 3 different types of hyaluronic acid, I actually wasn’t impressed with this toner and found it a bit “boring” compared to the tons of hyaluronic acid toners out there. This is a watery, almost gel-like texture that absorbs the best on a damp face, though it didn’t quite feel all that hydrating and it’s not like I have a dry face or anything. Maybe if it had more interesting ingredients, but almost everything has some form of hyaluronic acid in it, so this ingredient alone is a bit overrated for me to find products dedicated to it. If you want something cheap with a relatively short ingredients list, and isn’t as sticky as some of the other hyaluronic acid toners out there, then this is still worth a look. Final Rating = 2.5/5 » Buy Product

BeautChat Top Sheet Mask

Celimax Skin Repair Bee Tox Therapy

The star ingredients are bee venom and 5% AHA. I’ve used bee venom before and do think that it’s a good ingredient. Though my first time taking this out of the packet, I already had a bad experience. The sheet mask was dripping wet with essence. Some of you might consider that a good thing, but when you have a small face coupled with a huge (for me) sheet mask, the essence was just getting everywhere. It was getting over my mouth where I felt like I was beginning to taste it, and it even got in one of my eyes which was not good at all. I was partially blind in one eye for a bit. This sheet mask would probably work better if I had laid down, but come on, I like to be able to move around and do things (I always use a silicone mask over my sheet mask to keep it on). Effects wise, I did feel like my skin was a bit more luminous (though not as bright and even as the Oneoseven sheet mask). However as someone with sensitive skin, I kind of dislike sheet masks with AHA in them. I feel like the longer they sit on top of my skin, the more they irritate it. I was right. The bee venom didn’t really do much for my skin barrier and I got a few tiny red bumps from the AHA. It’s a good thing I used my CBD oil and cica cream after - my skin might have been in worse shape. Despite my experience, if you can handle and you like both bee venom and AHA together (and you don't have a tiny face like I do), this might be worth a look. Final Rating = 2.5/5 » Buy Product

BeautChat Top Sheet Mask

Etude House 0.2 mm Therapy Air Mask Artemisia

These sheet masks are supposed to be thin and airy, yet highly hydrating/nourishing and good for sensitive skin. The star ingredient is of course Artemisia and I am glad to give this a try after the Celimax Bee Tox irritated my skin a bit (and my skin was still a bit irritated prior to trying this sheet mask). If you’ve ever used a cica/centella asiatica product, the effects of this artemisia sheet mask are pretty similar to that. The redness was reduced so it evened out my skin and made my overall face look a bit brighter. It was also nicely hydrated from the excess essence. There was actually a bit too much essence. I got tired trying to pat it all in and wait for it to absorb, that I just towel dried the rest off (sorry, but I ain’t got time for all that). I don’t think I’d buy this for myself as I already have a lot of soothing products in my routine, but I wouldn’t mind using it (especially when traveling), and I’ll look into more artemisia products in the future. Final Rating = 3.5/5 (Does what it needs to do and is cheap). » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Jolse/Sephora/Gotham Grove/Style Korean

[sakurar0se]

My Monthly Favorites - Best of 2019 Beauty Products

by Rosy Day Blog

I just realized I haven't posted any of my monthly favorites since April 2019. I think I've had a lot of different products to try out/post about on social media, so I just really forgot about the monthly/semi-monthly blog posts. If you've been following me for awhile now, it's the usual excuses, right? LOL. I can't guarantee I'll do more postings this year, but at least now I'm able to share my favorite products from 2019 (even if it's about a month late). Some of the products aren't "new" favorites, but are older products that I didn't realize how much I loved or needed in my routine until I started using them again. Always a wonderful feeling right?

» View All Monthly Favorites

SKINCARE

Cleanser

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

I love this cleanser because at least for me, it seems to help keep my skin nice and supple every time I use it (mainly because of all the amino acids). It’s also very gentle and one of the few cleansers that my sensitive skin can actually take (this is low pH). Some might not like the smell, but it just smells like cucumber infused water to me. It is also kind of pricey for a cleanser, but you get a freaking 5.1 oz. Some brands are cheaper but they barely give you like 3.4 oz. This stuff does last me over 4 months, so no worries there. Interesting ingredients include soybean oil (antioxidant, smooths & moisturizes skin w/ vitamin E and fatty acids), sunflower seed oil, starflower seed oil (restores moisture & smoothness), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (soothing & anti-inflammatory), cucumber fruit extract, damask rose extract & flower water, cornflower extract (anti-inflammatory, diminish fine lines & tone skin around eyes), soybean sterols (anti-inflammatory & skin conditioning), panax ginseng root extract (skin smoothing & firming), damask rose flower oil (soothing & pore tightening), and hydrolyzed soy protein (anti-aging & firming). » Buy Product

Cleansing/Light Exfoliating Toner

Son & Park Beauty Water

I keep coming back to this toner because it gives me daily but gentle exfoliation (I don't do well with very strong actives), and is one of the few things that helps get rid of those pesky dry flakes on my skin. Sometimes it's just not enough to properly hydrate, but you do need a gentle product to help clear out dead skin in order to see new, hydrated skin. This also makes a great multi-tasker when I need to cleanse and tone all in one (I don't wear much makeup most of the time anyway). Normal to oily skin would love this, though it's not the most hydrating when you're more dry. No one said you're not allowed to use a thicker, more hydrating toner after this (in fact many use more than one toner in their routine). Interesting ingredients include rosa damascena flower water (soothing & pore tightening), witch hazel (fights acne & inflammation), bergamot fruit oil (anti-bacterial & antibiotic), olive fruit oil (vitamin A & E), grapefruit peel oil (toning & firming), papaya fruit water (exfoliating & brightening), jasmine oil (anti-aging & moisturizing), anise fruit/seed oil (smoothing & tightening), artemisia absinthium extract (healing & protecting), tea tree leaf extract (anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial), and rosemary leaf extract (antioxidant & improves circulation). » Buy Product

First Treatment Essence

Then I Met You The Giving Essence

This has 80% ferments: galactomyces (nourish and revitalize skin & reduce/delay aging), aspergillus (skin lightening & reducing melanin), and saccharomyces (hydrating & balancing). Other interesting ingredients include niacinamide (brightening & balancing), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (soothing & anti-inflammatory), ellagic acid (an antioxidant that prevents sun damage, blocks MMP that breaks down collagen& reduces ICAM that causes inflammation; lightening properties rivals that of hydroquinone and tretinoin), black chokeberry (one of the berries/fruit with the highest levels of antioxidants, anti-aging & skin calming), polyglutamic acid (water-soluable peptide that holds 4x more moisture than hyaluronic acid), red algae (brightening & reducing dark spots), and purslane (more omega-3 fatty acids than fish oil). There is also 11 additional berries (high in antioxidants and vitamins for fighting free radical damage; they can also help skin look brighter & more even-toned). I love this product because it has some ingredients that are different from other essences, especially the ellagic acid and algae (my skin loves this ingredient). There isn't much to see results-wise since I take pretty good care of my skin, but my skin always looks just a little bit healthier after using this overtime. » Buy Product

Anti-Aging Serum

The Ordinary "Buffet"

Just like I am with food, sometimes I get greedy and want a little bit of everything. The appropriately named "Buffet" serum does just that. Serious anti-aging ingredients include: Syn-Ake peptide complex, Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl Synthe'6 peptide complexes, and Relistase peptide complex. Probiotics are also included for balancing and and strengthening skin's defenses. As cheap as this is (it's about $15 USD for 1 oz.), you might think that this product is too good to be true. Maybe it is at that price point, but I do know that my face seems to stay nice and firm the longer that I use this and anti-aging is all about prevention anyway. I don't know if it's actually improving my wrinkles, but I'd rather not let them get worse and this little bottle has tons of good stuff (and proven anti-aging ingredients) inside. » Buy Product

Brightening & Hydrating Serum

Bliss Glow & Hydrate

I've never realized how good niacinamide was until I bought this, which claims to have "spa grade" niacinamide. Yes, many skincare products already have niacinamide in them, but it's a big difference when you use a product that has a good percentage of niacinamide (it should be within the top 3 ingredients). This pairs perfectly after my vitamin C serum and its thicker emulsion-like consistency makes it fairly hydrating as well. If you want brighter, more even skin, unless you're super sensitive to these 2 ingredients - all you really need is vitamin C and niacinamide. Niacinamide also helps with balancing your skin and minimizing pores. Interesting ingredients include aloe barbadensis leaf juice (soothing & anti-inflammatory), licorice root (reduces under-eye circles, discoloration & age spots), soybean oil (antioxidant, smooths & moisturizes skin w/ vitamin E and fatty acids), sunflower seed oil (vitamin E & good for acne/redness/irritation), oat kernel oil (rich in lipids & fatty acids), and shea butter (healing & highly moisturizing). » Buy Product

Hydrating Eye Cream

Glossier Bubblewrap Eye + Lip Plumping Cream

As much as I love a good brightening and/or anti-aging eye cream, sometimes all you need is a good hydrating eye cream to help smooth fine lines and give your eyes some moisture to wake them up a bit. Yes this eye cream is a bit basic, but I love it for during the day as it smooths my eyes enough that any fine lines are reduced, and makes any makeup I apply after less likely to crease. In fact, all this smoothness and lack of creasing has made my eye area look more youthful. It doesn't do anything for brightening, but that's what I use vitamin C and niacinamide for. And if I need more serious anti-wrinkle power, I can always use an eye cream that tackles that for night. A lot of people rave about the Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Cream, but that gave me millia. This one doesn't and it comes in a convenient pump. It does slightly plump your lips/preps them for lipstick, etc. as well, but I prefer to use Bubblewrap for my eyes only. Interesting ingredients include squalane (balances oil production & anti-aging), avocado oil (healing & calms itchy skin), peptide complex, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, blueberry fruit extract, purslane, swertia, and sunflower seed oil. » Buy Product

Facial Oil/Hydrating Primer

Glossier Futuredew

I was afraid of using this because I tend to be more oily but I think that this is very wearable no matter what your skin type (unless you're sensitive/allergic to any of the ingredients). Dry skin probably needs the recommended 2 pumps, normal/combo can do 1 pump, and if you're extremely oily you can just use this on the high points of your face like a highlighter. Depending how much you use and how many layers of skincare you used prior to the Futuredew (also if you use foundation after), this can give you anywhere from a subtle lit from within/highlighter glow to a semi-wet type of look. I love this because for me it's a good facial oil/primer hybrid and it seems to make me look healthier whenever I use it. My face seems to stay nice and plump as well. I don't know if it has any long term benefits but it's always a plus to at least hydrate. Interesting ingredients include squalane (balances oil production & anti-aging), jojoba, evening primrose (anti-inflammatory, soothes acne & prevents future breakouts), olive, grape seed, rosa canina fruit, evodia rutaecarpa fruit, and rosemary. » Buy Product

Hydrating Lip Balm

Biossance Rose Vegan Lip Balm

Although this seems like your basic petroleum jelly-like lip balm in a pot, I do love how this is vegan and I can smell a bit of the rose in here. Lip balm is very hard to recommend because what can work for you can be very drying for me and vice versa. My favorite way to use this is just a standard hydrating balm and then I'll layer a tinted lip balm or other colored lip product over it (if during the day) or the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask to seal in the hydration before sleeping (if at night). I feel like this does plump my lips a bit but nothing too drastic that someone would really notice. Interesting ingredients include squalane, ceramide NP, rosa damascena, and undaria pinnatifida. » Buy Product

Tinted Lip Balm

Milk Kush Lip Balm

I'll admit I bought this because of the CBD, but this is a nice tinted lip balm if you're like me and prefer a hint of color rather than full on lipstick. Because of my full lips, I stopped wearing lipstick since I also got some on my chin everytime I ate food (not a pretty sight). Tinted lip balms, I don't have that problem and they're very easy to re-apply as you don't need a mirror like you do with lipstick. While this isn't the most hydrating tinted lip balm (I recommend the more expensive Fresh lip balms), I do like how fairly cheap (compared to Fresh) these are and they don't necessarily make my lips drier. If I really do have dry lips, I use something like the Biossance Vegan Rose Lip Balm first, and then this. Or I just make sure to properly moisturize with the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask the night before. Interesting ingredients include olive oil, jojoba, shea butter, sunflower, mango butter, moringa oil, coconut oil, cocoa seed butter, cannabis sativa, and rosemary. » Buy Product

Light Soothing & Hydrating Mask

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Lightly hydrating, making it perfect for more oily skin and/or warmer temps. I keep coming back to this because despite it not advertising much other than hydration and a restful sleep due to their Sleep Tox technology, this is actually pretty soothing. I always seems to calm down any inflamed pores I have by the next morning, yet isn't so overly hydrating/suffocating. Interesting ingredients include evening primrose root (anti-inflammatory, soothes acne & prevents future breakouts), apricot (removes blemishes & improves skin tone), beta-glucan (skin healing & collagen building), quinoa seed (treats acne & brightens skin), and ascorbyl glucoside (water soluble derivative of vitamin C). » Buy Product

MAKEUP

Makeup Primer

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

At first I was afraid that this would be too hydrating but it's actually just hydrating enough for my combination skin without adding grease. I know some people might not like the stickiness/tackiness of this product, but this reminds me of a less sticky (and better) version of the J.One Jelly. I liked how that product made my face look before and after makeup application, but I hated all the additional slapping I had to do on my face and it seemed to take forever to absorb (not good if you're in a rush). With the Hydro Grip Primer, you still have to kind of pat it into your face/slap it around a bit but it's not as bad and your face is ready for foundation after about 50 to 55 seconds (but don't wait longer than a minute). I never once thought primers did a great job of keeping my makeup look fresh throughout the day, but this one does. I look almost the same by the end of the day. Even more amazing is I accidentally fell asleep with my makeup on and the very next day, it was still intact and looked fairly fresh, LOL. I'm not suggesting you should try that, but just saying...It does happen that you fall asleep with makeup on sometimes. Interesting ingredients include aloe barbadensis, agave tequilana, niacinamide, cannabis sativa, opuntia ficus-indica flower, and prunus avium flower. » Buy Product

Foundation

Milk Makeup Blur Liquid Matte Foundation

Having combination skin, I used to think this foundation was a tad drying around my nose area but that was because I wasn't properly moisturizing around the clock and my skin benefits the best from gentle, but daily exfoliation. My favorite way to wear this is to make sure my skin is hydrated enough, prime with the Glossier Futuredew and/or Milk Hydro Grip Primer, and I get a nice glowy but not greasy look. I do like dewy looks, but I find if you specifically use dewy/hydrating foundations, they don't last long. I think it's better to use hydrating skincare (that's right for your skin type), and then use a matte foundation over. The matte foundation lasts longer than the dewy/hydrating types, but you are still hydrating from within because of your skincare. I also prefer to apply this very sparingly (like tinted moisturizer) with my fingers. Fingers are best to avoid dry spots and weird creasing areas in my opinion. I wear this in the shade Medium Light. » Buy Product

Mascara Base

Lancome Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base

I already have a mascara that I love, but if you really want more of a false eyelashes look, you should definitely use a good mascara base like this one. I feel like it always improves the stay power of your mscara, though I always use waterproof mascara to prevent/limit smudging anyway. I don't use this all the time, but just when I want some more oomph with my lashes. Most of the time I go bare or just more simple with my mascara. Interesting ingredients include rice brand wax, carnauba wax, bees wax, and candelilla wax. » Buy Product

Volumizing Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

This was recommended to me by a Target employee and it's probably the best (and affordable) mascara that I've used so I keep coming back to this. Though my eye lashes are naturally fairly long and curled, this just takes them up 1-2 notches depending on my application. I always get this in waterproof (because when you have long lashes mascara smudges everytime you blink) and in the color Blackest Blck. » Buy Product

HAIR & BODY CARE

Dry/Itchy Scalp Treatment

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

It's hard to find a good shampoo for a dry, itchy scalp. Popular Head & Shoulders actually makes my scalp more dry for some reason. Now, the Briogeo isn't perfect, but because of its ingredients, it does help with this weird eczema-like rash I currently have on the back of my head (no thanks to trying out some Kristin Ess shampoo and conditioner which I will never use again). I love the minty smell and it does feel a bit cooling on my scalp as well. The only thing I hate is that since it comes in a jar, I always have a bit of water from the shower going into it. Since this is a scrub shampoo, you don't necessarily have to stop using your favorite shampoo if you have one. You can just use the Briogeo once or twice a week, or as needed to keep your scalp healthy. The larger sized jar is ery expensive so I'm unsure if I will re-purchase at this time to be honest, but I at least want to try other products in their scalp care line. Interesting ingredients include binchotan charcoal, coconut oil, tea tree, ginger root, and panthenol. » Buy Product

Hair Oil

Verb Ghost Hair Oil

I already love the Verb Ghost Shampoo and Conditioner, so it's only natural that I love their hair oil from the same line for finishing my hair as well. Whether I blow dry or air dry my hair, I like to use a little bit of this over the end ends/bottom half of my hair to calm flyaways and make it look sleek and shiny (thought this does look nicer when you've had the time to actually blow dry your hair). Interesting ingredients include argan, rice bran, bamboo, soy protein, and moringa. » Buy Product

Hydrating SPF

Kylie Skin Body Oil Spray

Say what you will about Kylie Jenner (I'm not some crazed Kylie fan) but I legit love this body oil spray. It smells good and is a very convenient way to apply SPF. I get dry skin and I like never have the time to properly hydrate before applying sunscreen and leaving my apartment. Most body sunscreens are very thick and seem to take forever to rub down before it leaves a slight white cast and dries out your skin. I now have another hydrating sunscreen that I use as well, but I just like reaching for this one because of the scent and I can just spray and go for the most part. Interesting ingredients include... » Buy Product

Toning & Firming Body Cream

Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream

This is hyped for a reason. I feel like this not only firms your butt (it's just the name of the cream) but it firms everywhere else you apply it. My arms were a bit dry so I decided to apply some on there and my bf commented it looked like I've been working out a bit on my arms. Now, keep in mind I'm already fairly small, so it's not like just applying this cream will automatically make it look like you've been hitting the gym. The scent, while popular with most, I do feel is a bit strong. This is why I mainly use this at night before bed. I always feel a bit self conscious like I'm giving the people around me a headache from the scent. It's so strong, it definitely lingers onto the next day. Interesting ingredients include guaraná, coconut, açaí, carrot, ilex guayusa, ilex paraguariensis, brazil nut, and squalane. » Buy Product

GADGETS

Skin Infusion Device

Spa Sciences Aero

I’ve often heard how you should warm up a product in your hand or between your fingers before applying...This takes it to another level - like you’re ironing the wrinkles off your face...Aero is one of the very few skin care infusion devices I’ve come across that heats up in addition to the ionic and sonic technologies. I wasn’t sure what to expect with a product that heated up, but upon first use, it felt quite nice and maybe even a bit relaxing. I don’t know if there’s any truth to stimulating collagen production...But we exercise our bodies to keep it firm and young, why not our face? Without going on and on about what this does, click the link below to see my full review plus before and after photos (let them speak for themselves). » Read My Full Review » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Sephora/Soko Glam/Then I Met You/Target/Glossier

[sakurar0se]

My Monthly Favorites - March/April 2019 Favorite Products

by Rosy Day Blog

As usual, I still had a bunch of products to test the last couple of months. Here I bring you my list of favorites from March and April.

» View All Monthly Favorites

Shampoo

Verb Ghost Shampoo

I'm not 100% sure why this has "ghost" in the name as I don't necessarily think about ghosts having nice hair, LOL. However for me, this shampoo seems to do it all (and has probably dethroned my previous favorite shampoo). It is a weightless shampoo with a light/fresh grapefruit & oatmeal scent (though I probably smell more grapefruit), that is also safe for color treated hair. Interesting ingredients include moringa seed oil (moisturizes, detangles & smooths), quinoa protein (repairs damage and helps hair growth while preventing damage; coats, strengthen & protects hair), and sunflower seed oil (natural UV protection and guards against dryness, color fading & brassiness). This shampoo along with the conditioner and hair oil of the same name, has made my hair so healthy, shiny, soft, and smooth. For best results (and if you have the time), definitely blow dry your hair. You get a bit more volume versus air drying your hair, and you can help lock in your style, as sometimes air drying causes your hair to dry weird (especially if your hair isn't naturally super straight). I'm happy to report this product is free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, and mineral oil. This product is also vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, plus the modern minimalistic (and unisex) packaging is recyclable. » Buy Product

Conditioner

Verb Ghost Conditioner

Of course I had to get the Verb Ghost Conditioner to go along with the Verb Ghost Shampoo! This is pretty much the same as the shampoo above, but since this is a conditioner, it is more specifically formulated to hydrate and detangle hair. Same star ingredients as the shampoo, and this product is still free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, and mineral oil. This product is also still vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, plus the modern minimalistic (and unisex) packaging is recyclable. » Buy Product

Hair Oil

Verb Ghost Oil

If you think that a good shampoo and conditioner are "just enough" for great hair, you are wrong. I have been so obsessed with taking care of my hair lately and I think that's partly because I never realized how easy it can be, especially with Verb's Ghost line of products. Hair oil is like the "icing on the cake" and it can tie the rest of your look together. I don't use it everyday, but I love it for the weekend when I actually have more time to "fix myself up", LOL. This is a restorative oil that is supposed to revitalize, strengthen and smooth for soft, glossy hair. Like all hair oils, I don't apply this closest to my roots for fear of having greasy/oily hair mid-day. I like to apply this after I blow dry my hair to kind of tame it and make it look more sleek and less puffy. It also helps lock in some additional shine. Again, this safe for color treated hair. Interesting ingredients include moringa seed oil (moisturizes, detangles & smooths), quinoa protein (repairs damage and helps hair growth while preventing damage; coats, strengthen & protects hair), bamboo (strengthens and retains moisture), and argan oil (enhances hair elasticity, adds shine, and minimizes flyaways & frizz). This product is still free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, and mineral oil. This product is also still vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, plus the packaging is recyclable. » Buy Product

Cleanser

Peach & Lily Power Calm

This truly is “Power Calm”. I used this just once on my already irritated skin…The existing redness on my face eventually disappeared within 1-2 minutes of rinsing. Usually it would be the opposite. I’d use a cleanser, and that cleanser would be so harsh that it turns my face red and irritated after, and it never seems to go away throughout the rest of my skincare routine. I have the most angry skin…that even some popular cleansers geared towards sensitive skin still make me irritated and break out. After going through like maybe 4 cleansers this past year, I’m going to stick with the Power Calm for awhile. Interesting ingredients include chamomile (anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial), camellia japonica flower (antioxidant & fatty acids), centella asiatica extract (anti-bacterial & reduces redness), peach (fatty acids & firming), hyaluronic acid complex ("a proprietary blend of short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain hyaluronic acid molecules helps provide hydration at every level of skin; short-chain molecules sink into the deeper layers, while medium-chain molecules fill in the layers closer to the surface of the skin, and long-chain molecules lock in moisture on the skin’s surface so that skin is plumped up from within while the outer layer becomes radiant" - Peach & Lily), ginger (prevent collegen degradation), cucumber (balancing & pore minimizing), and licorice root (skin conditioning & brightening). » Read My Full Review » Buy Product

All-in-One Pads

Peach & Lily Lazy Day Moisture Pads

When I first got into Korean skincare, everybody was all into the 10-step skincare routine, but you know what? Korean skincare is not necessarily about that and no, you do not need all that because not everybody has time for that sh*t every day and night, LOL. So now that there's this whole "skip-care" thing going around, I'm all for that, especially if it helps bring forth more concentrated formulations that can multi-task without you needed multiple steps. Of course, you don't necessarily have to give up all of your current products if you don't want to, but sometimes it's just nice to have alternatives for when you're pressed for time, or for when you're traveling and can't bring so many products with you. These Peach & Lily pads are a lot more moisturizing than I expected. It's not like it's only a few pads that are soaking wet - every single pad seems evenly wetted down. Also, the pads never dry out while I'm wiping my face. Sometimes when you use a cheap quality pad product, it seems to dry out faster than you can get to the rest of your face. After one round on my face, the pad is still moist enough for me to do a second round (if I wanted to LOL). With these I can skip toner, essence and a light serum/moisturizer. These are also perfect for using prior to makeup application. I kind of hate layering on a bunch of products before wearing makeup as they tend to feel heavy and pore clogging to me by the time I top it all off with makeup. Just using this pad ensures I get enough moisture to my face, yet still keeping it light and fresh. Initially I thought I would only use this like once or twice a week, but I love it so much due to the convenience and efficacy that I feel like I use it every other day or so. Love, love, love! Interesting ingredients include spinach (antioxidants), carrot (sun damage protection & anti-aging), broccoli (detoxify & anti-inflammatory), cabbage (anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory), kale (reduce dark circles & tighten skin), pomegranate (anti-aging & strengthens skin), peach (fatty acids & firming), and prickly pear (hydrating & fatty acids). » Buy Product

Serum

Cremorlab O2 Couture Hydra Bounce Ampoule

I feel like this is the closest thing I will ever get to an oxygen facial. This has Marine Algae Capsule technology and Marine Oxygen Plasma (helps oxygen penetrate further into the skin) as well as 0.1ppm oxygen. This is important because oxygen levels in your face naturally decline with age from worsening blood circulation! Also, my skin has gotten so “transparent” since using this (my skin is already bright but this adds a dimension of luminosity to your skin). Other interesting ingredients include East Asian mountain yam (for fighting collagen loss & reducing skin flakiness), Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate (hydrating & brightening), fig (for dark spots & sebum control), brown alga/algae (reduce oxidative stress & skin aging), spirulina/blue-green algae (eliminate free radicals & slows down aging of skin cells), and plankton (fatty acids & holds moisture). » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Sephora/Peach & Lily

[sakurar0se]

My Monthly Favorites - Winter 2018/Favorite 2018 Products

by Rosy Day Blog

Unfortunately I just had wayyyy too many products to test and review the last couple of months, so this post is a lot later than I had intended. As usual, I combined Winter 2018 favorites with my favorite products for 2018 (they are typically one and the same anyway). I noticed some of the products are the same as my most Fall 2018 favorites, but that just means I found my favorites for last year more recently.

» View All Monthly Favorites

Toner

Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner

I first used this a few years ago, but have since forgotten about it since I keep trying out new toners. I came back to this after seeing that Soko Glam now carries it. For me this is the best all-around toner. It is good at cleansing (if you like using toners to wipe off excess dirt/oil left behind) and it is mildly hydrating without being one of those thicker essence-like toners that can sometimes feel sticky and take forever to absorb. This toner also has 10% licorice water. Licorice is known for skin brightening and while I can't say that using this toner alone will brighten your skin, the soothing and redness-reducing properties of licorice will give your skin a more even and overall healthier and brighter look. When paired with the right products, it does help one achieve honey skin. Other interesting ingredients include rhubarb (soothing), green tea (antioxidants), and rose & peony (skin conditioning & brightening). » Buy Product

Facial Mist

Belif Aqua Bomb Mist

This facial mist acts as a hydrating intermission between my cleansing and toning steps. Especially after I take a shower, it takes me awhile to go from cleansing to toning, and in that time my skin starts to dry up (possibly making my skin a bit irritated as well). This provides a “better than just water” light-hydration and the light-weightness is perfect for quickly refreshing your skin. It also calms my skin (minor redness is instantly cured). I feel like it aids in healing my skin barrier as well. With the Belif, you get 2 travel sized bottles (for a total of ~4.04 oz for $34). A good deal if you ask me! Interesting ingredients include lady's mantle/oats/soybean ferment (healing & eczema), chickweed (anti-inflammatory),catnip/calendula (anti-bacterial), nettle leaf (acne), and saccharomyces ferments from potato & barley (product absorbtion & skin nutrition). » Buy Product

Essence

Eco Your Skin Layering Essence Ringer Drip in Anti-Wrinkle

This is perfect for the 7-skin method, though since it's $50 USD you probably don't want to use it all up too fast. It's actually good enough to just use for a 3-skin method. I prefer to just immediately transfer this from the packet into the included bottle rather than try and use this all up in one-go. This is hydrating yet still lightweight and it gives me instant glass skin. The effects are kinda comparable to a good sheet mask without all the waiting around or the heavyiness/stickiness. In the long run, this is cheaper than sheet masking everyday if you use this for at least 3 layers every night. This does smell a bit strong though. I don't doubt that this is a very concentrated formula - it smells concentrated. Thankfully the scent doesn't linger. Interesting ingredients include soy/adenosine (boosting collagen synthesis), black cohosh (anti-inflammatory), resveratol (anti-aging & firming), angelica herb (anti-bacterial), and red clover (repair broken skin). Ironically, I feel like this product has more "soothing" type of ingredients than actual anti-aging ones... » Buy Product

Calming & Nutritious First Treatment Essence

Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Origin Essence

This is an odd product in that it just seems like a fancy hanbang (medicinal/herbal ingredients) product mainly for reducing redness - which it does do very well by the way. However, this surprisingly keeps my hollow-ish/slightly sunken eyes nice and firm. It’s almost magic because this isn’t exactly advertised as an anti-aging or firming product, but I’ve gone through 2 bottles of this and it just amazingly works for me. It’s made up of 14% hanbang ingredients including chrysanthemum which even drinking the tea is supposed to help with wrinkles and anti-aging. Other interesting ingredients includes pomegranate (anti-wrinkle), rehmannia/sesame (nourishing & anti-inflammatory), peony/honeysuckle/licorice (skin conditioning & brightening), goji berry (hydrating & firming), ginger (antioxidant & elasticity), Ginseng (help boost collagen production), angelica herb/gromwell (anti-bacterial), cinnamon (acne), and licorice. » Buy Product

Hydrating/Anti-Aging First Treatment Essence

Ground Plan Energy Essence

If you are looking for a first treatment essence that not only is more hydrating than those light, watery types, but also contains zero fermented ingredients (like galactomyces for example), this is the one for you. Unfortunately fermented ingredients are such a double-edged sword. They either work really well for you, or you develop some kind of irritation preventing yourself from continued use. This essence not only contains enough hydration in my opinion to just use 1-skin (layer) rather than using the full 7-skin method, but also it contains a bunch of soothing and hydrating ingredients that really makes this perfect for sensitive skin. Interesting ingredients include oats (healing & eczema), job's tears/rice (brightening & balancing), winter melon (acne & anti-aging), rose (skin conditioning), edelweiss/purslane (antioxidants), beta-glucan/aronia berry (wound healing & collagen synthesis), anise (anti-wrinkle), East Asian mountain yam (for fighting collagen loss & reducing skin flakiness), and centella asiatica (anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial). » Buy Product

Anti-Aging/EGF Serum

Abib Hypoderma SP1-2GF Serum Cell Repair

I initially got this 50% off, but even with a retail value of ~$92 USD, you are definitely paying for quality and advance scientific research with this serum. I still love my Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, but this is like a more super-charged anti-aging version. This contains 10 ppm of SP1-EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) and 15 ppm of SP1-FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor). The SP1 is a special technology to help skin absorb the EGF/FGF protein molecules. While I don't have too many issues in regards to wrinkles and loss of firmness, after at least 1 month of use, this has made my skin more even (less redness), more baby soft to the touch, more bouncy/resilient, etc. You can say this does slowly reset your skin to a more youthful/baby-ish state. This serum even helped lightened these pesky melasma-like dark spots I had around my cheeks, and have made the minor pores I had on my nose nearly disappear. Other interesting ingredients include bamboo extract (helps absorb nutrients & boost collagen synthesis), niacinamide/honeysuckle (brightening & balancing), Japanese plum (glowing skin & eczema), centella asiatica/propolis (anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial), and lotus root (heals dry & flaky skin). » Buy Product

Firming/Softening Serum

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum

If you are looking for a great multi-tasking serum that will even out, plump, and make your skin smooth (glass skin effect), look no further than the appropriately named Glass Skin Refining Serum. I only use Curology at least once a week and my skin seems to look the best the 2nd day after usage. With the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, I feel like I get that “freshly exfoliated” look every day. This serum contains Peach & Lily's properietary hyaluronic acid complex which according to them a "...blend of short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain hyaluronic acid molecules helps provide hydration at every level of skin; short-chain molecules sink into the deeper layers, while medium-chain molecules fill in the layers closer to the surface of the skin, and long-chain molecules lock in moisture on the skin's surface so that skin is plumped up from within while the outer layer becomes radiant." Other interesting ingredients include niacinamide (brightening & balancing), peach extract (fatty acids & firming), East Asian mountain yam (fighting collagen loss & reducing skin flakiness), madecassoide/beta-glucan (anti-inflammatory & collagen synthesis), and peptides (firming). » Read My Full Review » Buy Product

Anti-Aging/Firming Serum

The Plant Base Time Stop Collagen Ampoule

From my Klog article..."I woke up with really soft skin the next morning. The ampoule absorbs really quickly onto your skin and the softness just felt more noticeable after washing my face.” This is also a product that I’m sure helps with firming and elasticity overtime (one of the few Korean products that contains peptides). It contains 76.52% mushroom extract to stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Other interesting ingredients include mulberry (antioxidant), prickly pear/macadamia nut oil (softening & fatty acids), licorice (skin conditioning & brightening), persimmon/aloe vera/centella asiatica (anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial), beta-glucan/retinol (healing & collagen synthesis), kakadu plum (vitamin C & acne), and rapeseed (vitamin E). » Read My Full Review » Buy Product

Moisturizer

Abib Hydration Gel Water Tube

One of the most lightweight hydrating gels I’ve ever used. Unless I layer a lot of hydrating products underneath, I never get that wet/oily “just applied moisturizer and I’m waiting for it to absorb” look. This is a moisturizer I definitely would not mind using if I’m just going to be barefaced. Even if I use this at night, I wake up looking almost the same (slightly glowy and hydrated) as before I went to sleep. In other words, I don’t wake up looking all tired and zombie-like. I also don’t oil up too much (if any) with this moisturizer during the day (unlike others) so this is also a good choice for warmer temps/Summer time. Interesting ingredients include red seaweed (hydration & collagen synthesis), sugarcane (antioxidants), meadowfoam (balancing & moisturizing), mushroom/niacinamide (anti-aging & brightening), cactus flower (anti-inflammatory), and moringa (firming & anti-bacterial). » Buy Product

Facial Oil

Peach & Lily Pure Beam Luxe Oil

This is a nice facial oil that doesn't feel super oily. In fact, it feels light (yet still hydrating) enough that if you feel like you need more hydration, you can very easily add more layers. Even with the additional layers, it doesn't go full blown greasy. This oil is 100% natural & plant-based and is more affordable compared to many facial oils that seem as expensive as a high-end serum or cream. Ingredients includes jojoba seed oil (balancing & repairing), squalane (antioxidants & moisturizing), grape seed oil (anti-bacterial & brightening), camellia (antioxidant & omega-6 fatty acids), and sea buckthorn oil (anti-aging & healing). » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Soko Glam/Sephora/Peach & Lily

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My Monthly Favorites - Fall 2018 Favorites

by Rosy Day Blog

Sorry I have not done one of these in months! Like since March! Ijust got super busy since then and it felt like I consistently had to keep reviewing product after product. Hopefully I can keep this going or at least every other month. Enjoy!

» View All Monthly Favorites

Cleanser

Bliss Make-Up Melt Dry/Wet Gentle Jelly Cleanser with Rose Flower

Probably most widely known as a Glossier Milky Jelly dupe, but let me tell you this: My skin reacted very badly to the Glossier. The Glossier might smell better and seem to have a slightly better formulation/quality (it bearing the Glossier name), but unlike the Glossier the Bliss one provided zero irritation for my skin. In short, this is not only more affordable than the Glossier, but if you have sensitive skin, you might want to turn to the Bliss one instead. The only bad thing is that it doesn't foam up (if you're into more lathering-type of cleansers), and it's not that great with removing makeup. I wear sunscreen most of the time so this doesn't bother me, but you might want to save this for no makeup/lighter makeup days, or even just a morning cleanser. You will definitely need to use a cleansing oil/balm on make up days. » Buy Product

Toner

Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner

I first used this a few years ago, but have since forgotten about it since I keep trying out new toners. I came back to this after seeing that Soko Glam now carries it. For me this is the best all-around toner. It is good at cleansing (if you like using toners to wipe off excess dirt/oil left behind) and it is mildly hydrating without being one of those thicker essence-like toners that can sometimes feel sticky and take forever to absorb. This toner also has 10% licorice water. Licorice is known for skin brightening and while I can't say that using this toner alone will brighten your skin, the soothing and redness-reducing properties of licorice will give your skin a more even and overall healthier and brighter look. When paired with the right products, it does help one achieve honey skin. » Buy Product

Essence

Eco Your Skin Layering Essence Ringer Drip in Anti-Wrinkle

This is perfect for the 7-skin method, though since it's $50 USD you probably don't want to use it all up too fast. It's actually good enough to just use for a 3-skin method. I prefer to just immediately transfer this from the packet into the included bottle rather than try and use this all up in one-go. This is hydrating yet still lightweight and it gives me instant glass skin. The effects are kinda comparable to a good sheet mask without all the waiting around or the heavyiness/stickiness. In the long run, this is cheaper than sheet masking everyday if you use this for at least 3 layers every night. This does smell a bit strong though. I don't doubt that this is a very concentrated formula - it smells concentrated. Thankfully the scent doesn't linger. » Buy Product

Serum

Abib Hypoderma SP1-2GF Serum Cell Repair

I actually got this 50% off, but even with a retail value of ~$92 USD, you are definitely paying for quality and advance scientific research with this serum. I still love my Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, but this is like a more super-charged anti-aging version. This contains 10 ppm of SP1-EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) and 15 ppm of SP1-FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor). The SP1 is a special technology to help skin absorb the EGF/FGF protein molecules. While I don't have too many issues in regards to wrinkles and loss of firmness, after at least 1 month of use, this has made my skin more even (less redness), more baby soft to the touch, more bouncy/resilient, etc. You can say this does slowly reset your skin to a more youthful/baby-ish state. This serum even helped lightened these pesky melasma-like dark spots I had around my cheeks, and have made the minor pores I had on my nose nearly disappear. I like to use this serum once a day at night, while I use the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum during the day, to help prolong the use of this expensive Abib serum. I will definitely re-purchase the Abib at full price when I run out. » Buy Product

Facial Oil

Peach & Lily Pure Beam Luxe Oil

Not all facial oils are the same. While I like the Huxley Essence Oil for its lightness, this Peach & Lily one is like a great in-between as it's not greasy/heavy like other oils, but it does offer a bit more oomph than the Huxley one (if you didn't find this hydrating enough). This facial oil offers important things such as fatty acids and antioxidants. This in return helps restore your lipid barrier, and antioxidants are one of those things that you need to add to your anti-aging arsenal as they protect against free radicals, etc. This oil is still light enough that if I do have some dry/flaky parts, I don't mind using a little bit of it during the day. It does not make me more oily than usual and it does not make me break out. 1-2 drops is enough for me, but I do add in more when I need a lot more hydration (it's very layerable). Sometimes I even add a drop to my essences/serums to give them a hydration boost. I also like using this before and after I sheet mask. Overtime it does seem to make your skin more healthy, especially if you have issues with a compromised skin barrier, etc. Most important of all, it's affordable. Not everyone wants to pay $50+ USD for a quality facial oil (trust me - I used to use Sunday Riley's Juno facial oil - ouch). » Buy Product

Moisturizer

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

This in my opinion is one of the best light moisturizers out there. I don't produce any additional oil with this and it smells like watermelon (a plus if you're not sensitive to fragrances). Watermelon is also the first/main ingredient (instead of water) so it is very concentrated/potent in regards to a watermelon-infused skincare product. It's also high in antioxidants (again good for anti-aging) and contains other nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, beta glucan, etc. For me it looks pretty and it smells good, it's definitely a treat to use. » Buy Product

Eye Cream

Dr. Roebuk's Down Under Collagen Boosting Eye Treatment

I don't know if this really boosts collagen, but this is a very hydrating eye cream without being super greasy (it personally pairs well with my makeup) and it doesn't cause any millia. After using this for a few months my fine lines have not reduced, however, they are always less noticeable whenever I wear this. In fact, my eyes have been so well hydrated, I no longer feel the need to put facial oil underneath my eye area just to smooth the fine lines out. Normally whenever I wear makeup/foundation, it seems to accentuate the fine lines under my eyes (the reason why I need facial oil), but I no longer have that problem with this eye cream. Unfortunately I go through eye cream like crazy so I can't say this is a repurchase since there's a new eye cream I'd like to try, but for the price point this has been my favorite so far. You really get a lot of product for only $38 USD. I may just go back to this if I'm on a budget. Like some, I also can't always afford to spend like $50+ on eye cream all the time. » Buy Product

Sleeping Mask

Sulwhasoo Radiance Energy Mask

This one has more subtle results, but I feel like now that I'm older, I can appreciate something like this. This sleeping mask seems to bring a bit of glow to my face the next morning. Not like a brightening type of glow, but more like whatever ingredients this has - they've been working together to increase the blood circulation in my skin. This in return seems to give a bit of color/rosiness to my face. It's minor, yet I feel like it makes me look a bit more alive and youthful. It is expensive at $85 USD, but I'm really loving this sample right now. I'm not sure if I'll purchase the larger size when done, but this product has helped me to confirm that my skin reacts really well to hanbang (Korean medicine/herbs) skincare. » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Target/Soko Glam/Peach & Lily/Glow Recipe/Sephora/Sulwhasoo

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Banila Co Dear Hydration Boosting Cream

by Rosy Day Blog

Banila Co Dear Hydration Boosting Cream Product Review

I picked this product for review because it seemed more than your basic hydrating cream. I became interested from the product description on Soko Glam, "...imparts a long-lasting glow and makes skin dewier, softer, and smoother, prepping it for makeup application." I'm always up for products that claim to give you naturally dewy, glowing skin. Disclaimer: This product was given to me from The Klog as their contributor. I was not given any money to do this review. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. You can click the link below to read my review on The Klog. Any questions about the product and/or my experience? Just let me know!

Read On The Klog

Photo Credit: The Klog

The Boosting Moisturizer That Actually Gave Me “Glass Skin”

Read my review on how this single product alone gave me "glass skin" (a Korean beauty trend).

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My Monthly Favorites - March 2018 Favorites

» View previous monthly favorites

Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Leave In Conditioner

This truly is weightless (don't be afraid of applying too much) and really does add a bit of "oomph" to your hair. I already use a regular conditioner in the shower, but I use this to detangle and smooth my hair. I don't necessarily have to blow dry or straighten my hair to get "good hair". My hair just behaves better with this product. Even if I fall asleep mid-day and have to suddenly head out, my hair still basically looks great. Enough said. » Buy Product

The Plant Base Time Stop Collagen Ampoule

"I woke up with really soft skin the next morning. The ampoule absorbs really quickly onto your skin and the softness just felt more noticeable after washing my face." This is also a product that I'm sure helps with firming and elasticity overtime (one of the few Korean products that contains peptides). » Read Review (I'm featured on The Klog!) » Buy Product

Maybelline Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth

Affordable hydrating primer with shea butter and hyaluronic acid. One of the few primers that actually hydrates my fine lines enough that makeup doesn't settle in. » Read Review » Buy Product

Son & Park Beauty Filter Cream Glow

A formula that's supposed to be exclusive to SokoGlam.com, this moisturizer/primer hybrid is a great tone-up cream that (as long as you're not darker than NC25-30), leaves you with a nice, healthy and bright glow without looking chalky. Be warned though that this does have a tendency to settle in some fine lines. Be sure to blend well and incorporate hydrating products for areas with fine lines, to help prevent makeup from settling in and unnecessarily highlighting these areas. » Buy Product

Eco Your Skin Facial Pilates Mask

This might be a bit gimmicky but I don't care because I have fun using this and I actually do see some plumping action, even if it is on the temporary side. This is like a cheaper (and probably not-as-great) version of the famous Hana Cure mask. The effects of this mask are still pretty good for the price. If you work out your skin, why not work out your face? At least it can't hurt...remember: prevention is the key thing in anti-aging rather than trying to fix what is already "broken". » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know.

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My Monthly Favorites - January 2018 Favorites

- View Previous Favorites

Hazard 4 Grayman Patrol Backpack No, I'm not plugging in this bag because I work for the company (nor was I paid to post this in any way). I received this bag as a Christmas gift and though this company mostly focuses on tactical products, who can resist the urban gray fabric of this bag? Sure it's not the typical feminine looking stuff I'm into, but I think it looks so "tacticool" and hip (also unisex looking if you wanna get this for your guy). Even though it looks (and is) heavier than the usual backpack I wear to work, the shoulder straps are surprisingly comfortable and sort of "lift" any excess weight off your shoulders. It just feels like clouds, LOL. As a bonus, you can compress the overall volume of the bag when you're only carrying very few items. This is nice because with my very small frame (and I can't carry that much anyway), this bag might look a bit overwhelming on me. There are also smaller bags in the Grayman line if this is still a bit too big for your tastes.

Google Home Mini I got this product for free with the purchase of my laptop, but prior to this, I wasn't really thinking of getting one especially since the original Google Home kind of looks like an ugly air freshener (sorry Google). However, despite initially thinking that assistants are just overhyped technology designed to make us spend more money on something so unnecessary, I have really grown to enjoy using one. Sure, it really does make you lazy, LOL. For example you really can just Google that definition yourself instead of asking Google, but in turn having an assistant does make you lay off your phone less and in a busy household, it can help when you have your hands (figuratively and literally) full. I still haven't used this product to its full potential, but yes it is full of it (Amazon Echo as well). I would recommend this cuter $50 (not too expensive) version of Google Home over the regular one.

Samsung Chromebook 3 Normally I'm the type of person who thoroughly checks the specs of anything electronic she purchases. On paper, the specs of this laptop aren't that great (and they probably wouldn't be if this was a Windows laptop). However, this is a Chromebook (a laptop that runs Google's Chrome OS), therefore it doesn't exactly need "a lot of power" to get going. This is such a light and "barebones" kind of OS that it actually operates a lot faster than Windows laptops with similar specs at a similar pricepoint. I only paid $200 for this and whoever thought you can get a pretty speedy (and small/cute) laptop for this price? The last time I bought an "affordable" laptop, it was at least $900. If you don't need "true power" (or a Windows machine specifically), this is a great laptop for surfing the web and getting basic work done like documents and spreadsheets. I have nothing against Windows though. I still have my Windows desktop which does have higher specs as it is a gaming machine.

L'Occitane Shea Travel Set My first time trying anything from this brand and I just love how cute everything is in this travel set. Shea butter is like one of my favorite dry skin ingredients. Both the handcreams and the balm felt nice and hydrating as expected. While the regular hand cream and shea butter balm kinda had typical lotion/shea butter scents, the star for me was the cherry blossom hand cream with its cherry blossom scent. If you love anything "cherry blossom" scented, I highly recommend this hand cream.

If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know.

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Monthly Favorites – Best of 2017 Beauty Products

- View 2016 Favorites - View 2015 Favorites

Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Multi Cleanser This cleanser seems pricey at $33 but the bottle is huge! You get 200 ml/6.76 fl. oz. and let me tell you this cleanser has lasted me at least 6 months using only 1-2 pumps a day (sometimes I rotate in a different cleanser). It's also actually pretty good quality. If you can stand the weird burnt sugar smell (I don't think it's that noticable unless you take the time to inhale it LOL),this cleanser is actually soothing and I feel like I have a nice healthy pink flush overtime from using it (like it brought out the natural tone in my skin). Bonus: it's also low PH and comes in pretty white and rose gold packaging.

By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water I've used many different kinds of AHAs before, but usually I'd find them too strong and/or they irritated my skin in some way. This was my first mandelic acid and after one use, I was blown away by how gentle and effective this was. It brightened, calmed down redness/acne, etc. In fact my makeup seemed to apply and look better mid-day (inner glow) while using this product. See my full review here.

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence I've tried a lot of first treatment essences and most of them are kind of "meh". However, with this one even though the results might not be super obvious the first couple of times, I feel that overtime this really does benefit your skin like vitamins for your face. This does plump and soften up your face a bit, giving it an overall healthier/clear look. The benefits are definitely maximized if you use a brightening/exfoliating toner with it (for example the Acwell Licorice toner and By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid work well if used before this) - like Charlotte from Soko Glam says, this combo helps you achive "honey skin".

Huxley Oil Essence It's an oil-serum hybrid, enough said. See my mini-review here.

SK-II RNA Eye Cream (old signature version is pictured) This eye cream is very expensive but I think that if you can afford it, it is worth it (don't bend over backwards for it). This is one of the most hydrating yet not non-greasy eye creams I've tried. It gives me lasting hydration during the day - enough that my makeup doesn't crease around my eye area (which is actually quite an accomplishment). Cheaper eye creams sometimes feel like they don't do enough, especially when you're already "old enough" to start caring about the lines forming around your eyes.

Farsali Unicorn Essence The Unicorn Essence is a skincare/primer hybrid. I'm not sure if it has any real benefits for the skin, but since using it I don't break out like I normally do with other primers that seem to be loaded with silicone and other ingredients I can't even pronounce. This makes a nice barrier between my skincare and makeup. I do believe this has improved the wear of my makeup abit.

Huxley Stay Sun Safe Tone-Up Cream I normally use a tone-up cream prior to sunscreen during weekdays to quickly give myself a "wide awake" look. However this tone-up cream-sunscreen hybrid makes it easier for me to get ready in the morning. I'm about NC25-30 and this sunscreen does not give me a whitecast (just make sure to blend properly). This is also not super hydrating like other Korean sunscreens that typically leave my oily/combo skin more greasy than it started by the end of the day, LOL. The sunscreen isn't drying either. Though since it's a tone-up cream, I still recommend using some kind of moisturizer or hydrating serum before using so that it blends better (tone-up creams tend to look very ghostly when applied straight to a dry/no-moisturizer face).

I will eventually have detailed reviews for all the products (if I don't already have one linked). If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know.

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Monthly Favorites – October/November 2017

I didn't really have too many favorites the last 2 months, so I've decided to combine them together. Items Pictured:

Threshold gold & white pineapple cookie jar from Target

Paul Mitchell Travel Size Smoothing Super Skinny Serum from Ulta It calms/tames my hair (keeps it in place), as well as add a bit of shine.

Klavuu White Pearlsation Special Divine Pearl Serum from Mochi Beaute I'm not sure if this really brightens, but it has good brightening properties plus it gives you a nice burst of hydration (it is a tad sticky/tacky though). This serum seems to help with plumping and gives your face a bit of life.

Farsali Unicorn Essence from Sephora The Unicorn Essence is a skincare/primer hybrid. I'm not sure if it has any real benefits for the skin, but since using it I don't break out like I normally do with other primers that seem to be loaded with silicone and other ingredients I can't even pronounce. This makes a nice barrier between my skincare and makeup. I do believe this has improved the wear of my makeup abit.

Dove Dermacare Scalp shampoo from Target You really have to give this some time to work, but I have found this to be a much better shampoo than Head & Shoulders. Worth a try if Head & Shoulders hasn't worked out for you.

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My Monthly Favorites - September 2017

This was originally posted to my Instagram awhile back, I just wanted to re-post here for reference. Items Pictured:

Project 62 rose gold & marble coasters from Target

Femmue Extraordinary Cleansing Balm from Peach & Lily Read my mini-review here

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose from Sephora One of the few things that actually keeps my dry lips in check. This also gives you a nice tint, a sort of my-own-lip-color-but-better type of look.

Huxley Glow Awakening cream from Glow Recipe This is lighter than the Anti-Gravity Cream, but still heavier than the Fresh And More (both from Huxley). This cream gives you a nice light-medium weight hydration while leaving a semi-matte finish. I'm not sure it really brightens but brightening properties are always a plus.

Threshold gold measuring spoons from Target

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Playback - Want You To Say

**View more of my Obscure Kpop Series** Playback is a 5 member girl group from Coridel Entertainment. They officially debuted on June 25, 2015 with the self-titled song Playback. I'll admit that I've never heard of this group until now. They probably fell under the radar with all the different girl groups that kept popping up...Anyway, I happened to click on this song because the thumbnail for the video looked cute/playful rather than the typical (almost too much) aegyo-filled songs I typically see from girl groups (not that there's anything wrong but sometimes you just want something less cutesy). The song and concept is kinda like something Black Pink might do. The song sounds a bit hip in some parts but still manages to be cute without overdoing it. It's got a fun island-ish vibe. Give this a try below:

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Varsity - Can You Come Out Now?

**View more of my Obscure Kpop Series** Varsity is a 12 member group that debuted in December 2016 from Global K Center. There are 7 Korean members and 5 Chinese members. I'll admit that with their debut song, they didn't quite catch my attention and they kinda fell under the radar for me. However I happened to take a chance on this latest song, and I'm glad that I did. I never noticed it before until my boyfriend brought it up, but he says that this song kinda sounds like something Winner might come out with. I'll have to agree, the beat alone kinda sounds like it could be a remix for Love Me Love Me/Island, LOL. The beat that plays just before the chorus alone, is so addictive in my opinion - I could use it as a ringtone! Anyway if you like fun, upbeat dance beats, give this a try below:

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Kaweah Lake

Probably a more underrated area since most have probably never heard of this place unless you're driving through the Three Rivers, CA area towards Sequoia National Park. Sadly it kinda looks dead now, but at one point in time it really did look this green. I'm sure it'll look this green again once we get some rain coming. Just a nice little park area to chill when you're not at Sequoia... - Original photo taken on December 27, 2015.

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San Diego Zoo - Giraffes

I haven't been to San Diego Zoo in awhile, so I decided to come down for a little getaway weekend in December. The weather was pretty nice for the month of December, it wasn't hot but it wasn't cold winter weather either. I might post more animal shots later but this one was my favorite. - Original photo taken December 12, 2015.