"The cat is beauty and the beast, a baffling blend, a wicked feast.”
Angela gifted me this for the last Roxbox because apparently the pH level is too high (I dunno, shrug, I’m not that scientific about my cleansers.) Apparently that pH level was a thorn in her side, har har har.
Continue reading “Rose to the Occasion – Dr. Dream Rose Mild Natured Powder Cleanser “
I’ve been in a long-term relationship for more than 5 years…with Dior Lip Glow. I love it so much that my review of Dior Lip Glow was one of my first blog posts. But I like to keep my options open, so I was delighted to receive the NoTS Lip Shimmer Gloss for review from Q-Depot. The NoTS is just one of many “customized pink” lippies (i.e., uses that fancy mood-ring technology) knocking off the Dior–and just one of many that I personally own.
So how does this Korean lip balm compare to the beauty that started it all? Read on, and for good measure, I also compare it to the e.l.f. Studio Gotta Glow Lip Tint, a recent budget entrant.
Continue reading “Glow Getter: NoTS Lip Shimmer Gloss Review–Dior Lip Glow Dupe?”
I went BANANAS when I saw this at the Peach & Lily sample sale for freaking $5. It’s usually $35 at Urban Outfitters but it was on its way to being discontinued, I assume. You can no longer find it at UO but KoreaDepart still sells it. Such a steal at 5 bucks for 300mL which is (10 ounces) of face gel moisturizer! Or is it?
Continue reading “Ape Hit – Mizon King to the Kong No. 1 King’s Berry Aqua Step-Up Cream 300mL”
During one of those ‘daze-of-my-life’ lazy summer days I moseyed on to my favorite tiny cosmetic store in Chinatown, OO35mm and WHOA there was another K-Beauty store right next to it that just opened! This store was called The Yeon and it was new to me! As the world turns I can’t believe I have been buried in work and missing this new shop.
The store was beautifully set up, with white tiles and shiny shelves lined with mysterious products in candy-like packaging. However I’m wary of Asian cosmetics with no English ingredients that cause my 1001 allergies to flare up. After a LOOOOOONG 45-minute dawdle and elimination of everything without an English ingredient label, I picked this beauty up for $37. It promised natural ingredients and lots of herbal/floral/calming natural-sounding extracts:
Continue reading “The Yeon and the Restless -The Yeon Lotus Root 365 Moisture Capsule Essence”
From the Peach and Lily sample sale files is this random mask which I had to have because hel-lo, all the skin care was being grabbed and swiped like it was the zombie apocalypse and the only cure was moar skin care! And I’m a mask luna-tic (heh, heh, heh).
I looked up this brand and, until very recently, there wasn’t a ton of information on it. Apparently the flagship store in Korea only opened October 2014 and the brand is backed by YG Entertainment which churns out bubble gum K-Pop (the likes of Psy) rather than serious cosmetics. They DO have an online shop where you can purchase all their stuff. Free international shipping IF you spend over $200. Good luck. You can get the Moonshot Makeup Ready Mask being reviewed on here as well. As stated, this mask is made so that you can be ready for makeup. Because who knows when Makeup can strike?! Continue reading “Over the Moonshot – Moonshot Makeup Ready Mask”
Read Part 1–Translating Between the Asian and Western Skincare Routine–here.
Broken down into components of CLEANSE, TONE, TREAT, MOISTURIZE, the routines in this post list what I’m currently using the majority of the time and why (and also link to my reviews if there is one).
I do occasionally use something else in my stash just because I feel like it or am bored. There are two exceptions: (1) When I review skincare provided for free by a company, I test that item continuously so that you can be sure my opinion isn’t compromised by lax testing. (2) I want/need to use Shark Sauce and my PocketDerm prescription (referral link) consistently–2x/day and 1x/day respectively.
Continue reading “Eastern Promises Part 2: Angela’s Skincare Routines–August 2015”
Oftentimes I forget that some readers are new to Asian skincare or new to having a skincare routine at all (e.g., MY FRIENDS), so I end up writing for the intermediate-level reader (for lack of a better description).
Today, I’m taking a step back to explain:
Some articles focus on the “otherness” of the Asian skincare routine. There are SO. MANY. STEPS. Look at the exotic ingredients! What does this product even do?? Continue reading “Eastern Promises Part 1: Translating Between the Asian and Western Skincare Routine”
This Skylake update is very timely considering I almost drowned at Lake George over the weekend. No exaggeration. On top of that my idiot cohorts were laughing because they thought I was joking since I was holding my sunglasses above water trying not to lose them. I really loved those folding Rayban Wayfarers….and yeah, not being able to swim really puts a damper on water sports. I definitely got plenty of sky and lake over the weekend and lived to remember both. Of course my subconscious drove me to grab the Skylake Mask Pack to decompress tonight.
Continue reading “Justin Sky-n-Lake: Skylake’s Mask Pack Whitening”
East meets West in the Erborian French Korean skin care line. I swooned at the lovely display at Sephora. The Francophile and Korean skincare fanatic goddess in me pole vaulted (a la 50 Shades of Heeeey.) Like fusion food, it promises exciting synergies between two totally divergent cultures. I felt butterflies but balked at the $61 price tag for the Pate au Ginseng Mask. But there was a consolation item: the Erborian BB cream (if you can count $39 BB cream as consolation. Oh wait, but it’s crème, oohlala, so it’s much classier than your plebeian cream.)
Continue reading “Hit Me BB One More Time – Erborian BB Crème Au Ginseng Korean Formula”
Mmm, I’m having sweet flashbacks to “My Love From Another Star” thanks to the Lip Alive Color Mousse in 03 Sweet Raspberry by the Korean brand NoTS ($32 for 5g; provided for consideration by Q-depot). NoTS–which stands for Noble Through Skin–is a cruelty-free* line of skincare with a few select makeup products.
*See bottom of the post for more on cruelty-free Korean cosmetics.
I confess that “My Love From Another Star” is the only K-drama I’ve ever really watched. Nothing else has pulled me in. I tried watching “The Producers” with Do Min Joon, I mean Kim Soo Swoon, and gave up. Continue reading “Hot or NoTS: NoTS Lip Alive Color Mousse No. 03 Sweet Raspberry Review – Dupe for Dior Fluid Stick?”
BeautyandtheCat's Beauty Blog 