Review ★ Hera UV Mist Ultra Moisture Cushion in #21

Hello!!

Have you gotten into BB/CC cushion trend yet? BB cushions have been my obsession ever since I bought the Innisfree Long Wear cushion. I've tried a bunch from various brands so far so far, and I have yet to be really let down on any of them. I love that they feel light on the skin, in comparison to some foundations which I can feel on my skin. It pretty much feels like I'm not wearing face makeup~ But anyways, my most recent cushion pickup is this Hera one which has some really great reviews on Youtube!

Hera is housed by Amore Pacific, but it is on the more expensive side with other brands such as IOPE, Laneige and Sulwhasoo.

Hera has three other BB cushions available that are geared towards different needs. The original UV Mist Cushion comes in 'natural' and 'cover' like the IOPE Air Cushion- the natural one provides less coverage for those who only need a sheer wash of colour to even out their complexion, while the cover one minimizes redness and discolouration. There is also Long Stay Cushion provides strong coverage while minimizing sebum secretion. And then there is the Ultra Moisture Cushion which is an intermediary between the original UV Mist Cushion in 'cover' and the Long Stay Cushion!

This cushion comes in 3 shades: #13 Cool Ivory, #21 Cool Vanilla, #23 Cool Beige.

Please read behind the cut for my full review ^^!

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Review ★ Peripera Heart Glow Stick

Hello!!

Today I will be reviewing Peripera's Heart Glow Stick in Pink Beam, which is from their Heart Glow collection! I bought this on a whim during Jolse's 15% off event, and since highlighting and contouring has become a lot more popular lately. Although those methods of accentuating features have been commonly practiced, I feel as if it has become a lot more prominent over the course of the year- noticeably with all the contour palettes that have come out.

I don't own many highlighters, and eyeshadows can be used for emphasizing certain features such as the nose bridge or cupid's bow. However, eyeshadows can be a bit too pigmented for areas such as the cheekbones, forehead, or chin, whereas actual highlighters/concealers are more subtle. But yeah! Please continue reading if you're interested in this super cute product!

This product comes in two colours which are Pink Beam and Gold Aura. Pink Beam was created for cool tones, whereas Gold Aura is meant for warmer tones. Although I lean more towards a warmer tone, I don't think something that is too bronze works as a highlighter for me. Although I think it serves a better purpose for those with darker skin tones. Even though I think Gold Aura would work better strictly for those with dark skin tones for a more bronze, sun-kissed glow, I do believe that Pink Aura would look good on anyone. It really comes down to your preferences, and the look you're going for.


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Review ★ Innisfree Long Wear Cushion SPF50+/PA+++

Hello everyone!

I still have yet to receive my Beautynetkorea package even though it's been about a month LOL, so my haul post will be delayed. Anyways, I will be reviewing Innisfree's Long Wear Cushion in place of that post. I wanted to try this product after watching Pony's (Park Hye Min) video on the long wear, and water glow cushion. I'm also a big fan of Innisfree's products, and I have yet to be let down by any of them :3. The water glow cushion is meant for those with dry skin, or those looking for a dewy finish; while the long wear cushion is recommended for combination/oily skin since it is supposed to hold up well throughout the day! This product is also advertised by the beautiful Yoona ^^.

It's summer here (and for some of you, it might be summer all year round), so the last thing any of us want is to put on a lot of makeup which might just smudge or melt off during the hotter days~ I'm sure a lot of you can understand the sensation of actually feeling the makeup on our faces LOL. The long wear cushion is meant for those long and/or really hot summer days where you don't want to wear heavy makeup! It claims to last 12 hours, and combat shine and sweat- that sounds really great, doesn't it? As usual, please continue reading under the cut if you're interested in this product c:!

D E S C R I P T I O N
(taken from the box, slightly reworded)
A long wear cushion formulated to keep skin bright and smooth all day while staying strong against sweat and sebum. It leaves the skin feeling smooth, refreshed, and soft with an even skin tone that calms pores and bumps. It contains sebum control powder that keeps skin looking brighter for longer without darkening or dulling out.

It comes in 3 shades: 13 - light beige, 21 - natural beige, and 23 - true beige. I got this in 21~ It goes for about 20,000 KRW, which is about $20.

(Image taken from the Beautynetkorea listing)

D I R E C T I O N S
Use the puff to evenly apply it to your face, and gently pat to finish.

Long lasting, smooth fit, natural coverage

Mineral powder, Jeju green tea

The exterior packaging of the product is the typical Innisfree packaging. It isn't gimmicky, nor is there anything particularly special about the box. It is printed with soy ink, which is typically better for recycling and the environment in comparison to typical inks used on printed products. Also, it is made of recyclable cardstock~ I do not believe that there is an ingredients list on the box, but if there is, it's in Korean. I do not believe Innisfree's products contain harsh chemicals (usually following the 6-free rule), or an extensive list of ingredients though.

Manufacture date, which is fairly recent c:

The packaging itself is pretty much the generic cushion pact. There are refills available for this product too! The sponge looks similar to the Isa Knox X2D2 sponge, but it's a lot softer and flexible. I prefer to use a beautyblender over the included sponge, just because it's easier to evenly distribute the product around the eye and nose area. Honestly, I was not a believer of the beautyblender when I initially got it, because I used it with one of my Chanel foundations and it looked really blotchy. However, I have become a believer after using it with some of my cushion products and CC creams LOL. It's really pricey (and I used a gift card on it... I don't think I could bring myself to actually spend that much on a sponge), but I would recommend anything like it over the sponges included. I went a little off-topic there, but I just thought I'd share my two cents on it hehe.

It has a sweet, herbal, earthy scent which is Innisfree's signature scent (for face products anyways). I don't have any strong feelings about it, but I think it's rather pleasant. It appears very light when initially applied, however it blends into my skin well after patting it onto my skin and letting it set. The thing I love about these cushion products is that they do not feel heavy on the face at all, in comparison to foundations. It has a cooling sensation when it is first applied to the face, which is interesting but it's a very short-lived feeling. It is also very lightweight, so it feels as if there's nothing on my face. The last thing we want for our makeup is to physically feel the face makeup on our face. I do feel that it is a bit too light for my skin though, but I think it should be fine in winter, when I'm not as tanned. I'm around an NC25 right now, so the 23 shade might have been a better option; but it wasn't available in most of the stores.

The finish is great for those with combination/oily skin, because it has a matte, powder-like finish. It's not the kind of matte that gives off a cakey look; it looks very natural. It minimizes the appearance of pores slightly, and creates a smooth canvas for any additional face makeup such as blush and bronzer. I do not think it accentuates dryness as much as other cushion or liquid face products, but it will definitely do so if you have flaky patches which are noticeable to the eye. Nonetheless, that's easily remedied by applying moisturizer before your base and whatnot. This is not the product for you if you have very dry skin (regardless of the weather); but this might work for you if your skin is oilier during the summer despite being categorized as dry in general. It has medium coverage that is slightly buildable. Although it covers up redness and light blemishes very well, it cannot cover up dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Concealer is recommended if you need additional coverage!

This product definitely lives up to its name too! It's summer right now, but it's not too hot out.  It doesn't live up to the 12 hour claim, but I don't think people should keep their makeup on for that long anyways because it isn't good for the skin. In my personal experience, it lasts around 7-8 hours with the No Sebum Mineral Powder applied, and around 10 hours with MUFE's setting spray (which is one of my new HG products, by the way!). Presumably the mineral powder in the product itself (not the extra that I use on top of it) in it helps keep your makeup lasting longer~ However, some areas begin to look blotchy once the makeup starts to fade a bit due to oil from the skin, which is expected after such a long time too.

Overall, I think it's a great product. I can't seem to find anything wrong with it, and I do think it is worth the price. It has everything one could hope for in a product (except the coverage, perhaps). It's great as an every day cushion, especially in the warmer seasons where you don't want to put on a lot of makeup. In my opinion, it has a nicer finish and a longer lasting power in comparison to high-end foundations that I use. Due to it's high SPF, it isn't a good idea to wear this to events where you know flash photography will be used because it will give off a white cast in photos (ie. picture day, clubbing, etc.), as with most BB/CC creams. Honestly, I would purchase a refill if I ever ran out!

Also something to note: the refill does not fit with the other Amore Pacific cushion pacts (ie. Iope, Laneige, Etude House, etc.). So you can't just purchase the refill and put it in one of those pacts.

P R O S
+ Long lasting
+ Lightweight
+ Blends smoothly into skin
+ Matte finish
+ Natural looking
+ Refills are available
+ SPF 50/pa++ to protect your skin from sun damage
+ Medium/slightly buildable coverage
+ Great sebum control

C O N S 
- None

R A T I N G
★★★★★

W H E R E   T O  B U Y ?
I bought this from rubyruby76 for $16.14, on sale. This usually goes for around $20, and you can find it at the following places: Jolse ($22.50), Beautynetkorea ($22.50), Amazon ($19.59 + $4.30 shipping).

Have you tried any Innisfree products? If so, which ones are your favourites?


Also, please follow me on instagram and twitter ^^~

Review ★ Etude House Precious Mineral Magic Any Cushion in Peach

Hello, I have another review for you all!

I'll start off by saying that the product name is pretty long. I've never purchased any Etude House face makeup, so this will be my first time using one! The Any Cushion (referred to as such because the title is really long) is supposed to act as a base prior to applying the rest of your makeup. Cushion makeup has been really trendy as of late! From bases to BB/CC creams, to even blushes and eyeliners (Etude House's Lock & Summer line)~

Note that this isn't the Any Cushion BB cream, but a base makeup under the same line/name!

The Any Cushion comes in 3 variations: Magic Mint, Magic Peach, and Magic Pink. It's basically the cushion version of the Sweet Recipe Choux Bases which came in either a jar or a tube. Magic Mint is meant to cancel out redness, Magic Peach is for brightening up dull skin tones, and Magic Pink is meant for pale skin tones with red undertones.

I purchased the one in Magic Peach because I have yellow undertones, and plus, who doesn't want brighter, healthier looking skin? Continue under the cut for the rest of my review ^^!

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Review ★ Mamonde Real Skin Founder

Hullo everyone!

I was supposed to upload this like last week OTL, but once again, school has gotten in the way @___@.

Today I will be reviewing the Mamonde Real Skin Founder in #2 for you~ Mamonde is well known for their high quality products, and for SNSD's Yuri endorsing their products. Also Sunnydahye (youtuber) mentions this product as one of her holy grail products in a lot of her videos, so I thought about trying it out since the reviews are also generally favourable!

There's only two shades available like a lot of other products, which is quite limiting. I think #2 is most appropriate for those who are an NC20 - NC25 shade, whereas #1 would be best for those are paler than that.

Description
(Information taken from ibuybeauti.com, and ebay listings)
It uses a new concept that fuses foundation and powder, which gives it it's name 'founder'. Experience foundation's thin and moist coverage, and powder's make-up fixing function at the same time. It consists of ingredients extracted from gold and pearl, which provides an elegant glowy effect. It also includes the following flower extracts: edelweiss, snow lotus, chamomile, jasmine, for a moisturizing effect.

The pact comes in a simple box with little information on it. All of the information is in Korean, but I assume that it's the standard kind of stuff (product name, functions,  maybe ingredients LOL). It's  understandable since it's a Korean product, although others brands have English on their packaging.

The pact itself is cute, and I'm really digging the metallic pink cover. I think it enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the pact :3, but then again, I really like metallic pink. It comes with a sponge applicator, which is conveniently stored on top of an interior cover, so that the sponge isn't constantly touching the product. The sponge is surprisingly soft and flexible. I thought it would be similar to the sponge from the Isa Knox X2D2 CC cream, since it's still a dark blue sponge applicator and I feel like there's only so many variations of sponges. The sponge is the best way to apply the foundation, since it picks up and spreads the foundation well.

The texture of the foundation is really creamy and smooth, and it glides on when I apply it. It has a floral scent, which could possibly be irritating to sensitive skin since it isn't a very light fragrance. It's very lightweight, which makes it great in warmer climates, because the last thing we want is to physically feel a lot of make-up on our face when it is hot. My face is lighter than my body, so it does match my face quite well LOL. The finish appears matte on my hand, however it has a very mute dewiness when it's applied to my face. The foundation itself has light to medium coverage, so it covers a fair amount of redness and light discolouration, and it minimizes the appearance of pores; however, concealer is still necessary for dark spots and whatnot. It is also buildable, however I do not recommend layering it on because it will look cakey.

It lasts for around 5 hours (with setting powder on top) before I start to get oily, which is alright since that's the duration of my day at school with commuting and breaks in between classes! It is still cold out in Toronto, so it would probably last a few hours less in the more humid/hot places; perhaps 3-4 hours.

I would recommend this product for those with normal/combination/oily skin. It's lightweight, and the finish is matte with a hint of dewiness for that healthy, natural finish. You can also apply a finishing powder for extra wear without having that cakey feeling that comes with applying it over a thicker foundation. It is also good for those who live in warmer climates because it has the added sun protection too! At the same time, it probably will not last very long without reapplying or blotting if it is really warm or humid out.

I absolutely do not recommend this for those with dry skin or dry patches because it will emphasize those patches like no other. Although it claims to be moisturizing, it is not. I didn't even know some parts of my face were really patchy until I applied it, even though my other liquid face make-up products never emphasize areas that aren't dry to touch. It's also not the best to use in the colder weather due to the dry atmosphere. I don't think I've used any face make-up (liquid or powder) that emphasized dry patches like this one. Usually, I'll apply the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder on top of liquid face make-up to set it because it gets rid of the appearance of flaky/dry patches, but that didn't work with the Real Skin Founder :c. Some people say it has a more moisturizing effect and dewy finish if you mix it with their primer, so that might be a remedy for it~ But that's just more money spent for one product, when you can get something else :<.

Although I think people with combination/oily skin will like this product, I feel really let down by the fact that it emphasizes the dry patches on my face >__<. I also feel that it is quite pricey for the results, since there's cheaper BB/CC creams and foundations within the same price range that work better.

Pros
+ Lightweight
+ Natural
+ Matte/mute dewy finish
+ Easy to reapply on the go
+ Relatively long lasting
+ SPF 33, PA++ for sun protection

Cons
- Emphasizes dry patches/flakiness
- Expensive

Rating: ★★★☆ (I would have given it a 4.5 if it didn't accentuate the dry patches on my face)

Where to buy? I purchased it from ibuybeauti.com for $27.99. You can also purchase it at the following: Amore Pacific ebay ($28.70) and Twofacemall ($30.45).

Review ★ Isa Knox X2D2 CC Sun Block Cream

Hello everyone!

It has been awhile since I've done a review because school gets in the way of blogging OTL. I'll try to be more active here~ I've been meaning to change my header and layout anyways LOL, but I've just never gotten around to it. But anyways, today I will be reviewing the Isa Knox X2D2 CC sun block cream (50 PA+++). I bought it, along with the Mamonde real skin founder, from ibuybeauti.com.

This was my first time purchasing from ibuybeauti~ I find that their selection isn't as big as some ebay stores, but the comments section on the individual product pages are very helpful to potential buyers. You can post a comment/question/concern about a product, and someone will probably get back to you promptly ^^. Their customer service also responds to e-mails very quickly! They also provide free shipping (with no tracking), and tracking is an addition $2.50 like most ebay stores.

So I have no idea what the box says and whatnot, since it's completely written in Hangul LOL. But I guess it would say the brand and product name, its functions, what is included in the box, and other typical information.

I'm going to assume that the information slip that comes with it includes more in-depth information about the product LOL (functions, benefits, etc.). The back includes how to remove the product holder from the pact, and what I'm also assuming to be ingredients (below it).

ANYHOO, here are the features it claims to have (information taken from ibuybeauti.com):
★ 3 colour capsules - automatically matches your colour skin tone
★ Long-lasting moisture - contains 62% of skin-conditioning ingredients (unspecified) for maintaining skin moisture
★ Long-lasting colour-correcting - darkening-free formula
★ Whitening function
★ Wrinkle prevention
★ Sun protection (SPF 50 PA+++)

The CC cream comes in a fairly big box because it comes with a refill. The box is really shiny, and it matches the pact's packaging. Overall, the packaging is very nice and sleek! The pact packaging itself is pretty generic like other BB/CC cream and cushion pacts, but I like the metallic look of it. It comes with two application sponges (one inside the pact, and one inside the box for the refill). The sponge is really firm, and is quite tedious to use around the nose area. I think a sponge is definitely the way to go with this product though! Fingers also work well with blending this product, but I feel that a sponge applies it more evenly. I've tried using a foundation brush with this too, but it left streaks on my face :c.

The CC cream has a light floral/lotion-like scent. I really don't know how to describe it that well, but I think other BB/CC creams smell really similar. It's not a bad thing since it's only lightly scented, and it isn't irritating to my skin. 

The formula changes colour almost instantly, unlike the Tony Moly & Innisfree CC creams, which take a few minutes to oxidize in order to match my skin. My skin tone is somewhere between fair and medium, but this CC cream does a really good job at matching my skin tone without creating a white cast. I think it's great that this CC cream doesn't exclusively work better for those who have a fair complexion. The consistency of the product resembles that of a really light cream or lotion, it feels thinner than the Face Shop Aura CC Cream. As for lasting power, it lasts me for the duration of my day without fading; however, I need to blot off oil around the 7 hour mark. 

In my opinion, it has light to medium coverage. One layer of this CC cream covers a fair amount of redness and discolouration on my face; however, it does not cover those things completely. It has a dewy finish, which gives your skin a healthy shine that doesn't look greasy. Despite not being full coverage, it definitely fulfills the 'your skin but better' aspect of CC cream. I think it looks very natural, as if you're not actually wearing any face make-up! Overall, it does not feel heavy on my face, compared to BB creams or foundations.

I would recommend this product to those with dry or combination skin- it doesn't dry out my skin, so it's good in that sense. Like most liquid face make-up, it will emphasize flakiness, so you should still apply a moisturizer to the dry patches even though the product is already somewhat moisturizing. I would recommend blotting or applying a powder on top if you have oily skin, or if you prefer a matte finish over the dewy finish.

Although $40 might seem like a lot, don't forget it also comes with a refill! I think it's worth it's price tag, especially considering there's a lot of BB/CC creams and foundations are within in the same price range (~$20 for one). 

Pros
+ Capsules almost instantly match your skin tone
+ Thin - does not feel heavy when applied
+ Light-medium coverage
+ Comes with a refill
+ Natural finish
+ Nice packaging
+ Long lasting
+ Easily blended out

Cons
- Hard to find
- Information on this product is hard to find

Rating: ★★★★★

Where to buy? I purchased this from ibuybeauti.com for around $40. You can also purchase it from koreadepart ($30) and bestbuy77 ($24 for one, $35 including the refill - prices are in USD).

Thank you for reading and continuing to follow my blog ^ u ^~

Review ★ Tony Moly Pure Luminous Aura CC Cream

Hello everyone!

Sorry I haven't been updating, I have been pretty busy lately! I'm going on vacation next week so I won't be updating from next Wednesday to the start of school. Hopefully I'll have another review and my August haul post before then :D. ANYWAYS... 

I'm finally getting around to reviewing the Tony Moly Pure Luminous Aura CC Cream (that's a moutful LOL). I think it's one of the most popular CC creams out there! There's 2 other CC creams by Tony Moly with similar names so this one isn't to be confused with those ones (Luminous Bright Aura, and Luminous Live Aura).

Description
A 2 in 1 product that combines skin care and make-up with 7 functions/benefits: UV-blocking (SPF 30, PA++), whitening, anti-wrinkle, 'radiance', moisturizing, primer, make-up base. It contains tiny coloured (black, red, and yellow) capsules that change to match the colour of your skin. It can also act as a primer for your make-up. It has a 7 free formula (parabens, benzophenone, talc, mineral oil, organic pigments, sulfate surfactant).

So most of the information on the box is in Korean, except for the ingredients and directions. The side I didn't include was the ingredients list in Korean. The ingredients list is fairly long LOL. I like the packaging for the CC cream because it comes in a bottle with a pump, so it's easy to control how much product comes out of the bottle, and it's hygienic.







The formula is very light, and it blends very easily. It has a light floral scent, that resembles a few BB creams that I've tried. Like a few other CC creams on the market, the formula is very sheer. You can build it up a little, but it's still nowhere near medium coverage. It manages to slightly even out redness and light discolouration; however, it does not cover up blemishes, acne scars, or dark spots well. I think it's better as a base/primer for additional make-up, rather than as a stand alone product... unless you already have really good skin. It has a semi-dewy finish that isn't sticky, because the last thing we want is the heavy feeling on our face from that feeling. It gives off a healthy glow after it sets a little, kind of like a pick-me-up for your skin.

Even though the formula is supposed to change colour to match your skin, it is meant for people with fair to medium skin tones. I'm more of a medium skin tone during the summer, and even then it makes my face a slightly lighter than my body. The colour difference is unnoticeable up close, but it's more apparent from a distance. The colour isn't really a problem as a base, since a darker foundation/pressed powder can be used on top of it. As most products with SPF in it, you will end up having a white cast if you snap photos with flash (ie. family photos, clubbing photos, etc.).

Although summer is going to come to an end soon, it does not work well in hot weather as a stand alone product, since it doesn't last very long. So it's not a good choice if you're out and about in the sun, or if you're going to do activities which will make you sweat. It lasts for around 2-3 hours alone before disappearing.

As for skin types, I think this is better for those with dry skin since it is moisturizing, and it will make your skin look brighter. However, this isn't for those with combination or oily skin, since it doesn't last long, and it won't prevent your face from getting shiny after a few hours, unless you have foundation/pressed or finishing powder on top of it.

Pros
+ Lightweight
+ Blends easily
+ Hygienic packaging
+ Brightens up skin
+ SPF 30, PA++ for protection from the sun
+ Moisturizing
+/- Floral scent
+/- Dewy finish

Cons
- Not long lasting
- Very sheer
- Does not match darker skin tones

Rating: ★★★★ (it's more like a 3.75/5 to me LOL)

Where to buy? I bought it from f2plus1. But you can find it in almost every Korean cosmetic retailer, since it's a relatively common and popular product~

Would I repurchase? No. It's comparable to Innisfree's Real Skin CC cream, except that it has a floral scent, and it doesn't last as long. Overall, it's a good product; it's not great, but it's not bad either. It's a good base for additional make-up, but not so much by itself. However, this is a product that may interest you if you have good skin, and/or if you're looking for something to give your skin an extra boost without feeling sticky.