Review ★ The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream

Hello everyone!

I finally have a break since classes are over, and exams are starting soon! I will hopefully have more reviews during the holiday, along with some food posts :D.

Today I will be reviewing the Face Shop's chia seed sebum control moisture cream (also a cream advertised by Suzy from Miss A) from their chia seed line. I haven't bought anything else from the line, so I can't speak for the other products~ The Face Shop also has another moisturizer, but I picked up this one since I have combination skin ^^

As you may or may not know, chia seeds are great for consumption, and have a lot of health benefits (rich in omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, phosphorus, fibre, protein, etc.)! So I assume that they're also beneficial in skincare products since they help retain moisture too!

Description
(taken from the description on the box)

• A moisture cream that replenishes skin with moisture, while preventing excess sebum. Chia seeds that hold moisture 10 times their own weight fill the skin with moisture, while native cotton seeds control unnecessary sebum to moisturize the skin without any sheen all day long. 
• Mild oil-free translucent cream made with environmentally-friendly technique. This 100% pure, mild and translucent moisturizing cream protects the environment as well through the oil-free formula that uses low-carbon, environmentally-friendly techniques.
• 100% organic chia seed extracts' sap are used in lieu of water (73.64% extract). This moisturizing cream delivers freshness and efficacy by using 100% organic chia seed extracts' sap instead of water. 
• 7-free (free of parabens, benzophenone, artificial colouring, sulfate, mineral oil, animal sourced ingredients, and thiethanolamine)
• It is dermatologist tested

The cream comes in a nice box that has all the information you need (in Korean, English, and French since y'know, we require it in Canada). It's very simple, but the overall design is nice ^^ It has a little die-cut circle that says it's GMO-free (genetically modified ingredients), so you know it's safe to use if you have sensitive skin since the ingredients are natural! It's $33 in the Face Shops in Ontario, but I got it during a promotion~

It comes with the container of cream and a spatula (which I lost, but I have the Laneige ones LOL). The container is kind of bulky, and the walls of the container are really thick. The hard plastic enhances the quality of the packaging or feel of the product, since we often associate good packaging with a good product as well. The walls of the container are really thick, so it seems like you're getting more product when you look at it from the outside. 

I will give kudos for the spatula though, because it prevents us from contaminating the product with our fingers. If only more companies included spatulas with their creams D:...

When you remove the lid, there is a cover with a little heart shaped tab to prevent the cream from getting on the lid. 

The cream is supposed to be applied after essence, or as the final step of your skin care routine so you seal everything in. The cream itself is translucent and lightweight, with a gel-like consistency. It has a light fragrance, but I don't know how to describe it OTL. It doesn't have a specific scent, but it has a 'clean' and 'fresh' scent @__@. It feels thick upon contact, but it thins out after as you spread it out. My skin drinks up the cream really quickly, and there isn't any greasy/sticky residue or sheen left behind after the cream is absorbed since there isn't any oil in it (well there's like 0.001% mineral oil). It leaves my face looking shine-free for awhile, so I think it also works well before applying a make-up base on top~

It's colder in Toronto now, so my skin is drier >__<, I don't think this is enough on its own, so it probably would not suffice as a standalone moisturizer for those with dry skin. The cream is good, but it isn't holy grail material for me. I would recommend it those with combination, oily, or sensitive skin since it helps control oil while moisturizing your skin. It's also good for those who live in warmer climates, rather than people who live in cold areas or are in winter right now since the air won't be as dry. However, I've read some reviews, and it's either a hit or a miss for them :<. Also, I don't feel as if there are any long term effects. 

Pros

+ Hydrates skin

+ Hygienic (lid separator, spatula)

+ Oil-free

+ Lightweight

+ GMO-free

+ Good for those with sensitive/oily/combination skin

Cons

- Bulky packaging

- Price (I think it's worth it when it's under $20, but anything above $30 is pushing it)

Rating: ★★★★

Where to buy? I purchased mine from The Face Shop in Fairview mall, while they were having their grand opening promotion ($15 off for a $35 purchase). But it retails for $33 before tax here~ You can also purchase it at the following places: f2plus1 ($24.50), ehappyidea ($19), amazon ($24), sasa ($32), testerkorea ($22.90), w2beauty ($32.23).

That's all for today! Please stay tuned for my next giveaway, which will be posted within a day or two ^^.

Haul ★ The Face Shop & Others

Hello everyone!

At the beginning of October, The Face Shop opened a store at Fairview Mall (there's also one at Markville Mall) in place of what used to be Fruits & Passion, so now I don't have to travel all the way to Pacific Mall for it. Although Pacific Mall still has Holika Holika, Tony Moly, and Missha. Anyways, The Face Shop was having an opening promotion, so I couldn't help myself~

The stuff is more expensive than e-bay (y'know, import duties, taxes, etc.) but it's good for the convenience. There isn't a great price difference when it comes to the cheaper items (eyebrow pencils, face creams, etc.), but there is for the the products from their skin care lines ($10-15 difference from e-bay sellers, not so much with online stores). I bought a few things because of their opening promotion, which was something like $5 off $15, $10 off $25, $15 off $35, which is pretty awesome! Some of the stuff was out of stock due to the amount of business they've gotten, and they don't sell some of the things that are found online. But they do sell gift sets in cute boxes, which makes a great gift for a parent, relative, or friend :D

Also throwing in some of the stuff I got in the past few months or so, to my post is lengthier~

The Face Shop items: Mild Papaya Peeling (gel?), Chia Seed 0% Oil moisturizer/cream, Face It Radiance Dual Veil concealer in nb23, Mango Butter lip care cream, Chia Seed toner samples (the two small boxes on the left), Crystal Water Super Gel and something else under the Crystal Water Super Gel samples(I legit do not know what they are because it's all in Korean D:, but it's part of one of their skin care lines).

Other stuff: The Face Shop volcanic clay nose strips, The Face Shop Lovely Me:Ex magic pink powder mask, Mizon Snail Repair BB cream (SPF32, PA++), Holika Holika Face 2 Change CC cream (SPF32, PA++), Mizon Snail Recovery Gel (it came as a 2 for 1, so the other one is in the giveaway). All from f2plus1.

Tony Moly Egg Pore set: Black Out Oil Gel, Tightening Pack, Silky Smooth Balm. I purchased these from Jolse.

And on the more expensive end...

Chanel Vita Lumiere foundation. This is my current favourite foundation/face make-up 8D.

Yves Saint Laurent glossy stains in 105 (Coral Hold Up) and 14 (Fuchsia Dore). I really like the texture, feel, and lasting power of these stains. But the scent is off-putting because it smells like alcohol D:. 

Remember, I have a giveaway going on until November 1st (next Saturday)! I won't be making a banner because I don't have enough time, but you can just use it as a free entry if you want LOL. I won't check that particular one. I'll probably have another giveaway around the holiday season too ^^

Also, please let me know in the comments if you want a review on a certain item! I will have a review up soon ^^!

Review ★ The Face Shop Face It Aura CC Cream

Finally doing the first CC cream review out of the three that I purchased~

I have jumped the CC cream bandwagon~ For those who have yet to get into it, CC creams are kind of like a suped up BB cream. CC creams have skincare benefits such as evening out your skin tone over time (along with whitening, anti-aging, sun protection, etc. properties as advertised on some CC creams), as well as better coverage in comparison to BB creams. They are meant to look really natural, as if you aren't wearing any face make-up.

I bought it in 02 Natural Beige, which has a yellow undertone. It also comes in 01 Radiant Beige, which I assume is meant for fairer people.

Description
Colour control cream that creates a radiant and clear make-up appearance, as if the skin is being spotlighted. It creates a brighter skin tone, and lasts up to 12 hours. It has silver-vine complex which is supposed to brighten up the skin.

It comes in a unique compact with a small sponge. The packaging is different from the typical BB/CC creams since they usually come in tubes or bottles with a pump. The CC cream is dispensed through the button-like pump, and it comes out in small amounts so you don't have to worry about dispensing too much product.

I didn't take any face shots since I didn't have time to do them before going out yesterday, so I just did the hand swatches when I got back @__@

This CC cream does not look like a lotion, unlike other CC creams. I've noticed that other CC creams (Etude House, Tony Moly, Innisfree) come out white and watery, whereas this one is a little more viscous and already pigmented. The consistency is similar to a liquid foundation. It provides medium coverage that is buildable, and has a semi-matte finish. Most CC creams on the market have sheer coverage, so this one is great if you're looking for one that will go the extra mile. Some bloggers have said it had a dewy finish, but perhaps it's just my skin or something >__<. Although the cream appears much lighter than my skin in the blended swatch, it will settle in and match your skin after a few minutes or so.

It looks natural, as if you're not wearing any make-up. It covers blemishes and redness quite well, however you may still need to use a concealer for darker spots/hyperpigmentation. The product is lightly scented, but it isn't anything that will irritate your skin if you have sensitive skin. I think it's great for people with oily/combination skin. It is slightly lacking in the moisture department, so it's not the best option if you have dry skin, unless you use a good moisturizer beforehand to prevent it from drying your skin out.

There is a mini mirror in the compact so you can touch up your make-up when you're going to be out for prolonged periods of time. The packaging is convenient, albeit a little bulky, but you can just put it in your purse or make-up bag :3.

It's a great product for summer, since it has the SPF 30 to protect your face from the sun. No one wants to have to wear a ton of make-up during the summer, so the it will save you from feeling as if your make-up is going to melt off! I haven't used this too much yet, so I can't speak of the benefits of the CC cream (evening out skin tone, brightening, whitening, etc.). However, it is long lasting! My face make-up lasted for ~6 hours before there was a slight trace of oil, which I think is pretty good since it's summer and all. It would probably lasted longer if it wasn't so hot out = u=;, or if I spent most of the time indoors.

You can also purchase refills online if you really love the product, so you don't have to dispose of the container ^^. It's around $18USD, which is only a few dollars cheaper than its retail price.

Pros
+ Long-lasting
+ Medium coverage
+ Pump dispenses product in small amounts
+ Sun protection
+ You can buy a refill (less wasteful in terms of packaging)

Cons
- It's a little pricy at $22, however some online retailers sell it for even more ($30-40). It is definitely not worth $42 (+ tax) if you intend to get it at Pacific Mall

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Face Shop also has 2 other CC creams. The smart capsule CC cream SPF40 PA++ which is lotion-like, and the aqua UV CC cream SPF50 PA++, which is supposed to be waterproof, and cooling to the skin. You can purchase samples of the smart capsule CC cream on ebay, if you don't want to spend the full $20 or so.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. I don't absolutely love it, although I do like that it lasts for a long time. Overall it is a great quality product since it has practically everything one could want in a face make-up product! I still have the other CC creams to use, and more will come out before I consider whether it's worth it to repurchase ^^.

Where to buy? I purchased it from f2plus1 for $22.79USD (link). You can find it on most online stores, and if you live in Toronto, you can also find it at Pacific Mall since The Face Shop has a store there (it's $42 there so.. LOL).

Have you tried any CC creams yet? Do you think they're better than BB creams?