Troiareuke Skincare Diary Week 4 *Update*

Hello all! I apologize for not updating in a while, but lately I've been having such a hectic life--I've been running on an average of 4 hours of sleep lately and some nights have even been only 2 hours. Obviously, all the stress and my hormones have not been kind to my skin... And please forgive me, I have not been able to take that many shots when I barely have time to eat and sleep.

But! This was a wonderful opportunity to perfectly see the prowess of Troiareuke's products!

Without further ado, here are the observations I've noted in my skin:

• The TOC toner (and possibly the rest of the ACSEN line) has been suppressing my pimples. It's really odd and interesting: I still see the beginnings of the pimples, you know, those ugly, tiny, red bumps that roar their heads out before becoming a full on pimple. They still pop up, yet all except 1 became an actual pimple! Now that is quite amazing! Normally, with this type of a schedule and my raging hormones I get lots of tiny pimples. But this time, not with Troiareuke, no sirree. 

• Now about that one and only large pimple that managed to combat its way past Troiareuke's fastidious army. The total lifespan of the pimple was a brief 4 days. Within 4 days of applying TOC toner on a pad to specially treat that spot, the pimple had completely disappeared and just left some pigmentation on my chin. The pigmentation then disappeared within 1.5 weeks of religiously applying the Recovery Cream to my chin. Talk about efficiency! I have never experienced a line of products that works that fast and effectively on my skin!

• Now for the best part... the main reason why I decided to plunge for Troiareuke's products: the ACSEN Recovery Cream. This Recovery Cream has bee performing some black magic on my pitted scars. It has now been 4 weeks and although my pitted scars are still there, they are recovering. And I can visibly see my skin started to grow up and out of the pitted scars. Some serious regeneration is going on within those scars. It freaked me out the first time I noticed this two weeks ago, in a frighteningly lovely way. I can bet that with continual usage of Troiareuke's line and the Recovery Cream, my pitted scars may be able to fully heal in a few months time. "A few months?!" you may say, but please remember this is without cosmetic surgery. That is really astonishing feat skincare can achieve and just a few months? I know full well many products out there that require a year or two to see effects. This is nothing, and it pleases me greatly that I can heal my pitted scars without having to go through any surgical procedure or some product with risky chemicals!

• My pores are still the same size, but they feel cleaner thanks to the Pore Control Mask. I suppose pore minimization can't be helped because it takes a very long time to notice a change in those. But my face does feel tighter each time I use the mask. Anti-aging ladies, take note of this! :)

Here's a picture of my skin before (week 1, above) and after (week 4, below): (You can clearly see the pitted scars are less obvious! Woohoo!) The lighting may be darker in the photo above, but they are pretty accurate renditions of how my skin looked in real life.

Please know that these are all of my true experiences with full honesty and no exaggeration. I know some people will always be doubtful of how much exaggeration is present in blog reviews. But please know everyone's skin is different and you may experience a different effect with any product I review. 

I will continue using the ACSEN line and updating everyone every few weeks on how my skin is doing. This is definitely not the end of my skincare diary! :)

Lately, the weather here has been really hectic. The weather can't seem to decide whether it wants to be hot or cold... which has made my skin doubly confused, resulting in it being quite dry and oily. Thankfully, my new little helpers from Troiareuke are here to help me with these new problems. I will be featuring them soon in my new skincare diary updates and separate reviews! Hope y'all have a great week and stay tuned!

Troiareuke Skincare Diary: Week 1

Good day to you! It has been almost one week since I have started using Troiareuke's products. To see what products I have been using since then, you can check out the first post I did on my Skincare Diary series: http://globalexpressreviews.blogspot.com/2017/02/skincare-diary-series-entry.html

(The post includes lots of detailed info on each products and what their targeted effects are.)

I have been routinely using the products in the following order:

1. Acsen TOC Toner

2. Acsen Pore Control Mask (once every 3 days)

3. Acsen Selemix Serum

4. Acsen Recovery Cream

Here's a picture of my skin condition a week prior to starting the Troiareuke products (left side) and afterwards (right side):

*Note: I apologize for being unable to exactly recreate the lighting and the angle--I hope my skills will improve in the future so I can present you all a better idea of my skin condition.

It may be hard to tell due to the differences in the lighting and angle, but I have noticed a few things:

• My pores have been looking somewhat happier and less enlarged. 
• This is probably thanks to the power of using the Pore Control Mask and the Selemix Serum (and possibly the TOC toner). However, I must say that I experienced nothing near what Joan and Edward experienced after using the mask (in their videos, they claim their pores were greatly minimized). I most unfortunately did not have Edward's moments of, "Pores?! What pores?". 
• After being initially disappointed that the mask did not make my pores disappear (how unrealistic of me, though haha), I figured out the best way to use this mask to effectively clean the pores and maximize the efficacy of this mask: 1. Apply, leave on mask for 5-15 minutes, then wash off. 2. Massage onto skin some Jojoba oil (or tea tree oil) or an oil cleanser. Leave on for 5-15 minutes, wash off (you may need to use a cleanser if it was just plain Jojoba oil). 3. Apply Selemix Serum or a pore minimizing product. 
• Youtuber Liah Yoo's video on blackhead clearing illustrates this the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mefEggrnrjY
• The Pore Control Mask effectively brings the impurities and comedone/sebum closer to the surface, and the oil helps to dissolve it all away (remember basic chemistry: like dissolves like? Since your pores are mainly clogged with oil, you need an oil to fully get rid of them.). 
• Impression of the Pore Control Mask thus far: 
• excellent for drawing out the sebum in the clogged pores without overly drying out/damaging the skin (super big plus for combo skinned peoples like me)
• Insanely miraculous tightening feeling without being drying. I can definitely feel that V-line lifting effect (but no, you should not expect to feel like you have just had your jaws shaved off from plastic surgery =_=").
• As you can probably tell by the photos, some of my pitted scars have been slowly filling themselves in. This is what amazed me and frightened me the most. It's literally black magic. I have never used a product that is capable of such. 
• I digress, as amazed as I was by the some of my scars recovering, note that I use the words "some" and "slowly". You can see in the photos that they are all still there, and some of the deeper ones have yet to show any sign of significant improvement. Hence, here is a disclaimer: Troiareuke's products are meant to be products that work slowly over time, ranging from 2-4 weeks or even longer. That is because: A) their ingredients are some of the most natural and safe ones I have encountered, B) this is skincare--not invasive treatments. If you are looking for immediate effects that happen overnight or within a day, I suggest you look into chemical peels or other medical cosmetic procedures (sidenote-that-is-not-an-ad: Troiareuke is connected with Troipeel, which provides such services). It should also be noted that usually most of the products that deliver immediate effects prove to be just temporary. Troiareuke's products aim at correcting the skin on the long run.
• Even though it is a slow process, my pitted scars (especially the newer and less deep ones) have been recovering. They are definitely less obvious.
• Due to my hormones, I had a tiny pimple break out on my forehead. Then you must ask, why did you not document such a opportune happening?! What better way to showcase the Acsen line than to use it on pimples themselves!? My friend, the night that pimple popped up I just applied some extra TOC Toner on a cotton pad to it, then applied the Recovery Cream, and thought, I'll take a picture of it tomorrow. The next morning it resembled nothing of a pimple. The bump was gone, and the pigmentation was significantly reduced. That's right, I missed the opportunity to document the work of Acsen on a pimple because it happened too fast. 
  
• However, I need to say that this was a tiny pimple, so I am not sure how it would work on a larger pimple. Next time I run into a larger one, I will be sure to show you before and after pictures.
• Since it was a tiny pimple, bear in mind the potency of the products will differ from people to people and pimple to pimple.

Those are the main differences I have seen thus far in my skin condition. Before I end it here, the story about the tiny pimple allowed me to showcase another use for the lovely TOC Toner:

The TOC Toner,  in addition towards being the ultimate backstage hero in improving my skin condition, can be used as a spot treatment for random pimples! Just apply it to a cotton pad and stick it to the pimple until the pimple has soaked up all the goodness. It certainly worked on my tiny pimple, but I am not sure how well it would work on large ones. And not to worry, the toner has a lovely consistency of somewhere in between a gel and water:

It is a little moisturizing and doesn't just disappear from your face like the water-based toners do. (You should still moisturize though!)

Alright--that's all I have for today! I will see you in a week to update you all on how my skin has been doing. Have a wonderful day and rest of the week!

Skincare Diary Series: Entry #1/Introduction

Hello all! Today I will be starting an extended review in the form of a skincare diary. The main stars of this series are from... *drum roll* Troiareuke! I expect most of y'all have not heard of this skincare line, which makes sense since they are actually a skincare line developed for spas, skincare clinics, etc. under the huge MK Universal umbrella. It's a unique brand with the theme of groundbreaking scientific skincare--something a scientist like me can really appreciate. (Having worked for a large corporate beauty company before, too often do I find some of theories regarding skincare a bit gimmicky and unscientific.) If you are interested in more about their brand's story and information, you can visit their websites and facebook page:
http://troiareuke.tradekorea.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ilovetroi/
http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/cosmetic/troi-areuke/

**Notice: today's post is mainly information on the products--if you are here for a review, please subscribe and wait for my posts to come. I will have reviews every few days to check in and show you my skin's progress.

My current skin condition: 
Type: combination/oily, somewhat acne prone
Main concern: old acne scars (pitted), enlarged pores :(
Currently, my skin is going through a stage where I rarely get any acne (mainly just some small, hormonal zits) and my skin is quite happy in terms of moisture. I used to get a lot of acne and suffer from severe dry patches and a super oily T-zone. Nearly all of that has been fixed thanks to drinking a special blend of fruits and veggies. (If you are interested, leave a comment below and I will write a blog post about it). Although the drink has helped my skin become moisturized and significantly less acne prone, it couldn't help my enlarged pores and pitted acne scars that were left behind.

Here are pictures of my skin, which will be used as a comparison for future diary entries:

Unfortunately, my camera has a beautifying function that makes my pores and scars look less obvious. But you can still see my painfully obvious pitted scars and my pores. :(

Thus, Troiareuke suggested their Acsen line to me, which targets acne and sensitive skin. Even though I am not really acne prone nor do I have sensitive skin, a lot of the products from the Acsen line target my pore and scar problems.

I heard about Troiareuke first through Edward Avila and Joan Kim on Youtube (check out their channels--they're very fun and informative!). They raved about this line of skincare constantly in several of their videos, and I was sold the minute Edward said, "Pores? What pores? So smoooth!" after applying the Pore Control Mask in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg3byzLpCNE
I messaged them through their facebook page, intrigued and dying to try out their products. Christine first responded, then forwarded my messages to William the main FB manager. They asked for a photo of my bare face, to assess what products would suit me the most, which was their Acsen line.
I had the opportunity to try out their:
1. Acsen TOC Toner
2. Acsen Selemix Serum
3. Acsen Pore Control Mask
4. Acsen Recovery Cream
5. H+ Cushion

Two days ago, I finally received the package with all their products!

They are downright the sweetest company you'll buy from, as you can see in the photo: they included a painfully adorable package of Korean snacks and a handwritten note from them! It really makes the experience feel so much more personal and it's like receiving those sweet, heartwarming care packages you get when you're away from home.

Scientific info (for those that love details and the how/why): Troiareuke's skincare line targets not only the surface layer of the skin (epidermis), but also tries to penetrate the deeper layer of skin called the dermis. What we see is the epidermis and serves as an protective barrier for our body against harmful external factors (UV, pollutants, damage, etc.). The inner layer, or the dermis, works to provide our out layer of skin with new skin cells, minerals, nutrients, etc. Thus, we can see that the dermis is crucial towards the condition of our epidermis. Troiareuke's products attempt to correct the dermis, which is unlike any other skincare brand I have heard of so far.

Without further ado, let me introduce the products to you!

1. Acsen TOC Toner

Theory:
The "TOC" in this toner's name stands for "turn over cycle", and reveals the main function of this toner: to increase the turn over cycle of skin cells. As we age, our TOC slows down and we lose the lovely complexion we once had. The toner aims to speed up our TOC (to normal and healthy levels, of course), which renews our skin cells and makes our skin healthier, stronger, and brighter.
Further information:
If you watch Joan's videos, you will surely know how much she loves this by how much it appears in her empties videos. She claims it has brightened her complexion, and provided it with a lot of benefits. Edward also loves this toner, and their skin has visibly been improving.
Ingredients and further facts: http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/6756/#toggle-id-3

2. Acsen Selemix Serum

(The original sized serum was extremely pricey, so I decided to just go with a small 5 mL sample of it)
Theory:
The information packet they sent me described this serum as the key to finding the perfect DNA code for anti-aging skincare. Directly quoted from their pamphlet:
"Selemix serum guides the skin cell to function as responsive as young cells in epidermis layer. For the dermis layer, Selemix serum will find the code to increase production of new cell and build up cell matrix."
Being a researcher of the biosciences myself, I find it hard to believe they are changing your DNA in this product or "directing your skin to find the right DNA". (I have a hard time theorizing how they could do this, but hey, they could indeed have a method to achieve this.) But I do believe that the anti-inflammatory, pore-tightening, firming, less sensitive skin, and radiance promised can come with this serum. Serums in general are punches of the most important ingredients, making them the most potent step in your skincare routine. It definitely is capable of some black magic, as it is the most expensive yet coveted product from the line.
Further information:
http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/troiareuke-acsen-selemix-serum-100ml/#toggle-id-2

3. Acsen Pore Control Mask

Theory:

This is probably the product I looked forward to the most. Their theory is simple, yet effective: pore tightening comes with V-line tightening (overall skin tightening). The saggier your skin, the most enlarged your pores will be. This mask tightens you skin like those 19th century corsets that produced those tiny Victorian waists (not that tight--that would be drying and uncomfortable, which this mask is not). But it definitely does tighten your skin and remove all the impurities from your pores, which should allow for smaller pores in the long run.

Further information:

http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/troiareuke-acsen-pore-control-mask-200ml/

4. Acsen Recovery Cream

Theory: 

This acsen recovery cream is also another product I had mainly wanted to try because of its claims to be able to heal pitted scars. It contains 4% centella asiatica extract, which is an extremely high percentage of the extract. This ingredient is one you may have not heard of before, but it is slowly gaining much popularity overseas. Centella asiatica has the miraculous ability of cell regeneration and is the key to healing those pitted scars. 4% is probably the highest you can find in any product available in the world, making Troiareuke's recovery cream the one and only cream with such high potency. 

Further information:

Joan and Edward also frequently mention this product, and they even claim that it's so potent that the next day after applying you'll see a difference in those pitted scars. 

http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/troiareuke-acsen-recovery-cream-25ml/#toggle-id-3

5. H+ Cushion

Theory:

This amazing cushion claims to be 99% skincare and only 1% makeup. How cool is that!? And if you have seen some reviews of this cushion, you'll notice that this cushion definitely is not lacking in coverage. The skincare inside is also wonderful, as it contains 4 ingredients that each are champions at their job:

• Adenosine: anti-aging/anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory, cell regeneration, wound healing
• Niacin amide: whitening, UV recovery, melanin minimization 
• Centella asiatica: (already discussed above in the recovery cream description) cell regeneration/wound healing
• Portulaca extract: anti-inflammatory, moisture infusing

Further information:

You can definitely check out Joan and Edward's reviews on this cushion. A lot of other Youtubers have done reviews on it, which may give you a good impression on how it looks. There is only one color shade, unfortunately. 

http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/6911/

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I plan to post an update/entry to these skincare series every week, with pictures of how my skin is doing for reference. I will also have a more detailed reviews for each of the products, especially for the H+ cushion.

Until then, have a wonderful day/week!

[NEW] Review for Murad's Matte Effect Blotting Perfector

*Note: for a quick summary (the Express Review), scroll all the way down to that section.
**SPECIAL: I have written a way you can get this cushion for less down in the "Where to purchase" section.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello all! Today I have something special for you: a review of the newest Murad MattEffect Blotting Perfector! It just arrived at Sephora a few days ago and is also available on Murad's own website for $39: https://www.murad.com/product/matteffect-blotting-perfector-mattifier

I believe was released back in December, but it hasn't had much attention from the online beauty community yet.

It basically is a cushion that is perfect for mid-day touch-ups or even setting your makeup. The claimed are that this cushion can "absorb oil, minimize pores and perfect skin". Luckily for the purposes of testing this product, the crazy weather where I live rose up to 60-80 degrees today.
The few reviews for this product advertise that you will "never really have to touch up after applying this cushion". That would be absolutely divine for us oily and combination skinned people, so let's see if this cushion lives up to its claims, shall we?

Packaging: There's nothing to complain about, but it's not the most beautiful cushion I've ever seen (that would have to be Shiseido Maquillage's Snow Beauty cushion).
The case has a silver, frosty finish with the brand name "Murad" written on the top in baby pink. Inside, it is just like any other cushion and has a mirror along with a plastic separator for the puff and sponge.

Application: The applicator is a thin puff, which you press into the sponge inside with product and then pat onto your face. Note, this must be done in a patting motion. I read some reviews that when people tried to just rub it or spread it, their foundation would either come off or look really cakey.

Upon initial application, I would say this cushion really does absorb the oil. But what no review nor the product description has so far mentioned is that it is moisturizing to the touch. It feels almost like an exchange of oil for moisture. There is also a nice, cooling effect when you apply this cushion.
Heck, there is so much moisture that you can always see some liquid product creeping up on the sides of the plastic encasing the sponge and on the back of the plastic divider.

Here's a zoomed-in picture to show you the "moisture" and liquid I mentioned:

(Sorry for the different lighting, it looks more yellowy and less pink in this picture than in real life)

Effectiveness: This cushion indeed helps with oil blotting, but do not expect for it to just feel like a reusable oil-blotting paper.

As mentioned in application, this cushion actually is moisturizing to some degree. Although this is chiefly for oily skinned peoples, I think it is not drying at all and is a moisturizing alternative to oil-blotting papers. There isn't really a powdery consistency, so I feel like dry skinned peoples may like it as a setting cushion.                                                                                                                              

Oily/combo skin peoples probably still need their setting powders and/or sprays. I tried not using any setting powder and just using this product alone. The result was an oily face within 2-4 hours. Add my powder, then I can add another 2 hours for a total of 6 hours. (*Note: the number hours it lasts may change depending on humidity, temperature, and how much you're moving around)                                                                                                                                                                                 When I use it to touch up, my face stays oil-free for about 2-4 more hours (2 on extra oily, humid, or hot days).

I barely saw any pore minimization (maybe just a little bit), and I would not say it completely "perfects your skin". Any pore minimization observed is most likely because the facial oil that emphasized them and made them look super angry was absorbed away.

I should also mention, there is no color to this product. It may look baby pink in the case, but there is no actual color.

Fragrance/Scent: YES, there is a mild fragrance to this product. I don't mind fragrances in general, and the floral-fruity scent of this product makes me pretty happy rather than annoyed. But people that want a fragrance-free product, this is NOT for you.

Where to purchase: You can purchase most easily at Sephora and Murad's own website. **Tip: I got this cushion for just $31.20 (shipping included) through Murad with their welcome code and the code "Freeship". If you sign up/subscribe to their emails, you get 20% off your first purchase. Hope this helps!

-----------------------------------------Express Review **** 4 stars-----------------------------------
Pros:
*This cushion does what it should: it help blot away the oils without overly mattifying or drying the face.
*It's colorless with a mild fragrance, and has a soothing cooling-effect upon application.
*There are no powders, so it won't clog your pores.

Cons:
*I think the claims for 8-hour oil-free skin and perfect skin with pore minimization are a stretch. Well, maybe if the weather was not oil-inducing or if you were never that oily to begin with, you may be able to achieve 8 hours.
*For the regular price of $39 it's quite pricey.


Final Thoughts:
However, am I going to say this product sucks, give it 3 stars, and return it because it doesn't live up to the 8 hour claim? No--I didn't expect that in the beginning anyways. I don't really think I'll ever find a product that makes me completely oil-free throughout the day, and to some degree I am glad it's not that mattifying because that usually means the product will dry out your skin drastically.
I also had hoped I would see some pore minimization but I didn't think it would be able to minimize pore appearance that much anyways.

I think I will still use this cushion and keep it by my side--it's a lot more compact and convenient than keeping numerous blotting papers in my bag. Of course, that's my own opinion.

Lip Treatments (Nighttime Masks)

*Notice: If you are pressed for time, you can always just scroll the bottom chart and summary for the Express Review.
**Warning: if you are looking for non-scented products, none of these are unfortunately for you :(

Dry, chapped, peeling lips have always been a persistent issue in my life. However, I strayed away from using chapsticks and lip balms for the longest time because I saw some of my friends around me that could never stop using them. Indeed, there are some lip balms and chapsticks out there with unhealthy ingredients that make your lips actually drier and so you just keep applying it for the temporary moisturized feeling. But I always wondered and longed for the smooth, moisturized lips that many Asian bloggers and Youtubers had.

My first try at lip balms was the Nivea lip butter (in vanilla). It worked, but the results were never the bouncy, soft, plush lips that I dreamed to achieve. Then, I strolled across this lip balm by Aritaum: the Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask. After using that for a while, I decided to give the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and Fresh's Advanced Therapy a try.

 First off, the Aritaum Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask:
This lip mask is meant to be worn overnight.
Texture: Its texture is very tacky and sticky, so I really cannot imagine wearing it during the daytime (some people have mentioned wearing it during daytime as a lip balm, though). If you need a easily accessible, drugstore comparison for its texture, the Nivea Lip Butter is quite similar. However, the it's even thicker than the Nivea one.
Effects: I absolutely abhor wearing thick, sticky, and heavy lip products. To the point that even lip glosses are a no-go for me. However, I am willing to bear my discomfort because this lip mask repairs the lip and fully hydrates it by the next morning (also because I am going to sleep, so it's bearable under those conditions). This lip mask even has an exfoliation effect. The next morning, you will still find your lips sticky and you need to wash this off (just water is fine). When rubbing the product off your lips, it takes off any dead and peeling skin. This truly helped contribute to helping me achieve smooth lips that can handle matte lipsticks.
Scent: For scent-sensitive people, this product has an orange scent to it. It's very light and refreshing, and definitely won't tempt you to want to lick it off. Personally, I do not find it bothersome at all and even rather enjoy having this scent on my lips. It's a lot lighter than Nivea's lip butter, for reference.
Price: Currently $10.18 on Jolse.

Next, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask:
Texture: The texture of this lip product is most likely the most soothing and comfortable one. You use the included pink spatula to spread some of the balm onto your lips, and it melts into a borderline light-oily consistency.
Effects: One may ask, if Aritaum's Ginger Sugar lip mask was so great, why did I even think about trying another lip product? Well, the exfoliation feel to Aritaum's lip mask may be great at first--but when I used this nearly every night for a month, I couldn't help but worry if I was doing too much damage to my lips. This is where Laneige comes in. It won't exfoliate nor will it smooth out your peeling lips, but it is great for daily use when your lips are in either a good condition or a terrible condition. By terrible condition, I mean when your lips are no longer fit for any exfoliation because of all the dryness and damage. It's a good "healing" product.
Scent: The scent is also light, just like Aritaum's--except it's a milky strawberry flavor. I also love this scent, but it is definitely more delicious and tempting than Aritaum's.
Price: $17.41 on Amazon.

Laneige's lip treatment also comes with a cute plastic lid and a pouch for the spatula. I recommend keeping the box, otherwise it's very easy to lose the spatula.

Finally, Fresh's Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment:
Texture: It's somewhere in between Laneige's and Aritaum's. Laneige's is so light that it almost is oily, and Aritaum's is definitely a lot heavier than Fresh's. It feels very moisturizing, and it's not the horribly sticky texture I can't stand. I have yet to find a product on market that mimics its texture. I assure you it's very comfortable, and I use it as a daytime lip balm (which is saying something).
Effects: It also doesn't exfoliate, but it's the only lip balm where I can feel the moisture slowly being sucked by my lips. The other two seem to hydrate just as well but I do not feel or recall my lips feeling like they are taking in any moisture. It truly is a lip therapy, but its effects are not as long-lasting as Aritaum's or Laneige's.
Scent: It's literally "fresh", no pun intended. It smells like lime and is fresh but not "delicious". It's a little stronger than Laneige's, but I can't imagine it bothering anyone unless you A) hate limes or B) hate any scent at all.
Price: $26 in Sephora, Nordstrom, fresh website

****************Express Review:
Texture: 1. Fresh, 2. Laneige, 3. Aritaum
Moisturizing effects: 1. Laneige, 2. Fresh, 3. Aritaum
Exfoliation: 1. Aritaum, 2 and 3. Laneige, Fresh

Summary: Laneige is the winner in moisture, but its packaging makes it difficult for daytime use.
Even though Aritaum ranked in third, I still highly recommend because it works better than any other lip scrubs I have used (they have all scratched and damaged my poor lips). Fresh is very suitable for daytime use and possibly a night-time treatment (not as potent as the other, if I say).

Upcoming Reviews for 2017!

Many apologies for being so mia in the second part of 2016. However, I assure you that there will be many more reviews to come for 2017! I have been testing out many products for a few months now that include:

Skincare/Haircare:
-masks by Kiehl's
-Lululun sheet masks (all three colors: white, pink, and purple)
-Elizavecca Collagen sheet masks
-an array of lip treatments from Fresh to Laneige to Aritaum
-Molto Bene's Keys Treatment for Heat Damaged Hair
-Carol's Daughter Hair products

Makeup:
-Chanel's famous loose powder: Poudre Universelle Libre
-Lancome's Teint Miracle Radiant Foundation
-Giorgio Aramni Lip Products: Maestro, Ecstasy Laquer, and Magnet lines
-Burberry Full Kisses Lipsticks
-Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer
-Shu Uemura's new S curler

... and many other products (including a review from Beautybox that I am working on posting). I have tried many products and will also post products that were a miss in 2016.

Finally, I am currently looking forward to testing out some new products in 2017, also including some that have not had that much attention or in-depth reviews on the internet yet:

-Shiseido Maquillage's Snow Beauty Powder
          I am well aware this product has garnered some reviews and lots of attention due to its irresistible packaging, but I don't recall ever finding many reviews that explore its benefits as a "goodnight powder". My lovely powder is currently on its journey to me from Japan, and I will be reviewing the powder once it reaches me. :)

-Lunasol's Beige Beige Eyeshadow Palette
          A popular palette loved by the Asian beauty community, but I have yet to see many reviews that actually comment on HOW MUCH GLITTER this has and its longevity. As chunky glitter is a factor that I cannot stand, I will definitely review this palette once it arrives (also on its way to me <3).

-Quality First Sheet Masks
          There are a few reviews on these masks and they're extremely popular in Asia. However, the users have mainly all been dry-skinned peoples. Only one blog that I read was an oily skinned lady. I am curious how this sheet mask will fare on my oily-combination skin (I am more normal/combination in the winter, then oily/combination in the summer).

-Trioareuke Skincare
        This is an up and coming Korean brand that features skincare used in their spa clinics in Korea. For reference, they have been featured in Edward Avila's and Joan Keem's youtube videos several times. However, other than their opinions, there have been next to no reviews written by American bloggers on their Acsen Pore-Control Mask and their Acsen Recovery Cream. I am currently scouting out their products and look forward to reviewing them once I find out where/how to order them from Korea.

A toast to a great 2017 to you and your family! Cheers!

End of Summer Products - Part 2

In this post, I will be featuring products purchased from Jolse that are fit for summer.

Without further ado, here's a picture of the products we will be discussing today:

I also bought the One Step Pimple Clear Pad from COSRX (not pictured), but we'll save that for a skincare post later.

*The green towel is a free gift--an Italian/Korean exfoliating wash cloth. I haven't used it in the shower yet, but apparently it helps get rid of dead skin cells if you rub REALLY hard with it... =_="

The first product we'll discuss is:

The Cotton Veil Primer by Mamonde

This primer provides a beautifully healthy glow to your face, with tinges of pink and pearl to create a great skin-tone that isn't as yellow-y (for us Eastern Asians). Here are the swatches:

I spread it out just a little in the center of my hand, so it may be hard to see. But in real life, it really makes your face look lovely. However, I cannot say that it made my foundation last longer and nor can I say it controls sebum (this is more of a hydrating primer). Also, the fragrance is VERY STRONG. It's a lovely flowery smell with tints of fruitiness to it and smells similar to Japanese cherry blossoms. However, the smell is so strong, it will linger on your skin for about 30 minutes before disappearing (or maybe I just don't notice it at that point...). So if you don't like fragrance-laced products, skip this one. If you're searching for a Hera Magic Starter, Becca Backlight Primer, or VDL Lumilayer Primer that is much more affordable and you don't mind fragrances, this primer is for you.

Rating: *** 3/5

Next up: Mamonde's Natural Cake Eyebrow Kit

*Sorry for the change in lighting--the sun set and I had to turn on my yellowy room light.

Mamonde's eyebrow kit is really just your average old eyebrow powder, nothing too special. The colors are nice and natural, and the brushes work excellently to apply the product. However, as is with all powder, the longevity isn't that great.

Rating: *** 3/5

And now, we have an eyeshadow pencil from Mamonde:

The color I got was #5 Rose Gold. The color is coppery with specks of sparkles. I prefer smaller sparkles to large glittery particles, and the glitter from this eyeshadow pencil is definitely on the large side. But when you smooth it out, it creates a dewy sheen on your eyelids. Longevity is mediocre (5 hours with primer). 

Rating: *** 3/5

Finally, the last products are: 

Etude House Berry Delicious Color in Liquid Lips (#RD305)

Mamonde Cream Tint Color Balm Light (#26)

These lip products are both moisturizing and have good pigmentation. The both last on the lips about 3 hours without eating. However, Etude House's product leaves a tint that will last for the day while Mamonde's doesn't. If you are interested, leave a comment about swatches and I will swatch these for you.
Rating: **** 4/5

Here are the gifts Jolse sent me in addition to the washcloth:

They were very generous this time, and so I received a lot! Thanks, Jolse! Until next time, readers!