December Hauls

12:22:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

In attempts at a fresh start for the new year, I thought I would share my December haulings today instead of the first Sunday of the next month as I normally do. It just feels right to end 2017, beauty-wise, with an accumulation of the little things I got and with a hopeful spending goal for 2018—scale it down unless "absolutely necessary" and even then I have to share my detailed reasoning for the hoarding.

(This post will be a practice of sorts since I have been pretty inconsistent with how detailed I get in hauls as of late.)



I know, I know. I stocked up on enough skincare to last me most of 2018 in the last few months. But everyone has been raving about Sunday Riley and Drunk Elephant and curiosity has been slowing eating at me on the inside. The only thing that held me back was their price tag. C'mon!! One bottle of product from either brand is at least USD $50+ (usually edging towards the $80+ mark for the more popular stuff). I have been most afraid of trying anything and actually liking it...all my monies.

When Sephora sent out their emails for the $20 off $50 VIB Rewards at the beginning of the month, I immediately thought of the mini-sized Drunk Elephants duos. Luckily for me, Sunday Riley offered a mini-set at a seemingly reasonable price as well.

Both the Sunday Riley Flash Fix Kit (USD $28) and Drunk Elephant Rise + Glow Duo (USD $23) totaled to USD $51 which was just enough to make the best use of the VIB Rewards. Plus the good thing about Sephora is the Free Shipping minimum of USD $50 is accounted for pre-promo codes. I also had a $25 gift card to spend and ultimately paid $8.75 out of pocket (NY tax included).

I was genuinely surprised when my Sephora orders arrived. Yes, that is right orders with an -s. For two items that could fit into both palms of my hands, Sephora packed and shipped them to me in two separate boxes that were large enough to fit a school textbook inside. Extra much? I was also somewhat expecting the bottles to be larger for some reason. I guess I was comparing the ~$20 price mark to K-Beauty price and sizing.



2017 is the year that I rediscovered coupons and CVS. All the items in the above photo were purchase for USD $5 or less each after ExtraBucks, CVS promotions, CVS brand specific coupons, and of course tax.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 15 Lover (orig. $9.79) is one of the two unexpected purchases I made at the drugstores. The other being Lumene. To be honest, I really wanted to try the Maybelline Master Camo Color Correcting Pen in 10 Green (orig. $9.99) and saw that there was a "Buy 2 Maybelline and get $5 ExtraBucks" weekly promo. Since I already had a $2 off 2 Maybelline coupon and $10 ExtraBucks already on hand to spend, why not? I have been feeling a little experimental and also been more into matte lip colors recently. The total turned out to be USD $9.54 for both lip and face items.

With the new $5 ExtraBucks to spend, a $3 off L'Oreal coupon, and a $2 off deodorant purchase coupon, I immediately got both the L'Oreal Infallible Matte-Matic Mechanical Eyeliner in 513 Deep Brown (orig. $9.79) and Crystal essence Chamomile & Green Tea (orig. $5.29) for USD $6.24. I have been in search of a new eyeliner since using up the last of my Korea-trip stock. Deodorant is just a necessity that needs no explanations.

On a separate trip to CVS, the coupon machine spat out another $6 ExtraBucks with an expiration date and a 30% off 1 item coupon so the only natural thing to do was to head towards the beauty aisles. I tried my best not to be lured in by sales (like that BOGO Free Ardell lashes) or more lip products that looked nice but would highly likely be a drawer filler. The most practical decision was eyeliner since that is something I wear on the daily. Revlon's Colorstay Eyeliner (orig. $8.99) seemed to have better reviews compared to the liquid variety under the same Colorstay line so I grabbed Black Brown to try. The CVS location I visited also happened to be clearing out their Lumene stock at 75% off so I added the Lumene Sisu [Urban Antidotes] Defend & Replenish Antioxidant Mist (orig. $25.49) to my bag. That visit's total was $8.39.



And to the end the post with the only beauty item I bought on a whim and not with any kind of deal, Deciem The Chemistry Brand's Heel Chemistry (USD $15). I chanced upon the newly established New York store location in SoHo when Bestie C and I were waiting in line for Prince Street Pizza. I have been meaning to try more of Deciem's products but with the recent splurges I couldn't justify stocking up on even more products because I want to meet that Free Shipping minimum when making an online order. Having a physical location means I can stop by and just pick up any supplements I may need as skin issues come up, knock on wood.

Which is exactly why I walked out with Heel Chemistry. It felt like a "necessary" supplemental purchase since my feet were getting pretty ashy and callouses were quickly hardening even after having only finished peeling from the foot mask one week prior. The box also promised results after 2 weeks of usage. Even though I don't typically lotion my feet, that Before and After photo on the back of the box got me good. Maybe this can, at the very least, help me start the habit of lotioning my soles?

Daily Look & End Results of Unofficial Project Make a Dent No. 3

12:15:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

In the nearly 9 years since I dove head first into all things beauty, it took me a good 5 years before I somewhat comfortably wore base makeup on the daily. It took me another year or two for eyeshadows and another two to three for lipsticks. Yes, that's right...despite being mostly a "beauty blog" here on the interwebs it took me that long to gain that confidence. Even still my look of choice is barely-there, natural-ish makeup.

I amassed a ton of BB Creams and blush when BB Creams had yet to hit it big on the Western side of the world. Texture, consistency, and shading left most of those tubes to just sit in my drawers. Drugstore foundations were intimidating because there wasn't, still isn't, an opportunity to test pre-purchase and I am also not a fan of buying & returning. Higher-end varieties were just that, too expensive to justify for someone not yet committed to the makeup everyday routine. I thought wearing eyeshadows and lipsticks were typically attention grabbers and was never quite ready for it all if any.

Going through a cleaning phase knocked some sense into how unrealistic my makeup stash was compared to how much makeup I applied—at the time maybe a couple times a week...every so often. I tossed out bottles and bottles of the liquid stuff and was still staring at one too many powders, blushes, eyeshadow palettes, and lip products. That was basically the start of the first Project Make a Dent for me, way back in 2015.

Besides actually going through some makeup products, doing the PMAD's finally got makeup application to be a normal routine for me. Now it is just as natural as brushing my teeth and changing clothes in the mornings. I know how much time it will take me from start to finish and generally what techniques and products I have that work best. Even though there is still loads to learn, it isn't something that causes me stress anymore. Of all things to in the world to be stressed of, the fear of looking weird in makeup was foolishly one of mine.



That may look like a lot of steps but from the start of skincare to the end of makeup it only takes about 20 minutes tops if I don't suddenly try anything new in the mornings. If I used a cushion type base, I even shave off around 5 minutes of application time. My goal isn't to look perfectly flawless. I think the key to getting out the door is accepting that not every imperfect has to be painstakingly covered. Having all the products out in plain sight is also a game changer.





My daily routine is usually, more or less, the above photo. I work my way from left to right product-wise. Step one and two are to color correct with the JUNGSAEMMOOL Artist Concealer Palette in Blend and the Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Concealer in Green, whichever I grab first. Then I mix the Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer with the VDL MULE Ultimate Cover Palette in A03 and apply it lightly all over with a damp beautyblender sponge (the MULE cream foundation is very dry and thick). I follow with a light dusting of the bronzer shade in the MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish in Pink Power and also highlight with either shimmery shades in the compact. Afterwards, I brush the MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Blush in Pet Me over top my cheeks; sometimes on the apples, other times right up to my temples.

I have recently started to "contour" my nose bridge with the Urban Decay eyeshadows in Naked and Buck shades. I use quotes because it is barely visible. I am practically incorporating this step for the sake of trying to use some of the shadow up. Since I lay some base color with the "contour" shades as well, I lightly dust either Half Baked or Toasted on my eyelids for some textural difference. I also bring some of that along the lower lashline to balance the look, it is especially helpful when dealing with a very smudgy eyeliner. If I use a liquid liner or more smudge-resistant liner, I would apply eyeliner as the last step in my eye makeup routine. When using the Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer, I have to use a darker shadow, Urban Decay in Darkhorse or Hustle, to set it because the formula is way too soft. The only way I can use that specific eyeliner is via a light-handed half-eyelid line that is smudged out the rest of the way with a thin eyeliner brush. Otherwise, I end up looking like a crying panda within minutes!

When I am satisfied with everything else, I fill my brows with the JUNGSAEMMOOL Refining Color Bony Brow in Smoky Bony and lightly dab (or swipe on with a brush) the JUNGSAEMMOOL High Color Lipstick in High Matte Burgundy onto the inner area of my lips for a gradient look.



Even though I didn't make the Project Make a Dent official this year by sharing it on the blog, I was still trying my hardest to pan out things in my collection. I continued to work on the Visee Glam Nude Eye Shadow Palette in N-1 from PMAD No. 2 for a good portion of 2017. I upgraded to the Urban Decay Naked palette (circa 2011?) because I was honestly getting a little bored with the limited color selection. I hardly touched the Naked palette since purchasing it ages ago. While it doesn't look like much, most of the pans were filled to the brim when I first started. Now, look at those tiny tiny dips especially in Sidecar, Half Baked, and Toasted!

The other makeup item I stuck with from last year was the Pet Me Mineralized Blush from MAC. I was determined to see it to the end it after witnessing the progress from the last MAC blush I panned. It took daily makeup usage and an extremely excessive amount of brush swirling to see that much pan. I think it is safe to call it quits with this one once the new year hits, right?

Since I finished the bronzing/contour powder during the last Make a Dent journey, I quickly switched over to the limited edition MAC Wonder Woman Mineralized Skinfinish in Pink Power. It may be LE but I have also had it for years. This can't sit in my stash forever... I overfilled with joy when I saw the two highlighting colors diminish throughout the year. Contrastingly, the actual bronzer section looked to not have budge at all. But given how nicely domed it once was I can confidently say it has come a long way since January. I just hope it won't take me another full year to see the rest of the rings. The packaging is something I might keep around for the sake of it having been limited but at least the product inside wouldn't have gone to waste.

Otherwise, I finished a handful of eyeliners and cushion compacts throughout 2017 as well. They aren't as interesting to show in Project Make a Dents since I go through those kinds of items fairly regularly. They haven't been featured in any of my reviews of late either since the products themselves are on the older side (as in I've had them unopened for 1-2 years) and in the time period many of the products have been discontinued or upgraded. It is a shame though...I did find a few favorites amongst them and may never be able to find a better replacement. Well at least here is to another year of attempting to clear out my stash, rediscovering and trying out new things!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays everyone~

It'S SKIN Self Care Foot Peeling

12:21:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

Sandal season might be over but foot care is a reoccurring "To do" task for me. Even though I love the ease and convenience of my sock-less shoes, I have long traded them in for sneakers and boots now that the colder temperatures have set in. I would love to forget about foot peels, as I do with shaving in the winter, but memories of painfully deep cracked heels say otherwise. Prevention is my motto this season!

Since it would be an extremely boring and redundant to do the same routine I've done for previous foot peels again, I chose not to do any extra feet soaks to help speed up the peeling process. Unsurprisingly, It's SKIN Self Care Foot Peeling worked just as well as the SAEM's, The Face Shop's and Etude House's versions—it was just a much slower shedding this time around.



It'S SKIN's description:

Herbal extracts help soften and peel away dead skin for smoother feet.

Directions
1. Wear the self care foot peeling socks on both feet.
2. Put liquid from each pouch into the socks.
3. Soak feet for 1.5 hours and remove.
4. Wash feet gently with water.

Cautions
- Do a patch test if you have skkin allergy or sensitive skin. Put a small amount of liquid from the pouch onto the soft part of feet and leave it for 20-30 minutes.
- Do not use if you have a wound, swelling, or eczema.
- Do not use if you are diabetic or bleeding.
- Stop using if there is any redness, swelling, or itchiness.
- Do not scratch feet after using the product.
- Old skin with fall off naturally in one to two weeks.
- Do not forcibly remove dead skin when peeling begins.
- Foot baths in warm water helps the peeling process.
- Recommended frequency of use is once every 2-3 months. For more extreme cases it may require a second application at intervals of 28 days.
- Do not drink.

Ingredients
WATER, ALCOHOL, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM LACTATE, GLYCOLIC ACID, GLYCERIN, ARGININE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, SALICYLIC ACID, FRAGRANCE, DISODIUM EDTA, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA (LIME) FRUIT EXTRACT, UREA, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) EXTRACT, LAVENDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) EXTRACT, THYMUS VULGARIS (THYME) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS EXTRACT, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, MELALEUCA ALTEMIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF EXTRACT, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF EXTRACT, EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LEAF EXTRACT, MENTHA SPICATA FLOWER/LEAF/STEAM EXTRACT

It'S SKIN (Korean retail): ₩7,000
RoseRoseShop: ₩7,000
*Availability and price of this on K-Beauty online shops vary.



The skin on my soles felt very thick and rough since the last peel was a good 3+ months ago. My heels, in particular, got so scaly that no amount of pumice stone scrubbing could get through the surface. These kind of masks are the only things I have found so far that works painlessly and almost effortlessly (I would much rather soak my feet in liquids once a month than rigorously scrub at it every night). The results this time weren't as clean but keep in mind the weather is much drier and my skin, as gross as it sounds, has been accumulating layer by layer for a long time.

Packaging

It'S SKIN Self Care Foot Peeling looks exactly like the previous road shop brands I've tried. The foot-shaped pouches come with ready-to-use serum and the plastic booties are double-layered and need to be secured via tying (versus a sticker).

Ingredients

The list of ingredients seem longer compared to the previous ones I've used but has the same general components: AHA's + BHA's + a bunch of essential oils.

Color & Scent

The serum is colorless and relatively odorless despite containing essential oils and fragrance. Again, I did not experience any sensitivity to the acids this time around either.

Before

Soaked my feet for 30 minutes in water prior to soaking it for 90 minutes in the peeling serum.

Day 1-5...even 6

Saw no changes. Didn't do any extra soaking.

Day 7-8

Feet finally started to see glimmers of the peeling process beginning: skin felt tighter and looked even ashier. No extra feet-soaks.

Day 9-12

Dead skin started to flake off; first where the skin was thinnest (between the toes) and then the arches and balls of my feet. The calluses were struggling but it slowly came apart as well over those few days. Still no extra soaks.

Day 13-14

80-85% of the skin completely shed off. The remaining 15-20% was all the heel calluses—that area had the most trouble and just didn't want to budge. After 2 weeks of patiently waiting, I accepted the fact that the acids didn't reach the remaining bits. A tried to pumice the stubborn skin off and finished the process with maybe 5-10% of dead skin remaining?

Thoughts & Recommendations

When the skin on my feet is thick enough to be clipped off like fingernails, these heavy-duty chemical peels are the only trustworthy products I can rely on. I am glad to know that all 4 of the different Korean road shop brands I have tried, It'S SKIN included, have in fact worked well...enough. It seems impossible to get every last bit of crusty skin with the rate calluses form on me. Heck, it has only been a week since the skin finished peeing and it's already starting to get ashy and scaly. Maybe I need to find something else to help maintain the baby soft skin post-peeling without the labor-intensive work that pumice stones require?

JUNGSAEMMOOL Artist Concealer Palette - Blend

12:12:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

Typically when I spend too much time mulling over a product, I ultimately tend to find it to be just average overall. The time spent is usually to try and find more ways to justify the money spent despite knowing it didn't work out well. But the longer I used the JUNGSAEMMOOL Artist Concealer Palette in Blend the more I liked and reached for the palette. It is rare for something to first fell into the unsure bunch, then moved into the regrets pile, before discovering the specific conditions to finally graduate it to the love group. It's been a whirlwind relationship with this one.



JUNGSAEMMOOL's Description:

Exclusive concealer palette for professional makeup artists that allows to cover any type of skin imperfection.

Professional Color Shade
Broad spectrum for various skin colors suggested by professional makeup artists.

Full Coverage with One-Stroke
Provides full-coveraged infused with One-Touch Covering Powders.

One-Touch Covering Powder
Infused with plate powders that have high-adhesion to skin, it provides full coverage with only a single stroke. It also has perfectly buildable texture that allows to adjust the level of coverage by layering.

Customizable Blending
Customizable colors of concealer enable to create variety of skin imperfection by blending in together.

Long-lasting
Skin Barrier Paste System protects the skin from getting dried while Marsh Mallow Powders absorb the oil and make the skin stay clean and smooth for a long time.

Skin Barrier Paste System
It creates a skin barrier after using to protect the moisture inside skin from getting evaporated.

Marsh Mallow Powder
Soft and bouncy powders selectively and quickly absorb the oil from skin and provide refreshing feeling without dryness.

Directions
Stroke with a brush or fingertip and lightly tap around it for blending.

Ingredients
Blend White
TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, POLYBUTENE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)

Blend Orange
TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, POLYBUTENE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)

Blend Pink
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)

Blend Green
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090)

Blend Lavender
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), RED 7 (CI 15850:1), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)

Blend Yellow
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491)

Correctors - Largest pans 1.6 g // Mid-sized pans 1.1 g // Smallest pans 0.6 g

JSM Beauty (Korean retail): ₩35,000
JSM Beauty (USA retail): USD $44.06
Peach & Lily: USD $45.00

Packaging

Six colors of correctors in various sized pans, housed in a thin lightweight plastic palette with a generously sized mirror and dual-ended concealer brush. The lid closes shut with a click-lock mechanism.



Color usage recommendations

Blend White
Highlighting, Tone-up blending. (For covering dark spot or expressing soft color. Can be blended with other colors.)

Blend Orange
For covering brown dark circle and using as blush.

Blend Pink
For covering deep brown dark circle and using as blush.

Blend Green
For correcting the redness of dark circle and blemish, and correcting flush.

Blend Lavender
For correcting the yellowish skin tone and reddish blemish.

Blend Yellow
For covering bluish dark circle and correcting the redness and discoloration.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

At first touch, the correctors feel quite dry. Give it a few seconds with some body heat and it becomes a whole lot creamier. But the correctors have a tacky/balmy quality to them, especially when applying via fingertips. Instead of being creamy in the sense that it'll slip and smooth easily, the JUNGSAEMMOOL correctors apply better when tapped onto the skin or swiped on with short and light brush strokes.

The colors in the palette are very pigmented. None of the correctors are thick in texture; all of them blend and adhere thinly as if it was like second-skin. Coverage, therefore, is light to medium at best. However, since it applies on in such a light layer the concealers are all highly buildable for more coverage—just never full.

Once blended, the concealers don't feel wet or tacky. It has a satin-like finish and in my opinion, doesn't require setting powder or a very minimal dusting. Fragrance isn't listed in any of the ingredients lists nor do the correctors have any scent to them.

How I Apply

Fingers // Using either my ring or middle finger, I warm up and soften the correctors before dabbing and tapping the colored concealers all throughout my face. Offers the smoothest and most natural application.

Concealer brush // Use a flat concealer brush or flat/paddle-shaped foundation brush to dab and tap the concealers onto my face. Offers higher coverage with fewer layers but is more difficult to blend.

Thoughts & Recommendations

Why I was initially unsure. Of all the concealers I have tried so far, this palette has the most unique texture. It is creamy with body heat but blends into something incredibly thin and dry. The product is the most natural-looking concealer type product I have ever used. Once the creaminess is blended in, all I am left with is the pigmentation of the correctors. While the finish is skin-like and transparent, it means coverage is also on the sheer side. I guess I expected it to work too much like a concealer instead of thinking it as a corrector.

Why I almost regretted. Due to the drier nature of the formulation, it clings onto dry patches and flaky dead skin like no other. I made the mistake of patting on the corrections over top poorly exfoliated areas and many pimples that were in the midst of recovery (i.e. shriveled and flaky). I also over powdered my face just a tad with translucent powder since the weather was warm at the time. The combination of all three led to arid makeup and scaliness.

Why I have grown to love. Mattifying powders, begone. Highly hydrating moisturizers, welcome! Once I had my skin balanced and textural issues fixed, the correctors apply so beautifully. They still have high adhesion and longevity despite the lack of setting powder. While the coverage is lacking, my skin tone is well balanced, not cakey, and still looks skin-like just with splotches of absurd colors—allowing me to go over with a lighter layer of foundation or cushion for the needed coverage. I love that my dark circles look brighter and livelier. The redness on my cheeks and around my nose isn't completely counteracted but it seems less severe.

The pigment is highly concentrated and shows up very evidently on light to medium skin. I only use Blend Orange and Blend Pink alone for the under eye area if I apply foundation or cushion overtop. Otherwise, I prefer to mix a bit of Blend Orange/Pink with Blend White for a pastel-peachy/salmon shade. Blend Green is my most used color and a favorite in terms of green correctors, in general, —it leans quite warm and has a muted-yellow undertone, which is quite rare in the realm of green correcting products (that all tend to have a white base). I reach for Blend Lavender and Blend Yellow the least. When I do they, typically go in areas that need a bit of brightening: corners of the mouth, corners of the eyes, and other highlight points.

What I would like differently. I have finally gotten used to the formulation and figured out the specific conditions my skin has to be in for the correctors to work well: well moisturized and well exfoliated. Now all I wish for is if JUNGSAEMMOOL made all the pan sizes more balanced or possibly release the green shade separately. I barely reach for the purple and yellow shades. Contrastingly, I use Blend Green just as much as, if not more than the two dark circle correctors, yet it has the smallest pan in the palette. It has only been a few months since I have incorporated it into my makeup routine and the bottom pan is already peeking through. I would gladly hoard Blend Green if she sold it individually. Refill pan maybe?

The palette would work great for those interested in color correctors but hate the thick and cakey makeup look. I am currently torn on whether I would repurchase the palette in the immediate future. There is still a ton of Blend White, Orange, Pink, Lavender, and Yellow left. The only color I see running out soon would be Blend Green but it isn't quite worth the $40+ dollars for the entire palette when I only want the one specific color. With that said, however, if I were to see more pan for a few of the colors I would 100% repurchase the Artist Concealer Palette in Blend.

November Hauls - add.

10:02:00 PM mandy 0 Comments

It will be a long while before I tackle my next DIY furniture project; the cold and unpredictable weather doesn't help speed up any prospective plans either. In fact, unlike my last DIY where I had thought about and drew up plans for years earlier, this future project is as of right now completely unplanned for. Practically impulsive if I do say so myself...I saw the amazing price the set hairpin legs were selling for during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at DIY Hairpin Legs Co. and I couldn't help myself.

I had toyed with the idea of making a bench-like piece after I completed the desk. A bench would be 100% a want instead of fulfilling any sort of need. It would be nice to have something that will match my desk in terms of aesthetics. It would be nice to have something more spacious to place bags I frequently reach for. It would be convenient to have a lighter "table" I could move around for taking photos for the blog. Yet the main thing that held me back was the cost of all the materials just couldn't justify any of those wants.

When the after-Thanksgiving sales began, the company I previously bought my hairpin legs from had a deal I just couldn't pass up on. Instead of paying nearly $80 dollars (pre-shipping) for a set of 4 2-Rod, 16" high, 1/2" thick, and pre-painted (powder-coated) white hairpin legs, I was able to get the set for just $30 (pre-shipping). That is more than a 50% difference! Plus all the time I would save because I don't have to personally paint the legs white this time around, hallelujah.

The package from DIY Hairpin Legs Co. came in a much better condition. There was only a small hole on one of the sides and the box, in general, was intact. Instead of kraft paper, each individual leg was wrapped in a foam sheet that was further wrapped with stretchy plastic cling film. Everything was bundled up with so much more care! I don't know if this is because the company recently changed their packing style or if the painted hairpin legs just generally receive more attention than the raw steel ones. Either option could be possible but I think the latter makes more sense since it would be terrible if the pre-painted legs arrived chipped.

Compared to the hairpin legs that I painted myself, the pre-painted version feels so smooth and looks much glossier. I don't think it is noticeable from afar but the glossiness is definitely apparent the closer I get to the legs. Good thing these little guys are half the height of my table legs; no one will ever really stoop that low to take such a close comparison view of both together anyways. I can't wait to think more about what to actually do with these legs now. I have a good half year before the weather starts to get warm again...

November Hauls

12:16:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

There hasn't been this much variety in my month-to-month beauty purchases in a while. The only thing all of these products have in common is they were bought on sale and/or with coupons. With all the stuff I already have that is basically the only sane reason I use to justify myself at this point.



CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is making its routine appearance. I have yet to share my written thoughts on it because I want to try the lotion in the drier, colder weather first. But I think actions are speaking a thousand words for me already. As per usual, I stacked a bunch of coupons and deals to buy both for ~USD $6-7 each.

(Of the 6 bottles total now that I have bought in the last year, I have seen at least 3-4 variations of packaging...what's up with that?)



While everyone (including my usual self) seems to lose all control during the annual Sephora VIB Rouge sale, I tried to be a tad more sensible this year. It felt wasteful to not use that 20% discount after all that money I dumped at Sephora last year to gain the VIB status. Plus, I had some gift cards to spend with the brand. So why not?

My self-control was reigned in well right? My actual purchase included both the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Lemon and Green Tea plus a Farmacy cleansing balm. Despite waiting for 2+ weeks before receiving any further progress updates on my VIB order, Sephora e-mailed to say the cleansing balm had in fact been sold-out. I'm glad the entire order wasn't canceled but I had my hopes up patiently waiting for 3 items... To think Sephora's website and inventory would be better connected than that.



While I was being disappointed by Sephora's lack of progress, Peach & Lily's Black Friday through Cyber Monday sale had me jumping up and down in my seat. 30% off everything, including their newly curated brands?! Score! Since I had swiped up some of their newer skincare brands, Olivarrier and abib, at their sample sale, I was most interested in finally getting my hands on more of the JUNGSAEMMOOL makeup.

The prices are higher than Korean retail on Peach and Lily but with the 30% discount, and EMS costs via Global Lotte/Hyundai in consideration, Peach & Lily was clearly the cost winner at that moment. I originally wanted to only get the JSM Refining Color Bony Brow pencil to replace my current brow product. But I was quickly reminded of their USD $50 free shipping minimum (that is currently waived for USA orders until the end of December). By that point, I got a little irrational and added the Artist Contour Palette in Shape and Shade, Essential Star-cealer Foundation in Medium-Deep, and High Color Lipstick in High Matte Burgundy. When else would I get to buy JSM on sale in the USA?? Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream found its way into the mix when Peach & Lily promised a freebie sheet mask and their sheet mask travel bag for orders over USD $100, after discounts.

Apparently, all the control I had during the Sephora sale was meant to save for this massive dump at Peach & Lily instead. My order ultimately didn't come with that sheet mask, but I am too excited for the stuff I actually paid for to be upset by it. The important products are in my hands and that is all that matters! Christmas is here early for me~