I call this the Autumn look but, truth be told, I've been sporting this color palette since the summer; orange, brown, and gold are versatile shades and effortlessly compatible with either season. It seems to go well with both my tanned skin tone and, now, slightly lighter tone. Paired with loose waves that veer brown-ish under bright sunlight, this continues to be my styling of choice at the moment.
Looking at this photo makes me itch to dye my hair a chocolatey brown shade with a wavy perm. Knowing me though, I would be terrible at upkeeping colored and damaged hair.
Redness is always an issue on my face. Typically it is the residual effects of acne while most other times it is just blotchiness. I use the MAYBELLINE Master Camo Color Correcting Pen 10 Green to target said spots and blend it out with the JUNGSAEMMOOL Essential Star-cealer Foundation Puff. I spread about half a pump of the JUNGSAEMMOOL Essential Star-cealer Foundation in Medium Deep in the compact itself, lightly dab it onto the JSM puff, and stamp it onto my face (starting from the inner regions and moving towards the outer areas). If I feel like I need more coverage for under the eyes, around the nose, or on other discoloration then I will take a brush and work the included concealer into my routine as well. I apply a light wash of the BECCA Cosmetics Beach Tint in Lychee on my cheeks. Then set my entire base with a light dusting of the Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Powder. I apply the bronzer shade from MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish in Pink Power under my cheekbones and on the temples of my face. MAC Cosmetics My Highland Honey is the main focal point of the look, in my opinion, so I generously apply it to my cheeks. I smooth the Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up! on the tip of my nose, on top of my cheekbones, and in the space above (but between) my eyebrows for highlight.
My eye makeup is far more simple in comparison. I mix Urban Decay eyeshadows in Naked and Buck before applying all over the eyelid and the lower lash line. Then I sweep some of Half Baked onto the middle-ish section of my lids space, following with Dark Horse in the outer corners of the eyes. Since my eyelids are constantly fluctuating between double and triple folds, I stick to my version of tight-lining with the Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner in Black Brown to avoid creasing issues. I end the makeup look by filling in my natural brow shape with the innisfree Brow Master Pencil in Gray.
The past couple of months haven't been very exciting in terms of beauty purchases. I realize I don't need much in my stash after, basically, overdosing from the Peach & Lily sale. The purchases I ended up making were mostly due to sales and coupons to fill in for categories I couldn't/didn't shop at the sample sale.
UO had a bunch of random beauty sales through the month and I racked up a bunch of $5 coupons from their, relatively new, revamped UO Rewards system (which is still pretty ambiguous but not terrible). Bestie C offered her 15% VIB code during the Appreciation Event in September and I took the opportunity to finally get a scalp scrub to try against my oily hair.
Urban Outfitters purchase:
stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - Intense Black Orig. $22 Sale $18
ohii mini mascara Orig. $16 Sale $14
NatureLab Perfect Volume Texture Mist Orig. $12 Sale $10
TONYMOLY Dr.Logy Blemish Pair Capsule Ampoule Orig. $24 Sale $10.49
Miscellaneous:
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Seat Salt Orig. $24 Sale $10.49
Nexcare Acne Patches "souvenirs" from Aunt's Taiwan trip x12
When someone says they've been using a product for five years and it can transform Sahara-dry-skin, it must be that amazing and needs to be tested immediately. Reviews and Alicia Yoon herself all rave about be the skin's Botanical Nutrition Power line for soothing dry skin. It seemed perfect for the constant flakes I have which only gets worse as the weather becomes cooler and drier. After using the toner and serum in both hot/humid and cold/dry weather, I unexpectedly prefer one (product and weather) over the other.
Peach & Lily's description:
Toner
A royal-jelly infused toner with all-natural ingredients that balance the skin's pH levels and hydrates the skin while helping to improve skin's firmness. Delivers moisture into the skin and gently preps for serums and lotions.
Appropriate for all skin types. Ideal for dry skin.
Serum
This serum draws on botanical herbs that have been used for thousands of years in Asian history to hydrate and help with signs of aging skin. This best-selling serum helps impart moisture and radiance to dry, dull skin.
Ideal for dry skin.
Directions
Toner
Cleanse face thoroughly then pat dry. Place a dime size amount of toner either (1) in the palm of your hand and pat onto face or (2) on a cotton pad or ball and swipe over skin. Follow up with the remaining steps of skincare routine.
Serum
Cleanse and tone face. Apply 1-2 pumps of serum all over face or concentrate to dryer areas. Gently pat product into the skin with fingertips. Follow with Botanical Nutrition Power Cream for best results.
Ingredients
Toner
WATER, LAURUS NOBILIS LEAF EXTRACT, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, POLYGLYCERYL-10 EICOSANEDIOATE/TETRADECANEDIOATE, BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-4, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, ARGININE, PIPER METHYSTICUM LEAF/ROOT/STEM EXTRACT, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) LEAF EXTRACT, ARTEMISIA UMBELLIFORMIS EXTRACT, BUDDLEJA DAVIDII EXTRACT, THYMUS VULGARIS (THYME) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, HONEY EXTRACT, ROYAL JELLY EXTRACT, ARNICA MONTANA FLOWER EXTRACT, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, HEDERA HELIX (IVY) EXTRACT, SAMBUCUS NIGRA FLOWER EXTRACT, MALVA SYLVESTRIS (MALLOW) FLOWER EXTRACT, PARIETARIA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ILLICIUM VERUM (ANISE) FRUIT EXTRACT, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, FRAGRANCE
Serum
WATER, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, SQUALANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, LAURUS NOBILIS LEAF EXTRACT, GLYCERYL ACRYLATE/ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE, ALGIN, CARICA PAPAYA (PAPAYA) FRUIT EXTRACT, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA ROOT EXTRACT, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, SORBITAN STEARATE, SUCROSE COCOATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, ARNICA MONTANA FLOWER EXTRACT, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, HEDERA HELIX (IVY) EXTRACT, SAMBUCUS NIGRA FLOWER EXTRACT, MALVA SYLVESTRIS (MALLOW) FLOWER EXTRACT, PARIETARIA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, PERILLA OCYMOIDES SEED EXTRACT, HONEY EXTRACT, ROYAL JELLY EXTRACT, ARTEMISIA UMBELLIFORMIS EXTRACT, BUDDLEJA DAVIDII EXTRACT, THYMUS VULGARIS (THYME) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, ISOHEXADECANE, POLYSORBATE 80, ARGININE, CARBOMER, XANTHAN GUM, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, FRAGRANCE
Toner 150 ml
be the skin (Korean retail): ₩37,000
Peach & Lily: USD $29.00
Serum 50 ml
be the skin (Korean retail): ₩40,000
Peach & Lily: USD $39.00
Packaging
Both toner and serum come in orange-tinted glass bottles; the former has a screw-on cap while the latter has a pump. The expiration dates are clearly printed on the bottom of both bottles and each come with a seal/pump lock.
Judging from the packaging choices alone, the brand gives off a very luxe feel. It isn't great for anyone on the go but it looks brilliant on a vanity. The toner's bottle design fits the texture of the product well; vicious liquid won't easily run out and offers a degree of control. I would have preferred if the serum came in something different though; while the tube inside is thankfully curved and completely reaches the bottom I still had to forcefully shake and tap the remnant serums into that specific corner in order to use everything up.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
Toner is a vicious liquid straight out of the bottle. It gets more watery as body heat is introduced. There is no tackiness or residue left behind and soaks into the skin easily. No matter if swiped across skin with cotton or directly pat into the skin, the toner leaves a matte finish and skin is immediately softer. This has a strong herb and witch hazel scent which can be overpowering if applying multiple layers of the toner.
Serum is a thicker liquid that leans gel-like. It also holds its shape well until body heat is added into the mix, at which point it spreads like butter. There is an initial silicone slippery feel and dewiness to it but both go away as the serum is absorbed into the skin. Compared to the toner, the scent of the serum is more faint and refreshing.
How I Apply
I prefer to put a few drops of the toner onto a cotton round an wipe my face after cleansing. I have tried to use it for "7-skin" but would rather use an even more hydrating toner for that instead.
With the serum, I usually use two pumps worth of product and spread it over my face. Thrice if I am feeling generous and have pumped just once for the entire face when stingy. Any amount is sufficient since it spreads well, it is dependent on how dry my skin feels at that moment.
Thoughts & Recommendations
While both work, I definitely like the Botanical Nutrition Power Toner over the Serum. They are more lightweight and less occlusive than I originally imagined them to be. Many dry skin type people do love this line though (according to the Peach & Lily's reviews); for me, neither help my most dry areas and flakey skin. There is some relief but not the long lasting kind. It does provide great moisture for the normal/oily areas, especially when the weather is more humid.
Size is the biggest reason I like the Toner (150 ml) more than the Serum (50 ml). I know serums are supposed to be more concentrated and deeply moisturizing, however, this Serum isn't for me. I can use 2-3 pumps and focus it on my flakes but still be parched a few hours later. When I use 2-3 pumps twice a day, I go through the bottle way too quickly (close to empty within a month or so). The toner lasts many many more months when used only to wipe my skin after cleansing.
Versatility is another factor as to why I enjoy the Toner. I could, again, use it to wipe my face. No matter how well I clean and exfoliate my face beforehand, the cotton will always wipe something up and become yellow-hued. It can be applied in multiple layers to hydrate. I have dabbed toner over makeup on my flakes to instantaneously relieve patches, even if temporary. I have tried with the Serum as well but it has a more vicious texture which can actually (re)move makeup if not careful.
Repurchasing isn't on my mind right now. If it was, I would only reconsider for the Toner; it costs less, lasts longer, and has more uses. I think the yellow be the skin line works best for oily/normal/combination skin and in humid weather but I seem to in the minority. Thankfully, neither broke my skin out. Those sensitive to fragrance may want to skip this.
