Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream from Seoul Glamour!

I've been wanting to try the Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream since I ran out of my MAC Charged Water Moisture Eye Cream. I went to the actual store to get it, but they weren't selling it (it wasn't FDA approved yet). I didn't know where I was going to purchase it online (ebay, kpoptown, etc.) until I looked on Amazon and saw that it was the cheapest out of all of them.

I purchased it from Seoul Glamour on Amazon for $19.68 ($14.69 + $4.99 s/h). I got an email the same day I ordered it saying it shipped and I received it 10 days later. I was worried because I didn't receive a tracking number, but it arrived in the same amount of time as other items I've purchased from Korea. I received what I'm guessing is a bookmark and a sample of Skinfood's Watery Berry Serum which I am excited to try because it's for moisturizing. 

Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream

It comes with 30g of product (a ton!!!) housed in a glass jar. It has a floral scent and while it looks thick in the jar, it is thin and applies easily. Unfortunately it didn't immediately brighten up my under eye area like the MAC Charged Water Moisture Eye Cream did T_T, but that had actual particles to reflect light in it. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Limited Edition Set

Left: Coral Crush

Right: Twinkle

Oh my goodness I'm in love with these limited edition shades from Maybelline! I was kind of afraid of the color of Coral Crush, but it leaves a pretty and wearable coral color on the lips. Also, it smells like tangerines to me! Twinkle is clear and smells like Starbursts! Both are very moisturizing. I'm disappointed that they don't have SPF in them when the permanent ones with color do, but if they did they probably wouldn't be as moisturizing. I got this set for $7.99 at Walgreens.

Urban Decay All Nighter Spray

Urban Decay All Nighter XL Makeup Setting Spray

Picked up two of these because they were only $18 on the Urban Decay website! I got the travel sized one before, but bought the original Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray instead. I bought it back in February and I have between 1/2 to 1/4 left. It's okay (it works and everything), but I prefer the Urban Decay one instead (even though it's made by Skindinavia -__-). Jump on it!

Gmarket Haul #5!

Made another order at Gmarket to get things for back to school and fall! Everything shipped a week after I ordered it and it came in the usual 3 days. Estimated shipping was 5.23kg at 55,600 won and actual shipping was 3.09kg at 45,400 won. I got 10,200 won credited to my Cash Balance. Shipping per item was $3.17 with the actual shipping cost.

Etude Haul

(Etude House is having a 10% off sale until October 3rd!)

Etude House Happy Teatime Aloe Tea Cleansing Foam

on sale for 2,700 ($2.45)

Etude House is phasing out the Happy Teatime Cleansing Foams (being replaced by the Happy Cleansing Foams) so I picked up the Aloe one. I love the Peach one I'm using right now. If they had all of the varieties I would have bought them all!

Etude House Hand Bouquet Rich Vitamin Hand Cream SPF15/PA+

on sale for 4,500 won ($4.09)

I actually wanted to get the Missing U Bee Happy hand creams, but they became out of stock : ( so I picked this up instead. I really like how this has SPF in it. I should have got this a long time ago to use over the summer! The smell is so-so (not overly sweet/fragrant smelling). It smells like lavender to me. It's a good size at 50ml, but I feel like I'm going to run out of it quickly because I use it 3-4 times a day!

Etude House Blackhead Heating Deep Clean Gel

on sale for 7,200 won ($6.54)

Tried this once and I was kind of disappointed because I didn't feel it heat up. It was also a little bit hard to squeeze out of the tube. I did like the ghassoul clay and scrubbing particles in it though! 

Etude House Princess 3D Mask in Red Wine and Honey & Milk

on sale for 1,800 won ($1.64)

So excited to try these out! I'm a little worried about the neck part though. I've never tried a sheet mask with a neck part. I feel like it may be difficult to work with. I also got the Pearl Extract sheet mask as a gift.

Holika Holika Haul

Holika Holika Pig-Nose Clear Blackhead Steam Starter

4,900 won ($4.45)

I tried this once and it really warmed up compared to the heating gel from Etude House. It has a thick gel consistency and it smelled citrusy like grapefruits. It didn't open up my pores that much but I think it was because I only left it on for a minute. It contains 30ml. I also didn't get a sample from Holika Holika : ((

Holika Holika Jewel-Light Waterproof Eyeliner in Pink Topaz

4,900 won ($4.45)

This eyeliner is really cute! I use it at the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up. When I swatched it the pink color showed up (it doesn't show in the picture), but when I apply it to my eyes it doesn't really show up. Maybe it's because I don't apply a lot? I haven't worn this out for a few hours, but I did rub the swatch vigorously and most of it stayed except some glitter came off. It is VERY glittery. I read some reviews that said they use it in their waterline which makes me squirm!!! I wouldn't want to put glitters in my eyes in fear of irritating it. 

The Saem Mom's Nagging Mini Doll Hand Cream in Peach and Rose

on sale for 2,100 won ($1.91)

Bought these two because The Saem was having a 30% off sale and I needed hand creams to stock up for fall! The packaging is very cute and contains 50ml which I think is a good size. I haven't tried these out (using up the Etude House hand cream first), but they smell very good!

M3117 Backpack (link)

6,900 won ($6.26)

Ordered this backpack to use for school. It was only $6.26!!! I like to think that most of my shipping cost went to this (instead of dividing it evenly among my items) because it's so cheap! The downfall: it smells like old, used sponges!!! The smell reminds me of hobos -__-. I feel so self conscious in class and on the light rail lol. I hope the smell goes away. The good thing about is is that is made of durable material and has plenty of pockets! 

Black Motor Money Clutch (link)

15,900 won ($14.43)

I saw this on zipia while window shopping online. Definitely look in gmarket if you like something from zipia! Most likely they'll have it. This is a really cute and functional clutch! It came with a short and long strap to use as a wristlet or cross-body. It has two big pockets inside on the sides and pockets for cards. The front zipper is a functional pocket! It also came with bobby pins and hair ties from the seller. I got black to go with everything, but this comes in a bunch of other colors as well.

Pleated skirt (link)

18,700 won ($16.97)

I really like this skirt! It has an elastic waist and a slip underneath. The color doesn't really show up in the picture, but it's a mustard yellow kind of color. It's a bit long on me because I'm short, but I fold the waist. It's a pretty skirt but I feel like it makes me look wider because of the pleats. I think the price is good and they have a bunch of other colors!

Black Ankle Strap Flatforms (link)

21,000 won ($19.87)

I saw these shoes on zipia as well. When I was looking for it in gmarket I found a pair that was the same style, but the bottom sole was a different color. I found the one I was looking for in another seller's shop, but it was $30! I kept on looking and finally found this one at $19.87. Woohoo right? Nope. When I opened these, it REEKED of chemicals. It makes me sad because these shoes remind me of the cheap wholesale ones from China and I bought these for $20! The shoes I have bought from Korea are usually better quality than the wholesale ones from China and don't reek of chemicals. I'm leaving them outside to air out, but I have a sinking feeling that the smell will never go away. Time to sell these to Crossroads lol!!!

Mini Skinfood Haul!

Watermelon Mask Sheet $3.30

Peach Sake Pore Essence Mask Sheet $4.40

Peach Sake Pore BB Cream in shade 05 Honey Beige $16.80

Went to the Skinfood store located in the Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco to check it out and pick up a few things! I got most of the items I wanted but they didn't have the Salmon Brightening Eye Cream because the FDA hasn't approved it yet. I asked the sales associate if they were opening any other stores in the Bay Area and she said they're opening one in Valley Fair! Hooray!!! 

Skinfood samples

I got a lot of samples! I saw a poster saying something about if you bought a face mask you get 8 samples from around the world? I can't wait to try them out!

New Goodies

Along with Filipino candies and pastries, my Dad brought back some skincare items I requested. 

Left to right:

-Eskinol Spotless White Facial Deep Cleanser with Calamansi Extract

I actually wanted a calamansi soap bar from a brand called Snoe Beauty, but my cousins couldn't find it so they got me this instead. It has pretty good reviews but I'm using Etude House's Pore Freshener as my toner right now. I'll try it when I get a pimple!

-Etude House Blackhead Final Kit Double-Up

Another thing they either couldn't find or mixed up T_T (I wanted the Blackhead Heating Deep Clean Gel). I guess I'll get it with the gmarket basket I'm adding up now!

-Etude House Moistfull White Eye Roll-on & Spot Treatment

-(Behind) Etude House Milk Talk samples!

-Kojie San Skin Lightening Soap

Another thing I'm excited to try out:

My Beauty Diary masks!!! I'm finally trying them out. I went to the local Asian grocery stores to find how much they were selling them for. 99 Ranch actually had them on sale (2/$24). The other store I went to (Marina) was selling them for $16! The regular price for a box at 99 Ranch was $14.99. I wanted to get the Strawberry Yogurt one but 99 Ranch didn't have it and I wasn't going to pay $16 for it when it's $13.99 online with free shipping and no tax. I tried the Bulgarian White Rose one today and it was a different experience for me! I never use masks, but I wanted to try these out! 

Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream

Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream

I stumbled upon a Skinfood store in Cerritos while I was vacationing in Long Beach in July. I was super excited  because 1) Ahhhh!!! It's a Skinfood store! and 2) Ahhhh!!! They have darker shades of BB cream in their Peach Sake Pore BB Cream line! 

Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream in 04 Soft Beige and 06 Golden Beige

They have a total of 8 shades in the line. The first one I swatched was straight up brown (it was shade 06 Golden Beige). I ended up getting that one because  my skin was pretty tanned. I came back two days later to get the lighter shades for when my skin got lighter, but they were sold out of shade 05. They only had 2-3 left of shades 04 and 06 so I picked up shade 04 Soft Beige. The sales associate said that shades 03 to 08 were only released to the U.S. market. 

It contains 30ml and comes with a pump. The pump doesn't have very good control compared to Missha's Perfect Cover BB Cream. You can't use just one finger to control the exact amount you want. The second time I came in a sales associate who was helping me pumped one whole pump on my hand -__-. It was sold for $16.80 and with tax I paid $18.27. 


On to the swatches! (Don't mind my hairy arms :p):

Left: 04 Soft Beige

Right: 06 Golden Beige

Left to Right: Missha shade 27, 04 Soft Beige, 06 Golden Beige

For nighttime I use MUFE HD Foundation in shade 128, so I would say that I am a MAC NC37-NC40. I believe that shade 04 Soft Beige matches my face, but it is slightly pink (I have warm yellow undertones). I use shade 06 Golden Beige during the day to school and work to match my neck. I prefer using shade 06 because I don't like it when my face is lighter than my neck (even though it naturally is). Even though it's dark, when blended in it gives my face a nice warm, golden tan color. Compared to Missha shade 27, 04 Soft Beige is slightly darker and has a more pink beige undertone while Missha's is more yellow. 

Description on product: "Containing Peach extract that soothes oily, troubled skin, and Sake that controls excessive sebum secretion, this light-textured blemish cream effectively conceals skin impurities and gives a natural coverage for a flawless complexion. 

Coverage-wise, it is sheer to a buildable medium. I apply it to my face using my fingers and use  ELF's Studio Powder Brush to blend it out and then I apply a bit more product to the areas I want more coverage. Although it is marketed towards people with oily skin it leaves a dewy, non-matte finish. I like dewy finishes but most people with oily skin don't. It lasts about 4-5 hours (that's when I can start to see the marks on my face). My skin isn't extremely oily, but it starts to get oily after about 4-5 hours as well. Even though it starts to fade after 4-5 hours, by the end of the day (8-9 hours later) the majority of my face is still covered. I like the nice peach scent and only notice it when I apply the BB cream. It isn't as strong smelling as Missha's Perfect Cover BB Cream. 

Overall, I really like this BB cream. I don't need that much coverage during the day and this is a step up from my usual tinted moisturizer. I like the smell and the dewy finish. I love the fact that it comes in darker shades. If shade 06 is this dark, I'm pretty sure shades 07 and 08 will work for NC42/44! I thought that the only place I would be able to purchase it was Southern California but I just found out recently that they opened a Skinfood store in Stonestown Galleria is San Francisco. It's still an hour drive for me, but it's better than driving 8 hours to go down south!

Pros:
-Darker shades
-Comes with a pump
-Natural coverage

Cons: 
-Only available in Skinfood stores in the U.S.
-Expensive for the amount
-Pump doesn't have good control
-Not long lasting (only lasts 4-5 hours)
-Low SPF in my opinion (SPF20 with only PA+) Edit: it doesn't list SPF 20 PA+ on the packaging, but it does have uv filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Titanium Dioxide

Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Line Review

Finally reviewing the whole Bulgarian Rose skincare line now that I have most of the products. Holika Holika also has a rose oil and mist in the line, but I didn't purchase those. Note that I'm reusing the pictures and pretty much the same thoughts of the items from my previous posts. Also, I placed the items above in the order I would use them. My skin is combination oily (oily T-zone and normal cheeks). 


1. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Petal Skin (150ml)

This toner claims to "hydrate the skin and tone complexion". It is alcohol-free. After cleansing, I shake it out onto a cotton square. You don't need that much to use all over your face. 

I bought this just to try it out and ended up liking it more than the current toner/lotion I was using which was Rohto Hadalabo's Gokujyun Lotion. It feels refreshing and it removes makeup and dirt that my cleanser missed. It also absorbs faster than Rohto's Gokujyun Lotion and hydrates nicely. I've been going through this pretty quickly and was planning on ordering more from Gmarket, but Holika Holika isn't having a sale this month : (. At the same time I'm also thinking that it's just too expensive to keep on buying from Gmarket. I just ordered Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel which I hope is similar. If I like it, I was thinking of just reusing the glass bottle when I finish it.

2. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Eye Cream (30ml)

Description on box: Bulgarian Rose Eye Cream with ultra-moisturizing benefits: Reduce dark circles, puffiness, and signs of tiredness around the eyes with this gentle cream. Enriched with precious Bulgarian Rose Water and Rose Essential Oil, this cream will soothe, moisturize, nourish, and tone the delicate skin around the eys.

Decided to try out this eye cream because I was running low on the current one I was using (MAC's Charged Water Moisture Eye Cream). The consistency of this eye cream is like Crisco: thick and solid. It easily spreads, but leaves a layer on the skin. The eye cream has a bit of the same pink sheen as in the face cream, but it's not that noticeable. This eye cream definitely nourishes and moisturizes, but I find it too heavy for my skin. When I wake up in the morning I still find a layer on my skin. Right now I'm only using it at night. At 30ml, it will last me a long time since I only need a tiny tiny bit. 

3. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Serum (50ml)

Description: "intensive moisturizing effect for normal to dry skin" "leave the skin rejuvenated and help to retain moisture"

This is my favorite out of the whole line (I finished up one and ordered two more). I love the pump that comes with the container. It has a gel-like consistency and absorbs well. If I put too much on my skin still remains slightly sticky and my forehead and nose get oily so I only need a little bit. Now that it is summer I stop at this step because I feel like this serum is enough for my skin. Even though I moved to my second bottle, I still have a teeny bit left in my first one but it's impossible to get out even with storing it upside down.

4. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Emulsion (150ml)

Claims: hydrate, soothe, soften, moisturize, firm, and improve overall skin complexion.

This is a light lotion to be applied after toner and serum (either use emulsion or cream after toner and serum depending on skin type). I don't use it right now because it's summer and I feel like I don't need the extra step, but I'll definitely use it during the winter when my skin gets dry. When I tried it before, I found that it made my skin too moisturized and oily, but I think that was because I was using too much product or my skin didn't need the extra step. 

The thing I don't like about it is that it's hard to get out of the glass bottle. I either have to shake it out or hit the bottle (kind of like removing ketchup from a glass bottle). I apply it by rubbing the product between my hands and patting it all over my face. It does hydrate, soothe, soften, and moisturize, but I haven't used it long enough to see if it firms and improves my overall skin complexion. 

5. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Pearly Blossom Cream

Claims: rejuvenate, moisturize, soften, and retain moisture.

This is a thick cream to be used after toner and serum. It moisturized and softened my skin when I used it before. It contains pink shimmers and leaves a noticeable pink sheen similar to Etude House's Nymph Aura Volumer. For me, I don't see the point in the sheen because I only use creams at night. If my skin was super dry, I would use it in the day and the pink sheen would serve the purpose of making my skin glowy.  

6. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Petal Moisture Mask

I don't use masks, but tried this once for review purposes. It has a nice rose scent and actual rose petals in the mask. When I tried it, I wet my face and left it on for 10 minutes. It was a bit hard to wash off. This is a bit weird (it's the only thing that I can think of), but the product and my skin felt exactly like when I wash off Nair's peach sugar wax off the paper clothes they provide. My skin didn't feel soft and I didn't see a noticeable difference.

Pros of the line:

-Softens

-Moisturizes

-Lovely rose scent 

-Pretty glass bottles

Cons:

-Shipping is expensive when buying it from Gmarket

-Overpriced when buying it from ebay and other online sites 

-Glass bottles are not portable

-Hard to get out all of the product

Overall, I like this line because it moisturizes, softens, and has a rose scent. The only items I would repurchase are the toner and serum.