*Cookiie; Moisturizers Galore (reviews)

Some of these product reviews were requested a long time ago, but I decided to wait until I've used them long enough for a fair judgement. Aaand then I forgot about them, which explains why it took this long. Haha, it's better late than never, right?

The Sana Nameraka Soy Milk Cream is a thick and rich feeling moisturizer. The Good: It moisturizes well enough, making your skin feel really soft. Did not cause me to have more breakouts. The Bad: It has a very odd scent to it that I can't even describe. You'd think because it's "natural"..but it contains parabens. It's still a pretty nice and affordable moisturizer though, if you have no problems with parabens. Not sure about the other ingredients, since the full list is in Japanese. Price: US$9.30 for 50g. Rating:

The IsQueen RICE Rice High Performance Eye Gel is a clear gel that makes your eyes feel refreshed on application. The Good: Feels great when you apply it on and slightly de-puffs the eyes. Nothing extremely moisturizing, but worked for me since I have oily lids. The Bad: No matter how cute the packaging looks, it's really not convenient. I had to use a spatula to get the last bits out, but even that was tricky. Since the ingredient list was all Chinese, I don't know whether it contains parabens or not. Recommended for wrinkle-free youngins who need a little moisture around the eyes. Price: US$19.10 for 30g. Rating:

The Cyber Colors HYDRO PLUS+ Soft Hydrating Night Cream is a light but rich feeling moisturizer.
The Good: This baby took me forever to finish, since you only need a tiny bit amount to cover up your whole face. I really loved how it made my skin feel super soft when I woke up in the morning and it smells nice as well. The Bad: Just like the eye gel, it has the inconvenient square-shaped packaging. Sadly enough, it also contains parabens, so I won't be repurchasing it. Price: US$32 for 50 ml. Rating:


And now two misses! The Innisfree Olive Real Eye Cream is a very thick eye moisturizer that didn't absorb well for me. Afraid to get milia from it, I stopped using this and gave it to Milk for her dry skin to try out. It doesn't contain parabens though, so I'd recommend trying it if you don't get milia easily like me.

Both Milk and I had high hopes for the Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser to use under the eyes, but it really did nothing for us. Because it spreads really well, I sometimes use this as a body moisturizer or mix it with a dark foundation to match my body with my pale legs. It does contain parabens, so I'll definitely not repurchase this again.

Phew, finally done! I know it's been a long while that I've updated and I'll keep trying my best to do it more often. My student life just started a month ago and recently I also got myself a new job, so give me a bit time to find the balance again haha. Have a nice weekend~

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*cookiie; sasa haul & milk's souvenirs

Between the previous Sasa haul post and this post, I actually ordered a few more times than I'm actually going to show on this update. It's just that I don't really remember what I ordered before, so it's going to be a bit difficult to collect everything again for pictures. I'll probably write about them later on anyways, so no worries. Sasa haul begins!

No packages shot this time, since they're all the same. I actually had 3 of them coming in this time, because I ordered twice within a month. You will probably think it's a LOT, but most of it was actually for a friend and for my mom. xD You can tell if you continue reading this post~

First product is a hair treatment, called Cosmetex Roland
Hair Repairment Repair Esthe Treatment (300g, $7.70). I don't know if you can tell by comparing my lens holder with the tube, but it's huge! I haven't tried it yet, but hopefully it's good.

The jar on top of the blue box is the de herbs HA MOISTURE MOIST LOCKSAS HA Moisture moist locksas Gel (50 ml, $11.50). This is the moisturizer version of the serum with the failed packaging. I've been using it for a few nights now and I kind of like it so far. I actually quite like 'de herbs' in general, as their ingredients contain no fragrances, parabens, etc. I just think their packaging is poor, as you can tell on the picture with the pink box. There is a special offer going on at Sasa.com at the moment where you get free gifts when you purchase de herbs products. I got the Aromatic Hand & Feet Care F/G: Foot Masque (5 ml) and Aromatic Hand & Feet Care F/G: Foot Refreshing Mist (30 ml) which makes me think I have an awful foot odor..but who knows, I'm considering of trying these stuff out, haha.


From left to right: Sexy Girl Hand & Body Butter Cream (Strawberry Short Cake) (100 g, $12.60), Kanebo Naive Deep Cleansing Foam (Green Tea) (140 g, $4.20), Meishoku Declear Bright & Peel Fruits Peel Peeling Jelly (180 ml, $12.30), Skin Food Nail Top Coat (13 ml, $3) and a Vitacreme B12 Regenerative Cream (3 ml) sample.
The Hand & Butter Cream smells sooo yummy, like strawberry yoghurt. They really did try to make the texture look like whipped cream and I think they've done a pretty good job imitating that. It does contain parabens, so I definitely don't recommend it for people who can't have that on their skin. Other than that, it's really moisturizing and it's not sticky at all.

The peeling gel smells really nice as well, even though it doesn't really matter as you're going to wash it off right after anyways. I'm not sure if the smell comes from artificial fragrances or naturally from the essences that they used for this peeling. I can put out the ingredients list if anyone is interested, but I can't read Japanese to find it out myself. :( No parabens though, so that's a big plus! As for the peeling effect, it is working great for me. I got no other peeling gel to compare it with, but I see a lot of dead skin cells coming off when I use this. Afterwards it feels really smooth, so I'm really liking this.

As for the Naive cleanser, it's basically the same as my previous one. I thought it was going to be a lot more foaming, because of some reviews I read on Sasa's website, but it's not. It smells, feels, lathers exactly the same. So probably all Naive cleansers are the same, despite having slightly different names.

I also read some nice reviews about this top coat from Skinfood. I'll be trying it out when I paint my nails tomorrow night!

That's all I got for Sasa hauling. But it's not everything I got from Sasa to show you guys. :P

My Beauty Diary and Hisamitsu masks! I've wanted to try the Hisamitsu eye masks for a while now, but never got to it to order them myself. Milk was sweet enough to surprise me with them when she got back from Hong Kong, so thank you! ♥

And some more stuff that I got from Milk. And yes, on the make up bag it says "HamburGirl". xD It's totally random, but that's why I like it even more.

She also got me an adorable lenses box and a cute plushie hanger that's looking in the mirror of the lenses box. Oh, and the bow on top of the plushie is actually a clip, and it's really cute. I'm not sure if I'll ever wear it myself though, since I'm not sure if it'll fit me haha~

As you might read from her Hong Kong haul post, she didn't buy much make up, but she didn't forget to buy me some make up related items as well. The powder pad was actually something she remembered Fuzkittie mentioning, so she bought that randomly as well. xD

The earrings are so cute! The first thing I thought was "BLACK JACK!" and I'm sure 2NE1 (a Korean girl group) fans would know what I mean It's their fanclub name. Aand some genius packaged hair pins. I always lose them so this is great for storing my hair pins.

That's all! Barely made it, but I'm done! Ok I cheated by roughly typing it out and published it a minute before 3.28 am but I was basically done As always, don't hesitate to comment and ask/request me anything. ^^

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*Cookiie; Somewhat Big Haul Post (part 2)

Hey guys! Today I don't really have much homework to do, so I decided to take the time to post again. A while ago, I posted a haul post and said that there was going to be a part 2. Now, I've received the rest of the the haul for quite some time already, but I just didn't have the chance to post about it. Sorry for the long wait, but here it is~


Two packages from Sasa.com!

As you can see, the products were safely packed.


Some handy tools: False Eyelash Applicator, Mascara Guard and KQ Series Cleansing Brush from Kai. I haven't tried the Mascara Guard yet, but the False Eyelash Applicator is pretty nice! You can easily attach the falsies close to your real lashes with this applicator. The Cleansing Brush is okay, it's an alternative of scrubbing your face with a scrub. If anyone is interested in this product, I can make a post to tell you more about it. :)


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50 PA+++ and Kose Point Makeup Remover.
I've tried the sunblock since Milk gave me a sample of it once and I really liked it. I also tried one from Lioele and I liked that one better, but it will take a while before I'm done using this one. The Point Makeup Remover is great! I use it for when I make mistakes while applying eye make up and so far it has done its job well.


Aaand I bought some cotton sticks because I thought the packaging was handy. The headband was actually a promotional gift from Sasa. The more you order there, the better the gifts are. I'm trying to become VIP, but it's so much money lol.


Second package! What could it be?


Yay, my first circle lenses! These are the Geo Angel Brown. The bubble wrap wasn't stuck together with tape but was actually sealed with a machine (I think). Really nice! I love it when packages are packed so neatly.


Unpacked.
You get a free lense case and there's also a little instructions book included. I bought these at HoneyColor.com for US$22.45 (with discount) and they arrived quite fast. I want to try ordering at Ulzzang Style since they offer authentic circle lenses for even cheaper. If anyone still want to try HoneyColor.com, then don't forget to use the coupon code HC15DSC for a small discount!


Two shots of the circle lenses; one shows off the colour more and the other one the print.


And finally, I bought these two products on the forums Soompi.com. Even though it did arrive and it was a lot cheaper to get these two products from that seller, I didn't really like how the seller didn't bother at all to keep me updated. I don't recommend buying stuff at Soompi, unless you're willing to take risks like me.

And there you have it, my big haul~ I won't be buying that much anymore for a while, since I'm saving money for a trip to.. London! Both Milk and I will be going with two other friends of us right after Christmas, so there probably will be some more hauling posts after that again. xD

Just to remind you guys, there are about 3 weeks left to email us your entry for our giveaway. So far we have 14 entries (Thank you guys, we appreciate it a lot!! ♥) and they are all quite detailed! I'm excited whenever I see a new entry, so please keep them coming~ ^^

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*Milk; Dr. Young Sprinkling Gel Cream (review)

I purchased the Dr. Young Sprinkling Gel Cream a few weeks ago to replace my ~H2O+ Face Oasis which I recently finished and let me tell you, I am very impressed!
(I think Dr. Young and Dr. G are both a sub brand of Gowoonsaesang cause they do refer to Gowoonsaesang on the packaging and all products are manufactured by Biocostech Co. Ltd.)

The reason why I prefer using gel type moisturizers over regular lotions or creams is because I don't like the feeling of putting layers and layers of product on my face. After using a moisturizer, I still need to put on sunscreen, primer, foundation and powder (Yuck!!) so that is why it is important for me to find something light yet hydrating enough for my dry skin.

Out of all gel type moisturizers I have tried thus far, the Dr. Young Sprinkling Gel Cream has to be my favorite! The other ones I have tried are the ~H2O+ Face Oasis and Clinique's Moisture Surge. Both are quite good as they are very lightweight and easily absorbed into the skin. The main reason why the Dr. Young one is better is that it does not leave my skin feeling sticky like the ~H2O+ one and is more hydrating than the Clinique Moisture Surge.






Description

Dr. Young Sprinkling Gel Cream replenishes skin with ample nourishments and hydrating factors that come from alps glacial water, cactus extract and phyto-oligo.
It greatly improves the skin elasticity and moisture retention. Leaves your skin soft, smooth and supple.


Instructions

After cleansing and toning, apply the gel cream on entire face.
It can also be used as a 5-minute mask: apply on face and wait for 5 minutes. Use water or tissue to clear away the cream.


The verdict

I am absolutely loving this product! It feels so refreshing and it does leave my skin feeling soft and smooth as it claims to do. The only thing I don't like is the packaging. It's heavy and inconvinient. Not to mention there is a chance it would break if you bring it when travelling.

Pros: Oil-free. Lightweight. Pleasant scent. Can also use as mask.
Cons: No SPF. Heavy, breakable container.

Rating: 4.5/5

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*Cookiie; everything about my skin(care)

For us, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system, which means that bad skin conditions can affect you a lot physically as well as mentally. This is why I think skincare is very important for all of us, even if you're not too much into beauty and all that. I'm going to write about my skin condition and daily skincare routine in this post that will hopefully help some of you who have a skin type similar to mine.

According to the Clinique skin consultation, my skin is dry combination. This means that my skin can get really flaky and fragile, but will also start shining (mostly around the T-zone) because of the excessive oil that's been produced by my skin.

I have breakouts ocassionally, especially on my jaw line; these usually come before my period. I also have to mention that I've been dealing with eczema on different levels on my body as well as face, so I have to be extra careful of what kind of products I'm using. For face wash I use a brand called Zarqa which brings out products that are safe to use for most people who have eczema. I don't use their face creams as they don't moisturize my face enough, but I guess that depends on each person.

What about my skin tone? To describe it roughly, I have slightly? tanned Asian skin. Even without tanning, I'm a bit darker than the average Chinese girl I know. As reference, I am NC42 at MAC (during summer, I'm a bit lighter during winter).

That's basically how I can describe my skin the best. Now moving on to my daily skincare routine with the products I use.

Morning.

To prevent my skin being oily, sensitive and/or fragile during day, I'd need to cleanse it without drying it out too much. So instead of using a heavy cleansing wash, I only use the Zarqa Pure Skin Cleansing Tonic. This tonic is basically a 2-in-1 product; it gives me the refreshing feeling of a tonic/toner and cleanses my skin effectively. To do this, I put a bit of the tonic on a large cotton pad (here's a picture since I suck in describing it lol) and just gently wipe off the oil/dirt on your face with it. I actually put a little tonic on half a cotton pad, so I can do this twice to make sure I'm not missing a spot. I know this product works because when I look at the cotton pad, I can actually see the oil/dirt that came off my skin. Too much information? Haha..sorry.

After cleansing I put on the Laozhongyi Acne Removing Cream. This cream smells a tad bit like traditional Chinese medicines, but you can't smell it after applying. It really works incredibly good for me as I don't have horrible breakouts anymore (combined with facial treatments and masks) and my skin doesn't get irritated fast like before. You'd need very little each time to apply, so it can take up for about 2-3 months to empty one jar. I buy this cream through my beautician, and I'm sorry to say that I have no idea of how to get it otherwise. They have a website but it's only in Chinese. I can't read it but in case you do, this might show you where to get it.



Night.

The products I use at night are basically the same, except that I use Zarqa Pure Skin Cleansing Wash before the tonic. I'm not sure if it's really that necessary, but I feel like I need to do a bit more after a day out to cleanse my face thoroughly. This product comes with a pump, and I just use one pump for each wash. I massage it gently on my face and I'll go through the areas where I have acne often a little longer to prevent future acne/pimples and scars (if there are 'open wounds'). After this, I apply the tonic and cream as described before.

As you can tell, my daily skincare routine is really minimal and somewhat lacking. This is mainly because I have been focused on how to get rid of my acne. I started having pimples since the beginning of my puberty, and it was at worst when I was 14-16 years old. This period of time was also when I was desperately looking for products to help my skin get better. However, there were minimum to no improvements to my skin conditions with any products I tried. I ended up seeking for help at beauticians; thankfully I found one that wouldn't just rip me off but actually gave me tips and products that would really help my skin improve. I definitely recommend going to a good and trustworthy beautician if you don't want to use too much money on trying out new products and just want something that works and is affordable.

That's basically it! I will be updating this post later because I seriously need some more "skin protection", lol. I also believe that the best product doesn't need to be the most expensive one, so I'll be looking for high quality affordable products that might interest you. But for now, summarizing my daily skincare routine:

Morning:

1. Pure Skin Cleansing Tonic by Zarqa.
2. Acne Removing Cream by Laozhongyi.

Night:

1. Pure Skin Cleansing Wash by Zarqa.
2. Pure Skin Cleansing Tonic by Zarqa.
3. Acne Removing Cream by Laozhongyi.

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