Skincare Haul: TJ Maxx

I hear you already, reader. Another haul? Yeah, I’m a full-blown skincare addict now. Someone told me they sold a lot of Asian skincare stuff there, so I went to have a look. I was actually really impressed with their selection; I found a lot of high-end stuff as well. Also, for the first time, I did not even look at nail polish. I have traded one addiction for another. I’m scared for my wallet.

The best deals I got were easily the high-end products. I didn’t really even want some of this stuff, but the discounts were so steep I couldn’t pass it up, like this Estée Lauder serum; I have a sample of this I haven’t even used yet, but check out that price tag. 29 dollars for a product that retails for $95? Of course I bought it. I bought the Shiseido stuff out of curiosity, but I do plan to use it eventually. I did open the night cream and I’ve used it a few times — it’s so rich and makes my skin feel amazing. I know it’s a skincare no-no to start using many new products at once, but I couldn’t help myself. Also, I’m afraid that I’ll like these products, I’ll begin to depend on them, and then I won’t be able to find it at a discount again and I’ll end up paying $95 for another jar of this cream. Luxuries become necessities eventually, after all.

The sheet mask getting was good. I’m stoked about the Jeju Natural masks, since I actually bought a bunch of individual ones in my second Roseroseshop order. I was so happy to see them at TJ Maxx that I bought both boxes. I don’t know much about the Celkin and Kwailnara masks, but the value was good, so I grabbed them. I think I’ve heard about The Creme Shop in passing, like that they’re fake-Korean, but I’m not bothered by that. I’m looking forward to finding out what I look like as a cartoon penguin.

I had no idea SheaMoisture had professional products, and that kind of excites me. I found this in the foodie section — likely because the box says “cocktail” — and couldn’t pass it up. I love the idea of mixing my own product, like I’m a hair scientist. This has to be fun.

Some things got left out. I found a Too Faced face palette and some of their Melted lipsticks; the lipsticks were six dollars each, and the palette was ten. They didn’t make it into the photos because I’d already put them in the vanity drawers.

I’m pleased with this haul. I spent more than I wanted to, but considering what I saved on the high-end stuff, it’s like I bought those retail and got sixty sheet masks for free.

I bought these products myself. I was not paid to mention TJ Maxx in this post.

My First K-Beauty Haul

This post was originally written for my other blog, but since it’s a relevant topic, I’ll cross-post it.

I said I was going to get a better skincare routine this year, and I meant it. As I run out of things, I am going to be replacing them with products from Asia. Recently, I found myself running out of facial cleanser and had a gift card burning a hole in my wallet, so I started browsing Korean skincare shops online to see what I could find. My goal was to buy what I needed and then spend whatever I had left on samples. I had $50 and I was going to give it all to Roseroseshop. Explore Korean skincare with me!

I started by replacing my cleanser. In accordance with the ten step Asian skincare regimen, I decided to buy both an oil cleanser and a foaming cleanser. I chose Goodal’s Double Bright Cleansing Oil and Secret Key’s Snail Repairing Foam Cleanser. I spent twelve dollars for both.

Now here’s the sucky part: shipping. Shipping costs, after all was said and done, ended up being half of my budget and roughly the same amount of my order. I had a $50 budget, as I mentioned before, but I was only able to spend about $20, because shipping was also around $20.

So I spent twelve dollars on the cleansers, and the rest was spent on samples. I’d heard samples were yet another advantage to Asian skincare, but I didn’t expect Roseroseshop to have such good deals on them. I got packs of multiples — sometimes packs of ten — for a dollar or less. These samples, of course, were likely the reason my shipping was so exorbitant, but that’s life. The samples were most of my order, and I couldn’t photograph everything. I’ll list it, though.

Etude House
AC Clean Up Toner and Gel Lotion (four bottles of each)

TonyMoly
Timeless Ferment Snail Toner and Emulsion (two bottles of each)

Skinfood
Gold Caviar Emulsion (four bottles)
Premium Lettuce and Cucumber Toner and Emulsion (four bottles of each)
Premium Tomato Whitening Toner and Emulsion (four bottles of each)
Watery Berry Toner and Emulsion (four bottles of each)
Yuja Water C Toner and Emulsion (for bottles of each)
Aloe Watery Sun Water Gel (ten packets)
Black Sugar Perfect First Serum, Light (ten packets)
Fresh Apple Essence (ten packets)
Freshmade Apple Mask (ten packets)
Freshmade Pineapple Mask (ten packets)
Freshmade Watermelon Mask (ten packets)

The following were included as freebie samples:
Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream SPF25 PA++
COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
The Face Shop Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Foam Cleanser
The Face Shop Real Blend Rich Cream Soap

I haven’t tried everything yet, but I like what I have used. The Goodal cleansing oil melted waterproof Maybelline mascara off very quickly. The Secret Key snail cleanser is very foamy and I feel very clean after. The Skinfood aloe sunscreen had a lovely scent and absorbed well. The Missha BB cream was a bit dark on me, but gave me good coverage.

My first haul isn’t perfect, but I’m happy with it. I feel very satisfied with my choices, and I can’t wait to really get into using the toners and emulsions. I’ve also placed a second order from Roseroseshop because I’m running low on eye cream. I can’t wait to brag about that, too!

So, have you used any of these products? Are you a K-beauty addict with advice? Let me know!

I bought these products myself.

Skincare Review: RevivSerums’s HA7X Multi-Molecular Hydrator Serum

Hello reader! It’s another skincare review! The product we’re talking about today is the HA7X Multi-Molecular Hydrator Serum from RevivSerums. I used the serum with the rest of my skincare regimen for ten days and, believe it or not, I saw some interesting results.

I was given this product by Brandbacker and RevivSerums. My opinions are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

The HA7X serum is a multi-purpose serum aimed at treating a wide variety of skincare woes, including dryness, wrinkles, and dullness. It comes in a plastic bottle with a pump delivery. The product has a pleasant scent and a lightweight gel consistency. I used two pumps to cover my whole face, neck, and decolletage. The bottle also recommends using it on your hands, which I only did when I remembered to. Here’s the Cosdna entry for the ingredients.

Ingredients list, from the box

 

Product info, from the box

 

Instructions for use, on the bottle

I have to tell you, I really loved using this. I used it twice a day, morning and night, and since the instructions I was given said I could keep using my other serums and treatments with it, I kept using those too. The first thing I noticed is that it’s instantly moisturizing; I did not feel dry at all after applying, and even skipped my regular moisturizer most of the time I used it. Of course, I have very oily skin, and the hydration from this product exacerbated it. Those of you with normal to dry skin will like this.

Here’s a before and after comparison. Of course, ten days isn’t nearly enough time to judge a skincare product’s long-term results, but I will tell you this: I have a wrinkle. It’s on my forehead over my right eye, and it’s about an inch long. I found it on my 25th birthday. It’s a pretty fine line, and whenever I try to show it to people, they just say “I don’t see anything, are you sure you’re not imagining it?” Well, it’s definitely there, because I can feel it. It feels deeper than it looks. Since I’ve been using this serum, I don’t notice it anymore. I can barely see it in the mirror, and I have to really poke around with my fingertip to find it. It doesn’t feel like a deep crease anymore, but just smooth. It’s kind of alarming, actually. My skin also seems brighter. Apart from that, I still have a lot of discoloration and hyperpigmentation from acne, I don’t see any improvements there yet.

Just so we’re clear, I hate posting photos of myself without makeup. I feel so naked!

Here is my skincare routine, just so you can see what else I used and how it fits in:
Origins Checks and Balances Cleanser (AM), Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (PM)
Nameraka Sana Honpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Lotion Toner
Burt’s Bees Sensitive Eye Cream (AM)
Up and Up 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment (AM)
Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer (AM)
Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum (PM)
CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM (PM)

The HA7X was developed as an affordable alternative to Skinmedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator, using 29 of the same ingredients and ultimately adding in two new and different actives. However, it’s nearly a hundred dollars cheaper, a mere $89 compared to $178. Of course, I don’t have the Skinmedica product to test simultaneously, but I find that this one works very well indeed. My one gripe is with the packaging; for $89, I would like something better than a plastic bottle.

The HA7X Multi-Molecular Hydrator Serum is available from RevivSerums.com.

I was given this product by Brandbacker and RevivSerums. My opinions are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

Product Review: evian Brumisateur Facial Spray and #AnytimeSpa Ideas + Giveaway

Hello hello! It’s a skincare review! Well, of sorts. Today’s post is all about the evian Brumisateur Facial Spray. I’ve been tasked by evian and Brandbacker to find creative uses for the spray to make my beauty routine feel like a spa treatment. Of course, since this is a nail blog, I’ve found a way to incorporate it into my manicure routine. Bottom line: this is a product that has a million uses just waiting to be discovered.

I was given this product by Brandbacker and evian. My opinions are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

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So I was really skeptical of this at first. I thought “Weird, it’s water in a spray can, what a weird thing”. The more I played with it, though, the more I thought “Whoa, what can’t I do with this?” As silly as the idea seems, it’s actually really refreshing as a facial spray. I just wish it sprayed a little more finely; if one isn’t careful, one will end up more wet than refreshed.

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For this post, I used it to refresh my cuticles after cleaning them up with acetone. We all know how drying acetone is, and so after a mani, using a balm or oil to moisturize is imperative. As a blogger, I photograph my nails after cleaning up more often than not, and having balm or oil smudges on my nails is less than ideal. The evian spray is a great way to keep my skin from looking dry after exposing it to acetone while still keeping the finish on my nails pristine. It’s no substitute for a balm or oil, but it’s enough to ward off the dryness in time to take photos. All I did here was spray it on, dab off the excess with a tissue, and I was done. Apologies for the scruffy-looking polish; I’d had this polish on for like three days when I took these photos.

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Before and after

Of course, there are tons of other things you can use this for. evian suggests using it to prime skin before applying sheet masks, refreshing skin after at-home waxing, or to keep cool while you run a hair treatment. Here are some other uses I can think of:

Eyeshadow foiling: Use the evian spray to moisten your makeup brushes and/or pressed eyeshadows. This is more of a convenience than anything else; I love the look of foiled shadows but I’m usually too lazy to get up and get the water for it. Having this on the vanity table makes it fast and easy.

Basic refreshment: It’s November, but it’s still pretty warm here in Florida. It’s cool enough that running the air conditioner seems unnecessary, but it’s still pretty warm. A nice spritz of this on my face, neck, and feet, as well as a glass of ice cold cucumber water helps me cool down pretty easily. For fun, I sprayed a little on Boyfriend’s face. “It feels like a sea breeze,” he says. It’s especially nice after heat-styling my hair, which always makes me feel a little sweaty after.

Quick cleanse: If you use a powder cleanser in your skincare routine, you can use this spray to make the process a little simpler. Spray a microfiber cloth with evian, sprinkle the powder onto the wet cloth, and rub it together to combine them. Then, work the cleanser onto your skin and rinse. Also, use it with your powder clay masks as a rinse or a mixer. Or use it to refresh a mask that dries out too quickly.

I could go on, but I’ll let you tell me in the comments what you would use this for! Also, how about a giveaway? evian is giving sprays away to twenty lucky winners, so enter and try these tips out for yourself! evian Facial Sprays are sold at Sephora and evianspray.com; the can I have, the 5 fluid ounces size, retails for $12.50. Other sizes and multiple packs are available.

I was given this product by Brandbacker and evian. My opinions are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

Skincare Review: Valentia’s Night Revive Retinol Serum

It’s another skincare review! This time it’s another product from Valentia; it’s their Night Revive Retinol Serum. I’ve never used a retinol product on my face, but I’m giving it shot. For science. I’ve been using it since last Thursday.

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I was given these products by Brandbacker and Valentia. My opinons are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

You’ll remember I reviewed Valentia’s Pure Glow Moisturizer some time ago, and after sustaining a breakout caused by it, I had some reservations about the retinol treatment. I thought a retinol treatment wouldn’t be for me, that it would be better suited for someone with anti-aging needs. The box says it helps curb breakouts and premature aging, though, so it sounds like there’s something for everyone in this bottle. Valentia products contain natural and organic ingredients, are vegan, and cruelty-free. The Cosdna entry for the Night Revive Retinol Serum is here.

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The product comes with an eyedropper, as the serum is pretty liquidy. It’s milky in color, and runs when dropped onto the back of a hand. I found that one dropper-ful was enough to cover my face, neck and décolletage. It goes on nicely and absorbs quickly. There’s no added fragrance, and the product has a creamy mild scent. With the first few applications, I noticed a slightly irritating feeling, but it didn’t last long and went away after absorbing. I don’t notice it anymore. I haven’t been using it every night, so I’m not seeing the redness or peeling the box warns me about.

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I’ve read that it generally takes a few weeks to see the results of a retinol serum, so I may need to do a follow-up post to this one in order to really review its efficacy. That said, I’m probably going to keep using this. I had an epiphany halfway through writing this that my 31st birthday is upon me and I really need to get on the anti-aging bandwagon. This seems like a good product to start with. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

The Night Revive Retinol Serum retails for $35 on Amazon and on Valentia’s website. Follow Valentia on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about this and other products.

I was given these products by Brandbacker and Valentia. My opinons are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

Skincare Review: Derma E’s Hydrating Day and Night Creams + New Packaging Preview

Who loves skincare products? I do! I love trying new things as well. I was given the chance to review Derma E’s Hydrating Day and Night Creams, as well as showcase their new package design. I’ve heard so many good things about Derma E, and I’m excited for this chance to try them out. For six days, I replaced my regular moisturizers with these, and so far, I like what I’m seeing.

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I was given these products by Brandbacker and Derma E. My opinons are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.

Let’s talk first about the brand and their products. I’m excited to see these creams are free of parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial colors, gluten, soy, and GMOs. They are also cruelty-free and 100% vegan. I love seeing long lists of what’s not in the product (even when some of them are givens). The products were not reformulated during the package redesign. Derma E’s hydrating products are for normal to dry skin. Here are the Cosdna entries for the day and night creams.

The Hydrating Day Creme is up first. The product consistency is pretty light for a cream, just a bit heavier than a lotion. I’m definitely more on the oily side, so I was pretty hesitant to try this on my actual face. I’m happy to report, though, that I didn’t have any adverse reactions. It doesn’t leave me any more oily through the day as my regular moisturizer. It also has a lovely scent; the box says plumeria flower, I just know it smells like Hawaii.

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One thing, though, is I’m not sure this product contains any sun protection. It doesn’t explicitly say it on the box, and it wasn’t until I was examining the ingredients list that I noticed it does contain some titanium dioxide, which is used in most physical sunscreens. Of course, this is also used for pigmentation, and as it’s also in the night cream, it’s likely being used for that purpose instead. Additional sun protection is recommended.

Here’s the night cream in all its newly redesigned glory! The formula here is a bit richer than that of the day cream, but doesn’t feel thick or goopy. Like with the day cream, I didn’t experience oilier-than-normal conditions in the morning. The scent is different from the day cream, but it’s still pleasant.

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What do you guys think about the new packaging? I really like it. I thought the old one was nice, but this new one is really sophisticated-looking. I like being able to see the product through the label, and I like the look of the matte label. It’s a really nice jar to have displayed on my vanity table.

Overall, I like these creams, they’ve performed very well in the past six days I’ve used them. However, I do not feel like they’re for me. They’re definitely perfect for someone with normal to dry skin, they deliver a lot of moisture and softness. As someone who’s still trying to master the art of oil control, I’m sorry to say it, they’re just not what I need. However, I am very likely to try any oily skin products Derma E offer, because I have loved using these two creams. I’ll probably also use these on the regular when I run out of my usual products.

Both the day and night creams sell for $29.50 each. While the newly redesigned packaging did officially launch in September, it will be rolling out with all products in March 2017. You can find Derma E products in Ulta, Target, CVS, and Walgreens, among others.

I was given these products by Brandbacker and Derma E. My opinons are my own and are not swayed by free stuff.