REVIEW: Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Brightening

 

The set of Perfecting Cushion

 ~AG~

Bought this Sulwhasoo Perfection Cushion Brightening last year when I was in Seoul, Korea. It retails for KRW 65,000 (S$78) there. The set comes with 1 x Cushion Brightening and 1 x Cushion Refill. This Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion has a brightening effect. It contains magnolia extract and Pearlescent Complex to give radiance to the skin. The cushion evens and brightens the skin for 12 hours. Sulwahsoon Perfecting Cushion Brightening contains Licorice Purifying Water that hydrates the skin and helps promote a translucent look. This cushion has a special oil-capture system to control excess oil and gives the skin a nice satin finish. 

This is the Cushion that my makeup artist, Shaun Lee, used on my face for the wedding day. He mentioned that Sulwhasoo Cushion Brightening is great because it would not clog the pores. This Cushion has light to medium coverage. For those that prefer more coverage, you can try Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion EX. iShop Changi is selling it for S$72.20. The duty free at the airport is a great place to buy cosmetics at competitive prices. 

The great thing about this Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion is that it comes in 7 shades to match varying Asian skin tones. The saleslady at the counter matched my skin tone to Shade 21 Medium Pink. For reference, I am Urban Decay Shade 3.0 and Bourjois Vanille 52.  I was afraid that this Sulwhasoo Cushion might cause a white or grey cast on my skin, as my previous experience with  banila co. and The FaceShop Cushion has been unfortunate. Fortunately, this shade matches well to my warm medium skin tone.This Sulwhasoo Cushion is great on days when I need something to brighten up my complexion. On days when I do not have enough sleep, I like to apply this on my face to give a nice radiance to my dull complexion. The texture of the Cushion is very light and does not feel like anything on the skin. I would still apply a concealer for my under eyes area and blemishes when necessary. It has a decent staying power and does not melt off in Singapore's humid weather.On normal days, primer is not required to have the Cushion stay on all day. Though for days when I will be outdoor, I would apply primer as a precaution.

Typical packaging of a Cushion

For special occasions, I would not use this Sulwhasoo Cushion as a foundation because I prefer more coverage. Even though my wedding makeup artist did use Sulwhasoo Cushion as my base makeup (as he is truly a makeup extraordinaire), his magic hands made my makeup stayed on all day. Overall, this Cushion is good to have in your beauty arsenal when you need a quick touch-up. This product is available in 7 shades to match different Asian skin tones. With that being said, one cushion will lasts for a long time, as the puff dispense minimal product. Highly recommend this Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Brightening for those who wants a natural radiant glow.

REVIEW: Château Labiotte Wine Lipstick Melting and Fitting

 

 Labiotte Wine Lipstick

 

Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting in Sauternes Red (RD04)

 Labiotte Wine Lipstick Melting in Noir Pink (PK 01)

~AG~ 

Happened to walk pass a Labiotte store when we were in Myeongdong, Seoul. I was unfamiliar with this brand but MG told me that this brand is popular for the Wine Lipstick and Lip Tint. So, we entered the shop to find out more about this brand.There are two types of Labiotte Wine Lipstick: Fitting and Melting. The Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting has a matte finish while the Melting leaves a sheen. I bought the Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting in Sauternes Red (RD04) and the Labiotte Wine Lip Stick Melting in Noir Pink (PK01). Bought products are reasonably priced lip product at KRW 16,000 (S$20).

Left: Noir Pink (PK 01), Right: Sauternes Red (RD04)

 

Left: The Melting Lipstick, Right: The Fitting Lipstick

The packaging resembles a wine bottle. What a cute packaging! On the top part of the packaging is a sponge tip applicator to define the applied lip colors. The cap of the sponge tip applicator tends to come off easily, which results in the sponge tip applicator being exposed. As a result, I had to tape the cap of the sponge tip applicator to ensure the cap does not fall off.  

Both Wine Lipsticks use the Smart Melting System to make the lips most beautiful at 28 degrees Celsius. Both the Fitting and Melting Lipsticks contains Chateau Margaux Wine Extract, which keeps the lips healthy. When I tried the Labiotte Wine Lipstick Melting, the texture was smooth and nice. The lipstick gently wraps the lips as wine ingredients reacts to the skin optimal temperature. The water grip emollient moisture coating film and stay-fitting polymers provides long-lasting color and moisture. The pigmentation of the lipstick was intense, and the lip color stays on well. The Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting has a creamy powder texture that gives off a velvet finish. Though it contains Wine Extract that is supposed to keep lips moisturized, Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting tends to accentuate dry lips. To prevent flaky lips, you would need to apply lip balm beforehand. For the Labiotte Wine Lipstick Melting, the texture did not accentuate my dry lips. 

Top: Lipstick Melting in Noir Pink, Bottom: Lipstick Fitting in Sauternes Red 

Overall, Labiotte Wine Lipstick is a good product that is highly pigmented and has a great texture. For those with drier lips, I would recommend the Labiotte Wine Lipstick Melting instead of Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting. For those that prefer a matte finish, Labiotte Wine Lipstick Fitting is recommended but remember to apply lip balm before applying the lipstick. Apart from the faulty packaging of the sponge tip applicator, this is a good lip product to carry on. It is long-lasting and stays on well, great for everyday wear.

Beauty Haul: Korean Lip Products

 Lip products haul from South Korea

 They all fit in my tiny hand

 ~AG~
So during my time in Korea a few weeks ago, I did not go too crazy with the buying of cosmetics. My focus this time was on lip products. Korean beauty industry are known for creating innovative beauty products. I am big fan of Korean lip products because they are pigmented and are suitable for Asian skin tones. Not to mention, they are also more affordable compared to high-end brands such as Chanel, Giorgio Armani and Lancome. 

Mamonde Highlight Lip Tint Glow in Mangosteen (#16) costs KRW 11,000 (S$14). This product was made popular by Korean actress, Park Shin Hye. This glossy lip tint has a nice texture. Mangosteen (#16) is a darker lip color than what I usually go for. 

3CE Red Recipe Lip Color #212 costs KRW 17,900 (S$22). This red lipstick by 3CE has a hydrating texture that feels comfortable on the lips. It is difficult to find a suitable red lipstick. This 3CE Lip Color is pigmented and has a blue undertones. 

Labiotte Wine Lipstick retails for KRW 16,000 (S$20). I am unfamiliar with this brand, Labiotte. MG told me that Labiotte is famous for their Wine Lipstick and Lip Tint. The cute packaging resembles a wine bottle is irresistible. This melting-type lipstick is an innovative beauty product - it reacts to the lips at optimal temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. The texture is smooth and hydrating as well. I bought two shades: Noir Pink (PK01) and Sauternes Red (RD04).

 

Labiotte Petal Affair Firming Lip Color Volume Fit in Selfie Coral retails for KRW 16,000 (S$20). This lip product contains rose oil extracts and pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, which is high in amino acids, to care for the fine lines of the lips. 

Stay tuned for my review of these lip products. I cannot wait to try them all!

REVIEW: innisfree skinny microcara

~AG~

innisfree skinny microcara costs S$14.78. The reason I bought this mascara is because of the unique brush head. Most mascara on the market have a brush head with visible bristles, but innisfree skinny microcara does not have any bristles. I was curious on how this innisfree skinny microcara would work. Since I have short and sparse lashes, I tend to go for mascara that has volumizing and thickening effects. The brush is tiny and is great for those with short lashes. The 2.55 mm diameter micro brush coats even your shortest lashes. It is easy to use, as you press the mascara to the roots of your lashes and apply it in a zigzag pattern.This mascara comes in a waterproof and non-waterproof option. I thought I had bought the waterproof formula, but it does not say that on the packaging. Note to self: Double check your beauty products before paying for it. I was afraid that this innisfree skinny microcara would cause racoon eyes on me. Read on to find out if this innisfree mascara is smudge proof.

Most waterproof mascaras smudge to my under eye area, but this innisfree skinny microcara did not smudge at all. It stayed on well in Singapore's hot and humid weather. The brush is flexible and you use it to reach the roots of your lashes.  Even when you apply two or three coats of this mascara, your lashes will not clump. With that being said, this innisfree skinny microcara does not give much definition to the lashes. It is like wearing no mascara at all. For those looking for a mascara to thicken and lengthen your upper lashes, this is not the mascara for you. This is for those that want a no-makeup look - which is what the Korean beauty industry tries to achieve. innisfree skinny microcara can work well for defining the lower lashes. Overall, I would not repurchase this innisfree skinny microcara because I need a mascara that will help define my short and sparse lashes. 

Picture Credits: Innisfree World

REVIEW: VDL Metal Cushion Foundation in A205

~AG~

VDL Metal Cushion Foundation has been in my beauty chest for over a year. It is about time that I try it out. The reason I bought VDL Metal Cushion Foundation is because of the unique functional packaging. Unlike the usual CC Cushion packaging, VDL Metal Cushion Foundation has a metal plate to deliver the foundation. Moreover, the foundation shade tested in-store matched my medium skin tone well (for reference I am NC 30-35 and Urban Decay 3.0). Most Korean face makeup tend to be for the fairer skin tones, and it is difficult to find a match for my warm skin tone. VDL Metal Cushion Foundation has a surprisingly lightweight texture. I do not like when foundation or BB creams feel heavy on the skin. My ideal foundation is one that does not feel like I have any makeup on.

So what can I say about VDL Metal Cushion Foundation?
VDL Metal Cushion Foundation has a low coverage. It works great for those with good skin and do not need much coverage. For myself, I still need to apply concealer to disguise my dark circles and blemishes. The shade A205 (Vanilla Beige) matched my medium skin tone well. For shade reference, I am Bourjois Shade 52 (Vanille), MAC NC 30, Bobbi Brown Beige (3), Chanel Beige (10) and Urban Decay Shade 3.0. VDL Metal Cushion Foundation comes in 4 shades: M101, A201, A203 and A205.

Unlike Korean BB Creams, VDL Metal Cushion Foundation did not leave a white or grey cast. The foundation blends well with the skin, and does not feel heavy on the skin. VDL claims this metal cushion foundation will deliver 24-hours of bright and clear skin. It claims to provide a glowing radiance through hydro-rich prune water.

VDL Metal Cushion Foundation is pricey at KRW 27,800 (S$34). This VDL Cushion Foundation is good in that it is lightweight and the packaging makes it more hygienic. But other than that, I would not repurchase this Cushion Foundation as there are other Cushion Foundation on the market that I want to try.

AG's September Faves

Source: Club Clio

Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Killer Brown
This long-lasting eyeliner has a fine tip that is so easy to use. This eyeliner does not smudge at all! Plus, this Clio Eyeliner is affordable at under S$25. Click link for my in-depth review of Clio Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown

Source: Mediheal

Mediheal Collage Impact Essential Mask
My skin became dry and flakey after my trip to China. Tried applying the Crème Simon Sleeping Mask but it was not hydrating enough. This Mediheal sheet mask truly helped to replenish moisture back into the skin. The effect of Mediheal Collagen Mask could be felt the next morning. My skin did not feel tight, and flakiness was greatly reduced. This is a great mask to have in your beauty arsenal! Click link for my full review of Mediheal Collagen Mask

Source: Neutrogena UK

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Nourishing Lip Care with Nordic Berry
Bought this Neutrogena Lip Care when I was in Seoul, and after using it, I <3 it! The Nordic Berry scent is wonderful! This Neutrogena Lip Care works well to hydrate dry lips. It is not sticky nor does it leave a residue. The staying power is decent at 1-2 hours with eating and drinking.

Source: VDL Cosmetics

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot in Triple Red
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot! If this product were to be discontinued, I would buy many backups of it. It has great staying power! The colors are so pretty, and it is pretty hydrating for a lip tint. I do not have to put on lip balm before applying VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot. Click link for MG's review of VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot

NEW BUY: Laneige Lucky X Chouette Serum Drop Tint & Multi-Color

Laneige Lucky Chouette 

 Multi-Color and Serum Drop Tint

 The cute owl characters: Bella Chouette & Vely Chouette

~AG~
This Laneige X Lucky Chouette collection is all over the social media. The owl characters are just adorable. Bought Laneige Serum Drop Tint in Urban Coral (S$36). This is a lip tint contains berry mix complex that is rich with antioxidants to keep lips smooth. It also contains serum oil to keep lips moisturized. This cute packaging was too difficult to resists. Laneige x Lucky Chouette Multi-Color (S$45) is a 4-in-1 face color. You can be used as eyeshadows and highlighters. Laneige x Lucky Chouette Multi-Color looks too pretty to be used. What an irony! To buy a makeup and for it to not be used. I am sure you girls out there can agree with me on that.

 It comes with a eyeshadow brush

 

Shy Vely Chouette

REVIEW: The Face Shop Disney Collection Mickey Mouse BB PowerPerfection Cushion

Cute embossed Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse!

~AG~

Mickey Mouse BB Power Perfection Cushion SPF 50 PA+++
This limited edition Disney Collection by The Face Shop is so cute! My boyfriend managed to get his friend who was in Korea to buy three Disney Collection CC products as surprise for me. How thoughtful of him! This is one of them, Mickey Mouse BB Power Perfection Cushion. The one I have is in Apricot Beige (V201) which is a little too fair upon application. Natural Beige (V203) will work better for my medium skin tone.  Even though V201 is too fair for my skin tone, the BB Cushion can somehow adjusts and better match my skin tone after about 10-15 minutes. This BB Power Perfection Cushion retailed for USD $16 at Seoul Shilla Duty Free.

 

Cute Mickey Mouse logo on the puff with Mickey's classic colors

Total skin treatment BB cushion with power elasticity, power hydration and power correction effects. The airy touch formula goes on in a thin layer yet perfectly covers up blemishes, making skin look healthy and radiant. The cushion contains African Walnut Oil and Sea Buckthorn Fruit Extract to moisturise the skin. The cushion also contain hyaluronic acid to instantly increase skin's moisture content, leaving skin plump and smooth with a natural glow. 

This BB Cushion claims to reduce wrinkles, brightens skin tone and protects agains UV rays. It has SPF 50 PA+++. This BB Cushion has low to medium coverage. You can build up the coverage by applying more BB cream. Do be careful not to apply too much product or else it would look cakey. The texture is rather light, and it does not feel heavy on my skin. My sensitive skin did not breakout after the use of The Face Shop BB Cushion. The staying power is pretty impressive, lasts about 4-5 hours (without makeup primer). I thought this BB Cushion would slide off my face in Singapore's humid weather. But it surprisingly stayed on well without any makeup primer. The Face Shop BB Cushion has a better staying power than Hera CC Cream. Even though I am not a face makeup kind-of-person, this BB Cushion has been my go-to product for evening out my skin tone. It does a good job in covering little blemishes and redness. It is easy to use with the puff provided. The only thing that I have against the BB Power Perfection Cushion is the bulky packaging. It is not sensible to carry it in your handbag or in your travel makeup bag, it takes up too much space. Other than that, this Face Shop BB Power Perfection Cushion is a good product.  

Before the BB Cushion application

The left side of my face has BB cream, while the right side is bare face

Shade V201 is not a perfect match for my skin

This is when both sides of my face has BB Cream. 

The shade is slightly fairer than my neck, but it still acceptable.

This is how fair I look before my pressed powder. 

REVIEW: innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit

Compact packaging with a tiny brush

 A lighter reddish brown shade and a darker grey-brown shade

~AG~
Bought this innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit last year when I was in Seoul. Heard good reviews about this affordable eyebrow powder from the online community. Being a big fan of the innisfree brand, this Eco Eyebrow Kit was added into my shopping basket without any hesitation. This dual-color powder kit comes with a stiff eyebrow brush. It retails for S$16.50 on innisfreeworld.com, though I cannot remember how much it retails for in Korea. 

Thick and stiff brush does not work well

Today's confession: I am a noob (beginner) on eyebrow makeup. Despite experimenting with brow mascaras, eyebrow pencils and eyebrow powders, my eyebrow makeup skills are not that competent. Based on my experience, eyebrow powder is the easiest eyebrow product to apply with. Eyebrow pencils - I find the most difficult to work it. Since eyebrow pencils require more precise strokes and a more skilled hand. It is easy to overdraw brows when using eyebrow pencils since it goes on stronger. Brow mascaras work great to keep the brows in place, though they do not give much definition to the brows. You cannot shape your eyebrows using brow mascaras. Eyebrow powders are natural enough for everyday use. Brow powders give a nice definition without looking too overdone. The main reason why brow powder is my No.1 choice for eyebrow products is because of the ease of use. Brow powder works as a crayon that you use to fill in the spare areas of the eyebrows. 

On the left without brow powder,  on the right with brows filled in

The pigments of innisfree's brow powders work great for those with dark brown to black hair. Since there are two shades of the brow powders, you can mix and match to create your own color. The powders are finely milled, and blends in easily with my brows. Though, the staying power of the brow powders are not fantastic, it does not lasts all day. The lasting power is about 4-5 hours. The in-kit brush is horrible. It is too densely packed and thick, which results in too much powder on the brush. For those that want a highly defined eyebrows, this innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit might not work for you, as the powders are soft and natural. This Eco Eyebrow Kit might not work on special occasions where you will be photographed.

Q&A: innisfree no-sebum mineral pact

innisfree no-sebum mineral pact is a replacement for oil control paper that leaves the skin soft and matte. Its double sebum-control system controls the secretion of sebum to keep the skin soft and fresh all day long. Jeju minerals and mint control skin oil and moisture to keep skin healthy.

~MG~

Q: How much did you buy innisfree no-sebum mineral pact for?

A: Bought this powder pact at innisfree Singapore for S$17.

Q: Why did you decide to try this innisfree no-sebum mineral pact?
A: This is one of innisfree's best-sellers. There are plenty of good reviews about innisfree no-sebum mineral pact online. 

Q: How long have you been using this powder? 

A: Mine lasts me for more than 2 years. I used it 2 or 3 times a week to set my face makeup or to reduce the shine on my face. 

Q: What do you like about this product

A: The affordability of this setting powder is the highlight about this product. It costs under S$20, which is such a bargain. The packaging is compact and durable, making it very handy to travel with. The oil control of this powder is medium; and I would not say it has great lasting power. My skin did not have any allergic reaction to this innisfree powder. This mineral pact  also did not cause my acne-prone skin to breakout. 


Q: What do you want to improve about this product?

A: As it is a setting powder, there is no coverage. You need to blend it well as it is a white powder, if not you will look blotchy. Your face can look cakey if you apply too much powder.

Q: Would you recommend this powder to your friends? 
A: Would not repurchase because I prefer powder that is more finely milled. This innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is not as fine.

Pictures courtesy of innisfreeworld.com

REVIEW: Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown

 Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown

You have to shake it before use

~AG~

Bought this Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown in Seoul, Korea. Forgot to take note of the retail price there. This Clio Brush Eyeliner is selling for S$22.90 in Watsons Singapore. This is a highly raved about eyeliner. I heard about the great staying power of this eyeliner many years back when Lee Hyori was Clio's brand ambassador. 

Fine tip brush that is easy to use

Decided to go for a brown eyeliner because there are too many black eyeliners in my makeup collection. The first thing I noticed is that the brush tip is very fine and precise. It allows for better control, which is great for liquid eyeliner beginners. A brown eyeliner is less harsh than black eyeliner. However, some ladies might not like the super natural look. Brown eyeliner does not define the eyes as strongly as black eyeliner. Brown eyeliner works well for daytime, however it might not be suitable for nighttime or when a person is photographed. Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner lasts all day. The eyeliner stayed on my eyelids for more than 10 hours, with eyeshadow primer. This long-lasting eyeliner did not smudge to my lower eyelids. Even without eyeshadow primer, Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner has great lasting power - for up to 8 hours. Another great thing about this eyeliner is that it dries up quickly after application, in mere seconds. I do not have to worry about the eyeliner transferring to the crease of the upper eyelids. With some liquid eyeliners such as Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, I had to keep my eyes closed for at least 10 seconds for the eyeliner to dry. Those 10 seconds felt so long. Even though Clio Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown has great lasting power, it is easy to remove with an oil-based eye makeup remover. No tugging on the sensitive skin around the eyes. Yay!

Even though this eyeliner has the word "Waterproof" in its name, I would not categorize it as waterproof. It does have some water-resistance properties, but if you are going for a swim or to cry your eyes out, this Clio eyeliner would definitely smudge. Another downside to this eyeliner is the lack of pigmentation. It could be because this is a brown eyeliner, but the color is not as intense. I had to go over the line two or three times to get sufficient color. Might have to try Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner in black to get a true comparison. 

Top is a single line of the eyeliner, the bottom is three layers of the eyeliner

Eyeliner after contact with water and rubbing it. 

Overall, Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown is one of my highly rated liquid eyeliners. For its price of S$22.90, this is one of the more affordable liquid eyeliners. In comparison with my other HG eyeliners (Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner, Lancome Artliner and Marc Jacobs Magic MArc'er Precision Pen), Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner is ranked #2 on the list.