Asian Brands
By the Muse on February 18, 2009
I recently came across Shills Wildberry Lip Balm and decided to give it a whirl as the price was right and a Muse can never have too many balms!
Shills, as far as the Muse knows, is a brand that’s sold exclusively via a website called Pay Easy. The site is a Taiwanese site that sells a few other brands aside from Shills. Shills is kinda a cop off of Benefit as their packaging is pretty much the same, the concept of the products, etc……very, very cute stuff but very much a dupe of what Benefit offers. I’ll be doing a few reviews of Shill products over the next few weeks so stay tuned.
At $149TWD Shills Lipbalm in Wildberry isn’t going to break the bank but after using the product it’s pretty much money I lost as the quality isn’t so great.
The balm doesn’t promise any bells and whistles and no worries you won’t be getting any either. Aside from it’s sweet packaging the balm itself is a total let down. The balm comes housed in small white plastic tube with a cute decal that features all sorts of berries on it. Inside is a pink balm that can be applied to lips. The balm itself is quite a nice texture as it’s firm and has just the right moisturizing benefits. Although it feels quite moist it applies very waxy and settles onto lips without every fully absorbing. I suppose I can’t rant too much about it absorbing considering it is a balm and balms have a tendency to lay on the lips but the waxy feeling is unforgivable for me as it just feels terribly gross on my lips. I was quite disappointed in the taste and even the smell for that matter…wildberry? What happened to all the wildberries? It has a very, very, very faint scent that’s kinda sorta berryish but aside from that nothing. It doesn’t taste like berries either but more like a waxy plastic taste.
I suppose I can make proper use of this when I have severe chapped lips but honestly for everyday use I’ll probably skip. The box supposedly says it contains a high unit of shea butter but for me it just felt like rubbing candle wax on my lips.
Big thumbs down.
No likey!
If you’re interested you can find it on E-bay for around $9.99 USD but honestly I would SO not pay that insane price. If you have friends in Taiwan you can ask them to pick it up for you for retail but I’d avoid it, not worth the trouble at all!
By the Muse on February 4, 2009
Are you tired of powder washes yet? The Muse has featured three already in review and today she’ll bore you further with her very favorite powder wash.
Now do keep in mind the only reason she loves this one is because it’s called Happy Syu Wa Wa, seriously does the name not alone make you giddy or is it only me?
Happy Syu Wa Wa is created by B&C and runs around $4-$5 USD or sometimes higher depending on where you purchase. It’s a basic powder wash for removing makeup, simply add a small amount to water, rub together and wash your face.
One good plus side of this particular powder was is it produces a rather rich, almost carbonated lather that looks like a foam and really does a good job of moisturizing my face as well as removing my makeup.
It boasts that it can boost blood circulation for softer, smoother skin but count me not believing that much, let’s not get crazy now!
It’s perfectly good for all skin types as it doesn’t strip skin or leave it dry plus if you happen to have oily skin it does a good job of mattifying skin but no fear for dry skin types as you won’t experience dryness. It’s completely unscented so if you like your cleansers sans scent you’ll be all the happier with this.
For the price it’s a rather good, basic powder wash without any bells or whistles. I’m a particular fan of the foaming action which is why I tend to buy it when I run low but aside from that it doesn’t have anything huge going for it that makes me want to urge you to go out and grab it for yourself.
If you can find it cheap I highly recommend trying it out as it’s a nice basic powder plus who can’t love that name, Happy Syu Wa Wa, makes me want to dance!
Questions?
Comments?
Leave ‘em below!
By the Muse on February 4, 2009
The Muse loves the fact she can bring you a review for a BB Cream that’s 1. easily available online for purchase and 2. quite an inexpensive beauty budget find.
Which BB Cream am I talking about?
InnisFree Trouble Care BB Cream, available at Sasa and quite an inexpensive beauty find at $15.30 USD.
If you’re unfamiliar with BB Creams please read my introduction of BB Creams here.
Innifree Trouble Care BB Cream is actually quickly turning into HG (holy grail) material for me and that’s saying something as I’m quite picky with BB Creams. Strangely enough it’s not even made for my skin type as it’s for oily, acne skin types. Taking into account it was made for oily skin I was worried about using it on my dry skin but it turned out it worked like it absolute dream!
One of the first things I loved about the formula was the perfect shade of milky beige cream it was, this was a perfect fit for my skin and once I applied it was equally as light on as it adjusted to my tone perfectly. On top of the perfect shade selection it also had a beautiful formula that glided onto my skin, absorbed easily, and made my skin feel dewy and fresh. I was surprised as being made for oily skin I feared it would dry me out but it was wonderfully refreshing on and created a flawless canvas for my makeup. Everyone always raves to me about the benefits of using their BB Cream as a fabulous concealer but honestly I’ve never had success using BB Creams as an under eye concealer. However, Innisfree Trouble Care BB Cream worked perfectly as both a foundation and a concealer! It really did a rather fab job of covering up all my woes including puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles.
This comes in a pump style bottle just like Etude House Magic BB Cream but I’m not loving this at the moment since the depressor has a bit of a problem where the slightest pressure distributes way too much product. You don’t need a ton of the cream to cover your face as it’s richly pigmented and sadly I find it amazingly wasteful that I can’t get it working correctly to pump out only a tiny amount. Each time I use it a big dollop comes flying out! Aside from this minor rant I absolutely love this one and Muse Approve it for purchase!
Why I loved it:
- Richly pigmented, a little dab will do my entire face
- Leaves me with a flawless, even complexion that’s younger, fresher, and healthier
- Creates a perfect working canvas for my makeup
- Acts as both a concealer and a foundation
- Feels natural and breathable on my face
- Formula is moisturizing and absorbs easily into my skin
Who I think would love it:
- Anyone who wants a beautiful, fresh complexion
- Anyone with Fair, Medium Fair, and Lighter Skin Tones
- Those who have a certain dullness to their skin and want a bit of freshening up
- Anyone who likes a multitasking product that gets you out the door faster!
I do think this is a near perfect product however it seemed to be quite rich for anyone with oily or acne skin even though the formula is made exactly for that skin type. Once it’s on your skin it’s quite light and natural feeling however during application it has a bit of a thick, creamy formula which worries me for people who fear clogged pores.
I used the Innisfree Trouble Care BB Cream in my latest review FOTD for Prescriptives, I’ve included one picture below of me wearing it but if you’d like to see more do visit that post. Over the course of the next few days you’ll see me wearing it in other FOTD’s and I’ll def post to say as such.
Overall, it’s probably one of the better BB’s I’ve tried and I absolutely adore it and highly recommend picking one up. I’m thrilled I can offer an easily accessible BB Cream that’s available as an online purchase as normally BB’s I’ve featured in the past aren’t available stateside or online and if they are online it’s for a crazy amount of money.
All in all I loved this one and it’s definitely staying close by for daily cosmetic rituals.
The Muse loves it!
How about you?
Have you tried this?
Love it?
What are your fav BB Creams?
Questions about BB Creams?
Tell the Muse!
By the Muse on January 16, 2009
I was browsing around Sasa looking for a steals and deals when I noticed that they are now carrying Kyowa Rose Hip Makeup Removal Cleansing Tissues! Coolness! I have these hanging out just about everywhere in my house and office. I keep ‘em by my bed, on my vanity, in my bathroom, in my desk draw…they are kinda my go to item for freshening up makeup, cleaning brushes, and removing makeup on the fly.
Read more about why I love ‘em after the jump!
I’m a big fan of MAC Makeup Remover Wipes but damn they dry my skin out bad plus they kinda sting a little bit. I’ve long since replaced them with Kyowa Rose Hip Makeup Removal Cleansing Tissues that I buy at my local Asian supermarket for a buck. That’s right, $1 for 30! Score! A steal and a deal, thank you very much.
They do a rather fab job of removing all my makeup without drying out my skin so I keep buying ‘em for quickie makeup removal when I’m lazy plus I use ‘em for a variety of other reasons too since the price is right. Do keep in mind that they epically fail at removing waterproof mascara but honestly have you ever met a wipe that does a good job with that? I haven’t, not even MAC’s version.
Although I do like these for super quick makeup clean up I really dig having them around for wiping my brushes in between shadow color changes. Swipe a few times and my brush is nice and clean for my next color plus dries really quick. These also make a nice pick me up in the summer when my forehead is being oil, quick wipe removes the oil and I can brush on a bit of powder to mattify.
Honestly, they are pretty multitasking and the price can’t be beat. When I seen them on Sasa I was kinda excited that the rest of the world could now indulge (that is if you don’t have many options around in regards to small Asian shops, markets, etc…) although on Sasa they do retail for $3.20 USD but still if you’re doing a Sasa order it’s not too bad a deal to throw a box in your cart to take them for a whirl.
They smell fresh and clean, leave my skin moist without a tight, itchy dry feeling, and multitasking as a remover, brush cleaner, and more! What more could a girl want at this price?
Kyowa makes several styles of the wipe, so pick the one you want and get cleansing! The Muse loves ‘em!
By the Muse on August 1, 2008
Your Muse hasn’t blogged BB Creams as of yet since her experiences with them haven’t really been the greatest however since I mentioned them once or twice I ended up getting many e-mails and comments about them. I recently reviewed Kevyn Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer which reminded me of BB Cream so much in texture and formula that I was kinda of inspired to write about BB’s soon after!
What’s a BB Cream? How do I use a BB Cream? Where can I purchase BB Creams? These are some of the daily questions I get in my inbox!
The US market, as far as I know, has not yet been exposed to BB Creams. I imagine we are all somewhat obsessed with our skin within the US but I personally feel like the Asian population is more so and that obsession accounts for the mass amount of products released within Asian countries. For me and other skincare junkies this is pure nirvana!
One of the latest, greatest, popular, and hyped products to hit Korea are BB Creams which is short for Blemish Balm Cream. The craze began in Korea but has since hit Japan, China, Etc…
So what is a BB Cream anyway?
BB Cream is pretty much the end all of foundation, concealer, moisturizer, etc….It’s a combined product that eliminates many products from your daily makeup routine and not only simplifies foundation but also offers key ingredients that we all look for in makeup and skin care.
BB Creams are highly moisturizing, contain SPF, have acne fighting and anti-aging ingredients, plus conceal and lay a foundation for your other makeup.
What BB Cream Eliminates from your daily routine:
BB Creams are so highly moisturizing you may or may not wish to apply a moisturizer prior to using!
BB Creams contain doses of 25+ SPF so you don’t need an extra SPF product to protect your skin from harmless sun rays!
- Acne Treatments, Lotions, Etc…
BB Creams contain active ingredients for fighting off problem areas!
- Anti-Aging Lotions, Potions, Etc…
BB Creams contain anti-aging ingredients to prevent wrinkles and also treat any fine lines you may already have!
BB Creams act as a concealer for concealing under eye circles, baggage, etc…It also concealsr acne, blemishes, red areas, etc…
BB Creams act as a foundation for prepping the skin for makeup and creating a flawless finish to skin!
- Whitening Lotions, Fluids, Etc….
BB Creams contain whitening agents to lighten the skin!
You can see why everyone is so hyper and excited about BB Creams. They are virtually the superman of foundation however they are not without their flaws.
Your Muse has tried about 8-10 brands of BB Creams now and I’ve been disappointed about 95% of the time. BB Creams are NOT without one major problem.
My god Muse what do you mean?! They sound like skin care perfection!
The problem with BB Creams is color selection. BB Creams are not like foundation where you walk in and have an array of colors to choose from. Most BB Creams offer one color option only or sometimes, if you’re lucky, two color selections.
Right off the bat I’ll say if you’re a deeper, darker skin tone I’m highly doubtful that BB Creams will work for you although I can’t be sure as I don’t have experience with application on such a skin tone.
I’m fascinated with the excitement over a product that only comes in a dull beige color. Many Asian girls do have a yellow tone to skin and beige is not only unflattering on yellow tones but just, in my opinion, unflattering on ALL skin tones. Thus my amazement over the hype that surrounds the product in Asian countries. BB Creams are so pigmented that the color will look very unnatural on any and all skin tones at least this has been my experience with the brands I’ve tried.
Another surprising thing about BB Creams is the fact that they seem to be best suited to dry skin. I have many, many Asian friends and about 95% of them have oily skin. BB Creams do not dry matte in my personal opinion and they feel very moisturizing when on so I’m curious how those with oily skin feel about the formula and texture of such a product.
I was recently contacted by a reader who recommended me a few brands I hadn’t tried before that made some high end BB Creams. After discussing it with her I decided to give BB Creams a much needed revisit.
You won’t be hearing about the bad. When it comes to Asian cosmetics and skincare it’s difficult for the Muse to trash it. It’s simply too high quality to snark at which accounts for my lack of posts regarding BB Creams. However, I have decided I’ll start reviewing brands I have tried and the pros and cons of each. I’ll also have an upcoming review on a brand of BB that I do LOVE and again this is thanks to the reader that recommended it! That review is coming shortly so thank the gods we finally have a good BB Cream to rave about.
BB Creams are a welcome edition to the makeup world and an innovation in skin care and makeup that needs a bit of tweaking. The potential for greatness is already there and with a little work we’ll have pure perfection.
It’s hard not to notice that I littered my blog entry with difference adverts of BB Creams. As you can see many, many, many companies in Korea have out various brands of the popular product so sometimes it’s difficult to weed through the bad to get to the good! However, that’s what you have the Muse for! I’ll be sharing the best and not so great with you very soon!
Do you use BB Creams?
Love ‘em?
Got questions about BB Creams?
Tell the Muse!
Love Korean Cosmetics? Wanting to know more about Korean Brands? Try a daily dose of past posts!
Etude House Moistfull Mask Review
Etude House Spring Collection Review
An Introduction to Korean Cosmetic Brands
Banila Co “Blue” Summer Collection
If you need information about how BB Creams are different from Tinted Moisturizers please click here.
By the Muse on May 27, 2008
Well lookiee what the Muse came across on the Laneige Singapore site!
It’s the Summer Collection!
I was shocked to see the Laneige site had updated for Summer on the Singapore site only and not the Korean! I was thinking I’d see the update on the Korean site prior to any of the other global gateways!
Go Singapore (lately you guys have been really up to date with the cosmetic collections!)!
The release appears to be very small with some shadows and a lipstick but I’m unsure of all the details as of yet! As soon as I know I’ll definately keep you posted!
As always the promo model image is gorgeous! It’s a very edgy look they created using soft colors. I think perhaps the edge comes from the haircut the model is sporting!
I’m interested in getting my hands on some of this collection to review for you guys so stayed tuned!
On a side note I’m behind on comments please know I’ll get to them soon! Sorry for the delay! Life sometimes gets in the way of blogging on occasion! Love you all!
Click here to check out the Laneige Spring Collection!
Click here to read my review of Laneige’s Darling Big Eyes Palette!
Click here to read why I was so excited about Laneige’s Pink Sliding Compact!
Click here to read my review on Laneige’s Snow Radiant Blusher!
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