Review: Skinfood » Wine Bubble Cleansing Foam

There is nothing like curling up with a good book and a glass of wine at the end of the night just before bed. Add a roaring fire to the mix and you're in for one classy evening. As wine contains many of those helpful antioxidants we hear oh so much about, it's not only good to drink (within reason), but those same antioxidants can do wonders for your skin! Long story short, this cleanser looked too fun and unique to pass up.

FLASH FACTS
Brand » Skinfood
Product » Wine Bubble Cleansing Foam
Size » 160ml
Cost » $20 USD
Website » eng.theskinfood.com
Would I repurchase? » Probably not

The Wine Bubble Cleansing Foam contains wine from Cotes du Rhone, an excellent wine producer in France. What's good about that is that their wines are packed with plenty of powerful antioxidant polyphenols. But what are antioxidants anyway and why should I even care? Well, antioxidants basically protect your skin at a cellular level and help it to recover from injury. They can help combat the damaging effects from the sun and in the long run this means they will help to keep those pesky wrinkles at bay!

Skinfood also mentions that this cleanser contains AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) which is a naturally occurring acid in many fruits, and in this case grape wine, that helps to break down dead skin cells and gently exfoliate your skin.

This is a pretty typical foam cleanser and the consistency of the foam is identical to most foaming hand soaps. The best part about this cleanser though is by far the smell! It does not actually smell like wine, but rather permeates a sophisticated floral scent which is absolutely refreshing. Let's review, I looooove the way it smells!

However, I am not quite in love with the rest of this cleanser. It is pretty gentle and I would recommend this to any skin type. It is slightly moisturizing and also helpful for those of us with oily skin. On the downside, I have noticed that it usually takes at least two washes to get your base makeup off and you best double rinse otherwise this cleanser can sometimes leave a subtle, but noticeable film that lingers on the skin and could be potential cause for breakouts.

But if you're willing to put in the extra work, the Wine Bubble Cleansing Foam will leave your face feeling sleek and clean and even a little softer. The exfoliation aspect is very mild and only noticeable over time. In my opinion, it doesn't seem to deep cleanse your pores, but if you are looking for a cleanser that smells amazing, is very gentle, and does a great job at cleaning the surface of your skin with a little more effort, then you might want to consider picking this one up. Overall, I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.

Side note: I apologize for not regularly keeping up with my blog lately, but I am here and I do read all of your comments! It's busy season for the film industry right now and I have been working A TON. So, sorry about that. I will try to post more often and get back into the swing of things. Love you all!! As always, thank you for reading :D xo

Love,

Review: Skinfood » Rice Shimmer Powder #80

Hi everyone (´ω｀★) I'm back after a long hiatus to tell you about this lovely loose powder that I absolutely adore! It's Skinfood's Rice Shimmer Powder. I eyed this for a long time before I finally gave in to buying it and lucky for me it turned out to be amazing!

FLASH FACTS
Brand » Skinfood
Product » Rice Shimmer Powder #80
Size » 23g
Cost » $12 USD
Website » www.theskinfood.com
Would I repurchase? » Absolutely

The Rice Shimmer Powder comes in a sturdy plastic container that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. It also comes with a generous amount of powder for the price, as I've purchased other loose powders with way less for much more before. So what's so great about this powder anyway? Let's take a look at what Skinfood says:

"Infused with soft, fine pearl particles, this multi-function powder achieves a subtle, luminous finish. Rice extract creates a clearer, incredibly radiant skin tone."

Yup. I totally agree with them on this one guys!

I'm sorry, but the picture above doesn't show the true quality of the shimmer this powder has. It was taken in bright outdoor light as you can tell by the other photos. But take my word, it's one of those powders that only shimmers in the right light, which is what I love about it. It doesn't look like you're wearing glitter on your face, but rather gives a soft and sophisticated glow at certain angles which really enhances your features. It almost reminds me of moonlight.

The powder is incredibly soft and slightly build-able (although it doesn't need it). Although mildly perfumed, the scent isn't heavy and doesn't linger on your face. If you like your makeup completely scent-free I'd look elsewhere, but I personally like the extra feminine touch when I open the lid.

The Rice Shimmer Powder is not completely translucent, so I'd recommend it for skin tones more on the fair side. Can I stress that this is perfect for setting your makeup? The only downside to this product is the fact that it comes with a sponge puff to apply the powder. In my opinion, it doesn't evenly distribute the powder on your face so I don't use it at all. However, I can't necessarily take points off for that as I feel if you want a natural looking finish from your powder, you should be using a powder brush anyway. But hey, it was nice of them to include something to apply the powder for those of us who don't have a brush or need to use this on the go.

Overall, I absolutely love this powder. I've never had any breakouts or negative reactions while using this. The Rice Shimmer Powder makes your skin look natural and doesn't leave that fake, white, powdery look when applied correctly. It doesn't cling to or emphasize flaky bits of skin and it lasts basically all day. The best part? It truly gives off a youthful, glowing, finish that brings out the natural beauty of your skin.

Love,

INGREDIENTS: talc, mica (c177019), zinc stearate, titanium dioxide (c177891), triethylhexanon, magnesium carbonate, silica, cetyl ethylhexanoate, zinc oxide (c177947), alumina, methicone, ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate, cholesteryl lanolate, triethoxycaprylylsilane, dimethicone, oryza sativa (rice) bran oil, hydroxyapatite, tocopheryl acetate, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance, iron oxides (Ci 77492), iron oxides (ci 77491), iron oxides (ci 77499)

Review: Skinfood » Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore Toner & Emulsion

On one of my latest trips to the Skinfood store in Los Angeles I received this cute little gift set from their Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore line! My natural love of apples already had me eyeing this line, but when I found out it was meant for oily skin I couldn't wait to test it out!

FLASH FACTS
Brand » Skinfood
Product » Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore Toner, Emulsion
Size » 160ml each
Cost » $18 USD each
Website » eng.theskinfood.com
Would I purchase the full version? » Toner? No. Emulsion? Probably not.

The first thing I want to mention is that I LOVE the way these smell! They're just like fresh tart apples mixed with something sweet and clean and the scent is very refreshing! The toner has a noticeable alcohol smell though, as many toners do, but it isn't overwhelming. They both come out clear from the bottle.

For years I tried western brand toners and always HATED them because they stung, dried out my skin, and overall left my skin feeling damaged and uncomfortable. No matter how many different brands I tried, it was always the same result. So, I gave up on toners altogether. However, once I discovered Asian skincare I realized not all toners are evil! My skin is in much better condition than it was years ago, so that might be a reason I'm relatively okay with toners now, but so far I've only liked toners from Asian brands.

That being said, the Fresh Apple toner didn't sting my skin even when I applied it during a breakout which really surprised me. It also doesn't dry out the surface of my skin and leaves it feeling fresh and extra clean. I still don't find toners to be all that necessary as long as you properly cleanse your face, but this is one I would consider using on occasion. I do not love this toner, as I've never found a toner I love (even with Asian brands), but I like it for the simple fact that it keeps my skin less shiny.

The emulsion is a bit stickier and a little thicker than the toner (as it should be). It feels fresh and light on my face throughout the day. Be cautioned though, if you put too much of this emulsion on then it won't be good. I've found that you just need a slight amount to layer on the skin and it will indeed help with sebum control, but if you put a little extra it will have the opposite effect and your skin will end up feeling heavy and even more oily than before!

Now, let's take a look at what Skinfood says to see if these measure up!

Skinfood claims: 
     Toner: A carbonated toner with fresh unripe green apple extract that cleanses soap residue and
                 skin impurities while tightening pores.
     Emulsion: An emulsion with fresh unripe green apple extract and carbonated water that controls
                 sebum production and tightens pores.

Check and check! I'm never too convinced with products that are supposed to help with sebum control (because many don't work), but these honestly kept my face less oily not just for a few hours, but for the ENTIRE day! As long as you go easy on the emulsion, at least for me, the effects were far greater than I expected. On one occasion my skin wasn't oily at all the whole day while wearing these which was a total shock to me. This only happened once, but on average these help a bunch with keeping my skin less oily.

On the downside, these seem to be slightly and slowly dehydrating overtime so it is not a good idea to skip your daily moisturizer while using these (that's not a good idea anyway). It's not that my skin has gotten dry and flaky, but I have noticed that my skin feels dehydrated from deep within. My lovely readers mentioned in the comments that this is probably due to the high alcohol content in the toner (emulsion, too) and I absolutely agree! That is the unfortunate reality of many toners and as I mentioned before, I'm still not convinced that toners are necessary as long as you use a good daily cleanser. To end on a positive note, I really like the way my BB cream clings to my skin after applying the emulsion. Overall, these smell amazing and really do help with sebum control!

UPDATE: After using these for a longer period of time, they started to clog my pores D: !! Not fun. I would attribute this to the drying effects of the toner on my skin. I still think the emulsion is not to blame, but I can't be 100% sure as I was using both the toner and emulsion simultaneously. If anyone has tried these let me know in the comments. Thanks!

xo,

Review: Skinfood » Black Sugar Mask Wash Off

There is so much hype around the Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off that I had to give it a go! Plus, being a fan of all things sweet, I definitely had to try a mask that lists caramel as one of it's ingredients! Needless to say, my curiosity finally got the best of me.

FLASH FACTS
Brand » Skinfood
Product » Black Sugar Mask Wash Off
Size » 100g
Cost » $17 USD in store
Website » eng.theskinfood.com
Would I repurchase? » Probably

The Black Sugar Mask comes in a simple container that many of Skinfood's masks come in. The cap screws off to reveal a second lid that helps to keep bacteria out of the product. The concoction inside is so thick that if you turn the container upside down it won't even move! It isn't hard or sticky, but you'll have a lot of trouble getting this out of the container without a scooper as it is slightly dry and quite dense.

Keep in mind you have to apply this to a dampened face to get it to spread, otherwise you could very well end up damaging your skin. Once applied, I looked like a had a really horrible tan because of how brown it is! Ha, after about 10-15 minutes the mask should be washed off with lukewarm water. Before I wash it off, I wet my hands and gently scrub my face with the sugar granules as a mild exfoliant. The key here is to be gentle!

I have heard numerous rumors about the smell of this mask, but to me it smells exactly like lemongrass. Not quite the scent you would imagine for a Brazilian sugar mask, but I personally like the smell. Now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at the first 5 listed ingredients and what they actually do for your skin:

» Sucrose Cocoate: A mild cleansing agent with conditioning and moisturizing properties.
» Glycerin: Attracts and holds moisture.
» Candelilla Wax: Anti-inflammatory agent.
» Macadamia Seed Oil: Promotes radiant skin.
» Lanolin: Skin protectant.

Full Ingredient List: Sucrose, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Lanolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Laurate, Butylparaben, BHT, Caramel, Parfum

Skinfood claims that the Black Sugar Mask promotes smooth, glowing skin. While I would agree that my skin feels smooth after each use, I would not ever say it is glowing. This mask is not very moisturizing and it does not feel cool or hot when applied. Also, I personally prefer a peeling cream for exfoliation as they are much more gentle and (I think) more effective.

However, I'm not sure if it's entirely due to this mask, but my skin seems to be less oily during the day after applying! This is also great for blackheads and it has seemed to help with diminishing my pores. My skin feels healthier and firmer after each use as well, so for that I would think about buying this again. I think this could be used every day, but ONLY if you are extremely gentle and cautious. Overall, I don't see exactly what all the hype is about, but I do like the way my skin feels after using the Black Sugar Mask Wash Off :)

xo,

Body: Skinfood » Grape Seed Oil Body Shower Gel » Mini Review

Purple is probably my favorite color if I had to choose. Grape, on the other hand, is not particularly my favorite scent. However, I've found Skinfood's Grape Seed Oil Body Shower Gel to resonate a wonderfully clean and soft grape scent that I surprisingly rather enjoy.

FLASH FACTS
Brand » Skinfood
Product » Grape Seed Oil Body Shower Gel
Size » 260ml
Cost » $10-$20 USD
Website » eng.theskinfood.com
Would I purchase the full version? » Maybe, but pricey in my opinion.

What Skinfood Says: Body shower gel that contains jojoba beads to control rough horny substances and nutrient-rich grape seed oil to improve the smoothness of the skin.

OKAY, side note...I just gotta say that this is one of those entertaining translations. Rough horny substances? What is that? I think that they meant to say that the shower gel helps to exfoliate rough patches of skin. That one had me laughing for quite some time...

What Beautiful Doki Doki Says: This shower gel foams really nicely and does a pretty decent job at exfoliating my skin. This isn't a product I love, but I do like it well enough. My skin is noticeably softer upon leaving the shower especially after multiple uses. It is definitely not a luscious waterfall of hydration, but my skin does feel silky and soft out of the shower.

I feel that this shower gel is best suited for everyday use, rather than a luxurious treat for the shower. It is a little expensive for the size, but if price is not an issue for you or you especially enjoy grape scents I think you will really like the Grape Seed Oil Body Shower Gel. In my opinion, it is not amazing, but I still like it and I still might buy it unless, of course, I find something else I prefer. Skinfood has a lot of interesting options for body products, including their Beer Bubble Body Cleanser, which for whatever reason is intriguing to me and on my list of things to try.

xo,

Body: Skinfood » Coffee Body Scrub Mini Review

I think it's because I absolutely love the smell of coffee shops that I was so excited to try the Coffee Body Scrub from Skinfood. Not to mention, Skinfood is high on my list of favorite skincare brands. So when I received a few samples on my last visit to their store I couldn't wait to try them out in the shower. But when I actually did, my excitement slowly faded away. (-_____-)

FLASH FACTS

Brand » Skinfood

Product » Coffee Body Scrub

Size » 100g

Cost » $12 USD

Website » www.theskinfoodus.com

Would I purchase the full product? » Probably Not

I absolutely love pampering myself in the shower because, well let's face it, it feels pretty nice! Skinfood claims that their Coffee Body Scrub exfoliates dry, rough, skin with coffee bean powder, leaving skin soft and moist. The coffee acid element adds resiliency and the honey and sugar make skin smooth.

Now, on to what I think! The coffee bean powder actually contains pretty decent sized bits that would seem to do a great job at exfoliating. However, I would say this product exfoliates only a little and it doesn't leave my skin feeling refreshed or smooth. This scrub does not lather at all and is the consistency of moist sugar.

The Coffee Body Scrub smells like sweetened coffee (which it basically is) and at first it smelled amazing. After a while though, the smell became too much. I'm not sure why, as I mentioned earlier I love the smell of coffee, but I just don't like the smell for a long time. You don't come out of the shower smelling strongly of coffee, but there are faint hints of the smell throughout the day.

Warning; this product will make a mess of your shower! The coffee bits get absolutely everywhere! I wouldn't mind dealing with this if the product was amazing, but since I wasn't too impressed by this scrub, having to clean the bits after each shower just felt like working for free. Also, a little does not go a long way with this product, and I feel I would need to use so much of it each shower to do the job that I would run out of the scrub way too quickly.

My overall feeling? It was okay. I think sensitive skin types could use this and if you are a huge fan of coffee you might enjoy this scrub. In my opinion, there are much better products out there to exfoliate and soften your skin in the shower.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

P. S. Love it? Hate it? What do you think of Skinfood's Coffee Body Scrub?

Review: Skinfood » Steam Milk Bubble Mask

The name of this product certainly is deceiving. I feel a more appropriate name would be Steam Milk Bubble Cleanser because that's exactly what this product actually is, and a great one at that! I'm lucky enough to have a Skinfood store near me here in LA and had no idea this product even existed until I paid the store a visit. I originally intended on buying their Black Sugar Mask (it's still on my wish-list), but the girl in the store pointed this cleanser out to me and after testing a bit on my hand I had to bring it home with me!

FLASH FACTS
Brand » Skinfood
Product » Steam Milk Bubble Mask
Size » 150ml
Cost » $25 USD approximately
Website » www.theskinfoodus.com
Would I Repurchase? » YES!!

I really love the Skinfood brand in general and especially when their products come in cute packaging! Their Steam Milk Bubble Mask comes in a milk carton shaped box and once you open the top you'll find the canister inside that dispenses the foam!

The Steam Milk Bubble Mask is packed with plenty of great ingredients for your skin! A few of them are:

Milk Protein » hydration, elasticity, helps heal the skin
Milk Lipids » moisturize, anti-aging, reduce appearance of skin irritations
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract » nourishing skin protectant
Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract » soothing, oil control, toner
Angelica Archangelica Leaf Extract » bacteria fighting properties to help with acne
Chamomilla Recutita Fruit Extract » smoothing, anti-inflammatory
Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract » soothes and relaxes inflamed skin

This cleanser is great for oily skin (like mine), but is also great for dry skin as it contains many hydrating ingredients. Sensitive skin types and acne prone skin types could also give this a go. It is extremely gentle on my skin and does not burn or sting, which has often happened to me throughout the years of trying new cleansers. It also does a perfect job at removing my base makeup, however if you are wearing heavy eye makeup I would suggest using a makeup remover as this product won't work without a lot of scrubbing in that area (which probably isn't the best idea).

I usually use this cleanser in the morning, but you can definitely use it both day and night. For dry skin, you might want to follow up with your favorite moisturizer after you wash off the cleanser. For me, I always apply toner and lotion during the day regardless, but at night I use a moisturizing cream after cleansing with this product when my skin is feeling extra dry.

$25 is a little expensive for my taste for a cleanser especially on a product I've never tried before, but fortunately I truly lucked out on my spur of the moment buy! Honestly, I think the Steam Milk Bubble Mask from Skinfood is my favorite cleanser of all time (it could be beaten out in the future, you never know). It doesn't smell like milk (in case you were wondering), but it does smell pretty dang good. I'm not quite sure what the smell is specifically, but it just smells fresh, soft, and clean!

Speaking of soft, my favorite part about this product is that it leaves me with a baby soft skin every time!

Love,

P. S. Do you have a favorite Korean brand cleanser?