Review: The Face Shop » Face it Power Perfection BB Cream

I don't know why, but I just really love base products and sometimes I get more excited about them than I probably should. Despite the CC craze I opted to pick up the FACE it Power Perfection BB Cream from The Face Shop on my last visit. Despite the price tag, I am not only thrilled with the packaging because purple is my power color, but I also love this BB as well!

FLASH FACTS
Brand » The Face Shop
Product » FACE it Power Perfection BB Cream in no. 01 Light Beige
Size » 40g
Cost » $40 USD in store
Website » www.thefaceshop.com
Would I repurchase? » Yes!

This BB comes in a sturdy and shiny, sealed, plastic pump container. The packaging gets an A+ from me because it's quite hygienic and the cap also allows it to stand up and be displayed prettily on your countertop without it constantly tumbling over. I have been using this for months now and even dropped it a few times, but I have never had a problem with the pump.

The Power Perfection BB comes in two different shades, but I chose the lighter of the two as my skin is naturally pretty pale. This BB Cream definitely aims for a more porcelain doll look, so if you are trying to tan it up I definitely would not go for this one. I avoid tanning and embrace the natural look of my light skin so this one was pretty perfect for me. By the way, it contains SPF37/PA++ and is meant for wrinkle improvement, whitening, and sun protection.

The Face Shop's description? Containing omega-3 and the Vita-skin Complex, the cream enables the skin tone to appear moisturized and radiant with with a smoother skin texture. With an airy touch formula, it adheres in a thin layer as light as air yet flawlessly covers skin blemishes for a lustrous, healthy skin appearance.

I would have to agree that the Power Perfection BB spreads on effortlessly and despite its thin and airy feel actual has pretty heavy coverage. It does not however, flawlessly cover blemishes, but there isn't really such a thing as flawless in my book. With one swipe it will effectively hide any dark spots or acne scarring, but for more obvious blemishes you will still probably need a concealer. Although I don't find layering of this BB all that necessary considering it does a great job with coverage from the get-go, you can build upon it if you want.

The result is a silky finish that is pretty lustrous, but I personally prefer not to wear this BB without a dusting of loose powder on top. I've found that the powder increases wearability by a few hours and creates a wonderful matte look. The only downside? The Power Perfection BB settles into creases around the eyes and mouth (so don't lay it on thick in those areas). I don't have any wrinkles just yet, but I do tend to smile a lot and find myself checking my smile lines throughout the day. Somewhat annoying, but it's the only downfall to this one.

I was worried that after spending the cash, I was going to end up kicking myself when the Power Perfection BB didn't quite live up to my expectations. Luckily, it has certainly performed! It was the most natural looking out of the others I tested in the store and after bringing it home, I am very pleased with the coverage it supplies. I've never had any breakouts from it, although I would not recommend this for those of you with extreme blemishes, as it tends to sting if used on broken skin (the package even advises against it). It doesn't cling to flaky bits and keeps your skin moisturized throughout the day. I'm not sure if it helps with wrinkle improvement, but it certainly helps to even out skin tone.

Long story short? Love it!

xo,

Ingredients: water, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), cyclopentasiloxane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, phenyl trimethicone, cyclohexasiloxane, butylene glycol, zinc oxide (CI 77947), isododecane, cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, niacinamide, methylpropanediol, butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, sodium chloride, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, sodium hyaluronate, portulaca oleracea extract, schinus terebinthifolius seed extract, gynostemma pentaphyllum leaf/stem extract, prunus amygdallus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, plukenetia vollubilis seed oil, hydrogenated polyisobutene, disteardimonium hecterite, sorbitan isostearate, ozonorite, dimethicone, hexyl laurate, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, hydrogenated poly(C6-14 olefin), caprylic/capric glycerides, ethylhexylglycerin, aluminum hydroxide, stearic acid, beeswax, triethoxycaprylsilane, propylene carbonate, xanthan gum, beta-glucan, retinol, linoleic acid, ceramide 3, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, hydrolyzed extensin, raspberry seed oil/tocopheryl succinate aminopropanediol esters, alumina, calcium aluminum borosilicate, adenosine, disodium edta, fragrance(parfum), iron oxides (CI 77492), iron oxides (CI 77491), iron oxides (CI 77499).

The Face Shop » Lovely me:ex Pastel Cushion Blusher #03 Plum Cushion

Anyong beautiful readers! I wanted to show you this adorable little blush from The Face Shop! I am such a sucker for cute packaging and I really couldn't resist this one.

FLASH FACTS
Brand » The Face Shop
Product » Lovely me:ex Blusher #03 Plum Cushion
Cost » $7 USD
Website » www.thefaceshop.com

The Lovely me:ex Plum Cushion Blusher comes in an adorable cardboard container. The packaging is pretty sturdy and I actually quite like it, but it might not be the best for the adventurous traveler to take along. I am pleased that the lid fits tightly and securely. The cardboard isn't flimsy or anything so as long as you take care of it you shouldn't have any problems with it not being of the plastic variety. It comes with a cute little powder puff inside topped with a bow to apply the blush. There is no separation between the puff and the product itself, however, so it's best to clean the puff before replacing. Or, you can simply use your own makeup brush of course!

This pressed powder blush is a very pastel shade and gives you a doll-like appearance. I think this would look great paired with a light lip and accentuated eyes, especially with falsies! Sorry, but I really couldn't get the blush to show up very well in pictures (due to lighting), but it is much more prominent in person and I find it gives you a very cutesy, youthful look. In the right light, it shimmers and is quite pretty!

You can barely tell that I am wearing any blush in the photo, but if you don't want a stand out blush then the Plum Cushion blusher is a good choice. It's a great pick if you're going for a porcelain doll finish, but want to stay close to looking natural. In terms of wearability, it's lasted me all day and I haven't had a problem with it wiping off. The only thing I do not like about the blush is you cannot build up the color! I'd say there is a difference between layer one and layer two, but after that no matter how much you apply it won't get any more pigmented. On the bright side, there's basically no way can mess it up lol.

The Lovely me:ex Blushers come in five variations. I chose #03 Plum Cushion after testing all five in store because I liked the color the best (although I think the award for cutest packaging goes to the Rose Blusher). Overall, this blush is chalky in texture and matte with a slight shimmer. I love the packaging and think the pastel is perfect for anyone wanting to look super kawaii!

xo,

Review: The Face Shop » Mugwort Herb Day Massage Cream

Did you know that facial massage is something you can do every day and is very beneficial to the health of your skin? However, you don't want to be rubbing and irritating your skin with excess friction and this is where the Herb Day Massage Cream from The Face Shop comes in handy. In short, this cream is amazing!

FLASH FACTS
Brand » The Face Shop
Product » Herb Day Massage Cream in Mugwort
Size » 150ml
Cost » $10 USD
Website » www.thefaceshop.com
Would I purchase again? » Absolutely

This comes in a decently sized plastic container with a twist off lid and a second lid that lifts off. The cream is the consistency of warm butter and melts onto the face after application. The package says that it smells like mugwort. Now, I don't really know what mugwort smells like, but this smells herbal as you would expect. If you're not a fan of overwhelming or strange herbal scents don't worry because this one is rather light and soothing! I really like the smell because it makes me feel calm and relaxed. Also, in case the word mugwort sounds scary to you, mugwort is an herb that grows naturally in Europe and Asia and the extract has calming and soothing properties! Pretty awesome!

The cream changes into more of an oil once you start massaging and I was worried that this would cause my skin to break out. Fortunately for me, this massage cream has done nothing but benefit my skin! But beware, this contains mineral oil! Although my skin has no issues with mineral oil I know many of you might be allergic to it or your skin simply doesn't agree with it. On the bright side, this contains vitamins B and C to refresh the skin and helps to flush away any redness with a calming effect. This does an excellent job at moisturizing your skin and I can't express enough how soft my skin feels after use.

Ingredients: water, mineral oil, cetyl ethylhexanoate, petrolatum, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, propylene glycol, glyceryl stearate, beeswax, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, aspalathus linearis extract, lilium candidum flower extract, borago officinalis extract, salvia officinalis (sage) leaf extract, centaurea cyanus flower extract, artemisia vulgaris extract (50ppm), anthemis nobilis flower extract, peg-100 stearate, dimethicone, sorbitan sesquioleate, triethanolamine, benzophenone-9, butylene glycol, carbomer, disodium edta, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum), caramel, green 3 (CI 42053)

The Face Shop has this great chart that shows you an easy massage! I honestly think that anyone who wants to take great care of their skin should be doing this because it has SO many benefits. When you massage your face it helps to calm the muscles underneath your skin, which in effect, helps diminish fine lines and prevents deeper wrinkles from forming! In addition, it increases blood circulation in the area which filters out acne causing and skin clogging toxins. It also helps diminish dark circles and brightens and de-puffs the eye area! Another great benefit is that because it eases stress and tension in your face it can help get rid of headaches and helps your skin heal more quickly.

As the chart suggests, you can massage your face for as little as one minute a day and see results. I personally like to massage my face for longer than one minute because honestly it just feels really relaxing! In addition to this chart I would add that if you press on the sides of the bridge of your nose between your eyes, on your eyebrows, and under your eyes it will help to diminish dark circles. I would also suggest to massage your neck with upward strokes (we're working against gravity here) to prevent wrinkles in that area. Lastly, while massaging your face make outward swipes all the way to your ears and from there swipe down the sides of your neck. You want to do this because you are helping to flush the toxins down your neck and away from your face, where your body can then flush them out of your system.

I highly suggest incorporating facial massage into your skincare routine if you haven't already! Since I've started doing it my skin has looked much healthier and brighter. Although I don't have any deep wrinkles, I have noticed that any fine lines have disappeared and my skin is left more firm and supple. You can massage your face with anything as long as it reduces friction so you aren't pulling at your skin, but the Herb Day Massage Cream is extremely gentle and soothing! My hands glide effortlessly over my skin while using this. Also, the cream never absorbs fully into your skin which means it lasts for long massages and you'll want to wash it off with a cleanser when you're done. I believe there are two other variations of these creams, one in Cucumber and one in Ginkgo, but I chose Mugwort because it smelled the best and left my skin feeling the softest when I tested them in store!

Love,

Review: The Face Shop » New Zealand Volcanic Clay Blackhead Clay Nose Pack

Whew! That is somewhat of a mouthful to say. There has been a lot of hype about The Face Shop's New Zealand Volcanic Clay Blackhead Clay Nose Pack and as I am unfortunately plagued with far from flawless pores I jumped at the opportunity to try this!

FLASH FACTS
Brand » The Face Shop
Product » New Zealand Volcanic Clay Blackhead Clay Nose Pack
Size » 50mg
Cost » $6 USD
Website » international.thefaceshop.com
Would I repurchase? » Sure

There is a daily battle between me and the blackheads on my nose *sigh*. I have tried nose strips before and those work fine, but with so much excitement over this product it seemed like it could be nothing less than amazing. It's actually so popular that every time I went to The Face Shop store I frequent here in LA it was sold out, with the owner telling me it is one of their most popular items. They also said it was unknown when they would be receiving another shipment. Alas, I ordered through Amazon and eagerly waited the two weeks for my little package to arrive from Korea.

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but it is very sticky! Be warned, you have to apply this immediately for it to spread the right way. I also learned the hard way that leaving the cap open while you do so causes a buildup to start forming in the tip. So keep it closed while you apply! A thick application works best for this nose pack. Be prepared to let it dry for 30 mins! It says on the tube that it takes 10-15, but sometimes that just isn't enough time for it to fully dry and it has to be totally dry or it won't work at all.

Sorry, I know the picture below is gross! I'm not entirely sure how well you can see the results. In my opinion it works well, but not great! To be honest maybe my expectations were way too high because of all the hype, but I'm a little bummed. Don't get me wrong, it does work to an extent, but every time I use this, there are still a lot of blackheads left on my nose. It seems to do just as good a job as nose strips that I've tried. However, I still prefer this to nose strips because you get way more uses out of it and you can shape it to any area you want! You don't have to worry about cutting a strip to the right shape and you don't have to buy 3 different products to do one job. This can just go anywhere on your face and for that it's really convenient.

Overall, I would purchase the Volcanic Clay Nose Pack again, but I still wish it worked a little better. The Face Shop has a whole line of Volcanic Clay products so perhaps they work best in combination. I'm curious to try their New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Gel oil so maybe I'll get it and do a comparison.

xo,

First Look: The Face Shop » Face It Aura CC Cream » Mini Review

Photo credit to The Face Shop :)

I've been waiting to fall in love with a CC cream and have been trying out samples as a sort of CC cream speed dating, if you will. On my last trip to The Face Shop in downtown LA, I was overjoyed to find a sample of their FACE it Aura CC Cream in my bag! That being said, keep in mind that this is not an in depth review of this product, but rather my initial opinions on it.

FLASH FACTS
Brand » The Face Shop
Product » FACE it Aura CC Cream 02 Natural Beige
Size » 20g
Cost » $20 USD
Website » international.thefaceshop.com
Would I purchase the full version? » Leaning toward a yes!

This is the size of the sample I received. It contained enough cream to apply the product for three days!

The Aura CC Cream comes in two shades: 01 Radiant Beige and 02 Natural Beige. The one I tried is 02 Natural Beige, so keep that in mind! My skin is pretty pale and I think that the lighter shade 01 would probably work best for my skin, but especially since it's summer time, those of you who are a little tanner (naturally or not) could probably go for 02. I try not to tan though, so it's 01 for me!

This CC cream is almost as thick as some of the BB creams I've tried and provides a medium coverage (maybe even between medium and full). It has yellow/peach undertones and does a pretty good job of covering up my blemishes! You can also build coverage without it looking caky. My face feels soft and moisturized immediately after applying and lasts all day.

Sorry for my messy hair! I just woke up in this pic! lol

The Aura CC Cream is aptly named as it gives my face a glowing brightness after applying! I would agree with its claim that it gives you a fresh faced look in the morning. It is lightly fragranced and is supposed to "color change" to match your skin tone. When I first applied it, it looked WAY too orange for my face, but after a minute or so it did indeed adapt to my skin tone (although 02 is still a little too dark for me). The Face Shop says it is supposed to last 12 hours. I don't particularly agree, but it's hard to tell because it wipes off so easily! The other downside I found is that it does accentuate any flaky patches of skin. So if you have dry skin, this probably won't be the best CC for you.

Overall, I really like the FACE it Aura CC Cream and am definitely considering buying it on my next visit to The Face Shop. The only thing I worry about is how easily the cream wipes off, but I love the way it makes my skin glow and appear natural looking!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Love,

Review: The Face Shop » Green Tea Phyto Powder In Cleansing Foam

I'm pretty satisfied with the Green Tea Phyto Powder In Cleansing Foam from The Face Shop. Although it's not my favorite cleanser (it doesn't beat Skinfood's Steam Milk Bubble Mask reviewed here), I do enjoy it for it for its own unique qualities. Plus, I am an absolute fan of green tea!! Matcha green tea, green tea ice cream, green tea cheesecake, green tea skincare...you name it! Odds are I love it (I even ate green tea pancakes earlier today). Okay, moving on...

FLASH FACTS
Brand » The Face Shop
Product » Green Tea Phyto Powder In Cleansing Foam
Size » 170ml
Cost » $10 USD
Website » international.thefaceshop.com
Would I repurchase? » Perhaps

The Green Tea Cleanser comes in a simple yet attractive tube packaging. The product squeezes out of the bottom and comes out a thick gel-like consistency with a pearlescent shine. For some reason, when I smelled this cleanser in the store I thought it did indeed smell of green tea, but when I brought it home with me it didn't seem to smell like it at all (guess it was my imagination). It does smell good, however, but the smell is more of a simple, light, clean smell with no specific scent that I can think of.

This cleanser foams quite nicely and does a good job at cleaning off my makeup. It actually foams a lot more than shown in the picture! However, if you wear heavy eye makeup I would suggest getting some type of makeup remover to use along with this cleanser. It can sometimes require excessive scrubbing in the eye area which isn't the best for the delicate skin around your eyes. It also takes a little more effort than some cleansers to rinse off.

I do not recommend this for extremely dry or sensitive skin types. Although the Green Tea Cleanser is pretty gentle, it can be quite drying at times and if my skin is especially irritated this cleanser can slightly sting, which is never fun.

On a positive note, I do recommend this for those of you with combination/oily skin like mine. On days when my skin is oily and out of control, this cleanser does wonders. I do not like to use this cleanser every day though and am currently trading off between this and my Steam Milk Bubble Mask from Skinfood. The Green Tea Cleanser doesn't necessarily leave my skin feeling overly soft, but it is quite refreshing and does its job of getting my face clean. I also feel that over time it has helped to tighten my pores, smooth out my skin, and lessen the amount of oil I have.

I have never had any breakouts or irritations from using this cleanser (except for the rare slight stinging on extra sensitive days). Overall, I do enjoy the Green Tea Cleanser from The Face Shop, but I feel as though I would like to try something else before purchasing this cleanser again.

Thanks for reading!!

Love,

P. S. I couldn't end this post without mentioning that Kim Hyun Joong is the current model for The Face Shop. In case you don't know who is, he is a famous kpop idol and actor and is pretty dang cute (in my opinion)...just saying! :p