Review: Belif First Aid Overnight Brightening Mask

Finally getting to review the last two products that I bought from the Korean brand "Belif." My face always has this unhealthy dark tone, kind of like I haven't had adequate sleep and food for a week, even though I've been sleeping and eating perfectly fine. I also have some red spots and bumps every once in awhile. That's why I always need to use a brightening cream. So I decided to try this brand's brightening product.

Review: SUM37 (Su:m37˚ 1102) Extreme Time Control Cream

Finally getting around to trying these complimentary samples. I got this complimentary sample when I repurchased Sulwhasoo Essential Rejuvenating Eye Cream. I'm always looking for better night creams, because I know that my current night cream, Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask, won't be effective for me forever as I age and have drier, more wrinkly skin. In fact, I already think it's not the best for my forehead, which is showing signs of lines when I frown.

Review: HERA White Program Biogenic Cream

This is my second product from HERA. Surprisingly, both products are from the same White Program line, which is for whitening. I've actually never come across HERA until getting a complimentary sample of HERA White Program Biogenic Effector. But it's endorsed by Shim Min Ah (a famous Korean actress) so although it may not be as high end as Sulwhasoo or History of Whoo, it's definitely higher end than Skinfood, Etude House, etc.

Review: Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Line

After trying out History of Whoo Seol Whitening line (I've separated my review for the CC Sun Cream from the same line here), I switched to try out its biggest competititor, Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Line. I used it for a month. Reading reviews, I've heard better things from History of Whoo, but personally I've had better success with Sulwhasoo products so I still wanted to give it a try. Last year I experimented with my own made up combination of Hadalabo Shirojyun Whitening Essence and The Saem Chaga White Liposome Biocellulose Sheet, which worked, but I'm always into trying new products, especially whitening products. Give me my white pearly skin!

I actually tried out the Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Eye Treatment first before I tried the rest of the line so I've posted a separate review of that here.

My Night Skincare Routine

And here is my night skincare routine. For those who are interested in my morning skincare routine, you can check that post out here. Basically, in this post I'll be talking about the skincare products I use at night and summarize how the product is effective for me. If you're interested in getting more details or to look at the product description, I've already written a separate review for each of these products and I will provide their respective links below.

And if you're wondering...the green elephant at the bottom of the photo is to hold the yellow sample up :D

I should mention that this is my skincare routine during fall, winter, and spring. During summer, I need to use a whitening line to try to revert my tanned skin back to its original color so my night routine is totally different.

Before I delve into my routine, let me tell you a little bit about my skin as these products are targeted towards my skin's problems. I have oily/combination skin and large pores. If I ignore my large pores, 2-3 of them like to transform into pimples especially when it is that time of the month. In addition to the pores on my cheek area, I have some dark pigmentation and little bumps from the crazy acne I had 3 years ago. My skin color is very dull and has this jaundiced, unhealthy yellow tan. I also have very dark circles under my eyes and many fine lines under my eyes. As a result, my eyes look much older than the rest of my face.

My Morning Skincare Routine

It's finally here! For those who have commented on my blog and asked me to write a post about my daily skin routine, I apologize for the wait but thank you for your patience! Basically, in this post I'll be talking about the skincare products I use every morning and summarize how the product is effective for me. If you're interested in getting more details or to look at the product description, I've already written a separate review for each of these products and I will provide their respective links below.

I should mention that this is my skincare routine during fall, winter, and spring. During summer, I need to use a whitening line to try to revert my tanned skin back to its original color so my morning routine is totally different.

Before I delve into my routine, let me tell you a little bit about my skin as these products are targeted towards my skin's problems. I have oily/combination skin and large pores. If I ignore my large pores, 2-3 of them like to transform into pimples especially when it is that time of the month. In addition to the pores on my cheek area, I have some dark pigmentation and little bumps from the crazy acne I had 3 years ago. My skin color is very dull and has this jaundiced, unhealthy yellow tan. I also have very dark circles under my eyes and many fine lines under my eyes. As a result, my eyes look much older than the rest of my face.

For those who read the title of this post, yes, I'm gonna split my morning and night routine into two posts because they are quite different and putting them together would be too messy. I'll probably do my night skincare routine next week.

Review: History of Whoo Seol Whitening Line

After 40 days, I'm finally finished trying out the History of Whoo Seol Whitening line (I've separated my review for the CC Sun Cream from the same line here). My skin gets tanned very easily even when I put on sunscreen so every summer I absolutely have to use a whitening line or else I look like potato skin when class starts. Last year I experimented with my own made up combination of Hadalabo Shirojyun Whitening Essence and The Saem Chaga White Liposome Biocellulose Sheet, which worked, but I've been hearing great things about History of Whoo's whitening line so I thought I'd give it a try. Since I'm reviewing a whole line this time I'm going to change the formatting of this post a bit.

Review: It's Skin Power 10 Formula VC Effector with Vitamin C Derivatives

I first came across the best-selling line from It's Skin, the Power 10 Formula when I got samples of It's Skin Power 10 Formula CO Effector with Phyto Collagen. It's a line of different ampules, each targeting a specific skin problem. CO stands for collagen and helped to firm up the skin. I got pretty impressive results, not really in terms of skin firming because I don't think my skin has started sagging yet, but my skin looked pretty resilient, bright, and smooth. So I decided to buy the whole version and got this sample for free from my purchase. This one, VC effector, contains vitamin C to help brighten the skin.

Review: Skinfood Lemon Tea Salt Mask Foam

I was sick for the latter part of last week so I didn't get much blogging done on the weekend. But after sleeping 17 hours out of a possible 24 hours (by skipping class ha ha ha...), I feel much better so here I am! I usually don't buy things I haven't tried before in full size. The reason I made this an exception was because I've had great success with Skinfood's Black Sugar Scrub Foam, and somehow I thought that since the sugar worked so well, maybe salt would work just as well if not better! Yes, it makes no sense..I know.

Review: It's Skin Power 10 Formula Propolis

This sample is apparently a limited edition of their Power 10 Formula line. I got this and It's Skin Power 10 Formula CO Effector with Phyto Collagen as samples when I bought It's Skin Prestige Creme Hand D'Escargot back when I went to Korea for the summer. The snail hand cream was a dud unfortunately but It's Skin Power 10 Formula CO Effector with Phyto Collagen was impressive enough for me to go venture into GMarket for the first time and buy the full size along with another product from the same line for sebum control (will review once I get to trying it).

Review: It's Skin Power 10 Formula CO Effector with Phyto Collagen

I got this as a sample when I bought It's Skin Prestige Creme Hand D'Escargot back when I went to Korea for the summer. The snail hand cream was a dud unfortunately but the salesperson gave me two samples of this. Since my first impression of It's Skin was damaged by the hand cream, it took me awhile before I decided to give this one a try. But good thing I did!

Review: Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream

I got this as a complimentary sample from buying my Etude House Drawing Eye Brow Pencil Refill. I used it yesterday and I only looked it up a few minutes ago to realized how expensive this cream is. Very grateful that I got this as a free sample!

Review: Skinfood Deep Sea Water Multi Toner (brightening)

Last post tonight. I got this as a complimentary sample along with my purchases. I'm currently using Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener which has done so much for my skin (you can read the details of what I mean by clicking on my review here). I've also tried Skinfood Fresh Apple Sparkling Toner, which was a bit too heavy on the alcohol because I felt like it was stripping moisture off my face.

Review: Skinfood Platinum Grape Cell Eye Cream

Another post on my never ending quest to find a suitable eye cream. Previously, the top concern for my eyes were my under eye circles, which Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream has helped a lot and is continuing to help. However, I'm going to be 25 years old next year and I can already see fine lines under my eyes. So I thought it was time to put an anti-wrinkle eye cream into my regimen. I've previously tried Skinfood Royal Honey Eye Cream and Skinfood Gold Caviar Double Collagen Eye Serum, but since they were the only two anti-wrinkle eye creams that I tried, I decided to try out other products too to compare.

[Edit Oct 22 2012]: I have since written a review for Skinfood Black Raspberry Eye Cream that you can check out as well.

Review: Etude House I Need You Lemon Extract Sheet Mask

When I was in Korea, Etude House were selling a whole bunch of masks for "10+10." That is, buy one set of 10 sheet masks, get another set free. Each set was $10, so basically each mask was 50 cents. Who can resist?

When I use a sheet mask I look for several things. First is, of course, effectiveness. Second is whether or not it can stick on my face and feel comfortable (or even better, I don't feel it being on my face after awhile). This is because I don't have the patience nor the time to sit there for 25-30 minutes. I need to be doing something while I put on this mask and if I need to fix it every minute because it's falling off my face then that's an instant fail. Third is whether or not it absorbs. If I don't feel a difference in the wetness of the sheet mask after 30 minutes.. then there is a problem with the compatibility of the mask with my face. 

Review: Skinfood Platinum Grape Cell Cream

I tried this yesterday and I tried the Skinfood Platinum Grape Cell Essence two nights ago. Anti-aging is one of my concerns as I'm in my mid-20's and I need to start adding it into my skincare regimen. I'm already starting to see fine lines on my forehead. Whitening has always been a concern for my skin because I get tanned very easily and my skin color is always very dull and "dark," not the tanned healthy dark but the stressed out lack of sleep malnutrition kind of dark (even though I may not be stressed and I'm eating enough). The Platinum Grape Cell line from Skinfood is advertised for both anti-aging and skin-brightening effects--sounds perfect for my needs!

Review: Skinfood Platinum Grape Cell Essence

Anti-aging is one of my concerns as I'm in my mid-20's and I need to start adding it into my skincare regimen. I'm already starting to see fine lines on my forehead. Whitening has always been a concern for my skin because I get tanned very easily and my skin color is always very dull and "dark," not the tanned healthy dark but the stressed out lack of sleep malnutrition kind of dark (even though I may not be stressed and I'm eating enough). The Platinum Grape Cell line from Skinfood is advertised for both anti-aging and skin-brightening effects--sounds perfect for my needs!

Review: Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream

Recently I've been worried about the fine lines under my eyes but dark circles have been my biggest concern for not just my eyes but my whole face ever since... high school. So far I've tried Shiseido's White Lucent, Origins GinZing and A Perfect World with White Tea, Clinique's All About Eyes and All About Eyes Rich, Jack Black Protein Booster Eye Rescue (yes, this brand is for men; now you know how desperate I am for an eye cream) and a bunch of other things I don't even remember. Shiseido's White Lucent and both Origins products were money down the drain. Clinique's All About Eyes Rich actually did show some improvement but I wasn't completely satisfied. After reading some reviews and since I'm still on my Skinfood craze I decided to buy this.

Review: Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off

I bought this along with my Skinfood Black Sugar Scrub Foam (one of my two favorite products from Skinfood currently) when I was in Korea (as you can see with the price tag on top). I read some reviews and it said this mask brightens the skin and contains some small beads for exfoliation so I thought, why not?

Review: The Saem Gem Miracle Black Pearl Oxygen Bubble Mask

I got 3 samples of this from my The Saem mask purchases in Korea and thought it worked well so I bought the whole bottle on eBay. This is The Saem's best selling product, but I think this brand is still fairly new so it was harder to find sellers compared to those for Skinfood, Missha, Etude House, and so on.