AXA Direct English Website for Expats in Korea

This is one of those rare times that a non beauty related post makes it on here! Which only happens when it’s something truly worth sharing that is outside the beauty realm. Car insurance... I’ve been living in Korea for almost three years now, and here, just as in many other countries, there are countless insurance companies to choose from. As a "gyopo" (a Korean that grew up outside Korea), I do speak somewhat fluent Korean, however, when it comes to signing up for insurance, merely understanding the language somewhat is just not enough. 

As much as car insurance is mandatory, we really want to consider the brand and coverage very carefully, which is never so easy for foreigners in Korea. So I’ve LONGED for a car insurance option that’s English-friendly. Fortunately, AXA Direct just opened up a comprehensive English insurance website!

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask Review

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Mask
A thick gel-like texture facial treatment mask with 24K gold and colloidal gold. This wash-off mask helps to improve appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a youthful-looking complexion. Caffeine helps tighten and firm the look of skin while Hyaluronic Acid locks in moisture for ultra-hydrated skin.


♡
Lisa

La Mer Review

I'm sure many of you have heard about the miracle of la Mer. La Mer means the Sea in English; and sea kelp is what constitutes most of la Mer's miracle broth. This is no typical sea kelp: it can be harvested only twice a year. For the miracle broth, la Mer's sea kelp is combined with other natural vitamin and mineral rich ingredients, and then painstakingly processed for months with special bio-fermentation process that includes using energy in the form of light and sound waves. Next time someone says that they can get all the ingredients of la Mer for less than $10, tell them to look up the specifics of la Mer's ingredients/how it's collected and processed, and then try getting ingredients of exact same quality! Yes, even so, it still won't cost as much as la Mer products for obvious reasons. But my point here is, that you can't get a bag of sea kelp at the market and think that it equals to sea kelp used by la Mer. Without the miracle broth, creme de la Mer is merely a very moisture rich cream.

I used creme de la Mer years ago after someone recommended it to me during my efforts of battling adult acne. My skin was at it's worst condition due to the strong acne treatment products I used daily for nearly 6 months. And last year, after nearly 5 years, I went back to using la Mer again. This time, along with creme de la Mer, I also tried the Treatment Lotion, the Concentrate, and the Eye Concentrate. Watch my You Tube review below to find out about my experience with these products as well as my overall thought on la Mer.

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultra Radiance Lifting Creme Makeup

Re-Nutriv is Estee Lauder's ultimate luxury line targeted more towards mature skin. With use of Multi-patened Contour Lifting Technologies and precious micro-fine gems, this line promises to provide intense hydration, 'lifting,' as well as array of anti-aging benefits. 

Estee Lauder released Re-Nutriv Ultra Radiance Liftng Creme Makeup with SPF 15 PA++ (as well as the liquid foundation version) in Fall of 2014. This one is different from Estee Lauder Ultimate Radiance Makeup, same idea but better. I've been wanting to try a 'serum foundation' which seems to be gaining popularity lately. The idea of getting anti-aging serum benefits from a foundation is definitely intriguing. For me, it was a toss-up between YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation and this Estee Lauder one; they both promise anti-aging serum benefits and 'lifting.' I decided to go with Estee Lauder because I like the idea of extra moisturization of cream foundation for winter.

Beauty Best & Worst of 2014

Best Beauty Products of 2014:
Face Architect Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation (my shade is #764, similar to MAC NC25)
Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultra Radiance Lifting Creme Makeup
Tom Ford Lip Color Sable Smoke
ARITAUM Honey Melting Tint #10 Bitter Rose
Wet 'n Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow Single - Brulee
MAC Eye Shadow Single - Shroom
Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Meister Mascara (this is the waterproof one!)
Kiss Me Heroine Make Eyelash Serum
OPI Nail Lacquer Liquid Sand Collection What Wizardry Is This?
OPI Nail Lacquer Liquid Sand Collection Wharf! Wharf! Wharf!
OPI Nail Lacquer Liquid Sand Collection Alcatraz...Rocks
Bare Escentuals Hydrate and Brighten Brush

December 2014 Favourites + Sephora Haul

Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Ultimate Lip Sampler (Too Faced Cosmetics Melted Liquefied Long Wear Lipstick in Fuchsia, Tart LipSurgence Lip Tint in Moody, Fresh Sugar Berry Tinted Lip Treatment, BareMinerals Mini Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Speak Your Mind, Benefit Cosmetics Posiebalm Hydrating Tint, Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Palomino, BUXON Mini Full-Bodied Lipstick in Menace, Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw, Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Red Amour, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush, Make Up Forever Waterproof Lipliner Pencil in neutral beige, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Black Dahlia Lip Tar, Sephora Collection Lip Infusion. Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss in Nude Vinyl, Tart LipSurgence Power Pigment in Flush, Too Faced Cosmetics La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Naked Dolly)

Coconut Pack Review

Coconut infused skin cleansers have been around for many years. Coconut milk cleansers, coconut cream cleaners, coconut water cleansers, as well as many other variations. Not to mention the option of using pure coconut oil as cleansing oil. I've tried some of these in the past and found some to be pretty decent cleansers, but didn't find any to be all that unique. 

With the recent rising popularity of coconut oil for health and skin benefits, I opted to try a coconut face soap called Coconut Pack from a Korean company called Boutique Bebe. What's interesting about this face cleanser is that it can be used as a cleanser as well as a face pack ("pack" meaning facial mask). 

This is a product that's been highly reviewed by Korean bloggers. I've seen many impressive before and after photos, and I haven't come across a single negative review! However, I've noticed that most of these over zealous positive blog reviews are sponsored reviews. So I didn't take these raving reviews too literally, nevertheless, they did amp up my expectations...

This product claims to: treat blackheads, whiteheads, dry flakes, and enlarged pores without drying out the skin to give a smooth and even skin texture. And all this without harmful additives such as parabens, color/dye, mineral oil, animal oil/fat, or silicon. 

Main/active ingredients are: extra virgin coconut oil, organic coconut oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic argan oil, and organic shea butter. 

Other interesting ingredients are: low molecular weight hyaluronic acid powder, rice bran oil, natural vitamin E, olive butter, nano-EGF, FGF, marine collagen powder, snail slime extract, propolis, Coenzyme Q10, arbutin, and salicylic acid.

Current Beauty Favorites