Welcome^^ My name is Yumi Kim and I am a 20 year old college student in sophomore year. I study in NY and my major is Marketing, However, I am currently studying abroad in Seoul, Korea. I created this blog to inspire and to inform you about beauty products and what works for me. I love beauty and fashion and all girly things. Expect a lot of reviews from me, as well as random life post and outfit of the day and so much more. Join my weirdness, through college, life, and beauty.
The topic we wil be covering today is going to be cleansers. When I started getting into cleansers, I did not realize how intimidating it can be to choose one for your skin because of the different kinds and brands so I hope this is a helpful guide for you.
Oil Cleansers
Oil Cleansers are great if you are looking to remove your makeup and clean your face all at the same time. Because of its oiliness you can also find that it also removes waterproof makeup. There are also many different types of Oil Cleansers that is okay for many different types of skin, so it really doesn't matter if you have oily skin. It is also very gentle on your skin, unlike scrubs that scratch your skin.
Brands you should try:
Drugstore: Neutrogena, Innisfree, Etude House
Higher End: Shu Uemura, Shiseido
Use:
Daily
Peeling Cleanser
A peeling cleanser's duty is too remove any makeup and excess dirt you may have by peeling your skin. No, it is not painful I thought so too. It is the same as any other cleanser, but it just has a peeling effect. These are not so known on the US, but in Asia this is a big trend and very popular among Koreans. Brands you should try:
Higher End(only ones I recommend have not tried drugstore): Primera, AmorePacific.
Use:
Can use daily, however I recommend every other day.
Scrubs
A scrub is really very simple. It helps to remove dirt, blackheads, dead skin, etc. Scrubs are best if used two or three times a week as it is harsher for the skin. If used too much it can pull on the skin and create redness and lines.
BEWARE: The scrubs you use for your body should not be used on your face since they are too harsh for it.
I won't recommend a scrub since there are so many and it would really vary on what type of skin you have.
Foam Cleanser
A foam cleanser, cleanses your skin whilst creating foam. I personally don't understand why someone would want foam on their face. It is good for using everyday. If you have drier skin I would not suggest this as it can leave a plastic feeling on your face.
Gel Cleanser
Gel cleansers are preferably used by people with oily skin and it is the basic form of cleanser. It is very easy to find and also cheaper than other cleansers. It can be used daily.
Cream Cleanser
Cream Cleansers are for people who have drier skin because it moisturizes the skin whilst cleansing it.
Check out my individual reviews to see which products I use as my skincare
This eyeliner is so talked about basically everywhere and when people speak good about eyeliner I am in to try it. In the States getting Dollywink is a bit harder than here in Korea. So, if you are interested in trying it out yourself, I would suggest Ebay or Amazon.
Anyways, this is a review on what I think about the eyeliner and if you have your own post please let me know on comments below.
My first thoughts:
When I first tried it on, I immediately did not like it. It was very liquidy and runny and the color was bleeding all over. The first pigment of the eyeliner was also very light and more on the gray side than black. So I went back to shaking it well just to make sure I had all the color deposited. Tried again, fail. I was so disappointed that the color payoff was not great. Because I tried it on my hand I decided to take it off and the little line would not disappear I was impressed by how it just stuck there. I actually used a scrub to take it out later.
Now that I have had the liquid Eyeliner for over three days it has dried out a bit and the eyeliner is really black. I don't know if I recommend it over my holy grail eyeliner Stila Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, but it stays all day and I barely had any smudging and even though I needed two layers of eyeliner to get my wanted results it did stay on all day.
With no Eye primer.
Swatch in hand
I also like it because of its really thin felt tip brush. It makes doing the outer part of the eyeliner easier.
Let me know what your thoughts are on this bad boy.
Hi Everyone! How was your weekend? Mine was really bad actually. On Friday I woke up and was feeling really drowsy I did not understand why so I just stayed in bed all day long. At night, I finally got some energy to go get some dinner with my boyfriend. We had suundubujigue a very traditional Korean dish. On Saturday, I felt so much better went to the gym, and then my bf and I had plans with my cousin to go to dinner for Sunde(Korean Street sausage). Apparently she was with a really bad cold which transferred to my body like a sticky note. On Sunday I woke up bad again, but it got even worse. I had a runny nose, fever, and was not feeling at all well. My boyfriend ended up taking care of me. To top it off, I puked in the middle of the night. So it was not a good weekend after all. How about YOUR weekend? Was it better than mine? I really hope it was because being sick specially on weekends suck. Anyways, to move on from the chit chat I want to mention some amazing products I have been using for winter,and essentially my winter skincare routine. Disclaimer: I want to let you guys know that my skin type is dry- very dry skin. During summer it becomes normal but not completely. I mention this because products that may work for me, may not work for you. I have also tried products and researched them on other bloggers who I know for a fact have oily or combination skin. Cleanser:
I am still using my Avene Milk Cleanser. It is a good overall face wash for dry skin. However I have been using a new cleanser which is an oil based cleanser. This is the Innisfree Green tea Oil Cleanser. It is Amazing for really dry skin, it is very moisturizing while cleansing and not too thick to the point where your pores can not breath and you find that there is a lot of oily residue left. Unfortunately, this is going to be hard for me to get once I go back to NY so I am really sad, and will have to find a dupe or sneak 3 or 4 bottles in my luggage.
Moisturizer:
Moisturizers, or in my case, my skin best friend are an absolute must for me. I would probably not survive winter if this product did not exist.
My current most used moisturizer is the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense. Do you see why I highlight the intense? Because I also have the Clinique Moisture Surge, but they are nothing alike really. My boyfriend who has really combination to oily skin loves to use this during winter, but when he tried my Moisture Surge Intense he said that he felt he had a mask on. On my skin, this moisturizer works wonders because it absorbs it really quickly and it is heavy enough to keep me moisturized during a full day or full night.
Use: Everyday and every night
Scrub
Scrub is really important for everyone, but it becomes extra important for me during winter because of my dry skin. I have not tried more than two scrubs, but I really like L'occitane's Cream scrub, because it feels creamy and not overpowering. I love the consistency and how it does not peel my sensitive skin.
Use: 2 to 3 times a Week depending on how patchy my skin feels.
Essence:
Essence are really popular in Korea right now. It is really similar to a toner but with a slightly more like a serum. It is packed with all types of vitamins that are good for your skin and I am all about that.
I am currently using the SKII Essence. And it does a good job at purifying and toning my skin. I am not THAT impressed as I wished because of the price, and I feel like there are so much better ones.
Use: Before moisturizer at night.
Face Makeup Remover:
I have not heard one person use this product and not love it. The Bioderma Solution Micellaire is AMAZING and I love using this after cleansing my face with water. It removes any soap that may have stayed from before and soothes my skin. It has won multiple awards in Korea as best makeup remover and a lot of bloggers and youtubers rave about it.
This is a video I posted several days ago and I wanted to do a very in depth review of each and one of them in my blog. It is very hard for me to find time to sit down and write, but honestly makeup is a passion of mine and I feel like this blog is a way for me to at least put my toes inside the industry. Its not about companies contacting me or anything it is just my way of discovering if this is truly who I want to be, professionally, of course. Anyways, I want to put a disclaimer that the products I mention are truly and sincerely the best products I have tried in 2012 and will continue to use in this new year.
Disclaimer: I want to let you guys know that my skin type is dry- very dry skin. During summer it becomes normal but not completely. I mention this because products that may work for me, may not work for you. I have also tried products and researched them on other bloggers who I know for a fact have oily or combination skin.
BB Cream:
For BB cream, or Blemish Balm I chose Banila Co. BB cream. It is almost impossible to know which bb cream suits you best with so many different brands that carry lines and types of bb creams that it is near to impossible to find one that will suit you. I found this one through this tv program called Get it beauty and they were mentioning the best of bb creams and ranking them. The number one bb cream according to them was Tony Moly bbcream, so I immediately ran out to buy it. I have to say it was a good bb cream but I feel like it didn't give enough coverage and moisture which is what I look for in all my products. I then bought Let me touched (weird name right? lol) and the kind of moussy, but creamy texture just captured my attention and loved immediately.
Reasons I love:
-Very moisturizing
- To get glowing and dewy skin
- Medium to full coverage
- Stays all day
Cons:
- Pricey in comparison to other bb creams
Concealer:
Concealer is honestly my bestie. I have panda eyes if not for concealer. It is so sad that when I do not wear concealer everyone ask me if I'm okay because I look really tired. Sad. I know. LOL
Erase Paste:
Reasons I love:
-It is a salmony color (Salmon- Orange- Yellow cancel out Purple and blue) I could do a whole other post on this.
- Full coverage
Cons:
- Again the price
- It is kind of sticky, but if you use an eyecream its gonna be easier to blend
Innisfree Concealer Stick:
Reasons I love:
- Compact and easy to use
- Easy to blend
- Moisturizing
- I have never used a stick concealer that was so creamy as that one.
- Cheap
Cons:
- Korean makeup is always harder to find in US
Highlight:
Soft and Gentle-MAC
Reasons I love:
- Gives you glowy skin without overdoing it
-Can use in different parts of face (cupids bow, cheekbones, eyeshadow, nose)
- A lot of product
Cons:
- Since I purchased this in Korea I would say the price is really high.
Blush:
Coralista- Benefit
Coralista from benefit is probably the best blush ever made. This is the first blush I truly have fallen for ever since the first time I tried it at Sephora.
Reasons I love:
- Smells amazzzzinggg
- Great pigmentation
- Coral-gold
- Great for skintones like mine NC25
- Not to overwhelming
Cons:
- Price
Grapefruit Jelly- Etude House:
Reasons I love:
- Pink/coral color for very natural looks
- Good pigment
-Cheap
-Great everyday blush
Lips:
Apricot Stick- Etude House
Reasons I love:
-Moisturizing
- Kind of like a lip balm with a lot of pigment
- Love the coral/pink
- A pretty everyday color
-Really cheap
Cons:
- Harder to find
Pink Beige- Peripera
Reasons I love:
- Great for smokey looks, nude lips
- Pigmented
- Not deadly looking
- Stays on really well
Cons
- A bit expensive 15,000 won or 14 dollars
MCR 342- Shu Uemura
Reasons I love:
- Matte
-Amazing pigment
Cons:
-Expensive
Mascara
Lash Blast Waterproof - Covergirl
Reasons I love:
- It does not smudge
- Very black
- Lengthens
- Curls
- Stays all day long
- Volumizes
- Cheap
Bottom Lash Mascara- Clinique
Reasons I love:
- Separates bottom lashes
- Volumizes
Eyeshadow Palettes
Dolly Wink - Brown eyeshadow quad
Reasons I love:- Very pigmented
- Not too shimmery (I personally do not like shimmery eyeshadows)
- Compact (easy to carry and use)
Naked Palette 1- Urban Decay Reasons I love:
-Easy to use
-Great mix of shimerry and matte shades
- Favorites: Sin and buck
Eyelash Curler
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler Reasons I love: - Great Quality
-Sturdy
- Curls really well
Eyeliner
Milani LiquifyReasons I love:
- Creamy
- Blends well
- Stays on for a long time
Stila Liquid EyelinerReasons I love:
- Very pigmented
- Good wand
- Waterproof
- Stays for six hours without smudging on me
Banila Co. Waterproof pencils Reasons I love:- Creamy
-Waterproof
- Easy to use
A definite must-have for me during the winter are my face highlighters. It makes me glow like a twilight vampire. For the winter time everything becomes really dull so a little bit of shimmer can really spice up your face.
I love to use highlighter everywhere (not at the same time though!) but I really enjoy using it on my inner corners -that's a whole different review- on my high cheek bones and as eyeshadow when I want a pop to my eyes. I also enjoy using it on my cupids bow in my mouth.
The three highlighters that I will be showing today are one of my favorite highlighters I have tried. These are the three that I currently own and have in Korea, but I do not think I need more either.
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish- Soft and Gentle
This gorgeous Skinfinish from MAC is one of my favorite highlighters of all time. It is very shimmery and can even have a glittery look to it if you apply too much. However, the right amount of this product will make your skin look like its glowing from beneath. I have used this as an eyeshadow, on my cupids bow, on the arch of my brows and of course on my cheek bones. It is a must-have for me and my dull winter skin.
Nar Orgasm Highlighter
This is a love hate relationship for me since I find it to be very pinkish. I love mixing this with my foundation to give it a bit of a shimmer.
Hey gorgeous ladies,
As you may have already seen on my blog I love Sigma and their brushes. Before I get into explaining into detail about each of these brushes I first wanted to share with you my disastrous experiences with brushes in general. At first, when I started with makeup I was obsessed with sponges for some reason I thought that was cool. In fact I had a huge bag of sponges everywhere so I could do my makeup. Soon enough I met the gel eyeliner MAC FLUIDLINE in blacktrack and of course, I could not use a sponge, therefore, I spent 23 dollars ( more than what the gel cost!!!)in a eyebrow pencil by MAC#208. After sometime, I lost that pretty brush that helped me with my gel.
Soon my mom gave me a great brush set she had received as a gift from Estee Lauder I was so excited. I would soon become a professional makeup artist, or so I thought. I was wrong. They were horrible. The contour brush did not have enough bristles to even start with, but the shader brush was good. Still they were not a big deal.
Later on I stumbled with sigma brushes and I was really intrigued by all the reviews and they were mostly positive. I decided that I would by brushes and spend a little more. And so I did.
I first started with the Basic Kit with twelve brushes. I have been so impressed about how good they are. They really go above and beyond my expectations.
I have to say the fluffy Tapered Blending brush is not my favorite. There is one in MAC that I like more. But still, 11 out of 12 brushes are still great.
After some time Sigma came out with new brushes and they also looked amazing. The density and volume they had were perfect for blending eyes and even concealer.
My absolute favorite brush is the one on the left corner. That is amazing with liquid or cream foundation and it blends it all right in.
I absolutely recommend checking them out, if you have not already. I was in Mexico when I bought them and it took about 9 days to get to me. But if you think about it they were shipping internationally, so it was not bad.
