Althea Korean Beauty haul!

Writing this blog has given me some really awesome opportunities to try products and brands that I may never have stumbled upon before. Most recently, I was reminded of that when a rep from Althea.kr reached out and asked me if I'd be interested in a free gift card to shop their site. I've never responded to an email so fast - YES, of course! I freakin' love Korean beauty products and I love sharing them with all of you. 

If you don't know what Althea is, it's an online retailer of Korean beauty products. They're based in South Korea but they ship to the US. You get free shipping when you spend over $50, and they've got all authentic products at some of the best prices you can find online. If you suspect you've received a counterfeit product, they'll refund you at any time and compensate you 200% of the product value. Now THAT'S customer service.

I had SO much fun looking through their website - I wish I was rich and could just order one of everything, please and thank you. I will most definitely make more orders in the future. Curious what I picked up? Let's take a peek... (OH, and everything you see here cost $100 US $ total). 

• Skin Food Milk Shake Point Makeup Remover ($5.50) - This is a creamy two-part makeup remover, formulated with oil and liquid. Shake it up, throw it some on a cotton pad, and wipe your face clean in preparation for a second cleanse. I like that it looks almost like food packaging, maybe ketchup or something? I've never tried anything quite like it so I'm excited to give this a shot. You also get a lot for your money which is awesome. Skin Food is a pretty known Korean brand, you may remember it from a past Memebox haul. 

• Calmia Oatmeal Cleansing Foam ($2.50) - This product was on a special sale when I was shopping, so I picked it up just for fun. It's meant to cleanse the skin while maintaining softness and moisture. It has a bunch of plant extracts in it to help with this. I've never heard of the brand before, but this product has 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Althea website, so I'm sure it'll be a winner.

• Apieu Gold Silk Blanket sheet mask ($1.50) - Not gonna lie, I was drawn to this because it's a mask that looks sequined. And that packaging is darn cute, too. It's supposed to nourish your skin, help with fine lines and brighten your complexion, but honestly... I just want to have a creepy sequin face for 15 minutes of mask time. 

• Petitfee Ruby & Bulgarian Rose Eye Patch ($9.75) - These are little under eye masks infused with rose extract and ruby powder to brighten and improve elasticity. I've been wanting to try eye patch masks, and these looked nice. I love the packaging and it's a really solid metal-type tin that makes these feel like they should be more expensive than they are.

• Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam (samples) - These little samples were included with my order, but I'm excited to try them. Innisfree is another well-known Korean skincare brand and this product has a 5 star rating on Althea. This cleanser is meant to deep-clean clogged pores without drying out your skin. A full size costs $6. 

• RiRe Lucent White Pearl Cream ($11) - Is it abundantly clear that I'm a skincare junkie yet? Ha! This product sucked me in because it looks like little pearls that you pop on your face and it does magical things for your skin. It has pearl extracts/powder to help with wrinkles and to promote a healthier, more radiant complexion. We'll see if that's true.... I just want to have fun with my skincare routine and maybe prevent a wrinkle or two. 

• Dear, Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop ($23) - I definitely wanted to try a Korean face serum, and this one had great reviews and cute holographic packaging (I'm a sucker), and so I put it promptly in to my shopping cart. This is a vitamin C serum that helps shrink pores and even out skin tone and exfoliate the skin. 

• Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($13) - Laneige is another popular Korean brand that you can find in the states at Target or Sephora. I've heard rave reviews about this product and I'm one of those people who can't fall asleep unless my lips are caked in some sort of balm, so this product spoke to me. Don't let the jar scare you, this comes with an adorable little spatula (like so many Korean products do, thank goodness) so you don't have to put your grubby little fingers in it.

• Tov Camellia Cleansing Balm ($14) - Cleansing balms or oils are my absolute favorite way to take my makeup off. I, again, was a sucker for this packaging and had to have it. Using this is simple, just grab a small amount with the provided spatula, rub it all over your dry, makeup-caked face, and watch everything come melting off. Rinse it away, and wa-lah! 

• Holika Holika Magic Pole Eyeliner ($10.50) - This just plain interested me. I've never seen an eyeliner pen like this, and I live and die by black liquid eyeliner. As you can kind of see, the tip has a ball point end for stability. The formula is waterproof, and you can get it in either black or brown. 

• Etude House Fix and Fix Tone Up Primer ($10.20) - I primarily got this primer because it has SPF 33 in it, and that's perfect for summer time. I opted for the rose-colored toner to brighten my skin. You can also get it in green or lavender. I think the packaging is really minimalistically cute, and the price was right!

...and there you have it! My super exciting Korean beauty and skincare haul. Definitely make sure to check out Althea.kr if you're interested in trying out Korean products. You can get lost on that site with all the goodies they've got to order. If you do make an order, let me know what you pick up! 

Ladykin Affinitic Lifting Cream

I think the entire review of this product could just be "OMG LOOK AT HOW CUTE THE PACKAGING IS!!" The end. But of course that wouldn't be very helpful, now would it? Rest assured, the product inside justifies your purchase so you can have this cute little snail adorning your vanity shelf. 

The Ladykin Affinitic Lifting Cream does all sorts of good things for the skin, thanks to the wonder ingredient - Snail Slime Filtrate. Sounds gross, but works wonders. Korean beauty products often contain snail slime because it's a moisturizing wonder. This lotion also has other natural antioxidants and botanic extracts that hydrate and nourish the skin. 

This product aims to boost elasticity, repair damaged skin cells, hydrate and brighten your complexion. After cleansing and toning, apply the lifting cream all over your skin. If you have dry skin, follow with a moisturizer. I found that this provided very light hydration, and on a no-makeup day I could get away without using a moisturizer on top. If you're planning to wear makeup and have dryer skin, definitely use a moisturizer on top. 

The consistency of this cream is very thin and watery. It almost has a gel-like quality that I really like. It applies easily and feels comfortable on my skin. It didn't break me out at all either. I like how it made my skin look and feel. The ingredients list fragrance, however it doesn't really have much of a smell, which I prefer. I'd have to use it longer to see if it helps with anti-aging. Hard to tell from only a couple weeks' use. 

Overall, I like this product and I'd recommend it if you're interested in branching out from typical American anti-aging products. 

Purchase the Ladykin Affinitic Lifting Cream on the Memebox website here for $15 (3.3 oz).

MEMEBOX I'm Stick Shadows + I'm Dual Mascara

Hey everyone! Sorry for the week hiatus - my husband and I spent a gloriously relaxing week in Hawaii (Oahu specifically) and I took that time to step away from blogging. It was the best vacation ever - check out the view from our hike up Diamond Head! But have no fear... I'm back and I've got some good stuff for you! 



Memebox (the coolest Korean beauty mega website!) was ever so gracious and sent me some fun eye goodies to try, all of which are new products to their house line. They sent two of their I'm Stick eyeshadow pencils and a new double-ended mascara, named (you guessed it) I'm Dual Mascara. 



These cream eyeshadow pencils, the I'm Stick Shadows ($11), are inspired by the galaxies, and all have names that sound space-y. The shadows are retractable, so you never have to worry about sharpening them. They are said to be waterproof and crease-free. I was sent the color Spinel (left) and Milky Way (right) - both really beautiful colors.

I thought these colors looked great, but this formula did feel sticky on my eyelids and it did crease as the day went on (that doesn't mean much - I have yet to find a cream shadow that doesn't crease on my oily eyelids). I think if you're a cream eyeshadow fanatic, you'll definitely want to try these out. There are four other colors  and they are all so pretty! 



The I'm Dual Mascara ($15) is marketed as a natural lash extension formula, with 4 mm fiber content (I'm not entirely sure what that means - how many mms is normal in a fiber mascara?). It's formulated with black bean and blackberry extracts to fortify the lashes. The brush on the left is meant for the top lashes, and the smaller brush on the right is teeny tiny and meant to coat the bottom lashes. 

Unfortunately, the top lash formula wasn't a hit for me. It didn't give me enough volume. However, I am obsessed with the little brush for the bottom lashes. It makes it so easy to get a natural full coat of mascara on the bottom lashes and it doesn't smudge at all. 



What are your favorite Korean beauty items? Let me know! 

MEMEBOX | Holika Holika Gonyak Soft Perfect Bubble Foam

Memebox (pronounced mee-mee box) is a Korean beauty box company, with endless amazing Korean beauty products at great prices. The boxes come whenever YOU want them, not on a monthly basis, and they have a ton of fun themed boxes to pick from. Now and then they send me some goodies to try, and most recently they sent me the Holika Holika Gonyak Soft Perfect Bubble Foam to put to the test.

The Perfect Soft Bubble Foam ($18 for 5 oz) is a deep cleanser and gentle exfoliator in one. The foaming bubble wash cleans the skin and the exfoliator on top loosens up dead skin cells to be washed away to reveal softer skin with every wash. The exfoliating head also works to massage the nutrients from the face wash in to the skin more deeply. Formulated with fruit and herb oils, this face wash aims to restore moisture and nourishment. 

This cleanser is highly fragranced, like really really fragranced. I typically don't mind a bit of scent to my face washes, but this was too much for me (maybe it's the whole extra-sensitivity to smell pregnancy thing?). It smelled very strong and floral, and I couldn't imagine that putting this on my sensitive skin would be very good for it. On the up side, the concept of having the brush on the top where the foam pumps through is unique, and it does provide a gentle exfoliation. 

If you don't have sensitive skin and aren't bothered by scented, and are a fan of 2-in-1 products, this is right up your alley. Find it on the Memebox website for purchase here. 

As for me, this won't be something I'd purchase again, but I had fun testing it out. 

MEMEBOX: Nooni Snowflake Cleanser + I'm Dual Pore Brush

I have to say, I was really excited when I got an email from Memebox saying - "oh hey, we sent you some fun stuff!" Mostly because I really love Korean cleansing balms, and I've been seeing the Nooni Snowflake Cleanser pop up in my social media feeds. And also, I was excited because I just plain love Memebox! They always send me unique items to try and I'm so appreciative of that, because it means I can share with all of you!

As I mentioned, they sent me the Nooni Snowflake Cleanser ($16), in addition to the I'm Dual Pore Brush -- two products meant to be used together! 

The Nooni Snowflake Cleanser is an oil cleansing balm, actually marketed as an oil, milk and balm all in one, as it's supposed to change texture with how you use it. (I really didn't notice any big shift between states). It's formulated with jeju water, a mineral-rich spring water that promotes vitality and elasticity in the skin. It's also got shea butter, citrus peel extract, and Lotus Flower extract among other good ingredients. 

This cleanser is fragranced, so if you're sensitive to fragrance, be wary of that. I prefer my cleansing balms to be fragrance free, so that's my one gripe with this product. But despite that, this product was nice! Massage it in to dry skin to remove your makeup, and then rinse of all grime with water. Simple! I liked using this little sample size, it worked well for me.

The I'm Dual Pore Brush ($12) is a super soft microfiber facial cleansing brush. It's made up of over 550,000 bristles that clean the skin without being irritating. It's so, so soft! I've never used a cleansing brush as gentle as this. 

The back side of the brush has silicone bristles aimed at removing stubborn facial impurities. It's a nice scrubby side to get your skin really clean.

Sadly, I wasn't a huge fan of this brush. Mostly because I prefer something more rigid, like a Clarisonic brush head, and this is way too gentle for my taste. If you have sensitive skin, I would highly recommend you try this brush out - I just happen to like really exfoliating treatments and tools for my own skin.


Have you tried either of these Korean skincare products? Let me know! 

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

Korea is miles ahead of the US skincare market -- I mean, carbonated bubble masks?! That s*** cray - and mark my words, it'll be in the US in no time (it's probably here and I don't even know it). The Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask is  unlike anything I've ever used, and it's a fun experience to slather this all over your face.

This carbonated mask serves a dual purpose - it can be used to remove makeup (wouldn't suggest it myself) and to cleanse the pores. It's formulated with charcoal powder which helps clear gunk out of your pores. This mask also helps refine pores and control excess sebum (the grosses word ever which just means the oily crap that builds up in your pores and contributes to break outs). 

To use, apply a thin layer over dry skin. Wait for 5 minutes until the mask starts to bubble, then rinse off. 

I like this mask. It's different than anything I've ever tried and it doesn't strip my skin of necessary moisture or oils. I have to admit, the bubbles make my face itch like crazy so I spend the last couple minutes sitting on my hands so I don't itch my face off.

I think this would make a fun gift for the skincare junkie or beauty lover in your life, and especially fun to take out if you have kiddos to have a spa night with. It costs $14 on the Memebox website and you'll get many many uses out of it! Let me know what you think if you try it out! 

MEMEBOX | Botanic Farm

While still relatively new in the US, Botanic Farm is a popular Korean brand.  Korean skincare is all the rage and I was fortunate to get to try out some fun goodies from Botanic Farm that I wanted to share with you!

First, I was sent the Polar Energy Hydrogel Mask Pack. This sheet mask retails for $5 on the Memebox website, and it aims to whiten the skin and also has anti-aging properties. I also received the Sea Mustard Mask, which retails for $2. This mask is rich in antioxidants that help detoxify the skin, and it also has ingredients that help moisturize the skin and keep it healthy.

The Botanic Farm Pearl Shining Primer, which retails for $25, is infused with pearl essence and subtle micro shimmer to make the face glowy. It also helps to keep your foundation on longer, too. This is REALLY shimmery, so I'm a little scared to put it all over my face, but paired with some of my more matte foundations, it might just be OK. 

And this brings us to my favorite Botanic Farm product, the Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet, which retails for $30. This product is basically a cleansing balm, it is solid in the jar but once you scoop out a tiny bit, it turns in to an oil consistency when rubbed between the palms. This stuff removes makeup like no other - eye makeup, foundation, tricky mascara... it removes it all. It contains fermented rice bran which helps brighten the skin and remove impurities. This is definitely a new favorite for me. 

Have you tried anything from Botanic Farm? Check out all of their products on the Memebox website.