MEMEBOX Thumbs Up Bloggers Picks

Today I have a video for you on the big disappointment that was the Thumbs Up Bloggers Picks box.

Everyone had high hopes for this box, so way to go for letting us down and angering your bloggers Memebox.

UPDATE: Oh Sheet Mask Box

UPDATE

So it has been a few days since receiving this box and I have only tried one of the masks. That mask was the Blueberry mask, which stung my skin when applied. Luckily, there were no reactions.

There's been a new development to this story. That is, someone has noticed that a couple of these do not bear the blue stamp which states that these Chinese products have been tested.

These masks bear the mark.

These masks do not.

Which then made me realize as one of these masks is by East Skin...and the Blueberry one was also by East Skin...so maybe that also did not have a stamp. It could explain why it stung my skin, as it was probably dodgy and had not been tested.

Also, I am somewhat baffled as to why the Wobechon Snail mask has the stamp whilst it's Innisfree rip off honey mask did not. Something shifty is obviously going on there. 

If I wasn't already paranoid about trying these masks out before, now I am definitely hesitant to use the rest.

Until Oh Sheet Mask can provide proof that these masks are safe by EU standards, I will not be using them.

I am currently negotiating a paypal dispute with them and they will only give me a refund once I return everything to some random flat in Newport UK. I'm guessing it's a friend of their's that will send the masks back to them so they can re-purpose them for next month's box. 

I have offered to cancel the dispute if...

A. They can provide proof that these masks are safe by EU standards.
'The manufacturer or his agent or the person to whose order a cosmetic product is manufactured or the person responsible for placing an imported cosmetic product on the community market shall for control purposes keep the following information readily accessible to the competent authorities of the member of state concerned at the address specified on the label in accordance with Article 6 (1) (a)'

B. They can provide proof that these Chinese masks have been tested as only some of them contain the mark to say they have been regulated and tested.
'Assessment of the safety for human health of the finished product. To that end the manufacturer shall take into consideration the general toxicological profile of the ingredients, their chemical structure and their level of exposure. It shall take particular account of the specific exposure characteristics of the areas on which the product will be applied or of the population for which it is intended. There shall be inter alia a specific assessment for cosmetic products intended exclusively for use in external intimate hygiene.'

C. They can provide prices for the individual masks to show that they live up to their claim of 'No generic cheap stuff' 

Etude House Haul

Hello people, just a quick haul to share with you.

I made a small Etude House order on Nov 5 2014, as they had a few products up for sale and a deal of 15% off if you pay via paypal using code PPKR2014. This code can be used until Nov 30 2014...so if you'd like to make a purchase, now is the time.

http://www.etudehouse.com/index.php

I picked up 5 sheet masks from the I need You line, as they were on sale at the time for 48 cents each. Some people went insane and ordered hundreds, I decided to be a little bit sensible for once. Though you can't blame them for taking advantage of a good deal.

I chose Pearl (brightening), Acai (nourishing), Tea Tree (trouble skin), Korean Ginseng (revitalizing) & Vita Complex (purifying and brightening).

The I also picked up 2 Bio Jelly Coconut Gel Mask in Brightening & Trouble Care.

I really enjoy the gel sheet masks in their Skin Note line, so I thought I would give these a go. They are $4 each, they cost more than the Skin Note version, as those are only $2.50 each.

So instead of buying a hundred of the 48cents sheet mask...I decided to only get a handful so I can try out a few other products. One of those being the Lash Perm Proof Mascara, I used this today and it great for separation, holding curl and slightly lengthens. It is $10.

Next up is the Dear My Blooming Lips Talk in BE106. It is a muted plum shade with brown undertones and it is $8.50. I've had two shades from this line before, though they weren't very flattering on me, so I found them a new home. It has a nice creamy consistency and the shade is a nice everyday fall/autumn shade.

Etude House nails it when it comes to cute packaging.

RD302, OR202 & BE106

I also picked up 2 shades from their new My Wish Lips Talk line. I got it in RD302 (deep reddish berry) and  OR202 (bright coral). They feel lightweight and have a very glossy finish.

 These were $9.50 each and they also had a deal that if you purchased these you could get a free sample of the Real Art Cleansing Oil. And because I got 2...I got 2 cleansing oil's YAY!

Hope you liked my loot ^.^

Oh Sheet Mask Box First Impressions

I present to you the Oh Sheet Mask Box. It is a beauty box filled entirely with sheet masks.

If you're a sheet mask nut like myself, this box sounds AMAZING.

You can either go for a monthly subscription service or purchase a one off box for $23 like myself.

This was created by a couple in Thailand who are also in love with sheet masks.

I have to say, I'm liking the homemade box. Very twee.

Here's a link to the About Us section of the Oh Sheet Mask site...

https://www.ohsheetmask.com/?page_id=542

So on the site, this box is describe to contain sheet masks from around Asia and so I had high hopes for this. 

And for my first impression, it has left a bad taste in my mouth and I am not sure if I even want to try out the masks at all.

Why is that?

Because pretty much every single mask in this box was manufactured in China and China does not exactly have a great track record in terms of quality control. I know things are improving.

However, if you're a bit OCD about anything touching your skin, then this fact will make you paranoid about trying the products.

Especially, as these are going onto my face.

I mean, whenever I am in the process of my skincare routine, I touch nothing but the skincare products. And if I touch anything else, I have to wash my hands all over again.

The fact that all these masks were made in China has also caused quiet a big debate on Memebox Addicts Facebook page.

I didn't get involved, but did read through. I must say that I prefer to err on the side of caution.

And coming from that side of the Earth myself, I understand how bad us Asians are for selling knock off's. Hell you just have to visit Baclaran market in the Philippines for a perfect example of that.

Though I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try one or two of them and give it a chance. I mean, that is what's fun with beauty after all. The joy of trying out many different products.

Each box comes with 10 sheet masks of varying properties.

  

Quiet a few of these do look interesting. And as far as I can tell, they are all cotton type sheet masks. 

I was hoping to at least see 1 gel sheet mask and maybe not include 4 snail ones, but instead have a lot more variety. Though, it is still a good selection to choose from.

But then there's this...

I thought I would save the worst for last.

 

Like for real? You're going to include an Innisfree knock off. It's so bad!

Wobechon...for shame, FOR SHAME!

However, they did include one Korean product.

A cleansing foam sample.

Ok, so I understand that this post isn't very informative. Most of these are written with Chinese characters and I don't understand Chinese. So, I cannot give you in depth descriptions.

However, they did provide a card...though it's not that helpful.

1. It doesn't even describe any of the masks. Which would have been a plus, as the majority of these are in Chinese.

&

2. It doesn't state the individual prices of the masks.

Just a list of the ingredients...I don't get it. You can translate the ingredients, but not the descriptions?

But, I guess it's something.

It gives me a heads up of which ones contain parabens.

Overall, I'm not thrilled. I was expecting a mix of masks that are not just from China.

But, I suppose it is my duty as a beauty blogger to give them a chance...so I will give them a go...maybe do a sensitivity test on my wrist first before putting the masks on.

Though I don't think I will be signing up for the subscription service. I understand they are a young company and are having to compete with the big guys like Memebox. So they still have a lot of growing to do.

And if they listen to their reviewers, they can get a lot of ideas on how to improve.

I'll have a look to see what people get in their December box and if it's an improvement on this box, then I may give them another go.

But, for the moment. I think I will stick to ordering sheet masks from Beautynet Korea. Because, at least I will be safe in knowing they are legit masks and not cheap knock offs.

That will be it for now and I shall have to update you guys in a later post.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette Review

Holy cow this purchase hurt the bank account. But, boy was it worth it!

A limited edition palette featuring three shades of Ambient Lighting Blush, the groundbreaking blush that creates seamless, soft-focus and multidimensional colour.

PARABEN FREE-TALC FREE-FRAGRANCE FREE-NANOPARTICLE FREE-GLUTEN FREE 

So I had been eyeing this up for while, it's not like I could get away from it. 
Many beauty blogger's/vlogger's have already talked about this palette and so it is all over beauty land. 

But, I was too chicken to commit and make the purchase. The price tag of £56 did frighten me somewhat. I mean, I already spend a ridiculous amount on Memeboxes and at £56, I could have gotten several memeboxes.
I know what you may be thinking...are you mad? Spending £56 on a palette for yourself this close to Christmas...I know I'm a terrible person!

However, I blame the ladies on Facebook, as they are absolute enablers!
Just kidding, they understand the pain of needing something because it's so pretty haha.

Plus, it was already sitting in my basket on the SpaceNK site. So, on a sudden (by sudden I mean always) moment of weakness I went ahead and checked out.

For the longest time I had this notion that these shades were not going to be pigmented, be too sheer and too glowy to be compatible with my oily skin. 
Yes, yes I have seen many a video made about this product. But, I guess you could say I was making excuses for myself to resist the stunning packaging...I mean look at it.

So now I have this palette and have had the chance to play around with it...well...I stand corrected.
It sure does live up to it's claims.

This image really does not serve the shades any justice!

The products are soft, silky and pigmented. I was extremely surprised, obviously because I had been telling myself they are sheer and would not show up on my tan-ish skin.

But, all I needed was 1 single quick tap of my brush into this product (no swirling) and the bristles had more than enough product on them.

Furthermore, they are soft, without being powdery and are so incredibly pigmented, but do not be alarmed. 

The silky consistency means that it is a joy to blend out. 

It is a breeze to apply compared to my beloved Tarte blushes, which are pigmented but a little harder to blend and can get patchy when blended too much.

The first shade in this palette is Luminous Flush - A champagne rose blush, fused with Luminous Light to evoke a candlelit glimmer day or night.

This is a pretty rose pink shade, perfect for that just come back in from the cold outdoors flushed look. Don't let the word 'glimmer' frighten you. Be rest assured it is actually a glow.

The second shade is Incandescent Electra - A cool peach blush blended with Incandescent Light for a celestial glow.

A beautiful light peachy shade, perfect for Spring & Summer. I love me some peachy shades.

Finally is Mood Exposure - A soft plum blush, fused with Mood Light to brighten the complexion.

This shade reminds me of a rosier version of Tarte's Exposed blush. Perfect for Fall & Winter.

All 3 shades give off a beautiful glow from within, no metallic sheen or glittery malarkey going on here!

I can definitely see what they mean by soft focus.

As you can see, not a single shimmer particle in sight. Just a beautiful ethereal glow.

In the selfie's above, I used all 3 shades from the palette. I used Mood Exposure towards the outer upper cheek area, Luminous Flush for the main cheekbone area and then Incandescent Electra towards the apple's of my cheeks.

It creates a beautiful blush contour effect.

These shade's are just angelic, I am so in love with them. I'm quiet upset at myself for taking so long to finally get my hands on them

Just like with my obsession with Tarte blushes, I feel the need to collect the other Ambient Lighting Blush shades haha. It would be even more amazing if they put the other shades into a similar palette, or release a new palette with new shades altogether. I wouldn't even hesitate purchasing them now.

Shout out to Vanessa of http://vanessaswhimsicalworld.co.uk

&

Martha of http://beauteaandtoast.blogspot.co.uk

for enabling me haha.

If I had a million thumbs, then I would give this palette a million thumbs up!

I hope you enjoyed my somewhat excited review and thanks for looking ^.^

MEMEBOX x Samantha Schuerman Collaboration Box

I am super duper excited that this box has finally reached me...I hate getting memeboxes on snail mail. But, I refused to get this box in a value set with the Marzia box eurgh!

Isn't the box itself just a wonder to look at?

So gorgeous!

First product is this RiRe Lip Manicure in Brick Red. It is 3.7 g & $18 (overpriced much?)

I have had a Rire Lip Manicure before and did not enjoy it, probably because it was a light pink shade that showed up every single valley of cracks on my lips. This shade however is beautiful! It is dark enough that it doesn't show the cracks and the pigmentation is insane. It is perfect for lazy fuckers like myself who cannot be bothered to keep re-applying lippy, as this does not transfer whatsoever. On the other hand though, I do not recommend wearing balm underneath or a gloss on top as it takes away it's staying power.

I swatched this on my hand and after a few million washes (I'm a bit OCD when it comes to keeping my hands clean) it still stuck around.

Second product is a set of 3 RiRe Pigments, they are 2.5g each and all 3 cost $13 (I'm not sure if that's for all 3 or each).

As you can see from the image above the first two shades which are Snow White & A-Pink are super chunky and glittery. They were a bit of a bitch to work with, they were patchy and the fall out was ridiculous. Even though I used a damp brush and a sticky base, it just transformed my face into a disco ball.

The third shade which is Club Burgundy was a dream to work with. It is super pigmented and felt like butter.

Out of the 3, I may keep A-Pink because I do like the shade, definitely keeping Club Burgundy, but I will be giving away Snow White as it is just too much hassle to try to work with.

The third product (which I have not taken a picture of because I'm a fucking noob) is the Secret Key New Premium So Fast Hair Booster Hair Pack 150ml and is $24. I have yet to try this product but it smells lovely and is a hair treatment you apply after shampooing.

I can't wait to use it, as it claims to restore the protective layer of dry & damaged hair and leaves it feeling and looking like virgin hair.

I definitely need this, as even though I have virgin hair. The individual strands are super thick, so overall my hair feels very dry and coarse. Here's to hoping this works wonders.

 Fourth product is this M.Daida Butter Cream Lip Mask 20ml and is $13.

Made from a blend of organic walnut and shea butter, this lip mask will nourish, smooth and moisturize lips. You apply this on to dry lips and leave for a few minutes, then wipe away.

I used it prior to applying the lip manicure and WOW. My lips felt so hydrated, which is great because as of late I have had dry chapped lips due to being ill.

This is the perfect lip savior for this cold winter season...or shall I just say typical England.

Fifth product...which I also did not photograph individually is the Youngwoosa I Love You Oh Thank You Green Tea Seed Essence 40ml and is $54.

Seriously, what is it with Korean brands and giving their products ridiculously long names.

But, onto the product itself. It is a watery consistency that absorbs into your skin almost immediately. It is made of a blend of Jeju Island organic green tea seed and 7 different kinds of herbal extracts. It claims to relieve and replenish moisture to sensitive and stimulated skin.

I will not be holding onto this as it has a quiet strong fragrance. I cannot describe it, all I can say about it is that I cannot handle the scent. 

Sixth product is the Holika Holika Sweet Cotton Sebum Clear Powder In Mist 65ml and $8.

Infused with a blend of cranberry, dragonfruit, apple mint and powder. It smells nice and clean, not at all sweet or fruity. This claims to replenish moisture and lock in make up.

The spray is a little powerful, otherwise it works well.

Final product is this Too Cool For School Play Cheek Angel Blusher in 02 Sweet Peach. It is 4ml and is $14.

The description card says this is 'highly pigmented'. I beg to differ. It is a sheer light peachy shade with a sheen. Anyone NC30 or above will probably not be able to use this as a blush but more as a highlighter.

It just about shows up on my skin tone and provides a nice glow to my cheeks.

If you'd like to check out some of these products in action on my face. Go ahead and watch the video below.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this box. It's just a shame that 2 out of the 3 pigments were awkward to work with and that the essence had to go and be a bloody awful scented product.

Otherwise, everything in this box is great and I'm looking forward to playing around with them a bit more.

Thanks for looking ^.^

Battle of the Peeling Gels

Hey folks, today I have a review of 3 different peeling gels that I have been rotating through and testing out.

And if you are unaware of what a peeling gel is, it is pretty much a gentle exfoliator. It usually comes as a cream/gel consistency that you massage onto dry skin. 

During the process of massaging it in, it begins to ball up and it helps to gently exfoliate away any dead skin and claims to help with skin turnover.

So let us go ahead and take a look at the contestants. I will begin from meh to amazeballs.

At 3rd place is the Secret Nature From Jeju Peeling Gel.

Description

It contains Cellulose & volcanic clay, it claims to remove dead skin cells, other toxins and helps with skin turnover.

It also contains Jeju complex & vegetable extracts to purify tired and stressed skin caused by external environment.
This was gifted to me by Kitty, but you can find it online for around $15.

My Thoughts

This peeling gel has a watery consistency with a tan colour. The scent is identical to the rest of it's siblings in the From Jeju line.

I found that this peeling gel didn't ball up as much as the other two peeling gel's I have. Therefore, I believe this would be better suited to individuals with skin sensitivity, as it is so gentle. Furthermore, it is made from natural ingredients, so it will not aggravate sensitive skin.

At 2nd place is the Banila Co Claypatra Facial Peeling Scrub

Description

This peeling scrub contains 100% natural mud extracted from the Dead Sea, honey extract, edelweiss flower extract, chamomile flower extract & papaya fruit extract.

The natural mineral grain of mud effectively absorbs and remove impurities, sebum and dead skin cells without causing irritation.

It helps to create a bright and transparent skin tone and is free of artificial colour, animal extracts, mineral oil, silicon and benzophenone.

I received this in the Banila Co memebox, but you can also find this online for around $15.

My Thoughts

This product has slightly thicker consistency to the previous peeling gel and it smells like a clay mask. Although it contains Dead Sea mud, it does not feel gritty whatsoever. But, as you can see from the image above, it balled up a lot more.

I found it to be the most exfoliating of all 3 peeling gels and it leaves your skin almost squeaky clean. Therefore, dry skin ladies may not enjoy this as much.

And in 1st place is the Secret Key Lemon D-Toc Peeling Gel

Description

Lemon water and lemon extracts with high level of Vitamin C provide deep hydration and helps to smooth out uneven skin complexion by peeling away impurities. This Peeling Gel is very effective for de-toxifying and brightening the skin.

I purchased this from a friend, though it can be found on the Memeshop. However, I advice against purchasing it from the Memeshop as their service is horrendous and you can find it on ebay for a lot cheaper. On the Memeshop it retails for $16 (filthy robbing bastards) and on the Beautynet Korea site it retails for around $9.

My Thoughts

This product also has a watery consistency with a scent that reminds me of lemon sherberts.

It is a good exfoliator, though not as deeply exfoliating as the Banila Co Claypatra.

The factor that helps push this item to first place is the fact that it is so moisturizing. Honestly, after using this product my face felt like a baby angel's butt. It is straight up AMAZEBALLS!!!

I believe this product would be great for anyone, but dry skin ladies would love it more due to its moisturizing benefits.

I had heard a few ladies raving about this product and good ol Lorna on UK Memebox Lovers Swaps & Sales had it up for grabs, so I snatched it up. And I'm so glad I did.

I hope you enjoyed this battle of the peeling gels post. However, it may be updated at a later point as I believe I will be receiving another peeling gel in the Little Mermaid memebox. So, we shall see if that pushes the Lemon D-Toc of its top spot.

For now, goodbye and thanks for looking.

Sephora Tarte Cosmetics Haul

My obsession other than Memeboxes is for Tarte Cosmetics.

However, I don't actually own a huge collection. That is due to the fact that...

1. Their site do not ship to the UK.

2. QVC UK has a pity full collection of their products.

&

3. They aren't cheap.

So I only really get my Tarte fix when I make a Sephora order or when I find the odd good Tarte deal on ebay (I know it's risky in terms of fakes, but I have to get my fix somehow)

So for Christmas this year I asked the other half if he could ask his siblings in the US to pick up a few items for me and send it over. However, I have no hope in this plan and I have no self control, so I decided to make a Sephora order as much as it hurt my bank account.

Here comes the loot...

Aren't they just beautiful to look at.

Ok, so lets start with the Pigment of Imagination deluxe cheek set at $10.

The cheek stain is 4.8g in the shade Fantasy and is a lovely almost rose gold champagne highlight. You only need a little and the product is soft, so I recommend just tapping it with your fingers to apply.

The blush is 1.5g in the shade Mirage and is a very soft matte peachy shade. It just about shows on my skin tone and I think it will be perfect for Spring.

I compared the Mirage blush to my Exposed blush, so you can see the size difference. It so cute and diddy.

For $10, you can't really go wrong with this pair.

Next up is the Kiss & Belle deluxe LipSurgence lip set at $34 - RRP $100.

It comes with 4 normal LipSurgence tints, 2 matte shades and 2 glosses.

Eternal - Matte Pinky Nude (I say it's more coral)

Dreamy - Cool Raspberry

Kiss - Light Pink Gloss with shimmer

Alluring - Mauve (looks more like a peachy mauve)

Innocent - Warm Nude

Belle - Raspberry Gloss

Dainty - Pink

Fancy - Plum Berry

This is my first time trying any of the lip products from Tarte, I decided deluxe samples were the way to go for me to see whether I liked them or not. So far so good. They all have that minty scent and flavour. The matte shades have great pigmentation, as does the Belle gloss. The other shades are sheerer, but still provide a nice wash of colour to the lips. I can't wait to sport Fancy with Belle over it.

Overall, I'm glad I picked this up.

Now for the Tres Chic Park Avenue Princess Contour Palette at $34.

Isn't the packaging just so chic and sexy?

However, it is very fingerprint prone lol

In this palette is the Park Avenue Princess Bronzer in the matte version 6g.

I already have this bronzer in the Rain Forest After Dark Palette. However, in this palette it swatches a little darker and little orange, so this may not work the best on pale skin girls. But, it'll be fine for my light/medium yellow undertone skin.

The blush is in the shade Posh 3g. It looks like a satin version of Unleashed from the Rain Forest After Dark Palette. Just a lovely everyday pink shade. I believe anyone can wear this blush.

The highlight is in the shade Champagne Gold 3g. It almost looks like a lighter powder version of the cheek stain from the Pigment of Imagination set. It's not a shimmery highlight, it leans more towards a light metallic sheen.

And now for the finale....

The Pin Up Girl Blush Palette at $42 - RRP $110

Isn't this just a thing of beauty.

This was one of the products I had asked my other half to get for me and I'm glad I picked it up myself. As the last time I checked on Sephora's site, this palette was no where to be found.

This palette feels and looks so 'FANCAAAAY...you already know!'

Sorry couldn't help myself there. But you can see it looks so elegant.

I may sport the beautiful bobby pins that comes with it for Christmas.

Breathless - Pinky Beige (just about shows up on me, definitely more beige than pink. Perfect for the fairer ladies)

Embraced - Plummy Rose

Whimsy - Light Pink

Bashful - Rosy Peach (more coral than peach really)

Irreplaceable - Mauve Rose

I never had the opportunity to purchase the blush palette from the previous holiday collection. So I'm so pleased I grabbed this baby.

Compared to my single Tarte blushes, the quality of these are just as great.

I'm so happy I decided to go ahead with this order, else I may have totally missed out on that blush palette. Everything is to my liking and I'm one happy Panda.

However, there are a few other bits from their holiday collection that will be harder for me to get a hold of, so I'm going to have to device a plan.

But for now I have satisfied my thirst for Tarte.

I am also planning on filming a video of this haul with live swatches, so watch this space.

Thanks for taking a look and hope these images have helped you decide on whether Tarte needs your money lol