The Saem - Green Tea Cleansing Water and Cover Perfection Concealer

Today, I will be talking about another popular product from The Saem: the Green Tea Cleansing Water. Ever since Bioderma became popular in Korea, many road shop brands have come out with their own versions of cleansing waters. I have tried a couple, but I think that the The Saem cleansing water is a great affordable alternative to Bioderma.

By the way, I don't use a lot of products from The Saem, but their concealer is another great, affordable product. You can check out my review here.

It retails for 5,500 won (approximately $5) for 300ml of product. I think this is pretty reasonable and it has lasted me for quite a long time. As far as I know, it comes in two types: green tea and tea tree. The green tea is targeted towards drier skin, and the tea tree is targeted towards more oily skin. Although I have skin that is on the oilier side, I chose the green tea version because it is more popular in Korea.

It has a slight, clean scent but it is not overpowering. I noticed that it is not very moisturizing, though I didn't really expect a cleansing water to be so. It removes face makeup very well, and I enjoy using it on exfoliating cotton pads. If I have little makeup on, I will use a cotton pad soaked in the cleansing water and use it to remove may makeup, and rinse with water. If I have more makeup on, I will use a cleansing oil after to deep clean my skin. I always use waterproof mascara and need a separate eye makeup remover, so what's important for me is how well it takes off my face makeup. It's quite refreshing in the morning as well, so I will start off my skincare routine by wiping off the excess skincare and possible remains of makeup with the cleansing water. It's good at waking me up and thoroughly cleaning my skin even without makeup.

Here is a demonstration of the product. I have several swatches of makeup products on my arm, starting with an orange lip tint, red lipstick, black gel eyeliner, black liquid eyeliner, brown waterproof eyeliner, black pencil eyeliner, and brown pencil eyeliner. We will see how well the cleansing water takes off various types of makeup.

Start by taking a cotton pad and soak it with the cleansing water. As you may be able to tell, the ones I like to use have an exfoliating side.

Well? What do you think? This is just after one swipe. Not back and forth, but just once in one direction. It has almost taken all of the lip stain and lipstick off, and there is no trace of the liquid eyeliner. The gel eyeliner has done pretty well, and the brown waterproof eyeliner has not even budged. The black pencil liner has rubbed off a considerable amount, and there is only a slight trace of the brown pencil liner left.

After another swipe, you can only really see the brown waterproof eyeliner. The lip products are gone and you can only just see the black gel liner and pencil liner. I think that the cleansing water has done pretty well! The brown waterproof eyeliner is from Espoir, and has a reputation for being super waterproof and budge-proof.

All in all, I give the The Saem Green Tea Cleansing Water two thumbs up. If you don't wear waterproof eye makeup, it is an even better choice for you. But even for me, who wears exclusively waterproof mascara, the cleansing water is great for removing my face makeup.

I hope you enjoyed today's review!

Concealer Comparison & Review: The Face Shop Face It Radiance Concealer Dual Veil and The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer

Today, I will be comparing two concealers that are extremely popular in Korea: The Face Shop Face It Radiance Concealer Dual Veil and The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer. Having used both for over 6 months, I can say that there are definite pros and cons to both products.

Both have fairly similar doe-foot applicators, making the application process quite convenient. However, The Face Shop concealer has a stick concealer on the other end. Though I didn't think that I would find the stick concealer useful, it is fairly good to use on the go. I'm not sure why, but I prefer the stick when I'm touching up throughout the day. I don't use either of the doe-foot applicators directly on my face, in fear of contaminating the product with bacteria.

With no concealer

Top - The Face Shop liquid concealer
Middle - The Face Shop stick concealer
Bottom - The Saem concealer

When it comes to the formula and consistency of the two products, they are quite different. The Face Shop concealer is much lighter in texture, and fairly moisturizing. This makes it ideal for concealing dark circles. I like to use the The Face Shop concealer under my eyes. On the other hand, the The Saem concealer is much thicker, and has much, much better coverage. It is great for concealing blemishes and discoloration. However, it can appear to be too thick when applied in excess, and isn't very moisturizing.

Due to the differences in consistency and texture, I chose different colors. I chose a shade lighter than my skin tone in the The Face Shop concealer, and a shade that is exactly my skin tone for the The Saem concealer. This has also allowed me to use the The Face Shop concealer as a highlighter, and I also often use it on the bridge of my nose and on the sides of my mouth to bring more light to those areas. A point to note, however, is that the stick concealer on the The Face Shop concealer has less coverage than the liquid side.

A further point to mention is that neither of the concealers seem to last very long on my skin without powder. Though the The Saem concealer has a bit more lasting power, it still disappears quite easily. However, my skin is super oily, so it might be different for other people.

All in all, the pros of the The Face Shop concealer are that: 1. The stick concealer is convenient for on-the-go use. 2. It is moisturizing and feels light on the skin. The cons are that: 1. It has light coverage. 2. It doesn't last very long.
The pros of the The Saem concealer are that: 1. It has very good coverage. But, the cons are that: 1. It is not moisturizing. 2. It can seem thick with too much product.

It depends on what you are looking in a concealer, but I think that I've got all bases covered with these two!

Eye Primer Comparison & Review: Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer and VDL Expert Color Primer for Eyes

Today I will be doing a review on two of my favorite drugstore eye primers: The Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer and VDL Expert Color Primer for Eyes. As a monolid with very oily eyelids, eye primer is essential, no matter what kind of eye makeup I am wearing. I find that it prevents the smudging of not only eyeshadow and eyeliner, but mascara as well. These two are the best that I have tried from road shop brands, and today I will be comparing the two, as they have strong points in different aspects.

Starting with an overall comparison, here are the general qualities of the two primers.

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

Price: 5,500 won ($7.20) for 10g

Description on website: Proof 10 Eye Primer supplies coverage to eyelids and around the eyes to enhance eye shadow color and intergrity for a longer lasting, Perfect 10 look.

VDL Expert Color Eye Primer for Eyes

Price: 13,000 won (approximately $11) for 6.5g

Description on website: This eyeshadow primer creates the optimal lid surface for eye color application. Enriched with silk ingredients, it keeps eyelids soft and supple while keeping eyeshadow colors vibrant and fresh all day without creasing.

As you can see above, VDL, while it is much more affordable than high end brands, is not as affordable as some of the other road shop brands such as Etude House. Etude House is less than half the price of VDL, and has more product. When you take into account the fact that Etude House holds sales much more frequently than VDL, the Etude House primer is a total win.

As with the packaging, VDL is much more sleek. However, both have doe foot applicators, which means that the application is quite similar. However, there is a difference in texture, as the VDL primer is much more smooth to apply, and the Etude House dries much more matte. The Etude House's thicker texture makes in harder to blend out, and too much can easily turn your eyelids white and look a bit strange.

Both are fairly translucent, and are not good at concealing veins or discoloration on eyelids.

Another point to note is that although the Etude House primer has more product, I rarely use up the tube because it dries out more quickly. As it doesn't cost much, I just buy another one when that happens, but it is another thing to bear in mind.

Top: Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
Center: VDL Expert Color Primer for Eyes
Bottom: No primer

However, the main difference between the VDL primer and Etude House one is that they are good at different things. The VDL primer is much better at increasing the color payoff of eyeshadow. However, Etude House is much better at preventing smudging and increasing longevity.

I'm not sure if you can see the difference, but the eyeshadow shows up much more vibrantly with the VDL primer as a base. Etude House does not increase the color payoff of eyeshadow as much, as there is not much of a difference between using the Etude House primer and using no primer at all.

Top: Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
Center: VDL Expert Color Primer for Eyes
Bottom: No primer

In conclusion, it really depends on what you are looking for in a primer. If you have very oily eyelids, the Etude House eye primer might be a better choice. However, it does require some work blending in, and using too much can leave white marks on your eye. If you care more about getting 100% color payoff from your eyeshadows, the VDL primer is a much better choice. It is far easier to blend than the Etude House eye primer. It increases the color very well, and there is a definite difference between using the VDL primer and not using it. 13,000 won is not too high a price to pay for an eye primer, anyway, and though it has much less product, 6.5 grams will still last you a long time.

I like both, and use them for different occasions, but if I had to choose, I think that I would repurchase the Etude House primer. My extremely oily eyelids are to blame, sadly. Still, the VDL is a great primer, and those who have less oily eyelids will be much more happy with this one, I presume.

Happy shopping!
Rosa

What's in my Makeup Pouch

Hey everyone! Long time no see.

I've been suuuuper busy this semester, which is really no excuse for not posting on my blog for such an extended period of time, but I'm trying to make an effort to start again.

I am back with a post on my current makeup bag. While I am definitely not low-maintenance, I don't think that I have too much in my bag.

The first thing that is in my makeup bag is the Etude House Precious Mineral Magic Any Cushion in Magic Peach. This is a very moisturizing cushion foundation that I normally use throughout the day. It doesn't have too much coverage, so I tend to use a different foundation when I first apply makeup, but it is a good one for touch-ups.

The second item in my pouch are my Kai Compact Eyelash Curlers. My eyelashes tend to droop by the end of the day, despite how waterproof my mascara is. I curl my lashes if I think that they need a little lift, and I like how compact they are in comparison to conventional eyelash curlers.

The third and fourth items in my bag are my eyeshadow in Like Sunset by the brand Aritaum, and a mini brush by Lancome that I got in a travel makeup set. I usually have very casual, natural makeup, so if I'm going out later in the evening, I add a little more eyeshadow. It's not overly-pigmented, so it's hard to go overboard, and the bronze color is very sultry yet natural.

The next eye product in my bag is the Innisfree Gel Liner in Sunset Burgundy. I don't wear eyeliner on a day-to-day basis, so this is also for when I want to amp up my makeup for the evening. The subtle purple/burgundy shade goes well with the bronze eyeshadow mentioned above.

The last makeup items in my bag are lip products. First, I have the Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me. The baby lips are already extremely popular, so I don't have much to say. Sadly to say, I am almost out and it's a shame that you can't get hold of this in Korea, because the sheer red color and moisturizing formula makes it extremely comfortable to wear.  I also have a Mamonde Volume Better Shine Gloss in Red Tree. It is a sheer, red gloss with a bit of shimmer running through it. Although I don't normally like shimmer in lip products, it is not chunky or glittery at all, and goes well with the summer weather.

Other products in my makeup bag include a Hand & Nature Sanitizer Gel in Almond and Hand & Nature Hand Cream in Lily, both by Nature Republic. I bought both products on a whim, but have been enjoying both. The hand cream is moisturizing but not at all sticky, and the hand sanitizer is compact. 

I also keep a pot of L'occitane Shea Butter for extra dry parts of my skin, such as my lips and cuticles.

Speaking of dry skin, I have a sample tube of Espoir's Aqua Miracle Oil Gel. It is great as a hydrating primer, but I also use it on top of makeup on dry parts of my face, such as around my mouth and chin. I am almost out, and will definitely be purchasing the full-sized version. Also for my dry skin, I have a small pot of Physiogel Cream. I am not a huge fan, as I think it is too heavy for my skin, but I use it on the dry parts of my skin throughout the day.

Other essentials in my bag include a couple of wet wipes, bobby pins and hair ties. 

Phew. I guess I do keep quite a few things in my bag, but I assure you that they are all essentials. I hope you enjoyed today's post and I will be back on Wednesday with a new one!

First Impression: Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur

Etude House's new release, Face Blur, intrigued me greatly. The whole concept behind this product that it will give you skin that looks photoshopped and blurred out, like you took a selfie with a filter added. It creates a smooth canvas for foundation and other products. I have okay skin, but recently I've been noticing a lot of blackheads and pores that my foundation won't cover, so I decided to try this product out. I also thought it might be good for days when I don't want anything heavy on my skin.

Trying this out on my hand, I could instantly see a difference. It created a brightening, smoothing affect, but without any stickiness or stuffiness.

You can also tell the difference right away on the skin. The photo above is my completely bare face. As you can see, I have quite a bit of pores, darkness, and blackheads that need to be covered up. As soon as I applied the Face Blur cream, I could tell that it blurred my pores really well. My skin looks a lot brighter and smooth, which is a really important part of makeup in Korea.

I think that it will be great for no-makeup-makeup days, as it looks really natural and feels really light on the skin. Although I haven't tried foundation on top yet, I think that it will create an even more flawless effect.

A point to note, however, is that it isn't a very moisturizing product. It dries to a satin finish, although not completely matte. It also doesn't have any coverage, although it doesn't actually claim to have any. Furthermore, it has an SPF of 15 built in, so it's great for everyday use.

All in all, my first impression of this product was a two thumbs up, although I'll need some more time trying this out. If you're interested, it is sold in Etude House stores for \15,000 (about $14). You can also get a \2,000 discount coupon on the Etude House app.

** This product was bought by me personally, and all opinions are my own.

New Blog, New Me?

Hi, my name is Rosa. I'm a 21 year old girl living in Seoul, Korea that loves makeup.

I've always been a fan of Youtube makeup gurus such as Pixiwoo and Missglamorazzi, and I thought that I would share some of my love of makeup in a blog format.
Because I live in Korea, I'm going to focus on Korean brands and Asian makeup on this blog. I hope that I can help you, if you are looking for Korean makeup recommendations, or if you're just into Asian makeup in general.

See you soon with my first ever post!