MAC Cleanse Off Oil Review

I love, love, love MAC's Cleanse Off Oil!!! How have I gone so long without you?

Description from Maccosmetics.com:
An industry-strength oil-based makeup remover that's gentle on the skin. Botanically formulated with oils of olive fruit, evening primrose and jojoba seed and absolutely 100 percent mineral-oil free. Massages onto the skin to loosen all makeup, including waterproof mascara. Emulsifies into a lotion-type liquid with water: rinses off easily, no tissues required - and no residue! Protects with vitamin E. Skin softening and conditioning. Good for all skin types.

Size: 150 ml / 5 fl oz
Cost: $24.00

Pros:
+ Easy to use. Spreads really easily. My directions: Two pumps, massage into dry skin for 30 seconds, rinse off with warm water (cleansing oil emulsifies to a milky color).
+ Doesn't irritate my sensitive skin! Fabulousss. Skin is so soft after using this. No dryness, no tingling or burning sensation.
+ I only use this on my face (not eyes) and it does a great job of taking off any light foundation or waterproof sunscreen I'm wearing. Note, I do follow up with my normal cleanser afterward.
+ Smells amazing like oranges or something citrusy.
+ Whenever I'm massaging it into my skin, it feels like I'm pampering myself. For some reason, this cleansing oil feels different than other ones I've used, kind of like some amazing massage oil. Seriously love it.
+ Rinses off well. No leftover oily residue on skin.
+ Well designed bottle. The pump locks to a closed position.

Cons:
- Nada!

Cleanse Off Oil on skin. Love you Mac Frigging Cleanse Off Oil.

Verdict?
HIGHLY recommend this stuff! Doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, does a great job of cleansing off your makeup, feels good, smells great, what more can you ask for?
*NOTE* I only use this on my skin. I do not use it on my eyes. For my eyes, I use a separate eye makeup remover. Please see these two:Sonia Kashuk RemoveMandom Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover

Laneige White Plus Renew Skin Care Line Review

Finally! My review for Laneige's White Plus Renew skin care line is here! I had been wanting to try Laneige's White Plus Renew line for the longest time but my local Amore stores were taking forever in stocking the new line. I haven't been to the Amore stores for a while but last I checked, they were still stocking Laneige's previous Star White line. I was really hopeful about this line since their Star White line had worked so well for me but alas, it just isn't faring that well on my currently very dry skin.
A little update on my current skin for the sake of this review: I've been able to test Laneige's White Plus Renew line more consistently lately since my skin has been a lot more calm lately. Calm as in not sensitive. The weather in Northern California has been ridiculously up and down lately though so my skin has been feeling very tight more often than usual. These are signs of dryness but I will state that I do not show any physical signs of dryness on my face, I can just feel the tightness.
Onward to the review!
  Laneige White Plus Renew Skin Refiner Size: 120ml
Cost: $25 on evecare.com
How To Use: For your morning and evening skin care, at skin refiner stage, take appropriate amount onto a cotton pad and lightly apply it in the order of cheeks, forehead, nose, lip area, and neck as lightly wiping out from inside to outside.
Pictures:

My Thoughts: From when I first started using it: The texture is more like that of a serum than refiner/toner. It's not very watery but almost jelly like when it comes out of the bottle. I wonder why Laneige didn't incorporate a pump into the design of the Skin Refiner bottle like they did with the Essence. I have to shake the glass bottle quite a bit to get out enough product to cover my face and neck which can lead to a tired arm. Thankfully, 4-5 drops will suffice. You can smell the Satsuma in the product. It smells really nice. :) Application with a square cotton pad was a bit difficult and seems a bit wasteful to me so I most often like to apply this refiner with my bare hands instead.
From recent uses:Originally, I was frustrated with how difficult it was to shake the product out of the bottle but after a few uses, it became significantly easier. Now it's just a matter of not shaking too hard so as to not get out an excess of product. I like the refreshing and moisturizing effect I get after using this refiner. I can go for quite a while before I feel a tightness in my skin and remember I need to apply the next step.

Laneige White Plus Renew Emulsion SPF15 Size: 120ml
Cost: $27 on evecare.com
How To Use: For the morning skin care, at the final stage of skin care, take appropriate amount (1.8 cm in diameter/0.4 ml) and lightly apply it in the order of cheeks, forehead, nose, lip area, and neck from inside to outside.
Pictures:

My Thoughts: I just have to be honest: this is my least favorite of the entire line (what I own of it) because it makes me ridiculously shiny. :( My face looks like how one might look in a really humid and hot area: moist all over, super shiny, and presumably sticky. Aside from that, the emulsion smells really nice like most other Laneige products I've tried and absorbs quickly into the skin.

White Plus Renew Essence Size: 40ml
Cost: $40 on evecare.com
How to Use: For the morning and evening skin care, at the essence stage, pump two times (1cm in diameter/0.4 ml) and lightly apply it in the order of cheeks, forehead, nose, lip area, and neck. Lightly press the palms down onto the face for the better absorption.
Pictures:

My Thoughts: Two pumps are just enough to cover my face and neck. Don't rub your hands together too much or the product will quickly evaporate. Applying this serum after having applied the refiner, my skin feels extra nice and moisturized.

White Plus Renew Night Cream Size: 50ml
Cost: $40 on evecare.com
How to Use: For the evening skin care, at the cream stage, take appropriate amount (1cm in diameter/0.4 ml) and lightly apply it in the order of cheeks, forehead, nose, lip area, and neck from inside to outside. And then lightly press the palms down onto the face for the better absorption.
Pictures:

My Thoughts: From when I first started using it: The first thing I noticed was how thick it was compared to Laneige's Star White Cream which I've previously used. I scooped out a bit too much the first time, double the amount I actually needed. A little goes a long way with this product which is nice since it's one of the costlier items of the line. The consistency of the cream is silky/watery to me. I really like how it feels. Absorbs extremely well after a bit of patting on. I imagine this might be a bit too rich for those with oily skin types though. The morning after I tried the White Plus Renew Night Cream, I noticed one small milia bump under my left eye. I don't know if it's because of this cream or not but I'm not going to risk it so I'll keep this product away from my eyes. Instead, I'll use my CeraVe Cream to moisturize around my eye area as usual. Similar to the Refiner, you can smell the Satsuma. I love going to bed smelling like Laneige. :)
Recent uses in strange cold, dry weather: I can apply a nice amount of this White Plus Renew Cream all over my face and when I wake up the next morning, I can still feel a tightness around my eye area. Yes, I continued application of this cream around my eye area and have not broken out in any milia whatsoever. With that said, I suppose I won't be suggesting use of this cream for those with very dry, thirsty skin.

Overall White Plus Renew Skin Care Line Thoughts:- Line is much richer than their previous Star White line.- Although, it's still not moisturizing enough for very cold/dry days for those with dry skin.- Did not irritate my skin. Didn't clog pores.- Imo, has a really nice scent but it may be overwhelming to some.- Gorgeous, gorgeous packaging design as always.- The Night Cream comes with a nice little spoon for sanitary reasons. Love it!- Unfortunately, didn't see noticeable enough brightening/whitening results for me to warrant a future repurchase.
For those of you who want to try out the line:YesStyleFacial-ShopSaSaThe Eve Care

Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Review

Today's post is a guest post by my friend, T!



Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner

Comes in 3 formulas: Sensitive, Light (Combination-Oily), and Moisture (Dry-Normal).
This review is for Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner in Light.

Description: Refreshing skin refiner with purifying and softening effect for clear skin.
Size: 200ml

Product Benefits:
- Eliminates impurities in the pores, and removes keratin for clear and transparent skin.
- Bio Dusali, extracted from fermented seaweed with strong energy of life, supplies energy to the skin and promotes keratin turnover, while the Hyacinth extracts purify the skin from heavy metal, smog, and other harmful materials to leave the skin moist and transparent.
- Niacinamide helps for brightened skin tone with keratin care. Cotton extracts prevents skin damage to refine oily and dull skin for clear and healthy skin

Directions:
1. Dispense appropriate amount onto a cotton pad after cleansing every morning and evening.
2. Gently apply as lightly wiping out from inside to outside

My Thoughts:
- Fragrant scent
- I love how it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and moisturized!
- No noticeable diminishing of pores
- Beautiful and very sturdy packaging (plastic, not glass). Nozzle keeps product from spilling too much if you accidentally drop it.
- Does not irritate my combination/sensitive skin!
- Would repurchase again :)

Where to Purchase:
YesAsia.com $38.00
SaSa.com $22.60

Mandom Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover

My goodness. It's been a while. Well here's a quick post about Mandom Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover. I picked this up a while back during a trip to Mitsuwa when I remembered that I was running out of my HG Sonia Kashuk Remove and wanted to try something new. Mitsuwa tends to have that effect on me. :)

Comes in a 145ml (~5 oz) bottle.


I realllly like the dispenser! The small opening gives me a lot of control over how much I want to dispense onto my cotton pad. Compare this to the multiple times I've accidentally knocked over my Sonia Kashuk Remove and have lost a ridiculous amount of good product. Love this nozzle.
With eye makeup on. (I can see wrinkles forming....)
Removing eye makeup.
Eye makeup removed.
Verdict? Works JUST as well as my HG Sonia Kashuk Remove eye makeup remover does!! I like how Mandom's Eye Makeup Remover doesn't leave an oily residue on my eyes, doesn't dry out them out, and doesn't sting them! I simply have to soak my eyes for a few seconds with this makeup remover using a cotton pad, a few gentle swipes and my makeup is good and gone. Highly recommended if you're in need of a new good makeup remover. :)

A few other things I purchased that day:Of course, I had to pick up a bottle of royal milk tea. At first, I couldn't understand the big deal about royal milk tea but now I'm a definite fan of it. So delicious~
This drink was alright. The texture was that of chunky apple sauce so it was a bit strange to me.
Mmm~ I like any candy that is milky and chewy. :)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Does Toner Work??

Question to readers: Does toner work for you? I wonder about the working power of toners. I've tried quite a few toners myself but have never really seen any difference in the condition of my skin.
List of what I've tried & saw no results: - Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner (Nice smell, skin is a little sticky afterwards)
- Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Toner (EXTREMELY scented. Had a hard time applying it to my face since the scent was so strong.)
- Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent, Sensitive Skin (smells even though it's for sensitive skin)
- Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toner (smells nice, didn't strip skin of moisture)
- Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner (seriously, this one was like water)
- Lancome Tonique Douceur (Not too big on the scent)
- Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Balancing Softner
- Shiseido Benefiance Enriched Balancing Softener
- Clarins Toners in Camomile and Iris (these gave me the worst headaches everrrr. Extremely scented. Even the one for sensitive skin!)

One toner that I did like was Clinique Clarifying Lotion. I tried the one labeled 3 for Oily skin when I thought I had oily skin a few years back. This is one toner where I felt like it really did leave my skin feeling very fresh and clean!
Currently, I use Laneige's White Plus Renew Skin Refiner but mostly only to take off my powder foundation whenever I do wear it.

Just wanted to get any reader comments/suggestions since I know some highly stand by their toners.

Laneige Strawberry Peeling Gel Review

T got me Incheon Airport brochures with Bi on them. Lol.
Yay! I've finally gotten the chance to try Laneige's Strawberry Peeling Gel! I've tried their Yogurt Pack before and loved the smell. This Peeling Gel is similarly scented but imo, it's not as strongly scented. Love that it comes in a squeeze tube instead of a jar like some of Laneige's other products. Thanks T for getting this for me when you were in Korea!

Size: 150ml

Product Information:
- Gently massage your face with hands, and dead cells will be removed naturally with cellulose. - Experience a clearer and smoother skin the next morning!
- This peeling gel contains strawberry extracts that help keep your skin healthy and moisturized.
- The exfoliating enzyme contained in the red capsule helps to gently remove dead cells deeply buried in the skin, facilitating turnover of the skin and making it vital and healthy.


Directions:
1. Apply a nickel-sized amount (2cm in diameter) on clean dry face, and spread it evenly on the entire face avoiding eyes and mouth area.
2. Massage for 1 minute. Once cellulose brings dead skin cells out of the skin, wash off with lukewarm water.
3. Use once or twice a week. Adjust frequency depending on skin conditions.
4. If you have sensitive skin, massage very gently.







My Thoughts:
+ Instant results. My face feels soooooo soft afterwards~ :)
+ Doesn't dry out my skin. No odd reactions either!
+ Scent of the peeling gel is slightly strawberry like but disappears immediately once you begin rubbing away at your face.
+ Doesn't dry out my skin.
+ Unlike other peeling gels I’ve tried, the “dead skin” that results from using this peeling gel is concentrated on my fingertips versus my face.
- I have to use around 3 dollops to cover my entire face. One isn't enough because the moment you apply it to, say, your cheek area and start trying to spread it around, it quickly turns flaky. A little too quick for me.

Verdict?
Would definitely repurchase if needed. I'd recommend this for those with sensitive skin since the exfoliators aren't abrasive and are very gentle. Mmm I think I'll go treat myself to an exfoliation right now since this Strawberry Peeling Gel smells so good... :)

Where to Purchase:
Evecare.com $20
Cosme-de.com $22
Sasa.com $23
Yesstyle.com $28
EBay

Laneige Sensitive UV Protector SPF31 PA++ Review

Laneige Sensitive UV Protector SPF31 PA++ Review
Some of these pictures are ones I edited for my first blog but never posted.
I purchased Laneige's Sensitive UV Protector SPF31 PA++ a while back when I ran out of my first bottle of Clarins UV Plus Day Screen. I was looking for a cheaper alternative. Laneige's Sensitive UV PRotector cost me $22 + tax versus Clarins UV Plus Day Screen which costs $40 + tax.

It's alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and color-free; great for those with sensitive skin!




If you can't tell, the tiny opening makes it difficult to squeeze out a lot of product at once. Also, the sunscreen isn't liquid like my normal Clarins sunscreen is. It's creamy and a bit thick. This combination is a bit annoying when I'm rushing to put on sunscreen in the mornings or before I go out.

Here is my skin before application:

Here is my skin after application:

It is the opposite side of my face but you can still see the difference. It's a bit shinier than before application. Nothing a little blotting paper and/or powder won't fix!
Verdict?I won't be repurchasing this product since the tiny opening makes it too difficult to squeeze out product quickly. It also doesn't apply as easily compared to liquid sunscreens (which I think I might now favor over this) and leaves me a bit shiny. I still really love my HG Clarins UV Plus Day Screen. It might be pricey but it keeps my face looking matte for the majority of the day, dispenses and applies easily... I could go on but I'll save that for a review. :) If you have really sensitive skin though and are looking for a new sunscreen, this might just be the product for you! At $22, it (hopefully) won't rip a hole in your wallet and is fragrance, color, alcohol, and supposedly chemical free.

Laneige Water Bank Essence Review

Isn't the cover pretty??

T recently returned from a trip to Asia and brought me back a gift! Knowing that I've been eying Laneige products for a while now, she got me a Laneige Water Bank Essence Special Set! Thank you, T~ :) The Water Bank Essence Special Set came with a full size bottle of Laneige Water Bank Essence and samples of Power Essential Skin Refiner, Balancing Emulsion, Water Bank Moisture Cream, and Water Sleeping Pack.


This box lies under the decorative cover.


Then you unwrap that layer and you get to the goodies~



Here is a review on the Water Bank Essence:

Use
- Two pumps is just enough to cover my face and neck.

Less than a pump is shown here:


Very watery and thin in consistency:


Fully absorbed:


Packaging
- Gorgeous! Glass bottle with hygienic pump dispenser.

My Thoughts
- The watery texture works great for when my skin feels like it needs a bit of extra moisturization during the day and I don't want to pack on something too thick like lotion.
- Feels a bit tacky immediately after application but sinks in well after a few minutes.
- I noticed that quite a few reviews have complained about this product not being moisturizing enough but according to Laneige, essence is the 2nd to last step in your skin care routine, not supposed to the last step. Cream goes last. If cream is too thick for you, try something with a thinner consistency like lotion. I imagine this might be good for those with oily skin to use in the summer since it's not very heavy.
- Is scented.
- Did not irritate my sensitive skin.
- No noticeable changes in my skin but the extra moisturization is nice to have.

Verdict?
I'd most likely repurchase this for myself for use in the winter time when my skin needs extra moisture. Otherwise, it feels like a nice little treat if I have time to add an extra step in my skin care routine. I've been using it for a little over a week now (only during the night time) and whenever I wake up the next morning, my skin looks radiant and supple.