Innisfree Peony Perfume Room Diffuser

Today I want to share with you a short post on this delightful room diffuser from Innisfree. I picked this up during their 50% sale last month (oh just in case you see read this post today Friday 11th December) Innisfree are currently having their 30% off monthly sale. Not quite as good as the half price sale, but still a sale giving you a few extra pennies in your pocket for Christmas shopping. 

Innisfree is one of my absolute favorite Korean Beauty Brands (you can see just how much I love them by looking at my Beauty page...I've got 'one or two' Innisfree reviews on there hehe). 

This review is of the Peony Perfumed Diffuser. When I was in store, I also really like the Fig (I think I might need to add that to my Christmas List!) which has a very fresh and clean smell.

When choosing a perfume diffuser, I was worried that about the fragrance being very over powering, but it's very subtle. It gives the room it's placed in a very soft fragrance that lingers, without leaving you feeling sick from the sweetness. Another great one I would recommend is the Lemon scented diffuser. It would make a good kitchen (or even bathroom) addition.

Here is the Korean blurb about this diffuser from the Innisfree website:

 The diffuser is sold separately from the reed stick, which comes in 3 different versions - the basic reed stick (this I the one I have), the twig , and the flower . The flower is very pretty but I'm not sure how well it work to diffuse. 

The perfumed diffuser costs 20,000 Won, and the reed stick's price depends on which version you buy. The basic reed stick is 2,000 Won for a pack of 10, the twig version is 4,000 Won, and the flower is 5,000 Won. 

And it doesn't hurt that the bottle is so beautiful to look at, as is the design of each and everything I've ever bought at Innisfree.

Do you own a room diffuser? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. 

Innisfree Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock 50+ PA++ {Review}

Even though it's technically winter here in South Korea, whether you wear sunscreen (or suncream for my South African readers and sunblock for my American readers) should not be dependant on the season or weather. It should be worn every day regardless of how much sun you actually see in the sky.

For my own skin, I suffer from pigmentation (click here to read about my new wonder product from Innisfree) and one of the main causes of skin pigmentation is sun exposure. Having grown up in a country that has plenty of year round sunshine (South Africa) I was exposed to A LOT of sun growing up, and even though my parents were very cautions and made ma layer up with cream and hats when outside, I still spent a lot of my teenage years baking myself outside to achieve the perfect tan. Now that I am older and wiser (and the first few wrinkle...ahem, I mean 'laugh' lines are appearing) I have been making sure to wear a face suncream every day, without fail, and have incorporated it into my beauty regime. It's something that is just not worth missing out on. 

The Skin Cancer Foundation has the following to say about sunscreen:

Sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin, age it prematurely, and increase your risk of skin cancer.

UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other light-induced effects of aging (photo-aging). They also exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays, and increasingly are being seen as a cause of skin cancer on their own. Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB.

What about SPF?

Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. SPF — or Sun Protection Factor — is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer — about five hours.

Another way to look at it is in terms of percentages: SPF 15 filters out approximately 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 keeps out 97 percent and SPF 50 keeps out 98 percent. They may seem like negligible differences, but if you are light-sensitive, or have a history of skin cancer, those extra percentages will make a difference. And as you can see, no sunscreen can block all UV rays.

Thankfully, these days, suncreams are no longer these thick lotions that turn you a ghostly shade of pale, and there are so many skin care lines that are producing suncreams with various properties. I have always been a BIG fan of the FaceShop's range of suncreams (like their Oil Cut range which is great for oilier skin and provides a matte finish) and ha been alternating between that and their Natural Sun Eco Power Long Lasting Suncream. That was until I tried the Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock from Innisfree. 

As you can see this particular suncream has an SPF factor of 50+ and is PA+++. 

So what does PA+++ mean? PA is a Japanese/Korean rating system that shows how much protection you are getting from UVA rays. You will see either PA+, PA++, or PA+++ on the label, with more + signs meaning a higher level of UVA protection.  

The Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock from Innisfree combines all of my needs in a suncream. It's mattifying, non-greasy and acts as a primer for my skin, allowing my makeup to glide on top effortlessly. It sinks into my skin instantly so no waiting around for that typical suncream shine to go away. 

The Innisfree Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock SPF 50+ PA+++ is made with organic sunflower oil and organic green tea grown on Jeju island in Korea. It’s also made with their famous “5 free” formula. According to Innisfree, their products are free of parabens, artificial dyes, ethanol, animal ingredients, and mineral oil. 

I have normal to combination skin (although it is drier in Winter times and oilier in the summer) and right now this suncream is perfect for my skin type. If you have oilier skin, Innisfree does offer a formula called Eco Safety No Sebum Sunblock which absorbs sebum and provides more of a matte finish. I find currently, this formula offers the perfect makeup base for my skin and I love how soft and smooth my skin is after using it. 

The cream is a thick, white formulation which I didn't find left a white cast on my skin at all. I have an olive skin tone (which is much darker than most Koreans) and yet I didn't find that my skin had a white cast at all after application. You can see my hand in the before and after photographs below. 

I will most definitely be repurchasing this suncream when mine runs out and have been most impressed with the formula as well as what a great makeup base it is.

And incase you're still wondering whether you should be wearing suncream, maybe this video will convince you...

Are there any sun care products that you current love? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Innisfree Whitening Pore Synergy Serum {Review}

Innisfree established itself in Korea in 2007 as the first natural beauty brand to set up shop in Korea and it markets itself as an authority on eco-friendly skincare. Their products feature extracts of pure ingredients from Jeju Island and are packaged in eco-friendly materials, making me, and a lot of other women, huge fans of this skincare brand. 

I have been using the Innisfree Whitening Pore Synergy Serum for a while now and I'm really excited to share my thoughts on it with you.

One of my biggest skin concerns is pigmentation. When I was younger I had pretty bad skin (lots of pimples and my skin was always inflamed from my constant touching and picking) and I tried a host of lotions and potions, eventually resorting to Ruaccutane which sorted my skin out after the second round of use. Since then I have been lucky to have pretty clear skin.

But, I do suffer from pigmentation, which I'm sure is a direct result of the contraceptive pill. I don't view my pigmentation as a dehabilitating thing, I know it's more of a vanity issue than anything else, but I am always interested in products that are specifically catering for this skin issues. I wear a factor 50+ sunscreen everyday, and wear a hat most of the time that I am outdoors to combat any further damage to my skin. It's the summer months when I am outdoors more and the sun is stronger, that my skin really suffers. I know there are more permanent options out there, like laser and peels but they scare me a bit and as I am pretty sure my skin is due to The Pill I am planning on waiting until after I have children before venturing into the realms of laser.

This serum claims to offer the combined goodness of an ampoule & an essence (if you're not sure what the difference is between the two click here) for an intensive whitening treatment. It claims to diminish dark spots and brighten uneven skin-tone.

On that note, here is a before and after of 4 weeks of use of this serum. All these photographs are unedited and I am not wearing any makeup in either of them. Although the lighting is a bit different, the results are quite drastic. These shots were all taken on my iPhone in the early morning after a light walk with my dog. I really hadn't noticed an actual difference in my skin tone until I put these photographs next to each other. Although the pigmentation is still noticeable on the right, my skin tone is much more even and looks a lot smoother and now after seeing these photographs together I think I am going to go and purchase ALL the other products in this range! 

I use this serum both day and night under either my  Innisfree Whitening Pore Cream (review to come soon) or my Innisfree Eco Science Cream (when I need more moisture) both of which I use at night. I wear this serum under my Nivea Q10 Day Cream for day time use. 

The serum comes in a pump dispenser with 50ml of product. The pump is great for measuring out the right amount of product without unnecessary wastage. I always seem to apply too much product to my skin and end up wiping my hands on my towel and wasting too much. The fact that this serum also comes in a pump means it is far more hygienic than sticking your fingers in a tub. 

I really wasn't expecting much from this product and have been quite shocked at the before and after photographs. The serum isn't cheap though and will set you back W28 000 at your local Innisfree store. You might want to wait until Innisfree has their monthly sales where most of their products are on sale for 30% - 50% off. This serum should last anywhere from 2 - 3 months with daily use (both morning and night) as you only need one pump of product per application. 

Have you used any of the Whitening Pore range from Innisfree? Did you notice any results? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Innisfree Color Glow Lipstick in #7 & #11 {Review}

I am rather mad about Innisfree, one of Koreas first authorities on eco-friendly skincare. Innisfree uses extracts of pure ingredients from Jeju Island and  their products are packaged from eco-friendly packaging materials. There is a lot to love about this brand, and my Instagram feed is testimony to my love for their products. 

The Color Glow range of lipstick promises vivid pigmentation with a moisturising formula. They have a buttery texture, and are very easy to apply in their twist up tubes. Due to their moisturising formula, they don't last quite as long as matte lipsticks. I get about 3 hours of wear, a little more with #

#11 (pictured below) is a red shade with a mostly orange tint. It also has little glitter pigment which makes for a pretty sparkle on your lips. I find that the glitter pigment does mean that the texture is a little rough on the lips but because of this I find it has more staying power than #7 which doesn't have the same glitter texture. It's not uncomfortable by any means, but it's not as smooth as the other shades in this range. I like having the option though and use this shade of red when I'm not feeling bold enough for my Innisfree Cream Mellow lipstick in #8.

The bottom of this lipstick shows a very red colour, but the actual shade is far more coral than red. As you can see below when worn on the lips, this is far more orange that the actual tube suggests.

#7 (pictured below) is a soft fuchsia shade that wears down to more of a purple shade after a few hours. The texture of this particular shade is soft and silky, with glides onto your lips, feeling more like a lipgloss than a lipstick. I find I need more than a few coats of, whereas #11 only requires two coats for a strong look. This shade is very moisturising on my lips and doesn't dry them at out at all. I love the colour and find that it goes with just about everything.

Although it looks like a bright shade, it actually is very pretty and not 'in-your-face' like the tube suggests. This is my favourite of the two shades and I wear it almost daily.

You can buy these from your local Innisfree store for W12 000 each. I picked these up during the latest big sale at my local Innisfree for W6 000 a pop.

Innisfree Eco Science Eye Cream {Review}

The Eco Science range is an anti ageing line of products from one of Korea's natural skincare brands, Innisfree. It's no secret that I love Innisfree and spend an unhealthy amount of time in there (my Instagram feed is proof to my obsession with this brand!). 

I first read about this eye cream from Sheryl (one of my favourite Asian skincare gurus) and she raved about it. I had been using the Olay Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream (I even brought a tub over back in 2013 when we came to Korea the second time) but I must say this Innisfree one is even better. This is my second tube and I just can't get enough of it.

What it says on the box "This skincare product is naturally derived with wrinkle treatment that promotes skin vitality with marine plants from the clean and pure ocean of Jeju Island. It contains marine plants that are rich in Vitamin A and minerals to rejuvenate the ageing skin and to foster the self protective power of the skin.

The cream comes in a pump tube and dispenses exactly the right amount of cream for both eyes. I hate eye cream in tubs as I never know how much to use and either end up wasting it or not using enough and having dry under eye areas. This handy tube does all the guess work for you. 

I have most definitely noticed a reduction in the nasty little fine lines that started appearing around my eyes last year (I am going to say they are my smile and laughter lines because I am always smiling!).  My eye area looks plump and smooth after applying the cream and I love the texture of the cream. It's smooth and easily sinks into the skin.

I will be on to my third bottle soon, and even though it is on the pricier end of the scale (W28 000 for 30ml) it's absolutely worth it for me. I usually stock up my skincare products when Innisfree has their monthly 20% - 50% sales. 

Innisfree Eco Science Cream {Review}

The Eco Science range is an anti ageing line of products from one of Korea's natural skincare brands, Innisfree. It's no secret that I love Innisfree and spend an unhealthy amount of time in there (my Instagram feed is proof to my obsession with this brand!). This is my second purchase of the Eco Science Cream, which I just love. 

This cream is enriched with natural anti-ageing active ingredients from marine plants and botanical extracts from Jeju Island and is said to 'regenerate skin and provide nutrients for a self-protective skin'. As I am going into my late twenties, I have started to notice a few extra lines (I am going to call these laugh lines and say they are from squinting with my camera and not because I am getting old!). I had heard only good things about the Eco Science range of products which are aimed at ageing skin.

In Korea, most skincare lines will carry a cream & a lotion (which is sometimes referred to as an emulsifier). Lotions/Emulsifiers are very light moisturisers which would best suit skin in summer, or very oily skin due to the lighter texture. These are usually water based. Creams on the other hand are have a much thicker texture and are used in winter, or for those with dry to very dry skin. During Winter this was my go to moisturiser which saved my skin from the harsh winds and snow, as well as the indoor heating which can wreck havoc on your skin. I now use this every other evening as my night cream, or when I feel like my skin is thirtsy.

The light grey coloured cream has a thick texture and comes in a round, white tub. The tub is filled with cream (80ml of product) so no sneaky packaging has been used to give the appearance of more product. I always get so cross when I open up a cream and see half the bottle is purely packaging, this is so wasteful (financially and environmentally!). Luckily for us, Innisfree is all about being ECO friendly and is great with their packaging (their boxes are even all printed with soy ink!).

The texture of the cream when applied to your skin is sticky, and depending on how dry your skin is, it might take a little while for the product to sink in. I have found that in summer it takes a long time for it to sink into my skin. This can be a bit annoying as I sometimes feel like I am leaving residue on my pillow. This is why I would recommend it for winter or for anyone with very dry skin.

Whenever I wake up after using this the night before my skin is incredibly smooth and plump and feels firmer to the touch. I have also been using this with the Eco Science Eye Cream (this is my favorite eye cream...review to come soon) and most recently with the Eco Science Skin toner (review to come soon).

I recently purchased the Whitening Pore Cream (review to come soon) and use it interchangeable at night with this one.

If you're wondering where a cream fits into your beauty regime, it's broken down on the side of the box:

Cleanser- Skin (toner) - Lotion  - serum - wrinkle spot essence/recover spot essence - eye cream - cream 

The Korean skincare regime is extensive, with most women using a serum, essence, lotion AND cream every day. I simply don't have the time and use a cleanser, toner, cream and eye cream with a suncream during the day. I will be doing a breakdown of my current summer skincare regime soon.

I am on my second tub of this cream (it comes in a 80ml tub) and will definitely be repurchasing more when winter comes. It is on the pricier side at W28 000, but I try and stock up when Innisfree has their monthly 20% - 50% sales. Also, 80ml of product lasts me over 3 months so it's definitely worth the price for the amount of uses you get out of each tub.

Innisfree Mineral UV Whitening Pact Powder Review

After finishing my third refill of my favorite Mac Studio Pressed powder I decided I needed to find a local Korean brand instead of forking out the exorbitant prices for international brands sold here. I have tried a few pressed powders but I just haven't been happy enough with them to post a review until I found this one at Innisfree. 

Innisfree is one of Korea's most popular skin care and makeup brands. Their products are made up of natural ingredients harnessed from Jeju Island and their packaging is all eco-friendly. They have been involved in a number of environmental projects like their Eco- Hankerchief Campaign:

 

"If the habit of using a handkerchief instead of tissues 
can save a tree, wouldn’t that make your skin and the Earth smile?

Your small contributions affect 
everyone and save trees, protect 
green forests, and reduce 
global-warming"

Innisfree Eco Hanky Campaign

What first  drew me to this powder pact was the fact that it contains SPF 50+ which means that even though I use a sunscreen everyday, my skin is getting added protection from my makeup too. Along with the high SPF in this mineral powder, it also contains PA+++ which means greater protection from UVA rays (the ones that penetrate deeper into our skin and cause more long term damage). Although unofficial, the more plus signs a product is labelled with, the more protection it offers. This is however not something that is recognized by the FDA but rather just something you would generally find on Asian products. So it goes something like this: PA+ -> PA+++ with PA+++ being the highest (Thank you to A FINE MESS for the explanation of PA+++)

Don't get scared off by the 'whitening' part of the name of this product. Whitening means brightening here in Korea, and doesn't mean that the product is going to bleach your skin and make you look like Casper's long lost girl friend. Clear, bright and luminous skin is highly sought after here in Korea with many women covering up every part of their body exposed to the sun when outside (I'm talking about gloves, arm socks when driving, visors, peaks and even face masks). It's no wonder that Korean women have some of the most youthful looking complexions in the world. They really know how to take care of their skin, and this is particularly evident in their skincare products. 

It's long-lasting a blends seamlessly into my skin, setting my foundation and concealer beautifully without looking cakey. I definitely have naturally darker skin than the majority of Koreans and yet I found this shade (#23 True Beige) is perfectly suited to my skin and doesn't give me a ghost like appearance like a lot of other powders I have tried. This product comes in 3 shades (#13 Light Beige, #21 Medium Beige & this one pictured, #23 True Beige).

 Here is a full list of the ingredients in English:

Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Nylon-12, Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Trimethylolpropane Triethylhexanoate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Oil Soluble Licorice(Glycyrrhiza) Extract, Mineral Salts, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Coconut Oil, Green Tea Extract, Orange Peel Extract, Orchid extract, Camellia Leaf Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Magnesium Myristate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Methicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxyapatite,Water, Butylene Glycol, Fragrance, Yellow Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Black Iron Oxide (CI 77499) 

I paid W12 000 for this powder while it was on sale at my local Innisfree (the pact is usually W18 000). Another great thing about this power pact is that the powder itself is refillable, so you won't be having to pay the full price for the packaging when you repurchase. You simply buy the power insert which is W10 000 when not on sale.

Innisfree Soy Essence Curling Mascara {Review}

Who doesn't love a mascara that actually does what it says? This curling mascara from Innisfree does exactly as promised and curls my lashes to infinity. It doesn't provide much volume, but who needs volume when your lashes reach sky high right? My only grouch with it is just how tough it is to remove. You really need to go to town with your makeup remover, and even then you will probably need to do a double cleanse of your favourite cleanser; mine being this gentle deep cleansing oil from Klairs. 

But, even though it's hard to take off at the end of the day, this means it is most definitely able to stand up to a good cry or even worse, the hot and humid Korean summer which is well on its way.

The brush that comes with this Soy Essence Curling mascara is perfect for reaching each and every lash. You do need to work quickly though to avoid clumps. I find using an eyelash curler first before applying this mascara works best for me.

And now for some blurry Instagram photos to show you just how magical the length of your lashes can be.

Are there any Korean mascaras you've tried that you love? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Innisfree Canola Honey Serum {Review}

At the beginning of winter here in Korea my skin really needed some extra moisture and I had been wanting to try a serum for a while. In case you were wondering, serums are a more concentrated form of essence that is packed with vitamins that seeps into the skin. Most people (or I should say Koreans as I have yet to meet any one else who uses so many products in their skin care regime) use serums and essences as additional steps in their skin care routine. Ideally, your DAYTIME skincare routine would follow the following steps:

• Cleanse

• Tone

• Essence

• Serum/Amploue

• Eye Cream

• Lotion/Cream Moistouriser depending on your skin needs (lotions are lighter in formulation while creams are 'thicker' delivering more moisture.

• Suncream

Most serums and essences are rather pricey, granted they contain much higher concentrations of key ingredients, vitamins and minerals, but I find I still can only justify one so choose to use a serum. This particular honey serum from Innisfree was priced at W16 000 when I bought it and has lasted me the entire winter season.

The product comes in a very handy pump dispenser, which means it it also very hygienic. No more dipping dirty fingers into pots and jars of cream. I use 2 pumps of product for my skin. The texture is just like honey, and it smells just like honey. It's the most bizarre but very pleasant experience. Even though it feels and smells like honey, this serum is not sticky, sinking into your skin after a few moments of wear. It's also non greasy and can be worn both day and night time, without leading to shiny skin when worn during the day. 

Overall I have loved using this serum and it has given my skin the extra boost of moisture it needed during the winter. It also felt and smelt wonderful while applying, and I will most definitely be purchasing it again when mine runs out.

Innisfree Face Designing Duo Contour & Highlighter {Review}

This duo highlighter and face contour powder is one of my current makeup favourites! You can see it in action in my 'Get Ready With Me Youtube Video'. 

Half of the compact is a highlighter, and the other half is a darker shade specifically for contouring. If any of you are wondering what exactly contouring is, it's basically using different shades of makeup to slightly change the appearance of your face structure. In other words, defining your cheekbones, slimming areas and giving you a more defined face. I have always been very put off by the huge number of steps involved in a lot of contouring tutorials. Most contouring involves the use of both a highlighter and a contour powder and so this powder helps me to take a lot of the guess work out of which powder should go where as it's already got both products in one. This powder works best with an angled makeup brush (pictured below) as an this type of brush really helps to define and contour without spreading product all over the place.

This particular product comes in three shades; #1 Cozy Afternoon Sunlight, #2 Calm Sunset and #3 Leafy Path. I have shade #2 which I found to be just right for my skin tone. The shade on the left hand side is the highlighter and contains shimmer pigments which really give your face a pretty glow. The darker shade on the right is the contouring shade. Both are highly pigmented and I found it lasts all day long! You can use each side separately for a definition, or use them like I do, together, for an easy and subtle highlighting and contouring effect.

Image from InnisfreeWorld

I bought mine at the Innisfree store in my town for W12 000. 

Have you ever tried this highlighter and contour powder? Do you have any other contouring or highlighting products that you love? Please share them below!

Innisfree Eco Beauty Angled Makeup Brush & Powder Brush

On a recent splurge at Innifree I spent some time browsing through their range of makeup  brushes. They have quite a large range and I was rather intrigued especially when I saw their Eco Beauty range which has wooden handles (the ones pictured in this post are part of the Eco Beauty range). They reminded me of my favourite Eco Tools Brush set which I was able to buy online through Iherb (click here) and have delivered here to South Korea.

At the time I was buying my favorite Face Designing Duo  highlighter and contour powder (review coming soon) and so was on the look out for a brush to apply it. Angled makeup brushes work really well for applying blush or highlighters as you have a lot more control over where you want the product to go. I bought the Eco Beauty Powder Brush and the Angled makeup brush. Keep reading for a more detailed review of both brushes.

As Innisfree is a one of the more natural orientated skincare brands here in Korea (they use less nasty chemicals in their products) all of their brushes are synthetic and animal lover approved, at least by me that is!

Eco Beauty Powder Brush W12 000

I love this powder brush. The bristles are super soft and very gentle on your skin. I use it to apply my setting powder over foundation and it works really well. I am a little sad that the bristles are white, as it's hard to keep them looking clean and new. This is also one of the reasons why I only use it to apply my setting powder and not as a blusher or bronzer brush.

The wooden handle is one of the many things I really like about this brush as it gives it a very professional and clean appearance. The synthetic bristles are not itchy on the skin like a lot of other cheaper skin care brands and I really like the little cover that comes with the brush to help keep it's shape and to help keep it clean.

Eco Beauty Angled Brush W8 000

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this angled brush. I love it because it works really well to apply my bronzer and highlighter, but I hate it because of the fall out (fall our refers to the actual bristles of a brush coming loose and falling out). Even though I have been using it for a few months, I am still experiencing fall out of the bristles, and it gets really annoying having to constantly worry about bristles going into my eye. It could just be that I got a bit of a dysfunctional brush, but I was very disappointed. As my Korean is rather limited, going back to the store and asking for a refund is more trouble that it's worth to me, trying to explain a dysfunctional brush and then hoping they refund me or give me a new one. 

But even with the annoyance of fall out, the bristles are soft enough whilst still being course enough in picking up a good amount of product for application. The bristle are not as soft as the powder brush though, and might irritate very sensitive skin. I will continue to use this brush until the day there are no bristles left in it, or until I find a nicer looking one. I really like the wooden handles of these brushes and I especially like how they match my EcoTools brushes. It's the small things in life right? 

I wasn't too mad as I had picked up both of these brushes during one of Innisfree's 30 - 50% off sales and so didn't pay full price for either of them. But if I was paying full price I would give the angled brush a skip but I would repurchase the powder brush for sure.

Have you given any of Innisfree's Eco Tool makeup brushes a try? Any others that you would recommend? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

You might also like these:

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam {Review}

I am always on the look out for new skincare products and when a friend gave this one to me I was super excited to share it with you. I go through phases with cleansing products, sometimes preferring to use an oil cleanser, then changing it up to a foam while alternating with scrubs. Winter time is when I find oil cleansers to be the best for my skin (my favourite has been the Klairs Black Sugar Cleansing Oil) and summer time is when I like to switch to foams. 

This Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam from Innisfree has been great for my skin. It's lightweight while still containing exfoliating beads to really clean and remove  impurities from the skin. It's still very gentle and doesn't leave my skin feeling raw or looking red. It does leave my skin feeling a little tight after cleansing, but this goes away immediately after applying my toner.

The foam itself is velvety soft and really easy to apply as it comes in a squeeze top bottle. You only need a small amount and so this product really will last you a good while before you need to stock up again.

Innisfree Jeju volcanic pore cleansing foam is formulated with Jeju volcanic clusters to adsorb sebum and purify pores and is formulated to leave your skin looking matte. As the Jeju Volcanic Pore range of skincare products is formulated for oily skin,  I wouldn't recommend this product for anyone with very dry skin. If you have oily skin or enlarged pores, then you are going to love how deeply this foam cleanses your skin and really works deep down to clear pores of dirt and impurities.

Have you ever tried this cleansing foam? What did you think of it? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Video: How to make your Nail Polish Last Longer & a *GIVEAWAY*

Hello everyone and welcome to my first Youtube nail tutorial. In this video I will be showing you how to make your nail polish last longer.

All you need is

-a base coat

-a colour polish

-a top coat

 I'll be using Innisfree's Eco Base Coat, Innisfree's #108 colour polish, The Face Shop's gold glitter colour polish & The Face Shop's Gel Touch Nails top coat. 

Click on the video below to start watching.

*Make sure to watch till the end for the GIVEAWAY!!

You can enter the giveaway by either commenting on the video above (you might need to open the video up in Youtube itself to comment under it) or you can leave your comments here on my blog in the comments section below.

Rules:

-Giveaway is open internationally!

-Giveaway closes at midnight on Thursday February 12th & the Winner will be announced on Friday February 13th!

-Share this post on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram for more entries (please make sure to use the #citygirlsearching hashtag and tag me in your posts so I can keep track of all your entries).

GOOD LUCK!

Innisfree Mineral Melting BB Cushion Review

This BB cream cushion is another in the line of 'air cushions' being sold by beauty stores all over South Korea. The 'cushion' is essentially called a cushion because the BB cream is in liquid form and you apply it using the soft cushion included in the compact. As the product is liquid, you are able to control the amount of coverage yourself making this my favourite form of foundation. 

I love how easy my foundation routine has become, and the best thing is that the compact is super easy to travel with and there are no worries about spillage as the sponge holds all the makeup in place.

This mineral melting BB cushion contains Jeju green tea water to create what Innisfreee describes as 'dewy and clear skin'. The actual BB cream itself is made up of a 5-in-1 formula for the following:

-Sebum Control (I didn't notice any)

-Whitening 

-UV Protection

-Cooling (I didn't notice any cooling effect)

-Make up

Available in 3 shades: 01 - Pink Beige, 02 - Natural Beige and 03 - True Beige (pictured below)

A lot of people worry about hygiene when it comes to cushion puffs like the one in this compact. As this particular puff is of a higher quality than most, you can clean it (using something like this brush cleaner) without it falling apart. And replacements puffs are available for W1 500 at all Innisfree stores.

To use this BB cream simply dab the puff onto the BB soaked sponge and then dab onto your skin. When I first tried using this I was 'wiping' the BB cream on my skin and found that I ended up using a lot of product for each application. A little goes a long way if you use it with a dabbing, patting motion when you apply it to your skin. This is also the best way to build coverage. The finish is 'dewy' something that is very popular here in Korea, but that can easily be amended with a light dusting of your favourite setting powder for a more matte finish. What I do love about this BB cream is its very high SPF (50+) this means you know your skin is well protected from those harmful UV rays.

The actual coverage is very light, and I would say suited to people with good skin who just want the added protection that comes with a BB cream(moisture, sun protection, primer and foundation) . Even though the coverage wasn't great for me, the wear of it was. The overall glow that it gave my skin lasted throughout the day. Another thing  I loved is the fact that the actual compact itself is refillable. This means that I could try out another of the BB cushions without the hefty price tag of buying another compact. I have started using the Long Wear BB cream refill inside this compact and have found that coverage to be perfect for my skin. 

I would recommend this Mineral Melting BB cushion for the winter months as it is very moisturising, or if you only need a a BB cream to add glow and light coverage to your already good skin (luck you!).

Have you tried a cushion BB cream before? What did you think? 

Innisfree Cream Mellow Lipstick #8

I want to introduce you all to my very first, proper grown up person lipstick. It's a beautiful red from Innisfree, with slightly orange/blue base notes and is part of their CreamMellow range of lipsticks. Don't let the sound of blue or orange scare you off, or the bright hue of the lipstick itself when you see it. This shade is surprisingly adaptable and looked as good on my olive skin as it did on my friend who has fair, pink undertones to her skin. This shade (#8) just works. It seems to effortlessly adjust to the natural colour of your lips and just looks gorgeous and sexy.  

The texture is creamy, and stays creamy throughout it's wear due to it's gel like hydrating formula. As this lipstick is more moisturizing, it isn't as long lasting as some of Innisfree's other lipsticks (I got about 2 hours worth of wear out of it). Even though the wear isn't it's strong point, you aren't left with any flaky bits of lipstick once it does start wearing off as usually happens with the longer wearing formulas. So the fact that it doesn't last forever on my lips doesn't count against this product for me at all.

Here is a super cheesy Instagram pic of me with my red lips:

I have never been brave enough to attempt red lips before, and finding just the right shade of red can be daunting. But after putting all fears aside and forcing myself to try this shade, I am now an avid red-lip-wearer. 

As with all Innisfree's products, the packaging is pretty in it's simplicity. It comes in a cream twist up tube with the colour of the lipstick itself on the bottom. This makes things really nice and easy in your bag or makeup drawer. No more wasting time opening and closing tubes to find the one you're looking for. It's the small things in life.

You can find yours at your local Innisfree store for W12 000 or online at W2Beauty where  you can get a $5 voucher for your first order  by signing up through my link http://w2beauty.com/?s=277629511 and entering code 277629511 at registration. With my discount code (277629511) you'll only pay $11.50 with free world wide shipping!

Innisfree Eco Beauty Tool Brush Cleaner

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? I used to be terrible at cleaning my brushes (which is actually shocking considering what your brushes go through, the dirt the attract and the fact that we use them to apply makeup onto our most delicate area, our face. Ideally you should deep clean your brushes once a week (click here for a post on how to do just that) and then do a quick clean after every use.

But let's be honest, most of us don't even have the time to properly apply our makeup in the morning, never mind spend the time needed to clean each brush after use. That's where this little tool from Innisfree comes in. It's a spray cleaner. Simply pump a few sprays onto a tissue and your brushes, dab your brushes onto the tissue in a swiping motion and voila...Clean brushes!

Cleaning your brushes like this can in no way offer you a full cleanse like the deep cleaning can, but it's far better than doing nothing and will at least clean off most of the germs and bacteria that can cause breakouts and other nasties on your skin. 

This has been a welcome addition to my dresser. It has a wonderful, light and clean fragrance that leaves your brushes feeling soft and smelling nice for the first use after cleaning.

You can find yours at your local Innsifree store for W6 000. 

Introducing Innisfree, my new favourite Korean Skincare & Makeup brand

Lately I have been spending more and more time wondering down the aisles of Innisfree, one of Korea's most loved skincare and makeup brands. Innisfree  is known for being South Korea's first all-natural brand, and is one  of the few Korean brands that use organic ingredients certified by France's ECOCERT organization. 

I have just found them on Instagram, and wanted to share their beautiful feed with you. You can follow along here @innisfreeofficial. 

A friend and I spent a rather unhealthy amount of time (and money!) at Innisfree yesterday, and I can't wait to share my reviews of these new products with you.

Here Is what I picked up this weekend: 

Have you tried anything from Innsifree? Any recommendations on products your love? Leave me a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!