Etude House Play 101 Eyeliner Pencil in #3 & #18 {Review}

I recently picked up these eyeliners on sale at Etude House for only W3 000, 50% off their regular price of W6 000. I must say that I really wasn't expecting much from them considering they were on sale for so few pennies. I picked up the first one #18 by mistake. The saleslady gave me the wrong pencil by accident and I didn't realise until after I had used it. I was rather annoyed, until Farmboy commented on my makeup, saying how pretty it looked, and then I decided it was actually rather a nice new addition to the dark shades I already own.

#18 is a soft pastel shade of lilac and is very light. It goes on almost white (which is great for highlighting and opening up your eyes). I have noticed a lot of Koreans use a light shade of eyeliner/glitter dust on their waterline which opens up their eyes and makes them look brighter and larger.

#3 is my favourite of the two and is a smoky, glittery dark purple, grey shade. It's dark enough to finish off a smoky eye, but with the bits of glitter in it make it still very feminine, as opposed to vampy. I use this shade with both light makeup on my eyes as well as for a darker, smokier look.

These pencils are wind up, so no fussing with a pencil sharpener. They are also a gel-like consistency which makes them glide easily onto your eye lid. They are easily removed with makeup remover, but they stay put on your eyelid. I have used them with an eye primer and right on my lid with no base and they have lasted the entire day without smudging or going creasing. Pretty amazing little pencils.

I may return soon for some of their more playful colours (I spied a teal and an emerald green which could be fun to play around with).

Have you tried these eyeliners before? What did you think of them?

Klairs Creamy Concealer Natural Fit Concealer Review

Welcome to Klairs' latest addition to their makeup range. This creamy concealer was designed to be used in conjunction with their Supply BB Cream (click here for a full review) but it works wonderfully by itself or under your own choice of makeup or bb cream.

I have been a big fan of Klairs for a while now, because their products are simple (they don't test on animals!), natural and they just work. I am an especially a big fan of their Black Sugar scrub (click here). If you'd like to know more about their products and read reviews of what I have tried and tested so far then click here. I get all my Klairs products from WishTrend who are an awesome online store that deliver world wide so no matter where you are in the world you can get your hands on amazing Korean beauty products.

Klairs Creamy Concealer Natural Fit

The Klairs Creamy Concealer Natural fit is a medium coverage product that works particularly well on my normal to oily skin. It blends seamlessly into my skin with or without my favourite Velvet Skin primer from the FaceShop. It covers up redness and does an okay job of dealing with my pigmentation. I am not into heavy makeup and prefer a natural look, and that is why I love this concealer so much. When I am needing a little more coverage I use this with the Klairs Supple BB cream and top it off with a dusting of translucent powder to set my look. 

My biggest skin concern when it comes to makeup is my pigmentation. I get the odd pimple here and there (and this concealer does a great job of covering them up even with just one payer of product). I know that there aren't that many products that offer full coverage for skin issues like pigmentation so I did not expect this concealer to provide full coverage. I find the products that do offer full coverage sit very heavily on my skin and I don't want to look like a barbie doll. This is why this concealer is just right for me in that it offers medium coverage without looking cakey. 

Depending on how I'm feeling I use this concealer alone, under my Innisfree Mineral pressed powder, and under/on-top my Klairs BB Cream. It has quite a thick consistency, which I really like as you feel like the product is actually going to provide coverage rather than those more liquid concealers which get absorbed into your makeup brush too easily. I use my favourite Sigma F80 flat topped kabuki brush to blend it into my skin. 

I have swatched the concealer below and you can see it's coverage in relevance to the freckle on the right. This concealer has medium coverage that is definitely buildable. The swatch below is from 1 layer of concealer. I have a medium skin shade (Mac NW 25) and I find this shade to work very well for my skin tone. If you have very light or fair skin, this shade would be a little dark for you. I would say it wouldn't be suitable for anyone with a lighter skin tone than NC 25.

This concealer only comes in one shade, which may be frustrating for some, but I have found that is similar to the Klairs BB cream which also only comes in one shade but suits a multitude of skin tones. But do bear in mind that my skin tone is an olive shade and I wear Mac NW25.

The Ingredients list:

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Yellow Oxide Of Iron, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bentonite, Sodium Chloride, Black Oxide Of Iron, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Red Oxide Of Iron, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Talc, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract

You can purchase this Concealer online from WishTrend for $14.99.

If you enter this code 052313605 at check out, you can also save yourself $5!

Disclosure: I received the above products for review purposes but the opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links. 

Makeup Lesson Ideas - Teaching English in Korea

Its the last week before my school breaks up for the summer holidays and all my students (and the teachers) are tired and ready for the break. I teach at an all girls middle school here in Korea, and the students are under a lot of pressure right throughout the year in anticipation of their final high school exams. Instead of simply watching movies with my students in the last few days leading up the end of the semester, I have been doing a very fun (minimal prep) lesson on makeup. I thought my girls would enjoy the lesson, but I didn't realise just how much they would get into it, as each of my classes this week have requested this lesson. I had initially only planned on doing it with my oldest students, but as each class has asked to do it, I simply modified the power point with slightly easier vocabulary for the younger students.

Here are the links to download both lessons (the higher level & the lower level) as well as a PPT with the documents to print out. I was passed on this lesson by a friend, and am not the original creator but have since modified it to suit my students). Feel free to download and edit these lessons for your students:

There are 4 parts to the entire lesson and you can use it to cover 2 lessons if needed. I have only had time to cover the first 2 parts of the lesson so far as my girls have really gotten into the colouring in part.

Breakdown of the Lesson:

1. Vocabulary for the parts of the face (students can label the parts of the face with Korean translations)

2. Makeup Vocabulary: go through the names of each makeup product and the verbs used for each product (adjust for lower level students)

3. Students design their own makeup for their 'face'

4. Listening activity: print out an image of your face (or any person) and instruct he students on how to apply the makeup. This is always lots of fun seeing whether they listen to your instructions or not.

*You can swop steps 3 & 4 around as step 3 takes the longest time

I hope you find this useful! Please do let me know if you use this lesson in your class and how it goes in the comments below.

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 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 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 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. 

Some exciting new beauty products from Klairs South Korea

I am always keeping an eye on the Wishtrend site for their new arrivals, and this month those arrivals are from Klairs, one of Wishtrends most popular Korean beauty brands. If you want to find out more about Wishtrend and and how to get free international shipping on great South Korean skincare brands then click here!

I recently reviewed one of Klairs most popular products, their Illuminating BB cream. Click here to read more about that. I really love the Klairs BB cream, and am really looking forward to trying the following new products from this great South Korean skincare brand.

1. KLAIRS Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil $22.90

Containing the best combination of black oils for your skin; Black Currant Seed Oil, Black Soy Bean Oil and Black Bean Oil. This gentle cleansing oil removes makeup in 1 swipe, leaving skin moisturized, calmed, soothed and clean.

2. KLAIRS Gentle Black Sugar Charcoal Soap

Hand Crafted for your comfort, this facial bar soap contains only the best ingredients; 
Black sugar, charcoal and volcanic ash. These natural elements help treat and care for your pores while still providing your skin with a deep, yet gentle clean.

Do any of these products sound like something you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments section below!

Also, you can find these products and lots more on the WishTrend site. If you use this code at check out  >>>052313605 you'll get $5 off your first order too.

Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: Financial compensation was not received for this post. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links.

Introducing...The Beauty Wolf

There are millions of beauty bloggers out there, some producing high quality reviews, and others that are just a bit sad to look it. I have developed quite an interest in graphic design lately, and when I stumbled across The Beauty Wolf's blog you'll understand why I fell in love; and why you will too.

I love finding blogs that are unique, that set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd, especially those that do so unpretentiously. These are the kind f bloggers that inspire me to blog, that inspire me to keep producing content, and to keep doing so in my own 'voice' and style.

This is what you get when you pair the already gorgeous packaging of South Korea beauty products with a keen eye for detail and design...Introducing The Beauty Wolf:

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL PUDDING AQUA SHAKING BB REVIEW

SULWHASOO CONCENTRATED GINSENG RENEWING CREAM REVIEW

SO I WROTE A THING

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL DINOPLATZ CINEMA CITY MULTI CC REVIEW

TONY MOLY MY LOVE CURE BALM REVIEW

TO COOL FOR SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL BB FOUNDATION LUNCH BOX REVIEW

ELISHA COY MILK CACAO BLACK SUGAR SCRUB REVIEW

HOLIKA HOLIKA FACE 2 CHANGE LIQUID ROLLER BB REIVEW

Coco, the wonder woman behind The Beauty Wolf, is an American born graphic designer who currently lives in Montreal, Canada with her husband and little girl. You can find her work here:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Please let me know of any other great beauty blogs that you love reading. I'm always on the lookout for new blogs to peruse!

WishTrend Korean Beauty Products with Free Worldwide Shipping

WishTrend is a Korean online beauty store which stocks some of Korea's most loved products. One of my favourite items they stock is the Klairs Illuminating BB cream (you can read my full review by clicking here) which I just love and which is still a firm favourite in my foundation routine. 

WishTrend is currently offering a selection of their best products with FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING!

Now you can get your hands on some of the products that help Korean women look so young and vibrant, well into their fifties, sixties and even seventies! That was the first thing I noticed about the women here, everyone looks so young! The older ladies especially, have the most beautiful skin (a few have surgery to thank for that) but for the most part women learn to really take care of their skin from a very early age. 

Here are the products I have my eye on.

This serum claims to brighten the skin, help heal scars, remove blackheads, and tighten pores. From what I've read on other Korean beauty blogs this little brown bottle delivers on it's promises and I going to be purchasing some for myself very soon.

Click here to order.

I haven't done too much research into these eye lash curlers, but I mean really, how cute and nifty are they? The wand is heated up so that when you brush it through your lashes, each lash is curled and the heat locks the curl in place, meaning luscious long and curly lashes, for much much longer. Besides, the white and gold one just looks so fancy, it belongs in my makeup bag.

Click here to order.

You can read my full review of this BB cream by clicking here. 

This is a slightly more unusual product. A powder spot treatment by Enca. It comes in a small, travel-friendly bottle (15ml)  and a little really does go a long way with this product and so the 15ml will last you for quite a while. You apply the powder to the offending area using a cotton bud or leave overnight and let the active ingredients do their thing. Seems to work remarkable from the blogger reviews I have seen, and need to get my hands on a bottle soon. 

Click here to order.

Do any of these products sounds like something you'd like to try? Wishtrend is also throwing in extra sample sizes of the Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Scrub with all orders if you use the following code: WISHGIFTSEP2014

Happy shopping everyone!

Disclosure: Financial compensation was not received for this post. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission should you make a purchase using one of the links.

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!

Korean Stationery Giveaway!

It's my birthday month, and to celebrate I want to give away some of my absolute favourite things from South Korea. I want to thank you for all your comments, tweets, likes and love for my little blog and I thought these cute goodies would do the trick.

Here's a little list of what will be inside your pretty package:

A collection of cute socks

A variety of stickers (some in the form of sticker stamps, puppies and other decorative stickers)

2 rolls of beautiful, high quality washi tape in mint green and gold

Avocado Leave-in Hair Fluid -My absolute favourite hair treatment from SkinFood

Mango Seed Lip Butter from The Face Shop

a few surprise extra's

To enter, just use the easy entering system below. If you have any problems with it, first try refreshing your bowser, or pop me an email (citygirlsearching-at-gmail-dot-com). You should be able to enter from your mobile device too!

Good Luck!

*Entries close on July 29th at midnight.

*This giveaway is open worldwide, in other words open to everyone, wherever you may be in the world

Introducing WishTrend...helping you get your hands on South Korean beauty products

A lot of my readers have been wanting to know how they can get their hands on some of the amazing skincare and beauty products here in South Korea. Todays post is about an online beauty haven filled with make-up, skin care products, hair care and beauty tools as well as bits for the man in your life.

WishTrend is a South Korean based online beauty store specialising in products that are really popular here in Korea, but that many people may not have heard.  WishTrend has introduced over 400 products from 30 brands to 50 countries with more than 100,000 loyal customers, and is still growing! Their tag line is this:

We believe that as long as you ‘WISH’ to be beautiful, you will be beautiful. We explore the world to find the best cosmetics and introduce them to them to beauty inspired explorers.

The website itself is set up in a very clear way, and you can easily find what you are looking for using the categories function.

WISHTrend also stocks beauty boxes called WishBoxes which are filled with different goodies in a particular theme or product line.

Here is a small selection of some of their best selling products:

I have recently become an affiliate with WishTrend and what this means is that if you use my link to purchase something from their store, I receive a small commission from the sale. I am in no way endorsed by WishTrend, and all of the reviews I do of their products will always be honest and be my own. Affiliate links are not a way for bloggers to make a sneaky buck off you, but are rather a way for us to to earn a tiny amount of money for the work we put into our blog.

Wishtrend offers free shipping on orders over $69 and your package will include loads of free samples too! Any order over $129 and you get yourself free EMS shipping (EMS is the premium shipping method here in Korea and you get your goodies within 5 days - 9 days).

I was sent the following Klairs Illuminating BB cream and will be doing a review on it soon. 

For my South African readers here is a little information on shipping costs and times:

Shipping Cost

Standard Shipping: 13 USD

EMS shipping: 45 USD 

Delivery Time 

Standard Shipping: over 30 business days

EMS shipping: 5-9 business days

Here is a little collection of what I've got my eye on in their store, although every time I visit their site my wish list gets longer and longer...The First Boosting Essence, Ciracle Radience Eye Miracle, WishBox Nail Polish Box, Ciracle Pimple Solution CC Cream, ElishaCoy 3D Spin Cleaner, OST Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum + Vitamin Sleep 9 to 5 Crema, MISQS Creme de Velvet Lip Matte in Iron Lady or Burgundy

You can find WishTrend at the following places:

Facebook/Twitter/Blog/Pinterest

And one more way for you to save, if you enter this code 052313605 at check out, you save yourself $5...pretty cool hey?

Happy shopping!

Innisfree Pink Beam Mineral Pact Highlighter {review}

I stumbled across this lovely little highlighter while on a shopping spree in Seoul. After hearing nothing but raving reviews about Innisfree's 'No Sebum' range of products I decided I needed to try them out myself in the hopes of finding a good blotting/setting powder for my oily skin before the humidity of summer arrives here in Korea. I picked up the Mineral Melting BB Cushion and the No Sebum Mineral Pact (reviews to come soon) at one of the Innisfree stores in Myeongdong, and added this Pink Bean Mineral Pact to my shopping basket. It's a delightful new addition to my makeup routine and I am so happy to have it join my collection. It makes a nice change from my Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Correcting Bronzer (which is too dark to wear here in Korea, where pale skin is favoured over the bronzed look) and my ultimate Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz (reviews to come soon!).

As with all of Innisfree's products, the packaging is simple but elegant. This compact fits into the palm of your hand and is the perfect size for slipping into your handbag for mid day touch ups (although I haven't needed to touch up once when using it). It comes in two forms, a pressed powder (pictured here) and a loose powder. I found the powder rather messy, whereas the pressed powder gives more accurate application and you don't need to worry about having a makeup brush handy. The powder puff included in the pressed version does the job perfectly.

The soft pink shimmer lasts all day, and leaves me looked slightly flushed and glowing in a very pretty way. It's gorgeous and I can't quite get enough of it. I use it as my eyeshadow on days when I don't feel like applying anything else.

My only problem with this highlighter is the white sponge applicator. It's so pretty being white, but very impractical, this powder is a highlighter and that means it get's applied over your foundation. The sponge ends up looking dirty as it absorbs the foundation underneath. It's not the end of the world, but still a little annoying. I need to see if I can find replacement puffs for it, then I can just pop a new one in and not worry about it being unhygienic. 

I am loving this new addition to may makeup products, and the packaging is just so sweet. You can find yours at your nearest Innisfree store for W12 000 or online through Gmarket. For international buyers, I'm afraid I haven't seen it for sale on any of the international sites that sell Korean makeup. When I do I'll be sure to let you know. For now you can find other great Korean products for international purchase at the following online stores: w2 Beauty, Soko Glam and WishTrend.