Holika Holika - SWEET COTTON PORE COVER BB - Review

Holika Holika is another Korean brand that I love, I've been using their BB creams for years.

The previous one that I was using was from the Petit line (let me know if you would like a review about that one).

I came across the Sweet Cotton Pore Cover line when I was looking for a pore primer and any product that contains the words pore cover I gravitate to immediately :)

So I bought the BB from the line at the beginning of the month and had the chance to test it out before I had a solid opinion.

Holika Holika - SWEET COTTON PORE COVER BB - Review

what the product promises?

Smooth & even complexion! Cotton Candy like smooth & soft pore cover BB. 

- Contains Sugar extract that help moisturize the skin, The Cotton extract controls oil levels and keeps the skin balanced in every aspect. 

- Soft Cream texture that melts into the skin as softly as cotton candy does, covering pores effectively.

- Clean & elastic youthful skin - contain lotus water to helps with enlarged pores and wild flower extract to protect the skin from environment pollution. 

- Sweet & Romantic scent that makes you feel excited and happy.

This BB comes in 2 shades like most Korean creams

Holika Holika SWEET COTTON PORE COVER BB Shades

I use the soft beige shade and it matches my complexion just fine. The first thing I noticed obviously is the Packaging , it reminds me of my blog design :)

It's cute, pink and compact perfect to put in your bag on the go. The second thing I've noticed is its sweet delicate scent it's pretty subtle and doesn't linger and it does make me smile when applying it. 

I just love those small details that Korean products have that makes them so appealing. It contains SPF 30 which is always a plus for me. especially in the winter months when you think you don't need sunscreen but the suns damage is just as bad as in the Summer.

Now to the BB itself, texture is quite light for holika holika BBs but still a bit heavier than western brands. It's a medium coverage, I find I use less concealer when using this BB. It gives a matte look to the face it has no "dewiness" to it. But although it's matte it's not drying on the skin and it keeps your face well moisturized throughout the day. But if your skin is very dry and a bit flaky (dry patches) it will just emphasize it and will look bad. 

Holika Holika - SWEET COTTON PORE COVER BB - Swatch

The staying power is not that great after 6 hours of wear I do notice a bit of fading, places where it just rubbed completely off. In regards for the pore cover I was expecting a poreless look. This is not the case with this BB, unfortunately it doesn't cover the pores completely, but it does minimize them a bit. 

Bottom line, it's a very affordable option if you are looking for something simple for everyday and you don't have high expectations to have poreless\flawless looking skin all day long. Personally, I will continue using it till it runs out but I won't be repurchasing it. I thinks that there are better creams in the market at the same price range.

Holika Holika - SWEET COTTON PORE COVER BB - Review

Link for Purchase

Don't forget cashback on Ebates - Click Here

Drugstore Haul (ladymakeup) - Gosh nail polish, Essence nail products, Maybelline color tattoo..

If you've been reading in my blog for a while it will come as no surprise that the Polish Drugstore website, ladymakeup, is one of my favorite sites for beauty and makeup online shopping.

I love their selection, their prices and their super fast shipping to Israel.

So what did I get this time?

1. Essence - Nail art - Express dry DROPS
2. Essence nail polish remover
3. GOSH - STARDUST NAIL LACQUER - #630 Moonlight
4. MAYBELLINE - COLOR TATTOO 24H - #35 ON AND ON BRONZE

I've already talked about the Essence nail products in previous blog post -  you can read it here

GOSH - STARDUST NAIL LACQUER - #630 Moonlight

I never purchased any nail polishes from this British brand before, but I was curious to try something from their range. I was immediately drawn to this silvery metallic nail polish. I didn't have anything like that in my collection so I decided to give it a go.

I loved the formula, and the easy application. But even more how shiny the color is. 

The color pay-off is quite good but I still had to use 2 coats to get an opaque nail color.

Also I've notice it's very long lasting on my nails even without a top coat! 

Link to purchase

MAYBELLINE - COLOR TATTOO 24H - #35 ON AND ON BRONZE

I like the color tattoo range from Maybelline a lot. I own a few different eye shades from that line so I decided to try this color that would be perfect for an everyday look. Since I have it I've noticed that I reach out to it almost every morning It's just so easy. I apply it with my fingers and use a blending brush to blend it out and that's it. Simple and fuzz free.

The Color pigmentation is amazing, the eyeshadow is very long lasting and it doesn't crease on me throughout the day. Just Perfect!

Link to purchase

MISSHA - M perfect BB Deep Cleansing Oil - Review

Hi All,

Today I wanted to share with you a great find in the Korean beauty market, the M perfect BB Deep Cleansing Oil by the Korean brand Missha.

I will start with a confession: I'm obsessed with Korean beauty products! I just can't get enough of them. Their packaging is always so cute, they are so affordable, available online, there's a variety of products like an endless sea of options, and usually they don't disappoint and exceed my expectations.

This cleansing oil is no different. 

What the Product promises:

"

• Perfectly removes BB cream residue that is well adhered on the skin with fine particles.

• Contains tea tree oil and patent ingredients, effective in controlling skin troubles.

• The oil texture melts away impurities and leaves skin feeling refreshed.

• This water-free cleansing oil removes water-proof type makeup residue perfectly.

"

link to the official MISSHA us site

how to use:

1. Take an appropriate amount onto dry hands and apply over face in a massaging motion.
2. apply water onto hands and keep massaging.
3. wash off with lukewarm water.

I use this oil to remove my eye makeup as part of my night time skin care routine. I use water proof mascara and eye liner every day. and this oil melts most of the eye and face makeup smoothly. I prefer using this kind of oil rather than a deep cleanser in the winter, because. I tend to get very dry skin in the colder months and this makes my life so much easier. It's not harsh on the skin and doesn't strip it down or make my face dry. overall very moisturizing and leaves me feeling refreshed and silky.

Pros:

• Gets the job done!
• safe on the eyes, non- irritating
• affordable
• smells good.
• packaging comes with a pump. very easy and convenient to use.

Cons:

• Doesn't remove all eye water-proof makeup entirely, you'll still need to go over with a water proof eye makeup remover.
• contains Parabens and fragrance.

I recommend buying this product from here, only 12.95$ for the 105ml bottle,

and don't forget eBay cashback

SeboCalm CC Cream - Review

SeboCalm is an Israeli based company that was founded by pharmacists in the early 90's. The company focuses on solutions for people with sensitive skin, as beauty products with healing properties are a necessity, more than a luxury for many. Their products proved to be very effective among those who suffer from seborrhea and dandruff and among the general population. Besides products for sensitive skin they launched other lines such as Calm Innovation for anti-aging, Calm Young for treating acne and Calm Triple that combines moisturizer, sun block and light make-up.

I started using their new CC that was just launched here in Israel. I been using it for more than a week so I got to experiment with it before I shared my thoughts with you. 

what the product promises?

Even skin tone makeup cream with high sun protection SPF30. Suitable for normal skin and combination to oily. SeboCalm CC combines several actions simultaneously:

- Coverage: covers spots and sun damage and gives the skin a smooth ,even look without shine and      oiliness.

- Preventing pigmentation: Enriched with unique mineral complex that includes zinc ,magnesium and  copper that contributes to the prevention of pigmentation and protects against the damaging effect of  free radicals.

- Sun protection: contains UV filters UVA + UVB to prevent pigmentation and premature aging of  the skin.

This CC comes in 3 shades:

1. 30 - Porcelain (lightest)
2. 50 - Golden Sand (medium)
3. 60 - Caramel (tan)

I picked up the Porcelain shade, I'm pretty fair toned and my face is a bit lighter and I find this shade fits me perfectly. It  has a very light texture, It doesn't feel heavy on my face, coverage is amazing for a CC I do go over with a concealer to cover blemishes but other than that it gives the perfect natural look. Skin looks dewy and has a natural glow to it without looking shiny or oily. 

I also love that it doesn't clog your pores the skin is well moisturized so no need to use any additional products. Plus, it already has sunscreen so I can skip that step as well. The scent of the product is very subtle and doesn't linger it just smells nice and fresh. It gives an even skin tone and covers most imperfections. The Packaging is also very cute, it's pink and comes with a pump which is a major plus for me. It's much more easy to use and very hygienic.

If you compare this CC to the BB cream from Sebocalm:

• Coverage wize the BB is full coverage while the CC is medium. The CC is more suitable for everyday use, it's lighter on the skin.
• Sun Protection: BB has 35SPF CC has 30SPF.
• Skin type: the BB is targeted to normal to dry skin while the CC is targeted to all skin types especially oily and combination skin.
• The BB is more suitable to women ages 35+ while the CC is suitable to women ages 18-45 and has treatment against future pigmentation. 

Overall, I'm in love with the CC I will continue using it and will add it to my skin care favorites.

you can checkout other product from SeboCalm on their website here

Pantene pro-V Review & Hair Care Routine

I've been thinking about writing about my hair care routine that might seem very unusual to some people. So, what better opportunity than to share with you my current favorite products and what I do to care for my hair :)

Let's start with the basics: 

The first step for me is applying a small amount of conditioner on wet hair from my ears down and distribute it to the ends. This is my first step when washing my hair. I know what you're thinking.. what?! you don't wash your hair with a shampoo first? the answer is NO. I've been doing this for the past 2 years and it's called Reverse Washing. 

This trick is the secret for achieving perfect hair. Believe me this is a game changer. If your hair is thin\oily and\or prone to product build up this method is for you. The Theory behind this method is that not matter how well you rinse your hair after conditioning, you never quite manage to get it all out and the residue weighs your hair down, making it flat and prone to oiliness.

The second step is applying shampoo to the crown of your head. And you'll notice you need less product than the traditional method to get a good lather because some of the dirt from the hair had been removed with the first rinse with the conditioner.

I've got the chance to try our the new Pantene pro-v shampoo & conditioner. The ones I'm currently using are from the Classic Care series for normal hair.

what the product promises?

Pantene Pro-V refreshes your hair. The antioxidant-rich product gently cleanses hair, removing styling buildup, leaving your mane shiny from root to tip. A simple solution for any hair type, Classic Clean is an easy, shareable product that provides manageability whether your hair is long, short, curly, wavy or straight, prepping it for any style. Gentle enough for color-treated hair, the shampoo provides strength against damage while leaving hair feeling moisturized for 24 hours. 

I love this pair I use them together, after I wash my hair I feel it's much more manageable than using other products: my hair feels soft, easy to brush through and less frizzy. 

I don't wash my hair daily I "trained my hair" to be washed every 3 days. to some it sounds crazy but once your hair is trained not to be washed every single day it becomes stronger, healthier and doesn't get oily so fast. Experts say there's no single answer to how often people should wash their hair. You may not need to do it as often as you think. It usually comes down to personal preference. 

Shampoo traps oils, so if you do it too frequently, you may dry your hair out, leaving it prone to breakage. Your hair produces natural oil called sebum, and the shampoo is an emulsifier that captures and traps the excess oil, dirt, and product residue, which you then rinse out to clean the hair, For the most part, some dirt is OK and natural - and you definitely want some oils to remain in your hair. They provide moisturizing and a protection barrier for the skin and hair.

If you have trouble training your hair I recommend using a dry shampoo in the morning to get rid off oiliness in the roots and also leaving your hair smelling wonderful like you just washed it. this will definitely help you extend the period between the washes.

After washing my hair I like to style it by blow drying it when it's about 70% dry to eliminate frizz. and then going with a curling wand and creating a beachy style hair. If you want to try out some fun and and easy hair tutorials, please check out Pantene's Channel on YouTube

here's a link to the hair tutorial I've re-created