Collective Korean Skincare Haul

After a month of anxious waiting, I finally received the final package in my latest skincare hauls. I ordered from 3 different sites: Yes Style, Rose Rose, and Cosmetic Love, and I must say, it was pretty interesting to see which ones arrived first.

Yes Style

Ladykin's Vampir Dark Repair Cream &Youth Activator ampoule

Ah, Yes Style. I really did crawl back to you on my hands and knees. I detest how overpriced their products are, alas they were the only online store that carried Ladykin's Vampir Dark range, and with the mid year sale and free shipping deal I couldn't resist. I can't wait to try these two products out, but they do sound too good to be true. If there's any chance it will give me skin like a vampire then I'm in.

*For anyone who is planning on cashing in on the free standard shipping deals be prepared to wait a really long time for it, it took 23 days for mine to arrive from the day it was shipped.

Rose Rose Shop

Missha's Time Revolution First Treatment Essence & Laneige's Light Balancing Emulsion

I had previously ordered from Rose Rose when she was just an eBay seller, so I thought it would be great to try her new online store out. The prices are fantastic, the Time Revolution essence only cost $34, and the Laneige moisturizer, which usually costs around $35, was $17. And it only took 16 days to arrive, the fastest of the three!

Cosmetic Love

To Cool For School Dinoplatz cosmetic bag (illustrations by Hatori Sando), Etude House 7 Way Nail File & Quick Sponge Nail Remover from The Face Shop

Last but not least, Cosmetic Love. This was my first time purchasing from Cosmetic Love and I was pretty impressed with them. It arrived 18 days after purchased, and they gave me an impressive amount of samples.

With my asian skincare hauls finally over I'm definitely having some postie-withdrawal. It's nice getting packages delivered to you. I do have my limits though, and my next skincare and makeup purchases probably won't be until the New Year. So until then, hopefully there will be lots and lots of reviews. :D

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Review

On my journey through Korean Skincare I've come across many hydrating beauty packs that claim to do wonders to your skin. Laneige's Water Sleeping Pack is one of the few I've recently tried. So once a week before bed I try substituting my moisturiser for this mask.

This pack has a light, gel like texture that absorbs into the skin quickly, even if you have layers of products underneath, it didn't take any more than a minute for the product to completely absorb into my skin. It does leave a thin film over the skin though, but nothing that feels tacky or sticky, it feels smooth as if locking everything in.

My favourite part is the scent, it's a very light and refreshing. It's not very overpowering, so once you apply it it's basically unnoticeable. But to be honest, I like to apply a little more under my nose just so I can smell it as I drift off to sleep (lol).

In the morning my skin doesn't feel gunky or sticky it all, it feels plump and smooth. What I like about this mask is that it  gives you an extra boost of hydration without making your skin feel oily in the morning, my skin feels surprising well balanced. I find this mask particularly useful when my skin is feeling a bit flakey and dehydrated, especially after a long day at work.

I think this is a really amazing mask. It works for all skin types for all seasons, and it feels like such a luxury to put on my face without the huge price tag. You can find this mask for around the $20-$30 mark (depending where you buy) on sites like Sasa, and YesStyle. It's definitely a must try for Korean skincare junkies!

Antipodes Divine Face Oil Review

Antipodes Divine Face Oil with Avocado Oil & Rosehip

I've been an avid user of facial oils for over a year now and Antipodes has always been on my list to try, but it wasn't until my little trip to New Zealand when I finally bought and tried out their Divine Face Oil. What drew me to this brand is that it's 100% organic, vegan certified and animal testing free. Qualities I try to look for in skincare products as much as possible these days.

Ingredients: avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil, rose-hip oil, vitamin e, ylang ylang oil, sandalwood, jasmine

The consistency of this oil feels a little thicker than others I've tried (Kiehls Midnight Recovery, Trilogy's Rosehip) but doesn't feel heavy on the skin at all, and absorbs quickly. You can use this oil as a stand alone moisturizer during the day and at nighttime, depending on your skin type and personal preferences. Personally, I've been using this during the day and at nighttime prior to moisturizing. Even on my combination skin it doesn't make me look like a grease ball.

Antipodes boast that their Divine Face Oil is "…scientifically proven to stimulate Type 1 collagen I human skin fibroblast cells by up to 51%." Now, I'm not entirely sure what that all means, (googling fibroblast cells as I'm typing) but I understand that the loss of collagen contributes to how fast our skin ages. This is especially relevant in females whose collagen levels begin to break down earlier than men's. The fatty acids found in avocado oil help boost collagen production, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and the added rosehip also helps target scarring and uneven skin tone.

So not only is it a great preventative treatment for aging skin but also for blemishes and scars. Unfortunately, because I'm only 21, I don't really have any deep seated wrinkles (thankfully), but the smile lines around my mouth have always been a thorn in my side. My makeup just loves sitting in those lines, accentuating them even more, making them look deeper than they actually are. I have noticed that they are less visible now. The eczema around my nose has reseeded, and it has definitely helped speed up the healing process of my acne.

Overall, I think this is a great oil. I would definitely recommend it for those who are opting for a more 'organic' approach to skincare that won't break the bank (priced around the $30 mark). In Australia, you can now find Antipodes products at Myer and David Jones.

| Yes Style Haul | 2013

It was that time of the year again, where I pool together all my spare change and purchase a whole lot of Asian beauty products. This year I did it through YesStyle.com, mainly because they were having their mid-year sale on, plus I had been building up quite a wishlist on their site for some time. Here's what I bought:

1. Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever primer essence
2. Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream (the 'bright fit' one)
3. Etude House Shading Corset
4. Beautymate Collagen Boosting Sheet Masks
5. CHI Hair Silk Infusion
6. Lioele Triple The Solution BB Cream
7. The Face Shop HD Perfect BB Cream
8. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Unfortunately, there was one slight hiccup with my order. I payed for the Lioele Magic Sponge remover but I never received it. It took them two weeks to figure out that they were sold out before getting back to me, which was really strange. Apart from that, I'm pretty happy with my purchase. I still can't believe I bought three BB Creams though. I don't even know where to start.

| Beauty Wishlist | August'13

1. Aveda Air Control Hairspray

My hairdresser uses this stuff on my hair, it's amazing. Not heavy or sticky at all and seems to last all day. I just wish it wasn't so expensive here in Australia!

2. Ladykin Vampir Dark Repair Cream

Okay, I will admit, the cute little vampire teeth drew me in, as well as the natural ingredients list which mainly consists of dragons blood, (or croton lechleriresin sap) rose water and green tea water. It claims to brighten skin, improve wrinkles, fine lines and skin elasticity, prevents and protects against skin damage, lightens pigmentation and dark skin tone, and on top of all this it is paraben, dye, mineral oil, benzophenone, talc and animal testing and originated ingredient free. This sounds too good to be true... 

3. Real Techniques Core Collection

This is the final piece to my collection. I'm excited to use the buffer and contour brush!

4. Illamsqua 'Freak' Perfume

I caught a whiff of this when I was walking through Myer one day. It's definitely a very unique scent, and I think that's what's drawn me towards it. It's quite dark and mysterious, very different from the sugary-sweet perfumes on my dresser right now.

5. Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

I've heard a lot of great things about Kevyn Aucoin, and this little pot of foundation has definitely caught my attention. Alas, this brand isn't sold anywhere near me, so as far as colour shades go I'm going in blind. This is going to be a very expensive experiment.

6. Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in 'Celestial' & 'Galaxy'

Since their launch in the UK I eagerly anticipated the day when the Apocalips finally came to Priceline. However, I was left bitterly disappointed to find out that the only two shades I was interested in wouldn't be available in Australia. You win again internet!