Korean Beauty Products

My love of Korean beauty products began with one hand cream because I was drawn to the cute packaging and now it looks like a teenage girl has begun to take over my dressing table. Cuteness aside I really like most of the products that I've tried.

I usually buy my products via Ebay but I've recently discovered the Kawaii Panda beauty box which sends only Korean beauty products. As far as I'm aware this is the only box of this kind available in the UK. The box includes five full size items and is priced at £18 plus £3.20 p+p. 

I thought I'd try it out and my September box arrived today. These are the items for this month.

CELRANICO Green Tea Seed Oil Balancing Essence

Tangle Jelly Mask

A'PIEU Sweet Tea Lip Balm

SKINFOOD Jelly Peau

Fresh Cup Strawberry Smoothie Modeling Mask

SKINFOOD My Short Cake Setting Mascara

I'm pleased with the items that I received especially the smoothie modeling mask as I've been wanting to try this. I looked up the prices on Ebay for these items and while there is not a massive saving on the products like you can get with some beauty boxes I don't see that as a negative because it's something not readily available in UK high street shops, it is conveniently delivered to your door plus the import tax has already been paid.
As well as the beauty box, Kawaii Panda have recently began to sell individual items via their website.

Libbie Club - August Box

I've only just finished testing the contents of this months Libbie Box and think I've found a new favourite thing. That's what I like about beauty boxes, being send something that I would never normally purchase and finding I love it.

These are the products from the August box.

Indeed Labs Nanoblur

Nanoblur is a product developed to reduce fine lines, enlarged pores and wrinkles. It can be used alone or with make up. When first applied it felt quite sticky but was fine once dried. I tried this both on myself and my Mum and saw instant results. Fine lines magically disappeared and my skin had a smoother appearance. It did not completely hide red thread veins but it did reduce them. This is definitely my favourite product from the August box.

Nanoblur Instant Skin Finisher - 15% OFF

Nizz Cosmetics Lustre Lipstick

This is a 100% natural, vegetarian, hypo-allergenic lipstick. Nice packaging. It is a creamy lipstick maybe too much so for me as I thought it bordered on being greasy. I was sent the Mocha Nude shade which I was looking forward to as I favour nude colours but it looked very orange to me.

Nizz Cosmetics Lustre Lipstick - 3 Colours

Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream

This moisturiser is from Mizon, a Korean beauty brand. The placenta content is from a plant not animal (I don't think I'd be willing to try that out). The cream claims to reverse signs of aging and improve skin tone. It is a light cream which quickly absorbs. Only a very small amount is needed so this jar should last quite a while. 

Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream - 20% OFF

Libbie Club - July Box

The July Libbie Box arrived this week. 

These were this months products.

COWSHED Invigorating Body Lotion

Cowshed products are made in England and use only natural products. This invigorating body lotion contains lemongrass, ginger and rosemary. While the lotion did moisturise my skin and left a lovely lemon scent I don't feel that it absorbed easily.

Bean Body Coconut Coffee Scrub

This body scrub is cruelty free, vegan friendly and contains no parabens. It exfoliates the skin, helps to reduce cellulite and stretch marks and moisturises the skin. The scrub does smell strongly of coffee so if you don't like that scent I wouldn't recommend using it. Using it can be a bit messy and your shower/bath will need a good clean afterwards. When rinsing the scrub off it can look like it has stained your skin but it does wash off. My skin was left lovely and soft after use. (I also got my husband to do a sniff test to make sure I didn't smell of coffee .. (I didn't)

New CID Cosmetics Eye Pencil and Shadow

This is the product I was most looking forward to trying. It is a dual ended eye pencil with a liner at one end and eye shadow at the other with the eye shadow being contained inside the lid. 

The eyeliner seemed fine when used on my lower lashes but it wasn't very noticeable when applied to my top lid even after going over it a few times. It is marketed as an easy solution to achieve a smokey eye but after using the eye shadow I found that it did not blend very well and all it resulted in was messy eye make up.

i-smoulder Smokey Eye Shadow and Pencil - 10% OFF

These Libbie Club offers are on until 31/7/16

Libbie Club - June Box

June's Libbie Club box has arrived and this month I don't think I could choose a favourite from the three items, I was impressed with them all.

These were the products.

Tarte Cosmetics Lights, Camera, Lashes
Tarte is a US brand which I'd never used before so I was looking forward to trying this out. It is a 4 in 1 mascara which lengthens, curls, conditions and volumises. I only have short lashes and it certainly made them look longer. The mascara wasn't too wet (which is something that I hate in some mascaras that I have tried) and it didn't clump my lashes together. I also love the purple leather look packaging. 

Lights, Camera, Lashes 4 in 1 Mascara - 10% OFF

Little Ondine Nail Polish
This is a natural peel off nail polish. No unpleasant odor as there are no toxins.

 We could chose a colour before hand and I opted for Pacific, a blue/grey colour. It has a very thick consistency so I was expecting to flap my hands around for 15 minutes or so between coats but it dried very quickly. I found the polish very easy to peel off but it did make my nails dry.

Little Ondine Nail Polish and Base & Topcoat Duo (various colours) - 10% OFF

Ginvera Zero Blackhead Marvel Gel
This not only works to clear blackheads and dead skin it also helps to fade dark spots and acne scars and refines pores. As it is a gel and not gritty like an exfoliator it does not feel harsh on the skin and can be used daily. My skin felt lovely and clean after use.

Ginvera Marvel White Marvel Gel - 10% OFF

Precious Petals Beauty Box

Latest In Beauty and British Beauty Blogger have teamed up again to launch another fantastic beauty box. This box contains L'Occitane, Erborian and Melvita products. The latter two are also part of the L'Occitane group. I don't think I have heard of those brands before so I can't wait to try them.

I love the colour and floral design that has been used on the box.

The contents are - L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 30ml, L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil 75ml, L'Occitane Divine Cream 8ml, Erborian CC Cream 15ml, Erborian Carmellia Essence 3ml, Melvita Rose Floral Water 28ml and Melvita L'or Bio 17ml. There is also a £10 voucher for each of the brands included.

As the box only arrived this afternoon I've only had the chance to try out the Melvita items and from those two I do favor the body oil, it has the most lovely scent to it. 

The Precious Petals box can be purchased at Latest In Beauty priced at £20 free p+p. With the contents amounting to £61.50 if bought separately it really makes it excellent value for money.

You Beauty Box - May

Yesterday my You Beauty box was delivered, just the thing to brighten up a miserable rainy day. This is only the second time I've tried this box and I love it. It is the least expensive beauty box I have bought so far and it's contents make it very good value for money.

It is a subscription box which costs £6.95 free p+p - subscription may be cancelled at any time. You Beauty select a shortlist of products each month and as a member you can choose two to be put in your beauty box. As well as your two chosen items the box also includes a couple of samples, a booklet with information about that months shortlist products and some promotional codes.

The extra's this month were a popband, which I was delighted about as I use these to loosely tie my hair up in bed, a sample of VERSO Super Facial Serum and a £15 Anne Semonin gift card.

My first choice for this months box was this SHOW Pure Treatment Oil for hair (RRP £50). I love the packaging, the bottle reminds me of an old fashioned perfume bottle. It is suitable for all hair types and can be used on wet or dry hair. The oil strengthens and moisturizes the hair, smoothing and taming fly away hair.

The oil has a dropper dispenser which I didn't expect. As I've said before I'm always wary of trying new products on my curly hair. Bad results can go one of two ways, my hair could get a wet look to it, my curls go hard and crispy or my hair looks limp, a bit oily and my curls drop out.
I tried the oil on wet hair, applying just to the length, then clipped it up and left it to dry naturally. ( I clip it up because that way I don't just get curls at the bottom of my hair due to the weight ). I'm very pleased with the results from the SHOW oil. My hair was wonderfully soft and shiny, my curls big and bouncy. Its a fantastic product for my hair and as it is a 60ml bottle, it will last a long time.

My second choice was L'Occitane The Vert & Bigarade Eau De Toilette (RRP £8) simply because I love to try out new perfumes. It has a lovely fresh light scent, great for Summer but unfortunately after wearing I found it to be quite weak and could hardly smell it. This fragrance is also suitable for men so I know that one of the males in my house will use it instead.
I can't wait to see what the shortlist is for the next You Beauty box.

Libbie Club - May Box

May's Libbie Club box arrived this week.

These are the three products that I've tested this month.

James Read Tan 
This is a transparent gradual spray tan. I've never used any kind of fake tan products in the past so I was a bit wary of trying it. My Mum in law (who has been using them for years) has been urging me to give them a go so with a bit of advice from her I tried it out on my legs. It was easy to apply even for a novice like myself and made no mess at all. I was pleased with the results and may actually be a fake tan convert.

H20 Tan Mist -10% OFF

Girl Meets Brush

A brand of make up brushes found by celebrity make up artist, Lynne Mills. I received a powder brush in my box which I was very pleased about as I've just thrown one of mine away due to it feeling a bit hard and stabby (it never felt right after I'd cleaned it). This one is a lovely soft, dense brush.

5 Piece Coutouring Brush Set and 6 Piece Smokey Eye & Eyeliner Set - 30% OFF

Chin Up 
This is non surgical face lift kit claims to shrink double chins, jowls and loose skin. The kit includes a tape measure, face masks and an elastic strap. A mask is applied to the bottom of your face then kept in place using the strap for 30 minutes. 
I'd love to say that I liked this product but unfortunately I didn't. I was expecting a tingling and warm feeling to the skin but what I experienced felt more like a burning sensation. I had to check under the strap to see if it was causing any skin reaction. After 20 minutes I had to remove it so I saw no results from using this.

Firming And Contouring Trial, Starter and Refill Pack - 30% OFF

Libbie Club - April Box

The April's Libbie Club box has just arrived and these are the three products to try from this month's box.

BEE GOOD 2-in-1 Cleanser

This has a thicker consistency than my usual cleansers. It left my skin feeling lovely and soft though I haven't yet tried it to remove make up. Nice scent. I like that it also includes a muslin cloth.

2-1 Honey & Propolis Cream Cleanser - FREE Travel Size

Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner

I don't always use an eyeliner on my top lid but I found this one easier to handle when applying due to the size and shape. I found that it did smudge a little though.

Fat Liquid Eyeliner Black - FREE Travel Size Mascara

The Hero Project Glow Drops

A fast absorbing facial oil so no waiting around to apply make up. I noticed the difference straight away on dry skin. The bottom of the bottle has a dimple which collects every last bit of oil so no waste. A nice subtle fragrance. Lovely packaging.

Glow Drops - 20% OFF

Libbie Club - March Box

Last week I discovered The Libbie Club. How the club works is that the members are sent out a selection of beauty products to try out and review. They can then recommend item to friends, family or share through social media. All products includes exclusive discounts. If anyone redeems an offer via the members recommendation the member will receive a free box of products the next month. There is a one off membership fee to join ( when I signed up the fee was on offer at £20 )

These are the contents of this months Libbie box.

Ciate Mistress Red Nail Polish

I'm not really one for red nail polish but Mistress is a nice shade. It does needs more than one coat. I applied two which didn't take too long to dry. I then tried one hand with a top coat and the other without and there was hardly any difference between the two. The nail polish alone has a lovely glossy finish.

Mani Must Haves Kit - FREE Mistress Nail Polish

NUDE Double Dose of Genius Skincare Set

A 2-step skin treatment, a hydrating serum and a rescue oil. Only a small amount of this needs to be applied. After using this my skin was lovely and soft without feeling oily. This one is definitely my favourite product from the box.

Double Dose Genius Skincare Set - Only £20

The Hero Project Hyasoft Instant Moisture Boost

A light gel which absorbs quickly in to the skin to combat dull, dehydrated skin. It is suitable for all skin types and not at all greasy or sticky. I tried this one out on my husband whose skin drys out terribly from all the dust at work and we could definitely see a difference. 

Hyasoft Instant Moisture Boost - 20% OFF

Latest In Beauty Box

After purchasing yet another subscription box as a gift for my youngest boy I had a look at which kind of boxes would appeal to myself.

I settled on trying one of the beauty boxes that are available. Firstly, because even though we do have shops in my local town centre that do sell beauty products they only stock a small selection of brands and products so I do have to travel or buy online for something that I really want. Also I think that it was a good way for me to discover new brands. I do tend to stick with the same product year in, year out especially when it comes to moisturizers as I have sensitive skin. 

The box which I decided to try was the Latest In Beauty box. This isn't a subscription so no worries about cancelling if you decide it's not the one for you. You can purchase some ready made boxes on the site or build your own box where you chose your own items. This is what I did as I know that everything will then be used. The prices to build your own box range from £8.99 to £16.99 depending on how many products you want in it. I opted for 6 items at £12.99. Many of the items are full size and I noticed that most of the travel or sample sizes had the number of applications listed in the item description which I think is handy.

These are the products that I chose. The prices are what the products are being sold for in UK shops or the average price on Ebay if I've not seen it in a shop.

Toni&Guy Volume Plumping Whip ( Full size £7.49 )

I usually use volumising mousse on my hair so I thought I'd try this out. It didn't make my hair greasy or feel heavy and sticky as some hair products have on me. As for volumising, it's about the same as mousses that I use so its a good product for me.

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon ( Full size £7.99 )

Having not tried a lip crayon before I chose this one in the shade Proudly Naked. Lasts reasonably well. Glossy but not sticky.

Teeez Head Over Heels Nail Lacquer ( Full size £7.65 )

This is a brand that I have not seen before. On the box it claims not to chip for three days. I've yet to try this one out.

StriVectin Intensive Illuminating Serum ( Sample size £9.00 )

This serum is to give brighter skin and a more even complexion. I'm always a bit dubious trying new products on my skin as its sensitive and I'm ready for any burning sensation to start but my skin was fine with this. A light serum, absorbs well, barely any scent to it.

NUXE Multi-Purpose Dry Oil ( Sample size £5.00 )

The oil can be used on the face, body or hair. I've not tried it out properly yet but I did apply a small amount to my face last night and it seems to absorb well and not leave my skin oily. The oil I have is the Golden Shimmer version so after applying I had my husband check out my face to make sure I didn't look like a bronzed glitter ball and he couldn't even see where I'd put it.

Dr Organic Royal Jelly Eye Serum ( Full size £9.99 )

I do use eye creams but they are only moisturisers. This one combats puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. I'll have to see how good this is over time. I need all the help I can get with my panda eyes these days.

These were the six products that I chose for my box and when I ordered I also added a £5.00 free gift code that I had found online. These were the extra items that I received.

A Vintage Cosmetic Company shadow brush ( £8.00 ), emery board and Eucerin Sun Fluid ( £12.00 ). Both of these I really pleased with as you can't have too many make up brushes and sun cream is something that I always have to buy.

I'm delighted with the Latest in Beauty box also the delivery was quick. My box arrived 3 days after I had placed my order. It's something that I would definitely purchase again.