iheartkoreanbeauty

Korea in spring

2011-11-14T22:43:00.001-08:00

When I restarted this blog, I promised to show some pictures of Korea and that idea seemed pretty popular with readers as I immediately got messages asking when I would post them up. Unfortunately, I've not been to Korea tt often this year so I'll have to show you some pictures of Korea when I was there in spring 2010, for my friend's wedding :) It was my very first trip to Korea- pretty much my first interaction with Korean stuff really- and how I fell in love with Korean products :)

My friend's parents took us to N Seoul Tower, Namsan Park. (You can take the cable car up and down. If I'm not wrong, this was featured in the hit 2005 (one of my top faves!) "My Name is Kim Sam Soon" starring Hyun Bin and Kim Sun-Ah. What's also interesting about N Seoul Tower is tt a lot of Korean couples like to come here to immortalise their love by placing a lock, usually with a message, on the fences- the keys are then thrown away to symbolise the lovers' resolve to be together, forever!

If size is anything to go by, the couple who left the big red heart lock below won't have to worry about breaking up :P

In perhaps a typically Singaporean move, I asked my friend how come no one is selling locks around the fences. Lol. Potential business enterprise if you live in Seoul! :)

There were also some interesting light sculptures and a "performance" by guards in traditional dress. If you've always to try on a Korean hanbok, they offer some really pretty ones for anyone to try on and take a picture with the guards, at no extra cost!

We also visited Cheonggyecheon- Ki Joon was spotted here with his ex by Soo-ra in Lie To Me- which is a pleasant place to walka round, especially when the cherry blossoms are blooming in April!

My friend also kindly arranged for a tour of one of Korea's smaller palaces- there is a guided tour in English- I'm ashamed to say I can't remember the name of the palace!!! But the architecture was really interesting and one thing tt really struck me is the King's room was TINY! But I guess it made sense if you think how cold Korean winters can get and you'd probably want to conserve heat! lol

Korean dramas & films available via iheartkoreanbeauty

2011-11-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

I've been rather good lately and held off purchasing Korean dramas (bad for my purse and my time management! Not sure about the other K-drama lovers out there, but when I start on an interesting drama, everything else flies out of the window and I need to finish it before I can actually do anything with my time :P) Unfortunately, Lie to Me was released in DVD form, and I've heard so much about it from my friends that I ended up buying it and everything went downhill from there :P (FYI, this drama is so popular that it's already sold out at Poh Kim. My Mom has watched in TWICE in a week! :P So I guess it was money well spent :P)

Photo courtesy of the Korean Drama website.

Anyway, back to the subject on hand, iheartkoreanbeauty will now be providing a purchasing service for our international customers who would like to buy Korean dramas and films but are unable to get their hands on them at a reasonable price (most likely cheaper than other online stores such as yesasia and co). We will purchase these dramas from their local distributors so everything is 100% genuine (and not pirated). DVDs with subtitles (Chinese, English etc) are available too, but usually cost a little bit more :)

Do email us about the dramas that you are interested in and we will check on the pricing for you :)

Have a nice day!

Baviphat: Fresh Cleansing Lotion review

2011-11-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

Baviphat Fresh Cleansing Lotion: 3 out of 5 stars

This is an average product in my opinion. It removes heavy make up decently but doesn't leave the skin feeling as fresh as I'd like- or as the name would suggest!- after just washing with water. You need to follow with a cleansing foam to get clean-feeling skin. On the plus side, it's inexpensive :)

The bad boy look: Kim Hyun Joong & JYJ's Yoochun

2011-11-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

Has anyone noticed that the bad boy look seems to be becoming more popular with Korean artistes? First it was pretty boy Kim Hyun Joong from the F4 shedding his image as the gentleman-like Yoon Ji Hoo. (Check out his new MVs Breakdown on YouTube:

Now it's JYJ's Yoo Chun's transformation for "High Cut" magazine. You can see the pictures here:
http://www.dkpopnews.net/2011/11/photo-jyjs-yoochun-turns-bad-boy-for.html

I must say that they both look pretty hot though :)

More on Hallyu: SNSD in New York!

2011-10-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

After finishing my post on The Economist's article on the spread of Hallyu, it seemed just too apt when I read on Yahoo news that SNSD had just debuted in the US!

All 9 girls in SNSD stopped by the MTV studios in Times Square, NYC, which was then broadcasted live. The girls also performed to a sold-out crowd at the Madison Square Garden, an experience that SNSD's Tiffany described as "epic" and Jessica described as "an honor" and "a lot of fun".

SNSD's maxi-single "The Boys" will be released in the US on Nov 19. This track has already been released in Korea, but the English version was first performed live at the concert. Although the group has not yet started working on a full-length US album, they hope to do so soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

And, SNSD even headlined a section in New York Daily News! (For those interested, the article is titled "K-Pop's Secret Weapon" in the "Your New York" section of the paper) This is one of the largest tabloids in NYC with a circulation of over 1/2 million every day- looks like the group's popularity is set to grow even further!

Click here to watch their debut! :)

http://www.viki.com/yahoo/sg/clips/55046

The Economist: Hallyu, yeah!

2011-10-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but The Economist has always struck me as a very "serious" magazine, so I was rather surprised to see an Economist Article on South Korea and its popularity worldwide :) It was interesting reading, so am sharing the link below:

Hallyu, Yeah!

A “Korean wave” washes warmly over Asia

Jan 2010

http://www.economist.com/node/15385735

Sorry for not posting the article here, but I can't remember what the copyright rules for such things are!

Photo review: Innisfree Color Change Tint Balm

2011-10-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

Photo review: Innisfree Color Change Tint Balm SGD 17.10 (5 out of 5 stars)
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/innisfree-color-change-tint-balm/

This may be the last photo review I'll be doing for a while (will just write articles on Korea instead, which seem to be more popular anyway! :P) as there's some sort of problem with my photo uploader atm, so I can't upload any of the pictures that I've taken for reviews!! Good thing I took this last weekend :P

Innisfree has been coming up with a lot of good make-up (or at least interesting, since I've not tried the others I can't really say if they are good) products lately and this is one that I really wanted to try.

With 5 delicious looking colours, I had a hard time choosing but finally decided on the blue, as the big colour change looked cool :)

Firstly I must say I LOVED the packaging. The whole tube is transparent, and the only hint of colour is the blue lippie inside. Awesome, very classy looking! (Unfortunately I don't have a picture- I did take one but I think I deleted it because it was a little blur and now I can't upload any new pics!!!) It sort of looks like what you see above but even nicer :)

The colour change takes place slowly, and you get to appreciate seeing the transparent colour turn pink (yup the blue is transparent when first applied)- I think it might be triggered by heat or contact with the skin, as the tip of the lippie turned pink as well, giving it a nice swirly look :) Here is what it looks like on my hand:

As you can see it's a great colour for ladies who love pink but don't want something too blatant :) I am a big fan of lip stains and tints- don't really use anything else- but some customers have fedback that the stains/ tints tend to be a bit too startling in their pinkness :) So if you wanted something more subtle, this would be a good in between colour :)

Unlike a normal stain, this lippie is slightly moisturising. However, unlike the Tony Moly color change balm or a normal lip balm/ gloss, it is not sticky :) I rubbed the mark above with my fingers and the moisture balm rubbed off but was NOT greasy. I didn't even feel like I needed to wash my hand afterwards! Rubbing the stain did unfortunately lighten it somewhat, unlike a regular lip stain/ tint :) But all in all I'd say the trade off is worth it :)

So to cut a long story short, the pros would be:
- classy packaging
- really cool colour change
- moisturising coloured lippie (but would not replace daily lip balm for those with very dry and chapped lips)
- is NOT sticky/ greasy/ hair attracting unlike normal lip balms and glosses
- colour does not smear when rubbed
- P.S. Did I mention the delicious tangerine smell?

And for the cons:
- colour lightens when rubbed
- for the very fastidious, be warned, the tip of your lippie will change colour as well after contact with your skin.

Try it for yourself and tell us what you think! :)

Review: Etude House Collagen Moistfull essence in primer

2011-10-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Etude House Collagen Mositfull Essence-in-primer: 2 out of 5 stars

As you can see, I did not like this product! I found it too oily for my face. In fact, towards the end of the product, I felt it made my face so oily that I had to blot it before applying BB! :P Quite counter productive I'd say :P A shame as I've tried other products from the Etude House Collagen Moistfull line which I liked!

The only reason I'm not giving it 1 star is that I love the idea of a spray-on primer. Actually any spray-on product! Makes life easier! :)

It's Skin: What's this brand about?

2011-10-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

It's Skin is a brand that has not really been promoted outside of Korea (and maybe Japan) & a lot of customers have emailed me asking about it. So I thought I'd do a little post to share more about this brand :) From what I've heard of this brand, it seems pretty good, and it's a shame that it's lack of fame (and cute packaging) makes it not very popular.

Established in 2006, within 1 year, it opened 11 outlets. In 2007, its "Power 10" line (still one of its bestsellers today!) was awarded Hit Item of the Year by Maell Business Newspaper. By 2008, it was international and by 2009, it had over 50 stores in Korea alone.

"Clinical skin solution Dermatologist prescribed"
You know how some skincare brands say they are dermatologist tested? Well It's Skin isn't just dermatologist tested, it's a brand that was created by Korean dermatologists! Here's some information from their website:

"It's Skin was developed by researching and analyzing the skin troubles of the customers and solving the skin problems based on various clinical experiences to achieve ideal skin. Formulated by prescriptions of Dermatologists from Seoul University, It's Skin confirmed the safety once again by completing the dermatological test on make-up line ups as well as skin care. The unique prescription of It's Skin which was re-born from integrating natural ingredients extracted from the nature with the state-of-the-art dermatology science, goes beyond mere using the natural ingredients, optimizes the effect to awaken the potential energy of the skin itself. Also, through usage of formula based on high degree of purity of the natural ingredients and minimum use of antiseptics, it is a minimum-irritation cosmetic product pursuing skin safety and preventing skin troubles. It's Skin with the prescriptions based on skin safety of the customers, will regain the original energy of the healthy skin for you." (I like how they have English explanations!)

So why the name "It's Skin"? Well the idea is that "true beauty is the image of the original skin itself". And the lack of cutesy packaging/ clinical looking skincare is to emphasize its scientific background, with its seal-like logo representing the seal of trust that customers can have in it :)

Key ideas behind It's Skin:
- Not only their skincare is tested, so is their make-up.
- It uses many natural ingredients and no scent, no coloring and no alcohol.
- It uses 3 of the most innovative skincare ingredients: GF biopolymer, pentacare HP, Antaractisine (this is where I go "huuuh?")

Its topsellers include:
- Creme d'escargot (duh, this started the snail craze in Asia)
- Power 10 formula line

Have you tried any It's Skin products that you liked? Or hated? Let us know your thoughts! :)

Credit card poll

2011-10-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks all for participating in our little survey :) Although the majority said adding credit cards wouldn't affect their iheartkoreanbeauty shopping experience, more people said it'd improve it than those who said it would adversely affect it.

So, I'll definitely be factoring in your opinions and will try to get a credit card system up and running soon! :)

Hope everyone is having a gd weekend :)

Photo review: Baviphat Easy Drawing Eyeliner

2011-10-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

Baviphat Easy Drawing Eye Liner (On promo now- S$10.90 instead of S$11.80)
4.5 out of 5 stars
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/baviphat-easy-drawing-eye-liner/

I started using this eyeliner 1.5 years ago. 1.5 years on, it's still my favourite liquid eye liner for the following reasons:
1. draws a very nice black line, which you can vary in thickness to create a barely-there or dramatic eye look
2. smudge proof (Compare pictures 2 and 3 above. Picture 2 is right after drawing the line & Picture 3 is after I had rubbed the line hard. The difference between the 2 pictures is negligible :) )
3. Super duper easy to use. Compared to a normal liquid eyeliner, which has a flexible moving tip, this eye liner has a stiff tip which makes it much easier to apply. It's almost as easy to use as a pencil eyeliner but is much more long-lasting and smudge-proof than a pencil liner! :)
4. and, not to mention, cheap (The Lancome equivalent is like 2-3 times the price!!)

So why isn't it 5 stars?
1. It's not completely oil proof, sad to say! I don't use eye primer and my lids get really oily so the liner does smudge a little bit. Nothing too obvious, it just gives me a kind of smoky eyed look. But would still prefer it if was 100% oil proof (have not found such a stellar product yet! ElishaCoy does claim to have an oil proof PENCIL eyeliner but since it is already retailing at over S$30 in Korea... not something I'm willing to buy (yet!) :P )

Photo review: Innisfree 02 Pore care mask

2011-10-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

Innisfree 02 Pore Care Mask Pack (S$19.90), 5/5 stars
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/innisfree-02-pore-mask-pack/

I actually did a review of this back in the old days when we were still an old-fashioned blog shop (as opposed to a shopping cart shop now) recommending this product. It was 1 of the 1st Korean products & the very 1st (or 2nd) Innisfree product that I tried. 1 year on and 100s of Korean products later, I still highly recommend it! Btw so do a lot of magazines in Korea. You can check out 1 magazine recommendation here:
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/innisfree-beauty-oxygen-tank-02-pore-care-mask/

So why do I like it?
Well, I first got into oxygen masks with the Malin + Goetz (pardon any mis-spellings) oxygen mask that I bought from Browhaus for an astounding S$60- let me qualify that expenditure by saying that I was desperate at that time as my skin was going through a bad breakout :P And with regular use, it did help to detox my skin a bit! That was actually the first I'd heard of oxygen or bubble masks (yeah swaku :P) so when I went to Korea and saw that Innisfree had its own version of an oxygen mask at a fraction- less than one-third of the price, to be exact!- I HAD to try it. And, not only did it prove to be just as good/ effective as my M&G one, it was even easier to use! With the M&G one, there are specific instructions about how you have to use cold/ warm water and wipe vs rinse off the mask depending on what you want ti to do which I honestly found troublesome. I like fast food type skincare :P With this Innisfree 02 mask, all I had to do was apply it after washing my face, wait for a minute or 2, lightly massage it into my skin and wash it off normally. I could even use it in the shower!

What are the cons?
Er.... sometimes it bubbles too much? Don't apply too much above your mouth or it can get into your nose... The 1st time I used it I thought it tingled a little near the mouth (but did not sting) but that didn't happen with my 2nd bottle so they might have improved the formula. Other than that, it's great! :)
Photo of the product before use

Photo of my hand before applying anything

Photo of the product on immediate application

Photo of the mask after about 20 seconds

Photo of my hand after a minute

Photo of my hand after washing mask off, can you see the sort of lighter area in the centre where the mask was?

So, to summarize, the +++ points of this mask are:

- cheap (about 30% of the Malin + Goetz price)

- yet still very good (was just as effective on my skin as the more expensive one and detoxed my skin and reduced my breakouts. In fact, most people notice an immediate "cleaning" effect of the skin. If you look at my photos below, the patch where I applied the mask looks a little fairer after the mask was washed off, as though it has been detoxed. It's a temporary effect but with regular usage, it works! :) )

- and last but not least easier to use!

Here's an article from Live Strong on the general benefits of oxygen masks :)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/297060-skin-benefits-of-facial-oxygen-masks/

Photo review: Holika Holika Magic Palette Painting Blusher

2011-10-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Magic Palette Painting Blusher (5 out of 5 stars)

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/holika-magic-palette-painting-blusher/

Contains 3 x 7.5 cream blushers (in different shades). Made in Korea.

I have pretty oily skin so I've always been a bit skeptical about cream blushers. However, when I tried this product I was hooked.

You don't need to use much. I didn't even have to squeeze the tube but just used whatever was already spilling out of the nozzle and that gave me enough colour for both cheeks. (I can see this product lasting 1001 years) On first touching the cream blusher, it felt like it could be oily but after spreading the blusher into the skin, the texture was nice, matte and natural. My skin did not feel oilier than normal and it did not feel like anything was on it actually.

Being a cream product, the colour was also very long lasting- it lasted much longer than my normal powder blusher which I tend to just sweat off and even when I rubbed the skin, the colour did not smudge.

Last but not least, the effect created was that of a natural flush, very Korean looking ;)

To sum up, pros of the product:
- cost-effective
- long lasting
- did not feel oily or unnatural on skin
- variety (3 colours, which can also be blended together to create more options)

Cons of product:
- when you first open the tube, it is so filled to the brim that more comes out than you really need without you squeezing. But on the second use, it was OK and the amount that "spilled" out of the nozzle was just enough for 1 application.

My fave colour, the peach:

Here's what the light pink tube looks like (on my hand):

A review on iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com

Selling for S$29.90, so you save over 20% when buying from us (retails for SGD37.50):

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/holika-magic-palette-painting-blusher/

The Korean snail cream craze

2011-10-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

If you're remotely interested in Korean skincare, you'll probably have heard of escargot or snail cream by now. The latest "miracle product" in Korean skincare, skincare products with snail slime extract have been flying off the shelves in Seoul.

(Fun fact: Snail slime has been used in European cosmetics for a couple of years now, but snail mucin products have never been as popular as they are now. According to an article on CNNGo, the snails used for the Korean products are fed ginseng! (They eat better than me :P) Hmmmm maybe that accounts for the difference?)

It all started with It's Skin's "Prestige Creme d'escargot" which was launched in 2009. After ads featuring Nichkhun were shown on TV in February, an amazing 70,000 boxes were sold in March alone. (In fact, what led me to bring in this Korea was seeing the Japanese tourist queuing ahead of me pick up 5 boxes. And this cream is not cheap!) It's currently still It's Skin's best-selling product and contains 21% snail extract. What's interesting to note is new players in the snail skincare market have taken to bragging about how much snail slime they contain (many are going for 90%) but what a Face Shop SA told me is that beyond a certain level, it just becomes superfluous, as the human skin just can't absorb it or benefit from it. (I've since tried 2 snail creams and I actually found that the one with less snail slime worked better on my skin, so maybe there's some truth to the sales talk! :) Will try to do a post on comparing the 2 snail products next week)

So what exactly does snail slime do for you? Well, according to Jeong Chang-hyung from Able C&C which owns Missha, snail extract "soothes, regenerates and heals skin" (Think about how snails can regenerate, and pretty quickly too) and has whitening, anti-wrinkle properties. To back their claims, most snail cream ads now have before and after pictures.

Looking at the It's Skin's advertisements, the photo review is pretty impressive. (Of course do take into consideration that this was probably the best result they saw!) And the press it's been getting has been living up to the hype. Fan Mina Oh, 26, who started using the product last winter, says “I had severe adult acne...I could feel my skin getting much better.” She plans to continue using snail-based creams.

So... miracle product or over-priced gimmick? Try it for yourself and decide! :) Currently on promotion at S$99:
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/its-skin-creme-descargot/

Other interesting snail mucin products include:

Baviphat Snail Cure Hydro Gel Mask (S$9.60)
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/products/%28Baviphat%29-Miracle-Snail-Cure-Hydro-Gel-Mask.html

Tony Moly Intense Repair Live Snail Gift Set 4 Step (S$19.90)

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/tony-moly-intense-repair-live-snail-gift-set-4-step/

Saem Dr Beauty Cell Repair Anti- Aging Mask Sheet (E.G.F + Snail Complex + Syn-ake) (S$10.70)

The Saem has gone 1-up by combining 3 popular Korean trends in 1 product!

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/saem-dr-beauty-cell-repair-anti-aging-mask-sheet-e-g-f-snail-complex-syn-ake/

Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Hydro Gel mask (S$9.70)

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/missha-super-aqua-cell-renew-snail-hydro-gel-mask/

And... there are even escargot BBs now!!

Tony Moly Intense Repair Live Snail BB Cream (S$53.50)

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/tony-moly-intense-repair-live-snail-bb-cream/

It's Skin Prestige Creme d'escargot B.B ($47.10)

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/its-skin-prestige-creme-descargot-b-b/

For more products, do visit:

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/search.php?search_query=%22snail%22&x=0&y=0

Sources include:

http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/shop/snail-cream-821956

Beauty sleep

2011-10-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Life can be pretty stressful these days, and it seems like more and more people are having problems falling asleep!

According to an article on CNN, aromatherapy can help the insomniacs out there who are"drowsy but slightly tense" (Me!) Certain fragrances such as lavender and lemon balm help to induce relaxation and sleep, says Rubin Naiman, Ph.D., a sleep specialist at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tucson.

So why am I telling you this? Obviously because iheartkoreanbeauty has the perfect products for you to try!! :) (Sad to say, I'm not totally disinterested :P)

Body products for all skin types
Baviphat lavender body wash S$13.90

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/baviphat-lavender-bubble-bubble-body-wash/

I use this, it's not bad. Am a little tired of it now tt I've just finished my 3rd bottle (!) but I used to love it because it does smell like lavender but not as strong/ medicinal as some lavender scents can get.

Innisfree lavender travel set S$12.70
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/innisfree-relaxing-lavender-body-cleanser-and-body-lotion-travel-set/

Full-sized products to be uploaded soon but why not try a smaller size first to see if this scent works for you? According to the SA in Innisfree, they did an independent study where they had to try lavender products from various Korean brands (with the labels off) and this was picked as the fave. Of course she may have made this up to promote her products, but Innisfree is honestly uber popular in Korea and, having smelt this myself, I do find it good! :)

Facial products
For people with normal or dry skin:
Innisfree lavender sleeping mask S$18.10

http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/innisfree-originated-lavender-moisture-sleeping-mask-pack/

For people who want brighter, fairer skin:
Baviphat lemon whitening sleeping pack S$16
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/baviphat-lemon-whitening-sleeping-pack-group-deal-valid-if-10-or-more-orders-are-received/

I don't use this myself- seldom use whitening products- but this has had pretty good feedback from customers. Normally people who try the samples end up coming back for it :)

Information (on aromatherapy and sleep) from:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/12/rs.sleep.aids/index.html

iheartkoreanbeauty October facebook giveaway

2011-10-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

We'll be holding our 2nd iheartkoreanbeauty facebook giveaway this October :) And this time, the prize is worth more! S$120 in retail value to be exact :) As for what it comprises, that will be a surprise (everything is from our shop) :)

To qualify for this giveaway, please post your favourite iheartkoreanbeauty on your facebook page, along with a link to the product on our website. Once done, please send us the link or email a screenshot to iheartkoreanbeauty@gmail.com

We can't wait to find out what products everyone likes best! :)

Terms & conditions:
- Draw closes midnight last day of October 2011
- 1 winner is randomly chosen
- Open to international participants as well but we only cover local Singapore postage. If the winner is based outside of Singapore, please note that postage is not included :)
- That's all I can think of for now, hope I've covered everything :)

Photo review: Holika Holika Magic Salt Lip & Eye Remover

2011-10-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Holika Holika Magic Salt Lip & Eye Remover (4/5 stars)

It's a water & oil mixture so you need to mix it before use. Removed the eyeliner very easily without me having to rub or press hard (but with mascara might be a different story!). Also feels gentle on the skin, even the sensitive skin near the eyes. Given that there is oil in the mixture, does not feel too oily on the skin (still needs to be followed with a facial wash though!

Photo 1- Tony Moly eyeliner on my hand

Photo 2- the cotton wool (soaked in the remover) after pressing to my hand for 2 seconds

Photo 3- my hand after removing the cotton wool soaked in the Magic Salt remover

Can be purchased for S$17.10 here:
http://iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com/holika-magic-salt-lip-eye-remover/#reviews
:)

Photo review: Innisfree eco safety multi sunblock SPF 45 PA++

2011-10-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

As promised, we try to do as many product reviews (and photo reviews!) as possible, but please note it is not possible for us to review ALL the products! (Sadly no budget- yet!) Will try to upload something new every week (the photo reviews will go on this blogspot site as can't seem to upload the photos to iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com but will provide a link on the product page) :)

Innisfree eco safety multi sunblock SPF 45 PA++ (4/5 stars)

I personally find this sunblock not bad. Doesn't give me break outs, spreads quite easily, and though white blends in quite well (if spread evenly into the skin), doesn't feel too oily (wouldn't say it's 100% matt as high SPF sunblocks are normally not matt but it's nothing I find too noticeable and I tend to be pretty picky abt the after feel of products :P). All in all a 4star product. If it was 100% matt, or controlled sebum (it doesn't add, doesn't reduce sebum for me), then I'd give it a 5 star :)

Photo 1- arm without sunblock

Photo 2- arm with sunblock

Photo 3- arm with sunblock rubbed in (I myself can't see any difference between this and Photo 1!)

Welcome back! :)

2011-09-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

As you know, we moved to a new ecommerce site, iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com, a few months back. It took us quite a while to decide to make the move (the cost! :P) but we finally did it to make the shopping experience easier for everybody :) Hopefully, you are all finding it an enhanced and easier shopping process, but please do not hesitate to get in touch if you hate it! We will definitely take your feedback into consideration and improve :)

The comments that we've received to date have been complimentary (yay) but a lot of you have mentioned how you've missed the personal experience afforded by the previous blogspot site, so we've decided to revive iheartkoreanbeauty.blogspot.com :) All orders would still have to be made via the ecommerce site in order to accumulate VIP points, and this blog would be used primarily to update everyone with news :) So do continue visiting this blog to look out for articles on:
- new Korean beauty trends
- giveaways and lucky draws
- random skincare and beauty articles
- general updates :)

Thanks for tuning in and do come back tomorrow for the results of the facebook giveaway :) (Judging from the fact that we're only at the 42nd like, I think our plan to give away 6 prizes if we hit 500 likes was a weeee bit ambitious :P But will keep our fingers crossed for better luck to come! :) )

Moved to new home! :)

2011-07-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Thank you for your patience! The new online shop is

iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com

Do stop by and check it out :)

As promised, I've been going through my pricing and have tried to bring down what I could :) To name a few, the Innisfree tea tree skin, Innisfree applejuicy lip and eye, Tony Moly Berry Berry sleeping pack etc have become cheaper :)

Not all the products are up yet so feel free to email us at iheartkoreanbeauty@gmail.com if there's something you want but don't see. In addition, do drop by everyday as we'll be regularly uploading new products :)

Cheers
Z
P.S. I've moved some of the product reviews left on this site to the iheartkoreanbeauty.mybigcommerce.com
There's a star rating system for the reviews on tt site, so where the reviews have been entirely positive, I've indicated it as 5-star. Where the tone is more along the lines of "I really liked the product.. but would have been better if...", I've given it 4-stars :) Hope this is OK with everyone. If not, please feel free to let me know :)

P.P.S To find out more, check out the "Welcome" page on the new site.

INNISFREE (RECOMMENDATIONS)

2011-06-29T01:28:00.000-07:00

Found this article on Yoona's beauty picks which I thought was interesting and so decided to share. Of course, Yoona is Innisfree's spokeperson so I guess she HAS to include some Innisfree products in her list :P But I guess the ones included are her fave Innisfree products of all? They are, namely, the magic floral sheer base and the magic floral cream (the jar tt u see at the bottom)

INNISFREE (ABOUT)

2011-06-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

Innisfree, the pure island where clean nature and healthy beauty coexist in harmony.

Started in 2000, Innisfree is a natural brand that shares the benefits of nature from the pristine island of Jeju allowing for vibrant beauty and pursues an eco-friendly green life to preserve the balance of nature.

Here are some of the company's milestones:

- 2000: launch of the brand

- 2003: started bottle recycling campaign

- 2005: 1st in Consumer Wellbeing Index

- 2006: Sold 10,000 units of the olive line within a week from launch

- 2007: Wine peeling softener selected as hit item

Bestsellers

I must say, Innisfree is super popular in Korea! (particularly for skincare) Was sitting at a bus stop and 2 very nice Korean ladies (mother and daughter) started chatting with me. When I mentioned tt I sell Korean cosmetics, they told me tt Innisfree is one of the most popular brands in Korea! :) And, actually, the reason I started stocking it was because when I asked a Korean friend which brand I should try, she recommended it! J

Here's some info about Innisfree (the name is actually from a poem- Yeats I think?):
"Innisfree, an island that gives your skin a rest”

Innisfree is Korea's first naturalism cosmetic brand launched by Amore Pacific, the owner of other brands such as Laneige and Etude.

Our "Green Complex" is proprietary and ECOCERT-approved, containing volcanic spring water infused with the extract of 4 plants from Jeju island- green tea, tangerine, citron and cactus that deliver vital energy to skin."

According to Sasa, all Innisfree products are tested by dermatologists. (Yay!)

If you are keen on any Innisfree (or any other brand's!) products that you can't find on this post, or would like to find out more about a certain product, please do drop us a comment below or a line at iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com. We just may have it in stock (but not yet uploaded)- if not, we'll be more than happy to bring it in for you with the next new stock shipment :)

VOV (ABOUT)

2011-06-01T00:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the VOV topsellers

MISSHA (EXTERNAL RECOMMENDATIONS)

2011-04-27T05:29:00.001-07:00

KOREAN BEAUTY UPDATES, 15 Mar

2011-03-15T01:19:00.001-07:00

- Skin Food (hair n body)
- The Saem
- Etude House (make up)
- Holika Holika (make up)

Last one standing-
- Baviphat Bodle Bodle Baby Foot Peeling Treatment
- Etude House AC Clinic Lotion
- Etude House AC Clinic Clay Pack
- Holika Holika Hot Body Patch

KOREAN BEAUTY UPDATES, 9 Mar

2011-03-08T20:01:00.001-08:00

- Innisfree (skincare)
- Etude House (skincare)
- Innisfree (hair n body)

Think I finally restored open access to my blog, sorry for the crash over the weekend and any inconvenience caused! As an apology for all the hassle, here are some special promos , valid for orders made and paid for this week only :) Whilst designated stocks last.
- Receive a free mask sheet with any It's Skin, Skin79 or BRTC purchase
- 5% off any primer or starter (VIP members already have a 10% discount so receive a free BB cream travel sized instead)

We have also created a new mailing list function in case of future disruptions :) So drop me an email or leave a message here if u wanna be added :)

Down to the last:
- It's Skin Mangowhite peeling gel

TONY MOLY (SKINCARE)

2011-03-06T07:03:00.001-08:00

Dr Tony AC Control White Toner (details coming soon)

Dr Tony AC Control White Emulsion (details coming soon)

Dr Tony AC Control Emulsion (details coming soon)

Puretox Daily Lotion (S$18.60- only 1 left in stock)

Dr Tony Poreclear Toner 140ml (S$23.80- only 3 left in stock)

Dr Tony Poreclear Emulsion 140ml (S$23.80- only 1 left in stock)

Dr Tony Poreclear Gel Cream 50 ml (S$27.80- only 2 left in stock)

Dr Tony Poreclear Sebum Control Serum (S$27.80)

Intense Repair Live Snail Cream Anti-Wrinkle & Whitening & Skin Repairing (OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

As you can see, this is a special set and you get the eye cream FOC :)

Premium Berry Berry Watery Cream (Intro price S$28.30- only 1 left in stock)

Berry Berry Nutrivive Skin 140 ml (details coming soon)

Berry Berry Nutrivive eye cream 30 ml (details coming soon)

Berry Berry Nutrivive lotion 140 ml (details coming soon)

Berry Berry Nutrivive essence 50 ml (details coming soon)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Contains Linden extract which creates a protection barrier on the skin against skin irritation especially by sun exposure and environment pollutants. Patented ingredient Acorus Gramineus Root/Stem extract keeps the skin healthy and vibrant. Special blend of Supercritical Berry Complex (extracts from Blueberry, Cranberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Acai Palm, Chokeberry, Elderberry) and super food ingredient (extracts from Mulberry, Tomato, Broccoli Sprout) replenishes and protects the skin from irritations and troubles, creating a more radiant and revitalized skin.

UV Sunset Maximum Sun Block Cream 60g (S$32.80- only 3 left in stock)

Gold Black Sugar Mask (S$13.90- only 3 left in stock)

Dr Tony AC Control White Foam Cleanser 150 ml (S$19- only 1 left in stock)

Dr Tony AC Control Whitening Serum 50 ml (Intro price S$32.80- only 1 left in stock)

Dr Tony AC Control Whitening Eye Serum 20 ml (Intro price S$32.80)

Tomatox Brightening Foam Cleanser 150 ml (S$14- only 2 left in stock)

Latte Art Cappaucino Cream-in-scrub (S$19.90) NEW PRODUCT

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: One of my customers pointed out to me that you can remove the spoon to use it as a ladle to scoop out the scrub! How innovative :)

Appletox Honey Cream (S$19.90) NEW PRODUCT

Tomatox Brightening All-in-one Fluid (Intro price S$21.50- only 5 left in stock)

This product serves as a toner AND essence, so is very popular :)

Tomatox Brightening Essence 50 ml (Intro price S$23.40- only 4 left in stock)

There is a wash-off mask from this range (S$19.90) under "TONY MOLY: FACE MASKS (WASH OFF N SLEEPING)"

DOUBLE PERFECTION

Double Perfection Eye Cream 30 ml (S$53- only 1 left in stock)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This comes in a box set with 2 travel-sized products from the same range so great value for money :P

Double Perfection Cream 50 ml (S$53- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This comes in a box set with 2 travel-sized products from the same range so great value for money :P

Age Lifting Neck Cream Intense Repair (S$32.30- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty to pre-order)

Egg Pore Shiny Skin Soap (Intro price S$18.50- only 3 left in stock)

Tony Moly Fresh Aqua Tear Drop Cream 50ml Pink (Anti wrinkle & Whitening) (S$24.90- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)
Tony Moly Fresh Aqua Pure Drop Cream 50ml White (Skin Irritation Free Formula) (S$24.90- RESERVED)

Tony Moly Fresh Aqua Pure Drop Gel Cream 50ml Blue(Oil Free watery Type) (S$24.90- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

24 Cooling Eye Stick (S$14.50- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Ice Cool Sun Mist SPF30 PA+++ (S$23- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Dr. Tony AC Control Toner 140 ml (S$25.30- only 3 left in stock)

Dr. Tony AC Control Serum 50 ml (S$26.50)

AC CONTROL

AC Control Bubble Foam Cleanser (S$19- only 1 left in stocka)

AC Control AC Control Spot Solution 7 ml ($29.90- only 5 left in stock)

Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream (S$19.90)

VITA VITAL MX7

Vita Vital MX7 Toner 140 ml (S$32.80- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Vita Vital MX7 Emulsion 140 ml (S$32.80- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Vita Vital MX7 Cream 50 ml (S$34.50- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

KOREAN STATIONERY

2011-03-06T06:51:00.001-08:00

Letter pad (S$3)

Front and back-

Letter pad (S$3
- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order
)
Front and back-

Letter pad (S$3)

Front and back-

Letter pad (S$3- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Front and back-

Letter pad (S$3.90)

SKIN FOOD (HAIR N BODY)

2011-03-06T06:43:00.001-08:00

Grape Seed Oil Wrinkle Neck Cream (details coming soon)

Fig Body Cream 150g (Intro price S$15.40- only 1 left in stock)

Avocado Rich Hair Wash (S$16- only 1 left in stock)

Avocado Rich Hair Conditioner (S$16- only 1 left in stock)

Avocado Rich Leave-in Fluid 110 ml (S$12.70- only 1 left in stock)

Fresh lime body cream (Intro price S$15.50)

Fresh lime salt body wash (Intro price S$17.20- only 1 left in stock)

Fresh lime body emulsion (Intro price S$17.20- only 1 left in stock)

Goat Milk and Lavender Body Wash (For Baby) (Intro price S$16- only 1 left in stock)

Goat Milk and Lavender Body Cream (For Baby) (Intro price S$16- only 1 left in stock)

Shea Butter Hair Mask (Intro price S$17- only 1 left in stock)

Fresh Cabbage Hair Pack 200g (Intro price S$13.80- only 1 left in stock)

Pomegranate Scalp Hair Tonic 100g (Intro price S$21.90)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Retails for S$33.90 :)

Pomegranate Hair Loss Care Shampoo 320 ml (Intro price S$25.90- RESERVED)

Pomegranate Scalp Care Hair Pack 320 ml (Intro price S$25.90- only 1 left in stock)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Retails in SG for S$39.90. I brought this in cuz I tried the sample and I liked how it made my hair quite soft :)

Applemango Volume Essence Mist (Intro price S$13.60- only 1 left in stock)

Lychee Essence Mist (Intro price S$13.60- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Grape Seed Oil Body Cleansing Gel (Intro price S$17.20- only 1 left in stock)

Hop Beer Hair Wash (Intro price S$13.50- only 2 left in stock)

Hop Beer Hair Conditioner (Intro price S$13.50)

Orange & Mint Body Essence (S$16.70- only 1 left in stock)

Extra Virgin Olive Essence (Intro price S$8.50- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: "60 ml. Treatment serum with well-refined extra virgin olive oil to control curling and unkemptness and to provide luster to hair"

HOW TO USE: "Shampoo hair and towel dry. Pump a small amount into your palms, rub your hands together and apply where needed."

Moisture Egg Hair Pack (Intro price S$13.80- only 5 left in stock

)

Cappuccino Scrub Body Wash (S$19.00- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com to pre-order)

Sugar Hand Cream Wrinkle Care (S$10.60- only 5 left in stock)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This is a hit product at the Skin Food outlet I was at in Seoul. Certainly smelt much nicer than their other hand creams! :) Qty=45 ml

Shea Butter Foot Mask (S$5- OUT OF STOCK. Pls leave a comment or email iheartkoreanbeauty@yahoo.com for details on new stock arrival)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Another treat for your feet after the end of a long day! This retails for S$6.40 outside ;)