I know I don’t need to introduce this brand anymore because it’s anything but Ordinary. It has made people who weren't even into skincare get back into it and I appreciate that about them. It's always refreshing when a brand creates so much buzz and for good reason. However, after trying these products out for a month, I’ve come to the conclusion that I still want to write about these two used as a duo. I am not the best at explaining scientific skincare terms or ingredients except alcohol because I’ve had such bad experience with it but I can speak from my experience. I think I’ve given it a fair chance to form an opinion on it. If you have combination skin and want to try something from this brand then keep on reading.

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

30ml

Price: $9.80

This particular product is meant for reducing blemishes and congestion in the skin and balance sebum levels which sounds ideal for my skin. My problem areas are hyperpigmentation on the sides of my face from the sun and large pores, excess oil production. This product is a cloudy white fluid on the viscous side and only a drop or two comes out with each pump. I need only 2 drops for my entire face and I use it only at night. I focus it on my Tzone, jaw line and the sides of the face. It is recommended to use it in the morning and night but I only do it at night because I need something really moisturizing on top of it but that doesn’t fit into my morning routine. If you use Vitamin C at night, the Ordinary website recommends using this one in the morning only.

I’ve noticed my hyperpigmentation getting lighter and some marks that were left behind by previous breakouts have also faded. I noticed it in a recent selfie that I took where I wasn’t wearing any foundation, just light makeup and I saw that the dark spots on my side face aren’t noticeable anymore. I won’t say they’ve completely gone away yet but I’ve definitely seen fading on the pigmentation that I've had for months now and nothing else has worked on it. This tiny bottle is not even 1/6^th way down and I hope once I’ve used the whole bottle, they will disappear. It blurs the pores when I apply this but I found that to be a temporary effect so far and my pores go back to how they were in the morning.

Buy it : HERE & HERE

100% Plant-Derived Squalane

30ml

Price : $12.90

This little bottle of facial oil is simply amazing. The only facial oil that’s light enough to be used on combination skin without feeling too oily, or breaking out my super sensitive skin. It works very well on top of the Niacinamide and that’s how I use it every single day. I find it’s a little bit oily for me to use during the day but if you have dry skin, this will be a saviour for you. It gives my skin that deep moisturisation throughout the night and wake up with glowy skin every time. My cheeks feel extremely smooth and my dry patches have become softer ever since I started using it. I love that it is fragrance free and I only need 2-3 drops for my entire face. 

It is suitable for all skin types and can also be used on hair. Also, a very important point to note is this product is derived from plant sources and not from a shark’s liver. I didn’t know what Squalane was but with research I found out that it is a compound derived from Shark liver oil which is something we hear about in skincare and healthcare but this is a great vegan option. Using the Niacinmide only can make my skin feel a little stretchy so I love layering this one on top and they both make the perfect combination in my skincare routine. 30ml is an amazing quantity too for a facial oil while high end brands only give about 15-20ml for double the price of this.

Buy it : HERE & HERE

Have you tried any of their products? What Ordinary products combination do you use? I'd love to know your recommendations.

I'm back with a Part 2 of my samples collection that I've been trying over the last two weeks. It was supposed to go up yesterday but I've been so ill that I didn't manage to get it up on time. Truth be told, I totally skipped my skincare routine in the last 2 days because when you're sick, nothing seems appealing but a skincare chat is just what I need to cheer me up right now. So let's get into it!

#1 Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream :

I have to be honest this review isn’t the best one I’ve done because I didn’t wear it outside. Only around the house but I had it on from morning to night and here are my thoughts. The reason why I wore it indoors only is the shade doesn’t match me. When I first put it on it was very light  but after 5-10 mins, it starts setting and does suit my skin a little better but still it’s meant for pink undertones so it’s never going to look quite right on my olive undertone. It’s a shame that it only comes in ONE shade because I loved the finish, formula and coverage. It’s surprisingly good coverage for a bb cream and can be built to a medium to full if you layer it on. It has a thick consistency and this is the only thing that covered my dark circles without needing concealer. It creases on the lids and undereyes, so setting those areas is highly recommended. I’m amazed! It’s not matte but not super dewy either. A good in between and SPF30 is always appreciated.

Full Size : 50ml for $30
Buy The Lioele Triple Solution BB Cream here.

#2 Etude House ‘The Pink Vital Water’ range:

I got the whole set from this range to try out in minis which includes – A serum, a toner, an emulsion and a cream. Well I wish I had opted for another set and not this one because as is the case with all etude house skincare, it contains alcohol denat and some other ingredients that react badly with my skin. I tried the cream and overnight I broke out on my cheek that refused to budge for 2 weeks at least even with me constantly trying remedies and acne lotions that work for me normally. Also, I have to tell you that I never break out except hormonal break outs. I do get bumps but not cystic acne which was the case with this product. I tried the serum and emulsion too and they were bit gentler but that thick cream destroyed my skin. Never again!

Buy the Etude House Vital Water trial set here.

#3 Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Clay Masks:

This is a new concept of clay masks which comes in different colours for different concerns and you have to apply it to targeted areas for ‘multi masking’ – the new trend that doesn’t make too much sense to me tbh, but I thought I’d try it anyway. How cute are these samples though? They look like little capsules. The full size products come in colourful tubes. I did try the multimasking method( kind of like contouring with masks) and also tried using each all over my face and I definitely prefer using it as a normal mask. They’re gentle on the skin, made my skin less oily and made it look bright. Every time I used this, someone told me my skin is looking good, haha including my mom. That’s a good sign right?

Full Size: 70g for $9 each
Buy Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Clay Masks - Hydrating, Calming, Refining, Vitalizing  here.

#4 Cosrx Overnight Spa Masks:

Last but not the least are these very popular Cosrx sleeping masks similar to the Laneige one. You put it on like a thick moisturizer and go to bed, wake up next morning and wash it off. I’m glad I got to try both the varieties because they’re quite different. The Ultimate moisturzing Honey Mask is a gel texture, sort of like an aloe vera gel with a cooling sensation and I found it very sticky and uncomfortable to keep on and didn’t really see a huge change in my skin. However, the Ultimate Nourishing Rice Mask has the thick, creamy texture that I absolutely love as I find it so moisturizing. I loved putting it on my skin and woke up to considerably softer skin. It sat on my skin much more comfortable. I'll probably be getting the Cosrx Rice Sleeping Mask in full size but not the honey one, it’s just not for me.


Full Size :140g for $15
Buy Cosrx Honey Moisturizing Mask and Cosrx Rice Nourshing Mask here.

There you go! Another samples mini-reviews done. You can check out my Kbeauty Samples #1 post and also let me know if you have you tried any of these products before?

Shelf Life : 12 months

Price: $28

I was pretty excited to get my hands on this palette because of all the rave reviews I’ve seen circulating around. It took some serious self control to stop myself from using it before taking these photos, Haha. I went for the Nubian 1 palette which is the first palette by this brand that came out last summer. They have so many palettes now, all of them are so gorgeous but they are quite colourful. I’m afraid I’ll never use a green or bright red eye shadow enough so I went for the classic bronzes, warm nudes and the likes. I know I’ll actually use these regularly and that’s what matters to me. However, don’t be fooled by their appearance because they are packed with pigment and you have a lot of shades to get creative with.

Juvia’s Place is an indie makeup brand, inspired by Africa and specially made for WOC because they believe that makeup should look good on every skin tone and at an affordable price. It often happens that some eyeshadows don't show up on darker skintones. I love their motto of making makeup more inclusive so that people of every skin tone can enjoy it. That’s what makes these shadows insanely pigmented, especially the glittery ones. They are amazing for packing on all over the lid or just a little in the centre. The glittery ones may be a good option for night looks for me personally because they are intense shimmers but there are many toned down satin and matte shades for daytime as well. The first shade in the palette is the most unique colour I've ever seen, it's like a champagne gold with a pink duochrome - So pretty!
The packaging is made of cardboard with a magnetic closure. Although I find the Egyptian inspired design very beautiful, I would have preferred if it came with a mirror. Also, I am afraid this packaging is going to get dirty pretty fast. I’ve only used it for a week and there’s already glitter over it. There are 4 matte shades for the crease along with a good mix of satins and glitters. The shadows are buttery soft and super blendable. You only need to tap the brush in the pans or it can have some powder kickback. I would strongly recommend doing your eyes before doing your makeup because it does have some fallout under my eyes. There are just so many looks that can be done with this palette and all the shades go very well together so you can easily mix and match without thinking too much. There’s not one shade that disappointed me. That’s honestly what I look for in an eye shadow palette.

These shadows are long-lasting as well. They last me 8 hours and still look fresh with a base underneath. It’s half the price of the Naked Heat and the colours are definitely in the same family. In fact I think this palette has more variety because of that last row of bronzes and browns. So if you haven’t got your hands on the Heat palette, maybe try this one. If you prefer bright colours then you will be spoilt for choice by this brand. I would recommend the Nubian Palette to everyone. Whether you’re just starting out with makeup or just love warm colours. If you’ve been already eyeing this palette then I have two words for you – GET IT! You won’t need another warm palette to be honest because this has it all.

Next on my list? – The Saharan Palette without a doubt!

Buy it here : Juvia's Place , Beauty Bay 

Happy September, everyone! I can't believe how fast 2017 is moving. So here I am again with another K-beauty product review. After I had a really strange reaction to the last toner I reviewed on the blog (which was actually a long time ago IRL but it took me a while to get the review up), I’ve upgraded to a much better brand and toner since. It is considered as the holy grail of Kbeauty toners by many and the brand itself has a great reputation for creating products with no harmful ingredients and eco-friendly. This is the second brand I have tried after Innisfree that shares the same philosophy of creating products which are gentle to the skin and can be usually used by all skin types. This product has won several beauty awards and you can find this in everyone’s routine who uses Asian beauty. So without further ado, let’s get into the details.

Quantity : 180ml

Price: $25

It is Vegan and Cruelty Free! No Parabens or Artificial Colours either.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1

This was such a huge step-up from any other toners I’ve used. I can’t compare it to the previous Nature Republic one which was really bad for me but I think this product even beats certain toners I’ve tried from some of my favourite brands like Vichy or La Roche Posay in the past which are also very popular in the west. This is a hydrating toner. So toners in Asia are not always the kind which strips your skin and for taking off makeup buildup. Those tend to be super watery. This one however is a bit more viscous than a normal toner, it’s somewhere in between a toner and a serum in consistency. I don’t use this on a cotton pad because I think the cotton pad soaks it all up since it is thicker. Instead I just take a few drops on the palm of my hand and then pat it all over my face like I would with a serum and it absorbs instantly without wasting any product.

It is infused with Phyto-Oligo which helps moisturize the skin and Wheat amino acids for reducing inflammation. Hence, I think it is fantastic for sensitive skin or if you have any skin problems like rosacea that can get worse with harsh products, this one will definitely work for you. This toner is to be used after cleansing or double cleansing as per usual and it helps balance the Ph levels but also provides a ton of hydration back into the skin that is stripped by so much cleansing. I believe it can be used by dry, combo and oily skin types because it’s neither drying nor greasy. It sinks right in like a serum so it is perfect for everyone. It is 100% alcohol free which is exactly what I was looking for. It can be used for the 7 Skin method because it is so gentle. It is also a fragrance free formula which is hard to come across in K-beauty because they do like their aromatic products. It has a mild, clinical smell to it – kinda smells like sugar syrup to me I don’t know why. But you get the point, it’s a non-existent smell.

This step has transformed my routine I’m not gonna lie. My skin is looking fantastic ever since I started using this and this is the product that changed my mind about toners. Before discovering Korean hydrating toners, I always assumed toners are  harsh, chemical laden products that always break me out and I never used one religiously before this came along. It’s a holy grail of toners for sure and I don’t know if any other toner I try in the future can come close to this. It will be a real challenge to find something better than this especially without having to go to super luxe brands and shelling out $100 on a product. The quantity is so generous considering I only need 4 drops every time I use it – that is morning and night after cleansing and it has been very kind to my skin without stripping it out or making it overly greasy and has not broken me out. I use it before any serums, facial oils or moisturizers that go on top of it and it prepares a nice base for the rest of my routine.

If you are someone that has never tried K-beauty before then I would highly recommend you get this one product. Just this one product alone can convince you to convert to Asian skincare.

Places to Find it: Wishtrend , Style Korean, Amazon, Althea. You can use my Wishtrend Code :1318350607 to get $5 during checkout.