Posting Schedule

The three of us are in college right now; things have been getting busy lately and we are not able to post as often as before. We're sorry for the inconvenience but for each week, we will be posting three times. Until further notice, this is the schedule for when we publish a post:

Mondays: Jessica
Wednesdays: Stephanie
Thursdays: Ashley

These are the set schedule but, if we have more time, we will be posting more often. At the minimum, we will be posting three times a week. This is the main schedule for Fall of 2014. Our schedules may change throughout the holidays and Spring of 2015. We will update our schedules as soon as possible. 

Thanks for your understanding and see you soon my pretties!

- Jessica

Support the Phoenix \m/ Dance Crew

Aloha Cuties! From now on, we will be collaborating with Phoenix \m/ Dance. They are a club that started in Hawaii, hence the \m/ sign, which in Hawaii, it resembles a shaka or aloha sign. This group was created to express their love of music and dance through the internet. Although they are interested in doing Korean Pop music covers, they are opened to all genres of music, which they also create their own choreography. Coming from their Hawaiian root, they would always share aloha and open up for any requests that would like to be seen or covered. Feel free to visit their Facebook and Youtube, don't forget to drop a request~! Keep reading this blog for more cover updates from Phoenix and more Korean cosmetics review from us! 

Phoenix \m/ Dance Facebook
Phoenix \m/ Dance Youtube

And here's a message from Phoenix \m/ Dance:

Banner by Ritsu

"We decided on the name Phoenix because a phoenix has the freedom to fly and change into whatever we want to become, the freedom to be born anew and have limitless possibilities at creativity and ideas, and the ability to take chances without being judged. For a phoenix has an infinite amount of lives and chances to make sure they get it right. The \m/ represents the Shaka sign because of our Hawaiian roots." 

-Phoenix \m/ Dance Youtube

Have you heard of Sistar's hot sizzling new Summer track "Touch My Body"? Here is their music video, which is a catchy song full of enjoyment.

Here is Phoenix \m/ Dance's Sistar's Touch My Body [Dance Cover], with members starting from left to right, Ritsu, Aria, Karina, and KaiKai. Please enjoy and have a nice day~! 

Thanks for Reading Cuties! Hope you all have a sunny bright day! ^_^

-Stephanie

Now on Tumblr~

Hey guys! Although our blog is still under construction, we have started a Tumblr account. We will be posting pictures of Korean skincare and cosmetics.

Follow us at:

http://cutiesforlyf.tumblr.com/

Stay tuned for more announcements and rock on my pretties!

- Jessica

[Review] The Face Shop Phytogenic Infinite EX Powder Foundation (Renewal)

So along with the concealer I also got the powder foundation for more coverage, makes my face matte, and the other typical reasons why you would get a powder(lol).
The description on the box says "A lightweight powder foundation smoothes skin texture and covers up flaws while maintaining a smooth touch and natural matte finish all day long. A long-lasting maximum coverage formula with natural mineral powder will not change color even through heat or humidity". 

It comes with a little sponge, honestly I never use them unless I really need to. I usually use a brush or one of those triangle sponges, depending on how light or how much coverage I want.

I feel like using the one it comes with can get a little unhygienic.

Without vs with the powder foundation on my hand.
Shade is NB25.

This is the finishing touch(With eyeliner and lip tint as well, ehe)-- This is with the phytogenic concealer as well but the coverage together does hide majority of my flaws, make my skin tone look more even.. :'( And it makes my skin look more brighter too.

Pros:

        - You can control the amount of coverage, for more natural look just use a brush and for more coverage just use a sponge

        - Mild coverage. (Doesn't cover my acne scars, have to go over with concealer)

        - It's a powder + foundation together! Very good for humid weather like Hawaii

Cons: 

        - Doesn't control oil so after awhile I do have to use a oil blotting sheet

        - Limited shades (only two in Hawaii)

Repurchase: 

         - Maybe. This is my first powder/foundation, I was really excited to try this out because Hawaii never has this and this is the first one I've seen, but I'd still like to try different ones, if not I'll stick to this one. 

Good luck and have fun lovelies!

- Ashley

[Review] The Face Shop Spot Clear Intensive Patch

Ladies and Gentlemen! Introducing the Spot Clear Intensive Patch for acne.

I have always been using these Spot Clear Intensive Patch for a while now and I think it's about time I review them. So, The Face Shop sells these little packets for $2 each. Inside each package contains 12 pieces - six larges and six smalls. These clear patches are thin tape like piece that contain ingredients to "fight blemishes". I've tried to put makeup on top of these patches so I would be able to use this throughout the day, but the makeup only made it more visible. 

For these patches, the instructions say to leave it on for 8-12 hours. So right before I went to bed, I put on a couple of these patches focusing on the area where I have pimples at. When I woke up in the morning, I removed the patches and washed my face. The redness and size of the pimples have noticeably reduced. However, it does not COMPLETELY get rid of the acne. The purpose of this is to reduce the acne over a period of time; eventually, getting rid of it.    

Pros: super easy to use, fast, reduces size of pimples/acne, reduces redness of pimples/acne
Cons: very visible, hard to wear out, does not get rid of acne completely

Thanks for tuning in! Have fun my lovelies!

- Jessica 

[Review] The Face Shop Phytogenic Infinite Ex Concealer Duo (Renewal)

I went to the face shop the other day, and I was looking for a new concealer. I asked one of the workers there, and she recommended the Phytogenic concealer duo. I used to use this so I was kind of "ehh" about it.. But apparently the worker had time me that they actually renewed with new formula and all that jazz(The old one is the green one), since they JUST got it in today the worker told me that I was going to be their first customer to try out their tester (ooh, so fancy right?) So as I applied the concealer to my face I had a 'most likely going to be the same' kind of attitude but looking at the mirror applying it, I liked the coverage it provided most concealers don't even cover my scars at all. I normally don't like concealers that are too heavy because I feel like it will clog my pores but this is extremely light, as if I'm not wearing anything.

I mainly use the liquid for my under eyes but sometimes when I feel like I need more coverage I will put the cream stick on first then put the liquid on top.

This shade is NB25 btw.

I hate taking pictures... Every time I wear the concealer people claim they can't see my scars but I'm not sure if they're lying or not. ಠ╭╮ಠ

Pros: 

         - Mild coverage

         - Very light

         - Affordable, it is two concealers in one

Cons:

         - Very limited shades (There was only two available in Hawaii)

         - Since it's light, it will come off if you sweat a lot
         - Doesn't cover all of my scars

Repurchase?: 

          - I will probably just try out some other ones first but if I can't find any better I will come back to this one.

Have fun and good luck lovelies!

- Ashley

[Review] The Face Shop White Jewel Peeling

Have you heard of the facial scrubs like sugar and honey? Usually scrubs are good for exfoliating and taking care of your dead skin cells. I personally haven't tried the homemade sugar scrubs, but I had found something that have similar functions like a scrub. My face gets oily and dirty sometimes when I do not wash it well or remove the makeup well. I had decided to try The Face Shop's White Jewel Peeling, which contains the ingredients of pearls. This product helps with exfoliating, have a strong scrub, and also brightens your skin tone. This peeling scrub is a product that contains cellulose, which can be found in plant walls and vegetable fibers that helps with peeling off dead skin cells. 

Cost: ~$15 Hawaii Branch

Below is an example with my hands, which when you massage the product around, it will show all the clumped up dead skin cells. Those dead skin cells collected up in the very top layer of your epidermis is now removed, leaving your skin to be smooth, bright, moisturized, and clean.

Now lets try it on my face! All I needed was a little amount of the product and I started massaging all over my face for about 3 to 4 minutes. After massaging, all the dead skin cells started to clump up together. Then to remove the clumps off of your face, you rinse it and then continue with your daily skin care routine after you wash your face. You can see that after massaging it into my face, it started to look brighter and have a little shine. For best results, use once or twice a week. 

Pros: 

• Helps with exfoliating my dead skins leaving it brightened.
• You don't need a lot of the product for the whole face.
• It smells good and gives a refreshed feeling.
• It helps with brightening, which I love personally.

Cons:

• Might be too pricey, but I guess it is worth it.

Have a lovely day and stay beautiful Cuties ~ <3

                                                                                     -Stephanie 

[Review] Nature Republic Snail Solution Foam Cleanser

SNAIL!!!! Yes, this is the infamous snail mucus face wash that leaves the skin feeling well moisturized!

I'm not sure how many of you guys out there are fans of this face wash but for me, this is the world's greatest face wash! At least for the time being. For someone who has dry skin or more of a dry/combo skin, this face wash is amazing. It leaves the skin feeling soft and supple - not drying at all. Usually when something cleans very well, it means that it is more drying because it would strip the skin of the natural oils, but this face wash doesn't do that. This product has a very nice moisturizing effect. As a part of the advertisement, it says the face wash is supposed to revitalize the skin. Apart from my skin feeling moisturized, I do feel the revitalizing effect.

As you can see from the picture above, the face wash is very creamy. The texture is almost a little bit slimey. I think Nature Republic did that on purpose because the face wash contains filtered snail mucus (slime). Yet when mixed with water, it becomes super light and bubbly.

Although you can't see the revitalizing results immediately, the skin does feel soft and supple. All in all, it leaves the skin feeling amazing!

Cost: I believe it was $16.90 before tax

Pros: great for dry skin, smells creamy, perfect for winter or dry areas 

Con: not so good for oily skin, if you don't like the idea of snail secretion on your skin 

Thanks for tuning in and see you next time my pretties!

- Jessica

[Review] The Face Shop Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack

This hot weather has made my pores all clogged up by sweat and oil - which was more noticeable when I put BB cream on top of it. I decided to try The Face Shop's Volcanic Clay Black Head Nose Pack. I really needed something strong so that it would help me clean my pores and take out all the black heads. At first I didn't know anything about black heads; I always put BB creams on top of them and didn't really like the results on the areas around my nose. Since I notice there would be small bumps and dents on my nose, I did not really want to put BB cream on because it made my pores more noticeable. 

I had heard of the black head strips before, but I never heard of clay packs for removing black heads, so I decided to give it a try. The Face Shop's black head clay helps with clearing the pores, removing sebum and impurities, and it also makes my skin smoother. 

Inside this tube, there is a paste-like mud clay, which is a little sticky. I just used a pea-sized amount of the clay and spread it all over my nose. A little goes a long way when it comes to skincare. 

Here is a picture showing you the results:

1. My oily nose with black heads.

2. The application of the clay onto my nose.

3. It is recommended to leave it on for 10-15 minutes, but I kept it on until it is fully dry. This will allow clean up time to be easier. If some areas are not dry, it will still be a little sticky.

4. YUCK! and awesome at the same time, look at what came out of my pores.

Cost: $8-9.00~ I bought it in Hawaii

Pros: 

• It removes my black heads and impurities very well, as you can see on the picture #4.
• Made my nose smooth and got rid of all oil on the skin too.
• The paste-like texture allows you to choose the thickness of the clay. 
• You are able to put it on anywhere with black heads, pores, or impurities

Cons:

• The texture is sticky when you put it on, which a clumsy person like me would get some clay on my other fingers and other objects too.
• The smell is mild, which I personally would preferred something floral-like.

This paste could last you for a long time if you use a pea-sized amount every time. Hope you enjoy my first review! Thank you so much Cuties~! <3

                                                                                                                              -Stephanie

[Review] SkinFood Royal Honey Hydro Cream

Recently, I went to California to visit some friends and discovered a Korean skincare store called SkinFood. I've heard a lot of raves about this skin care store but unfortunately, it is not available in Hawai'i. So I was super thrilled when I came across this store.

One of the items I picked out was the Royal Honey Hydro Cream. This cream was quite bulky and costs about $30 with tax but I was completely fine with it because I didn't bring any skin care products with me. Not bringing any skin care items with me was a really really bad idea. I didn't expect my skin to become so dry due to the weather difference in California. It was so bad that I actually started breaking out. This hydro cream is a lifesaver - or rather a skinsaver.

My first reaction to this face cream was how light it was. My personal preference is to keep things light with skin care. I don't really like to have thick creams unless the weather is super cold or my skin is super dry. I like the consistency of the cream. The light texture was probably due to the fact that it's a "hydro cream" rather than a thick cream. 

How it looks on the inside

The Royal Honey Hydro Cream smells really good. It has a sweet scent to it. There's a subtle hint of honey. Oh, I would also like to mention that I got sunburned in California. My skin became pink. I put some of this hydro cream on the day I got sunburned and it reduced the redness on my skin. I guess that just shows how hydrating and moisturizing this product is.

How the cream looks on the skin

For me, this is a great product when the weather becomes dry. I haven't actually used it as often when I came back to Hawai'i. The weather is so humid here that adding this onto my skin would make it feel sticky. When the temperature drops a couple degrees during the winter, I know I will definitely use it.

Pros: great smell, super hydrating, very light texture
Cons: too sticky for the humid weather

Thanks for tuning in and see you soon my pretties!

- Jessica

[Review] Nature Republic Hawaiian FRESH Clear Spot Solution

Since I work at Nature Republic, I get to try out products when I'm working to learn more about them, so when I first started working every time I broke out I would just apply this product to my product and omg, I loved the results.
I don't know about some of you guys but I have the tendency to break out, especially during "my time of the month" since hormones are just EVERYWHERE!
We have something called "Clear spot solution" which is basically like a spot treatment for "fresh pimples/acne" fresh as in new.

Even though it says it's for "fresh" acne/pimples, I don't think that's entirely true, it just works faster, A LOT faster when you put it on when it just appeared on your face, rather than a few days longer. 

The solution itself is just clear and you don't need to use that much on your pimples, just enough for it to be covering it so your pimple can absorb the product.
Just yesterday I had the most ugliest pimple that just randomly decided to appear on my face, well not randomly.. I got too lazy to wash my face... So this the consequence.

I don't know if you can tell and I'm sorry for all the horrible quality of my pimples but you can kind of see the pus from the pimple. xD"" August 18, 2014

I applied this about twice that day, and by the time I got home from spending time with my friends, it was basically gone. Expect for the redness but other than that it was gone!

Then this is today. August 19, 2014.

Pros: 

         - Fast acting

         - Affordable (~$9 In Hawaii)

         -  It's clear so you can just go out with it on and no one will notice, unless they go right up to you

Cons:

         - I don't know if it's just me but when I put it on it seems to make the pimple bigger for awhile then it starts to shrink, so it makes it kind of tempting to try pop it even though you shouldn't and it's not worth it.

Overall:

        - Despite the pimple looking really pop-able for awhile, quickly after it will disappear or get significantly smaller, so the end results are much better than just trying to pop it and ending up with a scar.

Hope this review was helpful and if you have any questions feel free to email or comment.

Good luck and have fun lovelies.

-Ashley

[Review] The Face Shop White Tree Snow Foam Cleanser

Recently, I went to TheFaceshop and bought the White Tree Snow Foam Cleanser. I've gotten a sample of this product before and loved it. I was quite lucky to be the owner of one of these cleanser because it sells out very quickly.

First off, this cleanser contains a scrub inside. There are little micro bead to help exfoliate my skin. The consistency is still creamy even with the micro beads. The scrub inside feels a little bit gritty on the skin. Overall, the White Tree Snow Foam Cleanser smells very nice; I just don't know how to describe the smell. When I mixed the cleanser with water to clean my face, the texture becomes super light and froffy.  

White Tree Snow Foam Cleanser on my hand; I don't know if you can see the scrub particles

I totally forgot the price of this product; I just know it was somewhere between $14-16. Personally, I think this is a pretty good value for a face wash especially because I really enjoy this product. This is one of my favorite cleansers of all time because of the scrub inside. It's something unique since most of my cleansers are just creamy and doesn't have too much texture. This foam cleanser is supposed to brighten the skin, but I can't really tell if it's working. I feel that my skin is pretty fair, so brightening is not a big deal for me. And honestly, I enjoy the White Tree Snow Foam Cleanser for it's ability to cleanse. I like how the foam cleanser cleans very well and leaves the skin feeling refreshed. So far, the White Tree Snow hasn't dry my skin out - which might I add, is just great!


Hope you guys enjoyed this review my pretties! Till next time!

- Jessica

How to: Use a Mask Sheet

Hey Cuties! Have you ever been to a cosmetics shop and wonder what exactly is a face mask? 

Yes, it is exactly what you would picture it would be, a sheet that covers your face. Usually in a Korean cosmetics shop; they package these face masks. Usually every pack contains one mask with a unique solution. These mask are all one time use. And there's so many to choose from. Mask sheets range from moisture to hydration, brightening to anti-aging, and so on. 

These face masks are similar to going to the spa and getting a facial done, but are more like the DIY ones. Whenever you have time to relax, you can put on a face mask to help de-stress your skin. Here are the steps to use them properly:

STEP 1. Select a face mask that you would like to try or put on. It is better to wash your face first with your daily cleanser so you would have a clean and fresh face to put the mask on; this would help the mask penetrate your skin faster rather than putting it on without washing your face.

STEP 2. (Optional) This step is optional; you can use a toner or skin booster after you wash your face because if you're putting on the mask on at night. You could just incorporate the mask as a part of your skin care routine. If you don’t have a toner or skin booster, you can still put the face mask on. The toner is used to help the solution in the mask absorb into the skin better. 

STEP 3.  Open up your mask pack, inside you would find a mask shaped with holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth. Then place the mask accordingly. Check the how long you should leave the mask on your skin. This depends on the type of mask you have. You can usually find it on the back of the package. Make sure you time yourself. After putting on the face mask, you can take a little nap, watch TV, or go online doing your thing until time is up and let the mask do its magic!

STEP 4. TIMES UP! [DO NOT GO OVER THE RECOMMENDED TIME!] After you reach the allotted time for the mask sheet, remove it and throw it away. DO NOT WASH YOUR FACE AFTER! Let the solution soak into your skin. You could also pat and massage the solution into the face. This would also help your skin absorb better. WAH LAH! You are done! 

For best results, use the masks once or twice a week. Have fun with your face mask Cuties! ^3^

-Stephanie 

Your Skin and You: Skin Care Routine

Ever been into a store and see rows and rows of products? There's usually a lot of skin care products for every line. Not all of the stores display the products in the order that they would be applied to the skin. There are so many products out there; so how do you know which one goes first? The recommended process is this:

Boosting Essence
The boosting essence or what I call the "toner for the toner", is a light weight watery liquid that is used first in the skin care process. The boosting essence usually contains more ingredients than the toner. It is used to help the toner penetrate the skin cell layers better. This is a rather new addition to the skin care line as most skin care routines begin with the toner. I usually only see the boosting essence in two-three skin care lines out of like twenty skin care lines. 

Toner (a.k.a. Skin Booster)
The toner, sometimes even called the skin booster, contains slightly more alcohol than the boosting essence. The alcohol content is actually used for cleansing the remnants of beauty product that are not removed from washing your face. The toner helps the skin absorb more moisturizer and is used to purify the skin of left over face wash, make up, and etc. that are not completely removed in the cleansing process. 

Ampoule
Ampoule is a light weight moisturizer that usually comes in a bottle with a dropper. This moisturizer is very light and thin in comparison to the other ones. 

Emulsion or Essence (a.k.a. Serum)
There are two different types of thicker moisturizer. They both exists but the order you have to use it depends on the consistency. As a general rule of thumb, the lighter one goes on first. The thicker lotion would go on after the lighter one. Occasionally, some skin care lines have thicker emulsions and some skin care lines have thicker essences (also known as serums). For example: If the essence is thicker, you would use the emulsion first then the essence. If the emulsion is thicker, the essence would be applied on the skin first then the emulsion. 

Eye Cream
Eye creams are cream created specifically for the eye area. This cream goes on before the face cream and can be applied all around the eyes. The consistency of the eye cream should be thicker than the emulsion and the essence but not as thick as the face cream. 

Cream
The cream or face cream has the thickest consistency of all of the moisturizers. The purpose of this is to provide the skin with the most moisture. In all skin care lines, the cream is usually the last to be applied onto the skin. 

Personally, I think using the everything listed above is over the top. However, if you do own all of these, this is the "recommended" steps for skin care line. Generally, whatever is lighter goes on first while whatever is thicker ends up on the skin last. You don't have to purchase everything in a skin care routine especially if you are just beginning to use skin care products. As always, everything is up to your preference. You don't have stick this routine and you definitely don't have to purchase everything in the skin care line. What is best for your skin may not be best for another person's. Hope this helped with understanding the skin care routine and good luck my pretties!

- Jessica

[Review] Nature Republic Eyelash

Woo! First review, ahaha.

So, we recently got fake eyelashes in the Hawaii branch for Nature Republic! I had to help be a character for my friend's cosplay photoshoot thing. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try out the fake eyelashes. I was a bit worried because I never had to put on fake eyelashes before or had any urges to try any.

When I opened the glue, the first thing I took notice was that it wasn't the typical you have to carefully squeeze out the glue yourself type of eyelash glue. <__<! The stick really made it easier to evenly apply the glue onto the eyelash much easier, especially for a first time like me!

So this is what it looks like with the right side having the fake eyelash on vs the left side with just my normal eyelashes. Pretty big difference, huh?

Then this is what I looked like later that day with both sides! Looks really natural and pretty, doesn't it? 

Honestly, I really don't know any cons for this product! It lasted all day, putting it on was a piece of cake, and the glue itself was pretty tough. I actually blink a lot and have a tendency to ALWAYS rub my eyes! But the fake eyelashes still stayed in place.
Oh, and at one point the star on my necklace fell off so I used the eyelash glue to glue the star on and it worked. x3 Pretty strong glue! LOL.

Oh and as for the price, I believe it was around $3 for the Hawaii branch at least. I don't know if that's pretty cheap or expensive for a pair of fake eyelashes but they were really durable and pretty.

Good luck and have fun lovelies.

-Ashley

Your Skin and You: What are the different skin types?

The first thing to skin care is finding out what skin type you have. Just like how everyone of us is unique and different, so is your skin type. There are four basic skin types - oily, combination, dry, and normal. 

Oily Skin

Oily skin type is usually when your face has too much oil. Throughout the day, your entire face would get oily; you would get "shiny". This is due to your skin producing too much oils throughout the day.

Combination Skin

Combination skin type is when you have a combination of oily and dry skin, hence where the name comes from. Most people with combination skin type usually have oily skin on the "t-zone" (forehead and nose) while having dry skin or normal skin around their cheeks as shown in the picture.


Dry Skin

Dry skin type is when the skin does not produce enough oil to the skin. Usually people with this skin type would feel the skin is lacking moisture or would have flaky skin. 


Normal Skin

Normal skin types are usually people who have skin that are not oily and not dry. They do not have combination skin but rather the "perfect" balance between dry and oily skin. For skin care purposes, people with normal skin should use combination skin products as it is not too thick nor too light.


These are just the broad categories of skin types. Throughout our lifetime we may experience different skin types as they can change. Skin types depends on many things like hormones, diet, weather, and even genetics. That's why your skin is unique to you. 

Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is not a separate skin type as you can have sensitive skin with any of the different skin types. Sensitive skin is when your skin is very reactive to many ingredients within products. Reactions to these products may include irritated skin, redness and itchiness. People with sensitive skin should use hypoallergenic products to prevent a reaction from occurring. 

As always everyone's skin is different and unique. The best way to learn more about your skin type is to try things out. Hope this helps and good luck my pretties! 

- Jessica