[Review] Skin Food Black Sugar Cleansing Oil

Living in Hawaii has made it hard to get a lot of skin care products that I want. Sadly, Hawaii does not have a branch of Skin Food (yet). So recently, I bought a cleansing oil from Skin Food on eBay (from here).

Personally I am not a big fan of using cleansing oils to remove makeup and this was no exception. While cleansing oils do remove makeup faster and more effortless than other forms of makeup remover (water or tissue), it makes my skin feel incredibly greasy. While I dislike using the cleansing oils because I find it hard to completely remove all the excessive oils from my skin, my primary concern is how irritated my eyes get when I try to remove my eye makeup. 

I recommend using a cotton pad to put the cleansing oil on

Skin Food's Black Sugar Cleansing Oil removes all my makeup effortlessly. However, whenever I try to remove my eye makeup (which primarily consists of eyeliner and sometimes mascara), I feel like it gets into my eyes because they get irritated afterwards. I do use the cleansing oil every so often when I decide to wear BB creams or concealers. It removes the skin makeup so fast. I just don't really recommend using it around the eye area - especially if your eyes are sensitive towards irritants. 

After removing some BB cream

Rating 6/10

Pros: Removes makeup quickly and effortlessly, great with removing BB creams and foundation

Cons: Irritates the eye when removing eye makeup

Thanks for tuning in and see you soon! :)

- J

[Review] Nature Republic Magic Remover For Mascara

Hi Cuties~ how are your Summer break going so far? I am back (after few weeks) with another review, this time I would be reviewing Nature Republic's Magic Remover For Mascara!!! In this hot weather, you would of course, have something to take off your mascara at the end of the day!! I would recommend this product if you love to wear mascara that are strong and hard to take off! I had to finally review this because I am currently on my third bottle of this mascara remover and I am loving it! The line Magic Remover provide a variety of make up removing products for the whole face and even point make up such as the eyes and lips. Here is a picture of how the product looks like~

Below is a picture of myself using the remover. I removed my makeup on the left side of the eye only.

PRO:

• You don't need a lot to take off mascara, can put some on a cotton pad and it will take off mascara on both sides.
• Could take off even gel and liquid eyeliner and even eyeshadows! (I love it because I put it on a cotton pad and I take all my eye makeup off all in one go!)
• One bottle could last about 3-4 months depending on how often you put on makeup.

CON:

• If you put too much oil on the cotton pad, it will go in your eyes and might sting a bit.
• You have to shake it before using it or the oils wouldn't mix, and it won't be as strong to take off makeup!

COST:

•  Around $5.90 in Hawaii

PHOENIX \m/ UPDATE:

F(x)'s Pinocchio Dance Cover

Sistar's So Cool Dance Cover

U-Kiss' Take Me Away Vocal Cover

Have a great day! see you again Cuties~
~Stephanie

[Review] Nature Republic Botanical Hyper Liner #2 Brown

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't been updating the site for a while. I was swamped with school work and all that. So today, I'm going to be doing a review on Nature Republic's Botanical Hyper Eyeliner.

I don't have the packaging but this is how the liner looks. The Hyper Eyeliner is one of my all time favorite eyeliner. The eyeliner looks like a thin brush and has a fine tip. The eyeliner that is in picture is in the color, brown. I've had the black color eyeliner as well and they both work really well.  The black color is more bold. I felt like the brown color offer a more subtle and natural look in comparison to the black color. 

My eyeliner actually last me about 6 months to my surprise - it worked very well until it ran out. Because the eyeliner has a super fine tip, it was easy to create thin lines as well as thick lines. One of the major reasons this eyeliner is one of my favorites is that it is very versatile. As a pen style eyeliner, it was easy to create sharp ends when I put on the eyeliner. Alongside that, the eyeliner is long lasting even though it is not water proof. For the most part, when I put on the eyeliner, it would last the entire day - even in the humidity of Hawaii. The only thing is, if I were to rub my eyes, the eyeliner would rub off.

Rating: 9/10
Pros: versatile, long lasting, can create thin lines
Cons: comes off if rubbing eyes

Thanks for tuning in and see you next time!

- J

[Review] Nature Republic Lavender Hydrogel Mask

Hello Cuties~ how have you guys been this week? Today I have a mask to review!! yayyy!!!
I love masking, it makes me feel naturally pretty. 

Mask Type: Hydrogel

Brand: Nature Republic
Line: Given By Nature
Name: Lavender
Purpose: Hydration and firming
Duration: 20 minutes

PROS:

• I love the gel type because it provide enough hydration for the face without making it extra sticky.
• The lavender extracts helps firm the face.
• The smell is not that strong, it is refreshing and soothing. 

CONS:

• Sometimes the liquid solution goes into the skin fast so the mask felt dried and slips off.

COST:

Around $2.90 without tax in Hawaii

Also I have another announcement to make! I am very excited to launch my official YouTube account to share with you guys adventures in Hawaii and this is the channel I will be posting review products and tutorials! But I will also be updating on this blog as well! Please Subscribe and follow me to the island of paradise!

KaitatoDiaries' YouTube Channel!!!

This is my recent video on Memorial Day! Please enjoy! (:

PHOENIX \m/ UPDATES:

Kara's Girl Power [Dance Cover]

15&'s Can't Hide It [Vocal Cover]

Song Ji Eun's Pretty Age 25 [Dance Cover]

Thank you Cuties~ Have a nice day!

-Stephanie

[Review] Etude House Wonder Pore Brush

Hi guys! I am so excited to review my first product review from Etude House! They do not have a store in Hawaii yet, so I am thrilled that I actually got something from their store in Korea. I am a big fan of accessories of all kinds, especially with skincare and makeup tools! I had been out of face wash sponges so I decided to purchase this wonderful tool from Etude House, the design seems cute and easy to use, so why not? 

PRO:

• You could use any facial cleanser you wanted, and it will turn it into foams!!
• It came with a holder, so that is convenient to store the brush after washing the face. 
• There are tiny bristles so that really gets into the pores and deep cleans the skin. 
• Every time after I used this brush, my skin felt really clean and it felt almost "exfoliated".
• There are little holes on the bottom, which gives air circulation while drying the brush.

CON:

• If you put too much cleanser on the brush, you will have an overflow of foam, which will get all over your arms!!
• Over time of use, the bristles will not be as pointy as a new one.

Will I repurchase this?

-Yes, I would probably buy for my friends as well!! 

BTS' Just One Dance Dance Cover

Girl's Day's I Miss You Vocal Cover

Tiny-G's Miss You Dance Cover

Thank you for reading Cuties~! Let the Summer Vacation begin!!

-Stephanie

[Review] Etude House Help My Finger Quick Dry Drop

Hey guys! I'm back here today with an Etude House review. Today's review is going to be on Etude House's Help My Finger Quick Dry Drop for drying nails. I love painting my nails but it usually takes a long time for them to dry.

Although this does not 100% dry my nails when I had multiple coats of nail polish on, it does do a pretty good job on the top layer. After a drop or two of the Quick Dry Drops, it completely dries the top layer of my nails and leaves behind a cool feeling.

Dropper for the Quick Dry Drop

I needed about one to two drops for each of my nails. After using the Quick Dry Drop, I would be able to go on with my daily routine. However, I learned the hard way that if you're too rough with your nails even after putting on the drops, it can still damage the design.  

This was a couple days after I painted my nails. As you can see, my nails are starting to grow out.

I noticed, with the size of the bottom and the number of drops it takes to dry the nails, that the Quick Dry Drops is going to last a pretty long time. I have actually used it multiple times before writing this review. Also, I've tried it on a couple of my friends and my sister too. It seems to work pretty well.

Rating: 8.5/10
Pros: able to dry the topmost layer, makes the topmost layer quite sturdy Cons: still have to be careful, does not completely dry all of the nail polish layer

Thanks for for reading and see you next time!

- J

[Review] Nature Republic The Secret of Moisture Snail Special Set

This is a new Snail Line that came into Nature Republic recently~
This is suppose to have less Snail Mucus, but they added different ingredients to sub for it (which I will mention later), and no active ingredients (Like Niacinamide, which is used for brightening). So it's suppose to be more on the moisturizing side, helps with acne, and extremely mild so it's good for ages 13 and up!

Packaging

The set comes in this box that has the cutest packaging with snails on it.

The back has all the product information as well.

The toner uses grapefruit extract to help soften and soothe the skin texture

Emulsion has olive oil extract to moisturize, and nourish the skin

Cream has Shea butter to give the skin a radiant glow

The set comes with a mini foam cleanser, toner, emulsion, and cream.

Product

I didn't include the foam cleanser because it's pretty similar to Jessica's review, expect the texture is lighter.

The toner is thick, and just like all the snail lines it has that gooey texture. When you apply it to the face it doesn't feel heavy at all, just like any other liquid toner.

The emulsion feels quite heavy when you touch it with your hands, but once applied to the face it absorbs really well.

The cream in my opinion is more of a night cream. When I tried to use it during the day as well, it was pretty overwhelming for my skin. So I like to let it absorb over night. The application as you see was very messy.

Price

N/A for the set at the moment(I'll edit it when the price comes out).

The individuals are sold for $20.90 in Hawaii.

Size

Toner 150ml

Emulsion 150m

Cream 75ml

Foam Cleanser 30ml

Pros

       - Makes skin feel really smooth, and soft

       - It includes all the basic things you need for skincare

       - Since it's mild(good for sensitive skin) even 13+ people can use it

Cons

       - Hard to dispense products

       - Doesn't come with spatula for cream

Recommendations?

- If you're oily skin, you don't have to use the cream unless you're okay with letting it absorb overnight

- This line is different than the Snail Solution line(Helps anti-aging), this one is more for moisture, and it also helps with break outs

Overall, repurchase?

As of now no, because I'm still using my tea tree emulsion. Maybe in the future, I liked the results it gave me with my skin texture though.

Good luck and have fun lovelys

- Ashley

[Review] Nature Republic Given By Nature Broccoli Mask Sheet

Hi my pretties! It's been a while since I reviewed something. Today I'm going to review the Nature Republic's Broccoli mask sheet. I have a huge mask sheet collection and I'm currently working on trying at least one of all the mask sheets I have to tell you guys how I feel about them.

"Broccoli extracts make skin look radiant by providing nourishment and vitality deep into skin."

Mask Type: Cotton

Brand: Nature Republic
Line: Given By Nature
Name: Broccoli
Purpose: moisture and radiance
Duration: 10-20 minutes

The mask sheet has a thick, white serum and feels super cooling on the skin. For this mask sheet, the instructions said to leave it on the face for 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, I just pat the rest of the serum into my skin. I noticed that this serum is actually quite thick. My skin felt sticky even after about 30 minutes since I put the mask sheet, but I didn't wash anything off before I went to bed. I am not a big fan of how sticky the serum was on my face.But when I woke up, I found that my skin felt super moisturized. My skin was able to absorb most the serum overnight. I can feel that there were some of the serum still on my skin because it was a little bit sticky.

Rating: 6.5/10
Pros: very moisturizing, feels nice on the skin
Cons: too sticky

Personally, I am a big fan of light serum in the mask sheets. I like it when the serum is able to absorb fully into my skin before I go to bed. 

Thanks for tuning in and see you next time!

-J

[Review] Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Seaweed Peel-off

Hello Cuties~ how have you guys been? today I will be reviewing Nature Republic's Hawaiian Fresh Seaweed Peel-off!!! I bought this a long time ago and have used it a while too so I decided to do a review on it. I have not tried anything mask that are peel offs, which means that when put on the face, its pasty looking and after a while it dried up into a sheet and then just peel it off. The Hawaiian Fresh line in general is very good for helping with the pores. Below are some pictures showing the product and how it looks like on the skin! I use this product whenever I felt like my skin have a lot of impurities on them.

There are no instruction to put this product on exactly, so I can give some tips for you!

• Squeeze some of the product on to your fingers then spread it all over the forehead, then cheeks, the nose, etc.
• Make the layer to be a little thin.
• When you put it on, don't rub it around your skin, just slowly spread the product around enough to cover the whole face.
• Make sure all the products connects, so when it dries, it'll be easier to take it off all in one piece. (with this method, it doesn't take time to peel all of them off and it's easy to dispose)

PROS:

• The product is a peel off- which is fun to play with.
• The seaweed could help with lifting the impurities in the pores and tighten them too.
• It also makes the skin feel really soft after.

CONS:

• It will get a little messy on the fingers.
• There are not enough product to last more than 20 applications for the whole face. So I recommend this once a week or once a month.
• If you put on a thick layer, it will take a longer time to dry!

COST:

~$9.90 without tax in Hawaii

PHOENIX \m/ UPDATES:

SPARK's U-KISS' Someday [Vocal Cover]

Chinese New Years Block Party Performance

100% V's Missing You [Dance Cover]

Thank you for reading! have a nice day!

-Stephanie

[Review] Nature Republic Provence Gel Eyeliner #3 Burgundy

Nature Republic's gel eyeliner is by far the best gel eyeliner I have ever used. I normally dislike using eyeliner in general, because they usually smudge on me, but Nature Republic's gel liner has the best smudge proof formula in my opinion.

#3 Burgundy

Packaging
It's very simple. 

"This pencil-type gel eyeliner allows you to draw a defined line by using soft gel in the pencil."

Price
I believe it's around $10.90 in Hawaii, but I bought it on sale for $4.95

Size
Not sure how long I would compare it to, but it lasts for about 2 to 3 months depending how often you use it. It really takes awhile to get it down to nothing.

Product

The end has a smudger, so you can smudge your eyeliner if you want to. The eyeliner itself is the type you have to sharpen, which I tend to prefer than the one auto gel liners.

The burgundy color isn't too overwhelming like black, and it's something different than using the typical brown color.

Pros:
         - Smudge proof when it sets
         - I don't have to constantly check for smudges
         - Color isn't harsh on the eyes
Cons:
         - You have to buy a sharpener

Recommendations?
- You have to let the eyeliner set, if you touch the eyeliner while it's still setting it will smudge. That's why it comes with a smudger, so you can manipulate it how you want your eyeliner to be like before it dries.

Overall, repurchase?
This by far is the best non smudge eyeliner I have ever use. This is actually my second repurchase of this liner. My only wish is that I could get this in brown too. :'(

Good luck and have fun lovelys

- Ashley

[Review] Nature Republic Gold Brown Hair Color Cream

Hello Cuties! I am very excited for today's review, because I will be reviewing Nature Republic's Gold Brown Hair Color Cream. I had always been a fan of brown hair colors so I decided to try their lightest hair dye, which is the gold brown one. Below is how it looks like with the box, the front have the beautiful Taeyeon with her gold brown hair, and on the side includes the results of the color depending on your own hair color. There includes English direction too in case you do not know the steps to mixing your solutions. 

Includes: Directions, color cream, color solution, plastic apron, gloves, and treatment pack

The directions are fairly simple; first take #1 (the tube) and squirt it all inside #2 (the bottle). After that, you can shake the bottle for about two minutes then start applying it to your hair. 

On the top shows that my hair was dark/ natural brown, and how it turns out after I colored my hair. 

PROS:

• I liked that it includes gloves, apron, and free treatment.
• The ingredients for this hair dye is mostly natural so it won't damage the hair as much.
• Smells fruity instead of chemicals.
• Color does not fade fast, will last about 5-6 months. 

CONS:

• It does not cover most of my hair, since I have a lot of hair so some hair is still dark brown. 

COST:

around $7.90

PHOENIX \m/ UPDATES:

Hello Venus- Wiggle Wiggle (Dance Cover)

Miss A- Love Alone (Dance Cover)

One Direction- Little Things (Vocal Cover)

Thanks for reading Cuties~! I'll be back for more reviews!

-Mahalo, Stephanie

[Review] The Face Shop Milk Calcium Nail Pack

I am a big fan of painting my nails. My nails actually feels bare if I don't have any nail polish on. But the worse thing about my nails is that it becomes super damaged after painting and removing the nail polish. This was the first time I've tried any nail pack before.

[Strengthening & Prevents Splitting]

"Provides intensive care for fingernails and cuticles"

At The Face Shop, they sell different nail packs. I think there was one for brightening the nails as well but I chose the Calcium Nail Pack because it was supposed to strengthen my nails. I've been having issues with my nails splitting and/or chipping so I thought this nail pack would be very good for my nails. 

This is how my nails looks right after I put on the nail pack. I don't have a more recent picture of my nails since I painted them but I've noticed that my nails haven't chipped or split since I put on the nail pack. It has been about 3 weeks since I did the nail pack and so far so good. This is a must have for those of you who have nails that are weak or splits easily. I actually bought this nail pack a while back so I don't remember how much it costs. I think it was about $2-3. I would definitely repurchase this product; however, it is not something I will use weekly (maybe monthly or bi-monthly).

Rating: 8/10

Pros: does what it advertises, nails do not chip or split as fast, nails become stronger

Cons: hard to use/apply to nails

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

- J

[Review] Etude House Scrub Massage Yogurt {Sugar Apple}

Packaging
Very simple tube packing, very convenient to just put the product onto your hand.

Description
"This yogurt wash-off pack gently massages the skin with its peeling particles and the sweet and soft tropical fruit, sugar apple extract (ANONA CHERIMOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT), delivering smooth and firm skin.

Price
$ 7.00 on the website

Size
4.05 fl. oz. / 120 ml

Product

The texture is very similar to yogurt, and smells like it too. The scrub isn't very strong so I wouldn't recommend this as a exfoliate, but rather a face pack.

Pros:
         - Makes skin feel smooth
         - Scent is nice
Cons:
         - It's not a exfoliate

Recommendations
- Only get this if you're looking for a face pack
- The apple one is for firming, get the raspberry for "clear" skin
- Leave on for about 10 to 15 minutes then wash off

Overall, repurchase?
I'd probably get the cranberry one, I got the apple one because I thought I'd prefer the scent, and didn't know there were actually different benefits between the two. I can't honestly say if the pack helped with firming, but it does leave the skin very soft. 

Good luck, and have fun lovelys.

- Ashley