Elizavecca Gold CF-Nest White Bomb Eye Cream Review #bbcosmetic

I'm going to admit right now that I've never kept up on using an eye cream before in my life. I get one, and use it a few times before deciding that my regular skincare is just as well going up under my eyes as it is on the rest of my face. And that is that.

I'm a big fan of Elizavecca products, and not just because of that adorable little piggy, but because their products generally work well with my skin.

The Elizavecca Gold CF-Nest White Bomb Eye Cream is the second part of a package I received from BB Cosmetic - the first being the Choonee Rejuvenating Horse Fat Masks I reviewed last week.

Before we get started, I want to note that this product was received as a press sample, and the bottom of the post does contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This is what helps fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways.

Have you even woken up one morning and swear you look drastically older than you did the night before? That happened to me when I turned 30 a couple months ago. It's like a switch flipped and my body thought I had a lot of aging to catch up on. I noticed fine lines and my first grey hairs, and of course some new pains that I think I'm too young to be complaining about yet... But regardless I was determined to get my semi-youthful face back, and part of that quest was finally settling down with an eye cream and getting serious - about regular application that is.

This eye cream contains Swiftlet Nest Extract to help stimulate collagen production, niacinamde to brighten, and a mixture of other moisturizing oils and extracts to hydrate and protect the delicate eye area.

Swiftlet nest extract is harvested carefully as not to disturb the nesting habits of the birds (even from abandoned nests). It is actually the saliva of swiftlets used to "cement" their nests together. Swiftlet nest extract has been harvested for hundreds of years to be used in birds nest soup and other dishes, thought to be nutrient-rich and offering several health benefits including digestive aide and immune system support.

The tube packaging looks beautiful for this product, so elegant with the touches of gold. And of course it wouldn't be Elizavecca without the "milky piggy" adorning the tube. I'm very appreciative of the small opening on this easy-to-squeeze tube, it's much more simple to dispense than scooping out of a jar.

The eye cream is white in color with specks of gold throughout. It has a light fresh lotion scent that doesn't linger.

It spreads thinly across my skin, and have a thick lotion feel, but isn't too heavy for my oily skin.

With a bit of patting with my ring finger, the cream absorbs within seconds into my skin.

I used this eye cream for 3 weeks (daily) and feel like my eye area looks more "awake" during the day than it used to. Forgive the change in lighting below, but the area looks a bit less creased (but it wasn't too bad beforehand) and the darkness is less severe.

Overall I'm really happy with this cream and will continue to use it - and am thoroughly convinced that - at my age - an eye cream is absolutely more beneficial than just regular skincare.

This eye cream is available at BB Cosmetic, as well as on Amazon.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This post may contain affiliate links, marked with an "*" and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links - which costs nothing to the consumer but does help this site. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Venus Has Started The Stella & Chewy's 30 Day Raw Challenge! #chewyinfluencer

There was a slight delay in our start-up with this challenge but, from now through the middle of July, Venus will be transitioning to and eating only Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried Dinners.

Our box arrived from Chewy.com - as they are so generously sponsoring this challenge - and Venus knew it meant something good was at the door. She managed to jump right in the box and investigate! Of course I had to pop a bag open and let her sample...

Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried Dinners come in easy to store bags that are even easier to serve up at meal time. The freeze dried patties weigh about .4oz each - very lightweight, and easy to break apart.

There is something so satifying about looking at a bag of dog food and being able to recognize whole food ingredients. The Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried Dinner Pattys have meat at the first three ingredients, and continues to list many vegetables, fruits, vitamins and minerals. This is a food I feel very confident feeding my baby girl for the next month.

The patties can also be broken up into a bowl with water added - 1/4 cup of water for every two patties - to rehydrate the freeze dried meat. This is really helpful to make sure Venus is getting enough water in her diet. She's generally more concerned with meat vs water.

Venus will eat about 7 patties daily.

So.. first impressions?

I think this will be a fun 30 days. I can't wait to see what changes this challenge makes for Venus.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. This blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. 

Illi Total Aging Care Cleansing Water Review

Believe it or not, even with oily skin I'm still at risk of feeling like I've overwashed my face. Mornings are the worst for me - after using Curology my face generally feels "normal" in the morning vs dripping oil like a grease canister. This is a great feeling for me, except that if I wash it in the morning when it's not super oily, my skin ends up feeling more on the dry side all morning, if not all day. So it was then that I set out on my quest for a cleansing water.

Not only was a cleansing water an ideal solution for minimal cleansing, but also for mornings and evenings when I just didn't have the ambition to fully cleanse my face as well. I've tried a couple others that my skin didn't particularly care for.

This was my most anticipated from the three cleansing waters I started out with, and luckily for me - the illi Total Aging Care Cleansing Water became just the skincare unicorn I had been looking for.

Before we get started, I want to note that this post does contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This is what helps fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways.

Illi is a brand boasting hanbang ingredients - bringing a collaboration of fermented herbal goodness to your skin, christened with the most amazing scents you could imagine. Well, that's my personal opinion anyway - not everyone will enjoy these scents, but even with my susceptibility to migraines the Total Aging Care Cleansing Water (and other illi products I've tried so far) smells like heaven in a bottle and I find myself seeking out more items to try.

If you are unfamiliar with cleansing waters, they are a water infused with mild cleansing agents that do not need to be washed away. When applying them to cotton you can simply wipe away makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and oils - leaving behind skin that feels moist and refreshed. This water is no exception, and is even infused with other vitamins and minerals to soothe and protect all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Ingredients: Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Panax Ginseng Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Natto Gum, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance

Camellia sinensis (green tea) provides powerful antioxidant benefits that ward off the effects of aging. It's also an anti-carcinogenic that can minimize the damaging effects of sun exposure. It is also an anti-inflamatory in addition to minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Camellia japonica also provides antioxidant effects as well as omega and vitamin-rich hydration that is beneficial for anti-aging.
While strong signs of aging are not a current issue for my skin, camellia is at the top of my list of requirements to slow the visible signs of aging as much as possible.

The illi Total Aging Care Cleansing Water comes in an easy to dispense, flip top plastic bottle. It's simple to squeeze or even just shake a small amount out onto a cotton pad.

The water is liquid - just as any other water is - but it has the most intoxicating scent. The camellia, and what I imagine is added fragrance, gives this cleansing water a light floral scent that is sweet with an undertone of honey. The oil and glycerin gives it a nice amount of slip.

To use, I saturate about half of a cotton pad. In the photos below I am using the Cosrx cottons.

My face doesn't look the best here, but this is my full face of makeup after a whole day. I tried a new cushion out and it stayed fairly well, aside from the constant nose-blowing that accompanied the allergies I was dealing with at the time.

As you can see below, it took 6 pads to remove a full face of makeup, including waterproof mascara. To me, this was impressive, considering I generally use two cleansers (oil and "foaming") to remove any makeup. The real test was to see if this removed enough to inhibit any clogged pores the following morning...

...and it passed! Not only did I not have any clogged pores or new acne the following morning, but I only had minimal waterproof mascara left behind in my lashes. I usually have this even after oil cleansing, as sleeping allows my eyes to work this debris out overnight, so I'm really impressed that a cleansing water worked this well.

So, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, this really has become just what I've been searching for. I use it to cleanse in the morning, and I use it to cleanse most nights now as well - since I haven't been leaving the house in this intense heat. The scent is sometimes all I need to feel better after a long tiring day. And the cleansing power and smooth feeling my skin has afterwards is bringing back a glow I thought I'd never see on my face after I turned 30. I feel confident calling this my holy grail cleansing item right now.

I purchased this cleansing water at Memebox, but you can also find it at ViaSeol and W2Beauty.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This post may contain affiliate links, marked with an "*" and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links - which costs nothing to the consumer but does help this site. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Choonee Horse Fat Rejuvenating Mask Pack Review #bbcosmetic

Albeit controversial - horse oil is one of my favorite skincare ingredients. I discuss, in detail, the benefits of horse oil in my review of the Guerisson 9 Complex Essence, if you're interested in learning more. But for the sake of keeping things simple and easy to read - I love horse oil because it's beneficial to acne prone skin - like mine - and is the closest to human sebum than any other animal fat. What does this mean? Well, it means that it's perfect for balancing your skin, and absorbs nicely due to it's fatty composition.
Horse fat is a by-product of the horse meat industry by the way. I know this is still disturbing for some to hear, but I just want to point out that horses are not killed for their oil for beauty products - they are sold for meat in certain countries and their fat is rendered at a by-product to utilize more of the animal. Waste not, want not!

So now that's I've gotten all the juicy details out of the way - I'll introduce the centerpiece of this discussion, which is the Choonee Horse Fat Rejuvenating Mask Pack.

This mask was generously sent to me by BB Cosmetic - who I've noticed carries more than just a handful of items from my wishlist. And not only do they offer very competitive pricing, but I've been very pleased with their service thus far as well.

This mask has been on my Amazon wishlist for quite some time now, but I never got around to clicking that order button... So I was fighting to withhold my excitement when it was offered to me for review. As I mentioned above, anything horse oil is all the rave in my skincare wardrobe right now, so this couldn't get on my face quick enough.
Aside from horse fat (100ppm), this mask also contains collagen for plumping fine lines and several plant and herb extracts for soothing and hydrating the skin.

The essence is clear, thick like a serum and smells like herbs and fruit - herbal citrus maybe? It's good, not overwhelming, and disappears once on the skin.
The mask is like a cotton mesh - soft with a small amount of stretch to really get around the form of your face.

There's a nice amount of essence left over once the mask is applied as well - I like to smooth it between my hands and pat as much as possible onto the mask, then apply the rest to my neck, decollete, and arms if there's even more after that.

The mask itself offers a pretty nice fit! I get coverage from the top of my forehead to the bottom of my chin, and to the edges of my face on either side. I have a small gap on either side of my nose which is normal for almost all masks.

This mask stays damp for around an hour - I try to remove around 45 minutes to prevent any drying from prematurely sucking any moisture back out of my skin.
Afterwards my skin is hydrated and plump - definitely bouncy and has a nice healthy glow to it. There is a small amount of pink to my skin, which I contribute to the mild cooling effect I feel - and I really mean mild, most likely from the peppermint in the ingredients list.
A very nice mask that I'll definitely be using more of in the future - I can't wait to try more varieties from Choonee now as well!

I want to note that this post does contain an affiliate link below. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This is what helps fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways. 

You can of course find this mask (and other Choonee masks) on BB Cosmetic - as well as Amazon.

http://peepingpomeranian.com/ab-see-asian-beauty-link-party/

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This post may contain affiliate links, marked with an "*" and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links - which costs nothing to the consumer but does help this site. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Meraki Silky Mist Body Lotion Review #WeAreTrouva

In my post last month about depression and anxiety, I mentioned how self-care is sometimes just the medicine I need to pull myself out of an emotional funk. And this week has definitely been one of those times. I've been able to put on a smiling face for those around me, but in the quiet of my home I've been distant and fighting to hold back tears - for no real reason.
Today, I'm going to share a simple item that has been added to my self care routine, and really made these past few dark and dismal days into something calm and relaxing.

I was recently offered the opportunity to try a product of choice from Trouva, a homeware and lifestyle boutique in the UK, from their newly added line - Meraki. While checking out the line on Trouva's site I immediately noticed how simple and sophisticated the packaging looked, and the sounds of the product scents - White Tea Ginger, Silky Mist, Linen Dew, and Cotton Haze - immediately brought my mind to a bright and cheery spring day. I chose to try the Silky Mist Body Lotion.

I chose this Meraki body lotion because a) I really wanted to get into the habit of using body lotion again and b) I was drawn to sea buckthorn as an ingredient.

Sea buckthorn is an excellent ingredient for healing the skin. It is using topically to treat a wide range of skin conditions from acne to eczema, sunburn, bedsores, cuts and skin ulcers, and even for anti-aging and skin discoloration.
Sea buckthorn, along with a few oils and glycerin - give this lotion a creamy healing application that truly hydrates the skin.

The lotion has an orange floral scent to it - that fades away quickly. It's easy to pump - the pump itself is well built, it does not slip or bend while in use.

The lotion has a very smooth texture - and this is something that I've truly enjoyed. Being able to easily massage a lotion into my skin that hydrates, smooths, and calms my skin has been most enjoyable after being emotionally burnt out all day. This lotion absorbs quickly, and does not leave a greasy film on my skin - but instead leaves it feeling supple and smooth, even once morning arrives.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This post may contain affiliate links, marked with an "*" and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links - which costs nothing to the consumer but does help this site. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Intro to Asian Beauty | Individualized Treatments

Welcome back, my beautiful friends, to the long-awaited third post in my "Intro to Asian Beauty" series!

Seriously, I had these posts planned out quite nicely, but then my depression hit like clockwork and my plans fell apart. So here we are, three months past the second post in my series, hoping to hit the ground running.

In this post we're going to discuss the thinner layering items of our skincare routine. We've already talked about first essences, which will be your first real hydrating layer - and moisturizers, which will be your workhorse hydrator and help seal everything in. These layers will fit in-between those layers and treat individual skin concerns such as acne, hyper-pigmentation, wrinkles, scarring, and brightening.

1. The Basics: Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer & Checking Ingredients
2. Build Up The Basics: Oil Cleansers, First Essences & Sunscreen
3. Individualized Treatments - YOU ARE HERE!
4. Overnight Healing: Spot Treatments & Sleeping Packs

In this post:
>Essences
>Serums
>Ampoules

Where they'll fit into a routine:

Oil cleanser > Cleanser > Toner > Vitamin C > BHA > AHA > Prescription Treatment > First essence > Essence > Serum > Ampoule > Sheet mask > Eye Treatment > Emulsion/Lotion > Cream > Spot Treatment > Sleeping Pack or Sunscreen

Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil Review

This is a long overdue post, that I really don't know why I never finished before, but since I'm nearly out of my current bottle I figured I better get it up now. This is one of the very first cleansing oils I ever used, but the first one that worked well for me and I actually enjoyed using. I've been moving on to different oil cleansers lately, but this one will always be special for showing me how enjoyable oil cleansing can really be.

Before we get started, I want to note that this post does contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This is what helps fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways. 

The Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil is a "deep cleaning oil for smooth and healthy skin" according to Innisfree's website. This oil, like other cleansing oils, is used to remove dirt, sebum, makeup and sunscreen effectively from the skin. What makes oil cleansers unique to simply oil cleansing, is that oil cleansers contain emulsifiers that allow you to mix the oil with water while on your face, and rinse it away like a regular cleanser.

Ingredients: (copied from Innisfree) - CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, TRIETHYLHEXANOIN, POLYGLYCERYL-10 DIOLEATE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), PEG-8 GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, FRAGRANCE.

This cleansing oil comes in a sturdy clear, green tinted plastic bottle with a pump. I love the pump on this bottle - so much so that I've actually used these to move other products into that have a more crappy pump or no pump at all. It's well made, doesn't slip, and gives an even and clean dispense of product.

The oil itself, as the name suggests it might, really does have an apple scent to it. It's fresh and not overwhelming, but if you are highly sensitive to scents this may be bothersome to you.

Something I really loved about this oil is that it's so smooth and easy to work onto the skin. I use two pumps that I apply to my fingers and just apply it evenly to my face, and lightly over my eyelids and lashes lastly.

I use gentle massage to work the oil into my pores to loosen up dirt and hardened sebum, and to remove any makeup or sunscreen I'm wearing.

Something I love about this oil is that it's effective enough to not only soften up clogs in my skin, but it lubes my pores enough to allow them to pop out of my pores.

This is a great affordable cleansing oil, and it's one that's free from mineral oil for those who do struggle to find effective oils without that ingredient.

Find it at Jolse, Amazon* and Memebox*.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This post may contain affiliate links, marked with an "*" and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links - which costs nothing to the consumer but does help this site. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

AHC Climax Pool Cleanser Review

You all know I love trying new cleansers, but I've been very good at practicing restraint in buying new ones lately as I've found a few that I really do love. The AHC Climax Pool Cleanser is one I bought while I was on my search. Did it live up to my expectations?

Before we get started, I want to note that this post does contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This is what helps fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways.

A pool cleanser is a thick, syrupy cleanser that requires just a small amount to cleanse the skin. It's gummy texture pulls makeup, dirt, oil, and impurities from your skin with gentle massage onto dry skin, but if you use too much cleanser it becomes useless as it's too slippery and not gummy enough - so it does require some practice to perfect using.

The scent of the AHC Pool Cleanser is fresh - like a clean soapy smell. It's isn't too strong but it's definitely noticeable.

The cleanser is frosty white in color - not completely opaque but it does have a tinge of color to it.

As I mentioned above, it has a gummy, sticky texture. It's like a gel, but it's runny and reminds me a bit of honey but a little thinner.

Pool cleansers like this one are supposed to be great at removing makeup, but I'm not a regular wearer of makeup - so I can't judge how well this really does work in that department. For a light application of bb cream however, it works perfectly!

What I love most about this cleanser is it's ability to gently pull away dead flaky skin and loose clogs from within my pores. This is where it's gummy texture really comes into play.

While I do think this cleanser works well once you figure out exactly how much you need - for me, it's about a half tablespoon - it really pulls impurities and dirt from your skin. However, I receive the same type of results from my regular oil cleanser, so for me this isn't really necessary since oil cleansing requires less specific measuring and technique to get good results.

If you're interested in purchasing this cleanser for yourself, you can find it at Memebox*.

Have you tried this, or another pool cleanser before? What were your results?

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This post may contain affiliate links, marked with an "*" and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links - which costs nothing to the consumer but does help this site. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.