Holy Snails Camo Shark Sauce

I've been slowly trying different products from Holy Snails over the past couple years, and while I enjoy using many of them, I've never actually posted a review of anything here. Why? I have no idea. I know my blog has really taken a back burner since our family moved a year ago, and now that life is starting to fall more into place I plan to give my once favorite spot for thoughts and opinions much more love and attention with the start of 2018 than I have for pretty much all of 2017.

I and Love and You Jerky Bites | #chewyinfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more!

For the month of November, Venus received a three bags of "I and Love and You" Nice Jerky Bites dog treats from Chewy.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

Win a Holy Snails Gift Card!

It's been a long while since I've last held a blog giveaway. I've been wanting to hold one for a while but quite honestly I run out of ideas of what to pick that people might enjoy. Chel of Holy Snails makes a few of my favorite skincare items and quite conveniently offers gift cards, so I figured what better way to offer a little something back to my readers, than letting them choose their own prize!

#Zignature Kangaroo Limited Ingredient Dog Food | #chewyinfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more!

For the month of October, Venus received a bag of Zignature Kangaroo Limited Ingredient Grain Free Dog Food from Chewy.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#Klairs Mid-Day Blue Sun Lotion SPF 40/PA++

I very rarely review sunscreens. You know why? Because I hate sunscreen. I mean, I love it due to the fact that it protects me from skin cancer and all that jazz... but I hate most sunscreens on a more personal level. They're either too greasy, too drying, break me out, irritate my skin, or just plain don't offer good enough coverage. My solution? Wear a hat. And of course keep searching for something that I love.

I'm a fan of most Klairs products, but how did this one fare?

Please 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. This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#Crave Grain Free Dog Food | #chewyinfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more!

For the month of September, Venus received a bag of Crave Grain-Free High-Protein Dog Food with Lamb & Venison from Chewy.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#GentleMask T-Tox Cleanser

My favorite cleanser for a long time standing has been the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. It's great for my acne, but in the winter months I can find it drying. So the search for a hydrating cleanser that still helped combat my acne was underway, and this was my first stop.

#BlueBuffalo Earth's Essentials Apple Orchard Clusters | #chewyinfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more!

For the month of August, Chewy sent Venus a bag of Blue Buffalo Earth's Essentials Apple Orchard Clusters to try.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#TonyMoly Banana Sleeping Pack

I honestly forget why I even bought this. I'm sure it wasn't a gift, maybe it was something Bug saw and wanted to try (because at the time I bought my first bottle he was doing a small routine with his mommy each night) or maybe I just thought the packaging was too cute to pass up for the price (I'll get there, don't worry). Either way - this is my third bottle and like most products in my stash at this point, I haven't reviewed it!

Free Shipping at #HolySnails This Weekend!

This weekend only, get free shipping at Holy Snails Shop!

#Purina Beyond Cutlets Chicken Dog Treats | #ChewyInfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more! For the month of July, Chewy sent Venus a bag of Purina Beyond Cutlets Chicken Dog Treats to try.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

August Deals for #Wishtrend

The Vitamin 75 Maximizing Cream contains 75% Vitamin E - and for the month of August it can be yours for the cost of shipping!

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.

Looking at the #Cosrx Hydrating Toners | A Comparison of the Centella and Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toners

It's been a while since I've gotten a Cosrx review up, and I finally feel like I'm settling into our home enough (6 months later) to sit down and start focusing on the blog again. I've talked about the Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner in the past, but today I'd like to discuss the two other toner options currently available from Cosrx.

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.

In this post, I'm going to introduce you to the Cosrx Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner and the Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toner. I'll discuss the similarities and differences between each product, why I think they may or may not be useful to you, and where you can find them if you wish to try them for yourself.

#NaturalBalance Dog Food Rolls | #ChewyInfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more! For the month of June, Chewy sent Venus a roll of Natural Balance Lamb & Chicken Formula Dog Food Roll to try.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#Cupidrop is having a 30% off 4th of July Sale!

Cupidrop, one of my favorite US based retailers for Asian beauty, is having a 30% off sale site-wide for all orders $50 or more. Just use code HAPPY4TH.

If you've never purchased from Cupidrop before, I'd be honored if you could use my referral link to make your first purchase >> http://i.refs.cc/hnOzK6eD

#Rovectin Skin Essentials Conditioning Cleanser Review

I am a skincare junkie. There - I said it. For me, having just one type of product, say a cleanser for instance, isn't enough. Give me three or more to play around with, and as I rotate using them I'll find some content (until I find another one that piques my interest, that is). I guess you could say that it's hard for me to choose favorites. I may like the texture of x, but the scent of y, and the packaging of z - so they all stay in my routine because I couldn't possibly choose just one that works best for me. The Rovectin Skin Essentials Conditioning Cleanser has become a favorite of mine over the past few months, but will it be one to finally cut down my addiction and completely fall in love with?

This post contains affiliate links. This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

American Journey Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil | #ChewyInfluencer

In case you're new here and didn't already know, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more! For the month of May, Chewy sent Venus a tube of American Journey Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil to try.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#ManyoFactory Skin Renew Vita-E Ampoule Review

Do you ever feel like you're constantly looking for something better? Each time I post photos of my skincare stash I get a lot of flack about how many products I have, but I can't help it! Nothing feels "perfect" to me, so the best results I find are from changing up products regularly. For the past six months, however, I've found one constant in my routine - the Manyo Factory Skin Renew Vita-E Ampoule.

Sold Gold SeaMeal Dog & Cat Supplement | #ChewyInfluencer

If you're new here, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more! For the month of April, Chewy sent Venus a jar of Sold Gold SeaMeal Dog & Cat Supplement to try.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

My Favorite US-based Asian Beauty Shops

I've been asked this a lot lately. Memebox, once my only choice for buying Asian beauty products and favorite shop for the past three years, announced not too long ago that they're doing some major downsizing. They are completely clearing out their warehouse, aside from their house brands (which, if I'm completely honest, I don't care for compared to other products, with the exception of a few BonVivant masks). They're also eliminating their referral and rewards programs, and have asked affiliates to remove all links as they'll no longer have an affiliate program as well. This has been a sad day for all us Memebox lovers, but unfortunately one that most of us saw coming back when they announced that they were no longer shipping internationally.

So in light of this otherwise frustrating situation - I wanted to share some great alternative shops to buy from within the US, for those like me who are impatient and like being able to buy items that are already within the country.

 

This post contains referral links.

[JOLSE] VPROVE Rhodiola Power Cream Review

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win a the Vprove Rhodiola Pwer Cream from Jolse in exchange for my honest review. You all know I love trying new skincare, so of course I was overjoyed!

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

April #SephoraPlay Unboxing

It's been exactly one year since I last received a Sephora Play box, and I honestly can't tell you why I decided to try it out again. I was in a mopey mood and eager to try something new, experimenting with makeup for a day and realizing everything I had was old and probably needing to be tossed out. It was like fate knocking at my door when I received an email that day letting me know Sephora Play had openings right now. So I signed up. I figured for $10 a month I couldn't loose! Was I right? Lets see...

This post contains affiliate links.

#Leaders Labotica Cleansing Tissue Review

I think cleansing my face is my least favorite step of my routine. I hate splashing water on my face - getting water and soap in my eyes and nose, wondering if I got it all off, having to hold my breath.... It usually takes a lot of pumping myself up with "I bet you'll see lots of grits from using extra actives yesterday" or "you can use a peeling gel and see how much crap falls off your face" to get myself to start my routine. Other times, I take the easy way out and use a cleansing water or wipe.

A few weeks ago Leaders offered to send me a pack of their Green Tea Lip & Eye Point Remover Cleansing Tissue and I happily accepted. I was even more excited when they also sent me a pack of their Argan Oil Deep Cleansing Tissue as well! I've been using them for two weeks now, and feel like I'm ready to share my thoughts on both items.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

#AltheaKorea Haul Unboxing

I am always on the lookout for reliable Asian beauty shops to purchase new products from. I'll admit, I can be a bit picky - wait times, prices, and variety are all factors in whether or not I'll purchase from a shop or not, and if I'll be a return customer.

I was recently approached by Althea Korea, and asked to share a haul post in exchange for store credit to use towards a purchase. I do enjoy sharing hauls with you all, so of course I took this as a great opportunity to share a new experience with you all, and share some new products with my face - exciting for everyone involved.

I placed my order with Althea Korea on March 17th. I had a couple people ask to I'll mention that I did take advantage of their new customer discount as well. When I signed up 10 points ($10) were added to my account to use on my first purchase, and when my order was processed an additional 10 points were added to my account to use on a future purchase. I received a shipping notice on March 22nd, which is just five days (including a weekend) after my purchase. I had my package in hand on April 6th.

Let's take a look at my purchases, and I'll get into a few more details about ordering.

#StellaAndChewy's Meal Mixer Superblends Review | #ChewyInfluencer

If you're new here, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more! For the month of March, Chewy sent Venus a bag of Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixer Superblends to try.

[This post contains a press sample.]

[JOLSE] LUI&LEI DIANA GEN Prestige Cream Gold Caviar Review

I was recently selected, along with 29 other bloggers, to try out the LUI&LEI Diana Gen Gold Caviar Radiance Reviving Cream from Jolse. I have only been trying out this cream for a short time, but since it is a timed review I'll be sharing my first impressions with you today.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

I Made a Dashboard for my Traveler's Notebook!

I've been falling in love with the idea of bullet journalling, being addicted to making lists and all... And decided a traveler's notebook would be a great way to still decorate and have fun while being about to make my bujo lists, trackers, and collections. One of the ways I am already having a blast decorating with it dashboards.

Dashboards are a wrap-around cover for your inserts that allow you to label, decorate, or separate parts of your journal. They can also be nice for sticking post-it's on, or have folder slots for additional planner storage.

This particular dashboard is just to decorate my planner and make it more "me." I used some adorable kawaii food stickers I had been hoarding, some cardstock, a laminator, a ruler, and scissors. I have a quick walk-through of how I did it if you'd like to take a look!

Birthday Celebration Giveaway!

I've been planning this giveaway for a while for several reasons; I recently passed 3,500 friends on Instragram, I've been blogging for seven years, and my fabulous Facebook group of lovely friends who are as addicted to k-beauty as I am recently passed 6,000 members (soon to surpass 7,000). I am so overjoyed by all the support, love, and kindness everyone has shown me over the years, so I wanted to do something really special to thank you all for sticking with me.

My birthday is coming up on April 13th - and I will, begrudgingly, be turning 31 this year. Teenage me didn't think this day would come. Depression is an evil mistress, and one that I still struggle with. This year I want to celebrate hope, friendship, and self-care. Here on my blog I am giving away some of my favorite products right now - enough to put together a full routine. Doing my skincare routine each night gives me a time to calm my nerves, to forget about the day, and to love my skin. I want to give someone else this gift.

Asian Beauty Inspired Skincare Routine Video | Live for 2017

Once a year I put myself, in all my awkwardness, out there to create a visual example of how I put together my skincare routine, using some of my favorite products. If you're a visual learner like me, and feel more comfortable after seeing someone perform a task, then this video may be helpful to you!

BonVivant Original Chrome Mask [First Impressions] Review

Last week Memebox released their Original Chrome Mask, that many of us had been ogling over since we saw it was released in Korea. I hadn't been this excited about a new Memebox release in a while, so I took advantage of the points and coupon I had saved, and bought a jar! Shipping was fast, and I had the mask in my hands yesterday! Having only had the opportunity to use this mask once, this is obviously a first impressions post. But since I do expect masks to give immediate (or overnight) effects, unlike a cream or serum or other piece of skincare, I assume the results I share with you here will remain about the same each time I use this mask.

[This post contains affiliate links.]

Naruko Face Renewal Miracle Essence Review

As I approached the bottle of my latest bottle, I suddenly realized that I'd been using the Naruko 60 Actives La Creme Face Renewal Miracle Essence for nearly four months and never put together a review. So many of you lovely folks ask me about this regularly, and you would think that would be enough of a hint to get the rest of my thoughts together, wouldn't it?

[Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.] 

#Facetory #Sevenlux Unboxing | February 2017

The February Facetory Sheet Mask Box has arrived to my mailbox, and I see a bit of a pink and flowers theme from Valentine's Day. This box is filled with new-to-me masks, so let's jump right in with our unboxing!

#GrandmaLucy's Macanna Dog Food Review | #ChewyInfluencer

If you're new here, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more!
This month, Chewy sent Venus a bag of Grandma Lucy's Macanna Dog Food to try.

 [This post contains a press sample.]

#23YearsOld Black Cavidol Mask Review

So there I was, sitting at my desk, eating Nutella with a spoon, thinking about how much I just wanted to have a nice evening to myself. When suddenly it dawned on me that I have some "special occasion" sheet masks collecting dust, waiting for me to decide it's time to use them. This night, my friends, would be one of those nights. This night, being Valentines Day. And special occasion, being "I hate my life and want something to enjoy before my family makes me rip my hair out."

So that's the night that I finally broke down and used my 23Years Old Black Cavidol Mask.

[This post contains affiliate links.]

We Made Dog Food!

I had many people message me and ask what our recipe for dog food was, after I posted to Instagram and Facebook last weekend. I thought I'd start logging it all here on the blog in case anyone cares to reference it.

Full disclosure: I am not a veterinarian. I have done a lot of research and feel fairly confident that the meals I prepare are close to balanced, but I also supplement Venus with vitamins, "treats" and by offering a variety of different ingredients each time I cook.

#LeturosMeloria Shop #Unboxing feat. #ManyoFactory

I posted on Instagram last week with a sneak peak of a big box that arrived - all perfectly wrapped and safely packaged from Leturos Meloria. I promised an unboxing was on it's way, and today I will fulfill that promise!

Selling a range of products from Manyo Factory, with some other offerings sprinkled along the side, Leturos Meloria may be small but offers exactly what the people are looking for - good products and great fanfare.

Right now, you can receive a special freebie with your order from Leturos Meloria with code "halfpastoctober." Now, on to what you've come for - a peek at all the beautiful goodies that were so lovingly packaged and sent over by Simone at Leturos Meloria.

January 2017 #The3bBox #Unboxing

The 3B Box, standing for Beauty Beyond Borders, is a monthly subscription box featuring "must have" Asian beauty items that may not be readily available to you in your area. I had previously received The 3B Box when they first released in December 2014 into July 2015, then took a break from all my subscription boxes. The 3B Box is based in the US and ships for just $15 a month, with a stand alone shop to buy full size items as well.

#BlueBuffalo Healthy Starts Wet Dog Food #Review | #ChewyInfluencer

If you're new here, Venus and I are part of the Chewy Influencer program, which means each month Venus gets to try something new that Chewy has to offer in their online store. Chewy.com has a wide variety of pet food ranging from wet to dry to raw to freeze dried, as well as treats, toys, and other pet supplies for cats, dogs, and more!
This month, Chewy sent Venus a pack of Blue Buffalo Healthy Starts Wet Dog Food to try.

This item is a press sample, received in exchange for an honest review.

An Acne Fighting Giveaway!

I've been so blessed the past few months to have friends help me in so many ways, and I want to do something in return. I appreciate more than words can express when anyone uses one of my affiliate or referral links - not just because it helps fund my blog and products to review, but because I can use some to also give back to those who are supporting this blog. I'm currently wrapping up an Instagram giveaway put together with some masks from my stash, as well as some items I got in some blog boxes that I'll never (unfortunately) use, and this month I'm giving away some more masks plus some items picked up with my Amazon affiliate gift card. The theme for this giveaway (if you hadn't guessed by the title of this post) is products that have a good-running track record for fighting acne.

Me To Me #Memebox #Unboxing | #TreatYoselfFirst

It's been quite some time since I purchased a Memebox. I'll be totally honest, they aren't what they used to be years ago. But occationally I find some with new items that really intrigue me, and I decide my memepoints are worthy of being spent. Such was the case when I saw the Me To Me box posted, and knowing both my wedding anniversary and Valentine's day were fast approaching I snatched one up.

#NanaLee One Day One Pack Bio Cellulose Mask #Review | #MochiBeaute

Several months ago I first received a Nana Lee One Day One Mask Pack from the lovely Hanna at Mochi Beaute and I fell in love. It's a mask that I've kept (like many others that Hanna has suggested to me) for use on special occasions or when I need an extra special pick-me-up. This happens to be one of the latter of those times, so an nice night of pampering and forgetting my troubles is in the works. Tonight I'll be sharing my thoughts with you about this mask.

Meg: Two Step Jelly Mask Review | #megcosmetics #cupidrop #beautifulpioneer

A couple weeks ago I was contacted by Cupidrop, letting me know I had been accepted into their 2nd Generation Beautiful Pioneer program. This meant I would be given the opportunity to test out an item new to Cupidrop's website; the Two Step Jelly Mask from Meg Cosmetics!

What's I'm Using Right Now | January 2016 Skincare

I've always gotten good feedback on my quarterly routine posts, and find that they've been helpful to others for finding products that work for them. In return, I also stalk other peoples posts for ideas of what will work for me, but I digress.

Since I started blogging years ago my skin has always been the same - oily in the winter, more oily in the summer, acne prone with hormonal cystic acne, and dehydrated. Over the past year, however, my skin has changed almost completely, and I find that my routine needs lots of tweaking (and not just because I want to try new products). So for the new years I want to post a monthly update of what I'm currently using, how my skin is acting, and what I'm really loving or wanting to try next. I think this will make a neat reference for me but I also hope some of you may find it useful as well!