Thursday, September 15, 2016

August Jini Beauty Box Unboxing & Review #jinibeautybox

Jini Beauty is a bi-monthly subscription service that offers Korean beauty products - not just a "one and done" type of subscription box, but an offering of four different boxes for different skin types every other month to ensure you're receiving products that designed to work with your skin.

There have been some recent changes to Jini Beauty, so here's some up-to-date information about Jini Beauty:
When signing up for a Jini Beauty subscription you'll be able to choose between Dry/Mature, Normal/Combination, Oily/Acne, and Sensitive/Troubled skin types. Don't worry if you're unsure what type fits your skin best, because they're easy to understand descriptions by each skin type. You can also change your skin type at any time, if you think another box would fit your skin better later on.

Each box contains 6-8 full size products and/or deluxe samples, 2 sheet masks, and complimentary sample packets.
Pricing starts at $44.95 bi-monthly (coming out to less than $22.50 a month), $129.95 for 3 boxes (6 months) prepaid, or $249.95 for 6 boxes (12 months) prepaid. Shipping is free within the US, and $8 to Canada. Jini Beauty is working on expanding shipping to other countries as well, so keep an eye out!

All subscribers receiving the September/October box will be entered into a big giveaway, so make sure to follow @jinibeautybox on Instagram for upcoming details.

I was sent the August Jini Beauty Box complimentary to share my unboxing with you, and my opinion of the products inside. So lets get started!

Leaders Insolution Dr Therapy Foot Mask
Card Description: Give your feet some instant TLC from wearing those cute sandals all summer and slip on this moisturizing foot mask ASAP. Designed like socks, the mask contains aloe vera, beeswax, and ceramide to deliver intense hydration to cracked and calloused feet.
Directions: Wash and dry feet. Open package and divide the mask in half along the dotted line. Put on the mask like socks and use the stickers to wrap and secure the mask around your angles. Leave on for 20-30 minutes.
My First Impressions: I've used many foot masks in the past, both peeling and moisturizing, and for the most part I enjoy them - this was no exception. For me, summer = barefoot, so my feet are in a pretty sorry state by the end of the warm weather season. This mask fit well (no struggling or pinching to get it situated on my size 10 feet) and after an hour my feet were greasy but the cracks on my soles were smooth. By morning my feet were buttery soft. A tip for those interested in foot masks - I like to keep a pair of slipper socks around to wear on top of a foot mask, so I can still walk around and not slide on the floor.

Nature Republic By Flower Lip Scrub
Card Description: Say goodbye to dull, flaky lips with this moisturizing lip scrub. Vitamin A and flower essence keep lips hydrated while tiny beads made from walnut provide delicate exfoliation. This little tube of scrub will soon become your lips' best friend.
Directions: (1-2x per week) Wet lips and apply a small amount of the scrub. Use your finger or a toothbrush to gently exfoliate lips, then wash off with a wet cloth.
My First Impressions: This is a very creamy lip scrub with very fine particles for scrubbing - it's not especially abrasive, in fact it's quite gentle and I honestly use it every evening instead of twice a week. It's a bit sweet smelling, and leaves my lips soft and hydrated. I really appreciate the tube packaging, it's very easy to apply this way.

Lirikos Marine Hydro Ampoule EX
Card Description: This ampoule consists of activated deep sea water from the Donghae Sea to lock in concentrated moisture, along with carbohydrate complex, papain enzyme, and white lotus extract. It also restores texture and promotes healthy, glowing skin for visible anti-aging effects.
Directions: (after toner and before essence or serum) Dispense the ampoule onto a cotton pad and gently press over face.
My First Impressions: I was immediately drawn to the tiny glass bottle in this box, and of course "marine" caught my attention right away, so I was deeply saddened when I used it once and found that my skin looked visibly brighter after use and that there was so little left to use. There is no scent to this item, another plus, and it absorbs immediately into the skin.

Purederm Hydro Soothing Cucumber Pads
Card Description: These cucumber-shaped pads are pre-moistened in cucumber, mulberry root, licorice extract, and other natural ingredients to deliver soothing and cooling effects. The pads are specially designed to rest easily on your face, so simple close your tired, stressed eyes while you sit back and relax.
Directions: (any time after cleansers) Place the pads over eyes or another area of your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Store in your refrigerator beforehand to enhance the cooling sensation.
My First Impressions: Another familiar product for me - I've gotten several full size jars of these and the orange variety in past Memeboxes. These are my favorite brand of spot pads, and while these do not do the best job sticking to the eye area unless you're lying down, they are also cooling for irritated areas like cheeks. I personally like them when I have a headache, and stick them on my eyes after chilling them in the fridge and lying on the couch. They are soothing, and don't have a very strong scent. And they are saturated in essence.

Mizon Hyaluronic Ultra Suboon Cream
Card Description: This rich hydrating cream is perfect for sensitive, acne prone skin that needs some tender loving wrinkle care. It contains 30% hyaluronic acid, tree sap, and bamboo to deeply sooth, nourish, and moisturize skin while preventing aging and sagging through firming, lifting, and tightening properties. The cream is free from fragrance, artificial color, and parabens!
Directions: (last step before spf) Lightly rub or massage a small amount of the cream into skin until fully absorbed.
My First Impressions: I am a fan of the Mizon Repairing Snail Gel Cream, so when a new variety tube showed up in this box I was excited to try it out. This is a pretty lightweight cream, and I love that it's in a tube - I don't mind tubs, but they can be a bit more of a hassle to work with when you're in a hurry, or just plain clumsy like I am. This is a very hydrating cream, but it doesn't leave my skin greasy at all, so I'm very happy with it. So far I haven't broken out from it either, so I have no complaints!

illi Mugwort Calming Mask
Card Description: This sheet mask from illi's regular hanbang (Oriental medicine) series features mugwort for soothing and calming effects. Mugwort extract is rich in amino acids and serves as a powerful anti-inflamitory agent that reduces redness and irritation.
Directions: (after toner) Unfold mask and carefully adhere to face. Leave on for 15 minutes or longer, then pat any remaining essence into skin for additional absorption.
My First Impressions: I love sheet masks, so I was thrilled to see one in this box, especially illi! This mask has a bit of a minty pine scent - very herbal and awakening. The essence is watery and the mask itself is cotton paper. It fits well but leaves bubbles where there are curves in my face. The paper is a bit too stiff to conform perfectly. The mask stayed damp for about 20 minutes before it dried out enough to be removed. This mask helped eliminate redness in my face and was hydrating.

Overall, this is a really solid box. It's full of products that I was actually excited to use, and none of the products left me wondering when I would use it, or why. Everything had a place, and was something I was able to easily incorporate into my routine. I also feel that Jini Beauty really did a spectacular job curating this boxes' products to fit a Sensitive and Troubled skin type. All of the items were fun to use, and helped heal my skin (aside from the lip scrub, but even that was very gentle and hydrating). This is a box I highly recommend for these reasons, and plan to purchase a subscription in the future.

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 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.

Saturday, September 10, 2016

"You Are Loved" Giveaway

Today is National Suicide Prevention Day. Not exactly a celebratory day, but one that I connect with on a very personal level.
Today, I want to cheer up someone's day. I want to give someone a day to pamper themselves, and make them feel good.

This giveaway prize includes:
-TonyMoly Tomatox Magic Massage Pack
-PureSmile Snail Lip Treatment
-Masqueology Special Care Cream Mask
-Soo AE Collagen Mask
-Soo AE Vitamin Mask
-Skin Inc Pure Deep Sea Hydrating Mask
-DermaE Firming DMAE Eye Lift Cream
-TonyMoly Shiny Skin Soap

If you can use some cheering up, and I know we all can at times, I'd love for you to enter below.

Details you need to know:
* This giveaway to open to the US only (I'm very sorry I cannot ship internationally at this time, things are not looking the best on our homefront right now).
* The Glitter Chic is not responsible for prize delivery - once shipped, the package is out of my control.
* The Glitter Chic is not responsible for adverse reactions to product(s) or ingredient(s) in prize.
* Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
* Giveaway ends September 17th at 11:59pm cst.
* A winner will be drawn within 7 days, and will have 48 hours to respond to my email with a shipping address.

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 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.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Intro to Asian Beauty | Overnight Healing

Welcome back, my beautiful friends, to the fourth post in my "Intro to Asian beauty" series!

In this post we're going to discuss treatments typically used at night - treatments that can heal your skin after a long day, boost moisture, fight acne and wrinkles... We're talking about spot treatments and sleeping packs!

1. The BasicsCleanser, Toner, Moisturizer & Checking Ingredients
2. Build Up The BasicsOil Cleansers, First Essences & Sunscreen
3. Individualized Treatments: Essences, Serums, and Ampoules
4. Overnight Healing: YOU ARE HERE

In this post:
>Spot Treatments
> Eye Treatments
>Sleeping Packs

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 TreatmentSleeping Pack or Sunscreen

Saturday, August 27, 2016

My Top 10 Asian Beauty Amazon Prime Picks Under $10

I'm finally starting to feel better! My anxiety has been out of control for a while, and then I got a nasty ear infection... my back is really sore right now, but I'm feeling better otherwise and am hoping to get back on a regular blogging schedule. Did anyone miss me? Haha, totally joking...

As a small comeback, I'm going to share some of my favorite Amazon Prime buys that are cheap but still enjoyable to use. This post does contain affiliate links that help fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways, if you happen to make a purchase with them. All the items listed are one's I've tried myself, and while they may not be my favorite, they're cheap and effective so worth the price.


1. Dermal Collagen Sheet masks
There are two sets of these masks, each contain 16 masks for $8-$9. It's a steal for comfortable masks that are excellent for hydrating your skin after a long day.
2. SkinFood Black Sugar Strawberry Mask Wash Off
I don't know about you, but I can always appreciate a bit of physical exfoliation. I know, it's not the best for your skin if done in excess... but this is a more gentle scrub that just gives my skin such a soft feeling that I can't pass it up.
3. TonyMoly Appletox Honey Cream
This rich and gooey apple-scented cream not only comes in a cute apple-shaped jar but also leaves your skin plump, bouncy and glowing. This was one of the first Asian beauty products I ever tried, and it's still one I love.

4. Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
This little pink tube of snail gel is very popular on the AsianBeauty subreddit, and I finally broke down and tried it for myself. It's a nice gel that does a good job helping heal acne and keeping my skin hydrated. You can't really argue with 2 tubes for under $10 either.
5. Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch
A packet of 24 hydrocolloid bandages that come in an assortment of three different sizes. I slap one on a pimple before bed and it's nearly flat by morning.
6. Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel
Previously known as the Lemon D-Toc Peeling Gel, this is another classic that is hard for me to live without. Peeling gels works by bonding with your skins' natural oils and forming gooey exfoliating bits, leaving your skin smooth and clear. This gel has been great for helping keep my face clear as well, I use it almost every morning.
7. TonyMoly Pureness 100 Sheet Masks
Unbleached cotton with great ingredients - these are amazing masks with a more natural touch. I love keeping these on hand. They're not as cheap as Dermal but they work a little better and offer a bit more than just hydration.
8. TonyMoly Super Peeling Liquid Foot Mask
This will sound gross if you're not familiar with them, but this is a foot mask that you wear for 1.5-2 hours, then a week later your skin will literally start peeling away from your feet. Not deep, there's no pain involved, but they really eliminate any dry patches on your feet. These are perfect for prepping your feet for summer or any special event where you'll be showing off your feet, just make sure to use it about a month before-hand to make sure your feet are finished peeling in time.
9. Etude House Etti Headband
As silly as it may sound, this headband has become a staple for my morning and evening routine - keeping my hair out of my face while cleansing and applying product (including makeup). It's cute and does it's job, you can't really ask for more!
10. Mizon Snail Repairing Foam Cleanser
Before you say anything about including a high pH cleanser here, just hear me out. While I do believe low pH cleansers are best for my skin, there are people who don't care what the pH of their cleanser is, and [high or low] doesn't make a difference. If I follow with a low pH toner, I can often get away with a higher pH cleanser without repercussions. For a foaming cleanser that doesn't make my face dry out, this one is worth dropping a few bucks on.
(BONUS) 11. Elizavecca Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask
The gateway into skincaretainment, this bubbling clay mask foams up on your skin making you look like a cloud person, and leaves you with clear soft skin.

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, 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.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Merrick Lil' Plates Dog Food Trays Review #ChewyInfluencer

During the month of July, Venus got to try the Merrick Lil' Plates sent to us by Mr Chewy.

Merrick pet food is made in small batches using natural ingredients. They've been in business for almost 30 years, making wet food, dry food, treats and chews for both dogs and cats.

Merrick Lil' Plates come in 9 different flavors; Venus received Teeny Texas Steak Tips Dinner.

Benefits:
- 100% grain free
- low carbohydrates and fat
- high in omega 3 and 6
- comes in individual serving trays with tiny easy-to-chew pieces
- real meat is the first ingredient

What else can I say? Venus loves them!

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