An In-Flight Essential: Innisfree Hyaluronic Acid Skin Clinic Mask

Well guys, I think I have finally found the best sheet mask to use as an in-flight treatment and of course it comes from Innisfree. Their Hyaluronic Acid Skin Clinic Mask will make it worthwhile to look a little weird to the other passengers. After all who cares, you’ll be the one with gorgeous skin when it’s time to land.  

I don’t mind taking my makeup off on a plane and doing a whole skincare routine from my seat, but I have yet to use a sheet mask while flying. Honestly, I was always a bit intimidated with what other people might think of me if I wore one. I mean most masks take a while to sink in, so sitting with one on for more than thirty minutes is not ideal. This is why this Hyaluronic Acid one is so great, it absorbs in less than twenty minutes without dripping down your neck! The sheet is also quite thin so it looks very discreet compared to others. As for the essence, it is very light but don’t worry you still get amazing results.

So obviously this gets points for being a quick mask to use making it super convenient, I also love the fact that the hyaluronic acid in it does not leave your face feeling tacky and it offers serious hydration. Just on its own, it left my skin feeling softer and very hydrated, but what is so great about hyaluronic acid is that it can boost the moisturizing properties of other products you use on top. Meaning that using it in combination with a good serum (Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum) and a very moisturizing cream (like the Innisfree Orchid Enriched Cream) will leave you with plump and glowy skin when you get to your destination. At less than three dollars, you can be sure it will be a must-have product for any future long-haul flights.

You can get the Innisfree Hyaluronic Acid Skin Clinic Mask on their website here. 

My Essential Makeup Tools: MAC 217 Blending Brush and Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Beauty tools are not my favorite things to buy, I just don’t find them as exciting as a new lip gloss. I also honestly believe you can find great affordable options from the drugstore like the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. Nonetheless, some things are worth investing in, so today I have rounded up my favorites tools that are worth the higher price tag: the MAC 217 Blending Brush and the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. 

The Mac 217 Blending Brush is a cult favorite and worth every penny. I tried several blending brushes before finally caving and purchasing this baby. Well I should have just gotten it the first time, it would have saved me a lot of frustration over poor quality brushes that don’t know what “blending” is. This brush helps define you crease like nothing else, blends away harsh lines without making your shadows disappear and you can also use it to apply a simple wash of color all over. You really can do everything with the 217 and it is one of the rare eyeshadow brushes that is hard to dupe with something of lesser quality. As for how it holds up, it is easy to clean (I use the Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap) and it does not shed. I believe it will last a very long time and for the quality, it is a well worth investing in. 

Next is the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, the Cadillac of eyelash curling and the most raved about curler. I honestly waited for years before buying this because I didn’t think it could be that amazing. It is just an eyelash curler after all. How wrong was I… Unlike cheaper offerings, the Shu Uemura one does pinch your lash or bend them at an odd angle, leaving a kink in them. It always gives me an eye opening curl that lasts all day, that longevity was a surprise to me because other curlers did not give me the same results. I also found I don’t need to press as hard to get a good curl which is better for your lashes and it does not pull them out either. I really think this is worth investing in, especially considering it comes with a backup silicone pad which doubles the lifetime of the curler. Also if you are interested in more Shu Uemura products, the eyelash curler is sometimes included as part of sets like this one, so you can try multiple products.

The MAC 217 Blending Brush is available from any MAC counter as well as on their website. As for the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler you can get it from the Shu Uemura website, any of their counters and at Sephora.

Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Daily Sun Gel SPF30 PA++

Well the sweltering heat and humidity just keep on coming… In those condition, having a great sunscreen is crucial because nobody enjoys putting on a thick layer of greasy cream on their face when it is boiling outside. Luckily I am covered with my favorite sunscreen the Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Daily Sun Gel SPF30 PA++.

If I could only use one sunscreen for the rest of my life it would be this one and I cannot recommend it enough. It is a light water-based lotion, it is not a gel but it is a far cry from thick creams, it absorbs like a dream! It contains great ingredients like sunflower seed oil, green tea extract and hyaluronic acid. All these leave you with soft and moisturized skin and I found that the hyaluronic acid really helps it absorb faster, but it also helps the rest of your skincare do the same. It’s just absolutely brilliant!

The sun gel also works really well under makeup, leaving no white cast and it does not make your face oilier throughout the day, so your makeup will stay in place. After months of usage I can report I never got sunburned while wearing it and I love how all the antioxidants it contains will certainly help protect my skin from harmful sunrays and keep it looking young. The bottle design is also worth mentioning, it is small and compact so you can easily take it with you on your travels and it has a very small and narrow nozzle that allows you to control the exact amount of product you need preventing any waste. Honestly, this is just such a rave worthy product for me, as most sunscreens break me out, but this one has done nothing but good things for my skin.

You can get the Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Daily Sun Gel from their website, though it appears like the SPF30 version has been discontinued they offer an SPF50+ PA+++ version in the same formula and this is the one I will be purchasing in the future. 

Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil

I am slowly getting back in the swing of things with the blog and regular posting should (hopefully) go on. My whole reorganisation process also led me to discover I have quite a few products I meant to review ages ago that I still had not gotten around to. It’s shame really, because most are long-time favorites that I kept delaying since putting my excitement into words was difficult. So today I finally bring you a review on my beloved Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil, also known as the only cleanser I will ever use. 

I kid you not, this is the most amazing makeup remover I have ever tried and I am currently on my fifth bottle in a row. That kind of commitment to the same cleanser shows how much I love it. This is hands down the best cleansing oil I have ever tried, it has a light non/greasy consistency and it emulsifies and rinses clean super easily. It will leave you with clean, balanced skin that feels soft and moisturize, but there is no oily residue left behind. It also does not irritate my eyes and removes any mascara like a charm. 

I have tried other cleansing oils from various brands and other Shu Uemura offerings, but none compare to this one. More than being a simple makeup remover, it has an undeniable effect on my skin, leaving it brighter and smoother. I think this is due to the great plant extracts it contains like moringa, green tea and gingko leaf. These are all great antioxidant and the moringa extract is particularly good at refining and purifying the skin.

Shu Uemura qualifies this cleanser as an anti-ageing one because the extracts it contains help fight the oxidant effect of pollution, helping it fight against aging stress of the skin. I was honestly shocked to see actual skincare benefits from this, because cleansers never usually leave visible results on my skin. This is a truly outstanding product that lives up to its claims.  

The Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil is a star product in my skincare routine and one of those rare products I cannot see myself without. You can find it at any Shu Uemura counters and on their website as well as in Sephora. It comes in both a regular size and a large one so you have good options for both travel and at home. 

My Little Beauty Mascara Volume et Soin

Let’s talk lashes! Mascara is one of those beauty products I like to wear even on minimal makeup days. It just helps frame your eyes beautifully and finding the perfect one can really pull your entire face together. Today I am bringing you a review on one of my all-time favorite mascaras, the My Little Beauty Mascara Volume et Soin.

My Little Beauty is a sister company to My Little Box, a beauty and lifestyle subscription box service that I adore. I was first introduced to the mascara in one of their boxes and I love it. It is hands down one of the best mascara I have ever used and I would repurchase it in a heartbeat.

The Mascara Volume et Soin is one of those rare ones that actually gives you tons of volume but does not compromise on length. It also really separates your lashes so there are more defined and it looks like you have incredible doe eyes. I was very impressed by the amount of length it gave me and really nice volume that did not look clumpy. I simply cannot explain how great this makes your lashes look! I was actually really sad when I finished my tube up.

As far as I know the My Little Beauty Mascara Volume et Soin can only be purchased the official website (My Little Corner) and I believe they only deliver within France (it is a French company). Now you might want to email them (they have great customer service) and ask where they ship to as they might have expended since I last checked. If you are lucky enough to be able to buy it, do it, it is a truly remarkable product.

Now here’s to hoping this amazing brand will start offering international shipping on both their products and boxes! 

Innisfree Canola Honey Capsule Mask

The last few weeks have been quite busy and stressful, (which explains the lack of posts) and inevitably my skin did not enjoy it. So in order to get it back under control I turned to one of my favorite new masks because there’s nothing like a little TLC when things don’t go your way. So without further ado let’s talk about the Innisfree Canola Honey Capsule Mask.  

I love this mask, it contains canola honey to moisturize and nourish the skin. I was really surprised that it actually looks and feels like real honey. The mask has a thick and goopy gel texture in the pot (just like honey), but it spreads easily on the skin and it is thankfully not sticky or hard to rinse off at all. It has quite a strong scent but I really enjoy it, it’s a floral honey scent that reminds me of a strong honey iced green tea.

As for the results, they blow me away every time. It is incredibly nourishing and it does offer a bit of surface moisture, but the best thing about it is how soothing it is. It instantly calms down any inflammation and redness so I find it great to use when my skin feels a little out of control. Honey is also a great antibacterial and I find that it helps improve the appearance of any blemishes (tones down redness) and they seem to heal faster when I use it. I seriously cannot speak highly enough of this product. Well done Innisfree!

Now the version I have is the Capsule Recipe Pack which basically comes in a smaller pot (10ml) so you can sample the mask. On their website, Innisfree says you can get 2 to 3 usage out of one capsule, but I had enough for 6 usages. It’s a steal for the price, but if you are anything like you will like it so much that you will need to get the full size (80ml) which is also very affordable because the texture makes it so you really don’t use a lot at a time. This has now become a must-have in my beauty arsenal and I always look forward to using it. 

You can get the Innisfree Canola Honey Capsule Mask on their website and the full size is available here. 

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

Concealer is without a doubt one of the most useful product to have in your makeup bag and while I always struggle to find one that matches my skin, my under eye concealer has been a perfect match for years. MAC has a great color selection and their Studio Finish Concealer is nothing short of amazing for covering up dark circles.

This super creamy concealer is emollient enough to melt into the skin without looking cakey, but it will also stay in place all day. The formula packs a punch in terms of pigmentation, you only need a little to cover dark circles which also prevent you under eye area from looking heavy. Also bonus points for this having SPF 35, so many eye products offer zero sun protect even though this is one of the first areas to show signs of age and sun damage. I think this offers so much considering it is quite affordable and I love the results I can easily get with it every morning.

The Studio Finish Concealer comes in 15 shades and NC15 is a perfect match for my very fair skin. That being said it is too dark for me to use on the rest of my face, its peachy tone is great to counteract the blueish tone of dark circles but it does not work when trying to make a spot disappear. Also I have to say that on my combination skin it does not last all day on imperfections, but I don’t mind solely using it under my eyes because its lasting power there is amazing. I have repurchased it many times over the years and I don’t see myself moving on to something different any time soon. Plus that little pot will last you for ages.

You can get the MAC Studio Finish Concealer on their website and from any MAC counter.   

Innisfree Samples A.K.A. the Most Brilliant Samples Ever

I think everyone will agree that beauty samples are awesome. However all samples are not created equally. I mean some sample sachet barely have enough product for one application so you can’t really tell how your skin will react to it. Which is why I love Innisfree samples, in my opinion they are the best on the market and so today I wanted to the share with you the reason why I find them so great.

First they are super generous size-wise, I’m talking 10ml of product on average and 5ml for denser formulas like creams. That is enough for multiple applications, I was able to use my lotion and skin samples for about two weeks every morning. That amount of product it so useful because you can do a patch-test for allergies and are able to test it out long enough to know if it will break you out or cause any irritation.

The main reason I love these so much though is the packaging. They come in a little plastic pouch with a resealable cap that you can twist back on like you would a bottle cap. This means the products will not dry out and the usage is much more hygienic. I don’t understand why more companies don’t package their samples this way. Also that makes them perfect for travel because they won’t leak in your bag! And even with the cap they are still small and portable enough so you can bring many and they won’t take up too much space in your luggage.

On my last trip I only brought these samples with me to do my skincare routine and they were perfect. This brings me to the last reason I love Innisfree: you can buy samples from them. Sure if you spend a certain amount on an order you will get free samples, but you can also buy the ones you need for a really reasonable price (about 2$ each). That means you never have to travel with bulky bottles again and you can easily try out new products without having to commit to a full-size bottle. I just think this is so clever and I wanted to make sure you knew about these samples if you are interested in the brand. I’m not sponsored by the brand or anything, but ingenious designs like this get me really excited because they make a difference in my everyday life and simplify my travels greatly.

If you want to purchase your own Innisfree samples, you can find the full range on their website by simply typing "travel" in the search bar or looking up the different product range. 

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum and 2015 Eco Handkerchief Campaign

I love trying new skincare products, but there are always certain range and products that I go back to again and again. The Laneige Perfect Renew products are a great example, but another important product to me is the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum. I could not have picked a better time to talk about this favorite because Innisfree is currently having its annual Eco Handkerchief Campaign featuring the serum.

To say that I love this product is not enough, I am currently on my fifth bottle and cannot see myself being without it. It’s a serum that does it all, it hydrates, soothes and makes my skin smoother. It is also very light and fast-absorbing so you can use both day and night. It does not claim to help brighten you skin tone, but I found that continuous use leaves me with more even skin, any pigmentation corrected and overall radiance.

Ingredients-wise, I was super impressed to see that green tea extract is first on the ingredients list. So unlike a lot of other products on the market, the key ingredient here is actually a major component of the formula and not a marketing afterthought. It also contains lots of other fruits and flowers extracts that will help improve the appearance of your skin. To me this is one of those rare products that always gives me results and makes a noticeable difference right away.

Now if you want to try the Green Tea Seed Serum, you could not have picked a better time. For a few years, Innisfree has been running an Eco Handkerchief Campaign to help promote the use of handkerchief in our daily lives instead of tissues to help save trees and protect our beautiful green forests. They can be used for gift-wrapping, to pack lunches (how perfect would they be for a picnic) or as a hair accessory. You can read more about the campaign here.

For this year’s campaign, they came out with limited edition designs for the bottles showing the seasons of Jeju Island. The bottles are actually a bigger size so you can get twice the amount of serum at a reduced price. It is a real bargain if you love the product and I’m actually considering buying a backup because they are so pretty. With each purchase you will also receive a beautiful Innisfree handkerchief decorated with the limited edition flower design. They also come in a gorgeous decorated to go with your chosen design, making them a perfect present to give (or to keep for yourself ;)

I highly recommend the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum, it is one of my all-time favorites, so why not take advantage of this promotion to treat yourself and do something nice for the planet. You can get it on the Innisfree global website for a limited time only and both the Spring and Winter designs are still available. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

As much as having the sun shining feels lovely after the winter, the heat can have not so fun effects on your skin i.e. excess shine. For this, having a great setting powder can help your makeup stay on longer and control how much of a glow you want. Today I bring you my all-time favorite, the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

I first tried it out after seeing Tanya Burr rave about it in multiple videos and boy was she right. This is a sheer powder that does not offer coverage (I use the translucent) which prevents it from looking cakey even if you reapply throughout the day. A light dusting of the powder will take away any excess shine and help your makeup last longer. Rimmel promises 12 hours of shine control and I think this is quite accurate depending on the weather (I rarely needed to touch it up).

What makes the Stay Matte powder so unique in my opinion is its ability to remove the shine but not the glow. The name can be scary and conjure up images of overly powdered, unnatural skin, when it fact it keep it looking luminous and fresh. It’s perfect to combine with a very dewy foundation and it’s a must-have if your skin is on the oilier side. I really cannot emphasize enough how amazing this powder is, especially considering that it is super affordable and from the drugstore. 

You can find the Rimmel Stay Matter Powder in most drugstores, it is readily available almost everywhere and you can also get it online from Feelunique.