Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick

Hello Everyone~ 

Today I'm finally trying out the long-awaited LG Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick!!! This stick was sold out for months! Of course, being the product junkie that I am, I had to find out WHY! 

I checked W2Beauty a few weeks ago, and luckily they had a few in stock :)  Now they are fully-stocked on Amazon too, if you wna check that out after the review.

First Impression: 

Beautiful Packaging. Lovely box, cute blush-pink tube for the cleansing stuck. This cleansing stick smells DIVINE. Well, actually it just smells like fresh roses, but I love the smell of fresh roses, so it smells fantastic to me. 

First Use: 

I showered first (right after taking all those photos), and I used my Philosophy Purity Cleanser in the shower, because I didn't trust this stick to take off eye make-up. I thought this was just going to be a fancy version of those oil cleansers, except in a balm version. However, I was delightfully surprised to find that this was not the case. After stepping out of the shower, I still had some leftover smudges of eyeliner under my eyes, so I decided to put this stick to the test. After wetting my face, I swiped it over my slightly-tight-from-cleansing skin, and it went on soooooo smoooooooth, like buttah. My face smelled like a field of roses. I started rubbing in the buttery trace, and to my surprise, it started FOAMING! It was not a small amount of foam either, it actually lathered better than some soaps! The impressive part was that my face did not feel dry after. It felt well-balanced, compared to how it felt after I stepped out of the shower. 

This Miracle Rose Cleansing stick is so fun to use! I also feel good using it because it is made from over 90% natural ingredients, including fermented damask rose extract. It's hypoallergenic, and doesn't leave any residue :)  

 For me, this one is definitely a keeper. I love it. Also I can bring it traveling and I don't have to worry about any messy spills- MAJOR PLUS!! Tomorrow night I will try to remove all my makeup with only this stick, so keep you all posted!! Fingers crossed it will work perfectly and get rid of all my makeup with one go :D I have faith in you Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick! 

Updates to come tomorrow!

Xoxo, 

Rosanna 

*****Update****

5/21/15
I washed my face with only the Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick tonight, and it worked really well! It took off all my mascara, just as well as my Purity face wash by Philosophy. VERY pleased :)  I just found the best face wash to pack for traveling!!  (^_^) Y

MOISTURE!!! History of Whoo Whitening Series.

Hi Everyone !


Today I want to tell you guys about my favorite skincare set, and it's one that I always go back to after doing a bit of "wandering off".  It's called... The History of Whoo!! http://www.whoo.co.kr/
It's Korean, and it's fabulous. It's one of Korea's best luxury brands to date. They use nano-technology to help stabilize key ingredients into the deep layers of the skin. I'm in love with their Whitening line... and it's the only one I've ever used. Why change something when it's perfect right?

Now, just a disclaimer for those of you who aren't familiar with Asian skincare products. The term "Whitening" can be interchanged with "Brightening". A lot of Asians love that fair, pale white skin, so companies will dub their lines as "Whitening". Don't be turned off. I've been using whitening lines for forever and I have yet to actually "whiten" anywhere close to a fair-skin girl, as you will see in my photos.

The reason why I prefer whitening lines is, I think it gives my skin a glowy look. Something in the whitening lines really do "brighten" my face up! So I am addicted. In the past, I have experimented with my skincare routine by stopping the use of any whitening products for a month and a half, and my mom and my facial lady have noticed the difference. They both commented that I don't look as "fresh" anymore, and my skin looks more yellow-toned. Like, who wants to be "yellow" ??? Not I!

So back to brightening products it was!


My favorite babies:

Step 1. Whitening Skin Balancer

Looks like Milk! Has a light and pretty scent ^_^

Step 2. Whitening Essence (Serum) 

Looks pearlized up-close, probably because pearls are one of the main ingredients..

Step 3. Whitening Lotion

I love the texture. If you look closely..you can see there are tiny little beads in there. 

Leaves your skin all dewy bouncy and water-full <3

I have combination skin that's sometimes oily and sometimes dry. I find that moisturizing my skin with watery moisturizers as opposed to more creamy moisturizers help a lot. I think History of Whoo has done a great job with the consistency of their products. The nanotechnology does moisturize more deeply into the skin, bc my skin feels more quenched. When in doubt, I always moisturize with watery lotions that have the ability to penetrate deeply into the skin, and if I still feel like I need some extra help, I will use a cream on top of everything to seal it all in. (For example, if you're in Socal or Vegas, that's pretty much a necessity!)

Using watery lotions help a lot with the texture of the skin. Since it goes more deeply, it can help you keep that "supple" skin look for longer. To demonstrate, it helps to imagine a grape. If you leave the grape out, it eventually starts to shrivel up. Now, to make the grape more bouncy and supple again, are you going to just put some thick cream on it? Or are you going to put some watery moisturizers on it? Which one is easier for the grape to absorb? Creams have larger particles, so they tend to sit on top of the skin. The watery stuff can sink past the initial layer of the grape's skin and actually replenish lost water. You should always strive to moisturize deeply into the skin, and then seal it off with cream if you need it.

Revive us!!! 

INGREDIENTS.
The History of Whoo is known to use all natural Chinese medicinal herbs that are known to be effective.

The main ingredients are: Wild Chrysanthemum, Chilhyang Palbaeksan and Pearl. These three ingredients are known to give 'whitening effects' to the skin. These three ingredients will help to naturally reduce skin pigmentation, reduce melanin production, remove impurities, and whiten your overall skin complexion. The History of Whoo Seol Whitening skin care line is meant for all skin types, so make sure to have a rich moisturizer handy for you dry skin types!!! Diosmetin, which is the main ingredients in the Seol Whitening products, has been extracted from the wild chrysanthemum flower. It has been proved by studies that this natural whitening agent works to remove freckles/scars/dark spots dramatically when used consistently for 8 weeks.

Wild Chrysanthemum

Chilhyang Palbaeksan

Pearl

I've been using this stuff for... about 4 years now I think. Before the days of History of Whoo, I used to dabble in all sorts of brands! I was such a skincare junkie. Never committed to any skincare product until this one came along and convinced me to stay.

So.. there it is! My favorite stuff for moisturizing + brightening.
Will share more with you guys later!

Peace + Love,
Rosanna

Rosanna's Favorite Suncreens for the Face ~

Hello darlings, 

Today, let's talk sunscreen. 

Sunscreen, ah, sunscreen... the most powerful tool in fighting to good fight against wrinkly, hyperpigmentated skin, is not always utilized or appreciated by many people. As I love to talk about skincare, I'm always surprised when a friend reveals to me they do not use sunscreen. It's shocking to me! 

How I feel about not using sunscreen, is how I feel about smokers. You read in all the magazines that smoking is bad for you, yet people still do it because smoking feels good. Same goes for sunscreen. Beauty magazines are always stressing the importance of using sunscreen on a daily basis, yet some people still choose not to, because a sunscreen-less face feels better. Let's admit it, some sunscreens can leave your face feeling like a grease ball for the whole day. Every product with SPF in it, FEELS like there's SPF in it! There's a distinct smell, and chalky feel to sunscreens. I used to hate wearing sunscreen. 

That is... until I found a new breed of sunscreen. 

Meet CoTZ

And this is Willa

CoTZ (bottom) Willa (top)

From the moment I first squeezed out my first droplet of CoTZ sunscreen, I knew my sunscreen game would be changed forever. The texture was nothing like I've experienced before. CoTZ is airy, light, fluffy... goes onto your skin like a cloud, and does not leave a trace of shine. 

Willa is similar to CoTZ. My sister gave me my first bottle of Willa sunscreen, telling me how amazing it was. When I first pumped it out, the texture was very similar to CoTZ, which surprised me. It was as if I had spent my 24 years of existence having never met any unicorns, only hearing of their existence from movies and books... and then suddenly meeting two unicorns at once! It was a miracle. 

Texture

As I was saying, the Willa sunscreen (top) used to be very similar to the CoTZ (bottom) in texture, until I took it on the airplane and the texture changed. Once airy and fluffy, the texture of Willa has evolved into a lotion-like texture. I was confused about this for a while, so I asked my sister if she had experienced the same with her Willa sunscreen. As it turns out, she also had the same issue with her Willa sunscreen. The sunscreen curiously turned more lotion-like and less fluffy after air travel. 

CoTZ more airy, Willa more creamy

In this photograph, I smeared the sunscreens a little so you can see the textures better.

After blending

The Willa is lighter than CoTZ.. and more runny after air travel, but still works well as it is not greasy. 

Fully blended

After the two sunscreens are blended, you cannot see their color at all. They don't leave a greasy feeling on your skin afterward.

Love.

Conclusion: Both sunscreens are great! However, if you travel a lot, I would go with the CoTZ. CoTZ and I have traveled to many countries together, and it still manages to stay the same texture, same performance. Willa started out great for me, but the texture does not hold up after air travel. You can get CoTZ from Ulta, and Willa from Target!

Both sunscreens are all-natural without chemicals.

Remember to wear your sunscreen!! Now that I have shown you these amazing sunscreens that feel great on your skin... you have no excuse not to. 

Til next time! 

Xoxo, 

Rosanna Wang

P.S., 

In case you need more motivation to develop this sunscreen habit I am championing, here is a motivational video to get you started.

Here is a photo of a truck driver, whose left side of his face was constantly exposed to the sun.

Charlotte Tilbury Skincare Magic

Hello!


Today I'm going to review Charlotte Tilbury's new Magic Cream and Multi-Miracle Glow Cleanser!!!

I first learned of Charlotte Tilbury in the August issue of Vogue with Blake Lively on the front cover~

This article had succeeded in making me very curious about this "Magic Cream" of hers. Charlotte Tilbury is an editorial makeup artist who has been whipping up her own cream concoction to prep the skin for makeup. Magic Cream contains rose-hip oil, frangipani, wild pansy, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins A, C and E.

"It got its name backstage and on shoots where frequent collaborators like Kate Moss and Mario Testino would inevitably ask, 'Where's the magic cream?'" -Sarah Harris, Vogue.

With a description like that, who wouldn't be curious? So on a fateful Saturday afternoon spent shopping around The Grove, my friend Monica and I found ourselves in front of the Nordstrom x Charlotte Tilbury launch event. Monica was hungry, but I, having read the afore-mentioned article, insisted we go inside and check it out. Here is some photo evidence: 

Rosanna and Monica

Monica at the fairgrounds! 

Stage where they teach you makeup tricks

I loved the gold stars sprinkled on the ground

Quote I agree with

Super cute right?! The event was soooo adorable! They went with a magical fair theme. I would have taken more photos if my iPhone 5 didn't have to die on me :( Time for the 6 soon! 

Anyway, I came home with 2 sets of Magic Cream + Multi Miracle Glow Cleanser, for myself and my mom!

Okay so first up for review- the cleanser. 

Multi-Miracle Glow

Smooooooth as buttah

Beautiful blush pink color

So as you can see in these photos, this cleanser is a creamy balm. It may look like a gel, but it is indeed a creamy balm. The good people at Charlotte Tilbury describe this as "cashmere soft". I am in love with this cleanser. First of all, it smells AMAZING. It smells like jasmine. Not a cheap-y jasmine either. This smells like you just walked into a garden at midnight with full moon above head and there are christmas lights sparkling along the hedges. Just-bloomed jasmines, that's what this smells like. This cleanser is dubbed "Multi- Miracle Glow" because it can be used 3 ways. 

1. Deep-Cleansing Anti-Wrinkle Wash

2. Overnight Regenerating Facial Mask

3. Body Of An Angel Balm

So far, I've only used it as a cleanser and I really love it. It leaves your skin feeling supple and clean~ (After washing, I still go over with Bioderma Micellar Water just to remove any remaining oil because I'm afraid of blackheads...but my skin still feels well hydrated afterward). I can see how this product is great for anti-wrinkle since it smooths onto your skin like butter and really cleanses without causing any dryness of the skin and keeps your skin well-lubricated throughout the whole process. The whole experience of this cleanser is soooo luxurious~ Everything from the packaging, to the "cashmere" texture, to the rich jasmine smell. I love it! 

This is even better than the oil cleansers I have! I am no longer attracted to my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil or my Camellia Cleansing Oil from Tatcha. Sometimes when I use those cleansing oils around my eyes, they tend to find their way into my eyes, no matter how hard I keep my eyes shut! My eyeballs become blurry afterward. Since the consistency of this balm is heavier, it doesn't run wherever it feels like it. It will stay on the outside of your eyelids, just working on taking off the mascara like it's supposed to be doing! You are supposed to massage this into your dry skin with Tilbury's PRO-COLLAGEN WONDER WORKOUT, until it turns more oily in texture, and then rinse it off. The massage technique is supposed to stimulate lymphatic drainage and de-puffs the skin.

(You can watch how the pro-collagen wonder workout is done here)

Next up- MAGIC CREAM!

Pretty packaging~ 

Miracle Cream! 

"Cashmere Soft"

Not oily

So I really really love this cream as well. Usually I am afraid of creams because most creams I've encountered are very rich and oily, which is too much for my combination skin type. I don't like heavy creams because they tend to feel like they are sitting on top of my skin, and not really providing moisture into my skin. This cream is different because of the hyaluronic acid in it. The hyaluronic acid moisturizes by delivering water to the skin, so your skin feels hydrated and bouncy afterward.

Now, I already use and LOVE my A.H.C Hydra B5 Smoother Serum, which has hyaluronic acid as a main ingredient. The only problem I have with my current skin routine is that when I come to California, my skin feels a bit dry halfway through the day due to the drier climate and constant sun exposure. After using this cream, my skin stays moisturized for the entire day. The hyaluronic acid moisturizes deeply into the skin, while the other oils seal the moisture in. So now, after a year of silent struggles.... I've finally found a solution to my California dry skin problem!  

All in all, you can call me a very happy girl. Completely satisfied customer. Charlotte Tilbury scores an A+ on her skincare line. I am a fan.  You need to try this stuff out. Life is too short to be stuck using oil cleansers that get your eyeballs blurry or lotions that don't last the whole day. 

Okay, until next time! 

xoxo, 

Rosanna

Joseristine Black Sugar Shower Gel

Is it just me, or is anyone else tired of paying over $10.00 for a nice shower gel?

WELL! I've found the best shower gel for under $10.00!!  

Walking back from my weekly visit to the Chinese doctor, I always pass by this skincare store. Near the doorway, they have brightly-lit shelves lined with these cheery yellow and white bottles of Sugar Moisturizing Shower Gel. They always look very tempting, but I always remind myself that I do not need another extra shower gel in my shower. Today however, I gave in to my urge. I went into the shop. The saleslady told me that their shower gel was their best seller and she recommended the Black Sugar Moisturizing Shower Gel, which comes in a caramel colored bottle. What's so special about this shower gel? Apparently it leaves your skin feeling very supple and bouncy afterward, not dry or tight. 

I asked her for the price, and this was the shocking part. This entire bottle of shower gel only cost 

$33 HKD! That translates to $4.25 USD- less than $5.00!! 

Okay, so I decided to give it a try. I also picked up new shampoo from the store. The saleslady highly recommended this Japanese Horse Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. She told me that it works very well,  is very moisturizing, and is one of their most popular items. A bit wary of rich shampoos (my hair tends to get oily), I proceeded with caution. The saleslady assured me that I would love it. 

Anddd... she turned out to be correct.

I LOVED the shower gel and the shampoo and conditioner.

It's funny because I was so wary of going into this store. The name "Jorestine" sounded like some sketchy Asian brand that wasn't aware of proper English names and decided to create one. Also, the description on the shower gel is also very interesting. Under the huge Jorestine, in smaller font it reads, "Karitebutter Fetttosliches Gelee Oguiubillzo". Being the curious creature that I am, I searched on Google Translate and got the following results.

Language Detected: German

I typed in verbatum, "Karitebutter Fetttosliches Gelee Oguiubillzo"

and it suggested:

karitebutter fettlösliches gelee oguiubillzo

and the meaning is: Shea butter fat-soluble jelly oguiubillzo

So... what Oguiubillzo is, we may never know... but the rest of the translation is on-point! The shower gel has the consistency of jelly~ and it is very moisturizing and doesn't leave your skin feeling tight. (I will upload photos of the actual gel soon... I'm posting from the US right now and I left my shower gel in my Hong Kong soon. Sit tight! For now, just know that it looks like a pretty brown jelly.)

Conclusion: Highly recommended! This shower gel has a bouncy, juicy texture, a pleasant light smell that is not overpowering, and best of all~ it's so cheap for a huge bottle! They also sell refills at the store so you can be environmentally friendly as well by saving the plastic bottle :)

A.H.C Hydra B5 Soother

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been posting lately. No time to photograph myself putting on skincare. I'll just tell you guys about this amazing serum that I've discovered, and have gifted to friends and family members over the 2012 holiday season. Everyone has been asking me to buy more for them since I found this in Hong Kong. It is called the Hydra B5 Soother.

Yes. That water in the background correctly depicts how amazingly moisturizing this product is. It makes your skin very smooth and doesn't have a weird sticky left over feeling that I know some gels can leave.

It comes in this little dropper bottle. You just need one or two drops for your entire face. The result is.. that it leaves your skin feeling so supple and really moist from the inside out. Not like creamy moisturized that just sits on top of your skin... but this actually gives your skin a drink.

I love this one. I also think whenever girls come back to a product, that it's a keep for sure. There are so many products out there that it's easy to be tempted to try something new.... but this one's definitely for keeps.

<3 itttt!!!

I got this from ColourMix in Hong Kong. They sometimes have periods when they do a special "Buy one get one free" promotion. It costs around $120 for 2 bottles, but online I see it costs around $90 for one bottle. So if you're ever in Hong Kong, remember to stock up on these babies! The ColourMix I always go to is the one in the MTR station walkway between Hong Kong station and Central station.


I gave my mom and some people with "mature" skin this Phyto Complex Gel to use, and they were not crazy about it.

It is supposed to tighten the skin, so I can imagine it makes the skin feels uncomfortable. I've also heard that this one leaves a sticky after feel... so I would suggest you stick with the Hydra 5 Soother.


Sit tight! I have more discoveries to share. Promise to post more often :)


Love,

Rosie

ARITAUM's Intense Hydro Gel Mask (Bamboo Moist)

     My friend brought this mask back from Korea for me. I was almost too lazy to do a review because I thought this mask would be like any other mask, but when I opened the packet, I was really amazed! 

MY REVIEW: 

     The consistency of this mask is a cool gel, unlike the usual moist cloth masks I usually use. It really conforms to your skin so you can do other things without having to worry about it peeling off.

     There's a pleasant clean smell to this mask. I'm already in love. The packet is mostly in Korean, so I did a little research on this mask. Apparently, it's formulated with bamboo extract and minerals to calm rough skin. It's supposed to create "moist and elastic skin".  It says to keep it on for 10-15 minutes, but I'm keeping this baby on for 30. It's just so fun and different! I wish my skin was as smooth as this mask! Try it and you'll see what I'm talking about. I took some photos show you can see the consistency:

     Aritaum is not a brand, but a road store that carries all of Amore Pacific's products. You can order the masks here.

Also, another plus about this mask I just realized recently is that it comes in TWO HALVES. Why should this be important you ask? Well, a few days ago I used a mask that was a one-piece of this gel substance, and it ripped! Once it rips, it just does NOT stop ripping. (The ripping mask wasn't anything great so that's why I'm not going to review it) Dividing the mask in halves makes it a lot less likely to rip apart when you are taking it off the plastic sheet backing. Very clever indeed.

 final rating: "★★★★★"

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I became interested in Kiehl's Midnight Recover Concentrate after I saw it in a magazine. Emmy Rossum was sharing her favorite products, and this was one of them. She said she wakes up every morning a little brighter because of this oil. Now, I've always noticed Emmy's perfect porcelain skin, so when she offers to share her skincare secrets, I am not one to turn away.

I tried it and I fell in love. Noted, my face looked a little greasy after putting it on, but it's nighttime so who cares? Woke up in the morning feeling like P Diddy. Skin was brighter, softer, and did not look greasy at all. My skin must have soaked it all up. Very mysterious stuff. Highly recommended.

How to use: I use a couple drops around my eyes and cheek bones because these areas start to wrinkle first. Saves me a step, and it works wonderfully. Then I use a couple more drops for the rest of my face. and neck.