KoreaDepart Haul - Don't Shop While Stoned

Hello, reader.  You may be wondering where I've been!  I was doing quite consistent with the updates, then bam!  Nothing.  Well, I've been in and out of the hospital for the last two weeks.  It kind of sucked out loud.

I look about how I felt in that photo, man.  So, one night while I was waiting for the angel of death to take me, or sleep, whichever came first, I staggered onto KoreaDepart and started clicking.  The next day, I was vaguely aware of having ordered a sleep pack and some food, but that was about it.  Well, the box came today.  Let's see what I get while out of my gourd on Vicodin, shall we?

Oh.  I sure did get food.  I got two boxes of Lotte Duffe honey ginger cookies (1.52 each USD), two mozzarella chicken Spam Singles (1.99 each USD), one container of Ottogi spaghetti ramen (1.29 USD),  a box (15 count) of Ottogi sweet potato & mixed pumpkin tea (5.86 USD).

Beauty wise, I got The Saem's "Snail Trio #3 Lavender Sleeping Pack" (7.85 USD) and It's Skin Nail Styler Smoothie in GR01 (2.34 USD).  I haven't used the sleeping pack yet (it's noon as I write this), but I did sneek a whiff and oh, wow.  This is totally going to help me sleep.  The polish is a cute mint green crelly with  pink and blue glitter.

But can we dig how cute the packaging is on that sleeping pack?  Oh my gosh, you guys.

This was my first experience using KoreaDepart.  They're a bit different than most other South Korean resellers in that they charge you flat 25.00 USD shipping up front, and once the shipping weight is calculated, refund you the difference.  This also lets them default to more expedited shipping with tracking.  At first this irritated me, but I'm kind of okay with it now since I got this package in a week.  It was also carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, and I got about five samples.  I'll order from them again.

So, yes.  In case you were wondering where I was, I've been in the hospital and stoned hauling face masks and nail polish.  Here's hoping I can be more regular with updating seeing as I'm not dying anymore!

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this seller.

The Honest Company - Baby Balm

So, I'm kind of a free sample junkie.  I love 'em.  Even the cheap samples.  I can't help but adore getting mail that contains things waiting for me, even if I'm just going to stash them in my medicine cabinet.  It's probably the worst habit I have - I'm a hippie, and part of me loathes all of the packaging and fuel waste.  So sad.  

So when I ordered my Discovery Kit from The Honest Company, I was expecting to just stash it with my other treasures.  The Honest Company is a company Jessica Alba started up when she saw how much unhealthy junk is in baby stuff.  They also have some bath and body products.  

First thing I noticed was how pretty the packaging was.  It's shipped in one of those nice cardboard containers, the ones where the outside feels sleek.  I got the Essentials Discovery Pack since I don't have a kid.

from thehonestcompany.com

It has a trial size of the healing balm, shampoo & body wash, face & body lotion, laundry detergent, and hand soap.  My hands were chapped when I got it, so I immediately opened up the healing balm and slathered some on.

photo from thehonestcompany.com

It's labeled for multiuse, but is marketed primarily as a diaper balm, for baby rash.  However, it's also got a lot of other awesome things.  QUOTETH THE SITE:

• Organic sunflower, olive, & tamanu oils work with enriching shea butter to nourish, moisturize & help protect sensitive & irritated skin
• Chamomile, calendula, and lavender gently calm & soothe
• Castor oil battles existing diaper rash and prevents future cases by creating a protective barrier against urine
• Promotes healthy, supple, soft skin anywhere you need it – top to toes!
• No harsh chemicals (ever!) – only powerful, natural, non-toxic ingredients in this must-have salve
• Sensitive for infants & everyday use
• Hypoallergenic • Certified Organic • Vegetarian • Biodegradable • pH Balanced • Naturally Non-Toxic

That's a lot of awesome claims.  I figured it wouldn't live up to them.  HOLY CRAP WAS I EVER WRONG.  This stuff slogged down into my hands and kept them soft through repeated washings.  This stuff smells like a really nice herbal treatment, like a cuppa tea.  This stuff, I'd love to pour all over myself all the time.  Sadly, I won't, because at 12.95 USD for three ounces, that's ... stiffer than I can afford.  So I will bogart my little tube while I still can.



Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  Referral link used.

Nail MADNESS - Pistachio Cream Puff Dreams

L'Oreal had a collection a while ago called Versailles Romance.  Now, I don't know about all of that, but I do know that they were pretty cremes and seemed really great for Spring.  So I snagged two of them, stuck 'em in my stash, and forgot about them.

Yeah, that's me.  Busting out the Spring polishes when it's almost friggin' June.  WHATEVER YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME.  Ahem.  Here's what I came up with!

The teal-y color is Pistachio Dreams, and the buff color is Cream Puff.  

As you can see, I've been digging huge ass nail charms too.  They're a fun way to dress up nails without being really good at dressing up nails.  The only downside is that they tend to come off if you're like me and dick around with 'em.  

I got these at Walgreens when they were having a BOGO 50% off sale, so I think I got these for 8 bucks total, USD.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Skin Care Saturdays - [TonyMoly] Egg Pore Blackhead Out Oil Gel & Egg Pore Tightening Pack

Two weeks in a roooow!  *feels like a rock star*  So, as you may or may not know, I recently was in the hospital.  And when you're in the hospital, your focus isn't on your skin.    Instead of looking good, your focus is more on "can I make it to the toilet without passing out?" or "how the heck do I unravel my IV cord?" or "what is that beeping omfg make it stop why".  When I got out of the hospital, I was sad to find that my face had turned into some sort of plague area.  I look like a zombie from Evil Dead.

Coincidentally, I got an order from kocomall.com the other day that contained these two skincare products from [TonyMoly].  They're both designed for large pores (alas, no DEAR GOD MY FACE FIX IT products really exist).  Here's my first reaction to them.

The first step in the process was the Egg Pore Blackhead Out Oil Gel.  This is ... literally what it says it is.  I did it after oil washing my face, and the consistency of this product is basically just a super thick oil wash.  It also has some scrubby bits in there.  It does the standard 'turns white after a while of use' thing.  My roommate, who used it while I did, said it smells like embalming fluid, but I didn't really notice anything.  Maybe I'm desensitized due to years of using acne treatments.  It hurt my hands to rub this in for three friggin' minutes, though.  I was using it on my nose, so it required me to hold my hands in a weird way.

photo from kocomall.com

So, after my fingers uncramped and my skin was sufficiently pummeled, I rinsed.  To be honest?  I didn't notice any immediate results, nor did I expect any.  Blackheads aren't something that're easily treated, and to expect immediate results is a fool's errand.  

But, undeterred, I went ahead and popped on the Egg Pore Tightening Pack.  To me, it smells like plastic, but again, roommate claims embalming fluid.  (She's never smelled it; the real thing is much worse.  Trust.)  The first thing that I noticed was that it kind of looks ... exactly like baby poop.  But, undeterred, I spackled that crap on my face (it's really thick, which I love).

photo from kocomall.com

photo from kocomall.com

This?  This I loved.  My skin really did feel tighter, sebum was reduced for like, two days, and I just don't get that from my Queen Helene or Freeman's masques.  I will repurchase this when I finish it up for sure.

You don't have to run out and purchase these right away.  Neither is probably going to change your life, nor is there a problem with finding something similar Stateside.  But I do defy you to find cuter packaging.  That's the draw here, let's be honest.

I give the Egg Pore Blackhead Out Oil Gel a B (if only because it got me to actually work on those jerkoffs).  I got it for 5.58 USD.

The Egg Pore Tightening Pack gets an A++ WOULD BUY AGAIN.  I got that for 5.58 USD as well.  I purchased both products from Kocomall.com

Kocomall.com is a newish South Korean makeup reseller online; they used to have an Amazon store that I used for all of my Skin79 BB Cream purchases.  I'm loving their prices and their inventory too.  Right now they're running a promotion where if you sign up with their website, you get a 5.00 off coupon (USD).

What have you tried and loved lately?  Do you like [TonyMoly]?  Why is that name so fun to say?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this seller.

Haul - Korean Skincare From RoseRose Shop

I know, I know, I haven't posted in a month.  Well, in that month I got accepted to graduate school and had an emergency appendectomy.  So I wasn't just sitting here slacking off, promise.  I'm going to try to get back into this weekly.

If you know me, you know I love skincare and makeup from South Korea.  I get my stuff from a few other places, and one of those is Rose Rose Shop.  They're reliable and they have a pretty great selection.  I put an order in about a month ago that came in today (it takes about that long for anything to get to me in Texas from Seoul).  Here's pictures of what I got.  Reviews will come!

I got two of the Missing U hand creams because they're adorable and great to leave around my work desk.  

No, seriously, they're the cutest.  The left one is a Fairy Penguin (it smells like baby powder) and I think it's from last year's MissingU.  It was 4.50 USD  The one on the right is a Pink Eagle Owl and it smells like cherries.  It was 5.50 USD.  They're smaller than you'd think they are - they fit in the palm of one's hand - but hell, I'm not really paying for the lotion.  I am paying for the adorables.

I also got Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil from The Face Shop (say that three times fast!).  I'm currently in a phase of shopping around, trying to find the right oil cleanser, and I'm hoping this one will fit the bill.

As you can see, it's pretty generously sized - I put a largeish pill bottle next to it for reference.  It was 8.90 USD.

Primers are another thing that I shop around for all the time.  I love them, and I love how easily they make my BB cream slide onto my face.  I got 10 samples of Skin Food's Black Egg Pore Primer for 3.00 USD.

I also got Holika Holika's Cotton Oil Queen Cotton primer (7.92 USD).  It's friggin' adorable, you guys, I am not even kidding.

So, yeah, that's what I got recently.  I have another couple of orders coming in too, so this should actually give me lots of stuff to review!  Yaaaay!  What stuff have you guys bought?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this seller.

Badger (Badger Badger - Ha Ha, It's In Your Head Now)

I know, I know, I've got to stop doing this Posting Once A Month thing.  I'm going to try, but I won't make any promises.  You should forgive me.  I'm awesome.

ANYWAY.

Down here in Houston, for the last few weeks, the weather's been a bit bipolar.  Mid-seventies to mid-eighties during the day, and low forties at night.  Work's been cranking the AC and heat to help combat it, which is doing nothing but giving me sinus headaches and pissed off skin.  My hands are dry, my elbows are dry, my whole body wants moisture.  I'm drinking water out the ying yang, but my hands were still really pissed, as was the skin on my arms. 

What's a girl to do?  Use it as an excuse to buy more beauty crap.  Duh.

I dig hippie organic things because that's how I roll.  So after some Googling, I figured I'd try out some stuff from Badger Organic Body Care.  Also, because badgers are awesome.  I got their Rose Geranium soap and their hallmark Badger Balm.

From badgerbalm.com

This soap is a dream.  It's a no frills, grey block of soap that does just what it says it will: it moisturizes and nourishes your skin.  It smells lovely, it doesn't make my already dry skin feel tight or angry, and it doesn't leave me feeling slick or stripped the way some shower gels can.  I don't use it on my face, because the last thing my face needs is moisture, but for my body?  A+, 6.49 USD.  Protip: You can use this on your junk.  I'm UTI prone, and my outer junkal sections say this is a-okay.  

from badgerbalm.com

Badger Balm is a really concentrated balm that I've been using on my hands, cuticles, and elbows.  I've noticed a difference after only a few uses, which is impressive.  It's concentrated, so two ounces is actually a lot of product.  It reminds me of Burt's Bees hand salve in formulation.  The smell may be an acquired taste for some people.  I like it; it reminds me of camping.  The oils that give it its smell are birch and wintergreen, so if you don't like smelling like a forest, try one of their other balms.  B, 7.99 USD.

                           Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own. 

Hair Junk: Garnier Oila Hair Dye

When I was younger, I used to dye my hair religiously.  There was a period in my twenties where I legitimately don't think I saw my natural hair color for years.  But after a hair straightening accident (who knew your hair didn't like being bleached and relaxed on the same day?) wherein all my hair fell out, I stopped for a long time.
Then I was lucky enough to get a free coupon for Garnier Oila from Bzz Agent.





I figured - why not dip my toe back into the dyeing ocean?  If I was going to dye again, Oila seemed a good fit.  After all, according to Garnier, "Olia visibly improves and restores hair as the oils help to reverse roughness and dullness for more brilliant, dimensional color and softer, shinier hair with more bounce."  I could use softer, shinier hair!  I like bounce!  So let's give this stuff a spin.
I grabbed number 4.60, Dark Intense Auburn.  My hair's naturally on the very dark brown side of things, but due to my mother's side of the family having a bazillion redheads, it's got a bit of red highlights.  So why not play that up?
Now, you may be wondering what the "oil powered" part of the product is. Garnier states: "unlike traditional haircolor, Garnier Olia uses an exclusive 60% oil blend with natural flower oils to achieve maximum color performance while visibly improving and restoring hair".
You'll notice it first during the application.  It doesn't smell bad.  I mean, I'm not going to clamor for Oila perfume, but at the same time it didn't make me feel like my nose hairs were being burned from the inside out.  It's a standard creme formula, maybe a little on the watery side, but nothing hair dye devotees haven't dealt with before.

You can deal with it.  I did.  
After washing it out, it didn't feel like it totally fried my hair.  My hair felt about as good as it had pre-dye.  Which, considering that most dyes turn my already straw-like hair to something resembling candy floss, is fantastic.

I'm in love with the color, and my hair feels fantastic. The other sneaky bonus for Oila - since it's oil based, it doesn't immediately stain everything in your bathroom.  I got a good dollop on my sink?  Gone!  The bit on my forehead?  Washed right up!  The stains on my hand?  WASHED RIGHT OFF.  If that's not reason enough to buy it, I don't know what is.

Disclaimer: This product was provided by a third party for reviewing purposes.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.