Review ★ The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream

Hello everyone!

I finally have a break since classes are over, and exams are starting soon! I will hopefully have more reviews during the holiday, along with some food posts :D.

Today I will be reviewing the Face Shop's chia seed sebum control moisture cream (also a cream advertised by Suzy from Miss A) from their chia seed line. I haven't bought anything else from the line, so I can't speak for the other products~ The Face Shop also has another moisturizer, but I picked up this one since I have combination skin ^^

As you may or may not know, chia seeds are great for consumption, and have a lot of health benefits (rich in omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, phosphorus, fibre, protein, etc.)! So I assume that they're also beneficial in skincare products since they help retain moisture too!

Description
(taken from the description on the box)

• A moisture cream that replenishes skin with moisture, while preventing excess sebum. Chia seeds that hold moisture 10 times their own weight fill the skin with moisture, while native cotton seeds control unnecessary sebum to moisturize the skin without any sheen all day long. 
• Mild oil-free translucent cream made with environmentally-friendly technique. This 100% pure, mild and translucent moisturizing cream protects the environment as well through the oil-free formula that uses low-carbon, environmentally-friendly techniques.
• 100% organic chia seed extracts' sap are used in lieu of water (73.64% extract). This moisturizing cream delivers freshness and efficacy by using 100% organic chia seed extracts' sap instead of water. 
• 7-free (free of parabens, benzophenone, artificial colouring, sulfate, mineral oil, animal sourced ingredients, and thiethanolamine)
• It is dermatologist tested

The cream comes in a nice box that has all the information you need (in Korean, English, and French since y'know, we require it in Canada). It's very simple, but the overall design is nice ^^ It has a little die-cut circle that says it's GMO-free (genetically modified ingredients), so you know it's safe to use if you have sensitive skin since the ingredients are natural! It's $33 in the Face Shops in Ontario, but I got it during a promotion~

It comes with the container of cream and a spatula (which I lost, but I have the Laneige ones LOL). The container is kind of bulky, and the walls of the container are really thick. The hard plastic enhances the quality of the packaging or feel of the product, since we often associate good packaging with a good product as well. The walls of the container are really thick, so it seems like you're getting more product when you look at it from the outside. 

I will give kudos for the spatula though, because it prevents us from contaminating the product with our fingers. If only more companies included spatulas with their creams D:...

When you remove the lid, there is a cover with a little heart shaped tab to prevent the cream from getting on the lid. 

The cream is supposed to be applied after essence, or as the final step of your skin care routine so you seal everything in. The cream itself is translucent and lightweight, with a gel-like consistency. It has a light fragrance, but I don't know how to describe it OTL. It doesn't have a specific scent, but it has a 'clean' and 'fresh' scent @__@. It feels thick upon contact, but it thins out after as you spread it out. My skin drinks up the cream really quickly, and there isn't any greasy/sticky residue or sheen left behind after the cream is absorbed since there isn't any oil in it (well there's like 0.001% mineral oil). It leaves my face looking shine-free for awhile, so I think it also works well before applying a make-up base on top~

It's colder in Toronto now, so my skin is drier >__<, I don't think this is enough on its own, so it probably would not suffice as a standalone moisturizer for those with dry skin. The cream is good, but it isn't holy grail material for me. I would recommend it those with combination, oily, or sensitive skin since it helps control oil while moisturizing your skin. It's also good for those who live in warmer climates, rather than people who live in cold areas or are in winter right now since the air won't be as dry. However, I've read some reviews, and it's either a hit or a miss for them :<. Also, I don't feel as if there are any long term effects. 

Pros

+ Hydrates skin

+ Hygienic (lid separator, spatula)

+ Oil-free

+ Lightweight

+ GMO-free

+ Good for those with sensitive/oily/combination skin

Cons

- Bulky packaging

- Price (I think it's worth it when it's under $20, but anything above $30 is pushing it)

Rating: ★★★★

Where to buy? I purchased mine from The Face Shop in Fairview mall, while they were having their grand opening promotion ($15 off for a $35 purchase). But it retails for $33 before tax here~ You can also purchase it at the following places: f2plus1 ($24.50), ehappyidea ($19), amazon ($24), sasa ($32), testerkorea ($22.90), w2beauty ($32.23).

That's all for today! Please stay tuned for my next giveaway, which will be posted within a day or two ^^.

Review ★ Etude House Drawing Show Creamy Eyeliner + GIVEAWAY WINNER

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a fun Halloween (or Hallow's Eve, which ever you prefer) yesterday! I didn't do much aside from carve a pumpkin for a contest with my club (I only drew the gengar, and we didn't win anything OTL), and then go for all you can eat sushi at Spring Sushi in the AMC. I would have gone clubbing/partying if I wasn't sick = u=;;. If any of you dressed up yesterday, please let me know in the comments :D.

Today, I will be reviewing the Étude House Draw My Show creamy eyeliner. As much as I love gel liners because of their matte finish and long wear, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to using them because of the amount of precision required with a brush. However I started using this one because my Dolly Wink eyeliners have started to dry out :(, and I don't want to buy another until I find stuff I want on sasa.

Description 
(taken from the description on Jolse)
"Etude House Drawing Show creamy liner has an intense and vivid colour to enhance and define eyes for any look. Its smooth gliding texture and easy to control fine tipped brush makes for the most accurate application, and always results in clean and clear lines. Beacause of its easy use, this eyeliner if perfect for beginners. The waterproof formula adheres all day and night and holds up against sweat and sebum for long lasting wear."

I purchased it in BR401 brown (double shot), but they also come in the following:
- BK801: black, one shot (quick dry)
- BK802: black, double shot
- BK803: grey, double shot

I assume double shot means you can smudge it if you want a more smoky effect, or fix it easily if you make a mistake because it doesn't dry as quickly as BK801.

As usual, Étude House's packaging is adorable, but it was pretty difficult to get it out LOL. It comes in a generic pot, and a small eyeliner brush is included in the box. The brush appears pretty small because it has a lid on it, but you can put the lid on top to extend the handle! It isn't much longer than the brush that comes with the Maybelline gel liner. I don't know why, but I'm pretty bad at using the angled eyeliner brush, so I really like that it comes with a normal eyeliner brush. This type of eyeliner brush is good for beginners too!

The texture of the eyeliner is very creamy and smooth, so it glides on seamlessly! There's some glitter in it, but it isn't really noticeable. I've tried eyeliners that were tough to apply because of their drier consistencies, so the brush would pull on my lid as I applied it. As you can see from the swatch, the stroke is true to colour, and opaque. You can get a solid stroke in one swipe, which is a good thing because that means you use less product :D. It's easy to fix if you make a mistake too.

I've used this several times now, and I can honestly say that the eyeliner is long-lasting! I have classes from morning to afternoon/evening, and my eyeliner is always still in tact by the end of the day. It doesn't smudge throughout the day too! I think this eyeliner would work especially well for those whose lids get oily throughout the day. On top of being smudge proof, it is also waterproof! I'm not sure about swimming since I don't swim with make-up on LOL, but it will definitely hold up if you got stuck outside on a pouring day without an umbrella, or if you have a hardcore workout at the gym or something.

This review is pretty short, since gel eyeliners are pretty generic. However, Etude House's gel liner is a great alternative to the more expensive brands such as MAC or Bobbi Brown. It is drug store priced at around $9-10, so it is wallet-friendly too! The more you save, the more you can spend on other things :D. This product does everything it claims to do, so you are definitely getting what you pay for. I think I might buy the black one in the future ^^

Pros
+ Long-lasting
+ True to colour
+ Creamy texture for a smooth application
+ Pigmented
+ Doesn't smudge
+ Small eyeliner brush included
+ Easy to use for beginners

Cons
- None

Rating: ★★★★★

Where to buy? I purchased this from Jolse for $9 (link). You can also find it at the following places: f2plus ($10), cosmetic-love ($13).

Also, congratulations to Ashley Wong for winning my first giveaway! 

If you didn't win this time, I will be having another giveaway closer to the holiday season c:.