Review + Uses: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (Pure Castile Liquid Soap)

Have you ever used a product and so impressed by it that you can't afford not sharing it with others? This is the feeling I got while writing this post. I have been OBSESSED with this product ever since I have started using it. I am talking about the Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap.

This product has saved me a lot of money and made me felt good about using it. It is an all-in-one organic product that does all the cleaning you need for yourself and for your house.I will get into the details about its uses a little later. 

Ingredients

The major ingredients are the same for each product except for the added essential oils depending on the scent. The main ingredients are water, organic coconut oil, olive oil (with retained glycerin), organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, citric acid, vitamin E, and added essential oils based on the scent you choose.

Packaging

The bottle doesn't come in a fancy container whatsoever. Instead, it is housed in an ordinary clear bottle with a packaging that speaks volume (literally!). I have never seen such a packaging with tons of words in it. If you do have time, try reading it and you'll definitely learn the values and beliefs behind the creator of this soap, which I think is pretty incredible. According to my research, Dr. Bronner intentionally put all his preaching in the packaging in order to spread his beliefs in humanity and how we should run the world. (Hats off to the man!) 

Size wise, the product comes in at least four different sizes: 2 oz. (travel size), 16 oz., 32 oz., and 1 gallon.

Scents

It comes in ten different scents: almond, baby (unscented), citrus, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rose, tea tree, sandalwood and green tea. The scents are color coordinated. I have only tried the orange one (tea tree) and the blue one (peppermint).

Uses
As mentioned, it is an all-in-one cleaning product so you can use it anyway you like or anywhere in your house or your body that needs cleaning. In my case, I use it do the following:

• Clean my make-up brushes
• Wash my body (I love using the peppermint because it's refreshing and soothing)
• Wash my face (I use the tea tree one because of its antibacterial component)
• Wash the dishes
• Wash my toothbrush
• Clean the floor
• Clean the kitchen counter
• Clean the furniture
• Wash my pet's bowl
• Wash my stained clothes

You can also use it as a shampoo or toothpaste but I haven't tried it myself.

My final takeaway? Well, this product will leave your skin squeaky clean and your house spotless. Why spend your money on different products when you can just use a single product in your household that does all the job incredibly well?

You may also watch this video tutorial on my review of this product, places where you can get it in Korea and a demo on how I clean my makeup brushes with it and see it work in action.

Thanks for dropping by! 

Gelie Dollie xo's

Makeup Shopping in Thailand | Where & What + My Makeup Haul

If you follow me on any of my social media accounts,  then you already know that I spent a couple of months in Thailand. During my stay, I was able to shop around and  collectively haul makeup goodies that are no where to be found in South Korea.  In this post, I will share with you some (if not all) of the places where you can find your makeup fixes and also let you know about international brands you can find in Bangkok, Thailand.

If you are interested, you may click the video below to watch the products I purchased during my makeup shopping spree.

SEPHORA

Sephora is probably the highlight of my makeup shopping spree as it houses a lot of high-end products that are not easily available in Korea and of course what makeup lover doesn't enjoy a trip to the black and white stripes makeup candy land? 

• Makeup Brands Available: Urban Decay, Nars, Makeup Forever, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Benefit, The Balm, Nyx, Estee Lauder, Tarte, Stila, Sephora, Lancome, Clinique, Too Faced
• Locations: 
• Sephora Central Embassy (2nd Fl.)
• Sephora Central World (2nd Fl.)
• Sephora Siam Center (G/F)
• Sephora Mega Bangna

WATSONS AND BOOTS

Western and European drugstore brands are also widely available in pharmaceutical places like Watsons and Boots. These places are worth hunting for hot deals like buy 1 take 1 and up to 50% discount of drugstore products.

• Makeup Brands Available: Revlon, Maybelline, Loreal, Zaa, In-2-It, Sleek, Catrice, Physicians Formula, Wet n Wild, Essence, N 7 and Soap & Glory (exclusive at Boots)
• Locations:
• Both Watsons and Boots can be found almost anywhere. The largest Watsons branch I found is in Siam Square, across from Sephora Siam. Boots is also located a few blocks away.

BEAUTRIUM

Beautrium is a store that carries Western,  Korean, European, and Japanese drugstore products. They also have selected high-end products. They normally have sales and I found that their products are mostly cheaper than the products found in other places. For instance, I was able to grab Real Techniques Sculpting Brush Set for half the price in other stores. This definitely is a place to check out!

• Makeup Brands Available: Loreal, Maybelline, Wet n Wild, Essence, Cosluxe, Catrice, LA Splash, LA Girls, City Colors, Lime Crime, Elf (huge selection), Etude House, Nature Republic, Holika Holika, Cathy Dolls, Life Ford, Real Techiques, Zaa, In-2-It, Nars, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Passion Ville
• Locations: 
• Beautrium Siam Square (Digital Gateway G/F)
• Beautrium Flagship Store Ratchathewi (Watergate Pavillion 4th Fl.)

VIRA VILLA

This store carries hidden gems of popular western makeup products that are commonly raved about by fellow YouTube beauty bloggers and beauty gurus. There are a lot of popular products I found here that are not available in other stores such as Ben Nye banana powder (Kim Kardashian's setting powder), Hourglass ambient palette, and The Balm's Mary Lumanizer. This place is worth checking out if you are looking  for best selling products that are  not commonly found anywhere else.

• Makeup Brands Available: Maybelline, Ben Nye, The Balm, Real Techniques, Rimmel, NYC, Laura Mercier, Hourglass, Nars, Estee Lauder, Urban Decay
• Location:
• Vira Villa Terminal 21 (Location 3120, 3rd Fl.)

EVE AND BOY

This is a one-stop beauty store to find all you need from head to toes. It carries both drugstore and high-end brands from all over the world. This is the biggest cosmetics store I have visited in Thailand. I do have to warn you that this place could get really crowded and packed since it's quite popular among locals. If you do not mind the crowd, you should absolutely check this place out. 

• Brands Available: Revlon, Loreal, Maybelline, Makeup Revolution, Zaa, In-2-It, LA Girl, LA Splash, Essence (largest selection), OPI, China Glaze, Wet n Wild, Jordana, Physicians Formula, City Colors, Etude House, Can Make, Majolica Majorca, Passion Ville, Nars, Laura Mercier, Clinique, Too Faced, Anna Sui, SK-II, Real Techniques, Eco Tools, other local brands
• Locations:
• Eve and Boy Siam (Siam Square 1 Alley)

LASHES

This  store carries similar products as Beautrium but the prices are not as budget friendly as the latter. However, this cosmetic store chain is more widely spread over Thailand and can be conveniently found in big malls. This is the only makeup store I visited that carries authentic Sigma brushes and Sigma makeup.

• Makeup Brands Available: Lime Crime, Cosluxe, Wet n Wild, Sigma, Elf, Passion Ville, Prestige, Mynx Lashes
• Locations:
• Lashes The Scene (Town in town G/F)
• Lashes Silom (Silom Complex G/F)
• Lashes Major Cineplex (Major Ratchayothin 2nd Fl.)
• Lashes The Sense  (Pinklao G/F)
• Lashes Siam Square (Siam Square Soi 5)
• Lashes Pattaya (Central Festival G/F)

NYX STORE/COUNTER

Did you know that Nyx has a stand-alone store in Thailand? I  was totally surprised and excited to see that they do have their own store that carries wide variety of affordable, high quality makeup that are not even found in Sephora Nyx shelf. The  store looks very professional and it somehow reminded me of MAC counters. Just like MAC, the makeup artist/sells clerk also offers free touch ups or makeover.

• Makeup Available: They carry almost all NYX makeup products available in the western market with the exception of the latest releases like the NYX contour palette.

NEWS: Urban Decay Now Available in Korea + My Product Recommendations

Ever wanted to get your hands on any of the Urban Decay (UD) Naked Eyeshadow palettes but deterred by the premium price you pay for shipping and/or the agonizing thrill of waiting for the product to arrive? Well, read further because I have  great news for makeup lovers and UD fanatics here in South Korea.

I was visiting my local MAC counter in Hyundai department store here in Sinchon area yesterday. On my way out, I saw a couple of thrown away UD brochure in the garbage bin. Well, imagine how excited I was. So, I went back inside to inquire where the UD store is located. I can't believe how I missed it since it was just in the same area as the MAC counter on the 1st floor. I spoke to one of the staff and learned that they have just opened a day ago and that there are only two branches in Seoul as of the moment.

1. Hyundai Department Store Sinchon Branch (02-3145-2146) see map
2. Galleria Department Store Apgujeong Branch (02-511-9412) see map

Urban Decay Korea carries universally top rated and best selling products. The photo below shows the top 10 cult favorites and also the prices in Korean won.

MY PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:

I am a great fan of UD and to be honest a quarter of my makeup stash is from the brand. Here are my top 3 product recommendations:

1.) Naked Eyeshadow Palettes (73,000 won)- All of these palettes have a special place in my heart. If you can only get one palette among the three, I would suggest looking into what type of shades do  you usually gravitate towards and as to what your undertone is. Naked 1 (original) is dominated with more of a gold, warm brown and bronze shades; which makes it perfect for warm undertone gals. On the other hand, if you are more of a cool tone gal and enjoys wearing silver and taupe shades, Naked 2 is definitely in your alley. Finally, Naked 3 is for those of you who love their pinks and rosy shades. This is perfect for bridal makeup. UD just came out with the Naked Smokey palette. Unfortunately, Korean UD doesn't carry this product as of now.

2.) Naked Skin Weightless Concealer (32,000 won)- This is my ultimate favorite concealer for my undereye area and for highlighting my face. The consistency and texture of this product is out of the world. It has great coverage without feeling heavy and it blends out to perfection. However, I don't suggest this if you are looking for a concealer to spot conceal since this leaves a satin (highlighting effect) once blended. If you are spot concealing your acne or blemishes, choose something with matte finish.

3.) UD All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (39,000 won)- This is the best setting spray that will keep your makeup budge proof throughout the day. I have just recently discovered this while I was in Bangkok, Thailand. I have put this into test while combating the hot, humid Thai weather. My makeup lasted all day despite the sweaty nature of my face. This is definitely something you need to preserve all your hard work and to go on with your day without worrying about retouching or what not. 

There you go! So, if you are in Korea and dreaming to test out any of the UD products, you can now visit the stores near you. Also, I'm interested to know your favorite UD product. 

Keep Dolling Up,

Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

Five Easy Steps to a Clean Face | My Night Routine

Taking off your makeup or any face products is as important as the act of makeup application itself. So, it shouldn't be taken for granted. I know that all of us have experienced exhausting days and we just feel like going straight (with our full face of makeup) to bed after a long day. However, we should always set some time and get into the habit of taking off our makeup and giving our skin its much needed time to breathe and recuperate after being masked with all of those makeup products we put during the day. 

In this blog post, I am going to be sharing with you guys my night routine - things I do to clean my face and nourish my skin. You'll also learn some tidbits of beauty tips that I do to prepare my face for an easy makeup application the following day. 

Here are the five easy steps to a clean face:

1. MELT and WIPE: To melt my makeup, I love to use Missha's Time Revolution One-Step Oil Gel Cleanser to basically marinate it on my face for about a minute. While I wait for the oil gel cleanser to do its job in melting my makeup, I take off my mascara and eye makeup using a spoolie brush soaked with eye makeup remover and wiggle the brush on my lashes; you can find the details about this technique on my previous post How To Take Off Falsies and Waterproof Mascara. After getting rid of my eye makeup, I use my wet fingers to massage Missha's oil gel cleanser all over my face. The water turns the oil gel into foam and you can literally see your makeup melting or coming off. Then, I rinse it off with lukewarm water.
2. EXFOLIATE: This step is probably one of the things that most girls take for granted, this is actually very important because it is going to scrub off any other product residue and dead skin cells that are hidden within your pores. If you are suffering from clogged pores, blackheads/whiteheads, and acne scarring, this step will help you improve your skin condition over time. I use the same line from Missha; it is their Time Revolution face scrub for my face and their smoothing care lip scrub for my lips. Tip: You may use the bristles of your tooth brush or brown sugar to exfoliate your lips.
3. TONE: After cleansing my face, I take another extra step to further make sure I bring back the natural pH level of my skin and to get rid of makeup residues that I missed while washing. I use the Face Shop 9-in-1 Skin Solution Toner to do the job for me.
4. TREAT: I perform this fourth step to treat my chapped, dry lips, to spot treat my fresh breakouts and to brighten up my blemishes.I use a lip balm (Maybelline's baby lips) to moisture my lips. For my fresh breakouts (if any), I spot treat it with Garnier Anti-Imperfection Roll On (any salicylic acid products will do). I also use Garnier Dark Spot Corrector with vitamin C to lighten up any dark spots or blemishes I have. 
5. MOISTURIZE: After you wash your face, you lose the natural moisture of your skin so it is critical to bring it back using moisturizing creams, moisturizing mask or oils. I use snail masks twice a week and on regular nights that I don't use mask I apply moisturizing cream.

And of course besides the five steps above, getting a good night sleep and keeping yoruself hydrated by drinking plenty of water are essential to a healthy skin inside and out. 

Keep Dolling Up,

Gelie (Jelai) Xoxo

How I Apply My Face Makeup (Glowy Finish)

Hi loves,

This week's blog post is short and sweet. I just want to show you guys how I apply my face makeup these days. The video tutorial below will walk you through the steps I take and the techniques I use in applying both liquid and powder products on my face. The products I used are also mentioned in the video.

Thank you so much for watching! If you have questions about the products I used and/or the techniques in application please drop me a line below.

See you in my next post!

Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

How To Fill In Your Brows Using A Brow Mascara

Hi dolls,

I'd like to share with you my techniques in filling my brows using a brow mascara. There are a tons of brow mascaras in the market, some great examples are Benefit's Gimme Brows, Nyx Tinted Brow Mascara, and Nature Republic Botanical Eyebrow Mascara (korean brand). My favorite among the bunch I have is the Nature Republic one. It doesn't dry out so fast and the shade matches my hair and skin tone perfectly.

Although the main concept in this post is using "brow mascara", I do like to tell you that I use other products/tools in conjunction with my brow mascara; just so I can get my desirable eyebrow look. The other things I use beside my brow mascara are eyebrow powder (brow shade matte shadow), spoolie brush, brow pencil, and concealer. 

Here is a step-by-step video tutorial on how I achieve well-groomed, defined brows. You may also read the steps below.

Steps:

1. Brow Mascara: Natural looking brows have subtle gradient effect, which means the inner ends (the ones near your nose) are slightly lighter and gets darker towards the outer end/the tail. That is why, I suggest you  start applying from the outer half of your brows and then take any excess product to the inner section. 
2. Brow Powder: You may also use a matte light brown eyeshadow. After applying your brow mascara you might feel as though it is sticky and leaves a shiny finish on your brows. Applying a brow powder on top of it using a brow brush will not only set the brow mascara, but also gets rid of the shiny effect and holds your brows in place throughout the day.
3. Spoolie Brush: Gently comb/brush your brows outward to make sure you have spread out all the products evenly and set all brow hair in the same direction. 
4. Eyebrow Pencil: I don't use eyebrow pencil to fill my whole brows. I use it to add sharpness or definition on the tail of my brows. Tip: As you can see on the video above. I used my brow pencil to find the end of my brows. Simply align the end of your brow pencil to the end of your nose and the end of your eyes. This will ensure you are not overdrawing your brows. 
   
5. Concealer: This is the star of the show. Even if I skip steps 2,3, and 4, I always make sure I do this last step. Apply a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin to your brow bone area. It will help clean up the mess or any hair growth and highlight your brow bone. This step makes difference!

I hope you find my tips helpful.

Keep Dolling Up,
Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

Neutral Look: Shades of Coral and Peach

Hey loves!

Sorry if it took me long to write about this new go-to look I am currently obsessed about. I am currently living in Thailand and temporarily saying goodbye to the Kimchi land. The good thing is I have found some interesting cosmetics here and I am actually hoping to vlog about cosmetic shopping here in Thailand on my next posts. (Stay tune!)

Before I ramble too much, let's get into this current neutral look that I am really rocking a LOT these days. It is so wearable for day time and can be easily tweaked for a nighttime look. You can watch the video below to see the products I used and also how I achieved the look.

For a day time appropriate look, you may skip the false lashes and just wear your favorite mascara. If you are up for a more glamorous look then go for the falsies. 

In case, you missed the products I used, here is the list.

Eyes:
Mac Eyeshadow 15x Warm Neutral Palette 
Missha Single Pan Eyeshadow in Shea Butter
Clio Liquid Pen Eyeliner
Essence Big Eyes Highlighter Pen
Maybelline Hypercurl Mascara
VDL False Lashes

Lips:
Nature Republic Cream Lipstick in Mango Beige 

Face:
Garnier BB Cream
Mac Mineralized Blush in Warm Soul
Nars Laguna Bronzer

Let me know your thoughts about this look. I will definitely try to create another look using the same Mac palette in the future.

Keep Dolling UP,
Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

Review + Application Tips: MAC Soft & Gentle Highlighter

Hey lovelies,

Do you guys ever wonder how JLO and Beyonce get those pretty glowing skin? The secret is finding the perfect highlighter for your skin tone. 

I am so excited to share with you guys my recent highlighter obsession. I have finally jumped on the Mac's Soft and Gentle bandwagon and I can see why my fellow beauty bloggers are raving about this stuff. Honestly, I've heard about this for a long time and every time I go to a Mac store, I always try it out but never thought of buying it until I saw it's awesome effect under the natural light.

Packaging:

This highlighter comes in a very sleek regular Mac black packaging. It has a clear glass on top that allows you to see the inside product. I love the packaging. However, I heard a couple of bloggers complaining how they prefer the older packaging because the new one is kinda difficult to open. I don't see any problem opening it, though. The only drawback I find on my end is the absence of mirror. It would have been nice to have a portable mirror on it just so it's easier for me to apply it while I'm on the go.

Formulation:

This is a baked highlighter so it has a velvet-soft texture with a high frost metallic finished. At first swatch it looks like a peachy pink highlighter, but once blended it transforms into a nice champagne color. It contains micro spec of shimmer but nothing too obnoxious that people can say you are wearing glitters on your face. It is very light  reflective so you basically only need a little bit on the high points of your face so that you won't look like a greasy mess. 

Application:

As mentioned above, it is highly pigmented so you only need a tiny amount. I apply this product on the high points of my face such as above my cheek bone, on the bridge of my nose, on my brow bone and on my cupid's bows. It is very easy to blend and doesn't leave an obvious streak on your face. I love using my fan brush to apply this. (see video below for more details)

Price/Affordability:

I have bought and owned Korean road brand/drugstore highlighting powder in the past. They are a lot cheaper than this but the quality and staying power is very different. I really think that for the amount and quality of highlighter you get in this product, it is certainly worth splurging. 

My Final Takeaways:

If you want to get a natural healthy, youthful glow on your skin then you should try this product out. This is one of the Mac products that I would recommend to anyone of any skin tone. It doesn't matter if you  have warm/cool skin tone, this champagne highlighter will suit you well. Go to your nearest Mac store and have this babe test out on your skin. Don't be pressured to buy it immediately, you should go out and check how it looks on you under the natural light. 

You may also watch the video below to learn some more application tips.  Thanks for reading and watching! :) Let me know if you guys have tried this out and what are your thoughts about it.

Keep dolling up,
Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

Cranberry Shade Inspired Look + How To Apply Pigment Eyeshadow

I was organizing my makeup stash today and rediscovered two eye shadows that I haven't been playing a lot lately. So, I decided to create a look using these two products. I am talking about A'pieu Creamy Butter Shadow in #4 Cranberry Kiss and A'pieu Mini Star Pearl Shadow in #6. They're both Korean cosmetic road brand products and are very affordable. 

The creamy butter shadow has very soft, creamy buttery texture that glides on your skin smoothly. The other one is a pigment shadow which contains micro sparkles. So, the application of this pigment shadow can be a bit daunting but once you learn the proper technique in applying it. Then, it'll just be a walk in the park. 

Here are the tips in applying pigment shadows:

1. Apply it before your face makeup so it is easier for you to clean up any fall outs.
2. Use a cream base eyeshadow or creamy primer to enhance the staying power and hold the pigments even better.
3. For easier/smoother application, spritz tiny amount of makeup fixer/facial mist or even water on your brush before application.
4. Try to look/face down when applying so as to minimize the amount of fall outs on your cheeks.

Now that you have learned some of my tips, here is how my makeup play day turned out:

You may check out the video below to see the rest of the products I have used and how I applied each of them. Thanks for reading and watching!

Keep Dolling Up,

Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

How To Create A Gradient Eyeshadow Look

Hey dolls,

Eyeshadow application could be as easy as applying one simple shade all over your lid or could be as complicated as applying  transition shades or creating a gradient look. This week's tip is about getting that gradient eyeshadow look in the easiest way possible.

It is important to familiarize yourself with the different parts of your eyes before learning the actual application. See the photo with labels below:

Basically, you only need 4 eyeshadow shades to create that gradient look. You need a crease shade,  dark shade, medium shade and light shade. 

Crease shade: anything that looks like a bronzer or something very close to your skin color but a thud darker. This shade is use to apply on your crease to carve out the sockets of your eyes.
Dark shade: any dark eyeshadows like ebony black/sandstone brown; preferably mattes. This shade is use to apply on the outer V and also on the lower lash line.
Medium shade: any medium tone that is one or two shade lighter than your dark shade. This shade is applied on your mid lid area and/or lower lash line.
Light shade: any shade that is lighter than your dark and medium shades like champagne, light gold, light silver; preferably with satin or shimmery finished. This is applied on your inner lid and could also be used as a highlighter for your brow bone and inner corners/tear duct.

Tip: You may also use your blush or any pink/coral shades to create a transition on top of your crease. 

Now, let's see how these four basic shades are use to create that gradient eye makeup look.

1. Apply your eyeshadow primer/base. I prefer to use a primer that looks like a concealer so it can double as a color corrector and the same time prevents my eye makeup from creasing. You may use a liquid concealer as a primer. Tip: If you have oily lids, I suggest setting your primer with a beige matte shadow/ powder before moving to step 2.
2. Apply your crease shade on the crease area. Just swipe your eyeshadow in a sideways motion.
3. Apply your dark shade on your outer v. Making sure you pack most of the dark shade on the outermost part.Don't forget to blend any harsh edges.
4. Apply your medium shade on the mid section of your lid.
5. Apply the lightest shade on the inner lid section. 
6. If your lighter shade is perfect for highlighting, use it to highlight the inner corner/tear duct and your brow bone. 

You may also watch my video to see how I apply my go to eye make-up look and learn more application tips. Enjoy!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Don't forget to subscribe to any of my social media accounts to get more tips and makeup look in the future.

Keep Dolling Up,

Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

Recommendations + Mini-Review: Korean Road Brand Face Makeup

Hey dolls,

This post is a part of series of posts that I am going to be doing for the next couple of weeks. If you follow my blog, you know that I have already written about some of the Korean skin care products (road brand) that I am eagerly recommending you guys to try out. 

Well, this time around, I am listing the Korean road brand "face makeup" products that I am obsess about. Just so you know, I have tried these products for a long time and have actually repurchased them at least twice. 

Holika Holika Face 2 Change Liquid Roller BB Cream

It is a roller type B.B cream that creates a perfect coverage with advanced application. This B.B. cream claims to create a flawless, luminous skin with colors that matches different skin tone. It comes in three shades - #21, #23, and #25. I have a typical Southeast Asian complexion and skin tone (which is a thud darker than Korean complexion) and I always find it hard to find B.B creams that won't make me look like a walking ghost. Most of the Korean B.B creams available in the market tend to look grayish or ashy on my skin. However, this is the only one I found so far that suits my skin tone better. I wear the shade 25 Sand Beige. It tends to look a bit lighter at first but it blends with my natural skin a few minutes after application. This also has the highest coverage among all B.B creams I have tried ever. It is really rare to find a B.B cream with a good coverage and this does the job of covering my blemishes and hyper pigmentation. The roller sponge applicator makes it so easy to apply as well. Finally, the dewy luminous glow it gives to my skin is just an added bonus. 

Holika Holika Face 2 Change Smoothing Primer

This smoothing primer prepares your skin by smoothing it out before applying your makeup. This is perfect for those of you gals who have normal to dry skin. It is not mattifying like the Benifit Porepessional Primer but is rather moisturizing. The other two additional benefits of this primer are its anti-wrinkle and brightening components. This works well, not only with the B.B. cream mentioned above, but also with any liquid foundations out there. 

Etude House Face Designing V-line Slim Maker

Contouring/shading is one of the latest fads in makeup these days and almost all higher end brands have released their own contour kit. If you are looking  for a cheaper alternative to Makeup Forever's Pro Sculpting Duo, this one from Etude House is a great deal. It comes in two shades- #1 Sun Gold+Wood Brown and #2 Sun Pink+Cherry Brown. The first one is perfect for warmer skin tone and the second one is for cooler skin tone. What I love the most about this product is it does the job of subtle contouring and highlighting and it is perfect for beginners to play around with. In fact, it was my first contour product when I was just starting out with contouring.

The Face Shop Translucent Powder

If you are looking for a setting powder that does not add anymore color to your skin but just mattifies it, this translucent powder from The Face Shop is a must try. It is affordable and works well at setting your makeup. I usually use this to mattify my T-zone or set my undereye area and it does a great job. It reminds me of ELF High Definition Translucent Powder. 

The Face Shop Lovely Me:Ex BB Pact

A couple of months ago, I discovered this yellow powder while I was on a hunt for a local dupe of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder. This is not like your ordinary powder pact, the shade is yellow so it gives you that Kim Kardashian kind of inner glow. I recommend applying this only on the the center of your face (see the yellow shade on the photo above). However, be warned that it is a bit powdery and contains talc so it is not perfect for photo shoots with flash since it will leave a white/yellow cast.

Etude House Face Conditioning Makeup Fixer

If you want to have a budge-proof makeup, I strongly suggest this makeup fixer from Etude House. It is perfect for summer because it helps protect your makeup from melting, soothes your skin with its Aloe Vera components, and moisturizes your skin without leaving a sticky feeling. 

Tip: You can also use this to moisten your foundation brush before application so it helps the foundation glide better to your skin. Spritz some on your eyeshadow brush and dab it on your sparkly eyeshadows, it will help hold the glitters in place and give it a foiled look.

These are just a few of the Korean makeup products  I highly recommend you try. I will be posting my recommendation on Korean lips and eye makeup soon.

Always remember that everyday is a day to doll up.

Gelie (Jelai) xoxo

How To Choose The Correct Foundation Shade

Hello dolls,

There are many things to consider when buying a foundation. Do you want a pressed powder foundation? loose powder? stick type? or a liquid one? For this tip, I will be focusing on the liquid type and not specifically on the formulation but rather  on choosing the right shade. Choosing the perfect foundation shade could be very daunting, as there are so many different shades and undertone of foundation out in the market. So, I will be sharing with you the tips I learned over the years.

1.) Find your right undertone. 
This is the first tip on my list because this is the critical part. It is almost impossible to find the right shade of foundation without knowing your undertone. If you check out different kinds of foundation shade, you might discover that there are foundation that gravitates  toward pinkish tone and yellowish tone. Your undertone plays a big role in choosing between the two. 

There are three main types of undertone: warm, neutral or cool. One way to find your undertone is by checking your veins on your wrist - green veins (warm), blueish (cool), mixed (neutral) . Also the color of jewelry that compliments your skin, helps identify your undertone- gold (warm), silver (cool), both (neutral). You may also take this quiz to find out exactly what your undertone is   http://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Warm-Cool-Undertones-Quiz-1843402 . If you are on the warmer side choose a yellowish foundation. Otherwise, choose the pinkish tone. 

2.)  Do not judge the shade of the foundation merely on the color of the bottle.
This is probably the most common mistake that most of us do. I have been in this situation when I bought a foundation that looked exactly like my skin in the bottle, but when I got home I found out that it was way too muddy on my face and it made my skin  look older. Never ever decide just by looking at it because foundation can oxidize and actually change color a few seconds/minutes right after you apply it on your skin. 

3.) Swatch foundation on your chin area/neck.
Buying a foundation is pretty much similar to buying a dress- you have to try it on before you buy it. So, I advise always trying out the tester and try to get swatches of the colors you think fits you. The key to it is swatching it on the right place of your body. The common mistake though is swatching it on your arm or wrist. It is helpful, however, I wouldn't suggest it because most of the times, the  shade of our arm could be darker or lighter than the shade of our neck. When getting a foundation, match the shade to the color of your neck. You don't want a lighter face and darker neck, or vice versa. So, I suggest swatching your foundation on your chin area. In my case, I normally have makeup on my face while shopping so I don't normally follow this rule. However, I do swatch it on my neck. 

So, once you have swatched it/them on your neck/chin, your challenge is to find the one that is perfect for you. So how? Simply select the one that melts or literally disappears in your skin. Look at my swatches below. Which one do you think is my match? 

I am not sure if the picture does justice. The 3rd one is my perfect match! Once blended it disappears in my skin and is almost undetectable. At first glance you might think the 2nd one matches me because it has a yellowish undertone, however it is too dark and leaves and orangey tint on my skin. 

Tip: If you still can not find your match, get the one that is a thud lighter than your natural skin because you can still get away with it if you bronze and/or contour your face.However, if you get the darker one it could be a challenge. BUT, your darker shade foundation can be  used to contour/shade so do not dish it out.

3.) Ask for a sample.
This third tip is especially helpful if you still can not decide after swatching. If you are planning to get a higher end foundation, I strongly suggest asking for a sample that you can try at home before splurging. If you buy your foundation at a department store, clerks normally can give you a small sample if you ask for it. Explain to the clerk that you have heard a lot of good things about this foundation and would like to try it out at home before you purchase it. This usually works for  me. 

4.) Do not buy right away. 
In most cases, you are almost immediately tempted to get the foundation for two main reasons - it looks like it is your match and/or you are too embarrassed to tell the staff that you haven't actually made up your mind. For the first reason, I understand that you must be excited to see that this foundation shade could be the one for you. However, store lighting, especially the ones in department store, could be very deceiving at times. I suggest you take your time and get out of the store and check you makeup under a natural lighting (if possible). For the second reason, do not be intimidated/embarrassed to admit to the staff that you are still not sure about getting it. It is their job to help you swatch and choose the makeup for you so don't feel sorry that you are wasting their time. They are paid to do that!


I hope my tips are useful  and always remember that choosing the right shade for your skin is trial and error. Do not worry if you are wrong this time, there are still ways to make the most of the wrong foundation shades you have chosen. Try to mix them all up and create the exact shade that you think suits you. Also, consider the seasons. You can use your lighter foundation in the winter/cooler months and the darker ones in the summer/right after you get a nice tan from a trip to the beach. 

Keep Dolling Up,
Gelie (Jelai)  xoxo

Incoco Nail Polish Strips Review + Mini-tutorial

Hey guys!

I hope your week is going well so far. In this week's product review, I unexpectedly strayed away from makeup and instead chose to talk about my recent nail product obsession.  

If you are like me who loves nail polishes but is impatient to wait for drying time. Or probably disappointed about the lasting power of your nail polishes but don't want to risk damaging your nails by using gel polishes. Then, read ahead coz you'll thank me later. :) 

Let me introduce you guys to Incoco Nail Polish Strips. They aren't nail stickers (although the concept is similar), they are made of real top coat, nail color, and base coat. You can tell it from the smell itself and just like your bottled nail polishes you should store any unused strips in an airtight bag to keep them at their best. 

The photo below pretty much sums up everything: the features, application steps, how to store unused strips and how to remove it. 

The nail strips come in various designs - french tips, plain colors, stripes, floral, metallic, glitters and also pedicure sizes. Name it they have it! For your $10 you can have an effect of a nail art from a professional nail artist. When I was at there store, I seriously had hard time picking because they all just look gorgeous. The photo below shows you a few of the awesome designs they have. 

Now, let me sum up the pros and cons I found out about this product.
Pros:

• Variety of designs to choose from
• Easy to apply
• Lasts for about 14 days (big plus!)
• No drying time required
• Doesn't chip off
• Easy to remove (just with your regular nail polish remover)
• Doesn't contain harmful chemicals that can potentially damage your nails
• Reasonable price (compared to having nail arts done in a nail shop)

Cons:

• Pungent nail polish smell (I don't mind it but others might find it strong.)
• Storage of the excess nail strips (needs extra caution and checking if its airtight close)

Where to buy?
The easiest way to shop for this is online through their website. If you are in Korea, you may check out their webpage at http://www.incocokorea.com/or you can physically visit their stores located at Coex Mall (Gangnam), Noon Square (Myeongdong) and Lotte Fittin (Dongdaemun). 

Tip: If you are unsure about this nail strips, you can visit their store and ask for a free test. They can apply it to one of your fingers. Also their store at Coex Mall, have staff who can apply them for you for an extra 5,000 won ($5). However, other places don't have it.

If you are outside of Korea,  go to http://www.incoco.com/or search Incoco in your respective countries (Google is your friend!).

There are also sites where you can find monthly coupons. Try http://www.goodsearch.com/incoco/coupons or simply search for coupons online. 

There you go, dolls. You may also check out my YouTube video below where I talked about this product and did a mini-tutorial on how I apply this. 

Thanks for reading/watching! 

Have you guys tried this yet? Or anything similar? What are your thoughts about this product? 

Keep Dolling Up,
Gelie (Jelai) xoxo