review: Missh Oriental Herbs BB cream (aka Choboyan BB cream)

first of all...

PLEASE HELP JAPAN!!

But.... even though my heart is breaking.... we have to go on with our lives too... 

to offer some distraction, here is my BB cream review. 

Here comes the review for a great bb cream which is known under a couple different names:

☆彡 Missha Oriental Herbs BB cream

☆彡 Oriental Herb Medicine Gold Care BB Cream

☆彡 Missha 美思 (misa) BB cream

☆彡 미사(美思) 초보양(超補養) 금설 비비진(眞)크림 SPF30/PA++

(Which reads Misa, Choboyan (ultra nourishing) BB cream)

You can officially see it here on the official Missha website (korean), or their japanese website (mm, I want the whole series...) or Missha USA website. I bought mine from ebay, from this eBay seller, and they have a nice description in english, that says:

"Missha Oriental Herbs BB cream is full of great ingredients to protect and nourish your skin.

This anti-wrinkle, whitening and sun blosk (SPF 30 PA++) BB cream has also several "anti" features: anti-aging, anti-trouble (patented) and anti-oxydation (patented) thanks to its quality ingredients like wild ginseng, gold powder, antlers extract and a wide array of oriental herbs."

And there is an ingredients list on the american Missha site that lists ingredients as follows:

"Water, Titanium Dioxide, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Arbutin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Stearate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Talc, Iron Oxides, Beeswax, Iron Oxides, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylparaben, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Fruit Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Fragrance, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, riethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Adenosine, Asparagus Lucidus Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Flower Extract, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Bletilla Striata Root Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Cynanchum Wifordi Root Extract, Lycium Chinense Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Allium Sativum (Garlic) Bulb Extract, Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Silica, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Gold"

Phew! Long list! 

Anyway, if you think BB creams are a natural wonder, you are fooling yourself. There are silicones and parabens and other such ingredients, shunned by natural cosmetics fans. But they are there for a reason! They keep the cosmetic freash and help make your skin look great! All the ingredients in bold are good for skin of special added extracts - as far as I know, but I'm no chemist. I never had any skin problems from using it, I was using it when I had acne and was going through a harsh acne treatment that made my skin super dry, and this was the only thing that looked good on my skin! (*^^*)Thank you Oriental Herbs BB cream!!

Well, I also wrote a review about it here, you can also read it, I still agree with what I wrote there. But, I thought I want to write another one with photos and swatches! This BB cream was also popular in gyaru magazines, shown here used by Kumikki in Popteen (tumblr)! :) It says she applies a thin layer of this BB cream, adds concealer under eyes and powder and that's it, for natural-mori and baby skin! 

Also another page (tumblr) from Popteen with Kumikki saying she uses this cream as foundation:

So Kumikki`s base makeup is just this bb cream, concealer and powder. ^^*

Here is my review (again) and swatches!

The packaging is very pretty and looks not-cheap. 

I am using color #01, lighter beige. which is better for cold skin tones - if you are MAC NC 15-20-25 or lighter, you can use this. There is one more color, #02, which is warmer and a little bit darker, I think it would be suitable for warm, NW skintones. 

(=・ェ・=) The cream on my hand. It looks solid and light beige with yellow undertones.

I also have some green veins and red scratches (courtesy of: my cat) on my hand to demonstrate to covering power. ;)

(=・ェ・=) This is a big amount of the bb cream freshly spread evenly on half of my hand. In direct sunlight. Still fresh, so it looks more shiny. As you can see it covers redness and green veins too, it has a good covering power, but it looks natural. But I still suggest using concealer under this cream if you have bad blemishes or dark eye circles. (BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THAT'S A RATHER THICK LAYER, OK?)

(=・ェ・=) After a short while, the BB cream settles and gets more matte. I would say it has a half matte finish, definitely more matte than most BB creams! It has a very healthy looking finish, natural, bright, etc.  

(=・ェ・=) And the bb cream in sunlight and shadow. You can see it is a little bit dewy and covers everything well~

(BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THAT'S A RATHER THICK LAYER, OK?) It can be applied thinner :D

So OVERALL, this BB cream has tons of ingredients that are supposed to be good for your skin & I never had a strange skin reaction to it! It is not drying and does not change color throughout the day. I use concealer --> BB cream --> powder (either Missha loose powder or MAC Skinfinish Natural) and I am happy with how my skin looks when I come back home - I just take off some oil from t-zone and powder it maybe 2 times thru the day and it looks good.  About the oil control - BB creams are known for not having too much oil control. This one has better oil control than most bb creams I tried, but if you have oily skin/t-zone, you will need extra mattyfing help, OK?  :) This BB cream is definitely on the expensive side, but it is worth it in my opinion. (Around 30$ from eBay). I really recommend you try this BB cream, if you want to try BB creams, but don't want coverage that's too sheer - this BB cream can be applied very thinly and super natural looking too, but if you need more coverage, it will also work great! (・∇・)ノ

I really really like this BB cream, much more than Perfect Cover BB Cream! <333

And a FOTD with this MAC Prolongwear concealer + BB cream + Missha loose powder.

I am wearing MAC Morange and B&C lipgloss on my lips and Woodwinked on my eyes (on a paint pot) and Dainty blush. Simple work makeup... with a bright touch from the lipstick! :D

(。・_・。)ノバイビー

Feb/March Favorites and HELP JAPAN

Hello everybody! I hope you safe in your houses with your families... not all of us are so blessed...
I am still in shock after watching the NHK news and seeing the terrible tragedy that struck Japan! My thoughts are with the people in eastern Japan, where the tsunami was the worst. Please go to http://www.redcross.org/ and donate!!!
Just Hungry Blog: Other Ways to Help
Tokyo may be doing all right, but the situation in Tohoku region is tragic!! (T___T) So many people lost their homes, whole cities are wipes off the earth by tsunami waves... You can watch the latest (and not distorted by unprofessional foreign journalists) news here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv (NHK live news)

poster from: http://blog.signalnoise.com/2011/03/11/help-japan/

(This is an amazing, moving poster btw!)

But, even though I feel so bad for Japan and my friends who are there, there is not much else I can from where I am now, than watch the news and send money. Lets hope the situation gets better for all the earthquake\tsunami victims soon! (I won`t pray, cause I`m not a religious person & I also advice you to, instead of praying, send some money!!!)

I decided to make a post today, so I can take my mind off the shocking news... Too much stress is bad! Please relax also! ...so, in this spirit, here are my february and march favorites:

1. The Body Shop - Body, room and linen scent (green tea and lemon)

The smell is really lovely~ Just a couple pushes and the whole place smells lovely! I also spray it inside my closet and before guests arrive - the smell is not too strong or fake, I really recommend it!! I also got the aroma oil from the same scent line. I smelled the other scents, but this one was the best IMO. Also, last time I went to Body Shop, it was sold out. Popular!

2. IWOSTIN point care anti-acne gel & after acne treatment moisturising cream. (links in english)

Iwostin is a polish brand, similar to Avene I`d say, only available in pharmacy. They also use thermal water from a local source and make specialized skin care cosmetics, also for delicate and troubled skin. I like the point gel so far, and the moisturising cream is really great! Moisturising and my skin absorbs it fast, but it is not fat! I will definitely get more cosmetics from this series!

3. Missha Oriental Herbs BB cream (also knows as Choboyan BB cream)

This is a repurchase and I really like this bb cream!!! I did a short review post on it a long time ago and it is one of the most popular entries on my blog! I will be definitely doing another review with color comparison photos and so on. :)

4. B&C Makemania lipgloss

I got it on sale from AdamBeauty (recommended!) and I really love it over red or pink lip colors or even on its own! Usually I am a glittery lipgloss fan, and this has no glitters or sparkles, just silicone-y "smooth" shine, but I like it a lot and apply it a couple time a day!

5. MAC lipstick in Morange (finish: amplified)

I saw it in JJ (or Vivi, I don`t remember), Matsumoto Ena said she uses it and since I had some MAC empty boxes around, I gathered them, took 6 and went to MAC to do the BACK2MAC program and got it for free! :D The color is suuuper intensive, I think it is best smudged out with a finger and definitely with gloss over it, the Makemania lipgloss works great! I do not feel too good in red lipstick, but this orange-red is much more wearable and such a happy, energetic spring color! I will be wearing it a lot this spring and summer! :D Also when I was getting it, the store makeup artist said he just got a "orange lipstick for photoshoot" request from a fashion magazine and send that color. Ena wears it, stylists want it, I got it, get it too! ;D

6. HadaNomi (肌飲み濃ミスト) Rich Collagen Mist (from SANA)

I got it from AdamBeauty too, just because I was curious and you know, I think "got to moisturise, got to moisturise!!!" all the time XD). I got it, and THEN I got home and went to read the cosme.net reviews on it! XD Some peopl wrote they use it as a lotion, after washing face and before applying milk and cream and makeup, so I tried that, I really like that way of using it! After washing my face with Kanebo Blanchir Suprior cream soap (which I also super duper love and I think it helped with my recent acne problems!!! :D), I spray a couple pumps of this mist on my face and neck and massage gently and pat it into my skin. Then I go on with my regular skincare and makeup routine and when I finish makeup, I spray one pump of this on my face. It is cheap, is non comatogenic (won`t block your pores) and smells nice, I will be using it a lot. Repurchase - I`m not sure yet. 

So, those are my favorites, I also loove love love KANEBO Blanchir Superior whitening skincare line, I am def. buying the big size Cream Soap, and hopefully sheet masks and lotion, but I`ll try to make a separate post about that. 

And to finish this post, a page from latest Vivi issue that I just can`t stop looking at, loooove trench coats!!! I got one from Bershka recently, but it is not perfect, I am still looking! Bye bye! And let`s donate to help Japan!!

Super cute spring style trench coats!! Want them all! XD

お久しぶりです！

Hello my dears!! Sorry for no updates! I was very busy - but in a good way! I was having fun with my dear friends visiting me in warsaw from Finland and Korea! :D Now they are in France, but they will be coming back for one night and stay at my apartament then! Yay! 

Anyway, they got me one magazine and my other friend who visited Japan with his family also brought me some magazines and now I have those 3 babies home... (*________________*) WONDERFUL! Hours of studying the photos and all the text - lol, I seriously get into those magazines so much I read all the tiny text with info! :D JJ with Ena on the cover is great, it is really the magazine for me, fashion is more university student/OL oriented and there are tons of pages on beauty and hair! :D 

With my friend I was having drinks on 40th floor of Mariott hotel (photo on the right) and we were running all over Warsaw. :3 I was really happy to spend time with them, just being together was great, you know!? Friends like that are the best. :) Just say silly things or say nothing but feel good.

 

I will be posting review for Diamond Lash Celeb lashes and Shu Uemura cleansing oil an dKanebo Blanchir superior series skin care soon! :D Please bear with me and my rare updates! (^人^)

トゥース！

What I bought today & random photos (tragic story and food included)

Hello~
So, Since I have nothing else to write about and I went shopping today, take a look at what I bought!

River Island!

River Island Canvas Flap Satchel, I was looking at it online at ASOS and I saw it today at the RI store - their accessories are really cute! Also House of Holland suspender tights... dun dun DUNNN!!!! Which ripped when I was trying them on at home!!!!!!! COME ONNNNNNNNN!!!! Super fail!!!!!!!!! The sheer part is really delicate, NOW I KNOW. :/ Be carefull guys.... (T_T) Good thing I got to buy them cheap, there was a promotion "send a text message and get a 10% off code", which I did and saved some money. But still... *pout*

The third things in an owl necklace. 

It is big and see through, with amber like coloring!

Hey owl!

And then I wanted to get the BODY SHOP room scent spray andmaybe some shower gel, I ended up with those things:

Also bought two shower gels, one is a new line from BODY SHOP, "earth lovers" a 100% biodegradable and healthy shower gel (there are a couple smells, but the "cucumber & mint" smelled best to me! 200ml, 22pln) Also I really like the room scent in Green Tea and Lemon, but the spray was sold out (gasp), so I bought the aroma oil to mix in with candles :D Next time I`ll get the scented candle, I really like this smell, recommended!! :D

The two products on the right are from a polish brand called ORGANIQUE. I found out about it when my mom got this exact shower gel as an Xmas present, I was staying home for the holidays and used this shower jelly and wow, I really loved it!! Now the brand specializes in SPA-like skin care, think organic solid soaps, shea butters, bath and shower goods, natural scrubs, etc. The shower jelly I got is for anti aging and dry skin and the are no parabens, silicones, peg-s, parafins or derivates, synthetics, detergents or artificial colors in it! The ingriedients are mostly argan oil, grape oil, rice protein and pearl powder. It smells soooo nice, like grapes and lemon and leaves skin feeling clean and soft! It is really rather addictive, so I`ll defnitely be back at the ORGANIQUE stand to buy more (they are in PROMENADA shopping center in Warsaw). I also got a tiny bar of a natural soap - it also smells like grapes (I think most their cosmetics have the same smell) and is really nice. I cannot use "normal" soap, it dries out my skin too much. I use a baby-soap for washing hands, and now also this. They also have solid shampoo and natural scrubs with salts and stuff, everything looks super tempting!!! (*_*)

I think this brand is kinda like polish version of LUSH. :) Which we don`t have here, what a shame.

And finally, I bought this cat brush, to brush my cat and have less of his hair flying around!

And the cat himself. 

sometimes he is so cute, sometimes he drives me mad!! (O_o)

And then some korean food I had with a friend. Omnomnomnom...

I had sundubu chige, spicy soup with fresh tofu and vegetables. 

Ans he had a bibimbap in the hot ceramic bowl, it`s also yummy!

Also I got excited and said "Hey, can I take a photo of our food first? Yay!" and the waiter laughed at me!!! D: Scandalous! Not in a mean way, he just found it funny I guess, but still... Hey waiter, no tip for u! :P

Amazing blog parts from japanese fashion brands!

Hello!
Just a quick post, with amazing blog parts!! LOVE★⌒ヾ(￣〓￣ヾ)
I just found them through Matsumoto Ena's ameba blog, but there are calendars and watches for your blog or website, but they also feature your favorite brand's latest collection and catwalk coordinates! Wow!! I love this!

The blog parts come from a website called RUNWAY channel , a website with fashion shows videos, blogs and online store - and apparently a handful of brands moved their official websites and web stores there! Lets look at the blog parts! You can get them HERE, I pasted them into this entry and also included links to brands' official websites and online stores for your convenience. ｏ(@＾‐　＾＠　）Ｏ
*** BUT BE CAREFUL! Clicking those links might lead you to a fabulous fashion k-hole and induce a "fashion shopping lust" overdose coma! XD Trolololo! XDDD***
Of course there are more that one online stores selling those brands, if you want to see what other stores are selling just google "(brand name) 通販", and you will get a list of online stores selling the brand you are looking for. ^^* Well, am I not a helpful gal, hohoho~ lol!

Anyway, here are the blog parts / gadgets!

Deciding which one I want is tough!

Which one will your get?

MERCURY DUO blog gadget (official website / online store)

MURUA blog gadget (official website / online store)

(This is Ogihara Momoko's mode brand)

dazzlin' blog gadget (official website / online store)

This brand is just too cute! Lena from Vivi often wears it!

Laguna Moon blog gadget (official website / online store)

Ahh, I love their city-adapted ethnic style... (*_*) 

and last but not least! Matsumoto Ena's fabulous brand:

EMODA blog gadget (official website / online store)

And btw Ena is on April 2011 JJ cover and she's making me want to buy that magazine!!

Which I am not sure I should be getting, because I jsut placed a huge joint order for boks and magazines and will soon be getting all this from amazon.co.jp: 

合格できる日本語能力試験N1, 日本語能力試験予想問題集 N1 , 乙一　暗黒童話, 乙一　死にぞこないの青, 嶽本 野ばら　スリーピング・ピル, サキ短編集, 蘭 竹西寛子自選短編集, 短編復活, ボクベン, 名短篇、ここにあり, 日本人の知らない日本語2, Voce 2010.11, うりひゃー!沖縄, 全国方言スラスラブック, 星 新一 妄想銀行, 黒執事１, 黒執事２, Popsister 2011.03, JELLY 2011.03, Popteen 2011.03, shoxxx 2011.03, ranzuki 2011.03, tanki master N5, scawaii 2011.03, blenda 2011.03, Fools MATE 2011.03, 日本語能力試験N4・N5 o(^^o)(o^^)o わくわく

XD But only the bold titles are for me... But I will get to touch and read all of them before passing them onto the people in the order... (*___*)
Also found a second hand english langueage bookstore near my work place and bought 2 books yesterday :D But I still want this JJ! (>_<*)