Koreadepart Experience & Mini Haul!

This was such a nice way to end my last day of classes. On Wednesday, May 15, USPS left that horrid pink slip in my mailbox saying I missed my delivery (which mind you I did not, cause they didn’t bother walking up a flight of stairs or buzzing the intercom to see if anyone was home—which everyone was… They always do this. -__-). Once I saw “Foreign” under sender, I already knew what it was…

My order from KoreaDepart!

Now this post is going to be a long one! I want to get in my little haul, and thoroughly talk about KoreaDepart. So please don’t abandon me just yet! Haul first, site info later! But as always, a bit of rambling.

I had never ordered from KoreaDepart but it seemed popular and had nothing but good reviews, so I decided what the hay? I’ll order something small and see how it is, if I love, I’ll order more. Lo-and-behold, I friggen loved it.

Here’s how the process or journey went:

• Order placed: May 2, 2013
• Order shipped/refund placed*: May 3, 2013
• Order left Incheon Airport: May 7, 2013
• Order delivered (and missed): May 15, 2013

* to be thoroughly explained~

After all the pictures, I will explain everything! (You know cause, everyone would rather see pictures than a bunch of words…) Just so no one gets confused and can enjoy Korean goods at great prices! I’ll be posting pictures of the packaging, what I ordered and the samples.

So let’s get on to it. ^^

Here’s the box, all logo’d up and everything. Click to enlarge.

See the wrapping? Imagine if there were fragile products? I’d be in bubble-popping galore!

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My order all neatly spread out. Click to enlarge.

My lovely little tiny order. I ordered relatively few items, because–well, it was my first time, and I wanted to just test the waters. Another, I ordered something else, but it was sold-out so they refunded… This is it: The Face Shop’s Natural Sun AQ Eco Cushion Sun Cover (note the “Cover”, I intended to get the “Original”… but I’m looking forward to this one more now!), two Aritaum Air Cushion Sunblock Puffs (to use alternatively with the Cushion) and three Blotting Films from The Face Shop… because who wants to pay $5 USD a pack at TFS locations here in NY? Not me.

Samples I received in a separate little packet, never tried anything from Skinfood before.

A little sneak at the gem of my order! Click to enlarge.

Sigh, so far, I’m really liking this pretty little gem. Purchased it for summer because it’s perfect for travel, has SPF 50 PA+++, and it’s lightweight. I intended to purchase the Original one, because it’s the one that was in The Face Shop (only in Flushing, canvased them all only found there… It’s been a month though, maybe they got shipments!) And the lovely 달자 (whom I HIGHLY recommend) had written a review, here (along with many other cushions, sparking my interest). The one I ordered is from the same line but is not the “Original”, it is the “Cover” version. But, no more of that, I will use and get a firm grip on my opinion, then post a review! Kekeke, I’ll let that one simmer.

Now, onto the whole KoreaDepart lecture!

First of all… shipping. Amazing. Ordering things from Hong Kong, and S. Korea usually takes 3-5 weeks to arrive here in the US (from my past experiences) and for it to arrive in just 2 weeks was awesome!

Ordering on the site, is easy actually. They do provide a beginner’s guide on ordering and have an FAQ section here. They’re pretty thorough at explaining, from what I saw. But, I didn’t use the guide before I ordered; I just peaked after… out of curiosity.

It’s simple: Browse –> Add to cart –> check out! (Sounds like it came out of Dora the Explorer LOL.)

The first thing they’ll ask is if you would like EMS mail or registered mail as shipping option. This is asked because depending on your choice, you have to pay a prepaid shipping cost. Since a lot of my visits are from Asian readers, I’ll point this out: If you live in an Asian country you will pay a fixed price, you won’t have to deal with the whole prepaid price shenanigans. These countries include: China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, the Phiippines, etc.

For everyone else, here’s the explanation!

Registered mail prepaid cost is $25 USD. EMS is (I think, don’t quote me!) $30-$1000, there are other options in between. DO NOT PANIC, THIS IS NOT YOUR FINAL SHIPPING COST! When your products are being packed to be shipped, the box is weighed. The final weight, will determine your final shipping cost.

If your shipping cost is less than your prepaid cost, they will refund you the difference. If it is more than the prepaid cost you paid, you will be charged the difference. Here is an explanation from their site. I paid the $25 USD, but the real shipping cost was $8.54 USD. So I was refunded, $16.46 USD.

I paid with Paypal, so the refund thing was easy. The day it shipped, I got my refund. It’s not that confusing! If I’m correct, I think G-Market does the same thing. After that, it was all smooth sailing tracking with the link they provided. No good after it left Incheon airport though… tracking does not update after that for Registered Mail.

Final Verdict: (If you made it this far… congrats! LOL.) I love this site. I have this whole wish list, which unfortunately, is half influenced by everything I’ve read on 달자’s blog… and things too expensive at the TFS locations or Asian beauty shops here in NY. I’m going to be purchasing again really soon, so yea. I totally recommend. They have such a wide selection of brands and products, for such great prices! It beats putting my faith on eBay and the time it took for the products to arrive was another plus! I’m so happy to have discovered this site.

Hopefully, I helped out–without being boring… I think I was though. ><
But, thanks for reading! As always~
(Time to watch more Supernatural… Cause… who needs sleep?)

Heads Up: Nature Republic

OMG. I might be behind. Or I might be the one informing you first, but this small small small post is to tell you guys…

*drum roll*

Nature Republic opened up a store in Flushing!!!

Yay, finally another Korean cosmetics brand opened a location in NY! Definitely will stop but. Apparently it opened in April… I think mid-April? But I didn’t find out until now! Can’t wait til I have the opportunity to stop buy.

It’s about time I have other Korean brands other than The Face Shop and Missha in my collection (Missha not so much, not a fan anymore…).

Etude House should open a locale too…

Emptying of my wallet shall happen soon!

Here’s the address if anyone is interested, I’m bad at describing but I’m good at finding places when I’m there.. So plug the address in Google Maps, or Yelp and you’re good to go!

Nature Republic:
135-80 Roosevelt Ave, New York, NY 11354

Online Shopping Blurb

Sigh, so I’m bored out of my mind and thought why not give my blog just a liiiiitle bit of love by posting a small blurb?

I came across a video on YT for a Korean cosmetics haul and the person had ordered from Koreadepart. Now, I’m all for websites that ship internationally and sell products at cheaper prices. So I went ahead and ordered something I have wanted for a while!

I will post a full on review of my experience with the site when my package arrives (hopefully soon, it already shipped) and how to place your order (even though it’s pretty simple, but some things are different)!

I’m so excited! I have been dying to try the new BB/CC cushion product trend, so I ordered one from The Face Shop, at a dramatically cheaper price! Sigh, preparing for that summer sun and heat. ><! I want to avoid heavy BB creams and foundation for the weather to come and I want something compact for my trip in the summer–so this product better be my savior!

Hopefully… Again, no promises, product reviews will start appearing when finals are over and summer vacation begins… If I don't find myself a job. You know, gotta make dat bank! But watch, when its hot as hell (literally) and I'm sitting in front of the AC, posting reviews will certainly be of priority– before or after studying Korean of course!

Time to refresh mind for quiz,
See you all in a new post soon (some day, some time?)

Being Nocturnal

It’s almost 5:30 am and I’m still up without a yawn or ounce of sleepiness in me. Finished watching Sector 7 with 하지원 (Ha Ji-won)… Not a bad movie–Just wasn’t what I expected. Lost all seriousness when I saw 박철민 (Park Cheol-min).

But anywho… I’m bored and have nothing better to do as I lie in bed, so I’m posting one of my rambles…

Break is almost over, I start class next week to be exact, and I have been going to bed at 5-7 am. Bad me. I wake up, if I have the day to myself, around 3-5 pm– bad bad me. I get sleepy when the sun comes up and wake up when the sun is down. I’ve become pretty nocturnal, if I don’t say so myself.

I just know how bad it’s gonna feel when I gotta sleep early and wake up at 6 am for my 8 am classes this semester. OMG, what am I going to do with myself?! I’ll be surviving on naps again like the past 3 semesters. This is ridiculous. How am I going to get myself to sleep early…?

Maybe I’ll give myself a little push with NyQuil, I’m trying to nip this flu in the bud with whatever I can… Both my parents got the flu and right now my throat is not so well. I guess I lasted 2 weeks strong not trying to catch it. My voice was manly yesterday so it’s a sign. Dad lost his voice when he got it and mom was half mute when the flu hit her hard, LOL… It was priceless talking to her that. Bad me.

My phone’s at 1% battery, so I shall end it here. Before I regret another sentence. Keke.

잘자요 여러분!

Updates & Apologies

I broke my promise… Again…

I have no excuses and I’ll just say… I lost that little spark or push that made me want to sit down and write reviews. As far as skincare and masks go… I’ll see what I get up and post. There is one I do want to review because it has been helping me tons!

It’s almost the end of my winter break and only now I am I writing an update and actually posting anything on my blog. I feel so bad. ;__;

EVEN AFTER GETTING NAGGED TO UPDATE ALL YEAR– You know who you guys are! (Cause I know you’ll get the email and read this. Pfft… you guys glad now? Hehe ^^!) Better late than never, right??

I’ve decided, since opinions always shift… that I would begin looking back at some of my old posts… If my opinion changed, I would edit it. You will know I edited it if on the title there is an (E)! Simple as that. If I have something new to say, towards the end of the post there will be an “Update” section in bold and italics. There will be a date by it too– I don’t know, maybe having the date would help? LOL.

The amount of products I have purchased since my last posts have been pretty vast? Mostly eye products though, maybe… just maybe… I’ll push myself to do reviews on that.  I have purchased a lot of eye shadows from The Face Shop and a powder pact too. Definitely will be putting these products at the top of my Reviews Pending List.

Just be patient with me? Okay? Just need to get back on my feet.

See you soon? (No promises! But I’m trying~)

Thank you for still sticking by~!! And thanks for still viewing (…or should I say visiting?) my blog!

Where Have I Been?

Obviously, I haven’t been on WordPress.

It has been a long time since I have posted something on here. But to be honest, other than work from school and home I don’t have a valid excuse to explain my lack of posts.

I have plenty of notes on masks I used during the winter, and new products to talk about but I haven’t felt inspired enough to write out the posts for you guys.

Why not force myself to write them out and get that out of the way?
Because forced writing with no interest will leave you, my readers, with no interest.

I want people to read my posts and feel like they hold some kind of purpose. I don’t want to just spill words onto a document, upload it, and have it go unread or unappreciated.

I promise, after these next two weeks– when finals are over and vacation begins (and when boredom strikes my home)– the posts will be plentiful.

I have yet to review masks (TFS, SooRyeHan, and Missha), BB Cream (TFS), Urban Decay’s Build Your Own Palette, and some miscellaneous eye/lip/nail products.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, time to go back to finishing labs and studying for the load of finals coming my way.

Thanks for sticking around!~

(E) Skin79 Hot Pink Triple Functions BB Cream Review

After postponing and postponing and postponing (more like procrastinating), I have finally decided to do this review. I have had this BB cream for months on end now, so it’s about time! Ne?

Image that is on Pretty&Cute. Click to enlarge.

This was my very first BB cream and I think I bought it back in September, at Everyday Beauty Supply (Chinatown, NY). It said $35 on the price tag but I’m sure there was a small discount when I purchased. You can get it on Skin79’s official website, skin79northamerica.com (they have a lot of info for the BB cream). It is also sold on prettyandcute.com in various sizes, so please check out this website. They have so many things to offer!

I prefer to get things in person if it’s easier than getting it online, I didn’t mind paying more. But seeing as how I would repurchase, online is the cheapest way to go.

Now onto the BB Cream itself—

This BB Cream offers light/medium coverage. I just love this BB Cream for lazy days where I don’t want to put much on. You can build up the coverage if you would like but use really light layers or it might look cakey. The texture is somewhat light but not really all that thick… (Not sure how to explain). A little goes a long way, and if you have some scarring or anything that needs a little more, you can always go back and apply a little more.

If you have a lot of scarring or prominent discoloration, I’m not sure how well the coverage would be for you. My freckles aren’t covered at all by the BB cream and same goes for dark spots. But since my skin has been doing well, I am satisfied.

The BB Cream has a strong grey cast when you apply it, but will oxidize after 15 minutes or so. For reference I am about NC25- NC30… but since I lost my summer tan at last, it could be different.

It match my skin okay with my summer tan, but now that I’m paler, it is perfect. It provides a natural finish—not too matte that you look flat and like you’re wearing makeup but not dewy where you look like you’re oily. The perfect balance. It’s great for my oily skin and it has sunscreen. I’m not one to set my make up with powder, I hate matte finishes for face products.

I really love this BB cream, and highly recommend it as an everyday one. It’s light, compact, provides natural light/medium coverage, and good for oily and combination skin.

Click to enlarge.

The Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream is in obviously a hot pink tube that pumps out the product– Very hygienic. The reason why all the BB creams I have purchased have pumps ^^. There are no problems in how much product is pumped since it’s really controllable. And I like it for travel purposes too!

I have mentioned that you should be careful when ordering BB creams online, and below, I’ve uploaded pictures I took to show some things to be on the lookout for this specific BB cream.

1. Look for the authenticity label at the bottom of the tube! If it’s messed up—no good. If it isn’t there—worse!
2. Check to see if there is a perforated line on the back of the box!
3. Check for manufacturer’s date on bottom.
4. The top of the box should have “Super+ Beblesh Balm” in a red circle… (which was hard to get in a picture).
5. Check the inside of the box, which has a language on each side– Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.

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I highly recommend this BB cream, it didn’t break me out, make me more oily or give me any problems. It was worth my $35 dollars, and I will repurchase for sure!

That’s all for this post. I’ll be reviewing more masks and BB creams in the following days so “stay tuned”.

Thanks for reading, see you next time. Bye~