INNISFREE - Green Tea Seed Serum - Review

skincare
I bought this serum a long time ago in a one of my Testerkorea hauls and I kind of forgot about doing a review about it, mostly because this wasn't what I was expecting. Read up to know my final thoughts and experience with this serum !

Oh and have you check out my 2015 Music Love playlist ? You might like some of the songs I was obsessed with this year ;)


What the brand says


A moisturizing serum with organic Jeju green tea and green tea seeds that hydrate your skin from deep within. Rich in amino acids and minerals, green tea from Jeju's own green tea leaves hydrates your skin. The fresh green tea deeply hydrates your skin and the green tea seed oil creates a strong moisture barrier to keep your skin moisturized longer.


The packaging

This serum comes in a cute green bottle containing 80 ml of product. The dispenser has a brown cap which is appreciated and the bottle is clear enough so that you can tell how much product is left. I actually love the color combination of green and brown, giving it and earthly vibe.



The product


This serum comes in a clear watery consistency  which gets absorbed fairly quickly. It has a refreshing feeling when you apply it on your skin.




My thoughts

 I loved this serum when I first bought it, I didn't patch test and I was just using it straight away without thinking much (big mistake !). The serum is hydrating and would be perfect for all skin types, however, dry skin would need other moisturizing products as this won't be enough. I used this product when my skin was all messed up from a disrupted skin barrier and it was dry and really tight, this product helped a bit but wasn't enough. 
However, I quickly realized that this product was breaking me out. It was a nice consistency, the packaging is cute and the effect isn't transcending but it's alright, however, my skin hated it. I broke out in tiny closed comedones and I had to stop using it. I did end up giving it away to my sister who liked it at first but broke out in a similar fashion. However, this product is one of Innisfree's most popular serum and is loved by many, it's not because it didn't work out for me that it won't for you either.

This product is perfect for :

Any skin types will like this product but oily skin type will love it as it gives hydration without being heavy and too much. Because the product is quite watery and absorbs well, it is also a perfect serum to apply before your makeup. If you're looking for a fresh and lightweight serum for the summer, this one is for you !

It was a bittersweet experience, but I've come to realize that a lot of Innisfree products just don't work with my skin.


Mizon - Good Night White Sleeping Mask - Review (+ 2015 Music Love Playlist)

skincare
It has been a while ! What can I say ? The end of 2015 is near and I couldn't not post because this year has been huge for my blog. Quite honestly, since the last post I've been so busy with my studies and personal project that I didn't have the time to update Wished Chronicles.
If anything, it wasn't in vain because I aced most of my finals (let's not talk about the one not included in the most) and now let's talk about this post's review : 

Mizon - Good Night White Sleeping Mask  

 

What the brand says

I couldn't find any official description but this mask is supposed to be a moisturizing masks which contains niacinamide as the brightening agent. 
Granted, the name could sound gimicky but this mask aims primarily at brightening your skin not whiten it as I could have said countless time on this blog.

Ingredients 

Aqua, Cyclomethicone, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp Copolymer, Triethanolmaine, Carbomer, Sclerotium Gum, Broussonetia Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Pantethine, Placental Protein, Natto Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium Edta, Methyl Parabven, Propyl Paraben, Ci17200, Ci42090, Fragrance

 

Packaging 

The product comes in two different packaging : one in a tube format with 50 ml of product which retails for around 4-5$ usually on RSS and the jar format with 80 ml of product retailing for around 10$ on RSS with free shipping. This brand is commonly sold by various Asian Beauty e-shops, so check out the list here. 

You might wonder why I bother having the same product in different packaging : The jar is actually mine, I wanted the tube version for sanitary purposes. It's always easier and cleaner in a tube but it wasn't available when I ordered it back then, since, I've been talking about this sleeping mask all the time and my sister and mother had better luck than I did. 
If anything, I'd recommend the tube version whether it is for the price, packaging or even quantity.



The product

This sleeping mask comes in a clear cream-gel texture, it's almost as thick as a cream but is easily absorbed like a gel consistency. This product does have small scent, I wouldn't be able to describe it but for someone who's very sensitive to scents, it wasn't off putting.



My thoughts


I've read various review of this product before purchasing it, they were mixed reactions for the most part but the price and high amount of niacinamide made me buy it ! It's actually pretty hard to see if a brightening product makes any difference if you don't keep up with regular testing pictures of your face. However, I saw the difference in mine without the use of any pictures : I've used this sleeping mask diligently this summer one or two times per week, slathered on as the last step of my routine. I wasn't using my number one brightening product at that time (this baby) and my face got brighter during the.. summer ! I didn't tan because I was testing various sunscreens but this product worked for me. My face was brighter and my number one skin critic (my mother) noticed the change in my skin. If she tells me something is good or wrong in my skin or my make up, it surely is. 

Honestly, this sleeping mask is pretty cheap, accessible (free shipping on roseroseshop) and pretty efficient. However, if you want to see any results you might as well keep using it (without overdoing it, one or two times a week is enough) along with sunscreen as daily protection. If you want to add another brightening product in your routine, you might want to take a look at C20 Vitamin C Serum.

This product is perfect for :

Just about any skin types. Great if you're on a budget and you want something that will brighten your skin in the long run. 
If you're looking for a moisturizing sleeping mask, this Mizon sleeping mask isn't for you !


We're already at the end of 2015, I've made a Youtube playlist of my 2015 Music Love. Some of these songs weren't released in 2015 but these are all of the songs I was genuinely obsessed with this year :




I could've added EXO's whole EXODUS album, Travis Garland's last EP or even Troye Sivan's Blue Neighbourhood album but I refrained myself with these gems ! (Oh.. And yes, I have varied music tastes ;) )

Happy Holidays - Dini

Beauty Trip : Shopstyle's Sanctuary for Paris Fashion Week

Beauty

Brace yourselves Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm debuting my face on this blog today. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have already seen how I look there but this is a first time on Wished Chronicles. 
I was invited by Shopstyle to their Sanctuary, where they offered yoga classes, make-up and hair sessions and special master classes. The Sanctuary was located in a beautiful Parisian loft, very near to where I used to live on campus (as a matter of fact, the loft was the building behind my campus, talk about a coincidence !).



I'm not a Fashion blogger by any means and I was really excited to go to this blogger event mainly for the beauty spots and Oh my Cream's master class. However, I won't be able to talk about it as the brand cancelled the master class the day I went to the Sanctuary. Great luck I have ! 



Located in the first floor, my friend and I went to get our hair done by 365c. If there's anything I can't handle and am overwhelmed with in the beauty world : it is hair. I'd say I'm good at make-up but hair, I can't manage and I'm always sporting the same old hair style if we can call it that way.


 My friend (here with the princess-like-long-hair) chose the Taffetas style.



And I went for a hairstyle from last year's collection and I can't remember the name but you'll see me sporting this intricate hairstyle throughout this post. 

 


Heading over to the make-up bar, the brand was Bionike an Italian skincare and make-up brand with an "allergen-free philosophy" meaning that they only offer products with no preservatives, fragrances, gluten and nickel tested. This brand positions themselves as great for the skin and are sold in French pharmacies. I got a gift bag from them and I've already started to use one of their product which entered my skincare routine. I'll keep you guys posted but make sure to check this brand out when shopping in our pharmacies !


The nail bar was animated by the brand MARiNHO Paris specialized in semi-permanent manucures without any acids, solvant or animal-tested products. I was looking forward to get my nails done but unfortunately, the line was too long and I couldn't get mine done.




We chilled a bit after getting our hair & make-up done, brace yourself for some blogger-worthy pictures !




Last but not least, the event was sponsored by various Fashion brand and The Sanctuary offered bloggers a full wardrobe to try on clothes and get shot by the photograph.


A bathtub filled with popcorn ? Yes please !


I didn't try anything but my friend knocked herself out and was looking absolutely stunning :

 


That day was also the day I debuted my new glasses sent by Glasseshop. Uni started again and the Business Student that I'm was in need of new glasses to get myself productive. I might as well add that I've always had great eyesight but it has gone worse because of my extensive use of electronic devices. Please be careful, with your devices and buy a blue light filtering screen protector for your smartphone for example, I'm already annoyed with my geeky self. Because of this, I have to use glasses when driving during the night and get scolded by my ophthalmologist (really though !).

These are the Hancock Wayfarer in Black/Yellow 

 This shop offers a variety of prescription glasses as well as sunglasses for a very little price point. Based in China, these cheap glasses are actually really great quality. I was a bit worried about the quality of these glasses as glasses here in France cost at least a 250€ but these one retails for only 35,95$. A perfect opportunity for any student budgets, these might not be branded but they offer every styles, colors and types.


 I kinda threw my ugly Vogue glasses away and I've been using these ever since I received them while, I don't see any difference in terms of quality.  The glasses came 3 weeks after it was shipped out in a simple plastic case with the cleaning cloth associated.
If you are interested, Glasseshop is having a "First Pair of Glasses Free" campaign where  all the new customers can have a first pair of free glasses except shipping and handling fee. And, as always because I can't share an offer without a promo code : with GSHOT50 you can get 50% off on any eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses.



And we're done with this post ! Next week, a review about a special and effective Korean sleeping mask will be posted ! Until then, take care and I'll leave you with a shot of the wonderful cupcakes from The Sanctuary !



This product was sent for review purposes  by Glassesshop, all thoughts are genuine and my own, refer to my full disclosure and review policy for more information.


COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence - Review

skincare
Can you talk about Asian Beauty without mentioning Snails ? I always knew about the love the AB community had toward snail mucin but perhaps it was because it was so hyped that I didn't get into the bandwagon. It only took a small decant from fellow beauty blogger Colorcrrush to get me hooked to the magic that is Snail Mucin. If you read my Traveling Beauty essentials, you saw that I packed this essence with me !

Wished Chronicles note : I still couldn't get the comments back up after the domain changes ! It's seriously annoying me and was the reason why I didn't post anything since then but I just can't get them to synch up, guess it's lost in the universe :(
 

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power




Somehow, I'm accumulating a few products from Cosrx (and a new one is on its way) but this is the first review from the brand.  Cosrx (from Cosmectics + Prescription (RX) )  is a ingredient oriented Korean brand which is under the same house as the brand Ciracle and C20, from where you now know my favorite serum is from. Cosrx has the specialty how combining effective and precise products at affordable price points. You won't get a page long of ingredients with their products, every ingredients matters and they keep them minimal and avoid any unnecessary fillers. To prove my point, here's the ingredient list of this specific product :

Snail Secretion Filtrate, Betaine, Butylene Glycol,1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Arginine, Allantoin, Ethyl Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol
The first ingredient is Snail Secretion Filtrate, which as the name of the product implies is concentrated at 96% in the product. 


What the brand says 


Made with all-natural domestic 96% snail secretion filtrate, the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is a Real Power Essence that transform the skin while keeping in the moisture and encouraging the real power of skin in a healthy way. It replenishes nutrients to the skin to prevent and repair damages and fills the skin with elasticity for a healthier, younger looking skin.

 


The product


This essence comes in a 100 ml bottle with a pH lever of 6.90 and is dispensed through a pump which delivers, in my opinion, the right amount of product :



As you may have guessed, the product in itself is gooey but it is not sticky in anyways : 


This snail essence doesn't particularly smell like anything and spreads easily and gets absorbed by the skin fairly quickly without any efforts. I've used for more than 5 months with daily uses and I've only used a third away so it will last you a good while as well.




My thoughts

Snail mucin is said to be great for anti-wrinkle effects and the overall texture of the skin, it is also great for healing proprieties. Now you're going to think, this girl is 20, why would she need anti-wrinkling effects ? That's honestly the initial thought I had about Snail secretion, I knew nothing about it and wasn't particularly interested either but let me tell you how, why it worked for me and why it will also work for you regardless of your age :

When I got the decant of this essence, my skin was kind of at it's worst state, I just had messed up big time with my chemical exfoliants and my skin was not only highly dehydrated but it was also on closed comedone mode. It didn't matter that I was spring and that my winter dehydrated skin was supposed to go for the normal skin season it was just a nightmare. 

The Snail Essence doesn't offer much hydration, so you need another product to get that wished fulfilled especially if you have dry/dehydrated skin. I was wooed by that aspect but Cosrx's Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power essence is absolutely wonderful for improving your skin texture and healing any spots. As I said I had some breakouts going on and was patch testing this product on a side of my face, that side's break out healed faster and barely left any hyperpigmentation (that my C20 serum took care of). I was absolutely amazed and I even used this essence on my underarms 2 days after I burnt them while waxing and by the next day, it wasn't irritated anymore and it was starting to heal. For 2 days I walked around with my arms up (and slept like that too) and I put tissue paper on my underarms when I had to go out, and only a bit of Cosrx Snail Essence killed the nightmare !

Now, about the texture of my skin : I've been using this product for more than 5 months now and it improved my skin texture and the elasticity of it, it justs more full of life and is stronger. My mother was so impressed with my current skin that she begged me to get it for her as well. I'm a nice daughter so I decanted some for her and ordered a full size for her yesterday from Wishtrend as well as Cosrx's new Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Mask. 

This product is perfect for :

Just about anyone but especially if you have troubled skin as it would speed up the healing process, people who wishes to improve their skin texture, people with sensitive skin will love this product as the short ingredient list will minimize the chances of getting any kind of reaction with this essence.

I highly recommend it to anyone willing to try this Essence ! 

Where to shop it 

Wishtrend sells it for 14.80$ here , Roseroseshop for 11.79$ here.

Check out the other sellers on the Where to Shop section !



Where to shop Asian Beauty products / Où acheter des produits de beauté asiatiques

Beauty





Do you want to quench your Asian Beauty thirst ? This post will help you with that, with a list of e-shops I've hauled from along with other decent and well-known businesses, I've yet to shop at.  See how I said 'yet' ? That's just showing my love for Asian Beauty is far from being over !



Une petite présentation d'e-shops s'impose si vous voulez pouvoir vous procurer des produits de beauté asiatique. Je vous présenterais non seulement, la liste des sites que j'ai pu tester mais aussi d'autres que je n'ai pas eu l'occasion de tester mais qui restent assez connu et sûre. Pour ceux qui désirent commander via un site français, la liste de quelques e-shop français est également au programme !

E-shops I've shopped at 

 

Testerkorea


Based in Beauty Brands Shipping Link
Korea Korean, Japanese Extensive choice of brands available By Weight Link

TesterKorea was the first shop I hauled at and they offer an extensive choice of brands. They also have a "want section" where you can request a certain brand or product you want to buy and they will stock it for you. However, for a few months now, Testerkorea has been experiencing some issues with late processing of orders. Great choice and price point (you might want to check the prices from time to time as they tend to fluctuate) but the service can sometimes be deceiving.


Roseroseshop


Based in		 Beauty Brands Shipping Link
Korea Korean Extensive choice of brands available By Weight but FREE shipping available on Mizon and Banila Co products Link

Roseroseshop is a great shop where processing is fast and prices are interesting. Brands like Mizon and Banila Co are shipped for free (tracking fee is added though) whereas all the other brands are sold with the "shipping by weight system". You might want to check your cart as you add items as the shipping fee can double to triple depending on the weight of the product you want to buy. I highly recommend this shop.


Wishtrend


Based in		 Beauty Brands Shipping Link
Korea Korean Cosrx,Klairs,C20,Skinmiso etc.. Free over 69$+ Free Shipping on all of the items in the Free Shipping Zone Link

Do I still have to present Wishtrend ? This is where I buy the majority of my Cosrx products and of course, my beloved Vitamin C Serum, that one you knew I was going to mention !  There are promo codes every month available so that you can get the most out of your order, check out the sidebar for the monthly codes. You can also use 033450111 to get instantly 5$ off of your first order by writing this code in the "friends invitation program" box in the registration form.

 

W2beauty


Based in Beauty Brands Shipping Link
Korea Korean Extensive choice of brands available Free Shipping with 2,5$ for tracking fee Link
The shipping is free with an additional tracking fee but the prices are slightly higher to compensate for the shipping. W2beauty has a great choice of product and adds more than 200 new products each week. I also want to note that, the shipping was the fastest I've had with standard shipping from Korea. It usually takes 3 weeks to reach Paris, but it only took one week with free shipping nonetheless ! It might have been my luck but that was pretty nice.


Jolse


Based in Beauty Brands Shipping Link
Korea Korean Extensive choice of brands available Free Shipping Link
Really nice service and websites. They usually have new products and collections up on their website as soon as it hits the Korean shelves. You can get free samples even if you order only one item. The shipping is free without tracking and is 2,5$ with tracking, EMS (express shipping) is also available.

 

Ichibankao



Based in		 Beauty Brands Shipping Link
Japan Japanese Dolly Wink, Hada Labo, Bioré, Heroine Make etc.. Free without tracking, possibility to pay for tracking shipping and EMS Link

Don't be alarmed by the outdated design (I know I would) but Ichibankao is a legit e-shop selling various Japanese brands. The website isn't really easy to navigate through but you get used to it as you browse the website.


Official E-shops

Official e-shops are also available for you to shop at. Innisfree and Etude House are under the same company and both send orders through EMS with the exact amount of your order.

Innisfree
They constantly have great offers like 1+1 and you can get your first order with free shipping regardless of the amount.
Etude House
The same goes for Etude House.


Concernant, Innisfree et Etude House, il est très intéressant d'acheter chez eux avec leur nombreuses offres mais veuillez à acheter en dessous de la valeur taxable par la douane. En effet, Innisfree et Etude House font partie de la même marque mère et envois les colis en EMS (express) tout en affichant la valeur exacte de votre commande. Le colis passe ensuite chez Chronopost à son arrivée en France et si votre colis à une valeur supérieur de 45€ il me semble, la Douane ET Chronopost se chargeront de vous taxer. Ps : Les produits gratuits (comme dans le cas des offres 1+1 sont considérés comme payés et donc également taxable !

Missha
Missha has stores all over the world, you can check out if your country has one.


Français : Vous pouvez commander sur le Missha Allemand pour recevoir vos produits en France. Missha offre également des échantillons à acheter sur le site, jetez y un coup d'oeil !



Ünt
Taïwanese skincare at its finest, I've heard great things about Ünt but never tried anything. Their EX White Laserwave and Acne Med lines are pretty popular. You might want to check them out ! They seem to be shipping all over the world, check out here if your country is a part of it.

 Page française de la marque Taïwanaise Ünt, je n'ai jamais testé de produit de cette marque mais j'en ai entendu grand bien.

Other trustworthy E-Shops

 All of these shops are deemed trustworthy by my fellow beauty bloggers :
iBuyBeauti - Korean Beauty - Based in Korea 

Adambeauty - Japanese Beauty - Based in Hong Kong

Memebox - Korean Beauty - Based in US/China/Korea and only ships there

Peachandlily - Korean Beauty - Based in US

Yesstyle - Korean/Japanese/Taiwanese Beauty - Based in Hong Kong

Glow Recipe - Natural Korean Beauty - Based in US

Korea Depart - Korean Beauty - Based in Korea

Cosmetic Love - Korean Beauty - Based in Korea

E-shops français


Si vous préférez commander sur des sites français ou désirez tout simplement recevoir vos produit plus rapidement, voici une liste d'e-shop français. Je n'ai pour l'instant commandé que chez Peaux d'Anges qui est un e-shop avec un super service et une bonne sélection de produits. Himawari qui commercialise aussi bien sur Beautyst que sur leur propre e-shop, propose une sélection de marques Coréenne avec la particularité d'avoir les frais de ports gratuit !

Himawari
Peaux d'Anges
Ma BB Crème
Ds World Asia

Buy directly from Korean Shops :

If you can't find your favorite brands in this lit of e-shops or you would just rather buy directly from Korean Brands shops, this list is for you :

Avecko - Korean Product buying service. Avecko buys the product from Korean brands/shops and ships it to you (just like Shipito in the US if you know that), here is a complete guide to how to buy from Avecko on /r/Asian Beauty.

Buy directly from Japanese Shops :

Rakuten - You can find your favorite Japanese products for cheaper on Rakuten than your regular e-shops of Amazon. Here is a complete guide on how to buy from Rakuten and how to request SAL shipping on /r/Asian Beauty.


Road Trip Beauty Essentials - Skincare and Make Up

Beauty Essentials




I'm leaving in a couple of days for a roadtrip to Germany to go to Europa-Park with a bunch of friends. As we are only staying for an extended week-end, I was wondering how to pack efficiently my 'beauty essentials'.
Eventually, I need light and fuzz-free stuff that I would be easily able to use in a moving car. I'm writing this post ahead of the trip so I obviously don't know yet if this is a great plan or not but I'll keep you guys posted on my social medias : Instagram - Twitter, and most likely on snapchat , add me : WishedChronicle

By the way, did you notice the design change ? I was getting sick of the monochromatic look of the old design so I decided to change the whole thing. There are still little glitches here and there and some small changes to be done but, this is Wished Chronicles' new look ! 


Skincare

 


 Klairs - Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil (Not on the picture)

After thinking about it again and again, road trip or not, my skin needs the double cleansing it can gets. I'll be applying sunscreen and make up and even though it's for less than a week, I don't want my skin to freak out because it's finally back on track after months of trials and errors. I'm going to decant the Klairs oil into a small container and bring it with me !

Yes to Cucumbers - Cleansing wipes

I'm not into cleansing wipes but I thought it would be the best thing to remove anything on the go. My skin won't like 8 hours of road traveling with too-much on and my dehydrated skin needs hydration and moisture after a good while. I bought these Yes to Cucumbers cleansing wipes from Asos and checked the ingredients beforehand. Except for the "fragrance" part, no ingredients appeared as a red flag for me.

Innisfree - It's real squeeze masks

Review
We never know what could happen and as I said, my skin might need a little boost in hydration. I'm bringing my beloved Shea Butter mask with me along with some others Innisfree masks to share with my friends. We'll be sheet masking as group !


A L'Orientale - Argan Oil

I wrote a blog post about how pure Argan Oil was a stapple for me and there was no way I could go without my Argan Oil. I'm currently using A L'Orientale one that I bought from Beautyst and if you are tempted they have many other combination available - I might try the Argan x Rose combo next.

Cosrx - Advanced Snail 96 Snail Mucin Power Essence

Review
I got to try this thanks to blogger Colorccrush and I wasn't too impressed at first but as I ran out of the decants she sent me, I saw what changes it made in my skin. I'm going to write a review post really soon about this essence but in the meantime, a small decant of this is following me to Germany.

Whamisa - Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner

I've been enabled by the great review of Kerry from Skin&Tonics. This hydrating toner is in the works of becoming a staple in my routine as it truly works wonders and seem to agree with my skin. The bottle is a glass and I naturally will be bringing a decant of this product with me rather than the full thing.

Skinfood -  Premium Tomato Whitening Samples

Instead of decanting every other product of my current routine, I thought trying one of the many samples from my sample box could be a better idea. I decided to go for the essence and cream of Skinfood's Whitening Tomato sample I got in this haul.

The Body Shop - Musc Gift Set

This is more of a body skincare thing but I got this gifted a few days ago and the size is perfect for traveling. I'm not a huge fan of Musc so the eau de toilette won't be traveling with me but I'll give the lotion a try.

Innisfree - Extreme Safety 60 Sun Gel 

Can this be a summer road trip without Sunscreen ? The first I'll be putting in my travel beauty pouch is this Innisfree sunscreen. Tried and approved, have you heard of someone going a shade lighter even in Summer ? That's me. (Disclaimer : Also using other tools to keep me from tanning/brightening effects aka hats, C20/C21.5 serum, niacinamide etc..). A full post will be coming on this sunscreen but as it is following me in my trip you can tell I'm liking it.

Make Up 

 


Missha - Blotting Papers 

Plain and simple, purchased in this haul.

Innisfree - No Sebum Powder Pact

Instead of decanting some Banana Powder from Ben Nye, I'll bring this Innisfree translucent powder to keep the oils at bay.


Missha - Magic Cushion Foundation

Review
This is a DIY cushion foundation I made and I'll be using this to apply make up if necessary on the go. It's not necessarily practical to use as a full-on cushion foundation because I didn't put enough product in it but it would be perfect as a touch up product.

Nars - Radiant Creamy Concealers

Review
Seeing the weather forecast of region where Europa Park is in Germany, the weather will be almost unbearable with 36°C ! I really hope it won't be the case but with such temperatures, make up will be the least of my issues and rather than putting on foundation I'll be spot concealing.

Kiko - Eyebrow pencil

Cheap and effective eyebrow pencil, because I don't know how people can spend 5 minutes doing their brows with powders and creams. (No offense though, I'm the lazy and impatient type)

Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer

I only use this primer on my t-zone because my Sheer Glow just won't behave and I won't be leaving without this deluxe sized sample.



Kiko - Definition Waterproof Eyeliner & Biguine - Hot Black Eyeliner

Review
I wasn't going to include this as I wasn't planning on necessarily wearing liquid eyeliner but if I do have the time and the nice weather to do so, I'll be using my waterproof Kiko eyeliner in the outer edge and the cheap Biguine eyeliner in the inner part of the eye. 

Etude House - 101 Pencil in #49 Brown

Review
If I don't have the strength nor the time to get my cat eye going, I'll be at least lining my eyes with this soft matte brown eyeliner from Etude house. 

Giorgio Armani - Black Ecstasy 

One of the few travel size mascara I own, I'm not a huge fan of this mascara but it does the trick. 


 

Rimmel x Kate Moss - 101 Kiss Of Life lipstick 

Revlon - Colorburst Matte Balm in 240 Striking
Easy to wear and easy to apply, I always had these two in my handbags and even apply them in the parisian metro while walking with no mirror. These stress free products will be in my make up pouch.



And that is all ! I don't know if I should pack more things or even if these are good choices but I think I'll make it work !


What are you doing this Summer ? Any good tips to share ?

Ps : I posted a picture of myself as my Instagram profile picture. If you ever wondered about how I looked, head over there quickly as I might change my mind about showing myself soon ! 


Amazing Serum : C20 - Pure Vitamin C21.5 Advanced Serum - Review

skincare



Today, I'm bringing you the upgraded version of my favorite Vitamin C Serum which I raved about in this review.  I briefly mentioned the 21.5 version in that review and since then, I got the chance to try upgraded version.

Before continuing with the review, my apologies for the pictures, they were taken a while ago, a.k.a when I hadn't bought my new camera. Bear with me, this line of product is still amazing.

Cet article est traduit en français, cliquez sur "Traduction" pour afficher la traduction








This serum aims at brightening your skin by getting rid of its dullness and is perfect for people with dark spots or acne spots, see the details here.






Comparison with the original version





The C21.5 comes with a 1.5% of pure Vitamin C, is stripped from all of the extras ingredients :
C20
C21.5
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethanol, Sodium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan, PEG-180, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil,Zinc PCA, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ubiquinone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben Hippophae Rhamnoides Water (70%), Ascorbic Acid (21.5%), Sodium Lactate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium
Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol


The formula is free of parabens and left with only the essential. The ingredient list provided by Wishtrend, shows that Hippophae Rhamnoides Water and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) makes up more than 90% of the formula.

The lesser the ingredients, the lesser the chance your skin could react to the product, and that's the first good point I'm giving the C21.5 .






The packaging


The product still comes in a bottle of 30ml, but the price is this time higher and the product is retailed for 24.99$ on Wishtrend .






As you can see from the pictures, the outer packaging has barely changed apart from the fact that the content is fully translated in English. The upper lid also clearly advices to keep the serum in the fridge.


Remember, just like the original version, Vitamin C is highly unstable component which oxidizes to both warmth and light. Part of the reason why the manufacturer uses brown bottles to limit the exposure to sunlight. 


Don't forget to keep your serums in a dark and cold place to get the most out of them. I keep mine in the fridge in its original cardboard packaging and I've never had an issue with premature oxidization.








The formula


The product should be clear and colorless when fresh



The other improvement we get in this upgraded version is the actual texture of the formula. Whereas the original version was thicker and left a sticky residue, the 21.5 is watery and doesn't leave a sticky residue on the skin.



I didn't mind the previous consistence of the serum and as I said in the review, I had no issues with stickiness, or at least it didn't bother me.



The one thing I'd have to note with this new and improved version is that the watery consistence of the serum makes me apply more product that I would have with the original version. The product gets absorbed so fast by the skin that I add a couple more of drops to cover my entire face.







My thoughts

I loved the original version and I raved about it without shame so it was only natural that I had to try the upgraded version. 
The main differences are set between the ingredient list, the formula and the consistency of both serums. But the price is also different : The original version retails for 14.99$ vs the upgraded version retails for 24.99$. 

While they both perform the same way (see here an experiment on my knees), I'll be honest and say that I can't justify the price for the three differences I just listed. Indeed, the original ingredient list didn't bother my skin and I was fine with the original formula which didn't cause any particular stickiness or tingles on my skin. 

If you are not sensitive to any ingredients in the original version, I'd recommend the original version instead of the upgraded version, for one simple reason : It's cheaper. However, if you don't like possibly sticky products or would rather like a watery consistency than a thicker one : Go for the upgraded version.




Get yours

The upgraded C21.5 is exclusively available at Wishtrend for 24.99$ : Here (Free Shipping).

The original C20 Vitamin C serum is available at Wishtrend for 14.99$ here (Free Shipping) and on Roseroseshop for 11.43$. I keep getting mine from Wishtrend because they indicates when the serum is made which insures me that I can get the freshest bach.

E-shop Français :  

Seule la version originale est disponible, si vous voulez avoir le meilleur prix, je vous conseille de commander sur Wishtrend ou Roroseshop, si vous voulez votre produit le plus vite possible :
    -   La version originale C20 est disponible sur Himawari pour 18,50€ : ici  
    -  La version originale C20 est disponible sur Peaux d'Anges pour 19,50€ : ici   ( Envoyer moi un petit mail ou laissez un commentaire avec votre nom et adresse e-mail pour obtenir une réduction de 5%)
    -  La version originale est disponible sur KYC Beauté pour 15,73€ (prix original : 18,50€) : ici
    -  La version originale est disponible sur MaBBCreme pour 19,50€ : ici
    -  La nouvelle version 21.5 est disponible sur MaBBCreme pour 27,50€ : ici 

    Promo Codes :

    WISHTREND
      -   With orders of 55$ and more, with code WISHJULY2015 , you can get 10% off
      -  Coupon Code : 033450111 - Get 5$ off of your order with ANY amount by registering to Wishtrend and writing this code in  the "friends invitation program" box in the registration form ! 
      -   With ANY purchase, with the code WISHGIFTJULY2015 , you will receive a Lei lani Pink Mochi blackhead removal for free on any order.
        (Check out the sidebar to get the new and updated promo codes every month)

         

        New product 

         


        Picture from Wishtrend



        C20 came out with a new Vitamin C based sheet mask called Natural Vitamin C21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask  and it retails for 2.50$ a piece. I didn't try it yet, but it might or might be in my cart the next time I order !





        Deal sets 


        http://www.wishtrend.com/sol-kit/757-sol-kit-vitamin-starter-kit-for-dull-skin.html?a_aid=WishedChronicles


        Skin Brightening Kit for 29.99$ with the original serum and the C20 cream.









        TL:DR 

        I'm going to keep buying the original serum because I can't justify the higher price tag for the Advanced version. This serum is still a staple for me and is, a holy grail in my frail and ever changing routine.






        This product was sent for review purposes  by Wishtrend, all thoughts are genuine and my own, refer to my full disclosure and review policy for more information. 

         

         So, have you tried this bottle of awesomeness yet ? What other serum are you currently in love with ? 



        Disclosure

        Wished Chronicles is a PR friendly blog and contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are genuine and purely my own.
        Read the full disclosure and review policy here.