Etude House I Can Fly Hand Creams Review: Kakapo, Cerulean Warbler, Eagle Owl

I caved in and finally purchased my final piece - Cerulean Warbler - to complete my collection. I am not getting anymore hand creams for the entire year! Please smack me if you come across me buying new ones?

Name: Etude House 에뛰드하우스 Missing U 미씽유 Hand Cream 핸드크림
Price: ₩ 5,500 for 30 ml
Release: November 2012
Made in: Korea

ღ Kakapo 카카포

One would immediately think of DKNY's Be Delicious when apple scents are mentioned. Kakapo is tart like sour candies... not remotely near the aroma of a real apple or Be Delicious by a long shot. Scents are obviously not Etude House's forte. Haha!

ღ Cerulean Warbler 파랑새

Etude House outdid themselves with Cerulean Warbler. The scent is light, pleasing and remarkably similar to baby powders.

ღ Eagle Owl 수리부엉이

Eagle Owl is not sickeningly sweet or awful like cough syrup, which is a relief because cherry scents are notoriously hard to replicate. It takes after Cerulean Warbler, aside from being stronger and has more floral undertones. If you like Cerulean Warbler, you are sure to enjoy Eagle Owl.

Since everyone resonates with different scents, I would suggest that you sniff them at an Etude House outlet first instead of buying blindly like what I did.

My verdict:
#1 Cerulean Warbler
#2 Eagle Owl
#3 Eastern Grass Owl
#4 Kakapo

You can read about the consistency and longevity of these creams in my detailed review for Eastern Grass Owl 가면올빼미. The details are all there and these creams are similar to each other in almost all aspects save the aroma so its redundant to repeat the same things all over again.

Part ①

(Source: Promotional images are from etude.co.kr/)

25ans × Michael Kors

How long has it been since my last Japanese magazine post? Absolutely ages if you ask me!

I wasn't one for 25ans. I could not give two hoots about its contents and I don't even know which demographic it caters to. But that is besides the point. The March 2013 issue is the magazine to get if you care about furoku (supplements), haha.

Name: 25ans ヴァンサンカン
Issue: March 2013
Price: ¥ 980
ASIN: B00B1EJJT2

Enter the fabulously made Michael Kors passport case!

It is a special gift from the brand itself which explains the quality.

◆ Vanilla pindot logo-print PVC with magenta lining
◆ Envelope flap front
◆ Gold coloured snap closure
◆ H11×W15cm

I am rather fond of Korean darling Kim Tae-hee and am gutted to discover that her contract with 25ans expired a year ago. I would have loved to see her gracing the pages.

Gamila Secret Original Cleansing Bar

Gamila Secret's Cleansing Bars incorporate a cocktail of fifteen activated herbs borne in a base of shea butter and six pure plant oils (Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Laurel Oil, Olive Oil and Sweet Almond Oil).

The mixture of oils and herbs is cooked for more than forty hours, with ingredients added at different moments to accomplish the best result. The resulting emulsion is then allowed to dry, after which the hand-cut bars are left to ripen over a period of six months.

The fame of this bar of gold has spread far and wide and is even endorsed by celebrities (Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Lena Fujii) and skincare experts (牛爾老師) alike.

Name: Gamila Secret ガミラシークレット Original オリジナル
Price: RM 66 for 30 g
@cosme rating: 4.6 ★
Made in: Galilee

If Gamila were to bottle the pleasant citrusy herbal scent scent, I will buy it in a heartbeat. Mind you, not to replace my perfumes but as a room fragrance.

Foam highly glutinous in appearance. Just be careful not to let it enter your eyes, it will sting!

My skin went through a purging stage during the first two weeks of using bar. I had blemishes on my nose, chin, eyebrow and cheeks. Sounds like a lot huh? Haha! They did not all bombard me at the same time - they came and went at intervals, so it was a relaxed affair (sort of) because I was forewarned that it might happen earlier.

At some point my skin began to normalize. My skin lost the taut feel (or perhaps I got used to it?) from week one and then I came the realization that my face was not as smooth as it was before I started using the cleansing bar. Like sanding wood, my face could have been smoother.

On the plus side, unbudgeable, deeply embedded impurities that have plagued me for weeks became so easy to extract - made me wonder if my agonising struggle prior to the bar was pure imagination.

It was smooth sailing at the beginning of my fourth week after the minor breakouts subsided. The scabs from picking the blemishes healed quickly, leaving me with nary a mark. My face felt clean, soft and smooth. Love!!

I am so pleased with it – enough to purchase a full sized bar in a different flavour. A girl gotta have variety! And yes, review to come soon!

A guide for the uninitiated, Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar is available in ten variants, with essential oils added to treat multiple skin conditions except for Original, which is free of essential oils to suit even the most sensitive of skins.

If you are considering in getting a bar for yourself, I would suggest that you also invest in the dish to keep your bar in optimal condition. There is something about wet surfaces that attracts microbial life...

Discover Gamila Secret online and in stores at mYoga The Gardens and Parkson Sunway Pyramid.

The full ingredient list for Original Cleansing Bar:
Olive (Olea Europaea) Fruit Oil, Aqua Bay Leaf (Laurus Nobilis) Oli, Coconut (Cocus Nuciferia) Oil, Castor Oil, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii) Oil, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Oil, Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil, Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia) Oil, Nettle (Urtica Dioica), Rosemary (Rosemarinus Officinalis), Chamomile (Chamomilla Recutita), Vervain (Verbena Officinalis), Rue (Ruta Graveolens), Sage (Salvia Officinalis), Pistachio (Pistacia Vera).

Disclosure: Press sample.

March 2013 Vanity Trove

This month's Vanity Trove is themed Temptress. Doesn't that sound intriguing?

(Source: vanitytrove.com/my)

Let's have a look at the treasures nestled within my box!

① Lunasol Skin Fusing Powder Foundation (0.60 g) and Smoothing Makeup Base (1 g ×2) | Made in Japan

② Timeless Truth Orchid Extract Whitening Mask (30 ml) | Made in Taiwan

③ Asian Potions Hand & Body Lotion

④ Être Belle Sensiplus Hydrasilk Day & Night Cream SPF10 (5 ml) and Sensiplus Hydrasilk Gel Tonic (2 ml) | Made in Germany

⑤ Bio-Essence Bird's Nest Bio-Energy Firm & Brighten Eye Cream SPF15 (3 ml)

I really liked the variety of products. There was a little bit of everything, from skincare to makeup and even bodycare. Timeless Truth and Asian Potions were a pleasure to discover and I highly encourage you to check them out. To my surprise, my box had a Bio-Essence sample. This brand came out from nowhere! The leaflet made no mention, so receiving it was a nice treat.

That said, the March box did not knock my socks off. I would have liked the samples to be more substantial and even though Vanity Trove never made the promise that you would receive a full size item (unless you count the sheet mask?), issuing one (at the very least) would please their subscribers.

And since I am in the process of nitpicking, switching the courier service might be something for Vanity Trove to think about. Any slower and a name change should be on the cards, perhaps to Snail Worldwide Express? A package usually takes a day to reach me, but this service took a week! *pftt*

Each box of hand-picked beauty samples is delivered to your door each month for RM 60. What do you think of the March box? If you are interested, you can find out more at

✤ Website: vanitytrove.com/my/
✤ Facebook: facebook.com/VanityTroveMalaysia
✤ Twitter: twitter.com/VanityTroveMY

Disclosure: Press sample.

Candy Doll Lipstick Ramune Pink Review, Swatches, LOTD

I should not be allowed to purchase lipsticks. I tend to be drawn to shades that do not suit me plus I always buy into the hype (can anybody resist Tsubasa Masuwaka?). Why else would I bring Ramune (Lemonade) Pink home?

(Source: candydoll.jp/)

Name: Candy Doll キャンディドール Lipstick リップスティック Ramune Pink
Price: S$ 25.90 for 3.5 g
@cosme rating: 3.2 ★
Release date: 15.9.2010

Candy Doll's lipstick glides on the lips easily. For a matte lipstick, it is not exactly moisturising nor is it drying. It is a little mix of the both and surprisingly it has a nice semi dewy finish that makes my lips look soft.

Matte lipsticks show every line, crack and whatnot, so be sure to exfoliate and moisturise well before wearing them!

In terms of colour, Ramune Pink swatches as a pink beige. Upon application, it shows up as a nude pink. Colour payoff is pretty decent for it to show up so well on my pigmented lips.

I would like to love this lipstick but it is not the most flattering shade for my complexion and it makes me look like death warmed over. As much as I adore nude lips on others, it is a different matter altogether when it comes to myself.

What do you think of the lipsticks from Candy Doll? Have you tried any yet? You can buy Candy Doll products at SaSa outlets nationwide or from sasa.com.

Rachel K Mineral Color Control Pressed Powder SPF15

Hello everyone! I posted a picture of the pressed powder from Rachel K Cosmetics a while back on Instagram but I have only started using it a few weeks ago. With temperatures on the rise, I need all the help I can get to make my makeup last all day!

(Source: rachelkcosmetics.com/)

Rachel K Mineral Color Control Blemish Balm Pressed Powder is a 4-in-1 makeup foundation, a natural mineral makeup concealer, powder and SPF protection all in one. The pigment rich powder protects skin with antioxidants and bound with Organic Shea Butter and Vitamin. It is designed to glide on smoothly to blend with and allow the natural skin tone to show through and provides excellent coverage for flawless finish that lasts all day. (Source: rachelkcosmetics.com/)

Name: Rachel K Mineral Color Control Blemish Balm Pressed Powder Medium
Price: RM 48.90 for 12 g
Made in: Korea

I lost my soul to the compact. Yes, it invites scratches, dust and fingerprints to nest but the colour! The epic rose gold bronzey colour negates any and all minor irritations.

The flip-top compact has a mirror with the powder sitting under the sponge tray.

It has a finely-milled formula. It is so soft that it tends to fall out in the compact, which can be messy. When I smush the powder with my finger, it gives the impression of being moist (I used to be a mineral makeup enthusiast back in the days and this usually happens when I overdo it with the pressing medium).

The shade Medium, a neutral beige, is good fit for my skintone albeit a little too pink. Clearly I have a extremely yellow undertone! With a light hand, the pink tone is nearly indiscernible.

It provides a sheer wash of colour to perk up a dull complexion. It would not be able to conceal imperfections or even out the skin as the coverage is minimal at best.

Despite the lack of pigment, I doubt that the 3 shades available will suit everyone. It is just too limited a selection! Even traditional powerhouses (Lancôme with 10) or obscure mineral makeup companies (Jane Iredale with 24) release a goodly number. Perhaps Rachel K Cosmetics will expand the line with more colours like what it did for the CC cream?

Fair - Medium - Deep

Fair - Medium - Deep

The powder does not wear well over oily areas with a sponge. It has an inclination to adhere too well, making blending difficult thus leaving blotches of powder residue. Furthermore, it pooled in pores and gave me a powdery, made up look.

A change of applicators might be the solution I am looking for since the combination of a sponge and the powder is not winning any awards. A fluffy brush was whipped out to swirl the powder. Finally! The powder went on like a dream and produced a polished look that was not cakey or obvious.

Unlike the CC creams, the pressed powder does not hold shine at bay. I had to blot nearing the three hour mark. I had such high hopes for it too!

Even though it does a decent job in setting makeup, chances are there are better options out there for you that require less fuss. This pressed powder is sold at rachelkcosmetics.com.

The full ingredient list for Mineral Color Control Blemish Balm Pressed Powder:
Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Mica, Dimethicone, Triglyceride, Zinc Stearate, Magnesium, Silicate, Magnesium Carbonate, Silica, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), Tocopheryl Acetate, Iron Oxides.

Disclosure: Press samples.