Month: July 2019

Hanskin cleansing oil and blackhead (PHA) ☆Konnichiwa Kitty K Beauty reviews☆

On By konnichiwakitty-Hannah IRLIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

My skin routine has always had a two step cleansing element since switching to Korean beauty products but I had been using up a micellar water I already had in my cabinet prior to exploring the Kbeauty options available. Micellar water tended to leave my face feeling not thoroughly cleansed (even after the second cleansing step) and it often felt drying, leaving my face feeling tight and rough prior to the next steps which seemed to ‘rescue’ my skin again.

I’d read mostly great things about Hanskin’s ‘Cleansing oil and blackhead PHA’. It seemed to tick all the required boxes for a first cleanser for me so I thought I’d give it a shot.

I ordered the product from Beauty and Seoul as they had a ‘thank you’ sale on so the 300ml bottle was only 17 GBP instead of the usual 21 GBP (and I’ve always been super happy with their service so it was a no brainer).

The product arrived on a Monday morning even though it was ordered late on a Friday afternoon so I began using it in my morning routine that day, as I like to double cleanse both morning and night.

First thoughts;

  • It looks lovely, the oil was a rich gold/yellow colour and the packaging simple, modern and sturdy.
  • The pump dispenser works well with the oil consistency; not dispensing too much or too little product. Two pumps seems to be a sufficient amount to thoroughly cleanse my face.
  • The oil itself smells fresh and fragrant but the fragrance isn’t overpowering, just a subtle scent.
  • The consistency of the oil feels thick and luxurious, working the oil in and massaging it around my face feels like having a massage whilst removing make up and impurities.
  • It literally eats away at make up, leaving no trace left. My skin feels cleansed even before the second cleanse. It’s gentle enough to use around the eyes also and it removed waterproof mascara with little effort.

After using the product for around three weeks I still found all the above to be true; my skin doesn’t feel dry or tight after use. I actually feel cleansed and moisturised prior to the next step in my routine. I was concerned that the oil texture would maybe clog my pores causing more blemishes but I can’t say that has happened to date so I feel confident in saying that it doesn’t have a comodogenic effect and really does melt away grime and oils without blocking pores.

I can safely say I’m happy to keep continuing use of this product and as yet haven’t found any drawbacks to doing so. If anything does crop up I’ll be sure to edit and add this to the blog at a later date, but for now this has definitely got a thumbs up from me!

Hannah

My Beauty and Seoul experience

On By konnichiwakitty-Hannah IRLIn Beauty, k beauty, skincareLeave a comment

***Reviews are entirely my own opinions and findings of a brand or product; If a brand gifts an item I will explicitly state it was gifted BUT this doesn’t change the fact that I will give the most honest review of the product***

This is a ‘quick read’ review as i just felt compelled to share my experience of this company as I’ve been well and truly blown away by them, enjoy.When I initially started searching for sellers of Korean beauty products I didn’t have the first clue about where to look; I tried the large chains such as Boots and Superdrug but aside from a few small ‘novelty’ type items (like sheet masks) I couldn’t find a wide range of products geared up for 7/10 skins methods. There were a few other brands who again offered a few products but nothing as extensive as I was hoping for. I tried to narrow my search by researching which brand would be most suitable for my highly reactive, sensitized skin and I began to uncover miraculous skin stories and reviews about Pyunkang Yul. After deciding this was the brand I’d like to try I began searching for UK stockists. I came across Beauty and Seoul fairly quickly once I’d narrowed down a brand I was interested in.So since embarking on my KBeauty journey I’ve been ordering the bulk of my products from Beauty and Seoul by brands such as Pyunkang Yul and Hanskin. Their service has been incredible; the website is easy to use and products are beautifully displayed. Products have been curated by Maree the founder of Beauty and Seoul and she really has put her heart and soul into curating the most diverse and useful collection of Kbeauty products (check of her blog also, it’s a really heartfelt and open account of her journey as an individual, her story as a Korean adoptee and the story of Beauty and Seoul as a brand).The dispatch time is amazingly quick, even with standard delivery. I placed my last order on a Friday evening an received it on a Monday morning (this was also a FREE delivery as I spent over £50, sorry bank eeeep ).The products come beautifully (and most importantly, safely) packaged. So much thought, love and care has gone into every aspect of Beauty and Seoul’s operation and it really shows!

From the moment your package arrives it feels like a treat to yourself instead of just a skincare delivery.

The compliments slip is just an adorable personal touch too and makes you feel like a valued customer from your very first order.

There were even some additional samples included in the package too (Pyunkang Yul samples x 6, all great and useable products which I’d definitely consider trying)!

The products all arrived in perfect condition and no spills/leaks or damage at all! In the past I’ve received orders that have been damaged from other retailers due to the lack of care in the postage and packaging, the same cannot be said for Beauty and Seoul. Every aspect of your experience as a consumer with them is so well thought out.As I previously said, these products are ones I purchased myself and they were not gifted; I’ve received no payment or similar in exchange for this review. I’ve just found a company who really have blown me away in terms of customer service, fair pricing and exceptional quality. It’s safe to say I’m a returning, loyal customer now!Stay cute

可愛いままでいて

Hannah

Innisfree camellia essential hair oil serum- ☆Konnichiwa Kitty K Beauty reviews☆

On By konnichiwakitty-Hannah IRLIn BeautyLeave a comment

***All items in reviews are products I have purchased for myself unless explicitly stated that they have been gifted. Regardless of who has provided the product, I will always give an honest and open account of my experience of its use. ***

After being so blown away by the Korean skincare I’ve been using, I started to wonder what Korean hair care could do for my mane. To put you in the picture, mane isn’t a word I use lightly; my hair is thick, ridiculously curly and FRIZZY… Oh and bleached within an inch of it’s life too (from my natural mid/dark brown to white blonde). So hair care is serious business and getting my hair to cooperate is no easy feat.

I currently rotate between shampoos and conditioners as well as using a toning shampoo every other wash and I’m mostly happy with that routine, for now. But one element of my routine I’ve not been happy with is serum. I can’t remember the last time I used a serum that kept my hair silky, smooth and shiny. What I have experienced though is sticky,stiff and dull hair which feels too heavy or ends up looking greasy, which just defeats the object of a serum.

Having done a bit of research I’d read some really glowing reviews about Innisfree Camellia essential hair oil serum. It was priced at £7.75, from the seller ‘iamlove-shop’ on eBay (a store based in South Korea selling legitimate beauty products; I’d highly recommend the seller as postage was reasonably fast, they have a HUGE range of products from well know K Beauty brands and the prices were extremely affordable. Postage was even free and I received 3 sample size products too- always a bonus). In terms of price it was on par or even cheaper that other products I’ve previously used. It certainly doesn’t break the bank and is an affordable addition to your hair care routine.

So prior to my testing review here’s the ‘official’ write up from the Innisfree website;

“Camellia essential hair oil serum that creates silky hair

1. Double treatment camellia oils
– Fermented camellia oil fills the holes of damaged hair and camellia oil coats the cuticles.

2. Hair strengthening
This hair serum revitalizes damaged hair affected by frequent perm and dyeing treatments.

3. Hair that flows and shines
This serum is instantly absorbed into the hair, nourishing the hair for a range of hairstyles.

How to use

After shampooing, towel dry your hair.
Apply 2-3 pumps of serum to your hair, concentrating on the ends”

All sounds pretty great in print and exactly what I need to treat my hair and bring it some life!

I tested the product as part of my normal routine; once on my shampoo and conditioner wash and again on my toning shampoo and deep conditioning wash day. My first impressions are that it certainly looks nice, the bottle itself is sturdy and has a decent pump dispenser as well as a protective cap so it’s convenient for travelling or just keeping to hand. The pump dispenses a good amount of product and for my length and thickness of hair I required 6 pumps of product to ensure even dispersion. The serum itself isn’t overly fragranced but smells fresh and slightly floral. It was easily combed through my hair and didn’t leave a sticky residue or feel heavy at all. On drying my hair I could already feel the difference in my hair’s texture. It felt soft, without being weighed down or greasy. It also didn’t feel like my hair had just been coated in something, instead it felt like the product had penetrated the hair instead of just sitting on the surface. The real test is in the straightening though; often this is where I find that the product hasn’t spread evenly or that it is sticky or greasy feeling. What I experienced with this product though was hair that was easier to straighten, the ends felt protected and not frazzled, there were no signs of excess product or patches of stickiness. Post straightening my hair looked glossy and healthy.

I’m honestly amazed that after using this product a number of times I can’t find anything negative about it to write. Usually after a few uses a product tends to lose it’s initial wow factor and finds it’s way to the back of my hair care shelf, but this product feels like a keeper. I’ve even recommended it to others as I’ve been so impressed.

Price ☆☆☆☆☆

Value for money ☆☆☆☆☆

Ease of use ☆☆☆☆☆

Product quality ☆☆☆☆☆

It’s fair to say I am extremely impressed with this product and would happily purchase it again. If go as far to recommend it to anyone who’s hair requires a fair bit of TLC but hasn’t had much luck finding a suitable product elsewhere. The search is over, this us your new must have? What Korean or Japanese products can’t you live without? Let me know in the comments section (you may have guessed I LOVE testing new Korean and Japanese products).

Thanks for reading- I update posts at least twice a week so don’t forget to follow the Konnichiwa Kitty blog page. What are your K Beauty must haves

#Stay cute #可愛いままでいて

Hannah (^_^)