Hello all! Last summer??? I picked up the Forever21 Love & Beauty Scented Sheer Lip Color Pen, in Coral. Why? (I'm still asking myself that.) Basically, I'm a wild mix of intrigued (did they do it right?!) and disgusted at how F21 makes knockoff of even beauty products but doesn't take the time to say, make their own ORIGINAL line of cosmetics and skincare. What's hilarious too, is that F21 have recently been selling actual Korean products on their site (Holika Holika, Peripera, etc)

I admit, I like F21 for some of it's fast fashion but I don't appreciate blatant art theft and copyright infringement, and specifically in this case, with a superior product. I suppose the waters are muddy in the cosmetics and skincare world, in that companies are able to freely make dupes of other (often high end or foreign brand) products. But Forever21 could easily follow in the footsteps of Sephora and Ulta and also carry more (real) K-beauty in stores, thus eliminating the expansiveness of F21's Love & Beauty line, where a portion of the skincare and beauty line is very much "inspired" from other brands and very often, borrows and copies from other brands in addition (like the macron lip balms, taken from the It's Skin lip balms, or animals shaped balms, taken from Etude House's line of hand creams, etc....)

In a roundabout way, this is what compelled me to want to buy the knockoff AND the real version, and to compare the two to see how bad the knock off is (spoiler: it's bad) and why it's important to support the brands. It also brings up real issues of copyright and intellectual rights for cosmetics and skincare, state-side and abroad.

I will be comparing a Tony Moly Petit Bunny Gloss Bar, in 05 Juicy Peach to it's knockoff counterpart, the F21 Love & Beauty Scented Sheer Lip Color Pen, in Coral. For easy reference, mentions of the Tony Moly Petit Bunny Gloss Bar will be written in red and blue text for the F21 Love & Beauty version.

Hey guys! Throughout May I've been trying my best to participate in #maymaskmonth.  A portion of these are ones that I've used throughout May, and some in the latter half of April.

Seeing as I like a tidy makeup table, I thought I'd whip up a post with some short thoughts and throw! that! trash! out!!!

Wow, this review has been in the making for quite a while! Honestly, I've had a lot of things happening: settling into a new position in the morning at work but being completely physically, emotionally and mentally drained five days a week, planning and saving money for a potential trip to San Francisco, to renew my Australian passport, as well as a number of mini-reviews over on my Instagram!

I received this Tosowoong Makeon Bronze Spectrum Waterproof Gel Pencil Liner Set (Season 3) from RoseRoseShop for review purposes, however all my opinions are my own.



I had reviewed the Tosowoong Makeon Dual Shaking Lip Tint / Spicy Glosses pretty recently and thought I'd save reviewing this Tosowoong eyeliner set for a later time, rather than hurriedly lump it into the previous post. Admittedly, I also didn't know how I felt about this product--I just wasn't sure. I needed time.

But here we are! I have opinions!!

The Too Cool For School Dinoplatz lip tints are certainly a cute novelty, with clean packaging and eye-catching, cute illustrations.

I had seen these online but hadn't thought much of them until I saw them much later at a local stand alone Sephora. The cuteness of the illustrations probably pushed me to buy them, but now it's time to review the two shades I have purchased: #2 Beet Jam, a bright berry red and #4 Peach Melba, a pale peach.

Hello!!!! It's time for a collective haul from Amazon, since now all my items finally arrived of this particular Amazon order (I can write this post!)!!!


I wrote in the beginning of April when I received my two tubes of snail goop, and posted my initial first impression thoughts about the CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. Since then, I've used about 2/3 of the tube of the cleanser and one tube of the snail gel.

Also after much waiting, I finally got my hands on my second bottle of Hada Labo's Gokujun lotion. I had been eager to repurchase since about late-January but had been a a bit of a no-buy until now.

I ordered March 24th from Samurai Japan and it arrived safety at some point on May 10th, in a padded paper envelope bag.  I paid USD$10.48--a good price, compared to Uwajimaya's usual $18 price tag--I'm uneasy about how long it takes to arrive from Japan. I'm prepared for the month, maybe even six weeks for an expected arrival for items that are shipping from Japan but when it pushes closer to eight weeks, it's not worth it for the savings.

Plus, it's a liquid and I imagine this has spend a little longer going through customs. So my advice is try order with Prime; order from a US-based seller or suck it in and buy from a local Asian market (Uwajimaya) and deal with the markup, for instant gratification.


I say all this because my skin has grown to really love Hada Labo's Gokujun lotion. I mean, really love it. SO much so that I've noticed fine lines and general dryness returning on my skin after I ran out of first bottle earlier in January, and nothing could relieve it.

I need to face it: my skin is highkey thirsting after HL!! And, I just might have a HG product in my midst! (Or mist...)

Hello, guys! As always, work has been super busy for me as of late! I've been relaxing and rewatching both seasons of Chihayafuru over the past few days. It makes karuta looks interesting but I really don't think I'd have the stamina to play matches--it looks  like so much fun, though. The anime is really well done but I'm still hoping for a third season...I want to see what happens!!

I thought I'd whip up a quick review of the Dr Jart+ Dermaclear Trans-foam Clay as I'm almost at the end of my tube and well...it's now or never.


I had picked up a tube for from Sephora, in an online haul a good few months ago, around when I made VIB status (so it's been a little while, ahaha!!).  At the time, I paid USD$15 for a 50ml / 1.7 fl. oz. tube and I chose the "moisturizing pink" version as it seemed like the best choice for my thirsty af skin.

I thought the idea of a clay mask that becomes a foam when mixed with water was pretty cool and was curious about the performance.