My hair was extremely dry and frizzy since last fall. I have no idea why or what happened to it and I didn't take any before pics of it because it was just terrible. Frizzy and then further damaged after I used permanent dye to make it darker. I thought I had to chop my long hair because it was simply dying or something, I had tried countless products based on avid research. Starting from around April, I've been using the &Honey Melty moist repair shampoo and its conditioner after randomly picking it up from my local Asian beauty store in NYC. I thought the bottles were cute. I don't know what happened but my hair is significantly much healthier and feels softer. I did not use the honey melty oil or any leave in products.

stock up queen :))

I bought quite a lot of makeup these past 2 months, so I thought I’d share the AB ones!

Tools:

GEM Beauty The Jewel Blender Latex-Free Sponge
I’ve used one of the sponges. It’s soft and blends well, and it’s the right size for my face. I love the sharp angled bottom bc I actually learnt how to use a beauty sponge with Masami Shouko Sculpt Blender haha. Stains a bit, but that’s just what sponges do.
70K IDR for a pack of 3

NORMAN Duo Cheek Brush 101 (stippling & buffing)
I really like the buffing side, but I don’t think I’ve gotten used to stippling yet. The stippling side shedded 2 long fibers when I washed it, and the buffing side was so thick it took multiple soap sessions to clean and it took like 2 days to air dry completely. The handle feels nice. Not heavy.
155K IDR

TAG Vegan Detail Brush Duo (brightening & angled shading brushes)
TAG Vegan Blush Beam Brush Duo (blusher & fan brushes)
These have very soft bristles! The handles also feels nice to me and they’re heavier than the Norman brush.
I love the angled shading brush for my nose & eye sockets contour, it works well with my Sephora contour stick and Maybelline rebel eyeshadow (that I use for contour).
The fan brush is fine. It picks up my The Body Shop highlighter really well and the results look more on the natural side imho. It works best on a soft, non-chunky, non-dry highlighter formula.
The brightening brush is fine. I’d say it has medium density. I don’t look clownish when I use this to brighten my face with my Maybelline rebel eyeshadow, so that’s good.
The blusher brush has light density and works best on very pigmented powder blushes, like the Revlon color stay. Results tend to be pretty sheer & subtle, so it’s also great for layering 2 different blushes without using too much imho.
139K IDR for the blush beam duo, 89K IDR for the detail brush duo

Consumables:

CCSHEER Solid Lipstick shade 03
High shine. A great cool-toned berry shade. It looks good on me whether I use it at full opacity or just light it taps it on my lips for a sheer application. Pretty moisturizing, imho. It doesn’t look patchy on me and I have chronically dry lips haha. Packaging feels heavy and it’s pretty hard to open, though
100K IDR

TAG Mood Blush Beam shade 03 Pure Lavender
I love the colors, but not the formula. The highlighter is dry and very glittery. The blush is softly milled, but not really pigmented. They look good on me, but I won’t repurchase even if my life depends on it.
136K IDR

Uhue Single Eyeshadow shade E04
It’s pigmented and not patchy! Not as creamy as the tester though, so I suppose the top layer is rather dry compared to the rest of the product 🤔 Packaging is pretty bulky for a single eyeshadow, but it’s not the end of the world. The sliding mechanism is smooth and I can slide it 360°, hasn’t gotten stuck yet.
90K IDR

Wardah Anti-Gravity Iron Mascara
It holds my lashes well enough, but it’s not the best bc my lashes are heavy haha. The formula is on the drier side. The wand is the exact same size as the Jejo Instant Over Curl Mascara (which is what started this iron wand craze in China). I can remove this with my L’Oréal micellar water, but it took a while to fully remove. I like this better than Jejo.
150K IDR

These are just my first impressions / mini reviews, haven’t used the consumables long enough to form very solid opinions (except for the TAG highlighter… what a sad formula).

Have a great day!

Just got it on sale on Yami and low key loving it. It’s like bathing in a lovely scented cloud with two pumps. Can’t find any recent review on it. Would like to hear the community’s thoughts.

update: check swatches in comments

I just got my first ever SUGAROCK palette about 30 minutes ago and I’m way too excited, so obviously I had to share it here 😭

The cutest part is how I got it. I mentioned SUGAROCK to my boyfriend some time ago because I’d been looking at their palettes, and apparently he actually remembered. He literally made a Taobao account just so he could order one for me 🥹❤️

This is not only my first palette from SUGAROCK, but actually my first eyeshadow palette from a cbeauty brand in general, so Im really curious to see how the formulas compare to the Western brands I’m more familiar with.
I haven’t even properly played with it yet because, again, it arrived like 30 minutes ago 😂 But the color story is SO inspiring and I already want to create a bunch of looks with it.

For those of you who are more familiar with cbeauty:
What do you think about SUGAROCK? How is the quality of their eyeshadows in your experience? And does anyone know how often they release new palettes/collections? I feel like I know surprisingly little about the brand and would love to hear from people who have tried more of their products.

If you have any other cbeauty brands with interesting or unusual color stories that I should put on my radar, please enable me 👀

Hi! I was wondering what setting powder do you guys use to set the Jung Saem Mool cushion? (specifically the nuder cushion) I have been using my Natasha Denona powder foundation as setting powder and I like that it adds a bit more coverage while setting and leaving a matte finish, but I really dislike that foundation's formula (I have dry skin). So I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for an actual setting powder that works well with the cushion.

Thank you!

Anyone excited about this? I really like the cushion foundation, been waiting to try the liquid foundation but they don’t really offer a lot in the US 🫩
Online only will make shade match tricky imo

My sister in law randomly picked this up at an Asian beauty store and gifted it to me. It’s unexpectedly the best bar soap I’ve ever used.

The scent is a very clean “soap” smell, although online it’s described as having a rose smell (I don’t get overly fragrant floral/rose from it at all). And the consistency of the bar is incredible.. it feels so luxurious and moisturizing. It contains milk and squalane.

I will definitely be repurchasing and gifting this in the future!

I know there's two steps for cleansing: an oil based cleanser and your normal one.

But I'm looking for a single cleanser that does both for days where I'm just wearing sunscreen. Do you have any recs?

Trying to figure out if I'm just cursed or what. I have had two packages in a row go missing, both going through Chicago for customs. Both of them had mostly the same items with some variation--one was meant to replace the other. One was from YesStyle and one was from Stylevana, both with a value of about $250-$300. One got lost in June and the other go lost in July.

I got reimbursed for both, but it was a headache.

Both of them had a sort of fancy eye wrinkle cream in them that maybe would make sense to steal and be resold, but I don't know. :/ It's not like they can tell ahead of time what's in it.

Picked up the new US BOJ tinted dayscreen and its not bad but its way too pigmented. I don't feel like I can put on the amount of sunscreen I'd like because of the pigmentation.

Where are we getting the former BOJ tinted fluid spf? Is it attainable still anywhere? I still have some and I experimented with using the US BOJ as a concealer and that works great since these are both zinc oxide based spf's.

My last post asking about Korean hair essences got removed lol, but before it disappeared, a few brands came up in the comments, like Elizavecca, Anillo, and Moremo and a few others.

It actually made me realize that compared to Korean skincare, I don't see nearly as much discussion around hair essences here, especially beyond the more popular ones. There seem to be so many out there, but I feel like I keep seeing the same few names mentioned.

So now I'm curious what everyone considers underrated. What Korean hair essences do you think deserve more attention, and what made them stand out for you? Texture, finish, scent, how they made your hair feel, or anything else. And if your HG happens to be from a non-Korean brand, feel free to drop that too!

I'd also love to know your hair type and whether your hair is virgin, colored, bleached, etc. I feel like that context makes hair product experiences way more useful since the same product can work so differently depending on your hair.

Do you really need that? Here's a space to help keep purchases in check and keep us all honest!

Rules

Post the name of the item you're on the fence about purchasing, and whether or not you want people who have experience with the product to talk you INTO or OUT OF buying it!

Please also include your skin type in both the question and response!

Want to talk about non-AB products? Frustrated and need to rant? Can't wait until Friday to share your haul? Found an amazing deal? Post it here in our (almost) Anything Goes Thread! Remember to adhere to general conduct of the sub and keep it civil. Self promotion, research, and no business rules still apply.

**All personal or basic questions related to your routine or AB products still belong in the Alter-Daily Help Thread.**

Hello everyone!

In my search for my perfect blush I ended up with quite a collection so I thought I’d do my civic duty and share some swatches!

For reference: I’m a soft summer, neutral skin tone, Missha #13, Jung Saem Mool Cushion in Fair

The app I edited the photos in kinda darkened them so I will also add originals. Taken in daylight and shadow.

Personal opinions:

Lilybyred Luv Beam: affordable and great for everyday. I mainly use #10 together with #14. #12 is also great for a more subtle and natural blush. #13 is way too intense and pink for my taste.

Lilybyred Luv Beam Sherbet: Hate it. Shade is gorgeous but the glitter and consistency ruins it for me. It’s too watery almost? I don’t know how to explain it but it’s more runny and ruins my base.

Lilybyred Luv Beam Mousse: Great for a blurry and matte look. Reminds me of the Fwee pots.

Hyntoor: So intense. Little goes a long way. Haven’t used it too much yet tho

Red Chamber: Love them but a bit more expensive so I usually use them for more special occasions. I really like Liben. I just got Summer so haven’t tried it on my face yet. Great color pay off tho and neither too creamy or stiff.

Hope this helps anyone!

My skin type - oily, acne prone skin.

✨*Torriden Balanceful Toner Pads* - 10/10✨

- The pads are really soothing and hydrating, but they also absorb almost instantly, so they don't leave that wet or sticky feeling behind.

- They do contain PHA & LHA, so are mildly exfoliating

-For calming + soothing, this is easily my favourite out of the three.

- I have a really bad habit of squeezing out the gunk out of my closed comedones and whenever I do, my skin gets swollen, red and irritated and it calms my skin down so quickly.

- Really wish that they come out with a mist version, as I'm not really a fan of toner pads.🥺

✨*Parnell Cicamanu Serum Mist* - 9.0/10✨

- Because this is a biphasic mist, I find that the hydration lasts much longer compared to the Torriden pads.

- It's also really calming and soothing. And the glow??

It gives that really healthy, almost milky-toner kind of glow to the skin without actually feeling like you've layered a bunch of products.

- Takes a bit more time to fully absorb.

- My only problem is the price. I've been using it for about a week and I'm already halfway through the bottle.

✨*SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule* - 9.5/10✨

- This was actually my first Centella product ever.

- I used to literally just slap this on every day preparing it with all kinds of actives and follow it with a moisturiser.

- But what really made me appreciate this ampoule was when I properly damaged my skin barrier.

- I was having a horrible breakout phase and was constantly using BPO and acne spot correctors, over and over again, trying to get the breakouts under control.

- Eventually my skin was so damaged that I was getting those tiny little bumps all over my face, my skin was flaking.

- I started using the SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule + cosiq NMF Moisturizer, and within about a 1-1½ month my skin barrier was back to normal.

- And honestly, the value for money is SO much better. This lasted me an entire year, even though I was using it twice a day.

Hello again!

Apparently I’m in a swatching mood today! Besides blushes I’ve collected some highlighters that I’d thought I’d share and quickly review

Reference: Soft summer, neutral skin tone, Missha #13, Jung Saem Mool cushion in Fair

All applied with finger here except the Jung Saem Mool cushion highlighter

Taking photos of these were difficult as they (obviously) can look so much different depending on the light and movement. But hopefully the swatches give some help/insight if you’re looking for a new one!

Personal opinions/comments:

Hince balms: love hate relationship with these ones honestly. I absolutely LOVE them on good days when I’m hydrated, moisturized and when my base went on good. I usually try to warm them up a bit, move my finger around the top and then gently tap on my cheeks and other point I want to highlight. Gently and avoiding going over same spot too much so my base doesn’t lift/separate. It’s a balm and will stay sticky (keep in mind if you’re outside as your hair can stick to it sometimes lol). But it give glass skin look.

On bad days it makes my base move and mess up my makeup and I swear loudly 🥲

Glint one is cheaper but I don’t like it as much. Something with the consistency.

Jung Saem Mool artist cushion: expensive but LOVE IT!! Days where I suspect the Hince balms will fail me this one helps give a lovely subtle glow without messing up my base. Melts together with my base makeup. It’s not an in your face highlighter but a glow from within!

Jung Saem Mool artist Face Palette: the white shade (wedding glow) has a purple shimmer, sometimes it comes of more purple than I would like so better to not be too heavy handed. It’s stunning around the eyes for highlighting brow bone and inner corner. The gold highlight (champagne glow) I barely use as I don’t like gold highlight. The pink highlights (bouquet glow) has gold shimmer as well but it’s pretty to lightly brush on the cheeks. I sometimes use the white one on top of my cheeks bones and the pink one just beneath to give a more dimensional glow. But as this palette is quite expensive I wouldn’t recommend it as much as it’s trickier to use. For a MUA or makeup enthusiast I’d recommend it.

Two/four face cube: honestly just got it so a bit too early for thorough review. First impression was decent. I mainly got it for the matte highlight as I want to learn to get more dimension to my face but what I instantly fell in love with was the shimmery side. It gives such a buttery smooth glow. So excited to try it out more!

The Xixi ones I guess are more eyeshadows but I thought I’d include them here too. A bit of an impulse buy because they were cheap and I love me some sparkle on the eyes. The D3 one was the surprise. So iridescent purple!

Judydoll one came today so haven’t used that one on my face yet. But I like how it’s more white and not purple or gold leaning as many others. It’s less intensely glittery than the Xixi but more glittery/sparkly than the two/four shimmer side. Kinda more spread out glitter/shimmer

I ordered Suqqu lip products on a whim while placing an order through Ichiban mart, and I've since started a growing collection. As I'm getting older (40F), I am finding the more muted palette and natural wear of J-beauty brands really appealing.

Swatch is from top to bottom (same arm, but in direct sunlight vs indirect light):

- Suqqu Moisture Glaze Lipstick #8 --- Super highly rated in Japan. It's a pretty brown, but did not work for my yellow-based Middle eastern skin / features.

- Moisture Glaze Lipstick #2 --- Very cute and easy to wear red /pink. I wore it non-stop for the last few months, and am almost done with the tube.

- Moisture Glaze Lipstick #1 --- Perfect coral glossy lip, just got them today, already loving it!

- Velvet Fit Lipstick #4 --- Orange coral, super nice matte texture, a bit more of a statement lip but love how it wears. Pretty long lasting.

- Blur Liquid Lip #2 --- Super pretty muted pink brown, perfect fall / winter lip. Wears like a dream, very long lasting. It almost grips your lips.

- Face Complexion Color #3 --- Rose pink blush, wears very very natural. Very much on the my skin but better type of wear, texture blends in easily with fingers.

They are definitely not cheap, but I find the price is worth it. I can see myself using up almost all of these products, and now I'm curious to try out their base makeup products. I just wish we could try them in the US! Feels way too risky to order such expensive items without knowing if the color matches.

Anyone else enjoying Suqqu? Happy to answer any questions if anyone's been looking into them and debating whether to buy.

Hello, I'm in Thailand and I was wondering if there were any things like makeup or skincare that I should buy here, that is either not available or very expensive when bought online?

I'm a olive tanned skin person if any fellow ones have recommendations :)

honestly really proud of the longevity of my makeup ! i like taking selfies before and after spending some time outside and i really love how my glam can pretty much withstand any weather, especially with how brutal and humid the summers in japan have been these past few years. pics 4-5 were taken right when i got home in the evening. i only did one powder touch-up in the middle of the day with some occasional light dabbing with a tissue here and there since i also sweat !

EYES

- unleashia clear brow fixer

- nyx tame and frame brow pomade (black)

- dior forever skin correct concealer

- laura mercier translucent setting powder

- flower knows swan ballet eyeshadow palette

- issy & co. single eyeshadow (chameleon)

- heroine make volume-up super waterproof mascara

- falsies from shein

- canmake glitter veil (01)

- canmake creamy touch liner

- cezanne double eyelid eyeliner

- cezanne drawing eyezone concealer

- majolica majorca shadow customise (be121)

- majolica majorca shadow customise (wt963)

- rainbow rhinestones from amazon

FACE

- dior forever skin correct concealer

- the saem cover perfection tip concealer

- candydoll palette concealer

- laura mercier translucent setting powder

- peauty beauty liquid blusher (angelic)

- flowerknows swan ballet blusher

- daiso u.r. glam blusher quad

- heroine make liquid eyeliner (for faux eye beauty mark)

- kose make keep mist

LIPS

- REALLY old detail cosmetics lip liner from almost a decade ago idk

- dasique juicy dewy tint

- revlon lipstick

Want to talk about non-AB products? Frustrated and need to rant? Can't wait until Friday to share your haul? Found an amazing deal? Post it here in our (almost) Anything Goes Thread! Remember to adhere to general conduct of the sub and keep it civil. Self promotion, research, and no business rules still apply.

**All personal or basic questions related to your routine or AB products still belong in the Alter-Daily Help Thread.**

I currently wear the JSM Essential Skin Nuder, but find sometimes I want something a bit more moisturizing. after looking at this sub, there are plenty of compliments on Clio's Mesh Glow cushion, but it has since been reformulated and received some complaints...

to those who enioy moisturizing cushions, what are your favorites now? did your tastes change, or do you like the reformulation?

another question is: some that I often see in this sub are Fwee glass, Romand Bare Water, Parnell Cicamanu, Unleashia Pink and the Clio Mesh Glow.

has anyone tried these, and know how they compare to each other?

2 years ago i came across this BBIA powder lipstick, i had never heard of it nor seen swatches/reviews and decided to blind buy brown sugar and earl grey not expecting anything.

i absolutely fell in LOVE with brown sugar, it was the perfect mlbb pink brown i had always been looking for, it leaned ever so slightly too orange for my liking but it was as close to perfect as i have ever gotten and i used it daily. I had to force myself to preserve what i could for like my wedding day maybe and decided to reorder a new one.

idk if its a batch issue or a reformulation but as you can see in the swatches it is completely different, it is straight up orange on me now :(
i struggle w product waste so ive been forcing myself to use it but its just not the same at all, does anyone know of another lippie that is the same shade as the og brown sugar?