Best Face Forward

Kbeauty is VERY overwhelming. Just last night I was looking at other blogs and I legitimately felt anxious. Good God, there are so many products and things to choose from! But, my problem is two fold. First, I don't like having tons of products because I am a *teensy* bit on the Type A side and hate waste and hate buying new products before I've used my old ones. I cut open lotions to scrape out the last remnants. Penny pinching runs deep in my family and I am just really hate wasting things, get off my back! Also, I don't even like wearing face make-up but there are so many cute and seemingly wonderful products out there, I feel like I should have them! I shouldn't, because I won't use them but that doesn't stop me from seriously considering buying them and having them collect dust in my teeny tiny Korean bathroom.  I am very easily persuaded by beauty blogs and when other people have pretty things, I want them too. I recently quit my job, though, (last day is Wednesday, glory be) so there are even more reasons I shouldn't spend money on pretty things I will never use. 

To make things worse, I live in Gangnam (well technically Seocho) but I am literally a stones throw away from basically every Korean beauty shop that exists (with the inexplicable absence of Holika Holika and Club Clio). Plus there is an Olive Young a five minute walk from house and going in there is dangerous. Yesterday I needed a toothbrush and I left with eye masks, face masks, gel face masks and nail polish. So yeah, self-control is not my strong suit. 

Also, I am a sucker for a face mask. They are the fast, easy way to feel fancy and lovely, plus companies are always coming up with crazy new ones. I am exceptionally lazy and face masks are way easier than a 10 step face routine. My routine has three steps in the morning and four to five at night (sometimes one when I'm super tired), and a face mask every now and then. Also, not to brag, but I have pretty nice skin. I mean, I am always second guessing it because Instagram, but I get compliments on it and I generally don't have any problems. This in no way reflects good skin practices on my part. I just got lucky with genes. My sister got the height and good looks, I got good skin and my brother gets to be a white American male, so he's the real winner in the family. Anyway, while I am no expert, I have somehow acquired three very different face masks that I now have to use all up and I will compare them here, for you dear reader. Plus, a face mask as an added bonus. 

First up: Su:m37's White Award Bubble De Mask

So, it's pricey. Hence the sparkly background to represent glitz and wealth. I thought it was worth it because it really does make your face feel AMAZING but I'm having my doubts recently because there are other things that also make my face feel AMAZING. Anyway, you put it on after you wash your face and it gets all bubbly! It's super fun and after a few minutes they all start popping. Once they've all popped or you can't handle the tickly feeling anymore, you wash it off and ta-da! Your face is nice and shiny and VERY clean feeling. Not really any more white, but when Korean products say "whitening" they usually just mean brighter.

SY was super pumped about participating in the bubbles. 

Final Thoughts: If you feel like splurging, this mask is super fun. 

Next up: Elizavecca Hell-Pore Clean Up Mask 

Oops, it's dirty. Sorry about that. It's kind of runny and doesn't like to stay in the tube properly. So I had been seeing this all over the interwebs and was like, yes. Mainly because when I see things getting popular in the US, I feel superior that I'm in Korea and can get things for a slightly cheaper price. Also, SY has the hugest pores I've ever seen and pore stripping his nose is one of life's greatest gifts. The chance to do it to his whole face was something I couldn't resist. I still haven't been able to figure out where exactly this brand is sold, but I ordered this off G-Market (Korean Ebay). Then I took video of me taking it off and now you get to enjoy it. 

It hurt like a bitch. I have since figured out that if you leave it on for a REALLY long time, like 35-45 minutes instead of the recommended 15-20, then it's easier to peel off. I have yet to get it come off all in one piece like I've seen on other videos. I'm hesitant to try it again because it literally felt like I was ripping my face off. Also, it was not as satisfying as I was hoping for on SY's nose. I've used a 3 step kit from Innisfree on him that yielded better results. 

Final Thoughts: If you use this, keep it away from your eyes, out of any hair and leave it on for like an hour just to be safe. Also put it on really thick because that also makes it easier to pull off. And then go buy other masks because there's no reason for all this work. 

Third one: Holika Holika Smooth Egg Skin Peeling Gel 

 So I got this little booger for my birthday because my awesome coworker knows about my love for The Lazy Egg, Gudetma! I tried it a few weeks ago and was underwhelmed but it turns out I used it wrong. The instructions are all in Korean and there are no pictures, so I googled it, but I guess I looked at the wrong instructions. I just smoothed it on and then washed it off after like 10 minutes but was like, this feels wrong. So, I got SY to translate the second time around and it was SO MUCH BETTER. So how you actually use it is by washing your face, and then rubbing this on and kind of massage it into your face and let it get all the gunk off. Stand over a sink while doing it to catch the gunk. It feels kind of gross and it at first I was like, ew, I don't want all this gunk on my hands or in my sink. But it was worth it because afterwards my face felt amazing!!! Seriously, I was like a new born baby and it still felt super soft the next day. I was probably glowing for a while but then I walked to work in the humid fog of Seoul so the glow turned into a film of sweat.

Do you see the gunk? It's hard to see, but it's gunky, believe me. I didn't take an after picture because I am obviously the worst at selfies and they make me feel weird and awkward. I am also way to lazy to find good lighting, make my hair look presentable and clean out my eye boogers.

Final Thoughts: Fall in love with Gudetama, get thee to Holika Holika and use this mask correctly the first time around for a clean, soft, bright face! 

Last one: Skinfood Yuja Water Whitening Ampoule Mask Sheet

I don't know what Yuja Water, or an Ampoule is but this mask was refreshing and lovely. To be fair, they all are. There are literally thousands to choose from and I put this one on because it was a free sample. I have been using Skinfood's Gold Cavier line of lotions, cause I'm a fancy ass bitch, and this mask was free and not ₩5,000 ($4.50ish) so here we are. 

Final thoughts: I can't tell the differences between the masks and they all seem great so this one is just as nice as the other 10 samples I have in my cabinet. 

Umm, so I kind of suck at this. Sorry! But maybe you suck too and are feeling lost and overwhelmed and need some fanciness. Buy one of these things and you will feel fancy as fuck, guaranteed.