Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition Contents, Unboxing, Review: Ships WW

Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition Contents, Unboxing, Review: Ships WW

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Beauty Expert's latest edit is their best ever! ONE product in here is far more than the worth of the entire collection, and has me gobsmacked. Everything about each of these brands screams LUXURY, and everything is ideal for this season.
For those who came in late, Beauty Expert ships worldwide - they have seasonal curations of cult must-have beauty products in "collections", in a nice wash bag. Everything is full-sized, and the collections are worth far more than their price-tags, and sell out within seconds, if not minutes, of launching. I have my previous Beauty Expert collections all unboxed here.
The latest is the Gold Edition. Gold obviously stands for luxury, and the moment I heard the name of the edit, I knew we would only see high-end products in here.
This is what Beauty Expert says about this collection:

Discover the power of Gold in this luxurious edit of Gold-infused and Gold-inspired beauty products. We’ve handpicked six premium beauty products that will make you feel instantly more glamorous and glowing with radiance. This capsule collection includes skincare, body care and hair care products, so you can add a touch of Gold to every element of your beauty routine.
With six best-selling beauty products housed in a premium cosmetics bag, the Beauty Expert Collection: The Gold Edition is the perfect way to add a little luxury to your everyday. We’ve also included a special extra addition to help you create a Cleopatra-inspired eye look.

Now, there are six full-sized products in here, and a little extra mini. A total worth of more than £300, and a price-tag of just £99.
The Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition is available worldwide NOW right here!

Scroll down for the contents of the Beauty Expert Collection Gold Edition.

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SNP Sheet Masks for Hydration in Dry Weather

SNP Sheet Masks for Hydration in Dry Weather

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, January 22, 2018

I first came across Korean brand SNP thanks to Memebox, back in their halcyon days. The brand stands for "Shine Nature Purity". The sheet masks were gentle and soothing, and they did not break me out at all. Through 2016, I did not use too many sheet masks, because of my battle with huge nodular cystic breakouts.
Recently, I rediscovered SNP and found that they have some neat sheet masks which are actually out of the common, given the ingredients!

Scroll down for more on the SNP sheet masks from Kollshop.

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Oskia Renaissance Mask Gives An Instant Glow

Oskia Renaissance Mask Gives An Instant Glow

Treatment Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Oskia is a luxury British skincare brand whose signature ingredient is MSM or methylsulfonylmethane. MSM, a.k.a. the Beauty Mineral, is a natural form of sulphur that helps circulation, decreases inflammation, and promotes collagen and keratin production - thereby keeping the skin (and hair) in good nick.
I have been using the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel and the Renaissance Mask on a regular basis since last year. The Renaissance Mask is a rinse-off enzyme-based facial treatment with MSM, lactic acid, probiotics, and a host of fruit extracts.

Scroll down for more on the Oskia Renaissance Mask.

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Beauty Products Emptied in May 2017

Beauty Products Emptied in May 2017

Toner Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 31, 2017

I'm due for Microneedling/Infini RF on Thursday and am understandably nervous after reading all about grid marks and months and months of downtime. A sudden onset of three new pimples has not helped. On the other hand, I read horror stories about subcision, and that wasn't a painful procedure, so I'm hoping this one will go as smoothly as well. Stay tuned for updates.
I've been "building up" my skin to withstand the aggressive procedure, with plenty of TLC. Here's what I used up.

Scroll down for a closer look at the beauty products I emptied in May 2017.

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Allies Of Skin Bright Future Overnight Facial Now Available

Allies Of Skin Bright Future Overnight Facial Now Available

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Earlier this year, I told you about Allies of Skin, a Singapore-based skincare brand, whose Overnight Facial Mask has been renewing my sad, acne-ravaged skin steadily. Now, they have a new launch. Call it a new-and-improved version of the Overnight Facial Mask.
Meet the Bright Future Overnight Facial. Jam-packed with skin-goodie ingredients. It contains retinol, AHAs, probiotics, hyaluronic acid, peptides, MSM, niacinamide, fruit extracts, manuka honey... have they left out anything?? This is the one product you need if you haven't been getting enough sleep.

Scroll down for more on the Allies Of Skin Bright Future Overnight Facial.

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Beauty Products Emptied in January 2017 + Link Up

Beauty Products Emptied in January 2017 + Link Up

Yardley Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Several products among the January 2017 beauty empties have me torn up on whether to repurchase or not. On the one hand, they are brilliant, and they work. On the other hand, I do have quite a few equally brilliant replacements in my cupboard at the moment. Read on to find out which products.

Here are the beauty products I used up in January 2017, and my quick impressions of each.

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Allies Of Skin 24/7 Skincare Kit Preview

Allies Of Skin 24/7 Skincare Kit Preview

Treatment Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Last year, one of my favourite beauty retailers, Cult Beauty, came out with a Fall Goody Bag, containing full- and sample-sized products. Among them was a set of four sachets from a brand I had never heard of before - Allies of Skin, who are based in Singapore and manufacture in the United States.
There were two sachets of an Overnight Mask, and two of the All-Day Mask. Not being a huge fan of foil sachets, I put them away in my travel bag.
And then, one weekend away at my Gramps's, I saw the sachets and opened the Overnight Mask, applied it, and went off to sleep. What I saw the following morning made me head over to Cult Beauty and buy the full sized tube immediately, and leave a review, which I now feel was understated.

Scroll down for more on the Allies Of Skin 24/7 Skincare Kit.

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Beauty Products Emptied in November 2016 + Link-up

Beauty Products Emptied in November 2016 + Link-up

Zymogen Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, November 28, 2016

My Gramps is down with bad knee trouble, to the point where he cannot walk. It has been going on for a month now and he has been stubborn about not investigating it, so I will be dragging him to doctors and tests from tomorrow. I've managed to forget my camera, so you'll have to make do with iPhone photos until Gramps gets a clean bill of health.
Over the last month, I have been diligent about hair care - I underwent a grand chop, donating 19'' of my locks, back in September. My hair is a lot healthier, and easier to manage. And, hair care products take longer to use up. I wish that was true with skincare - my skin seems to guzzle up product.      

Scroll down for more on the beauty products I used up in November 2016.

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REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask Review

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask Review

Vegan Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Clean skincare is British beauty brand REN's USP. I haven't come across a single REN product I didn't love, from their eye cream to the ClearCalm Clay Cleanser.
REN products are always free of parabens, sulphates, silicones, PEGs, TEA, DEA, glycols, mineral oil, petrolatum, synthetic fragrance and artificial colours. Nor are they tested on animals.
You must have seen samples of the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask in some of my empties posts. It is a "potent bio-active peel mask designed to renew the complexion, reduce fine lines and dramatically improve skintone."

Scroll down for more on the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask. 

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Beauty Products Emptied in October 2016 + Link-up

Beauty Products Emptied in October 2016 + Link-up

Yardley Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, October 31, 2016

In October, my skincare routine has been more regular and diligent than it was in September. I have been going through a multi-step routine for the face every morning and evening, including double cleansing on most evenings, and have moisturised all over twice daily. I've used AHA/BHA acids and Vitamin C almost every day. See here for my 10-step skincare routine.

Scroll down for the beauty products I used up in October 2016, and my quick thoughts on each.

LookFantastic October 2016 Beauty Box Contents

LookFantastic October 2016 Beauty Box Contents

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, October 23, 2016

October 2016's LookFantastic Beauty Box is themed #LFPamper, with products for relaxation and pampering. The baby pink box comes with this month's issue of Elle UK magazine - they had not included the magazine with the two previous boxes, and I am glad they're sending it out again.
Beauty box subscribers will be happy to note that there are NO product repeats from this box in the  2016 LookFantastic Beauty Secret Advent Calendar - whose spoilers and full contents are here (TWO products make up for the entire cost of the calendar).
From the theme, I expected face and hair masks, bath bomb, body lotion/butter/oil, a hand cream and maybe a loofah.

Scroll down for the contents of the LookFantastic Beauty Box for October 2016.

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YesStyle Top 10 Korean Beauty Products 2016: Review, FOTD

YesStyle Top 10 Korean Beauty Products 2016: Review, FOTD

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, August 18, 2016

Korean and Japanese Beauty retailer YesStyle has put together their curation of the Top 10 Must-Try Korean Beauty products for 2016, featuring the bestselling products on their website. I am a regular @YesStyle customer and have reviewed one of their beauty sample boxes here.
A word about YesStyle - they are Hong Kong-based, ship worldwide tracked free for orders above US$35, and offer free samples with every purchase. 
YesStyle's Top 10 Must-Try K-Beauty set comes in the same cute packaging as their sampler boxes. The #YesStyleTop10 are a nice mix of makeup and skincare, and include famous K-Beauty brands such as Etude House, Tony Moly and Laneige.

Scroll down for a look at YesStyle's selection of Top 10 Must-Try Korean Beauty Products for 2016.

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Beauty Products Emptied in July 2016 + Link-up

Beauty Products Emptied in July 2016 + Link-up

Soap and Glory Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, July 25, 2016

When you have a 10-step skincare routine - see here for the steps - and moisturise all over, two times a day, chances are that your empties will mostly be skincare. July's empties are no exception.

Scroll down for the beauty products I used up in July 2016, and my quick impressions of each.

10-Step Skincare Routine: FAQs And Doubts

10-Step Skincare Routine: FAQs And Doubts

Treatment Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, July 14, 2016

Yesterday, I published a guide to the 10-step skincare routine (click here to read it). Posts on each of the steps listed will follow later. I'm going to address common doubts and frequently asked questions about the 10-step skincare regimen today.

10-Step Skincare Routine Guide, Tutorial: Why, What, How To

10-Step Skincare Routine Guide, Tutorial: Why, What, How To

Tutorials Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Ten points before we go any further:

1. This is not about a typical Korean skincare routine. I use a mixture of mainstream and Korean brands. 
2. Nor is it a strict 10-step skincare routine. You will find suggestions with just four products. Or even 12 steps.
3. This regimen is only at night. I have a life. My morning routine is a condensed 4-5 step version and includes SPF. That is for another post. 
4. Do not wake up tomorrow and decide to pile on 10 products at one go. Step by step. Introduce one product into your routine at a time. Build up to it gradually. I began with no/three steps.
5. There is no panacea out there. Some things work for some people. So include whatever suits you in your *-step routine.
6. Your mileage may will vary. Read that again. And again. Customise the routine according to your skin type. Skip/combine/split up/add steps.
7. You can use spot treatment, hyaluronic acid, a rinse-off mask, a sleeping pack, and a sheet mask on the same day you use Vitamin C. You can add every step you can think of and do a 20-step routine. Entirely up to your skin. 
8. My skin type is acne-prone, and very oily (the kind where countries think of replacing their oil export deals with my face).
9. An FAQ post will be posted tomorrow. Detailed posts on each step are also in the works.
10. Verbose post ahead. 

Scroll down for the Ultimate 10-Step Skincare Routine Guide and Tutorial.  

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A Beautiful World Spring/Summer 2016 Sampler Box

A Beautiful World Spring/Summer 2016 Sampler Box

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, June 24, 2016

Eco-friendly luxury beauty retailer A Beautiful World comes out with two beauty boxes each year - one for Spring/Summer and one for Autumn/Winter. The products chosen - from the brands ABW carries - are organic, eco-friendly, preservative-free and cruelty-free. The boxes are always sold out in an hour or two of the launch. This year, I managed to snag one before they sold out.

Scroll down for the contents of the Spring/Summer 2016 Sampler Box from A Beautiful World.

Best Skincare Discovery And Starter Sets

Best Skincare Discovery And Starter Sets

Treatment Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Ever invested in expensive skincare, only to find that the product does not work for you, or worse, breaks you out? I bought two bottles of Lancome Visionnaire as soon as it came out, after all the hype about the international waiting list. Wham - my face was an explosion in a fireworks factory. Luckily for me, I was able to palm them off on my Mum who was not affected adversely by the product.
Most brands do not give out samples these days unless you buy something from their counters first, which means you try-when-you-buy instead of try-before-you-buy.
Fortunately, several brands now offer discovery kits with trial sizes of their key products, so you can actually go through a whole routine for a couple of days, before deciding to invest further. Plus, these are ideal for travel.
Here are a few sampler kits that I have tried over the last few months - individual reviews to follow later. These would also make nifty gifts for Mothers' Day, birthdays or special occasions. Everything shown here ships worldwide.

Scroll down to know more about nine of the best skincare discovery and starter sets available. 

Holika Holika Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask Review

Holika Holika Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask Review

Wine Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, January 07, 2016

After all the Holiday festivities, it is time to heal - with wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, no less. Star ingredient Resveratrol is an excellent antioxidant that will calm and detoxify the skin and remove dead cells.
Made with Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon, Holika Holika's Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask comes in a jar shaped like a wine cask. Take a look inside the cask and tell me if you crave a glass of red or not.

Scroll down for the lowdown on the Holika Holika Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask.

Beauty Products Emptied in November 2015 + Link Up

Beauty Products Emptied in November 2015 + Link Up

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, November 30, 2015

How did you enjoy Black Friday weekend? Hauled much? What are you getting on Cyber Monday? I am on a makeup shopping ban until Boxing Day so I only managed to get some books as Christmas prezzies. I intend to treat myself to something nice on December 26 instead. Let's see if the new Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons palette appeals in swatches. Meanwhile...

Here are the beauty products I used up in November 2015 and my thoughts on each - and a link-up!

Beauty Products Emptied in October 2015 + Link-Up

Beauty Products Emptied in October 2015 + Link-Up

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, November 03, 2015

Have you begun your Christmas shopping yet? I worked on my lists over the weekend and finished the books-side of things. A large-print, leather-bound gilded library edition of Les Miserables for Gramps is the crowning glory. He can no longer read his tiny-print 1891 edition, so hopefully he will love this.
Eight more weeks and this year would have gone by. Now that the weather is dry, I have been using up intensive hydrating products on my skin and hair.

Here are the beauty products I used up in October 2015 and my thoughts on each.