New Blog and Website!!

Hi everyone,

Wow, I stopped blogging on this platform many years ago. A lot has changed (and some is still the same), but the most important change that I want to share with you is that I started a new website and blog at www.kianale.com !!

It's nice to start fresh, but also a little overwhelming because it feels like I'm alone. If anyone still visits this blog, please check out my new website and say hello! Let's catch up.

I'm working to create content as quickly as I can while also remaining authentic. Hope to see you there. 

Love,

Kiana

Sephora Pre-Summer Beauty Goodies

Don't call it a comeback...

Wow, it's been about six months since I'd last blogged. That's half a year! These days I really do feel that time goes by quickly. Luckily it's now June and summer is almost officially here!!

I would apologize for being away for so long, but truthfully...that's just the way it is and has to be. I will say though that I've missed blogging and although I'll probably never be a consistent blogger who posts weekly, bi-weekly, or perhaps not even monthly, I will post whenever I have time. I don't blog for a living and I don't intend to do so. I just want to be able to blog for the sheer pleasure of it.

With that said...it's been almost equally as long since I'd last hauled makeup. *gasp* Right? That's crazy talk! Of course, I have plenty of makeup, even with giving away or tossing out unused or unloved items regularly. Anyway, I felt the need for some retail therapy and feel quite happy with my most recent Sephora haul (part of it acquired during the last VIB sale).

I'm glad I can post a teaser of my goodies with you so that I can finally start using them, keke.

Etude House and Gmarket Haul

Hi everyone! Wow, a whole month has flown by since my last post. I truly apologize that I haven't had time to post as often as I'd like. Please understand and I will try to post whenever I can, although it will probably be very infrequent compared to before.

This past month, Etude House had a 30% off winter sale! Korean brands like Etude House have their own mini shops on Gmarket (search for 에뛰드하우스★직영샵). I try to check Gmarket's beauty calendar at the beginning of every month to see which brands are having sales. Another thing I do is follow Facebook pages for Korean beauty brands like Etude House, because if the brand is having a sale in Korea, often it will also have the same sale on Gmarket! Shopping the sales can be a great way to accommodate the shipping costs, especially for the U.S.

Here is my beautiful haul! It looks small but took a lot of thought and will power to only buy what was "necessary," keke.

SkinFood Haul

Hi everyone! I have missed you all so much! Where did the last three weeks go?! They just flew by, without leaving me a moment to blog. Aside from my makeup artistry class, I also started a new side job which has been taking up most of my free time. I'm really sorry I just disappeared but I simply didn't have the time. Please forgive me? I will try to make time for blogging. *fingers crossed*

Moving on...as you may already know, SkinFood is one of the most popular affordable skin care brands in Korea. Aside from being very affordable (as in drugstore prices; each item below cost less than $20 USD), they have really cute packaging for all their many skin care lines, the most popular of which is probably the Peach Sake line. I have tried some of their products, which have varied between hit-or-miss for me, but I just couldn't resist the attractive pricing and packaging while I was in Korea.

Without further ado, I present to you my SkinFood haul!

Review: GEO Mari Gold Grey Circle Lens

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me by EyeCandyLens.com for the purpose of review. I am not affiliated with the website, company, or brand and I did not receive any monetary compensation. My review is unbiased and 100% my own opinion.

When I first saw the promo for this circle lens on EyeCandyLens' Facebook Page, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to try this pair of GEO Mari Gold Grey Circle Lens. Doesn't the model look so pretty?!

September Glossybox US

Disclaimer: These products were provided to me for review purposes. I was not paid for this review nor am I affiliated with the companies or websites. My review is 100% my honest opinions.

Hey everyone! Happy October!

Here is the latest GLOSSYBOX beauty box subscription for the US. Yes, I know it is last month's box but as some of you may know by now, the boxes come at the end of the month, and if any month you should decide to subscribe, you actually subscribe to the next month's box and not the current. I hope that makes sense! (So what I mean is, even though today is October 1st, if you decided to subscribe now then you'd actually be signing up for November's box.)

Eyes, Lips, Face - Massive ELF Haul

Whether you love or hate e.l.f. products, there's no denying that they are super affordable. Since I'm taking a makeup artistry class, I wanted to have a separate set of brushes and makeup kit to use on others. Of course, I could use the brushes I already have since diligent sanitation is always required, but I have my reasons and like having separate sets.

Tammy was kind enough to let me know there was a 50% off discount code not advertised on the website and I went click happy! e.l.f. products are already really affordable with most of the items I wanted, but slashing half off was awesome. I haven't tried a lot of e.l.f. products but with the sale, it was hard to resist since if I didn't like a product, the average price I'd spent on it was only $1.50 or $3!

Review: SkinFood Facial Water Vita-B and Vita-C Series

After finishing my Innisfree Green Tea face cream, I switched to this SkinFood Facial Water Vita-C Face Cream that I had used before and wanted to finish before trying a new moisturizer. Since I hadn't reviewed it before, or the Vita-B Face Cream, I thought I'd combine them into one blog post.

Zoya "Cassi" and "Mieko" Nail Polishes

Zoya was having a promotion a while ago (a long, long while ago) where they were giving away two free nail polishes for the price of shipping (and a very long wait! I waited about a month). I'd set these polishes aside and forgotten all about them until recently.

Review: Skin Factory Vega VitaPlex Ampoule Mask

Disclaimer: This product was provided by Natural Radiance for the purpose of review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and my review is completely honest and unbiased.

Gmarket Korean Beauty Haul

I recently decided to satisfy my lust for new Korean skin care and beauty products with a massive Gmarket haul. (Okay, maybe not massive, but the bill was not a small one.) Although shipping from Korea to the U.S. can be a bit pricey, Gmarket does offer sales on certain beauty brands that you can check at their monthly beauty calendar.

Belated Birthday Gift and New Toy

Yes, yes, my birthday was over a month ago but I decided to get myself a late birthday gift. I like to treat myself since so far, no one will ever love me like I love me, haha, and I'd rather spoil myself instead of waiting around expecting someone else to do it. =P So after much debate, I gave in and got myself my first DSLR, the Canon EOS Rebel T4i (with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM Lens). Yay!!

(Camera images from Amazon)

August Glossybox US

Disclaimer: These products were provided to me for review purposes. I was not paid for this review nor am I affiliated with the companies or websites. My review is 100% my honest opinions.

My apologies for not being able to post this sooner, as I really liked this (last) month's box! I really hope that September's box will match the standard shown in the the August Glossybox.

A quick breakdown for anyone who (still) doesn't know about Glossybox: Glossybox is a monthly subscription beauty box of 5 travel-sized beauty products for $21 per month (including shipping).You can also sign up for a 6-month or 12-month subscription to save $11 or $32. Glossybox also offers ways to earn Glossydots that are redeemable for a free Glossybox. Glossybox is available in over 15 countries with different themes and products for each country.

Review: Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream

Following up with the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum, here is my review of The Green Tea Seed Cream from the Korean natural brand Innisfree.

Review: Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum

Hey everyone! Today I'm reviewing one of my purchases from Korea, a best seller from Korea's first natural cosmetics brand Innisfree, The Green Tea Seed Serum. I was very excited to try Innisfree products since they are nature-based and the green tea ingredient is 100% organic and from Jeju Island.

Review: Beauty Clinic Collagen Impact Essential Mask

Disclaimer: This product was provided by Natural Radiance for the purpose of review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and my review is completely honest and unbiased.

Summer Brights: Nails

One of the many things I love about summer is being able to wear fun, uber bright nail polish. This summer I especially love wearing turquoises, aquas, teals, and somewhat minty blue-green colors. The pop of color just makes me feel happy.

Orly "Frisky" 

July Glossybox USA

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for the purpose of review. I was not paid for this review nor am I associated with the company or website.

Hey guys! Sorry I've been a bit MIA, I have been melting in the heat but I'm back and I have lots of new hauls and reviews to share with you! First I'd like to start with this July Glossybox! This month's theme was Summer Nights.

After a sizzling day in the sun, there is nothing better than a cool summer night. This month’s GLOSSYBOX offers you the essentials you’ll need to indulge in products that show off your sun kissed skin and hair and enhance sultry eyes. Afterwards, throw on your sexy sandals and dance the night away under the shimmering summer sky.

 Here's what I received in my July box. If you click on the link, you can also see what other products may be found in other Glossyboxes.

Review: STEAMCREAM

I bought this a long, long time ago but never got around to reviewing it. I've since then finished all of the product and refilled my tin with The Body Shop body butter. I believe STEAMCREAM is a sister company to Lush, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Review: Princess Mimi Chocolate Brown Circle Lens

I'd ordered this pair of circle lens from Pinky Paradise during one of their Buy 2 Get 1 Free sales since I really like the Princess Mimi circle lens in Sesame Grey and wanted to see if these would look more natural on me.