Last minute K-pop idol makeup looks for Halloween

Spooky season is at its peak with Halloween just around the corner. Some have perfected their costumes from head to toes while others have thrown something together last minute. Others are hoping to save it all with makeup. If you’re still on the fence about what to be or how to take your look to the next level, these K-pop idol makeup looks will inspire you. These makeup looks are simple, terrifying, and entrancing with something for every kind of Halloweener. Whether you’re procrastinating or just looking for an extra umph for your costume, these idol makeup looks are sure to cast a spell this Halloween.

Sorceresses, Vampires and Witches

Twice, Red Velvet, and Puer Kim put their own spins on these classic Halloween looks.

Puer Kim’s Sorceress look is worthy of all envy. She takes on the darkness of Halloween with jet black hair, black eyeliner, black lipstick, and an attitude that would intimidate every trick-or-treater.

Tzuyu’s vampire makeup is dark and bold with her eye makeup being the focal point to the look. Her red smokey-eye is captivating with hint of black in the inner portion of the outer third of her eye. The contacts complete the wicked aura Tzuyu exudes.

The ladies of Red Velvet are innocent in their outfits for Peek-a-boo, however, the same innocence is greeted with underlying sinister motives. Witches are often seen with heavier makeup, but Red Velvet dawn rosy cheeks and variations of red lips for a minimal look. The softness of their makeup paired with dark hair would bewitch anyone into their schemes.  


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Ghoulish Misfits

Sometimes we just don’t fit anywhere no matter how hard we try, but SHINee and CLC stand-out for all the right reasons.

“Married to the Music” Rocky Horror Picture-like theme kept fans anticipating throughout the music video. SHINee’s odd hairstyles coupled with bold eyeshadows and eyeliner create an unconventional take on the popular misfit.

CLC were everything misfits should be during their “Goblin” era. From Sorn’s deep purple lipstick to Sunghee’s smokey red eye, their fierce, grunge looks could cow anyone.

Retros and Throwbacks

Classic winged eyeliner and shades of pink and red lips come together to keep traditional pinup vibes in Girl’s Generation’s put 1950s themed “Lion Heart.” The makeup is dreamy and feminine but don’t let their looks full you. They are capable of taking down anyone who’s crossed them.  

If the ‘50s are not your cup of tea, EXID throw it back to the ‘90s with “Lady.” Crop tops, overalls and bucket hats were signature items for the decade. EXID bring it all together with bright pinks and oranges as the main colors for their looks. Soft smokey-eyes, light eyeliner, stained lips effortlessly bring back the joy of the era. After all, the ‘90s were all about accessories!

Sirens

Known for beauty and melodic voices that lure men to their deaths, and Sunmi’s interpretation of a Siren is gorgeous. The key point in Sunmi’s “Siren” is experimentation. Bright winged eyeliner, glitter eyeshadow and candy-apple red lips are features to note. Do not forget your scales as the final touch.


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Voodoo Dolls

VIXX prove being Voodoo dolls are terrifying yet intriguing. Their look is masculine with contour emphasizing their cheekbones and nude lip colors for their lips. The eyes are once again the focal point of this look. Heavy eyeliner is applied to the bottom lid while white contacts covered with a black X cover their eyes sending shivers down the spine of anyone they encounter.

Food Galore

Orange Caramel became sushi for “Catallena.” Their makeup was just as jaw-dropping as their concept. The ladies easily matched their eye makeup according to their outfits. Vibrant eyeshadows and polka dotted eyelashes were keys to their transformation.

What idol makeup looks are inspiring you this Halloween? Let us know your picks and thoughts in the comment section below. Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Beauty Review: Bomibox Subscription Box

A few months ago, we had a giveaway that featured a Bomibox and the K-beauty subscription box company was so sweet to offer one to Kultscene for a review. So here we are!

For this K-Beauty Review, I tried out Bomibox’s February box and not a more recent one. Why? I wanted to actually use the products properly before I gave my review, rather than just basing my opinion on one time use, so I took my time and slowly, slowly tried things out. (Sorry, I’m slow!)

Purpletale 5 Steps To Lovely Skin Complete Facial Solution

It includes a foam cleanser, an ampoule to layer underneath a sheet mask, a face cream and a separate neck cream. Seriously, it sounds absolutely wonderful. I tried them all one recent night after waiting months for a night of R&R to try, and here were my thoughts: The cleanser was a bit harsh, which foam cleansers in general are. I prefer powder cleansers in general, but it definitely cleaned away all the dirt and makeup of the day. The ampoule, which kind of smelled like those blow-up balloons in a tube that I used to love as a kid, definitely refreshed my skin. But prior to applying the mask, it didn’t seem like my face had really recovered from the harshness of the cleanser, which made me think that if I were to ever use the cleanser and ampoule as regular products, I’d have to include a mask nightly to ensure that my skin feels as pliant as I prefer.

Speaking of the mask, it was an interesting gel mask that was as thin as a typical cotton sheet mask so I was actually quite surprised when I put it on. I struggled with laying the two separate parts together, which really shouldn’t be a struggle considering that I’ve been masking for years. But I pretty much had to choose whether I wanted to join the two masks together on my cheeks by pulling the top half down and the bottom part up, losing moisture by my eyes and chin areas. I chose not to do that, so there was a gap on both my cheeks, which was odd. The moisture was great, though, so maybe my face is just too big or something for this particular mask. The face and neck cream were great sealants, and I’d definitely suggest them because I really enjoy heavy moisturizers like these for occasional use (see below). Neither were sticky, which was nice, though I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between the pair…
Overall: Good for a one-pack travel set, but I don’t think I’ll buy it again anytime soon because I struggled with a few parts and didn’t love the intensity of the cleanser.

Skinfood Peach Sake Toner

I had seen this a few years ago and wanted to try it out but never did, so here was my chance. I decided to try it at night only while I used a tea tree toner in the morning, since I really like feeling refreshed before going to bed and the peach extract smell sounded like the perfect thing. The extract and rice sake are meant to minimize shine and the appearance of pores, and I didn’t really notice anything much aside from a pick me up of the scent and refreshing moisture. But in retrospect I also didn’t freak out about my pore size so much while using it, so I’m wondering if the one-two punch of a tea tree based toner with this one actually did minimize the appearance of my pores.
Overall: Finished the bottle and can’t wait to buy another! Even if it has no real affect on pores, it’s like a candy pick-me-up in a bottle format for my skin.

Secret Key Snow White Milky Pack

I don’t honestly understand why anyone would ever use this. I’ve used Secret Key creams before, and this one smelled and looked like caked on sunscreen. The pack didn’t really wash off once I used it, leaving white residue. Which I guess is supposed to whiten your skin? I stopped using it after one use because it just confused me…
Overall: I gave this to a friend who is into skin whitening, but it definitely wasn’t for me.

Labiotte Mini Wine Lip Tint in Rose Coral

Wine+color=love. ‘Nuf said.

Labiotte Mini Wine Lip Tint in Rose Coral

But actually. I’ve mentioned these lip tints before in KultScene articles, because they’re really great and filled with color. You need to reapply them pretty frequently, especially if you’re eating, but even if they fade away a bit they’re still really lovely.
Overall: Color is pretty and subtle with a dash of pop, but it’s a stain that doesn’t seem to last as long as some others. I’m fine with reapplying, but that’s a personal preference.

Missha Time Revolution Travel Kit

This contains travel size bottles of the fabled Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence and the Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule. I know that everyone loves the essence, and I even bought a larger bottle to really give it a chance… But I haven’t really seen any noticeable change in my skin. That said, I also haven’t diligently been using it because it feels a bit too light and I’ve been using a heavier serum to offset the weird state my skin is in due to humidity and too much AC from New York’s summer.

The Night Repair Serum is similarly nice but… Not really noticeable? I assumed it’d be more viscous. Would have to get a bigger bottle to really see if it has any effects.
Overall: I’m still using the essence and like the feel of its rather light, watery consistency, so if I notice any changes I’ll update.

Skinfood Honey Lip Treatment

So… I was really excited because I used to use a honey bomb ampoule that was amazing (the Shara Shara one, it’s since been impossible to find) but this didn’t really smell or taste like honey. It was extremely sticky, but didn’t seem to moisturize my lips as much as I wanted. Unlike a normal lip balm, it seem to just coat my lips rather than actual moisten them. It was kind of weird… I tried it out for a while but eventually threw it away…
Overall: Not the best. Doesn’t really seem to rehydrate lips as much as just sit atop of it like sticky honey.

Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask

I really liked the honey theme, but this one, unlike the lip treatment, actually smelled like honey. Like, ready to dip the apple in the honey. It was a pretty basic cotton sheet mask otherwise.
Overall: Pleasant scent, pretty average viscosity and moisturizing effect. If I saw it, I would probably buy it because it left my skin feeling supple.

Polotam Water Gel Extra Force Brightening Mask

Honestly, I used this and it was like every other sheet mask out there. I didn’t notice any brightening, but it was nice as a moisturizing mask.
Overall: Basic brightening sheet mask. Not much else to say.

Sample: Polotam Deep Moist Cream

I actually took this one with me overnight and it was really nice and thick. I love the smell of it and the there’s a variety of botanical extracts including oak tree sap, rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus to help hydrate, calm, and brighten the skin. I usually use gel moisturizers, but I could see this being ideal for the middle of a frigid New York City winter.
Overall: I may invest in a full-size of this in winter, but it’s honestly simply too dense for the summer in New York City.

Overall: Definitely a fun subscription box to try out, and I really enjoyed being able to try out a few things. The Skinfood toner is now one of my faves because of this box, but there are a few things that I felt I could either do without or didn’t really notice their impact. I also would prefer to see less of the brands I’ve already heard a lot about (Skinfood, Missha) but that said I really did enjoy getting a chance to try out some products that I thought I was familiar with but haven’t really given a shot to in the past.

The sample item was provided by Bomibox, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

Have you tried, or do you want to try, any of the products that I received in this Bomibox? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Beauty Review: Son & Park Beauty Water

Few K-beauty products are as hyped about as Son & Park’s Beauty Water. The clear toner in a sleek bottle has been touted as a magical toner, or cleansing water, that cleanses, soothes, and freshens the skin. The self-proclaimed “smart cleansing liquid” claims to exfoliate and moisturize skin at once, and make people “instantly feel how young and healthy your skin is.” The Son & Park Beauty Water contains extracts from orange fruit, papaya, willow bark, lavender, rose, bergamot, olive oil, and other naturally hydrating, brightening, and cleansing sources.

It’s a pretty straightforward product, as it’s essentially a really well-marketed toner with a key difference: toners typically balance pH that gets stripped from skin while cleansing while beauty water is more about refreshing the skin overall. The Son & Park Beauty Water is meant to help tidy up your face by refreshing your skin in one easy step rather than keeping around both a toner and an exfoliant. It styles itself as a primer of sorts for other products, and it does seem to help soothe the skin so that it is more absorbent.


Also on Kultscene: K-Beauty Review: Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

Pros

I really like the simplicity of it. The bottle is aesthetically pleasing, very modern looking, and clean cut. The actual solution itself is clear. It looks like water, and has a subtle, minty-citrusy scent. Pour a tiny bit onto a cotton pad, wipe it over your skin, and it actually lives up to it’s claims. Not that the Beauty Water is magical or anything, but my skin did feel smoother and more supple once I used it. I also noticed visible reduction in redness. (There was a bit of tingling the first time I tried it, but the second time I didn’t notice anything).

I decided to try it out to remove makeup, since people rave about the Beauty Water’s ability to remove grime with a single swipe. I wasn’t brave enough to try it out as a full cleanser, so put some lipstick and eyeshadows on my arm and did a quick eyeliner-mascara duo on one eye. And I was incredibly impressed. Not only did one little dab of the Beauty Water on a cotton pad clean the makeup on my arm, but it was also enough to clean my eye makeup. (Sorry– I accidentally deleted the photos!) Without any irritation or rubbing! As someone with major dry eyes, this is really important to me. I don’t think I’ve ever had a smoother all around cleanser. (That said, I’ve avoided micellar waters in the past and this has changed my mind for sure. If you have any favorites, leave a comment and I’ll check it out!)

Cons

I tend to use a witch hazel astringent as my toner, which is definitely stronger than this. The Beauty Water did exactly what it said, but I really like something that would make my face feel not only cleansed and smoothed, but also balanced. I still felt a bit greasy after I used it mid-day as a refresher, which isn’t really ideal, but that’s part of the Beauty Water’s properties, since it’s purpose is to hydrate whereas witch hazel tends to dry.

It’s important to note that the Beauty Water is particularly expensive for K-beauty, and usually is sold for anywhere between $20-35 USD. (I got it as a courtesy from Style Korean, where it’s sold for about $33.50.) That’s definitely a negative, but at the same time each use requires very little product and it almost entirely is worth the hype so I understand why people are willing to shell that out and it’s something I’m going to enjoy incorporating into my routine.


Also on Kultscene: K-Beauty Review: Heimish All Clean Balm

Overall Thoughts

It’s a simple product and does what it says. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest the Son & Park Beauty Water as a primary toner for people with incredibly oily skin, since it doesn’t seem to really help reduce oiliness. But if you’re looking for a product that will clean your skin and make it immediately feel smoother and hydrated, this is for you.

Did you try Son & Park’s Beauty Water? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The sample item was provided by Style Korean, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

K-Beauty Review: Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

After months and months of hearing about Neogen’s Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine, it was only a matter of time before I tried out the cleansing pads myself. Aside from being a fan of just about anything wine, the idea of a dual exfoliant pad intrigued me so knew that I had to get my hand on the Neogen product as fast as I could. As someone who gets semi-regular facials, anything in between that will help maintain the luster sounds worthwhile to me. To be honest, when the package arrived from Style Korean with my Neogen product, I stared at it for a while wondering, “will this live up to the hype?”

With its ability to scrub away dead skin and, supposedly, clean and tighten up pores through its combination of resveratrol and the pads’s dual textures– one side features an exfoliating gauze and the other has a soft cotton pad– this is the holy grail of quick fix skincare. Resveratrol, which is found in grapes and therefore wine, is naturally fermented and allegedly helps repair damaged skin and prevents signs of aging. Oh, and did I mention lactic acid and glycolic acid also help as chemical exfoliants?

Essentially, the Gauze Peeling Wine pads were touted as heaven’s gift to K-beauty.


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Pros of Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

Exfoliating side, step 1

Definitely a step up from the cleansing pads I used in high school, which was the last time I attempted to use one of these one-stop exfoliating pads. The dual-sided cushion made the experience doubly fun, since it made the simple swiping a two-step process and made it feel like I was scouring then refreshing my skin. There was also significant visible dirt and and dead skin on the pad, which made it feel like the pad was doing a great job cleansing my skin. After rinsing off the excess moisture, my skin felt immediately softer.

Cons of Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

Soft side, step 2.

Call it whatever you want, this isn’t a Gauze Peeling Wine but, rather, Gauze Peeling Grape Juice. That doesn’t mean it particularly smells bad, but the initial smell upon opening the lid of the container is sweet, much like wine’s shameful younger sibling drink. Also, just a warning, don’t get too invested in the scrubbing step because the pad is small but it is strong and will rub your skin raw.

Just a note, if you order from Style Korean, the products come directly from Korea so some items, including this one, do not have English directions. I didn’t realize that I had to wash off the excess moisture, and was extremely uncomfortable while writing the review with a sticky face and neck before I rectified my mistake.


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Overall Thoughts on Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

I love the fact that this is a quick, simple pad that exfoliates both mechanically through the pad and chemically through its ingredients. After one use, my skin feels supple and tingly, which is my sign that surely something is happening. Did it live up to the hype? Well, I definitely felt the effect of the product and didn’t notice any irritation. Neogen’s Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine has definitely made me reconsider why I haven’t been using cleansing and exfoliating pads all along.

4.3

Did you try the Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The sample item was provided by Style Korean, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

K-Beauty Review: Heimish All Clean Balm

After I forgot to replace my near-empty bottles of the oil cleanser and eye makeup remover and opened up my medicine cabinet to find them both with hardly a drop left, I figured it was time to try the Heimish All Clean Balm. I’ve had my eyes on Heimish’s products for a while now so I jumped at the chance to try it. As a member of the Tribe, nothing is more heimish to me than my mother’s comfort food and the smell of chicken soup so a brand using the name, an Yiddish and German word that means “homey” or “comforting” had a lot to live up to. Luckily, after two uses of the All Clean Balm, I definitely became sold on what Heimish describes as the “clean and comfortable beauty” balm.

The product is meant to be a delicate cleanser that removes every bit of makeup and impurity while being safe for sensitive skin. According to Style Korean, the All Clean Balm all that’s meant to stay is hydration and from what I’ve seen, that’s definitely true. I tried the product twice: first on my face after I got my eyes and foundation done at a makeup counter earlier in the day, and then again on my arm when I tested out its ability to clean lipstick. After scooping a small portion out and rubbing it over my face/arm, the Balm became an oil that appeared to liquidate my makeup relatively cleanly.


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Pros

The All Clean Balm lives up to its name. It feels and smells clean. It has a gentle eucalyptus scent that reminds me a bit of menthol, but without the tear-inducing overwhelming factor, and a white appearance that reminded me of a translucent bar of soap. In its tub, the product reminded me of coconut oil or shea butter, which makes sense because both are included on the ingredient.

I was able to use only a single scoop to cleanse my whole face, despite the relatively thick makeup I was wearing, so it seems like the small tub can go a long way. The Balm seemed to sooth some redness in my skin, and made quick work of removing the majority of my makeup. After rinsing it off and then using my normal cleansing powder, my face felt smooth and not at all greasy.

Cons

On my first use, I felt that the Heimish All Clean Balm didn’t actually remove all of my eye makeup. I didn’t want to rub too much, and I was concerned about getting it in my eyes when it doesn’t technically appear to be an eye-specific product (although I read review after review that said it was safe). I haven’t worn heavy enough makeup since my first trial to warrant using it again, but there was definitely residual mascara. I wear pretty dark mascara just about every day, and a good all-in-one makeup remover seems like a dream to me but I guess I’ll wait and see. The second test, on my arm, literally turned the color to a gelatinous puddle and after I wiped it off that patch of skin was clearly smoother than the surrounding area.


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Overall

The Heimish All Clean Balm offered a painless experience at trying a cleansing balm, something I’ve never tried before. The product’s refreshing texture and the crisp scent were a pleasure to put near my face, and I thought it did the job just as well as my previous cleansing oil did but with the bonus that it felt more moisturizing. This is probably something that I’ll be keeping within reach for a while.

4

Have you tried the Heimish All Clean Balm or any other cleansing balm? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The sample item was provided by Style Korean, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

K-Beauty review: It’s Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask

It's Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask

While I’ve done plenty of masking in my time I had never seen a bubble mask before, so was completely taken back by my recent experience with the It’s Skin Defense Bubble Mask. According to the package, the Dust Defense Bubble Mask “protects and soothes skin from environmental damage, and offers deep hydration.” Which meant… That it was essentially a cleansing mask?

Since I’m such a masking expert, I rarely take the time to actually read directions but I happened to glance at the Bubble Mask’s guide to skin perfection and noticed that these directions were a bit different because of the mask’s nature. Most sheet masks that I’ve used are meant to be delivering moisture and/or some sort of treatment to your face through the serum. It turns out that this sort of mask, since it’s cleansing (even though it doesn’t seem to imply that from it’s description) you’re not supposed to take off and then pat in the remaining moisture. Nope, you’re supposed to wash it all off, since it’s bubbly and supposed to have made your face dust-free.

Pros

BUBBLES!!!!!!! It felt like a full on bubble bath for my face. So much foam!!! I may or may not have cupped all the suds in my hand after removing the mask and played with them for a minute.

Finding Nemo Bubbles


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Okay, it may be a bit juvenile, but here’s what happened. When I opened up the mask I had two surprises: First, it was black. Second, it was soapy. Feeling a bit confused, and wondering how much more sudsy it could possibly get, I put the mask on. Ten minutes later, I glanced in the mirror and laughed at myself. It was like a Snapchat filter! The previously black surface of the sheet mask was absolutely covered in the white foam.

All the bubbles!

Looking super attractive with bubbles all over my face. It was thicker than it looks in the picture.

Cons

I always remove my makeup with a double cleanse before I mask, and this was no different. The only difference came after I removed the mask, when I realized my face felt raw. Because the Dust Defense Bubble Mask is essentially covered in soap, it seemed like it just cleansed my face again. I had to do some serious moisturizing post-mask, which I’m not a fan of. If I ever get another, I’ll likely do it first thing in the morning, so I don’t have to remove my makeup and will just use it to replacy my morning cleanser.


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Overall

I like sheet masks because I can write an article while putting something good on my face. I really wanted to like the It’s Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask because I live in New York City and I feel like it ideally would be able to help combat the pollutants. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll use it again because it really felt like a cleanser and I don’t need to scrub my face raw. But it was a fun experience, so I may try other bubble masks in the future and see if they don’t dry me out as much.

It's Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask
1

Have you ever tried a bubble mask? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

This review was not sponsored by It’s Skin, but KultScene is always looking for affiliate and sponsors, particularly for product reviews. Email [email protected] for more details.

K-Beauty review: Etude House Silk Scarf Damage Protein Ampoule Treatment

etude house silk scarf damage protein ampoule Treatment

I was in Seoul last summer and bought far too much K-beauty products so I’m still discovering random items in odd corners of my bedroom. I recently found a vial of Etude House Silk Scarf Damage Protein Ampoule Treatment. When I had seen it at an Etude House store sitting there in a hot pink box and looking like I should inject the product directly into my head, I was already sold. Now, months after a botched dye job had left my once virgin-dyed-hair insanely dry at the ends, it was time to test it.

So what is an ampoule anyway? When I bought it, I just liked the shape of the product and assumed they were trying to say, “This will be a fun way to make your hair feel nice.” So I bought one for me and one for my little sister. After a quick Google search, I discovered that Wikipedia defines an ampoule as “a small sealed vial which is used to contain and preserve a sample, usually a solid or liquid.” The Etude House one is a vial in the form of an injection needle, so the Ampoule Treatment is, in fact, technically an ampoule. According to Etude House’s website it “contains 9 kinds of protein other than keratin protein and 17 kinds of amino acids that fill up dry and damaged hair with both moisture and nutrition and coats hair for firm and volumized hair.” (Does it contain keratin plus nine other kinds of protein? I have no ideas based on the English blurb…)


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Pros

It smelled really nice! Since I sat with the ampoule on my hair for about 20 minutes, this really mattered to me more than the actually feel of the product, which itself was actually more dense than I expected. Because the ampoule is limited in size rather than in a tub or tube, I didn’t really feel it before putting it in my hair so I thought it may be a gel or liquid, but once I pressed on the pump it turned out that it was a really silky cream. The pearly white color of it gave the product a luxurious, girly feel that’s typical of Etude’s products. Sometimes I feel like the company spends too much time on packaging in a disservice to the product itself, but once I put it in my hair it felt like it was doing its job. I’ve used a few argan oils and conditioning treatments before, but this somehow combined both of those things into one: the Silk Scarf Ampoule Treatment was dense enough that I felt it had some weight (and I could act as if it was really filled with the vitamins it claims to have,) but it seemed to melt in my hair. Kind of reminded me of melting butter on a hot bagel, not going to lie, since it went from being pretty thick to oily slick really easily.

Etude House Silk Scarf Damage Protein Ampoule Treatment

Cons

Because of the vial packaging, I couldn’t actually see where I was squirting the ampoule. I didn’t want to first put it on my hand and then pat it on to my hair since there was a relatively small amount of product, but I ended up squirting far too much out on the top of my head and it was quite greasy the next morning. (It probably wouldn’t have the same result with someone who has thicker hair, but I naturally get greasy relatively easily. Not this quickly normally though.)


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Overall

The packaging and product itself was pretty and fun to use, which is always a win. I really did feel like the ampoule helped the bottom of my hair restore itself after the treatment- it’s been knotting considerably less, which was something several conditioners hadn’t been able to do. (I hadn’t tried any treatments prior to this and instead was just trying to drown my ends in conditioner…) A few days later, my hair still feels less dry than it did previously.

Post etude house silk scarf damage protein ampoule Treatment

Aside from my hair’s natural grease going into overdrive when I over-saturated the top of my head, this was a pretty great experience of something I bought on a whim because it looked bizarrely cute.

You can get the Etude House Silk Scarf Damage Protein Ampoule Treatment on Amazon or the company’s website. (Although the latter has some convoluted shipping fees since it’s coming from South Korea.)

Etude House Silk Scarf Damage Protein Ampoule Treatment
4

Have you tried out any of Etude House’s Silk Scarf line? What’s your favorite hair care product? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

This review was not sponsored by Etude House, but KultScene is always looking for affiliate and sponsors, particularly for product reviews. Email [email protected] for more details

K-Beauty review: Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo

Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo

There I was, strolling around Sephora while picking up my long-awaited birthday present (the Marc Jacobs eyeliner is a game changer!) when I happened to notice the Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo. With pretty large pores on my nose, which was once dubbed a “strawberry nose” by a blunt facialist, I’m always looking for new, size-reducing items. I usually doubt their efficiency but I can’t help but be drawn in by their promises of blackhead-clearing perfection. I chose to try this one out since it gave me a two-in-one chance to try products I’ve heard good things about, and it was only $30.

I decided to try it out later that night. Upon first glance, I was a bit disappointed that that the step one pack (aka Blackhead Steam Pore Pack to clarify pores and refine complexion) seemed to be a grainy exfoliating mask, which was supposed to be rubbed around first and then left to sit. Since I like to keep my beauty steps separate (I tend to find two-in-one items usually don’t do either of the things the promise…), I was a bit wary but the overall feel of it wasn’t as weird as I thought. The second, considerably thinner, pack (aka Pore Original Pack with calming and cooling effects) was more like a typical clay mask but once I put it on it seemed to disappear from my face after about 15 minutes, as if my skin was absorbing its moisture.

 


Also on KultScene: Introduction To Korean Masks: 10 Masks In 10 Days

Pros

I really did feel that my pores looked visibly smaller immediately after, plus my face actually looked cleaner, likely because I had just scoured off a layer or three of my skin.

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Cons

BEWARE. The burning sensation was a bit much and I got pretty red immediately after using it. I made the error of thinking that if it says “pack,” it’s a mask for my whole face. Apparently that was silly on my part, since the Hot Pack seemed to literally set my face on fire. According to our resident makeup crazed lady, Tammie, that’s precisely how it was supposed to feel but even so… I had actual tears running down my face since it was so intense. It felt like I had just rubbed hot peppers all over my skin. That said, the product overall seemed to work as promised and the cooling sensation of the second step, after burning also a bit, did make my skin feel and look great. So… Yea. Be wary, but the results are worth it.

Also, step two smelled a lot like my niece’s playdoh.


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Overall

I definitely am still going to look for a new clay mask with a focus on tightening my overall face, since that was what I was kind of hoping this would be, but I’m definitely going to add the Caolion Pack Duo into my regular skincare routine, particular for my problem eras. My skin looked nearly flawless the next day! I spent a lot of time outside in the heat and humidity of New York City the next day so my pores appear to have gotten a bit larger, but I’m intrigued to see how this product does in the winter. While it did it’s job, the fiery sensation was off-putting. Here’s to finding something that does the job without making me cry!

Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo
3

Have you tried the Caolion Pore Pack Duo? What other K-beauty products would you like us to review? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

This review was not sponsored by Caolion or Sephora but KultScene is always looking for affiliate and sponsors, particularly for product reviews. Email [email protected] for more details 

Introduction To Korean Masks: 10 Masks In 10 Days

IMG_9787Korean beauty masks are all over the place nowadays. From sheets masks infused with natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera or a product like the Jeju volcanic clay mask, which is said to help draw out impurities and reduce sebum, when it comes to Korean face masks, there are so many choices. Even American and other western websites have hopped on the bandwagon, so if you’re not using them already, well, why not? After living in Korea, I couldn’t imagine going a week without at least one mask, but a few days ago one of our writer’s sent me an article about one writer who decided to try two sheet masks a day for a week. That seems like a bit much, but it got me thinking about the fact that I have hoarded way too many Korean facial products for my own good (if there’s such a thing). So I decided to challenge myself: Ten masks in 10 days.

But I couldn’t just do 10 boring sheet masks in 10 days, oh no. Instead, I had to make it harder. Ten different types of masks in 10 days. Not too difficult. I could just use an animal mask one day and plain one another day, right? Not quite. Instead, each day, I wanted to try something new. So here are the sheet masks, the night masks, the hand masks, the masks you never could have imagined… Some are new to me, some I’ve tried before, but everything on here is a type of Korean mask.

Disclaimer: All masks featured in this article were purchased by me for personal use.

First Mask/Day 1: Lindsay Gold Modeling Rubber Mask

Attributes: “Uses colloidal gold extract to calm irritated skin and rejuvenate an exhausted, depleted complexion with a deep dose of hydration.”

Pros: It was a good experience, even though it was my first time using a rubber mask. I really enjoyed how it was like baking; it was like Duncan Hines for my face! After it was all dry, I was able to peel off most of the mask pretty quickly, in large clumps, so it was a pretty quick overall experience. I don’t know if I’ll try the gold one again because I’m afraid I reacted badly to something in it, but I’d love to try other rubber masks in the future.

Cons: My face felt dry afterwards rather than hydrated and it was hard to pull some of the remnants off at the end, although overall I definitely would like to try another rubber mask. The next day, my skin was really soft, but still felt slightly irritated.

Where Can You Find It: $6 at Glow Recipe

Second Mask/Day 2: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Attributes: “The intensive moisturizing sleeping mask makes skin clear, glowing, and revitalized in the morning, as if skin had a restful sleep, with the Sleep Tox function of Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.”

Pros: Goes on easy, just like any other cream product. It smells really nice, and when I woke up in the morning, my skin felt pretty supple. This was my first time using it, but I’m going to definitely start using this sleeping mask regularly.

Cons: I honestly had a hard time getting the packaging open and nearly had to grab a knife to stab through the seal. Additionally, I don’t love feeling sticky when I wake up and I woke up feeling as if my face had been drenched in sweat. Once I washed my face off with cold water though, I felt much better and my skin definitely felt nicer than it does most mornings.

Where Can You Find It: $23 at Target


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Third Mask/Day 3: Olive Young Dreamworks I Am The “Watery” Penguin Hydrogel Mask

Attributes: “The Watery Penguin Hydrogel Mask sheet is the SOS solution for complex skin problems. A whole bottle of Magic essence is in this Hydrogel facial sheet to moisturize, sooth and give the stressed skin its elasticity back.”

Pro: THERE ARE PENGUINS ON THIS. No, but seriously. There are penguins on my face mask! Okay, but as for the actual mask. I really like this sort of gel mask, where there’s a lot of elasticity. I did one recently that felt like I was putting a mask of ziploc containers on my face; the material was that harsh. However, when this one was was on my face, I could feel the mask gradually lose its moisture, so I knew when it was time to take it off. And afterwards, my skin was really soft.

Cons: The hydration of the mask didn’t go so smoothly. Towards the edge of the mask, it was still really wet when the rest of the mask was 100 percent ready to be taken off. I ended up rolling the mask into a ball and rolling it over my face to spread the moisture, which is definitely not written on the directions.

Where Can You Find It: $3.57 at Koreakos

Fourth Mask/Day 4: Missha Home Aesthetic Paraffin Foot Mask

Attributes: “Special foot mask to provide moisture and nutrients to your dry skin to make it soft and sleak.”
Pros: I’ve used this before – usually once a week (thanks NYC streets!) – as well as a similar one on my hands, and love it. It makes my feet feel like they’ve just been massaged with a lot of moisturizers. It reminded me of what my friend experienced after using CBD oil from a store like Blessed CBD (https://blessedcbd.co.uk). I know oils are moisturizing, however, her legs were skinning bright after its use. Anyway, this foot mask has a bonus, because these are like booties themselves, instead of having an extra plastic wrapper that you have to add after the initial bootie, so they’re easy to get on. I wouldn’t suggest walking around the house, but you don’t have to be bound to a specific spot while using them.

Cons: I’ve used these a few times and the stickers that come with the booties to seal them almost are always completely too drenched, so I feel like I’m losing out on a bit of the moisture.

Where Can You Find It: $1.82 at Rose Rose Shop

Fifth Mask/Day 5: Etude House I Need You, Yogurt! Mask in Peach

Attributes: “Facial massage pack formulated with fruit and yogurt to soften, nourish, and replenish skin.”

Pros: My face felt nice and clean after using, but I felt like it maybe should have been a exfoliating scrub and not a pack. It was really goopy, which some people may like since it holds in more moisture, but it just seemed heavy to me.

Cons: See above regarding the texture, plus the smell was a bit off-putting since it smelled exactly like peach yogurt (some people may like that too!).

Where Can You Find It: $10.90 for a pack of four yogurt packs Yesstyle

Sixth Mask/Day 6: The Face Shop Tiger Character Mask

Attributes: Hyaluronic Acid & Collagen Dual Solution

Pro: This is pretty much a basic sheet mask, so if you have never done one before and want to try your first Korean sheet mask, The Face Shop’s sheets in general, not just the character masks, are a good choice. They contain a lot of moisture and are really easy to unfold. The sheet itself is pretty thin, so even while you feel like you’re absorbing the moisture, your skin can breathe.

Cons: Most Korean sheet masks are similar, but I’ve never had to manipulate a mask as much as this one to cover beneath my eyes and the space between my nose and lips. (I actually pulled quite a big portion of it over my hairline so that the majority of my skin was covered). It may have been necessary for the animal features, though.

Where Can You Find It: $13.30 for 5 masks at Amazon


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Seventh Mask/Day 7: Etude House Collagen Eye Patch

Attributes: “Formulated with collagen to revitalize and improve appearance around eyes.”
Use these about once a month usually.

Pros: These are essentially sheet masks, pint-sized for just beneath your eyes. Pretty basic and simple to use. I have dark circles under my eyes and they don’t really seem to do much for those, but I don’t see any bags (which is surprising, given my general lack of sleep so I’ll give the eye patches that).

Cons: Do not get the liquid into your eyes; it stings. Also, be careful when you’re taking them out. The first time I couldn’t get both pieces of plastic off of the cotton, so I thought it supposed to add texture. It’s not.

Where Can You Find It: $1.30 at Etude House

Eighth Mask/Day 8: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Attributes: “A clay mask with Jeju volcanic scoria to absorb sebum and impurities for clean skin pores.”

Pros: I have very large pores and I’ve been using this mask for a few years. The clay feels like clay, so I like that instead of some of the liquid “clay” masks I’ve tried in the past. It goes on really smoothly and if you’re careful, you can literally cover your whole face; I’ve put it over my eyes on numerous occasions and it doesn’t cause any irritation.

Cons: It doesn’t come off so neatly, so make sure to use a wash cloth otherwise you may end up with small bits of clay all over your face for the next few hours.

Where Can You Find It: $14 at Innisfree

Ninth Mask/Day 9: Kocostar Split End Therapy Hair Mask

Attributes: “Kocostar Split End Mask repairs, rebuilds, and strengthens damaged hair for softer, shinier, healthier tresses. Infused with a rich concentration of hair-saving ingredients including argan oil, simply wrap your hair with this sheet treatment, leave in, then remove to rebuild and strengthen hair, leaving strands soft, moisturized, shiny, and healthy.”

Pros: I’ve never used a hair mask/wrap before, but I know Koreans spend a lot of time and money on hair treatments, so when I saw this at Urban Outfitters, I decided to give it a try. I don’t have that many split ends, but they’re always a problem in between haircuts.

Cons: Aside from a bit of difficulty to make sure all of my ponytail was in the wrap, I don’t know if there are any real bad things. However, I honestly have no idea if it made my split ends go away after one use, so it’s a bit different than other masks which make you immediately recognize softer skin or, like a clay mask, are meant to be used repeatedly to get rid of an issue.

Where Can You Find It: $5 at Urban Outfitters

Tenth Mask/Day 10: Whamisa Real Kelp Sheet

Attributes: “Instant wrinkle improving/ improving skin brightening/ decreasing swollen face/pore contraction/ improving skin grain/ skin gloss improving/ 72 hours skin moisturizing/ skin transparence improving/ clinical tested by Kyung Hee University, skin life engineering laboratory.”

Pros: I honestly couldn’t think of anything due to…

Cons: The intense smell really disgusted me. The entire time I was wearing it, I just wanted the sheet off my face, which is unfortunate. But it smelled like dead fish and the beach to me. The second smell was okay, the latter not so much. I don’t think I’ll try this one again, unfortunately, because I was really excited to try this out after hearing about the benefits of seaweed. The mask is made out of kelp, which I thought was cool, but I think it backfired for me personally.

Where Can You Find It: $14 at Glow Recipe

Final Result

Ten masks in 10 days seemed like a good idea and my skin is definitely more supple than it is with my normal beauty routine of using one or two masks a week. Trying out new and old masks alike definitely made me realize what I’m looking for in products and what sort of things I’m going to avoid in the future. So if you’re looking to try out a few masks to find the perfect one for you, 10 masks in 10 days is definitely the way to do it!

If you’re trying out 10 masks in 10 days, let us know! And if you have ideas for other Korean beauty products you’d like us to feature, share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.