Secret Key Gold Racoony Hydro Gel Eye & Spot Patches Review

Secret Key Gold Racoony

I bought the Secret Key Gold Racoony Hydro Gel Eye & Spot Patches because I was looking for something inexpensive that would de-puff and refresh my eyes, especially in the morning. Knowing how affordable and good quality korean cosmetics were, I scanned eBay and came across Secret Key. It retails for approx. $12 USD for 90 sheets (60 eye patches and 30 spot patches).

Secret Key Gold Racoony 

Secret Key Gold Racoony Eye and Spot Patches

Secret Key Gold Racoony Spot Patch

Secret Key Gold Racoony Eye Patch

Main ingredients: 

adenosine, allantoin, aloe extract, castor oil, chamomile extract, freesia extract, green tea extract and lavender extract

Product claims:

• environmentally friendly gel that will moisturize the area permanently
• gold component moisturizes and provides elasticity
• soothes irritated areas of skin
• plant and herb extracts soothe and protect from external influences
• fits snuggly onto skin

Pros: 

• fits snuggly onto skin
• drastically reduces the look of tired eyes (makes you look more awake)
• reduces swelling
• spot patches significantly reduced the swelling/size of my irritated pimples
• skin feels firm, refreshed and moisturized after application (they recommend 20-30 minutes)
• affordable
• adorable packaging :3
• slight tingling sensation

Cons:

• product is heavily perfumed (not recommended for those who are sensitive to smells)
• the shape of the eye patches makes it a bit tricky to manipulate underneath the eye (may get product in your eye, as a result)
• serum leaves a sticky residue

My biggest problem with this product is the scent; it's just a little too overbearing. As a result, I find myself avoiding it on some mornings. The shape of the eye patches are also a bit too round, making it a bit tricky to place under the eye but I got used to it after several applications. Also, they recommend to let the serum absorb into the skin post-application, but I find it to be too sticky. I gently rinse the area with warm water before continuing with my makeup routine.

Overall, I definitely think this product is worth purchasing considering the price, the amount of applications it offers and the quality, in general!! What are some of your favourite korean makeup and beauty products?

xxmindy

Currently coveting: Summer Edition

Currently coveting: Summer Edition by curlsandmindy 

With a formula that claims to be flake-free as well as infused with a growth serum, Eyeko's Brow Gel is something I need to get my hands on. The gel has a slight brown tint, which couldn't hurt, and the wand is super cute relatively smaller, which I'm assuming will help with precision.

Lush's 'Grass' shower gel intrigues me mainly because when I came back home from a year abroad in Japan, the smell of freshly cut grass set off my senses. For me, nothing says 'summer' than the smell of freshly cut grass and razor burn.  

I love creamy pinks and purple nails for summer, and Jin Soon's nail polish in 'French Lilac' looks oh-so-lovely. I've never heard of this brand until very recently, but I would love to give it a go. The packaging is right up my alley, as well.

I've been meaning to try Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protection + Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ For Face/Body forever. Even Miranda Kerr uses it (as posted on her Instagram)! They claim the formula is non-greasy, perspiration-proof AND sand-proof...wait, is that a thing?

I don't have toner in my skin routine because in all honesty I don't feel that they are very necessary, but I wouldn't mind being proven wrong by Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner. It looks and sounds super refreshing so I wouldn't mind adding this extra step to my skincare routine.

What products are you coveting this summer??




xxmindy

Summer Essentials: Keihl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 & Midnight Recovery Eye

Keihl's has become my definite go-to brand in terms of skin care. The straightforwardness and simplicity of its products and the abundance of free samples just appeals to me. To avoid turning into a lobster this summer, I picked up the Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 (125 ml, $45CDN). The formula is lightweight, very moisturizing, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I'm digging it.

The Midnight Recovery Eye (15ml, $40 CDN) is actually a repurchase and probably one of the most effective products I have ever used. Since I have relatively deep set eyes, I didn't think there would be anything on the market that would be effective in reducing them. How wrong I was. Pardon my french but this sh*t cray. I literally did a double take in the mirror after not using it for a couple months. It is so effective--especially if you manage to get enough shut-eye. If you suffer from dark under eye circles I cannot recommend this product enough.


Hope it's sunny wherever you are!!




xxmindy

Bioderma Créaline H₂O Makeup Remover

Bioderma Créaline H₂O

I was shopping in Kyoto, Japan, recently specifically for an eye-makeup remover when I stumbled upon Bioderma's Créaline H₂O formula. I had first heard about it from Youtube beauty guru Lisa Eldridge and I knew it's availability was limited in North America, so you could imagine my surprise when came across it. Considering it was destiny, I bought the 500ml bottle for roughly $23 USD.

Bioderma Créaline H₂O

While I have tried out a fair share of makeup removers in the past they usually left a greasy residue (that left my eyes irritated) or transfered my makeup as opposed to removing it.  The formula is scent-free, with a consistency almost identical to water. Needless to say, I was very skeptical...I didn't was to spend over $20 on a bottle of water disappointment, especially after Bioderma has received so much hype.

But I digress. I was shocked at how well it removed my eye makeup in one swipe. The makeup was literally lifted off my eye and after a second cotton pad my eye was completely makeup free; no transferred mascara or eye liner, no panda eyes hello freedom!! It also doesn't leave a questionable residue on my skin or irritate my eyes.

I definitely think Bioderma is worth investing in. It may be pricey but considering how effective it is, it just makes sense to spend the extra money. It saves me a lot of time in the evening and saves my skin, especially my eyes, a lot of unnecessary tampering. I highly recommend it!

xx mindy

Products I'm Currently Loving

Macadamia's Nourishing Leave-In Cream has brought me back to curly; it tames my frizz while maintaining the curl. It also doesn't leave a sticky residue when it dries.

I've been pretty stressed out lately, and the proof is in the pizza-face. Clinique's clearing moisturizer has been helping a lot thanks to the benzoyl peroxide. It does wonders on white heads, as well!

I've been coveting Stella by Stella McCartney for a couple years now(true story), and I've finally managed to accumulate enough shoppers drug mart optimum points to get the 50ml for free! It has a floral/rosy scent with a touch of sweetness-- a very sophisticated perfume.

Sephora's nail colour in Techno Girl is a beautiful creamy bluish-pink. I think it would compliment all skin shades and it also looks really nice on the toes!

I recently relocated to Japan and I bought these oil blotting sheets by Shiseido. It is so humid in Japan, so these are a necessity. They came in a cute plastic cover and I got 150 sheets for 300 yen (approx. $3 USD). Not bad! They also claim to leave your makeup untouched.

My current go-to mascara is Maybeline's Illegal Length in blackest black. I don't like adding multiple coats of mascara because I cannot stand clumpy lashes. It doesn't give the greatest volume, but it does provide amazing length with the fiber extensions! It also fans out my lashes very nicely while maintaining a very natural look.

I've heard a lot of good buzz about Avene so I decided to give their Gentle toner a try. My hormones are currently raging so I haven't noticed too much of a difference on my face (if at all), but it feels very refreshing and gentle on the skin especially when you're perspiring heavily all day long.

xx mindy

Beauty Empties~

I recently went through a couple of beauty products and I thought I would share considering that I have already replenished a few.  Now, this isn't a familiar trend for me because I am always trying out new products in hopes of discovering the HG (holy grail) product that will tame my frizzy curls, or clear my face after a moderate breakout, etc. etc. I'm not sure if I would consider these my absolute beauty necessities, but I must say I'm satisfied. I don't know if this is just me coming to terms with my 'imperfections' or just laziness but whatever the reason, these products have been working for me and maybe they will work for you!

Don't be fooled with Bio-Oil's post-pregnancy focused advertisements. While I probably should be using it on my stretch-marks, Bio-Oil has done wonders on my face soothing my redness and evening out my skin tone. I had also suffered from a dog bite from a chihuahua to the face a year ago (tragic), giving me a clean, shallow cut on my upper lip which eventually healed but left a fine scar. While the scar wasn't very noticeable it, of course, really bothered me. When I was researching remedies around the web, many suggested vitamin E oil, which Bio-Oil contains along with vitamin A. I had gone through a 125ml bottle in roughly two and a half months, and not only was the scar less visible, but I noticed that a lot of redness that surrounded my nose and cheeks had been DRASTICALLY reduced. This was pretty shocking for me, because I have extremely sensitive skin, and I had already come to terms with having to deal with my redness...so needless to say I am very happy with this product. I had gone off bio-oil for a month after running out and after using it again I immediately noticed my redness dwindling...that and I  realised how much I missed its soothing, unique smell of chamomile, lavender and rosemary. A 125ml bottle retails for around $20 CAD and should be available at your local drugstore or Wal-mart.


North America has hopped on the BB cream bandwagon, with a bunch of familiar brands now sporting their own concoction. If you're not sure what BB cream is, I'll let you do the research because there are plenty of other sites that go into detail. The Etude House BB Magic Cream will probably only be familiar to a few because it is a Korean brand. I was in South Korea for Christmas and New Years, and one thing on my to do list was to get me some BB cream. This BB cream was my favourite. I picked it up on a whim as I was waiting to board the plane back to Canada and looking to spend my remaining Korean won. This BB cream has very very light coverage, and is meant for sensitive skin, and that is why I like it. While it gives minimal coverage, it evens out my skin tone and provides an SPF of 30, much like a tinted moisturiser...and it smells amazing. I highly recommend this BB cream if you're looking for an everyday natural makeup and if your skin doesn't need a lot of coverage. You can easily find it on eBay for an affordable price. I bought mine for $12 CAD.

The Macadamia Natural Oil hair care line has been all over youtube, so I decided to give it a try and purchased the Healing Oil Treatment. I have naturally curly and frizzy hair and a few years back I don't know what came over me but I decided to cut my mid-length hair to a length just above my shoulders. This wouldn't be a big deal if I were to wear my hair curly, but I was in a moment where I was straightening my hair all.the.time. My hair is light (fluffy, if you will), but coarse, which translated into me continually straightening my ends in order to get my desired look. Needless to say, my hair (particularly my ends) suffered. I was going for trims every few months, which is a lot for curly hair, and my hair is still taking a long time to grow out as a result. This product has helped me go back to curly. It made my hair shiny, smooth and my frizz a bit more manageable...and it smells amazing. I would put it both in the shower with my conditioner, and out of the shower when I would style it. It's a bit pricey, however, (retails for $39.95 for 4.2 oz) so I usually wait till I find it on sale, but it is a product worth investing in.

I stumbled upon this By Terry Douceur de Rose purely by chance. It was on sale at my local winners for $15 dollars, while it originally retails for $60. I had heard about the brand through the famous, now retired, youtube beauty guru lollipop26. This 'comforting cleansing cream' smells purely of roses, and it will not give you the slightest chance of a lather, but this cream made my skin feel so clean and moisturised that it didn't matter. I'm not sure where you can directly buy this in Canada but keep your eyes peeled at your local Winners, or Marshalls if you're in the US.


Now, the Clinique acne solutions clearing moisturizer was literally a Godsend after my first year of university. All the stress caused me to have severe breakouts, specifically on my forehead and cheeks. I had thought that my acne days were over since I had been acne free for more than two years after graduating from high school, but I was wrong. Very, very wrong. I had spoken to a specialist at the clinique counter and told her that I was specifically annoyed with the rough, bumpy texture on my forehead. She suggested the acne solutions clearing moisturiser as it contains benzoyl peroxide. It worked almost instantly. The tiny bumps on my forehead were clear within a couple of weeks, but I will give a word of warning, however. Terming it as a 'moisturiser' is very misleading. Your skin will get dry and develop dry patches, so after your skin begins to clear, try and find a routine that will let your skin cope with the burn of the benzoyl peroxide. Otherwise, it is one of my skin essentials when it comes to breakouts, plus it's very affordable at $22 CAD.



hope you're all having a lovely summer!!

xx mindy