Get that Korean look: Sephora's K Beauty Box

With Korean beauty gaining popularity, it's no doubt that more brands will come out with popular k-beauty products, as well as us being introduced to more Korean brands. Sephora sent me their K-Beauty box earlier this month so I thought I'll do a review for the products inside!

An update on my skin type: I used to have oily skin so while I did like the Korean makeup style, I could not wear the dewy skin products as I get too oily by the end of the day. Now, I have recently started on a low dose acctuane for oil control, so my skin is now more on the normal/dry side which is perfect for the dewy skin trend. If you have oily skin and would like to try the dewy skin trend too, I would suggest you get a very good primer.

As with all beauty regimes, K-beauty also starts with prepping the skin.

3CE White Milk Cream, $49

This is a skin care product that goes on as the last step of your skincare, before makeup. I was really excited when I saw this because I follow them on Instagram and I saw the picture they posted there and the results looked amazing. It contains milk protein extract and vitamin E which helps with whitening the skin and keeping wrinkles at bay, giving you pure and clear skin.It's a pretty big tub, and I liked that it feels really lightweight (lighter than cream, slightly thicker than gel) but preps and smoothens the skin. It evens out and lightens (very spectacularly) without it looking unnatural. My skin feels very moist and soft after applying, and a little does go a long way!

Following that, it's getting your skin looking perfect. On to your base!

Erborian CC Crème, $29

 It was actually my first time hearing about this brand but I did like that it comes in a small, travel-friendly tube. With it being a multi-tasker (med to full coverage too) I can see this being in many travel bags. However, it's a little thick for my liking since I prefer lighter coverage, and while it colour matches well on my hand, it's too dark/orange on my face :(.

Moonshot Microfit Cushion SPF50, $47 | Moonshot Moonflash Cushion SPF50, $47

Moonshot is a relatively new brand that just reached Sephora stores very recently, and it's the makeup brand of the entertainment company YG. When I first heard of the launch of the brand in Singapore, I was really excited to try it out as the products seemed very promising.

I really liked the Microfit Cushion as it is super lightweight (looks super natural and you don't feel/see it sitting on your skin) and sets without a sticky feeling. It comes in 3 shades only, so if you are a little tanner it might not suit your skin tone (as with many korean base products). I like how it's super nice and cooling when you apply it onto your skin, which is perfect for the weather we have in Singapore. The Microfit Cushion gives the skin a nice dewy sheen without looking too shiny. The fact that it has SPF50 PA+++ is also a plus.

If you prefer an even more glowy complexion, you can layer the Moonflash Cushion under your foundation, or use it afterward as a highlight. The Moonflash looks very flattering because it provides a very nice glow to the skin, and hits the light in all the right places. It does have a very similar texture to the Microfit Cushion, just that it's lighter and has very fine pieces of shimmer.

What I absolutely love about the two cushions?? The sponge puff! Besides the beautiful colour, it's a lot softer and more velvety than a lot of the sponges I've used on cushion makeup. I'd definitely purchase the puff separately if it's ever on sale haha.

Sephora Wondeful Cushion Foundation, $36

Truth be told, this is actually the first time I've tried Sephora's house brand products and I am totally blown away. While the puff is nothing like Moonshot's, I do prefer the fomula of the foundation itself on this. Besides that it comes in a wider variety of shades, I do prefer the finish on the Wonderful Cushion Foundation which is more of a semi-matte finish. It is again, very lightweight and looks very natural on the skin, and also has a cooling sensation when applied to the skin. Plus, this is a little cheaper for your wallet so if you are looking for a cushion foundation to try for the first time, try this out!

Becca Aqua Luminous Foundation, $68

I've only tried Becca products once before, and it was one of their mineral powder foundations and I loved it, so I had very high hopes for this. Again, this foundation promises to be lightweight and luminious. I liked how lightweight the foundation is (seems to be water-based) and the coverage is good enough - light to medium. Unlike cushion foundations, I always found that liquid foundations tend to be harder to build up layers for, but it wasn't a case with this foundation. Plus, I like that it comes with a dropper so that's no risk of spilling it since it's so liquidy. Do also note that this foundation does oxidise a little, but Becca has a wide variety of shades so make sure you find one that fits your skin well.

Dr.Jart+ BB Matte Contouring 1,2,3 Kit, $58

After putting on foundation, there is always a tendency for your face to look flat - so its very important to bring back the dimensions to your face by highlighting and contouring. If you prefer a more natural looking contour, use cream products as they blend into your skin more easily, as opposed to sitting on your skin. These set to a light and powdery finish so powdering it after is optional. I think that the middle shade for neutalizing is very normal-ish, but I do like the highlight and contour.
The formulation of these matte BBs are a little more of a mousse texture, but they are easy to blend. I find that it's best to pat with finger tips for this, before going in with a kabuki to blend out the edges. The applicators on the BBs makes it very easy to place the product exactly where you want though. Do note not to go overboard with the contour as it is matte so if you overdo it it might look muddy.

After that, it's time for a pop of colour!

Sephora Wonderful Cushion Healthy Glow Cream Blush, $20

While I do like the concept of this, I usually squeeze out the product and apply it onto the back of my clean hands when doing makeup. This is so that the cushion doesn't get dirty and filled wih bacteria over time since I can't wash it unlike the cushion foundation's puffs (which I also make a point not to double dip into). The formula of this is very light and the colour comes out sheerer than you would think, giving you a very natural flush from within. I also liked that there were tiny specks of shimmer to help highlight and give you a radiant look. Pssst, this can be used on the cheeks too!

Shu Uemura x KYE Fresh Cushion Blusher, $48

While I am a big fan of Shu Uemura and orange blushers, this product was a total miss for me. Don't get me wrong, I did like the formula and that it comes out more pigmented than usual korean blushers, I did not like this colour at all. It's very yellow-based and after applying it onto my skin, I just looked super sallow. Definitely would work better with someone who is much fairer than I am. Maybe I should give this colour another try after applying the white milk cream haha.

Benefit Posie Tint Cheek & Lip Stain

One of the first products that caught my eye from Benefit was their Benetint, and Posie Tint is the pink version of it. While I wouldn't recommend to beginners as application can be a little patchy if you are not fast enough, but this looks really natural if you can get the hang of it. The tint is amazing and works very quickly, and lasts throughout the day, and since it's a tint you won't really feel it on. Plus, you can easily use this on both your lips and cheeks so it's perfect for travel. However, make sure you exfoliate and moisturize well before using this because it does have a tendency to cling and appear more pigmented on dry patches.

Shu Uemura x KYE Sheer Colour Balm, $33

Let me start of by saying that I love this product so much. It's a sheer balm, but pigmented enough for the colour to show, and it gives your lips a very "glow-from-within" kind of radiance. It doesn't feel sticky or oily. You can definitely feel that your lips feel (and looks) nice and moist with this on. There's no shimmer in this so it's perfect for a natural look. I have all 3 shades and they are limited edition so be sure to grab them before they're gone!

Sephora Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream, $16

Another product that really caught me by surprise. It's the first time I've used a product like this, and it's perfect for creating that perfect ulzzang gradient lips. The fomula is very light and dries matte, but it doesn't feel sticky or too drying. I really liked that the sponge applicator helps to blend out harsh lines, and it is very easy to control the amount of product you dispense. My tip, start with less and apply more as you need. It's easy to build up the layers without clumping!

If you're interested in checking them out, head down to any Sephora outlet or go to their online website @ SEPHORA.SG

All products were sent to me for review consideration and my thoughts on the products are not influenced by external factors.