Unboxing Beauty

I was contacted back in October from a new Korean online store that has international shipping, called Meibe.  Meibe was founded by a group of beauty experts in Korea to provide K-Beauty and Korean culture to customers worldwide.  They ship directly from Seoul, Korea and have a pretty interesting shop with different brands with skincare, makeup and other items!  I was offered my choice of items from their store in return for a store introduction and review.   I will go over my shopping experience, from picking out items, shipping times, packing, customer service and unboxing!  Their website is https://us.meibe.kr/

Browsing WebSite:  Nice clean layout, not a lot of fussiness or slow loading. Meibe is blurring out photos until the page fully loads, so you don’t see the “painting” of the screen if you are on a slow connection.  This is a bit trippy the first time you see it, but it is also a welcome change from those sites that look like they have fully loaded their graphics, but wait, no, they didn’t!    I haven’t found any broken links ~ the FAQ, Shipping, Contact, About Us, tabs, even social media links work ~ I have been on sites when I click on FAQ and nothing happens.  

Products:  They have a nice range of Korean skincare, makeup and other items at their shop, including brands like Hanyul, Innisfree, 23 Years Old, Clio, Pony Effect, Heimish, IOPE, theSaem, Tonymoly, Sulwhasoo and so much more. 

Improvements Needed on Website: Descriptions on products and key ingredients if not full ingredient list.  The graphics are great, but they are in Korean, so having a text description in English is needed.  The reason why a text description, not an image, is important is so that Google Translate can easily translate it from English to another language.

Customer Service:  I have been communicating with their Marketing & Operations department, so I am not sure how their CS is. I understand I am a blogger and my email contacts might be different from yours, but if my communication is any indication and reflection on their Customer Service, then they will be responsive and helpful.

Policies:  During their Global Site Open Event, free International standard shipping with purchases $50.00 or more in most countries.  For Australia, Canada and Ireland, customers will receive a free K-Beauty item of equivalent value to the shipping fee of $15.00, during this event.  They have a 30-day return policy.

Rewards: I have an blogger coupon (not an affiliate) for $5.00 off (UBMEIBE5 )  with a $50.00+ purchase when you register at their site.  Also, they have reward points ~ MEIBE points are membership points earned by completing orders and promotions, which then can be redeemed for cash at their store.

Shipping & Packaging:  I didn’t use Express Airmail, just normal Standard Shipping and I received my parcel within 9 days, including weekend days.  The items come in a sturdy pink cardboard box with lots of bubble wrap!  Meibe also wrapped in individually cellophane baggies some of the smaller items that might bounce around in the box. 

I took a look around and picked out some items… Let’s Unbox!

Skin Type/Concerns: Oily, blemish prone, aging, hyper pigmentation, pores, fine lines/wrinkles

AHC The Pure Real Eye Cream for Face (Marymond Edition)  (30mL x 3 RV $37.00) This is actually a face cream!!  Made with 91% naturally derived ingredients ~ rice bran, coconut water,bifida ferment lysate, snail filtrate and so much more, along with a slew of peptide complexes including palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, copper tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, acetyl hexapeptide-8, acetyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, this cream is not only excellent as an eye cream, but for all over your face. This is an all-in-one skincare product that addresses wrinkles, hydration, firming, lifting, brightening and moisturizing with no irritation or burning.  I chose this version, which is a 3 pack, 30 mL each, of the cream in a lovely floral print, designed by Marymond.   The tubes are in different colors ~ purple, pink and mulberry and in a gift box. Each tube is in a box themselves, so that makes for a great gift ~ you can keep one for yourself and give the other two away! This eye cream for face has sold over 37 million units and AHC is a respected Korean brand. 

Meibe has several AHC The Pure Real Eye Cream with different packaging, but I picked this one for the Marymond design. Marymond mission statement is to recover dignity and awareness through their designs. The first partner of Marymond are the military sex slave victims ~ the pressed flower symbol represents the Korean women who were enslaved for sexual purposes during World War II by the Japanese ~ they were known as “comfort women”, but let’s not mince words ~ these women were raped and held against their will.  Marymond combines the words “mariposa” ~ butterfly in Spanish and “almond” from  Vincent Van Gogh’s “Almond Blossom” painting.  Marymond wishes to restore the dignity and respect for the victims and they donate 50% of their profits to a foundation that will help these women who were drafted for Military sexual slavery in Japan. Marymond is also reaching out to the victims in other countries that were occupied by Japan, such as China and the Philipines. [source]

Ingredients: oryza sativa (rice) extract, coconut water, glycerin, methylpropanediol, bifida ferment lysate, cyclopentasiloxane, snail secretion filtrate, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, niacinamide, butylene glycol, dioscorea japonica root extract,hydrogenated polydecene, phytosteryl/behenyl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, piper methysticum leaf/root/stem extract, polyacrylate-13, hydroxyacetophenone, polyglyceryl-2 stearate, C12-16 alcohols, polyisobutene,polysorbate 20, arctium lappa root extract, cetyl alcohol, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, phellinus linteus extract, hydrogenated lecithin, glyceryl stearate, stearyl alcohol, 1,2-hexanediol, fragrance, tranexamic acid, palmitic acid, sodium polyacrylate, ethylhexylglycerin, polyquaternium-51, tocopheryl acetate, rhododendron ferrugineum extract, centella asiatica extract, houttuynia cordata extract, collagen extract, pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, anastatica hierochuntica extract, argania spinosa kernel extract, phaseolus lunatus (green bean) seed extract, epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract, nymphaea alba flower extract, lepidium meyenii root extract, salicornia herbacea extract, glycosyl trehalose, xanthan gum, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, sodium hyaluronate, sodium stearoyl glutamate, raffinose, adenosine, biosaccharide gum-1, lecithin, disodium EDTA, polysorbate 60, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, panthenol, borago officinalis seed oil, centaurea cyanus flower water, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, dipropylene glycol, ceramide NP, schizosaccharomyces ferment, filtrate, folic acid, cholesterol, sodium palmitoyl proline, cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose, acetic acid, triethylhexanoin, acrylates copolymer, lactic acid, alcohol, hydrolyzed lupine protein, rutin, sodium lauroyl lactylate, helichrysum italicum flower water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbitan laurate, cetearyl alcohol, hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine, phospholipids, tromethamine, isostearyl isostearate, magnesium PCA, sodium lactate, phytosphingosine, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, 1-methylhydantoin-2-imide, alanine, ammonia, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, calcium chloride, citrulline, cysteine, dipotassium phosphate, formic acid, glucosamine HCL, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, magnesium chloride, magnesium citrate, maltodextrin, methionine, ornithine, phenylalanine, potassium hydroxide, proline, sea salt, serine, sucrose, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, urea, uric acid, valine, caprylyl glycol, ceramide NG, hydroxydecyl ubiquinone, hydroxyethylcellulose, inulin lauryl carbamate, tocopheryl linoleate, acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester, ceramide AP, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, saccharide hydrolysate, VP/polycarbamyl polyglycol ester, hydrolyzed sesame protein PG-propyl methylsilanediol, potassium sorbate, carbomer, ascorbic acid polypeptide, potassium cetyl phosphate, hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans, ceramide EOP, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, copper tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, acetyl hexapeptide-8, acetyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12  cosDNA analysis

Hanyul Nature in Life Hand Cream in Artimisa and Seo Ri Tae  (50 mL RV $6.50)   I love Hanyul products and I have their Nature in Life Lip Balms, so I was interested in trying out their hand creams.  They have 5 different types and I wanted Artimisa, as I love that Hanyul line and its light herbal-floral scent.  I picked out Seo Ri Tae, as that is the one made with black soybeans as well.  I love the ombré look of the packaging on these creams and I was surprised to find out that they have different textures! 

The Artimisia has a beautiful watery gel lotion, with the classic Artimisa scent.  It absorbs nicely with a cool feeling.  Seo Ri Tae is a thicker, more waxy hand cream, but it spreads easily and is more of a moisturizer than the Artimisa, which is a hydrator.  The scent is really sexy too ~ it is a spicy floral and I love it.

Seo Ri Tae Ingredients: Purified Water, Propanediol, Shea  Butter, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin),  Meadow Foam Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Disteartate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Adenosine, Soybean Extract (0.5 ppm), Safflower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Natto Gum, Dextrin, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, Acrylate/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

Artimisa Ingredients:  Purified Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethanol, Dimethicone, Betaine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Cnidium Officinale Root Extract , Angelica Acutiloba Extract,  Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water (4,205 ppm), Glyceryl Caprylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxycetyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

A’Pieu Power Block PPONSONG (matte) Suncream SPF50+/PA++++  (50 mL RV $8.00) A MATTE sunscreen with no white cast?  Hmmm, I had to try and A’Pieu didn’t let me down.  I love the sleek, rectangular packaging and the case is harder than most tubes, but it is still squeezable. This is a very white sunscreen that has a fresh but faint scent but quickly disappears.  It spreads like a lotion and absorbs quickly, leaving no white cast and it is… MATTE. Not cakey matte or dry matte, but a nice matte finish that dampens down my oily shine. Yes, it is going into winter here, but sunscreen is just as important now in the colder months as it is in the summer.  There are five UVA/UVB blockers: homosalate (full UVB), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (full UVB, some UVA),  butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (full UVA, some UVB), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (full UVA, full UVB) and physical blocker titanium dioxide (some UVA, full UVB)  If you have oily skin, I recommend picking this one up from A’Pieu. 

Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Homosalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Silica, Fragrance, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Water, Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Polyethylene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnolia Liliflora Bud Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract, BHT cosDNA analysis

Innisfree 1st Jeju Scent Picker Blue Collection Candle Set  (60 g x 3 RV $28.00) I love Innisfree’s Color Picker series, so I am excited that they are branching out to scents!! This is their 1st collection, in Blue ~ which seems to tie into the 2017 Color Picker theme of Jeju Jongdalri Coastal Road, with its pink, blue, lavender shades.  This set comes beautifully packaged in a gift box and has 3 votive candles inside

• Airy Blue 08AM is in an seafoam green, aqua and blue-green ombré glass votive. The notes from Innisfree are: Top ~ Bergamot, Orange; Heart ~ Rose, Peony; Base ~ Sandalwood, Vetiver
• Dazzling Blue 06PM is in shades of lavender ~ pale pink-lavender, lavender and a blue based lavender ombré glass votive. Top ~ Lemon, Lime, Cassis, Bergamot; Heart ~ Rose, Peony; Base ~ Musk Amber, Wood
• Moonlight Blue 01AM is in shades of blue ~ pale to dark ombré glass votive. Top ~ Manderine, Bergamot; Heart ~ Rose, Lily; Base ~ Musk, Benzoin

The presentation, the colors on the votives ~ all really well done. However, the scents all smell the same to me and it is a generic floral scent.  That said, maybe they will smell different when lit, but for now, these are beautiful looking candles, a really pretty gift, but the scent isn’t that special or unique among the 3 candles.  I do hope that Innisfree will be more creative in their Scent Picker series ~ I would love citrus, pine, wood and other non-floral scents in this series.  However, due to the free shipping right now, if you want some pretty candles to put in your bathroom or guest room, get this one ~ this is a heavy item and with free shipping, it is a deal. 

Innisfree 2017 Jeju Color Picker Self Nail Sticker (RV $2.50)  And speaking of the Color Picker series, I wanted to get these nail stickers earlier this year, but I couldn’t find them online.  These are ADORABLE ~ my photo does not do the designs justice, but they are soft and pretty, with blooms, hearts and other designs in blues, lavenders, pinks and cream with gold accents.  The Summer 2017 Color Picker shades are using the theme from the Jeju Jongdalri Coastal Road, one of the most beautiful coastal roads on Jeju Island.  Featuring soft pinks, mauves, lavenders, blues, spring green, muted beige, bright corals and azure ~ pulled from the surrounding hydrangeas and blue ocean.  You just peel off the sticker and apply to your nails for a unique design ~ I am almost loathing using these, as they are so pretty!  Below is a photo from Innisfree that shows the detail on applied nails

Peripera Peri’s Airy Ink Velvet in #8 Glimpse Brick Brown (RV $6.50)  I am A HUGE FAN of Peripera’s Ink Velvet lip products ~ My very first one was a year ago, and I now have about seven of these in different shades.  The Airy Ink Velvet is very similar to the original Ink Velvet, with the chiffon mousse texture and pigmented shades.  The texture is not greasy or or gross ~ I am thinking of that horrible L.O.C.K. IT Cushion Lip Pen product where they tried to copy Peripera’s formula, but it was like putting lard on my lips ~ and doesn’t slide around. The Airy, however, is not as thick as the regular Ink Velvets, with a lighter texture and doesn’t stain your lips as much.   Other than that it, it is very similar and glides on smoothly and just has such a color payoff!!  Alas, the color staying power isn’t that great, but there is a stain on your lips even after the product has been wiped off.This is a nice brownish orange-red shade, and just perfect for the fall season.  I do wish Peripera would do something about the taste, however ~ they still taste awful!  I totally recommend getting several of these lippies ~ they are so worth the money!  Forgive the horrible photo below ~ I don’t know how to take makeup-on-my-face pictures, but I wanted to give you an idea of how the color looks on actual lips and not on a hand.

 

Too Cool For School Artclass Studio de Teint Liquid Cover in No 2 Ivory and No 3 Beige (30 mL RV $23.00)  Too Cool For School is starting to be big in the Western markets and I love their Art Class line ~ the packaging is so on point and it does look like art supplies!  I never tried their foundations or BB creams before, so I was at a loss with which shade to choose and there aren’t a lot of reviews out there on this product, so I got No 2 Ivory and No 3 Beige. There are only four shades and surprisingly enough, the actual shades are very similar to the printed swatches below

• 01 Porcelain brightening pink base
• 02 Ivory vivid brightening in pink-yellow base (TCFS #21 match)
• 03 Beige calm yellow base (TCFS #23 match)
• 04 Sand natural healthy skin tone

There are two foundations in the Artclass Studio de Teint Liquid line ~  Liquid Air, which is a more lightweight, runny foundation, with a natural coverage and seamless finish and Liquid Cover, a bit more thicker, higher coverage with an SPF rating of 30.  I decided to go with Liquid Cover, as if I like this, I will purchase Liquid Air for the summertime. The ingredients list is the same with both No 2 and 3, with some ingredients in different positions.  This does have 3 UVA/UVB blockers, 2 physical: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and one chemical ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. Despite having two physical blockers, this does not leave a white cast on my skin.  This is also made with Phyto MA:U, a formula of concentrated vegetable based oil instead of animal base oil.  This is also waterproof to some extent!  I got water on my hand and you can see it beading off my hand where the foundation is. This has a pump applicator and it is a very runny foundation for me, as I am used to a chiffon texture for a foundation. You don’t need a lot ~ in one of my photos above, I did a quick 2 pumps and got a nice puddle on my hand ~ that is way too much foundation!!  I found that between the two shades, I am a 2.5 ~ lol.  For the record, I am a Mac NW20, but I have both ruddy and warm tones to my skin. No 2 Ivory is a brightening foundation and if they could have toned down the brightening, this would have been my choice.  No 3 Beige is more warmed toned, and if it was a bit more lighter, it would have been my choice ~ you see the issue? However, I mix them together and I am able to get a nice shade.  Normally, I would not bother with this mixing of foundations, but THIS STUFF IS GREAT.   I first didn’t care for it, but that is because I used my foundation brush (streaky) and then my fingers (uneven).  I then grabbed a makeup sponge (any type will do), slightly dampened it and then dabbed on the foundation.  Now I know why I never used makeup sponges before ~ they are made for runny foundations like this,which I never use.  Just dab, dab..dab and use the corner to get around your eyes ~ and yes, I did put the foundation right under my eyes. Other than an initial crease under my eye where it settled, once I smoothed that out, there was no more settling under my eyes. In fact, no settling at all with my fine lines and wrinkles ANYWHERE.

I did some face shots, but I am not a professional here, so they aren’t the best ~ from left to right: bare face, with the mix of No 2 and No 3.  It looks a bit yellow in the 2nd photo, but that is the cast from the lights.  When I turn off the front lights in the bathroom (photo 3), you can see that it isn’t making my skin yellow.  The last photo is me with makeup ~ yes, that is the Peripera Peri Airy Ink Velvet in No 8 on my lips.   Notice how that ZIT by the side of my mouth is covered up.  This foundation does not settle in my fine lines, nor does it cake up.  It is a semi-matte, and any oil that breaks thru looks like glowy radiance.

It doesn’t transfer onto clothing, but if you get it on clothes, it stays! So be careful with the application.  This is long lasting for me ~ I don’t carry around the bottles during the day, and I only have to touch up my face with a setting powder mid-day because it is a bit oily in my T-Zone. Once this foundation sets, it doesn’t really come off and I did find that the finish was smooth and just really beautiful.  If you have nicer skin than me (no pores), you will really see how flawless this finish is. I found that I got full coverage with one application.

My biggest complaint is the lack of shades, four is not good enough. They need to expand this line as it is AMAZING and I want everyone who has oily or combo/oily skin to try this. I was afraid this might be dewy, because they have a Liquid Air that is more matte, but it isn’t.  I don’t even know I have it on, it is that lightweight.   I will be purchasing the Liquid Air version when the weather gets warmer, but this one is now in my foundation rotation ~ I highly recommend this foundation if you can match to the shades.  

No 2 Ivory Ingredients:  titanium dioxide, dimethicone, purified water, isododecane, caprylylmethicone, vegetable squalane, cyclopentasiloxane, talc, bis-hydroxyethoxypropyl dimethicone, iron oxides (CI 77492), silica, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, alcohol, bis-hydroxyethoxypropyl dimethicone,  PEG-10 dimethicone, mica, zinc oxide, dimethicone crosspolymer, distearmonium hectorite,  iron oxides (CI 77491), triethoxycaprylyl silane, glyceryl caprylate, lecithin, caprylic glycol, polyhydroxystearic acid, propylene carbonate, methicone,  fragrance, iron oxides (CI 77499),  ethylhexyl palmitate, isostearic acid, isopropyl myristate, polyglyceryl-3 polyphenolic, polyglceryl-3 polyricinoleate, alumnum hydroxide, aluminum stearate, glycerin, macadamia integrifolia seed oil, elaeis guineensis (palm) oil, tocopherol, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, ceramide NP,  phytosphingosine, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid

No 3 Beige Ingredients:  titanium dioxide, dimethicone, purified water, isododecane, caprylylmethicone, talc, vegetable squalane, cyclopentasiloxane,   bis-hydroxyethoxypropyl dimethicone, silica, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, alcohol, bis-hydroxyethoxypropyl dimethicone, iron oxides (CI 77492), PEG-10 dimethicone, mica, zinc oxide,, dimethicone crosspolymer, distearmonium hectorite,  iron oxides (CI 77491), triethoxycaprylyl silane, glyceryl caprylate, lecithin, caprylic glycol, polyhydroxystearic acid, propylene carbonate, iron oxides (CI 77499),  methicone,  fragrance, ethylhexyl palmitate, isostearic acid, isopropyl myristate, polyglyceryl-3 polyphenolic, polyglceryl-3 polyricinoleate, alumnum hydroxide, aluminum stearate, glycerin, macadamia integrifolia seed oil, elaeis guineensis (palm) oil, tocopherol, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, ceramide NP,  phytosphingosine, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid

I received two gifts too!  A postcard with a pencil….And this Hanyul Deluxe Gift Set ~ which includes my favorite first serum ~ 20 mL Hanyul’s Optimizing Serum (review here), plus two products I have not tried ~  50 mL Rice Essential Skin Softener and 10 mL  Seo Ri Tae Anti-aging Cream.  Pretty nice!

 So, if you MADE it this far, I have a special surprise for you!!  I am hosting a Giveaway with Meibe on my Instagram account (click here)  It is open to anywhere Meibe ships too (so check out their Shipping FAQ) and the winner can choose any product out of their shop!  No price restrictions!  Enter at my IG post and this will run until November 27th, 2017 11:59pm EST. 

[ disclaimer: products received for review purposes ]