Author: Jude Chao

  • Review: Amorepacific Intensive Vitalizing Eye Essence

    Christopher Walken once said that Winston Churchill once said that “the eyes are the windows of your face,” and I’ve been thinking about that quote a lot lately as I’ve gathered my notes for this review of Amorepacific Intensive Vitalizing Eye Essence.

  • Great Balls of Sunscreen: The Inventor Interview and Giveaway

    Summer is coming, not that it isn’t already sunny enough where I live, and I’m currently testing over a dozen different sunscreens. (Not kidding.) You could say sun damage has been on my mind. But no matter how much I like any of the sunscreens I’m trying, none of them solve one of the most basic…

  • Reviews: Sulwhasoo Age-Veil UV Protection Cream and Perfecting Cushion Intense

    Today I unboxed and arm swatched eleven different sunscreens. Summer is coming to my part of the world, and my part of the world gets serious sun. That means it’s time to get even more serious about sunscreen than before. I’ve been getting tired of my usual sunscreens, so I thought I lucked out when Sulwhasoo US included…

  • Surprise Discount on Three of My Naruko Faves

    So I was looking at Instagram today when a DM came in from my longtime beautyfriend Rachel at Naruko US, letting me know that she’d created a coupon code for my readers for a few items she knows I like a lot. At first I was like, “Ooh, that’s so nice!” And then I realized…

  • Guest Post: On Asian Beauty Hype, Appropriation, and a Global Skincare Routine

    Among online beauty communities, the international community of Asian cosmetics enthusiasts located in, or originally from, the Western hemisphere–commonly known as the Asian Beauty or AB community–is considered one of the friendliest and most drama-free. But there are dark currents of controversy hidden beneath the placid surface of the AB ocean. Some of those controversies are…

  • Updated: The Burdens of Originality: A Beautibi Box Review

    September 30, 2019 update: Unfortunately, Beautibi is no longer carrying this box and is in the process of closing down. However, 23.5N products can now be found at GlowieCo, and I’ve updated my links to reflect that.  In the past couple of years, Asian Beauty e-boutiques have popped up across the US and Canada like adorable…

  • News Quickie: Laneige US Site Launch Incoming

    Just a quickie for any US-based Laneige fans out there: as of April 1, the brand will be selling directly from Laneige’s new official US site. Currently, they’re offering a coupon code for a Water Sleeping Mask gift with pre-launch signups for the brand’s newsletter, so click here if you’d like to stay informed about Laneige US…

  • Review: Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

    When you’ve lived as long as I have, you realize that anything can change in a flash. Nothing is permanent. Not even cleansing oil dry spells. After my failures with Ciracle Deep Cleansing Oil and Nature Republic Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil, my horrifying encounter with Missha Perfect BB Deep Cleansing Oil, and a couple other…

  • Second Chance Review: Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Borabit Ampoule

    After blogging for a couple of years and using Asian beauty products for a couple more before that, the vast majority of products I’ve tried have become a big shiny blur. Generally only the really great and really dreadful products stand out. But sometimes, a product sticks in my mind even when I didn’t love…

  • Review: Swanicoco PHA 10% Coco Peeling Cream

    There’s a fine, fine line between effective exfoliation and too much exfoliation. (Finer than the fine lines that we’re trying to minimize here.) Finding that line can be a challenge, since it’s so fine and its location varies so much from person to person. Some people do best with little to no exfoliation. Others like to use…