Hi everyone!
I hope you're all keeping yourself well! I thought I would do a small post to announce a little change here on the blog. You'll know this blog as kkochsongi, a name I've been using online since 2013, but recently I decided that I wanted to make a change. Have a simpler, easier to remember blog name. I'm frequently referred to as "k something" and that was getting a bit frustrating. I also wanted something a bit more personal to me and something that sounds pretty.
So, on the 16th of April 2019, kkochsongi became mint blossoms.
A combination of my favourite colour and taken blossoms from the fact that I love cherry blossom trees so much not only in their full appearance but the flowers themselves are beautiful.
I do have a new e-mail address to match with the new blog name: mintblossoms@outlook.com
I'm hoping with this change, I can start a new little adventure on here and share a lot more with you!
Mask Monday // Holika Holika Essence Jelly Mask - Sweet Peko Edition // Strawberry
Monday, 25 February 2019
Mask Monday is back (finally)!
My little weekly feature where I share with you all some of the masks I have tried whether it be sheet mask, was off mask, peel off, hair mask or whatever kind of mask I get my hands on! Though, let's be honest, 99% of them tend to be sheet masks! Today's one is a super cute one
Holika Holika Essence Jelly Mask - Sweet Peko Edition // Strawberry
I've yet to use a product from Holika Holika before but I've heard a mixture of opinions when it comes to both their skincare and makeup. So, a good place to start might be with their skincare and sheet masks are usually the most affordable aspect of a brand's skincare range. Last year, Holikax2 did a collaboration with Fujiya Milky Candy and their mascot Peko for a range of adorably packaged products. The brand itself is highly popular in Japan and I've actually tried the Matcha version of the sweets and loved them (thanks Ellis!!). So this collab appealed to both fans of the brand and those who enjoy collecting adorable packaging. I highly appreciate how the actual packet looks like the sweet bags!
Scent & Essence // THIS DID NOT SMELL LIKE STRAWBERRIES!!! Which disappointed me greatly. Being infused with strawberry extract, I was hoping for a strawberry scent, however, it ended up being more citrus/slightly herbal (?) which was a little disappointing. There is a TONNE of the essence in this package though, there's definitely enough to either keep the excess in a pot to use for a few days or apply on your body. It has a water jelly type texture, which is quite refreshing and gives the impression it's going to be very moisturising.
Fit & Material // As with a lot of novelty character masks, this mask has Peko-chan's face making up the design of the entire mask. A little creepy, sure. But cute all the same. Though my daughter ended up finding it a bit scary on me. It was a little big for my face particularly the bottom half of it, so I had to do a lot of pulling about to make it sit and fit onto my face properly. The actual mask itself is quite thick and sturdy and feels woven.
Overall // I used this for 20 minutes following a double cleanse and tone.
Initially, my skin appeared brighter and thoroughly moisturised. It felt supple and overall just felt really soft. The mask left a lot of essence on my face so I had to massage it in for a little bit to make sure my skin just didn't have a thick layer sitting on the skin and so that it could be absorbed faster. There was a little stickiness left afterwards that took maybe half an hour or so to go away, but this isn't too much of a big issue because it wasn't dramatically sticky. This was generally a very well performing mask, doing as it says and doing it well.
Repurchase? Since this was limited edition, I know this won't be around for all too long, so I may buy one or two more but I'm probably going to go ahead and try some of Holika Holika's other sheet masks along with their make up.
Let me know your mask of the week!
My little weekly feature where I share with you all some of the masks I have tried whether it be sheet mask, was off mask, peel off, hair mask or whatever kind of mask I get my hands on! Though, let's be honest, 99% of them tend to be sheet masks! Today's one is a super cute one
The sheet mask featured in this post was gifted to me by Mask Time in one of the monthly boxes.
Holika Holika Essence Jelly Mask - Sweet Peko Edition // Strawberry
I've yet to use a product from Holika Holika before but I've heard a mixture of opinions when it comes to both their skincare and makeup. So, a good place to start might be with their skincare and sheet masks are usually the most affordable aspect of a brand's skincare range. Last year, Holikax2 did a collaboration with Fujiya Milky Candy and their mascot Peko for a range of adorably packaged products. The brand itself is highly popular in Japan and I've actually tried the Matcha version of the sweets and loved them (thanks Ellis!!). So this collab appealed to both fans of the brand and those who enjoy collecting adorable packaging. I highly appreciate how the actual packet looks like the sweet bags!
Scent & Essence // THIS DID NOT SMELL LIKE STRAWBERRIES!!! Which disappointed me greatly. Being infused with strawberry extract, I was hoping for a strawberry scent, however, it ended up being more citrus/slightly herbal (?) which was a little disappointing. There is a TONNE of the essence in this package though, there's definitely enough to either keep the excess in a pot to use for a few days or apply on your body. It has a water jelly type texture, which is quite refreshing and gives the impression it's going to be very moisturising.
Fit & Material // As with a lot of novelty character masks, this mask has Peko-chan's face making up the design of the entire mask. A little creepy, sure. But cute all the same. Though my daughter ended up finding it a bit scary on me. It was a little big for my face particularly the bottom half of it, so I had to do a lot of pulling about to make it sit and fit onto my face properly. The actual mask itself is quite thick and sturdy and feels woven.
Overall // I used this for 20 minutes following a double cleanse and tone.
Initially, my skin appeared brighter and thoroughly moisturised. It felt supple and overall just felt really soft. The mask left a lot of essence on my face so I had to massage it in for a little bit to make sure my skin just didn't have a thick layer sitting on the skin and so that it could be absorbed faster. There was a little stickiness left afterwards that took maybe half an hour or so to go away, but this isn't too much of a big issue because it wasn't dramatically sticky. This was generally a very well performing mask, doing as it says and doing it well.
Repurchase? Since this was limited edition, I know this won't be around for all too long, so I may buy one or two more but I'm probably going to go ahead and try some of Holika Holika's other sheet masks along with their make up.
Let me know your mask of the week!
Purito started appearing all over K-beauty Instagram as soon as word got out about it and its popularity has continued to grow and grow. Being a brand that intends on having products that are honest and safe, containing naturally sourced ingredients. It's easy to see why this has made them popular, caring primarily about the actual quality and effects of the product rather than just the appearance of the packaging, though I do really enjoy the aesthetic of their packaging in all honesty!
I was recently contacted by Shikaglam (this site is in Spanish as they are based in Barcelona) who is the only current European distributor of the brand. They sent me a whole bunch of samples to try from Purito and to give my impressions on them. So I have decided to do this in the form of a wishlist of the products I liked the most from the selection given and give a little mini first impression on said products.Purito's products are generally quite inexpensive, with the most expensive products being about £18. So while maybe not ideal if you're on a very tight budget, but still affordable even if it's just to try one or two products from them. I've given all the samples I got a few uses to see how I found them and below I have listed the four products that I enjoyed the most and would like to continue using at a later point in time.
Defence Barrier PH CleanserI've used this a couple of times in the morning as I enjoy using a light, gentle cleanser in the morning to just get rid of any dust and debris that has fallen onto my skin while I've been sleeping. I've found this to cleanse extremely well while not being harsh on the skin. Leaving it feeling clean but without that ~squeaky~ clean feel (which is what I look for). It does have quite a strong scent to it, however, this is natural due to the ingredients contained as they haven't added excess fragrance. I would like to see how this fares on my skin over prolonged usage and I've been looking for an ideal morning cleanser.

Centella Green Level All In One Mild PadThis was actually one of the products I had my eye on the most when it came to Purito. I've been so intrigued by the idea of these types of pads from various brands and I know Centella is an ingredient that is supposed to be amazing for acne scars. I usually used this after my double cleanse or in the morning when I wake up to get rid of dust and found it left my skin feeling smooth and hydrated at the same time and I hope that with regular use, they would help my scarring. This is definitely going to be one of the purchases I make from Purito in time and a lot of my K-beauty pals love them too.
Centella Green Level Eye CreamEye cream is something in my skincare routine and I know it's something that I should be using a lot more. This intends on restoring moisture to the undereye area and that's exactly what I need (though really I could do with tattooed concealer or something as I'm cursed with chronic eyebags). My trial of this product has left me with the skin around my eyes being thoroughly hydrated and I feel like this could be a great addition to my routine skin care.
Sea Buckthorn Vital 70 CreamThis is a cream I've actually seen doing the rounds and from my trials of it, I've found it to be very nourishing and moisturising without leaving any oiliness on the skin. The natural fruity scent that comes from the ingredients as well makes it even nicer to use. Buckthorn is an ingredient that is supposed to help with skin tissue regeneration, so I'm hoping if I was to begin using this regularly, it may help with some of my hyperpigmentation.
I will, at some point, get a hold of these products throughout the year and give my full and thorough opinion on the products I do pick up. I can highly appreciate the quality of the products and how they have behaved on my skin in the short trial time, however, I would like to be able to see a long term effect. So, be sure to keep an eye out for a haul of these products and my eventual views on them!
Have you tried Purito before? If so, which products of theirs would you recommend?
If not, are there any from them you're desperate to give a go?
Happy New Year Everyone! Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season however they ended up spending it! Now, I know you all missed me posting on my blog ever so much, so here I am back with some more content for you all to enjoy and I hope in 2019 I am able to bring you guys more insightful content to help you on your own beauty journey.COSRX is a brand I've been lusting over for the past 5 or so years but just never managed to get my foot in the door by buying their products. However, I finally began getting a few bits and pieces at the end of last year to give them a try and see what products from them I would like. One thing I am trying to do with my skincare routine is to make sure I am adding acids regularly. I've only recently been learning about the exfoliating benefits of them especially for people like myself who suffer from acne and acne scarring. The first product I had bought was the AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner which I have been using the past month or two and have been really enjoying it. For Christmas, I asked for these two products I am going to talk about in this post along with all the make up I got too (keep an eye out for that!)

COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid
One thing I have struggled with all my life is acne, though after having a bout of accutane to help relieve it, I still do get hormonal acne during my time of the month or if I am stressed. AHAs aim to help acne sufferers and those who have scarring from acne remaining, along with those who suffer from fine lines, coarse & flaky skin, those with a dull skin tone and more. My primary issue is my scarring and the monthly breakout. One thing I know this probably won't be able to help on a massive scale with is the deep-set ice pick scars I have remaining from my teenage years, however, I'm hoping this will help boost the overall appearance of my skin and maybe make those scars look a little less noticeable if anything.
This is the product I'm most excited to start using and I'll be beginning by using it only 2 times a week to allow my skin to gradually get used to me using acids.
PHA Moisture Renewal Power Cream
PHA is an acid I had never really come across until I decided to pick this moisturiser out. I think I'd seen a couple of products featuring it but I had only seen so many people rave about AHAs and BHAs that I probably just partially ignored it. However, after reading this post here on the Klog, I realised this might be another very beneficial thing for me to give a go on my skin. A very gentle acid that might be useful for those whose skin is easily irritated by AHAs/BHAs. Some moisturisers just don't do much for my skin, so I'm hoping I get the moisturising and exfoliating benefits from this one into my skin. I'm probably mostly going to use this a night time moisturiser as I know I need to wait after applying acids before adding anything else and normally if I use acid during the day I add sunscreen (very important!!) to protect my skin.
COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid // A very watery consistency
COSRX PHA Moisture Renewal Power Cream // A semi-thick cream, almost ice cream-like in texture
So these are the new products I am going to be adding into my routine this month to see if it makes any difference to the appearance and feel of my skin. I'll go into my thoughts and experience with each product at a later time and go through my whole skincare routine eventually with you all. I'm hoping to start a Skincare Diary where I share my routine and skin's appearnace for that particular day so I can look back and see how things change over time and it also gives you guys an impression of how the products I am using are actually changing my skin!
Be sure to let me know your favourite COSRX products or what new skincare treats you got your hands on over the holidays!
Peripera was a brand I only dabbled in last year, but they have quickly become one of my all time K-beauty brands. The standout point for me when it comes to Peripera is their lip products, for the affordability, the products perform amazingly and their colours available are simply gorgeous. They recently released their Autumn collection called Pink Moment, with gorgeous pink scrapbook style packaging and products with some form of pink or coral undertone. I decided to grab a few products from the range, every type apart from the eyeshadow palette because it wasn't easily available at the time of me getting this range. So, today I am going to share with you my little haul of goodies.
PERIPERA INK THE GELATO // PINK MOMENT #8, #9, #10
Of course, the key selling point of the range was the lip products, they sold products in both their original Velvet formula and their newer Gelato one. As I had never tried the newer formula I had to grab a few of these while I could. I chose the shades #8 Black Tea With Milk, #9 Peach Pink and #10 Cherry Cinnamon. My reason for choosing these particular shades was the fact that these seemed to be the ones with the slightly warmer undertones to them.
While they might look pretty similar in the swatches, they definitely have their own unique undertone and even though they look quite dark on my hand, the colours are very muted when applied to the lips. Black Tea with Milk is definitely an orange beige, while Peach Pink is a peachy beige and cherry cinnamon is a brighter pink beige. The colours work well for simple autumn looks or even just to give your face a little colour to it.
My experience with this formula has been great so far, it's non-drying and is kind of like a combination of a lip tint and lipgloss, probably quite close to the Airy Ink Velvets, but with a less ~airy~ finish to it. It's non-sticky and smells really gorgeous too! Definitely worth a try even if you're not able to grab a hold of these particular shades due to this being a limited edition collection.
PERIPERA PURE BLUSHED VELVET CHEEK // #7 COZY CREAMY ROSE

I've only ever used Peripera's base products and their lip products, so trying a blush from them was a new thing for me completely. I wanted a warm colour that could be used with most colour schemes and also not be too bright. So this rose colour seemed ideal for what I wanted.

I'm 100% going to be buying more of this product in different shades, one of each colour I wear!
PERIPERA INK LASTING PINK CUSHION // #1 PINK IVORY
Cushions are another product I love from Peripera. Moderate coverage for a decent price. I've previously had the Mint Cushion, which had a yellow undertone to it and I knew the Ivory shade suited me well in the winter (I'm a ghost) so I went for the Ivory again (I'm Beige in the summer but I could have probably gotten away with the Sand shade at the peak of my tan) One thing I have been told about the Pink Cushion is that it has a slightly cooler undertone as the tones are pink. I feel like it's quite minimal and rather than being a full-on cool-toned base, it's more of a brightening one. The design of the cushion as a whole is adorable, the pink case combined with the stylised cushion puff is just all over gorgeous.
This cushions coverage I would say is medium, but you can build it up in areas that you feel you need to. I don't like wearing full coverage anyway as I feel it just looks too cakey on my skin. So this works well for me.
PERIPERA INK COLOR CARA // #8 PINK CHOCOLATE
I'm usually just a plain black mascara kind of person. Usually, because I mostly wear black eyeliner. However, the idea of a pink-tinted brown was intriguing to me so I had to grab one to give it a try. I had also heard some great things about Peripera's mascaras too.
I've honestly not used this as much as I would like to as I only wear it on days where I'm not wearing any eyeliner. However, I find the colour to be nice and subtle and the mascara itself helps add some length and a little volume to the lashes.
This whole range is absolutely beautiful, the packaging catches the eye so much and will allow for you beauty bloggers to get creative with your blog photos to fit in with it. Not only that, but the products perform extremely well. You all know how much I love my Peripera and will continue to keep purchasing their products. Have you tried this range? What are your favourite Peripera products or ones you would like to try the most?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)