I tried to hold back on buying more cosmetics for a while, but bit by bit, I ended up with several new products. Here’s my Top 5 list of my current favorite items!
1. Etude Cute Eyes Maker (#Cool)
The aegyosal (under-eye) makeup trend has been around for a while, but I hadn’t done much with it besides applying a bit of shimmery eyeshadow. I have a Winter Dark Cool skin tone, but I’d always used beige shades. This time, I went for a cool-toned sparkly shadow and discovered Etude House’s ReMaker Aegyosal pencil, which comes in Cool, Warm, and Natural tones, so I chose Cool. Surprisingly, it also includes a soft brush-tip for defining the aegyosal line!
The shade is super subtle and natural-looking, making it practically foolproof even if you’re heavy-handed. The top swatch shows the subtle line and glitter from the Etude Cute Eyes Maker, while the bottom shows a standard eyeliner (Love Liner) for comparison. Now, with this pencil, I just swipe it along my lower lash line and add a bit of glitter for a natural but noticeable aegyosal look.
2. Love Liner (Japan Purchase)
I originally bought this Love Liner in black during a trip to Sapporo (see post here), and it was so great that I picked up another in brown on a recent Tokyo trip. This brush-tip liner isn’t as intense as traditional liquid liners; it gives a very natural look.
On the left is black, and on the right is brown. The brown works perfectly for a softer under-eye look. While there might be similar products in Korea, I’ll likely keep picking this up on future Japan trips.
Highly recommend for anyone shopping in Japan! Or I see it’s available on Amazon 😀
3. Fillimilli Point Piece Lashes (01 Pure Daily)
False lashes have always been a struggle for me—I’d try, but they never quite worked out. However, I had a wedding to attend recently and decided to try again. While a popular Japanese lash brand caught my eye, the reviews suggested they’re tricky for beginners, so I opted for Fillimilli, co-developed by a famous makeup artist, which had rave reviews for being both natural-looking and easy to apply.
Although I wanted the 02 Sharp Daily, it was out of stock, so I bought 01 Pure Daily instead. It’s very subtle but perfect for a natural look. I added just one lash at the ends of my eyes to create a slightly elongated look. For those who like natural-looking lash accents, this is perfect!
4. Martina Gebhardt Avocado Eye Cream
After a disappointing experience with Dior Capture Totale Hyalu-Shot Wrinkle Corrector, I looked for a new eye cream and found Martina Gebhardt’s Avocado Eye Cream, which is budget-friendly at about 28,000 KRW for a set of two on Coupang. The cream has a rich but not overly oily texture, leaving no residue or irritation. It comes with a mini spatula, which is handy for hygiene and for controlling the amount applied.
Though subtle, I feel there’s a slight improvement in my under-eye area. Overall, I’m more satisfied with this than the Dior Hyalu-Shot, especially at this price point!
Hmm… It looks like this product is not commonly available in the US. If you are a Korean resident, you can get it from Coupang.
5. Peripera Ink the Velvet (08 Sellout Red)
I hadn’t used Peripera Ink the Velvet in ages, but I recently tried it again at a store and had to get it. Although the shade is vibrant, it brightens up my complexion perfectly (for Winter Dark Cool tones). With lipsticks, I wanted a bit of staining power, as they tend to fade quickly.
The color can look bold if applied heavily, but a light layer gives a natural flush with lasting tint. Even after a few swipes with cleansing water, there’s still a stain left—just what I was looking for!
I hope this review helps anyone on the lookout for new beauty essentials for this fall/winter. Thanks for reading, and happy shopping!😍