Pure Smile Japanese Masquerade Sheet Masks Review

Pure Smile Japanese Art Face Mask
Price: $5.70 - $7.22 USD/ pc (Amazon)

Blogsters' Rating: 3.5/5

Packaging

I got 2 different masquerade sheet masks as a gift from my family (Green Dot and Pink Flower). They both have beautiful packaging and lovely artwork that illustrate the design of the actual mask. Although this product is mainy written in Japanese, It is made in Korea. 

Serum
One package contains 27ml of serum and contains Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E. Sure enough there is a lot of serum left over in the package once you take out the sheet mask. 

Scent

It is advertised to have a rose scent and sure enough, once you open the packaging, you can immediately smell a strong floral scent.  Although I am quite sensitive to cosmetic products with a strong scent, this particular one was not overwhelming or unpleasant for me although I would not recommended it to people who are sensitive to scented cosmetic products since the the mask has to be on the face for 15-20 minutes. The scent lingers after you remove the sheet mask as well unless you rinse off the serum afterwards.

Fit

A beautiful and elegant design on the sheet mask nonetheless but I found the material of the sheet mask a little thick so it does not cling to the skin as nicely as other thinner sheet masks. You would notice that as the serum is being absorbed by the skin / evaporates, the mask warps and create air pockets between the skin and the sheet. To avoid this from happening, you can apply the left over serum onto the mask and smooth it out over the skin once you feel like the mask is drying.  

After Use

I left the mask on my face for 20 minutes and skin definitely felt moisturized and gave off a healthy glow. Although I have to say that it left my skin a little sticky so I had to rinse off some of the residue. The texture of the mask also left an imprint on my cheeks but it went away after a few minutes.  

Be sure to check out more of our beauty product experiences by clicking the Beauty Tab on the top of this page. For more fun cosmetic product review, please stay tuned and check back more for! Thanks for joining us today!   

Much Love, 

Joyce

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Blogsters in Korea | Beesket D.I.Y Juice

Beesket 

[Naturally.Expressive.Juice]

Location: 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park, Seoul 

(3 other locations in Seoul) 

Access : Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station Exit 1 

Price : 5400 - 6500 WON ( ~ 6 CAD) 

Blogsters' Rating : 4/5

Hello Everyone! Today Blogsters bring you to Seoul Korea for a unique DIY juice experience. Located inside DDP's market section, beesket is part of a food court along with other bakery and tea shops. The vibrant colors and bee hive motifs in this juice shop are hard to miss!

  At beesket you get to create your own juice flavor. First off, there are 2 types of juice to choose from- Regular (pink plastic beesket) which is a juice with all the pulp blended in and Squeezed (green plastic beesket) which is pure juice and has no pulp. With around 30 fruits and veggies to choose from, choosing only 3 is definitely not easy. [According to beesket's website they have 92!] To make your decision easier, calorie and nutritional information is provided for each flavor at the capsule station. 

Beesket's instructions to create your own 100% natural juice.

And voila! ice cold drinks on a hot summer day.  The regular juice with pulp was ice cold with a thick texture and came in cups while the pulp free one was room temperature and came in a bottle. The drinks were not overly sweet or diluted so we know that there weren't any additives. The sweetness of each drink really depended on the fruits you pick. The banana + dragon fruit + oriental melon was the sweetest drink we created given that the fruits all have a high sugar content. It was also the thickest and most filling juice of the 3 thus has a higher calorie count.  

If you're like me and have decidophobia, you can go for 'Today's Beesket' which is the daily special. After all, nothing can go wrong with an official recommendation right? 

Each drink comes with a little slip that contains nutritional information and all the goodies in the juice. It's also a score card where you can rate and comment on your creation. Most people fill them out and post them on the D.I.Y station of the juice bar to help out future customers . 

The customized juice experience at beesket was fun and I will for sure return to beesket the next time I visit Seoul! Stay tuned for more Korean adventures! 

- Joyce 

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A Quick Dessert at WOOFFLES & CREAM

Wooffles & Cream

Location: 8360 Kennedy Rd.

Price: $7 per person

Access: Along VIVA / YRT bus route, parking available

Blogsters' Rating: 2.5/5

I know I'm very late to this hype, but better late than never! I heard about this place a long time ago from all the pictures on Instagram, but never had the urge to go because the location is out of my way. Anyhow, I finally paid a visit the other day and my first impression was not that great.

I was having trouble finding their store as there was limited signage in the plaza. The store was actually within the food court and was relatively small. Realistically, that's probably all the space that they need as they are only selling egg waffles and ice cream. Hence, they had a very limited menu as well.

I ordered a Black Sesame Egg Waffle with Green Tea Soft Serve Ice Cream. It tasted "ok", but nothing special. I actually think that they would taste better separately. The egg waffle batter was "meh". It did not have the distinctive egg waffle smell which usually makes us salivate. The texture of the egg waffle was tough as well and didn't have the bouncy / spongy texture to it.



The price of the egg waffle and ice cream starts at $7, which I think is very expensive for what they are actually serving you. Plus, they were just normal egg waffles with normal ice cream, which is definitely not worth that much. Would I recommend this place to my friends? Probably not. There are better dessert places with cheaper prices out there.

Until next time,
Janet =)

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Modern Halal Steakhouse | BLACK OX BISTRO

Black Ox Bistro
Location: 1780 Markham Rd.
Access: Parking available
Price: $45 per person
Blogsters' Rating: 3.5/5

This was my very first time at a halal steakhouse and it was not bad at all. I dragged my friend here with an invitation and we both didn't know what to expect as the owner told us that we will be served a selection of their customer favourites that included mocktails, appetizers, entrées, and desserts. A menu was still provided for reference, but it would be best if there was actually a menu so that we would know what our next dish will be. Anyhow, we sat back and relaxed as they roll out their customer favorites.

The first thing brought to us were these virgin drinks to freshen up from the hot summer day. I loved the presentation of these drinks, especially the gradation of the Raspberry Mojito - from clear to red to deep ruby red.

The Raspberry Mojito was made with raspberry, mint leaves, lime, and soda water. It was very refreshing and rejuvenating, especially on this blazing hot day.

On the other hand, the Pina Colada was rich and smooth. Garnished with a slice of pineapple and crushed nutmeg, the ratio of the pineapple juice and coconut cream was perfect, which made this Pina Colada exceptionally good.

Black Ox Bistro Drink Menu

Next up was the Shareable Platter, which consisted of five different appetizers offered by B.O.B. - Buffalo Wings, Deep-Fried Mac N' Cheese Bites, Roadside Sliders, Beef Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, and Spinach Artichoke Dip with Flat Bread.

The Spinach Artichoke Dip with Flat Bread was by far my favourite. The dip was very cheesy, and the spinach and artichoke flavours were very distinct. The baked Parmesan flat bread took this dish to a whole new level.

I was a little disappointed with these mini burgers. The patty was not juicy at all and did not have much taste to it. Plus, there was no sauce in the burger, which made it extremely dry to the mouth.

To my surprise, the Jalapeño Poppers were not hot at all. They were de-seeded and stuffed with cheddar cheese and wrapped with beef bacon. Nothing can go wrong with that.

The buffalo wings were average. The skin was crispy, which I did not expect as most of the time the chicken skin turns soggy before the dish is served. As per the menu, the wings were supposed to be served with a Blue Cheese dip, which did not come with ours. Now that I look at this picture, it seems weird to have carrot and celery sticks without a dip.

The Mac N' Cheese Bites were bland, although the Sriracha Herb Dip adds a little flavour to them. This was my least favourite dish of the night.

Next up was the Meathead Platter, which immediately put us in awe the moment we saw it. So much food!! We couldn't wait to dig it.

The BrazillIan Churrasquiera Wings were tastier than the buffalo wings. They were baked and tossed in a house sauce. I wouldn't mind having these wings for the rest of the night.

The Top Sirloin Steak was perfectly cooked. It was so tender that half melted in my mouth.

The Gargantuan King Rib was the highlight of the night and was the best rib I have ever had. The server told us that it was marinated for at least 12 hours the day before. The meat was extremely tender and smooth, and was quite filling as well. The coleslaw was a great compliment to the rib as it freshen up your palette.

The chicken fingers were crispy, however it was very dry and not juicy enough. The mash potato tasted a little weird to me because it was kind of sweet, which was different from the usual savoury mash potato that I am used to. 

The Brisket Potato was very similar to the Mashed Potato Topped with Chicken Fingers. The brisket was dry as well, but this potato tasted better with cheddar cheese.

Lastly, we had Creme Brulee and New York Cheesecake as our desserts. They did an amazing job on the Creme Brulee. There was a thin layer of hard caramel on top which was not too sweet. The custard was very smooth and rich. I could have this everyday for dessert =) 

I'm usually not a big fan of New York Cheesecake because I find them too rich and mostly just cream cheese. B.O.B. did a good job on balancing that by incorporating pomegranate coulis into the mix. The sourness of the pomergrante made the cheesecake less filling. We ended up finishing both desserts and left with a full stomach.

 Black Ox Bistro Dessert Menu

The venue was modern and comfortable. They even have booths on the side for a more private dinning experience. Also, a large party room was located on the left side of the restaurant, which can fit more than 100 people. I would definitely come back for more dishes. B.O.B. is a great restaurant. It was my pleasure to be invited to try out some of their new dishes on the menu.

That's it guys!

Janet

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CHOSUNGAH 22 Dual Lip Tint & Gloss

Chosungah 22 Dual Lip Tint & Gloss

Price: $20 USD

Blogsters' Rating: 5/5

Chosungah 22 Dual Lip Tint & Gloss was on my "must try" makeup list ever since it was available in Sephora. Little did I know that it was only sold in the U.S. I was a little disappointed and asked all my friends if any of them would be travelling to the states any time soon (clearly I was desperate lol).  Luckily, my boyfriend went on vacation and was kind enough to get it for me.

Before trying out the actual product, I read on Chosungah's official website that this product is a "long lasting gel-type tint with high-viscosity and tight lip gloss that gives high moisturising nourishment with Cupuacu butter, express vivid colour and elastic lips." I applied it on my lips as instructed.

I like the finish of this lip dual a lot.  I've tried many other Korean brand lip tints before, but none of them can achieve the look that this Chosungah lip dual has given me. It blends easily and is great for doing the gradient effect: this lip product is also perfect for achieving the "You Just Sucked On A Lollipop" look. The formula was very moisturising and creamy, and the best thing is the tint doesn't go into the cracks of my dry and chapped lips.  Considering its water-based formula, it is very pigmented and long lasting (Really, it's one of the most pigmented lip tint I owned).

The only downside for this product is that the gloss is very heavy.  Even though it doesn't stick my lips together (like some lip gloss do), the thickness might bother some of you as it feels like there is constantly something on your lips. 

This is actually my first time using a product from Chosungah and I am very impressed.  I also noticed that they have recently launched a new lip stick, and I can't wait to get my hands on them.

Much love, 

Janet

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The New Ice Cream @ YUMMY CONE!

Yummy Cone

Location: 7191 Yonge St., Unit 103A (Yonge St. & Steeles Ave.)

Access: Along YRT / VIVA Bus Route, Parking Available

Blogsters' Rating: 4/5

Their pizza cones caught my eyes ever since the first time I saw a picture of it on Instagram. I didn't pay much attention to them at first until more and more pictures of them started appearing on my feed. I've got to admit, making a pizza into a cone is a really unique concept because eating pizza can sometimes get really messy. 

Anyhow, I went for a visit with a Groupon deal. My first impression of Yummy Cone was that the place was really small, had limited seats, and the layout of it was a little bit awkward (maybe because I was the only one in the restaurant at the time). I ordered the Yummy Cone Special with Tornado Fries and a drink. The Yummy Cone Special is made with pepperoni, bacon, sausage, green peppers, red peppers, hot banana peppers, mushrooms, cheddar & mozzarella cheese. The food is freshly made with each order, which also meant the waiting time is a little longer than usual. 

The size of the pizza cone was relatively small. You definitely can't have this as a meal, only as a snack. However, the taste was actually pretty good, I'd say even better than most of the big pizza chains out there. There were a lot of toppings inside the cone, probably twice the amount of toppings you would get on a regular pizza slice. Surprisingly, the cone did not get soggy and remained crispy throughout. However, I was a little disappointed with the Tornado Fries because it was over-cooked to the point where most part of it was black. Every bite of it was bitter.

Next time I visit Yummy Cone, I will probably try their poutine since it was recommended by one of their staffs. Nonetheless, it was a great experience and perfect for an "on the go" snack.

Peace out,

Janet

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CAPLANSKY'S DELI | Convert to Chewish

Caplansky's Deli

Location: 156 Cumberland St. (Bloor St & Avenue Rd.)

Access: Along TTC subway Route (Bay Exit)

Blogsters' Rating: 3/5

Caplansky's recently opened a new deli in the Yorkville area. Knowing nothing much about Caplansky's Deli besides their Smoke Meat Sandwich from a few of my friends and colleagues, I decided to give it a visit the other day.  

The very first thing that I noticed when I walked in was the friendly staff. They were very welcoming and attentive. As soon as they found out that this was my first time at Caplansky's, they recommended their original Smoke Meat Sandwich. They claimed that this is one of their signature sandwiches, and also their best seller. Hence, I ordered a Smoke Meat Sandwich with fries.

While waiting for my order, a staff showed me their Pickle & Mustard Bar. As a fan of mustard, I naturally fell in LOVE. There were a total of five different kinds of mustards that you can choose from. 

.Classic Ballpark Yellow Mustard

.Russian Honey Mustard

.Mild & Delicious Deli Mustard

.Hot & Horseradishy Deli Mustard

.Super Extra-Hot Deli Mustard

To be honest, I wanted to try all of them but I chose the two that appealed to me the most - Russian Honey Mustard and Hot & Horseradishy Deli Mustard. As soon as I was done choosing my mustards, my food was ready for pick up. Perfect timing =)

It was a BIG sandwich! The meat was probably over an inch thick, sandwiched between two slices of crisp bread. When I took my first bite of the Smoke Meat Sandwich, I was immediately impressed with the tenderness and taste of the smoke meat (my concern about having smoke meat was it being too dry and tough to eat). The meat was sliced thinly and all the juice was dripping at every bite. Their very own spice rub also added a lot of flavours to the meat, but was not overpowering. After finishing half of the sandwich, I decided to move on to the fries because I knew that inhaling the whole sandwich would leave me no room. Their fries were actually one of the best I've had (beside McDonald's of course!). They were thinly chopped, perfectly cooked, and well-seasoned. They also had a distinctive taste that I will never forget.

Until next time Blogstees!

Love,

Janet

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