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Beauty

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne March 28, 2025
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

I’ve always suffered from dry lips, especially during the winter months and on long-haul flights, and I’ve been working my way through a small pharmacy of lip products over the years. Some of them helped a little. Most didn’t. But then I found the one: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.

The mask comes in a cute little jar and has a nice, fruity scent (there are several flavors, but I always end up going back to the original Berry). The texture is thick and creamy—rich enough to stay on through the night, but not so sticky that it ends up all over your pillowcase. You swipe it on before bed and wake up to lips that actually feel soft and hydrated, not just superficially glossy.

Even though it’s marketed as an overnight treatment, I use it during the day too, especially when I’m traveling. It works just as well as a regular lip balm and gives your lips a subtle, healthy-looking sheen—like your lips, but smoother. I often wear it under lipstick or just on its own when I want that fresh-faced, minimal-makeup look.

Is it a little pricey for a lip product? Yes. But one tiny jar lasts forever (I’m talking months, even with daily use), and once you realize you no longer need a handful of half-used lip balms rolling around in your purse, it almost feels like a budget-friendly decision.

There’s a reason why this product has a cult following, and I’m very much on board. Whether your lips are battling sub-zero temperatures, airplane cabin air, or just the usual dehydrated chaos of daily life, this mask is like eight hours of sleep and a big glass of water—for your mouth.

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

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LANEIGE - Korean Beauty

I’ve always suffered from dry lips, especially during the winter months, and on long-haul flights, and I’ve been going through a number of different products before I finally found Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.

The mask comes in a cute little jar and has a nice, fruity scent. The texture is thick and creamy, but not too sticky, and it feels incredibly nourishing on the lips. You apply the mask on your lips before you go to bed and wake up in the morning to soft, hydrated lips.

It’s a great overnight treatment, but the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask also works really well as a regular lip balm. It provides a subtle sheen to the lips and keeps them hydrated for hours. The mask is a bit to the pricey side, but a little goes a long way, and the little jar last longer than you would expect.

LANEIGE - Korean Beauty
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March 28, 2025

Review: Ogee – The Crystal Contour Collection

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne July 7, 2024
Review: Ogee - The Crystal Contour Collection

This blog post contains affiliate links. I received complimentary products from Ogee.

I usually don’t spend more than 5 minutes on applying makeup in the morning, and I love how convenient it is with makeup sticks, so I was curious to try the Contour Collection from Ogee. The Contour Collection consists of a bundle of makeup sticks; one for highlighting, one for contouring and one blush. There are three different stick sets in the Ogee Contour Collection and I had a hard time choosing as they’re all beautiful and with shades that I think would go well with my skin tone. I ended up picking the Crystal Set, which has Copper, Rose Quartz, and Opal sticks.

I’ve been using the contour sticks for a little over a month now, and they’re great! I really like the colors, which are warm, neutral shades, great for those of us who are after that no-makeup, natural glow. The sticks are easy to work with, you just apply them directly on your cheeks for blush, just below your cheeks for contour, or the high points of your face for highlight. After applying, you blend the product into your skin using your fingers, a makeup sponge, or a brush. If you’re in doubt about how to use the sticks, there are a bunch of tutorials on TikTok and Instagram.

The texture of the sticks is just right and they blend easily. In fact, they blend in so easily, I had to apply more product than what I initially thought was necessary, to get the color intensity that I wanted. I would have wanted a little more pigment in the Opal stick, as it adds more shine/glossiness than actual highlight. Though I actually prefer that they aren’t as pigmented as other makeup sticks out there, as it’s a lot easier to apply a little extra, than having to remove product after applying.

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Ogee - Luxury Organic Skin Care

Ogee is a luxury beauty brand specializing in certified organic and natural skincare and makeup products.

Use the code MITZIEMEE to get 15% off your purchase from Ogee website.

Ogee - Luxury Organic Skin Care
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About Ogee

Ogee is a luxury beauty brand specializing in certified organic and natural skincare and makeup products. I hadn’t heard about the brand before they reached out to me, but it turned out that my friend Tina + many of my Instagram friends have been using Ogee products for a while, and absolutely love the brand.

When asking around, I found out that Ogee is known for high-performance products and a true dedication to clean beauty and natural ingredients such as American-grown Jojoba Oil, and infusions of naturally derived power ingredients such as Bakuchiol and Acmella flower. Furthermore, the packaging is beautiful, adding a touch of luxury to your daily makeup routine.

Review: Ogee - The Crystal Contour Collection
Review: Ogee - The Crystal Contour Collection
Review: Ogee - The Crystal Contour Collection
July 7, 2024

The Sugar On-the-Go Lip Kit

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne June 8, 2024
Sugar On-the-Go Lip Kit

On my last Sephora haul I got the Fresh Sugar On-the-Go Lip Kit Fresh) with mini versions of three different lip products. I had previously tried the Sugar Advanced Therapy, and it worked really well for my lips, but I was unfamiliar with the other two products in the set.

Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy

The stick is really tiny, and it doesn’t fill out the stick tube, so there are room for it to wiggle around, and it easily breaks, especially if you use it at room temperature or warmer. I love the flavor of it, and it provides some serious long-term moisture without feeling heavy on my lips. Furthermore, the the stick packaging makes it more hygienic to use, so I would definitely buy it again, but I would probably go for the full-sized product.

Sugar lip polish exfoliator
Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator

Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator

The scrub is really efficient and removed any dry skin, leaving my lips super soft and slightly swollen as if I had been using a lip plumper. It is one of the best lip scrubs I have tried, but as for all lip scrubs, it is difficult to avoid getting some of the product in your mouth. It tastes like sugar, so it is not that bad, but to minimize the amount ingested and the mess created, I use it in the shower.  

Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm
Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm

Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm

As you can see, the hydrating balm is by far my favorite in the set. I have already used up most of it, and I will buy a full size one next time I go to Sephora. It does not have much color, but adds a slight shine to my lips, without being too glossy. And I loooove the taste! It makes me crave caramel fudge.  

Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm
Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm
Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm
Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator

The scrub is really efficient and removed any dry skin, leaving my lips super soft and slightly swollen as if I had been using a lip plumper. It is one of the best lip scrubs I have tried, but as for all lip scrubs, it is difficult to avoid getting some of the product in your mouth. It tastes like sugar, so it is not that bad, but to minimize the amount ingested and the mess created, I recommend you use it in the shower.  

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator
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Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment (Full Size Unboxed)
$25.99

This is the full version of the stick. I love the flavor, and it provides some serious long-term moisture without feeling heavy on my lips. Furthermore, the the stick packaging makes it more hygienic to use.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment (Full Size Unboxed)
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07/10/2025 06:00 pm GMT
June 8, 2024

K-Beauty – What is essence?

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne November 4, 2023
What is Essence? Korean beauty

To most people in the US, essence is still a relatively new player in the skincare game. However, in the realm of Korean skincare, it has long been a cornerstone of daily beauty routines. From lightweight, watery versions that can double as toners, to thicker, serum-like formulas, essences come in various forms.

The typical application of essence involves cleansing the skin with an oil cleanser and foam cleanser, possibly followed by a toner, and then applying the essence before any other products. A good essence serves as a primer for the skin, preparing it to absorb subsequent skincare products more effectively.

So, is essence the same as toner or skin tonic?

The answer is both yes and no. Traditional skin tonics as we knew them in the ’90s often contained alcohol and stung when applied to the skin. However, modern Korean toners rarely contain alcohol and primarily focus on refreshing the skin, removing any remaining traces of cleanser. Moreover, these toners often include ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and restore the skin’s natural acidic pH after cleansing, when the pH might have turned alkaline due to the soap content.

While essence is quite distinct from traditional toners or skin tonics, it shares many similarities with modern toners. Some people might even choose to skip the toner and instead use an essence with toner-like properties. A good essence can give your skin a radiant glow and enhance the effectiveness of the products applied afterward.

But doesn’t it sound a lot like a serum then?

Yes, it does, and many people use essence as a more cost-effective alternative to serums. However, I personally use both because I believe they complement each other quite well. If you opt for essence instead of serum, keep in mind that essences often don’t contain as potent and targeted ingredients as serums do, especially when it comes to anti-aging.

Interested in adding essence into your skincare routine?

Schwanen Garten’s Antioxidant Treatment Essence is a thick, serum-like essence that can also be used as a toner. It has a luxurious texture which is quickly absorbed by your skin, leaving your skin beautiful and smooth. I apply Schwanen Garten’s Antioxidant Treatment Essence after cleansing my skin and before using Schwanen Garten’s serum or ampoule. The Treatment Essence serves as a perfect base for serums and creams and can even be used under sunscreen for extra skin protection.

November 4, 2023

Korean Skincare: Double Cleansing – Everything you need to know

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne March 13, 2023
Korean Skincare: Double Cleansing - Everything you need to know

One of the ways in which Korean skincare differs significantly from skincare in the US is in the cleansing of the skin. In the US, we often use just one cleansing product, but in Korea it is most common to do the cleansing in two steps, using both an oil-based, and a water-based cleanser.

During the first step, an oil-based cleanser such as a cleansing oil or a cleansing balm, is used to remove makeup and dissolve dirt that has accumulated on the skin’s surface throughout the day. This step is essential as it does most of the heavy lifting, preparing the skin for the second step of the cleansing.

During the second step, a water-based cleanser such as a cleansing gel or a foaming cleanser is used to remove any remaining dirt and makeup. Water-based cleansers typically create a lather when massaged into the skin and provide deeper cleansing, leaving the skin fresh, clean, and hydrated.

One of the main reasons why double cleansing is so popular in Korea is that the two-step process is considered an effective and gentle way to clean the skin. If the skin is covered in dirt and makeup, it is harder for serums and creams to penetrate the surface. Proper cleansing ensures that all of the nourishing and nurturing ingredients can be properly absorbed by the skin and thus really come to use.

Skincare tip

Oil-based cleansers are typically the most effective when it comes to removing makeup, while water-based products are better suited for cleansing and refreshing the skin. The skin’s pH is slightly lower than neutral, and the most gentle cleansing products often have a slightly lower pH that does not disturb the skin’s natural pH balance.

Korean Skincare: Double Cleansing - Everything you need to know
March 13, 2023

Korean Skincare – Step by Step

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne February 19, 2023
Korean skincare, step by step

K-beauty has become a huge thing, but what is it exactly? And how does Korean skincare differ from other kinds of skincare? My friend April is from South Korea, but she has been living in New York City for many years, so I thought she would be the person to tell us about what’s trending right now in the world of K-beauty, as well as the differences between Korean and Western skincare. Here’s everything you need to know – are you ready?

April: Although Korean skincare has only gained international recognition in recent years, the Korean beauty industry has long been at the forefront of innovation and product development. Korean consumers are quite discerning and demand high quality and functionality, so the beauty industry is constantly under pressure to develop new products with new, effective ingredients.

Currently, natural ingredient products are popular, but if, for example, it is a product with citrus fruit, it’s not just any citrus fruit, but typically the very best organically grown fruit that can be found. The same goes for clay masks, which are also popular right now. The clay is typically from a volcano on Jeju Island, which is known for having the best clay with a high mineral content.

Regarding skincare routines, I have heard of over 16 different steps. However, I think this is mostly a marketing trick so beauty brands can sell more products. But having said that, there is no doubt that the typical Korean woman probably spends significantly more time on beauty routines than Americans and Europeans do.

Below you will find the main categories of Korean skincare. Within the categories, there are several subcategories, or steps, if you will, but it is very individual how many products one uses and how many steps are included in a typical Korean beauty routine. If you only include 1-2 steps within each category, that is perfectly fine. However, the order is important, as, for example, the toner prepares the skin to absorb the serum, and the cream then seals everything in.

Cleansing – Wash and Clean

Cleansing is one of the areas where we stand out in Korea, as cleansing always includes 2, and often 3 steps in Korean skin care. First, I use a special cleanser to remove makeup from eyes and lips. Then I use an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and dirt from the rest of the face and neck. Finally, I use a foaming cleanser, typically water-based, which forms lots of foam. I rinse with water, and if I have time, I let the skin air dry to avoid the mechanical stress from the towel. If time is short, I gently dab my face dry.

Prep – Toner & Mist

After cleansing, I use a mist spray that I spray all over my face. The mist should be allowed to air dry, so sometimes I skip this step if I don’t have time.

Then I use toner, which I apply with a cotton pad. The toner prepares the skin to absorb the more functional products that follow in the next step.

Functionality – Care and Nourishment

After the toner, I use essence, serum, or an ampoule. All three products aim to nourish the skin, and especially serum or ampoule is very concentrated, and among the most expensive products included in my skincare routine. You can get serums and ampoules with different properties such as anti-aging or moisturizing, and I try not to mix products with different properties on the same day. Instead, I would use anti-aging serum one day, and moisturizing serum the next day. It is important that serum or ampoule is used right after toner has been applied, but before applying cream.

Encapsulation and Protection – Creams

First, I apply eye cream, which I gently dab into the skin around the eyes, and then I apply face cream. Face cream is important because it encapsulates the essence/serum/ampoule, so that the nutrients can work properly. If it is cold outside, I use a face oil over the cream, or mix a little oil into the cream itself before applying it to my face. Face oil provides additional protection against drying out and cold, and is mainly something I use in the winter months.

Sheet masks

I have seen sheet masks described in several places as one of the steps in the Korean skincare routine, but I think most people use sheet masks separately. The effect from the mask usually kicks in 3-4 hours after wearing the mask, so if I am going out in the evening, I will put on a sheet mask in the afternoon, and then my skin looks radiant and beautiful when I later apply makeup. If you apply makeup immediately after wearing the mask, the mask residue can mix with the makeup and form clumps, so this is not recommended.

April, NYC

My friend April in New York City

April is originally from Seoul, but she has lived in New York City for the past 19 years, so she can rightfully call herself a true New Yorker. However, she has not forgotten her love for Korean cuisine, and if there is anyone who knows what’s happening on the Korean side of New York’s restaurant scene, it’s her. We have known each other since 2017, and together we have eaten our way through many of New York’s restaurants. Our dinners often end with drinks afterwards, and it’s usually whisky or bourbon into the early hours.

April is also on Instagram: @mimipje

February 19, 2023

About TheraphytoAbel

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne January 12, 2023
About TheraphytoAbel, Korean skincare brand

 

TheraphytoAbel is a Korean skincare brand focused on creating innovative skincare products based on natural ingredients. Central to the brand is the patented S-en Glycogen, which is enGlycogen formulated with syzygium formosum. The glycogen complex has been shown to help improve the appearance of the skin, with its soothing, antioxidative properties.

TheraphytoAbel conduct continuous research to optimize their formulas and the products are hypoallergenic, and free from harmful additives. All the ingredients are EWG Green Grade and the formulas are developed in collaboration with scientists from a diverse range of backgrounds, putting the brand at the very forefront of innovation.

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No product found
January 12, 2023

About Schwanen Garten

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne November 29, 2022
About Schwanen Garten, Clean beauty from Korea

Schwanen Garten was started by two Korean scientists, Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan, who met while they were both exchange students in St. Petersburg over 25 years ago. The couple married, but shortly after the wedding, Suan’s mother tragically passed away from cancer, spurring the couple to years of intensive research in alternative and preventive medicine. The research particularly focused on the body’s immune system and the relation to antioxidation, which is the termination of chemical processes, which can otherwise lead to the formation of free radicals and damage to the cell. During their research, Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan discovered the critical role that antioxidants play in bolstering the immune system.

Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan’s research made the greatests progress after the couple returned to Seoul. The two scientists continued working on the thesis that a strong immune system and lots of antioxidants are the key to health and well-being. Furthermore, the couple realized the importance of antioxidants in skin care and after several years and countless scientific experiments in their own laboratory, Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan decided to launch their own line of skin care products, Schwanen Garten, developed in Seoul, and based on antioxidants derived from natural ingredients.

Korean Skincare - Clean Beauty from Korea
Schwanen Garten

Schwanen Garten is a Korean skincare brand rooted in decades of scientific research on antioxidants and skin immunity. Founded by scientists Sung Hyun and Suan, the brand was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Ugly Duckling, symbolizing transformation and self-acceptance.

Their signature SG Antioxidant Source™ formula blends naturally derived ingredients like green tea, Centella Asiatica, lavender, and birch bark to protect against free radicals, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, or GMOs.

Schwanen Garten
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November 29, 2022

The Body Shop – Some of my favorites

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne January 30, 2022
The Body Shop favorite products, beauty blog

The Body Shop is one of the beauty brands that I have been using on and off for most of my life, and I deeply respect their no compromises, no BS, business fundamentals. They had a focus on ethically sourced ingredients and the environment long before it became trendy, and they have never tested their products on animals, even back when animal testing was still normal procedure among many other beauty brands.

When I was a teenager, I absolutely loved the lip balm, which smelled and tasted like strawberries, and the hair shampoo with banana and coconut, but now that I am older, I have also come to love some of the more functional products, which do more than just smelling good. Here are some of the products from The Body Shop on my bathroom shelf right now:

Vitamin C Glow-Revealing Liquid Peel

This is a revatively new favorite that I have been using for a little more than a year (I have previously written about Vitamin C Glow-Revealing Liquid Peel here). I love how the gel turns into small clumps, when rubbed over dead skin cells and leaves the skin clear and glowing. You can use Liquid Peel every day, but I only use it a couple of times each week, so there is more stuff to peel off.

Pear Bath Blend

The Pear Bath Blend creates lots of fluffy foam and has a nice and fruity pear scent, which is not too synthetic. The pear scent disappears soon after you are out of the bathtub, but the skin feels nice, soft, and moisturized for a long time.

Tea Tree Gel Shampoo

My hair always gets a little weird in the winter. It is as if it cannot decide whether to be dry and brittle or greasy and dull. After spending December in Denmark, my scalp was acting out, and something had to be done, so I decided to try the tea tree shampoo to mend my hypersensitive scalp. The shampoo really worked wonders and my scalp feels healthy and balanced again. Though the shampoo does not do a lot for my hair in terms of shine and softness, so if you try it, I would recommend that you follow up with a conditioner or a hair mask (which you apply to the hair, not the scalp), to add nourishment and shine to your hair.

January 30, 2022

Beauty: What is white label? Is it something you should avoid?

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne January 13, 2022
What is white label beauty

Launching your own beauty brand in Europe is not an easy task. You need to comply with some of the strictest regulations in the world, and extensive lab testing and documentation of ingredients and shelf life are required.

Furthermore, many smaller beauty brands do not have their own production facilities, but pay to have their products made at an external factory. If you want to use your own formulas and customized packaging, the minimum order quantity and the production costs are often prohibitively high. Beauty products have a limited shelf life, so you risk spending a lot of money before you even know, if there is a market for your products.

If you want to start your own beauty brand without investing too much money, you can instead choose to buy from factories that make generic, unbranded products (so-called white label), and then add your own label/brand.

The white label factories obtain the necessary documents for selling in the EU, and they are also responsible for documentation and laboratory tests, so you avoid all the paperwork and the high associated costs, which has significantly lowered the barrier to entry and flooded the market with new brands.

Many of the new products on social media are of this type, and if you see an influencer with a beauty brand, more often than not, it is white label, ie. generic products that the influencers just labels as their own.

How can you tell if a product is white label?


Do not expect the beauty brands to be particularly eager to tell you that their products are really just white labels, and that they did not come up with the formulas themselves, so how can you tell if it is white label? Here are some of the things that might give you an idea:

If you develop your own products, this is something you want to use in your marketing, because it makes your brand standout and adds credibility. You can therefore be sure that brands with their own laboratory and research facilities, will mention that on their website and in their marketing. Since you cannot lie or mislead the consumer, brands built around white labels would instead either completely omit mentioning product development, or use very vague terms when describing the research and development behind the products.

A good place to look for clues is the brand’s About page. What is the story of the brand? Who are the people behind and do they have any skills or expertise that make them particularly suitable for starting a beauty brand? What makes the products different from what is already on the market?

Should you avoid white label beauty products?


White label products are not necessarily bad, as they have to undergo the same tests as all other beauty products sold within the EU. On the other hand, you should not expect to buy something particularly unique, as the white label factories sell the same products made from the same formulas to many different brands. The expensive influencer hair shampoo that you saw on Instagram, could thus be exactly the same shampoo available at a discount brand that buy from the same white label manufacturer.

January 13, 2022

Beauty Blog – December 2020

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne December 15, 2020
Beauty Blog

When it is cold outside, my skin requires a little extra care, and I have discovered that Avène’s Eau Thermal works wonders for my dry, sensitive winter skin. The gray and rainy winter months also calls for a dash of color, and the playful shades from Etude House have recently started invading my bathroom shelf. I’m probably 20 years older than the brand’s target group, but I love the sweet packaging, the bright color scale and the budget friendly price level.

Another fun product that I want to highlight this month is the Vitamin C Glow Revealing Liquid Peel from The Body Shop. I am going through a bottle each month, because I am also using it on my hands and my feet and I love how the dead skin just crumbles off. Finally, there is the liquid eyeliner from Stila, which has been my favorite eyeliner for years. Here is the list of this month’s beauty products, straight from my bathroom to my blog:

Avène Eau Thermale face spray

Avène – Eau Thermale

Expensive thermal spring water in a spray bottle? Sounds, like a scam, but I’m telling you, this is a miracle for my skin. When the weather gets colder I have a tendency to rashes and weird little itchy bumps, but the Thermal Spring Water spray from Avène calms my skin and prevents any outbreaks and rashes. I usually buy the small 50ml bottle but when I saw this big 300ml at the pharmacy, I thought I might as well get that one, because I am using it all the time, and the bigger bottle was a better deal. Though when I’m traveling by plane, I bring one of the small bottles that I can carry in my hand luggage, so my skin does not go crazy from the dry, conditioned air.

The Body Shop, Vitamin C Glow Revealing Liquid Peel

The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow-Revealing Liquid Peel

I have previously tried the FIRMx Exfoliating Peeling Gel from Peter Thomas Roth, and I was looking for a refill, when I found The Vitamin C Glow-Revealing Liquid Peel at The Body Shop. The Vitamin C Peel is similar to the FIRMx, but at a lower price point, and I love it! When massaging into the skin, small clumps start forming and peel away dead skin. To me, this feels gross and strangely satisfying at the same time, and I am always excited to see how many clumps I will be generating. Afterwards, the skin has a nice, fresh glow, but unfortunately, it does not last very long. You can use the Vitamin C peel every day, but I prefer to use it once a week, so I can accumulate a lot of dead skin cells to peel off.

Face Blur Etude House

Etude House – Face Blur

Face Blur is one of my latest finds from Etude House. The light formula smoothes the skin, minimizes the pores and adds a nice glow to my complexion. I think Face Blur is meant to be a primer for your make up, so if you are used to wearing heavier makeup, you might feel a bit naked with Face Blur alone. Though I like the light coverage and the natural look, so I often go to the mall wearing nothing but Face Blur and a colored lip balm (and clothes of course:)).

Berry Delicious cream blusher Etude House

Etude House – Berry Delicious

Berry Delicious is Etude House’s popular series of strawberry-colored cream blushers. Each shade has a strawberry-themed name, and they even smells like (very synthetic) strawberry. I bought the shade called #1 Wild Strawberry, which is nice pink color with a bit of gold shimmer. The blush comes with a flat round application sponge, which is impossible to use, as it picks up way too much color, so I suggest you use your fingertips instead for application.

Stila Stay All Day liquid eye liner,

Stila – Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner

It took a while before I fell in love with the liquid eyeliner from Stila, because right out of the box, the pen is very runny, and the color seemed thin and watered-out. Though after a while, the pen dries up a little and becomes much easier to work with, so just give it some time, and I’m sure you’ll learn to love it too.

December 15, 2020

Beauty Blog – September 2020

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne September 11, 2020
Beauty blog September 2020

I have been writing about beauty before, but to get more consistency, I have decided to write one blog post a month about the beauty products I am currently using, and what I think about them. Here are the products that made it to my bathroom shelf in September:

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September 11, 2020

Skincare after 40 – How to deal with early signs of aging?

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne January 7, 2020
Rikke's beautiful bathroom, skincare after 40
Rikke’s gorgeous bathroom

When you get older, your skin starts losing its elasticity and the first signs of aging are appearing. Some people see this as a natural part of getting older (and wiser), while others find it frustrating no longer to look as young as they feel. Rikke is one of those, who refuse to give up without a fight, and even though she is now in her 40s, she does not look a day over 30. Here is how she keeps her skin looking young:  

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January 7, 2020

Night masks – For thirsty skin on long flights

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne December 29, 2019
Sleeping packs, overnight masks

Forget screaming kids and annoying fellow passengers. What really makes me feel 10 years older after a 10-hour flight is the dry cabin air, which will drain my skin and leave it in a miserable condition.

Continue reading
December 29, 2019

RevitaLash – An eyelash serum that works! (just ask my mom)

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne December 20, 2019
RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, review

After wearing lash extensions for almost a year non-stop, my lashes had started thinning. My golf friend Charlotte, suggested that I tried RevitaLash, so when I was in Copenhagen about a year ago, I therefore went to visit her beauty salon, Klinik Skou, to buy the lash serum.

I then went to visit my parents in Fredericia, but when it was time to go back to Dubai, I forgot to bring the eyelash serum with me. 

I had forgotten everything about RevitaLash until last time I went to Denmark, and my mom told me that she had started using it. And what a difference! My mom’s lashes have always been sparse and almost white, and as she is getting older, she has lost most of them. Though after she has started using that serum, her lashes are now darker and thicker than ever. 

I wish I could show you a “before” photo, but I can’t, as my mom snatched my lash serum and started using it without my knowledge. Though I took a photo of her lashes as they look now, and if she continues using the serum, I can take another photo in a few months and we can see if the lashes have grown even longer and thicker. 

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RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, review
RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, review
RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, review
December 20, 2019

Skincare and makeup in Japan – Rieko’s J-Beauty Routine

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne December 4, 2019
Japanese beauty products

While K-beauty is rocking all over the world, J-beauty has quietly been doing business as usual, providing efficient products to the demanding, hard-to-impress Japanese market. Whereas K-beauty is often seen as very trend-driven, with a strong appeal to younger people, J-beauty is more about high quality and discreet luxury that speak to women in their 30s and 40s.

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December 4, 2019

Beauty essentials for cabin crew

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne November 15, 2019
Cabin crew beauty essentials

My friend B is from Korea, but she works as a cabin crew in Dubai, and most of her flights are long haul flights. I think we all know what jetlag, dry cabin air, and sleep deprivation can do to your skin, but B’s skin looks great. What is her secret? I was curious to know, so we met last week to talk about frequent flyer skincare routines, and the beauty products that make you look superfly in several time zones: 

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November 15, 2019

Bodia rice scrubs

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne September 15, 2019

Bodia Spa is a chain of luxury spas in Cambodia. It is one of the first stops I make after touching down in Phnom Penh, because their massages work miracles when it comes to fighting jetlag.

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September 15, 2019

NYC: Eyelash Extensions at Ebenezer

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne January 12, 2019
Ebenezer Eyelash Extensions, 7th Avenue, New York

Ebenezer is a chain of salons specializing in high quality, Korean-style eyelash extensions. They are more expensive than other salons, but I’ve always been very happy with the result, so I don’t mind paying more.

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January 12, 2019

Brave – A Japanese Hair Salon in NYC

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne December 13, 2017
Brave, Japanese hair salon in NYC

I think I’ve previously told you how bad I am, when it comes to getting a haircut. I always come up with a million excuses and end up postponing and postponing, and last time I went to the hairdresser was in Seoul…in December 2016!

It’s just that I’m very attached to my hair, and I feel naked, when it’s cut off. Silly, I know, but no matter how little I ask the hairdresser to cut off, I always end up with shorter hair, than what I wanted.

The best hair salon experiences I’ve had, have been in Bangkok and Tokyo, probably because they know how to handle my coarse, Asian hair. So one of my main excuses for not getting my hair done, is that “I’ll get it done when I’m in Tokyo/Bangkok”, but yesterday, I walked by Brave, a Japanese salon in Upper East Side. A Japanese hair salon in New York, that would do, wouldn’t it? Turned out they had a 40% off for first time customers, so I decided that now was the time. The time for my annual haircut.

It was a really nice place and the staff was super friendly and seemed genuinely interested in understanding what I was after (please don’t cut too much off!). Regarding my hair, the tradeoff is between getting rid of the split ends, and not ending up with a much shorter length than I’m prepared for, and at Brave, they somehow managed to accomplish that.

When I left, they politely reminded me that it might be a good idea to not let it be 12 month until my next visit. Maybe, I would consider coming back in two months, to keep my hair looking healthy? And you know what? I think I might.

Brave, 138 East 61St #203 , Upper East Side, New York

December 13, 2017

Bare Minerals: Joyous Jennifer

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne March 10, 2016
Bare Minerals, Joyous Jennifer

I really like the make up from BareMinerals, and I’m particularly in love with the blushers and foundations. BareMinerals is quite pricey in Dubai, so I usually stock up on products, when I’m in the US, where it’s almost half the price compared to Dubai. I’m a VIB at Sephora in the States, and I’m very happy about it, as it comes with a lot of perks. To keep my membership status, I need to spend at least $350 a year on products, so I try to do all my beauty shopping at Sephora, whenever I’m in New York.

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March 10, 2016

Los Angeles: 15 minutes in heaven – A mini facial at Sephora

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne November 6, 2015
Sephora, Hollywood & Highland, Los Angeles

I’m a big fan of Sephora, but in Dubai the service is often quite bad. On several occasions, I’ve walked into the Sephora branches in Marina Mall and Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, only to leave again empty-handed, because I got tired of waiting for the staff, who obviously couldn’t care less and seemed to pretend that the customers were invisible.

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November 6, 2015

Bangkok: Got my annual haircut at More Hair Shop

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne July 13, 2014
More Hair Shop, Bangkok

I’m not very good at getting regular haircuts and often, more than a year passes between my visits to the hairdresser. I don’t know why, because when I’m first at the salon, I usually quite enjoy it, but I guess it’s just me being cheap combined with an exaggerated fear of ending up with short, purple hair.

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July 13, 2014

New York: Bloomie Nails, not Bloomingdales

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne May 30, 2011
Bloomie Nails, New York

We had read about Bloomie Nails in a guide book, but we couldn’t find the place, so we asked for directions, but a lot of people thought we meant Bloomingdales, not Bloomie Nails:)

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May 30, 2011
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