A'pieu Haul

For those who are not familiar, A'pieu is one of the popular Korean roadshop brands (under Missah umbrella). I am not a Kbeauty expert but if you ask me what to buy from them, I'd say the Mineral Lip & Eye Remover without hesitation. I tried this remover last year thanks to a friend and was surprised to see how well it worked while being so mild. This amazing remover is a cult fave and only 2,500 KRW (about $2 USD) in Korea. Unfortunately, being liquid, the price is marked up by more than 100% if I want to buy them here. The biggest KBeauty store in Manhattan (L'ovue on 5th Avenue) sells them for $5 (and twice of that on eBay), but I still think it is good stuff even for the marked up price.

Impressed by the remover, I became interested in A'pieu's other offerings and ended up hauling quite a bit of makeup in last May. I ordered mine from Gmarket.co.kr. My order also included clothes and some other stuff so the express shipping cost made sense but I can't recommend ordering from the site just for a few items because they only offer EMS. I see YesStyle would be the best option as they carry almost the full range and the markup is reasonable.

Please read on for some swatches and thoughts.

A'pieu Luster Lighting BB SPF30/PA++Luster Lighting BB was one of the most popular items from the brand but got discontinued at some point. A'pieu brought it back due to the high demand but repackaged it in a smaller size at a more affordable price. Smart.

The shade 21 is a great match for my current complexion. I don't really see how this is different from any medium coverage foundation but I'm not complaining. Like the name, it imparts a subtle and natural glow while providing an impressive coverage. It will suit normal to dry skin best as the oil control is not one of its merits.

A'pieu Pastel Blusher

I didn't expect much but these are nice quality. Surprisingly, no powder kick-up and they feel almost creamy to touch!

VL01 is a pale milky pink that reminds me of NARS Sex Fantasy or Gaiety. If you dream about a real violet blush color, look no further. VL03 is the one.

A'pieu Couture Eyeshadows

These eyeshadows are pretty nice as well. Not the most pigmented kind, but they apply and wear well.

I love the colors that I chose. These moody pink and brown with fine shimmer seamlessly blend together for a soft feminine look.

A'pieu Lip Tints & Lipstick

• Lasting Lip Tint is a traditional gel type that leaves a strong stain. It is very long lasting but once set it tends to feel dry so I usually top it with gloss or balm.
• Waterlight Tint is similar to L'Oreal Wet Shine Stain (discontinued) or YSL Glossy Stain. 
• Color Lip Stain Gel Tint is lighter and less pigmented than Lasting Lip Tint but easier to control.
• True Melting Lipstick is a high-pigment lipstick with a glossy finish. 

• Waterlight Tint Bitter Rose is probably the most popular color because it is nearly identical to YSL Vynil Lip Cream in Carmin Session.
• Lasting Lip Tint Forever Cherry is a deep hot pink shade that lasts on forever (really) and Eternal Rose is a medium pink with a white base that is also long-lasting.
• Color Lip Stain Gel Tint Everything is a clear neutral red and Run Around is a coral red.
• True Melting Lipstick High Up is an interesting red with both pink and brown undertones. 

I didn't take separate pictures of Pro-Curling Mascara Black Fixer, All That Lash Eyelash Glue, or the  Round Lash Tweezer. The mascara indeed works nicely as a primer for non-waterproof mascara for me and the tweezer is real handy to apply falsies. The glue isn't very impressive, though.

Here is a look with mostly A'pieu stuff. I am wearing the BB cream, Pastel Blushers (both shades mixed together), all 3 shades of Couture Eyeshadows, Pro-Curling Mascara Black Fixer, and True Melting Lipstick in High Up.

(When blotted, High Up is more of a wearable brick red stain.)

Overall, I am quite satisfied with my haul. Most of them are excellent for the price and I like the packaging quality as well. For example, the True Melting lipstick case is magnetic and looks even sleeker than some of the high ends. I will most likely repurchase the lip tints and try different stuff as the brand offers wide varieties of makeup and skincare.

Let me know if you've tried A'pieu and how you like them. Anything I should try next?