Juna Xu

Sydney

Writer at Freelance

Editorial & Beauty Assistant, body+soul. Yes, I'm fully aware my name rhymes with tuna and there's a movie called Juno.

Articles

'I’ve used eye cream every day for 15 years. Here are the ones I love.'

6 days ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

I take my eye cream game as seriously as sunscreen. Since my mid-teens, my Korean mum has drilled one piece of beauty advice into me: "Don't neglect your eyes and neck!" She always said her biggest skincare regret was not starting eye cream sooner — so naturally, I took that to heart. And now, I've been applying eye cream religiously for over 15 years. But while sunscreen is universally accepted as a skincare non-negotiable, eye cream? Not so much.
'This $22 retinal serum is better than the more expensive one that wrecked my skin.'

1 week ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

What is K-Secret Seoul 1988? You've probably noticed that Korean skincare is all about hydration, healing and being oh-so-gentle with your skin barrier. It's less about hardcore actives and more about soothing ingredients, which is probably why you don't see retinol all over K-beauty shelves. But as a Chinese-Korean Australian beauty writer, I live for a "best of both worlds" moment — and that's exactly what K-Secret Seoul 1988 is doing.
‘The $16 exfoliator that didn’t irritate my sensitive skin'.

1 week ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

A 150ml tube (that's A LOT of product, TBH) normally retails for $20, but Lila Beauty stocks it for $15.95 (and they regularly have promotions on top of this discounted price). Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam review. I've been using this cleanser religiously for the last nine months, and I don't think I can live without it. I have super reactive combo skinn — a dry T-zone and oily everywhere else — and this is one of the few products that doesn't trigger breakouts or flare-ups.
Suede is the new leather. Here are 12 upgrades you can actually afford.

1 week ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

There's nothing quite as satisfying as realising that something buried in your wardrobe for years is suddenly back in style. Case in point: suede. Sure, suede has always been around — but right now, it's everywhere. From buttery-soft bags to relaxed clogs and structured jackets, suede is having a serious fashion moment. It's all over the runways, dominating influencer feeds, and somehow makes any outfit look instantly more elevated.
Mamamia's lifestyle writers share their favourite foundations for winter.

1 week ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

Foundation is one of the trickiest beauty products to get right. It's super personal. Your skin type, undertone, preferred finish, application method and even the weather all play a part in finding the right one. What works like a dream in summer might cling to dry patches in winter. And just because a foundation is going viral on TikTok doesn't mean it's going to work for you. That's why we often turn to our team members here at Mamamia for reliable beauty recommendations.
"This $20 mascara makes my short, straight lashes look better than extensions."

3 weeks ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

Of course, that doesn't mean I stopped caring about my lashes. It's been a long process of trial and error to find products that help my short, straight lashes look fuller and more lifted. Regular lash lifts and daily lash serum (which I've previously written about here) have helped over time, but the biggest difference has come from finding the right mascara. To be honest, most mascaras have done little to help my severely stubborn lashes.
The not-so-cute consequence of your slick-backed bun.

3 weeks ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

@itsaprilsanders I’m in pain. Catch me using my @Babe Original hair serum everyday from now on 🤡 #balding #hairloss #slickback #hairdamage #slickbackhair ♬ original sound - April Nelson Sanders Even hairdressers are weighing in.
The best exosome skincare products to buy in Australia.

4 weeks ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

They're loaded with skin-loving ingredients: collagen-stimulating goodies, anti-inflammatory molecules, brightening proteins and peptides that literally tell your skin to repair itself. The result? Smoother texture, firmer skin, faster healing, less redness, fewer dark spots and a stronger barrier overall. What is an exosome facial? An exosome facial usually starts with a treatment that opens up microchannels in your skin — think microneedling, RF needling, laser and chemical peels.
'I found a $26 exfoliating cleanser I love more than my $112 one.'

1 month ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

As someone with extremely sensitive, reactive skin, I spent most of my teens and early twenties steering clear of exfoliating cleansers. I was terrified they'd cause a flare-up or wreck my already fragile skin barrier. That all changed when I landed a gig as a beauty writer. One day, the cult-favourite Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant landed on my desk, and honestly, I haven't looked back since.
The rise of the teddy bear adult.

1 month ago | mamamia.com.au | Juna Xu

The cult of Labubu. When it comes to adult plushies, there's probably one name that comes to mind: Labubu. These quirky plush "monsters" with pointy ears and nine jagged teeth have gone viral. Some people are reselling them for up to $700, with limited editions fetching as much as $4,500. Madness. Created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung Wang Ning, Labubu has become a cultural icon. In 2024 alone, sales hit $415.2 million, which is a 726.6 per cent increase from the year before. And the wildest part?