January Haul: Korean Beauty Products

I bought a few Korean products for pre order last December, and finally they have arrived Hurray! What I really love about pre orders is the sense of surprise it gives me everytime my package is delivered as I tend to forget about things I ordered.

I only bought a few essentials, a.k.a. things that were forever on my "to buy list". This would also be my birthday/Christmas gift to myself :)

L-R: Foodholic Acerola Brightening Foam Cleansing Facial Wash, Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam, Foodholic Jeju Healing Toner in Canola Flower, Care:Nel Lip Sleeping Mask (Original), Care:Nel Lip Sleeping Mask (Lime)

Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam

I know a lot of people were raving about this product as it seems to be really effective. There are still a few negative reviews but it didn't stop me from still wanting to try it out. This is made from baking powder, hence the name and it claims to be really good against blackheads and whiteheads as well as facial cleansing.

Foodholic Acerola Brightening Foam Cleansing Facial Wash

Foodholic is a good and affordable brand. I've tried their Snail Hand Cream which is really good. People on Facebook were raving about how this lightened their complexion, and trust me, if it will lighten my skin complexion again then count me in! It took a while to fully decide about buying this as I still have a lot of facial foam and cleansers on standby but I'm quite glad I finally did.

Foodholic Jeju Healing Toner in Canola Flower

Now same group of people raving about the Acerola Face Wash were also commenting about this also helped out with their breakouts and even acne scars! This facial toner and the acerola facial wash were the things they were using and it did wonders to their skin. I am still yet to prove it, but here's to hoping...

Care:Nel Lip Sleeping Mask

I know the packaging looks familiar people are even calling it a dupe for that famous brand Laneige! It comes in the pink variant which is the original one and then a lime version came up which prompted me to get just one to test it out. I am still on the lookout for something that would maybe get rid of the dark spots on my lips but for now I'll aim on having smooth and supple lips haha.

Batch Code and Expiration Date

And thats it! I am so excited to try them out so that I can also post reviews about the items mentioned. Oh, did I mentioned I got them for a very cheap price? Yes, and all authentic too!

REVIEW: iWhite Korea Facial Wash Whitening Vita

Hello~ Today I will be doing a short review of this facial wash Ive seen countless times at many malls. Im already familiar with the brand because Ive already tried another product from them, the iWhite Korea Whitening Pack Peel Off Mask (read my review HERE).

I bought this product from a convenience shop (shout-out to 711) because I had an appointment and I need to freshen up. Luckily 711 carries facial wash and this was the only thing I saw so I grabbed it. The brand repackaged their product because their items now come in cute sachets. They are all so cute I am really tempted to buy one of each :3

The packaging itself is very simple and cute tbh, it can really catch your eye and attract you just by looking at it. It is a facial wash in a trial pack, but I believe this product has a bigger tube type container as well. It claims to whiten, revitalize and moisturize your face after using it. It will also whiten and improve your skin condition with continuous use. Sounds good and promising right?

Even the back looks cute! It contains the usual product information, instructions on how to use as well as ingredients and a bit about the manufacturer/importer. Pretty straightforward like most product package.

Oh! It says it can also help prevent pimples. Yay for me as I'm acne prone so anything that will help against acne is a yes for me.

It also claims to help remove excess oil and any impurities on the skin, so as a result you will get whiter and better skin that's radiantly glowing! It contains vitamin c and e which helps in cell repair and is also good for wrinkles.

As for the product itself, I had fun using it. It's a very small pack but you can get maybe 2 or 3 usages on this, depends on how much you actually use though. As for the whitening claim, that's something that I cant yet comment as I think you need to be using this for a while to actually see any difference on the skin color. But I would like to say face looks brighter right after rinsing. Also my skin felt firmer after washing which is a good thing as well. 

I think I am going to buy the bigger tube to see if its really going to whiten my face or maybe even out my skin tone just a bit. I am still on the quest for a good pocket size face wash that I can carry all the time so that I can wash my face easily. The Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash was a let down to be honest, and now Im currently trying Clean & Clear's facial wash. Hopefully that will turn out good.

Overall this facial wash is really good, even though I have only used it twice or thrice. Ill finish the Clean & Clear one first and review it afterwards and then go back to this wash.

REVIEW: Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash

So I dropped by Watson's earlier looking for things for my hair when I finally chanced upon this product. I've read a few reviews about this facial wash and thought maybe Id give it a try.

I chose this variant as it claims to help prevent pimples, which is a plus for me. I've always been going for facial washes that claims to help prevent pimples and the likes because of my acne prone skin.

I got this for Php 89 pesos and it contains 50mL of products inside. Not too bad considering the price and the content of the item itself. I've been eyeing Himalaya products for a while now but since I still have a lot of things as well I didn't bother with buying anything till now. Also, I only saw this product at Watson's just now so maybe its really popular as it seems out of stock most of the time.

On the back of the packaging, the ingredients are written down. I'm not too bothered with ingredients as I dont think I am sensitive to anything. For as long as it doesn't give me any break outs then I'm good.

Packaging of the product comes in the usual tube type. Still hygienic if you ask me. Plus this is the small travel size bottle so its easy to carry around specially during trips.

The product itself is gooey and is green in color. It isn't watery so I dont have to worry about it dripping from the palm of my hands. Application is also easy.

REVIEW:

The product smells good and lathers easily as well. I was happy during day 1 of using this as I felt so clean. But then at night I saw some breakouts already. They weren't full blown pimples or something but whitehead looking with puss inside and I'm sure its because of this as I haven't used anything new except for this.

So on day 2 I didn't use this and went back to my usual facial cleanser and after treating the breakouts everything seems good, so on day 3 I still used my old trusty face cleansers. And because I really had high hopes for this product I went on to use this again on day 4 and... another breakout!! :((

I really dont think this will be useful and its such a shame that I have to let this go but I also cant risk the breakouts if I continue to use this.

VERDICT:

Repurchase? No. But then again this is just based on my use. We all have different skin types and this may work for others, but for me, nah. Im still sad that I have to throw this away.

In the Mail Today Plus a Coming Giveaway

Hey July! Time flies by so fast and now we are halfway already. Just like this package that I received yesterday which was like the fastest international shipping ever (2 weeks!!~). I wasn't expecting it yet so it came as a surprise. Actually the whole thing was a surprise for me, so here it goes.

Okay so as Ive said, this came in super fast.. And super pink too! Haha.I didnt know USPS has pink packaging for packages. Lol. Cute right?

Super Hot Pink Package! Totally made me happy ^_^

The mail was from The Skin Regime. I got an email from Dana of TheSkinRegime.com asking if I wanted to try the product, and of course I said yes. For the love of beauty, Id say yes, yes and yes.

As you can see, inside was a book called The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin, a booklet (or guide paper) and a sample size of the product called 1-4-all Peel.

And so now I am going to start using the product to see the results, and read the book as well. I will be doing a review on the product too, so that you guys can also see if it works. And as stated above, I will be doing a giveaway too! The winner will win the above items, which includes the book, the guide and a sample of the product. It will be an international giveaway. Details will be posted in my next blog post which will be up in a little while. I hope you guys will support and join my mini giveaway (it has been awhile since I last had one.)

Thanks again Dana and to the whole team of TheSkinRegime.com for giving me this chance to try out your product.

Review: Dermaction by Watsons Daily Facial Cleanser (For Acne Prone Skin)

Finally got the chance to use this facial cleanser from Watsons that I bought a few months ago.. What pave the way was when I lost the soap I was using. I was really worried because I have no other soap to use, and I definitely dont want to go back to using the other products I have already tried but unsure yet if I should continue using them. And then I saw this bottle on my dresser and realized I haven't tried it yet. Yep, saved by the bottle. Haha.

This cleanser actually came in pair with a moisturizer, but I cant find that one now. The brand is called Dermaction by Watsons. Hmm, maybe they now have their own product brands. This is my first time to try out this brand, and since I have been buying stuff from Watsons, I had no doubts whatsoever about this specific cleanser.

Since I am much prone to yucky oiliness and grease on my face, I chose this type which as the bottle says is suitable for normal to oily skin. I am hoping that even if the effect is only temporary, at least even for a few hours I wont bee seeing too much oil. Haha

Reading through the label, i found out what the product claims to do. At the end of the review I'll be talking about each claim but as for now, here is the list of claims.

- removes excess sebum, dirt and make up

- pH balanced

- non-drying

On the back of the packaging you can see more details about the product.

Composition:  Aqua, Disodium Laureth Sulfoscuccinate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Hydroxyproplmethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Distearate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate,Parfum, Methylparaben, Polysorbae-20, Panthenol, Tetrasodium EDTA. 

And since its a small sized bottle, I actually was able to bring this with me everytime I travel. But I'm not really sure if they have this product in bigger containers or they only have it in this size.

The only way to open the bottle is to squeeze open its top. I would prefer if it came with a pump, spray or even the squeeze tube type, but nah I was left with no choice but to open and close the bottle everytime I use it.

The cleanser actually surprised me with its watery content. I was expecting it to be like most cleansers I have tried. Perhaps that's why it didnt came with a tube that you have to squeeze for the contents to come out because the cleanser is actually in liquid form. Not only is is like water, but it really does look like water because its colorless. And the scent? Id say this is something that they would say non scented, but still there's a faint smell or something, but its tolerable and I like the smell.

After using it for days I found out that it doesn't give me breakouts which is a good thing because usually I'd go bad after using most commercial beauty products. To sum up my observation, here are some of the pros and cons that I have observed while using this product

PROS:
- nice smell
- comes in small sized bottle, perfect for travel
- does not create bubble or foam that much
- does not dry my skin or irritate me
- does not give me breakouts
- cheap and readily available
CONS:
- quite a hassle to open
- a little messy since its watery

Obviously, the positives outweigh the negatives, which are just petty cons anyway. So if asked if I would recommend this product? I'll say yes, if you are willing to try a new product. After all, its quite affordable and is sold at Watsons, you can easily find one and try it out to see if the result will make you happy. As for me, Im going to buy another bottle once I finished this one.

Skin Food - Apple Vinegar Fresh Foam {Product Review}

I have already started using some of the products from my Korean beauty products mini haul, one of which is the Apple Vinegar Fresh Foam from Skin Food. For those of you who are not familiar with this product, here's a little info.

Skin Food

Skin Food (Hangul: 스킨푸드) is a South Korean cosmetics manufacturer with headquarters in Seoul. The company was established in 1957. The company was not established in 1957 but that is how long the now owner has been involved in the skincare business.

Skin Food has become a well-known cosmetic and skincare brand in many countries outside South Korea such as Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and many others. The appealing factor of Skin Food is the use of natural food and produce in its original form as ingredients in their products. In addition, the use of natural ingredients also plays a significant role in their success today. Their products range from makeup, skin care, body and hair products.

The Apple Vinegar Fresh Foam is just one of their popular products. I bought a sample pack to try. For a first time user, I noticed a lot of good things about this product. It came in a very cute pack, shaped like a bottle.

 Front view of the product :)

Back part of the item. Product info and the instructions on how to use it was written in English. There's also something written in Korean but I cant read it, so no idea what it is :P

 Instructions and Product Info

The instructions were well written in English, so if you haven't tried this product yet, it won't be hard for you to use it because the instructions on how to use it are there. You'll also be aware of its content and what it promises to do to the skin.

This is what the packaging says about the product:

Transparent type foam cleanser containing a large amount of potassium, minerals and citric acid that makes drab skin caused by horny substances smooth, and whose honey extract provides more moisture to your skin, and thoroughly remove make up residue.

As for the instructions..

Take an appropriate amount on your wet hands and make foam sufficiently. Gently rub along with your skin texture. Wash it of with lukewarm water.

 Clear gel like substance.

This product is in the form of a gel like substance, so you really wont have a hard time getting it out of the pack because its not watery like most facial wash. Also, I wasn't expecting it to be gel like since the name says its a facial foam so I was expecting a foamy like substance. But nevertheless I am not bothered by this.

Not so much bubbles :D

My Review:

For its cute packaging, I'd say I like it. Korean products really know how to make their stuffs look attractive to anyone. Also, I like its soft scent which smells of apples! Hahaha. And although the product name says vinegar, I didnt smell any vinegar; just apples.

For a facial foam, I noticed that it does not foam that much. It produced little bubbles only but still it was easy to apply on the face. It says that it can cleanse the face, which I am very much sure it did. After washing, I feel my face feels fresher and cleaner. I am already on my second pack and I am looking forward to buying the big pack.

Overall, I am very happy with this purchase. I can see that it really works for me. And I would really recommend this to others for them to try and see its wonderful effects.

Rating: 5/5

Recommend: Yes

Repurchase: Yes

Montagne Jeunesse Cucumber Purifying Peel-Off Masque {Product Review}

I have been looking for facial masks to use on my skin, and so far I have only tried Garnier products. Today I bought a new facial product that I have been eying for quite some time but was not able to purchase at once because its quite expensive. So anyway, the product i bought was called Cucumber Purifying Peel-Off Masque. This is manufactured by Montagne Jeunesse, a UK Company (as stated at the back of the product). There are actually a lot of different facial masks available, and I had a hard time choosing which would be appropriate. But since I was looking for a peel off mask, I decided to try this one. 

Product Details

 The front of the item.

 Back portion, instructions written in several languages.

So easy to use and it actually feels as though you are peeling away dead and dry skin. You’ll love the opaque green texture – it’s really fresh. After a few minutes the masque will start to dry and your face will feel tight – it’s quite amusing. When completely dry you should be able to pull off in one piece – this is all part of the fun! Your skin will feel instantly smoother, clearer and refreshed, it’s fabulous. This masque is great for use once a week as a skin detox.

• Suitable For Vegans
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• No Added Parabens  

My Review

The pack is good for one time use, but I divided it into two because I think its too much for me. Upon applying, I took note of its nice smell, something which is not irritating to the nose. Also, the item was easy to apply and is not sticky.

When I bought the pee off mask, I was thinking that I would be seeing dirt and the likes upon removing it, as what the product description at the back of the packaging said. But turns out that it didn't work as I expected. But then it did clean my face for a while, so I guess it was kinda okay.

Rating : 2 / 5

Recommend : No

Repurchase : No

I will honestly say that I am quite disappointed with the result. The outcome was just the same as that of Garnier's Peel Off Whitening Mask which costs a less than this one. And although I won't be buying this specific product anymore, I am still going to try some of Montagne Jeunesse's like the Blemish Mud.

Do you have any recommendations for Facial Masks? I'd love to try new products :)