Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Review

Last year I completely revamped my skincare routine by dumping all harsh chemicals and cleansers and concentrating exclusively on cleansing, moisturizing, and pampering my skin. Such complete overhaul included me buying and trying a ton of Korean products since I read they are the best.

My skin is generally oily and acne prone. It has been really hard to control my break outs and oiliness. After a lot of trial and error I found some products that work really great for oily skin. Among these products is Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, a high end Korean product that is apparently very popular in Korea.

Here is the product description from the Sulwhasoo website: "Formulated with Korean medicinal herbs, this essential regimen boosting serum assures optimal skin care results, promoting balance and replenishing essential moisture and nutrients.

- Membranous Milkvetch promotes natural skin circulation and Dwarf Lilyturf and Licorice boost synergy among herbal extracts to restore skin’s natural healthy radiance.

- Absorbing instantly and deep within the skin, this serum leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple, prepares skin to receive treatment and boosts the efficacy of skin care used throughout the regimen." It is supposed to be a luxury item, as it has really nice ingredients and is very expensive.

I ordered my serum online from an eBay seller. When I received it I was kind of shocked because it came in a gorgeous package. It's so classy!

The bottle itself lives up to expectations. It is heavy glass (I think) and feel luxurious.The colors and design seem pretty traditional, but it looks good on my shelf.

First, the smell of this serum is somewhat medicinal, not cosmetic. It made me feel like I am treating my skin, not just slathering some lotion on. The color is transparent brownish and the texture is extremely smooth and light. 

The instructions say that it has to be used immediate after cleansing, prior to a toner, as this serum acts to enhance the efficacy of the other products. However, since I use my toner as the last part of my cleansing routine, to wipe off any remaining dirt and make up, and not as a moisturizing step, I use it after my toner. It truly is a nice experience to put this serum on, almost addicting. It glides on nicely and does not leave any residue. I use it both evening and morning.

I did not see any difference after starting using this serum for a few weeks, as I was going through a change of products which made me break out slightly. However, after a few weeks I can say that it helps to keep my skin relatively clear and evens out my skin tone. It's not a miraculous product by any stretch of imagination, but it is definitely something that you should try. I am not going to repurchase this unfortunately because I found a different product for a fraction of the price that works really well.

The Sulwhasoo website literally lists 100 ways of using this serum targeting different skin types and different seasons, which is a pretty entertaining read. I only used the serum as a step after my toner, so I am not sure how accurate these tips are, but it would be interesting to try one day.

OVERALL: Only recommended if you do not care about the price! It's $80 on the official website. Generally, it is a luxurious product that prevents skin trouble and keep the skin moisturized.

Danahan Eco Pure Aloe Cleansing Oil Review

This cleansing oil comes from a relatively obscure Korean brand called Danahan. Ecopure is its organic skincare line made with pure natural ingredients and supposedly contains no paraben, no alcohol, no artificial pigment, no benzophenone, and no mineral oil. Sounds good! I bought it a local Japanese market but it is available from online sellers as well.

It comes in a 200 ml plastic bottle with a simple green design and a really convenient pump. 

The consistency of this oil is slightly different from the other oils that I have used: it is less thick and does not resemble cooking oils at all.

If you can see, it is pretty watery and ran down my hand immediately.

The oil needs to be massaged on a dry face with dry hands for a few moments, then water needs to be added to emulsify the oil and create lather. The oil picks up all the dirt, make-up and impurities from the skin and can be washed off really easily. It does not leave any trace on the skin. It generally does a really good job cleaning make-up off without stripping the skin's natural oils. I wear quite a bit of product during the day including a sun block, BB cream, concealer, powder and sometimes foundation.  This oil removes it all! I follow it up with a foam cleanser and I feel like my face is squeaky clean afterwards. I also feel since I started using it my skin  has become brighter and less prone to break outs.

But the best part of this oil is its smell! I usually don't care about smells because I just perceive them as artificial additives with no redeeming value, but this product smells so fresh and tasty that I look forward to using it every night. 

Honestly, I know if feels weird using oils on oily skin, but they are the best at cleaning your face. If you wear sun block, BB cream, foundation and such, normal cleanser is not enough! I found that out the hard way. Cleansing oils are perfect for all skin types and once you start using them, there is no going back.

I generally do not believe in spending money on cleansers considering that they get washed off, so I was happy to purchase this product for only $13. It is definitely money worth spent!

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Inexpensive and gets the job done.

Japanese Market Cosmetics Haul (San Diego)

After trying out some Korean cosmetics I have been slightly (a lot, actually) obsessed with Korean beauty products. I have been buying all my products online which can be really inconvenient because of the waiting time. I finally decided to find a store here, in San Diego, which might sell some Korean and Japanese beauty items. Luckily, there are several good stores here, some high-end, some drugstore quality, which can satisfy anybody's needs. My last trip I bought a whole bunch of products at a Japanese store called Marukai Living.

The store has a variety of drugstore Japanese and Korean make-up and cosmetics. It is very entertaining to go there as the selection is so vast that I can sometimes spend 10 minutes staring at one shelf trying to make a choice. 

While I do believe in spending some money on make-up and high-quality sunblock and serums, I think cleansing products do not require a big investment. This haul mostly involved me buying cleansers, my favorite mask and  coconut oil (amazing!).

Here is a list of what I got:

1. Now European Clay Powder (one of the stars of my skincare routine and my favorite mask!) I reviewed it here.

2. Now Coconut Oil (to use for hair growth).

3. Shiseido Perfect Whip Foam (got great reviews as a foaming cleanser).

4. Xai Phyto Collagen Peeling Gel (rice powder exfoliating gel).

5. Ecopure Aloe Cleansing Oil (trying out a new cleansing oil).

6. Deve Moisture Whip Facial Wash (another Japanese drug store foaming cleansing).

All these items were very cheap compared to going to Sephora and having already tried all of them I think they are of similar quality to Westerns brands or may be even better.

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Targeted Treatment Review

Long time, no see, readers! I have been busy working and trying new products to make sure I gave them enough time to work. In the meantime, I used up almost a whole bottle of Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Targeted Treatment, an acne spot treatment from my favorite Taiwanese brand, Naruko.  I love Naruko products because they are cheap, natural and effective.

This spot treatment has been a mild disappointment though. Ok, I am not going to get ahead of myself, but will review the product properly. 

I ordered it from Naruko US website and it arrived very promptly. I really recommend getting Naruko products from their official website. It comes in a small, 30 ml, glass bottle that looks very medicinal. 

This spot treatment contains 2% salicylic acid and sulfur, Snow Fungus Extract, Calamine Extract, and the exclusively patented Phytoferulin® Complex to restore the skin’s moisture level, to refine pores, and to protect the skin from harmful environmental elements. 

The treatment is of a liquid texture with pinkish suspended powder that needs to be shaken before use. The bottle is very convenient to use as it has a nice dropper allowing a perfect amount of product to be distributed.

I used this treatment on affected areas after my toner but before the serum in the evening. It causes a slight cooling and minty sensation, but after a few seconds the feelings subsides.

After using it for a few months I have come to the conclusion that I will not be repurchasing.  I definitely made me feel good psychologically that I was treating my skin and doing due diligence, but in reality I do not think it makes any difference. It definitely did not work over night and I certainly did not notice any improvement in terms of the speed of heeling.

I am coming to the conclusion that spot treatments do not really work (or at least I have not found one that does) and the best way to have good skin is to cleanse thoroughly and moisturize while using good overnight cream with active ingredients. Disappointment, I know, especially because I love Naruko in general.

OVERALL: Not recommended. Did not make any difference.

Ingredients (from Naruko USA website):

Active Ingredients:
Salicylic Acid 2%, Sulfur 0.025%

Other Ingredients:

Purified Water (Aqua), Phytoferulin® Extract [Kalanchoe Spathulata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Alpine Skullcap (Scutellaria Alpina) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium) Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Alps Wormwood (Artemisia Umbelliformis) Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium Fleischeri) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamolmilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract], Snow Fungus (Tremella Fuciformis) Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Witch Hazel (Hammamelis Virginiana) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Menthol, Calamine, Zinc Oxide, Zinc PCA, Ethyl Alcohol, PEG-7 Olivate, Camphor, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl, Butylcarbamate, Essential Oils of Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia), Orange (Citrus Nobilis), Spearmint (Mentha Viridis), Lemon (Citrus Limonum), Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia), Peppermint (Mentha Piperita), Grapefruit (Citrus Paradise), Niaouli (Melaleuca Viridiflora)

Etude House Darling Cream Review

This Darling Cream is quite special! It contains the latest craze in skin care - snail slime extract. It may sound weird, but it is perfectly safe and no snails are harmed in the process of making it. The extract is not made out of snails, but instead of a sticky slimy trail that they leave when they crawl around. Snail slime prevents a snail from being injured when it crawls over sharp surfaces because it has regenerating properties. There is some scientific research regarding effectiveness of snail slime in treating burns and wounds, and general word of mouth among beauty bloggers indicates that snail creams work quite well, sometimes even miraculously.

So what does it do? Snails creams are touted as being able to stimulate collagen, moisturize, and most importantly, heal acne and reduce post-acne hyper-pigmentation and red marks. They are an all-in-one type of product targeting various issues. My particular concern is acne and red marks. I am less concerned with wrinkles for now, as I have been using sunblock over the years and the sun has been kind to my skin.

For my starter snail cream I chose this Etude House Darling Cream, pretty much on a whim. I ordered it from Pretty and Cute, a Korean skincare store here in the US (not affiliated.) I can definitely recommend this store as it has a good selection of products and fair prices.  I have not read reviews prior to purchasing this cream, so I am not sure what other bloggers think about it.

Etude House is famous for its cute packaging and inexpensive products. This cream comes in paper box containing a 50 ml glass jar and a spatula for hygienic application.

This cream contains 73% snail slime extract and looks and feels like a normal night cream: white and thick.

I use this cream at night as the last step of my routine. It goes on smoothly and is absorbed pretty quickly. I do not use it every day, but alternate it with my AHA night cream. I have been recommended the AHA cream by my cosmetologist against acne, but I do not think that it is that great on its own. I have seen a considerable improvement in my skin over the last three months which I attribute to my new complex routine and constant moisturizing, including the addition of the snail cream.

I can attest that this cream does not cause any breakouts. When I wake up in the morning, my skin feels tight and the redness is always subsided. Sometimes I still get slight inflammation, which this cream keeps under control. Since I have not been using it every day, I cannot say that it is miraculous in clearing acne or whitening your skin, but it is definitely good as a moisturizer for oily, acne-prone skin.

OVERALL: Highly recommended for oily skin. Good moisturizer and does not cause breakouts.

Ingredients: Snail Secret Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olfefin), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Betaine, Stearyl Dimethicone Ulmus, Davidian Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyprhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cnidium Officnale Root Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lcithin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium polyacrylate, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprlyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Water, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Folic Acid, Ceramide 3, Cholesterol, Raffinose, Tromethamine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Fragrance

Kose Seikisho Mask White Review

My search for new masks continues: I tried clay masks, cream masks, sheet masks; now it's time for peel-off masks. Specifically, black peel-off masks popular in Asia. They are supposed to be good for cleaning pores and keeping your face exfoliated. They are not as absorbent as clay masks, but act more like glue that adheres to skin and peels off dirt, dead skin cells and other unpleasantness. After some research I chose this Japanese black peel-off mask which is ironically called Mask White: Seikisho Mask White from Kose-USA.

The mask comes in a luxurious 75 ml packaging with clear directions in the back.

 

The mask is charcoal black in color and is of a slightly thick consistency. 

It feels very gooey and can be messy if one is not careful. I apply it with one finger around my t-zone: forehead, nose and chin. My goal with this mask is to dry out my t-zone which can get a little oily and to clear the pores. I try to apply it in consistent thickness making sure it dries properly. I apply it on a clean face, prior to a toner. If I have time I will start with exfoliating in the shower, followed by this mask. If you want to be extra fancy you can finish with a sheet mask or a cream mask depending on your skin type. I use the mask once a week, but you can use it more often.

The instructions say to wait for 20 minutes, but I never actually mark the time. I go read a book before bed or do something else, and wait until the mask is completely dry. If it is not dry completely it is not going to come off easily. While it dries it becomes rather uncomfortable because it tightens your skin, but nothing too terrible.

Now, I heard some horror stories that this mask rips off hairs and is extremely painful to remove, but I personally never experienced that. I guess my pain threshold is very high! However, I would advise to avoid the area around eyebrows or anywhere you don't want to rip out hair. This mask is very adhesive and does feel like a band-aid being ripped off. 

My skin has seen remarkable improvement recently because of my crazy extensive routine, so I am not able to determine if this mask made a significant difference, even after a couple of months of use. My face does feel cleaner right after use and I feel with continuous use it will improve even further. On the plus side, the mask is a lot of fun to use and would be an interesting addition to anyone's routine; on the opposite side, it is expensive showing no amazing benefit right away. I think for my next peel-off mask I will try this Shills Black Mask which seems to provide the same benefit but is much cheaper.

OVERALL: Recommended if you want to try something new. Good for oily skin. Expensive for what it is.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PPG 10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Titanium Dioxide, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Coix Lacryma Jobi Mayuen Seed Extract (Job's Tears), Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Bentonite (CI 77004), Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Polyglyceryl 10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl 10 Pentaoleate, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum) (Parfum)

Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara #37 Review

It has been a while since I posted here, mostly because I was in the process of looking for a new place/moving/going camping: all glamorous and amazing activities (sarcasm). I finally have free time to post about my new finds! My recent obsession is colorful makeup. I am not talking about purple or green; I am talking about bright neon colors for eyes and lips. My obsession started last year when I started going to music festivals and figuring out that expressing myself was a lot of fun. Coincidentally, neon colors are very trendy right now, so I generally feel like a kid in a candy store when I go shopping for makeup. My newest find is this Limited Edition Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara #37.  It is an amazing waterproof mascara which comes in four different rainbow-hued colors. I chose this lime light color, but if it were up to me I would buy all of them. 

It comes in a sturdy and heavy container common for French cosmetics. It is a nice addition to your makeup bag if you care how your makeup looks.

The color is bright bright turquoise and looks very pretty even right out of the container.

My eyelashes are not amazing, so I need all the help I can get from a mascara. My requirements are good smooth application and its ability to give excellent length and volume without clumping (high standards, I know). I believe that the stakes are even higher if the mascara is of an unusual color: it needs to cover my dark lashes well while not weighing them down.

Now, the question is does this mascara deliver? YES! It works best if I use a white eyelash base like this one from Lancome. (review coming later.) Since my eyelashes are dark the mascara goes on easier if the white base color is used first. It does require several swipes of the wand to reach full coverage, but if you just want to use it on the ends for less dramatic effect, one time is enough. 

Now, I intended to use it for festivals and such, but after trying it a few times I wear it casually when I am out and about. It looks very festive and summery. You won't guess how many compliments I get when I wear this! People ask me where I got it all the time. 

Last point: I wore this mascara to a pool and a hot tub, and it stayed put the whole time: no running or smudging. 

OVERALL: Highly recommended! Easy application and stunning result.