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.

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)

Lioele Bee My Honey Sleeping Pack Review

My blogging has been interrupted by apartment searching, which is almost a full time job here, in San Diego. But, finally, we found a new apartment and I am back to business!

This review is for Lioele Bee My Honey Sleeping Pack which I bought online at Pretty and Cute. Lioele is a low-end Korean brand available online.

Sleeping packs or sleeping masks are not really popular here in the States yet, but from what I gather they are a new cool thing in Asia. They are pretty much masks that you are supposed to put on your face in the evening, keep them on while you sleep and then wash off in the morning. They have a multitude of great qualities, mostly moisturizing, but also reducing inflammation and soothing.

This particular mask is supposed to absorb impurities from skin and leave your face smooth, soft and supple. It contains 20% honey extract and a few other plant extracts.

It comes in adorable packaging and the container itself is made of sturdy glass which I will probably use for something else when I am done with it.

The consistency of the mask is gel-like. It is transparent yellowish color and smells like honey a bit. I really enjoy both the consistency and the smell.

I use it as the last step of my evening routine, after the serum, instead of the moisturizer. Upon application it feels very refreshing and cool. I apply quite a large amount, so that my face is covered like a mask. It is quite sticky, but don't be scared: you are supposed to massage it until there is just a thin layer left on your skin. After a while it is pretty well absorbed and you can go to sleep without worrying about ruining your pillow cases.

Generally such masks can be used every day, but are particularly useful after a stressful day or when you feel like your face is in a bad shape. I usually use this mask after a night out, a long day exposed to the sun or the wind or just when I feel like doing something fun with my routine. 

I really like the feeling of waking up in the morning after using this mask: my skin feels refreshed, clean and surprisingly plump. It definitely doesn't break me out, and in fact, I feel like it actually keeps my skin cleansed. I recently used in on a camping trip and I felt that it did a great job of protecting my skin against the elements.

OVERALL: Highly recommended for oily skin. It does contain alcohol, so if your skin is sensitive or dry you might be careful. I generally advice you try Asian sleeping masks, as they are a great addition to your usual routine.

Ingredients: Water,  Honey Extract, Isopentyldiol, Clycerin, Alcohol Denat, Amorphophallus, Konjac Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-60 hydrogenated Castor Oil, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon )Lemon) Fruit Extract, rosmarinus Offcinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Betaine, Allantoin, PEG-90M, Glyceryl Acroylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, 1,2- Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, Ethlyhexyglycerin, Benzophenone-9, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Caramel, CI 17200,CI 19140, Fragrance

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Skin79 Sweet Honey Sugar Review

Aaaaah, the morning when you wake up and your skin looks luminous... I am getting this feeling more and more often now since I started using Skin79 Sweet Honey Sugar. It is a face scrub designed to not only exfoliate, but also to moisturize and provide nutrition to your skin. It is made by a Korean company Skin79. I bought mine from Amazon, but it is available from Pretty and Cute, located in the US.

It comes in a 100 ml hard plastic jar with a spatula for application. The spatula assures that you are not going to contaminate the scrub with bacteria. It is a nice touch.

It has a really nice smell of sweets and honey. The consistency most closely resembles honey mixed with brown sugar. I love how it feels right out of the jar.

I use it in the shower twice a week (the instructions say that it is recommended to be used 2-3 times a week). It is supposed to be massaged gently onto wet face for at least a minute. It starts out kind of rough as the sugar granules feel rather abrasive. I personally enjoy the feeling because it makes me feel that it is doing its job. However, my skin is very tough and oily and it can take a lot of abuse; I heard that other reviewers found it rough for their more sensitive skin.

After some massaging the sugar granules begin to melt and the scrub becomes sort of more and more honey-like until it is completely smooth and glides on the skin without any resistance. It feels quite exquisite at that point. I massage it for a while longer and then wash it off with warm water. I like to follow up with a sheet mask while my skin is clean and receptive to absorbtion of nutrients after exfoliation.

To be honest my skin feels amazing after this treatment, especially when I wake up in the morning. The skin feels clean, not oily but moisturized, and it feels like it is shining from the inside. I definitely started getting less breakouts since I started this regimen.

OVERALL: Highly recommended for oily rough skin. Might be not suitable for sensitive or dry skin.

Ingredients: Sucrose, Mineral Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Olea Europara (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Polysorbate 20. Trihydroxystearin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ceresin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Honey Extract, heobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, Propylene Carbonate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, BHT, Fragance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract.

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner Review

For the longest time I believed that a toner is unnecessary. That was until I actually used one and realized how much makeup and grime my facial cleanser was missing. After that I started using a toner religiously to make sure my face is clean after the whole day of wearing makeup and being exposed to pollution. I also learned that a toner is supposed to restore and maintain your skin's pH balance, in addition to a lot of other wonderful things.

I came across Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner while researching Korean cosmetics (of course) and it got overwhelmingly great reviews. I ordered it from an Ebay seller because unfortunately I couldn't find it here, in the US. It comes in a gigantic 500 ml plastic bottle and the cutest box which has all the information on it.

 

This toner promises a variety of miracles, including minimizing appearance of pores and moisturizing. Upon its arrival I realized that it contained alcohol which originally really scared me as it is supposed to be really drying and damaging to the skin. I decided to try it anyway and see what it does.

It comes with an amazing no-waste pump which is super convenient. 

 

The toner itself is water-like. It has a slight alcohol smell, but, honestly, if I didn't know it had alcohol, I wouldn't be able to smell it I think. Generally, it smells very fresh. 

I use it day and night after cleansing my face. The directions say that you are supposed to wipe your face with a cotton ball dipped in the toner and then pat the leftover toner on your face for moisturizing purposes.  I find that this toner is not drying at all, and does not evaporate immediately the way other alcohol-based toners do. On the contrary, it evaporates slowly leaving your skin very moisturized, ready for the other steps of your routine.

I have been using it for about three weeks and do not notice any dryness or any adverse effects because of the alcohol. In fact, my skin feels amazing: fresh, moisturized and tight.  

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Leaves the face fresh and moisturized. Beware of alcohol though!

Ingredients:

Water, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26 Betaine, Sea WAter, PEG-60 Hydrogenated CAstor Oil, Dosium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Cycmbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Nelumba Nucifera Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Chamaecyparais Obtusa Water, Pulsatilla Koreana Extractm Dosdium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol 

Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Oil Review

I believe that the most important part of skin care is cleaning your face. If you have impurities or makeup still left on you skin, then all your other efforts will be pointless. Your skin will be clogged, rough and blemish-prone.

Keeping that in mind and always being dissatisfied with the state of my oily skin, I recently adopted a double cleansing method which is popular in Japan and Korea. It involves removing makeup and sebum from your skin first and then finishing up with a different cleanser for full effect. This method is supposed to keep your skin clean and luminescent.

My first order of business was purchasing Innisfree Olive Oil Real Cleansing Oil to be used as the first step of my evening routine. Innisfree is a lower-end subsidiary of Amore Pacific, a Korean cosmetics company. Innisfree is advertized as a natural brand, using only pure natural ingredients and eco-friendly containers. 

This particular cleanser in made of organic olive oil as its main ingredient. It is said to contain moisturizing ingredients and provide deep cleansing properties. It comes in a 150 ml plastic container with a pump for convenient use. 

The consistency of the cleansing oil is pretty much like olive oil. It is not as heavy as some other oil cleanser that I used, but it is definitely oil, so don't freak out!

It is supposed to be applied first on dry skin with dry hands and then massaged gently to grab makeup and lift it from your skin. I use a couple of pumps of oil to make sure it is enough to spread all over the face. Add a little bit of water and massage gently with your finger tips making sure you don't stretch your skin. The key here is to make sure you reduce the friction between your fingers and the skin on your face while at the same time work on dissolving all the makeup from your skin. Rinse it with warm water. It should leave your skin clean yet moisturized. I follow up with another gentle cleanser, a warm water rinse, and finish with a cold water rinse to close the pores.

I like this cleanser as it does the work properly of removing all the makeup, as I use quite a lot: BB cream/foundation, concealer, powder and what not. It even removes eye makeup when I am too lazy to use special eye makeup remover. After my skin is dry it does not feel stripped of its beneficial oils, on the contrary, it feel moisturized  and nurtured.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Cleans all the impurities while leaving the skin moisturized.

Ingredients:

HERA Sun Mate Daily SPF35PA++ Review

I cannot overemphasize the importance of sunscreen. You HAVE to use it every day before you leave the house! I have even read that harmful sun rays go through windows and can reach you when you are in the office or home. For that reason I use sunscreen first thing in the morning every day. Sunscreen protects against aging, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. It really is a life saver. The only problem is that it is hard to find a good sunscreen that does not leave a white residue and does not make your face oily. 

After a long love/hate affair with La-Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreens which did make my face oily throughout the day, I decided to find something better suited for my already oily skin. After reading a lot of reviews I decided to try HERA brand sunscreen. HERA is a subsidiary of Amore Pacific, one of the major Korean companies. HERA is their high end brand but it is not ridiculously expensive. I ordered mine from this Amazon seller who delivered it really fast.

It comes in a big 70 ml tube typical of a sunblock.

It has a very nice smell right out of the tube, but when it goes on the face the smell dissipates really quickly. The consistency is very creamy and does not have any of the toughness of other sunblocks. The color reminds me of a tinted moisturizer.

However, when applied to the face the color disappears and it becomes completely transparent. It reminds me of a good creamy moisturizer in terms of how it feels on the face. 

I apply it all over the face, including my neck and around the eyes. I believe the area around the eyes is the most delicate and needs the most protection from the sun. However, my skin is rather tough and I never get any adverse reactions from products. If you have sensitive and thin skin around your eyes you might have some unwanted reaction. So, be careful.

It takes some time for this sunscreen to absorb, may be 10 minutes or so. I would say that it leaves a nice moisturizing layer on the skin. If I touch my face I feel that I have a product on. But it is not necessarily a bad thing - I like to feel hydrated. :-) It also gives the face a slight healthy sheen. It definitely does not leave my skin oily after a few hours like La-Roche Posay did. I do think, however, that this sunblock is more suitable for normal/dry skin, as opposed to oily one like mine.

I later found out that HERA has Sun Mate Airlight (SPF30/PA++) sunscreen which is specifically formulated for oily/combination skin. I might try it later to see if there is any difference. Meanwhile, I am very happy with this sunscreen and would definitely stick with it.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Very moisturizing; does not make the face oily.

UPDATE: I don't think I will be repurchasing this product. First, I noticed that my face did get some color while I was outside wearing this sunblock.  This never happened to me when I used other brands. Second, it does give my face a feeling of being greasy, especially towards the end of the day. It does not necessarily make my face oily, but I just feel that this product sits on my skin without being fully absorbed.

What Are BB Creams and Why You Need One: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++ Review.

BB creams or Blemish Balms were originally developed by dermatologists in Germany in the 50s. They were used to help woulds heal, and after a few trials the dermatologists noticed that the balm regenerated skin making it look younger and more elastic. BB creams were used on patients undergoing facial peel treatments, and they made a huge difference in how the skin healed, decreasing redness rapidly and making imperfections less noticeable.

Fast forward a few decades, and BB creams are available all over the world, being the latest craze in America. However, it was Koreans who popularized BB creams in their strive for perfect skin. Korean formulated BB creams offer a great variety of benefits and are quite different from any other cosmetics like foundations and tinted moisturizers.

In fact, BB creams combine all the benefits of a moisturizer, sunblock and foundation. It acts first and foremost as a concealer, covering redness, discoloration, acne scars and any other imperfections. Unlike foundations, it is not heavy and does not clog pores; it also creates a sort of smooth makeup-free look. In addition to being a perfect cover up, a BB cream has sunblock in it preventing aging and protecting the skin from free radicals. BB cream also has healing properties to help with acne, regenerative properties to maintain healthy and youthful appearance, and it can even tighten pores and minimizer wrinkles. Doesn't it sound like a perfect invention?

Due to my red and inflamed skin, I always have to use something to cover up my imperfections, I mostly use foundation and powder on top of it. I always felt though that wearing so much makeup contributed to my acne. I wish I could just go bare-faced... 

After some trepidation, I finally decided to purchase my first BB cream. After some research I realized that I should skip American BB creams (their formulations are mostly different from Korean ones and they are usually nothing more than glorified tinted moisturizers) and go straight for Korean brands. I found out that you don't have to spend a ton of money on Korean cosmetics because even lower end brands are very high quality.

One of the brands that caught my eye was Missha, a well-known company that actually has an American website. They are particularly famous for their BB creams. I picked mine up in a Japanese market here, in San Diego. I got a small, 20 ml bottle, to make sure I like it before investing in a large one. It is called M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++. The packaging is very ordinary and looks like a typical concealer.

This BB cream comes in five colors. I chose No. 21, Light Beige. I don't tan and like when my make up is pale.

As you can see, it looks and feels kind of like liquid foundation, but to be honest, it is different than foundation on application. While foundation feels heavy and has to be blended very well to become less visible, BB cream is absorbed almost immediately and is almost invisible. Even though this BB cream contains sunblock, I do not think it is enough to protect me in the California sunshine, considering I use just a little bit of it. I usually moistirize, put sunblock on, and then put BB cream on, followed by some concealer (if I have active break outs) and powder. 

There are different techniques of applying it, but I just apply it with the tips of my fingers all over my face. It goes on very smoothly and I immediately see a difference in my skin tone. It evens out my skin coloring, covers up acne scars and makes it look like I don't have pores. I feel that I can leave the house with just BB cream on and not feel like I have to cover up my face in shame. It definitely does not make my face shinier or break me out.

It is not perfect though. If you have very big pores, it would be kind of visible in the pores. Luckily, I only have big pores in one area on my nose, and it is not too bad, considering how good my face looks when covered with this BB cream.  The coverage, however, does not last very long, I feel like four hours is a good time for it, after that it kind of has a tendency to disappear. Luckily it does not flake like some foundations do.

OVERALL: Recommended if your skin does not have very enlarged pores and you want a quick fix for your face in the morning.

Ingredients: Water(Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Arbutin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Adenosine, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Beeswax(Cera Alba), Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caviar Extract, Algae Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Ceramide 3, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance(Parfum), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
MAY CONTAIN[+/-; Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Iron Oxides(CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]

Now Foods 100% Pure Montmorillonite European Clay Review

Clay masks are a godsend for people with oily or acne prone skin. They are supposed to remove dead skin cells, absorb extra oils and impurities from the surface of the skin and give a natural glow to your face. As acne is caused by clogged pores (among other things), it is very important to keep the skin really clean without drying it.

There are a lot of of clay masks on the market, some of them very expensive. For instance, InStyle magazine's best 2012 mask for oily skin is SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay mask which retails for $49. I have not tried that mask and I am sure it is very good, but for those of us who are on a budget it might be too much.

On advice of a Korean cosmetics store owner in my town (San Diego) who is probably 60 years old but has perfect wrinkle-free skin, I bought this European Clay mask, which is nothing more than 100% pure montmorillonite (a natural mineral silicate). It has no fillers, preservatives, additives or artificial colors. It is 100% natural!

It comes in a 6 ounce plastic jar in the form of grey powder. In order to make a mask you just have to mix it with water and voila! Directions say use one tablespoon of clay with one teaspoon of water. I find this ratio hard to mix, so I use a little less of clay and a little more of water.

When mixed this clay has the consistency of store-bought clay masks. You can make it more or less watery, of course. Apply to your face avoiding the area around the eyes and mouth and let it dry. It usually takes around 10 minutes for it to dry.  It is generally advisable not to allow clay masks to dry completely, as it is possible for them to end up drawing moisture from your skin, and you don't want that!

Rinse thoroughly using a washcloth if you want. Your skin will look amazing! Clean, translucent and ready for your moisturizers and serums. Since this clay does not have any artificial ingredients, your chances of having an adverse reaction to it are very low. I use it 2-3 times a week for maximum results.

I forgot to mention the best part: this clay is between $3-5 from online stores!

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Cheap and produces clean and healthy skin.

Holika Holika Silky Veil Primer Review

In my 35 years on this Earth I am just now discovering the joys of primers. For years I just wore powder to mask the oiliness on my skin, without bothering with foundations. Granted, my skin was not that bad at the time. Now, however, it is in its worst state ever. I am not sure what the problem is, but it is pretty embarrassing to be a grown woman with acne problems. All I can do now is pray and try not to get wrinkles in the process.

Since I have to cover up the constant redness on my face, I have to use foundation. Mostly I just use it to cover up the troubled area around my chin and nose. Used without a primer the foundation usually runs down my face after a few hours. By the end of the day at work, I just can't wait to get home to take my make up off and forget about constantly touching up my face with powder.

After doing some reading about cosmetics, I decided to try a primer. It can't hurt, right? I am currently trying out a bunch of Korean products and I heard good things about Holika Holika primer. Holika Holika is a lower end Korean brand famous for its enchanting purple designs. I ordered mine from Pretty and Cute, my go-to online store for cheap Korean cosmetics (but not cheap in quality!).

This primer promises oil control, matte finish and longer make up adherence. It is supposed to cover up pores and wrinkles to create a sort of a canvas for foundation and powder. I personally think primers are kind of magical and I don't know why I haven't used them before.

This one goes on the skin very smoothly and feels very hydrating when on. At first I was a little bit concerned because when I put it on, it felt a little dewy on my skin. I was not sure how long I had to wait for it to dry. I was preparing for a music festival that would last for eight hours, so I had to make sure that my make up was perfect. I was not patient enough to wait for the primer to dry ( and now I think may be I am not even supposed to) and put foundation all over my face with a technique I just learned (a topic for another post).

I don't want to sound overly excited but my foundation looked perfect. I had a few break outs that day, so I had a lot to cover up, but I was very happy with the result.  I still looked like I had heavy make up on, but my face looked as close to perfect as it could get in years.

Now, you ask, what happened with my face during those eight hours? Almost nothing! Well, except all the fun I had. Despite all the dancing and tons of people around, my make up stayed almost untouched for more than eight hours. I did have to blot slight shine a couple of times, but I could easily have gone without it. I have never been more impressed with cosmetics than this primer.

I wore it a few times after that and it had the same effect on my skin. Do yourself a favor and buy this product if you want your foundation to look good!

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Will make your make up look perfect.

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer Review.

If anyone ever told you that oily skin does not need moisturizers, do not listen to that person. Your skin has to be constantly moisturized, day and night.  Of course, people with oily skin should be careful about what kind of moisturizer they use, but that does not mean you can abandon it all together.

Case in point: I never used moisturizer because I was under the impression that my level of hydration was good enough without it. My skin at the time was the worst I have ever had: break outs and dry patches all over the place. I went to a cosmetologist who told me that my skin was very dehydrated and that I should start using moisturizers day and night.  After I started using two different types of moisturizers for the morning and the evening, I noticed a great difference in my skin tone and skin elasticity. Even though I still get break outs, I do not suffer from dry patches and my break outs are easier to cover up because my skin is smoother.

Fast forward a year, and I am looking for a good day moisturizer that can help keep my skin moisturized at the same time reducing oil production. I found Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer while I was doing research about Korean cosmetics. While Naruko is a Taiwanese brand, it is a well known brand in Asia that has great reviews from bloggers.

I ordered the moisturizer from Pretty and Cute, an online store specializing in Korean cosmetics. It arrived pretty fast and I was treated to a nice plastic bottle with cute colors:

This moisturizer is designed specifically for oily, acne prone skin and is promised to decrease oil production and make the skin less shiny. Here is the description from  the company's website:

The instructions of their website ask to use a cotton pad to pat the face with the moisturizer, but I don't use a cotton pad for this step as it seems wasteful to me. I just distribute a few drops of the lotion in the palm of my hand, rubs my hands together and pat gently on my face. 

As you can see, this moisturizer's texture is very watery, almost transparent. It is definitely a moisturizer meant for already oily skin.

Upon contact with the skin it feels extremely light-weight and leaves a slightly cooling sensation that I am assuming is due to the mint essential oil content. It is absorbed quickly into the skin and hardly leaves any trace. I have been using it for a couple of weeks and I think it is definitely making a difference in the oiliness of my skin. My skin feels moisturized and supple. I notice that towards the end of the day, it is just barely shiny and my make up stays on longer. 

I feel good about this product, especially considering that it has no parabens, preservatives or artificial ingredients. I will definitely use it in the future provided I dont get any weird break outs from it. I am not sure it would suit dry skin very well though as it seems like it is more suited to oily/combination skin.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Keeps the skin moisturized while making it less oily.

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], Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Witch Hazel (Hammamelis Virginiana) Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Phragmites Kharka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Cellulose, Propanediol, Silica, DImethicone, Zinc PCA, Ethyl Alcohol, Prioctone Olamine, 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)

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum Review.

This is my first post and I am really excited to share my thoughts with you. In my first post I am going to write about Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum.

My skin is generally troubled with acne and enlarged pores and I have spent literally years trying to find something that works, to no avail. In the last year or so I pretty much gave up on skin care and was pretty lackluster in cleansing and moisturizing my skin. I guess the point was, why should I care if nothing really works? The only thing that I use religiously is sunscreen. I put it on every day, regardless of weather or my activities.

In my search for a new and better sunscreen I came across a few blogs regarding Korean cosmetics. Apparently, Korean women have a very elaborate skin care routine which results in amazing and clear skin. This is actually a topic for a separate post!

Long story short, I was convinced to completely revamp my almost non-existent skin care routine and purchase a whole bunch of Korean products to be used on top of each other in the evening and daytime. Among those products was Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum.

To be honest, when I bought the serum I did not realize that it was made by a Taiwanese company. But no worries, apparently Taiwanese cosmetic companies are quite famous in Asia and utilize latest research in skin care, the same as Korea. Naruko was founded by Niuer, a Taiwanese beauty expert, who is extremely popular there.

Here is the product description from Naruko website:

As you can see, serums are used after your basic cleansing and toning steps. It is an extra step that is usually omitted from a normal Western routine, but is considered very important in Korea. Serum is a much more concentrated product than a typical moisturizer and contains a lot more active ingredients. Serums are intended to be used prior to a moisturizer as a way to prepare your skin to further steps in your routine. Serums target different skin problems and should be chosen according to your skin needs.

This particular serum is intended to keep your oil balance under control. Its consistency is very watery and light and it goes on the skin very smoothly.  It has a strong herbal smell and produces a slightly cooling sensation when it touches the skin. It dries almost immediately leaving the slightest layer on the skin which I am assuming absorbs the excess oil. I have been using it for a couple of weeks now and can honestly say that it definitely controls oil production during the day. My skin still breaks out, but not so much and it does not look very shiny. I am not sure whether it's the combination of all the new products I am using or this product in particular, but my skin looks healthier and smoother.

I actually want to see how my skin feels after a couple of months of using it. I am super excited to have better skin for the summer, so I don't have to wear so much make-up.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Makes skin less oily during the day.

Ingredients (from Naruko USA website):


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, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Witch Hazel (Hammamelis Virginiana) Extract, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Vitamine B3 (Niacinaminde), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Menthyl Lactate, Menthol, Ethyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Sorbeth-60 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dimethicone, Sclerotium Gum, Piroctone Olamine, 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)