[REVIEW] COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

Today, I'm back with Part 2 of the Snail skincare regimen. As I've introduced the Cosrx Snail 96 Essence review, I'm following up with the cream.

"This Advance Snail All in One Cream that supports natural regeneration of damaged skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles."

I have to admit, until recently where I finally purchased a moisturizer that has SPF built in it, I didn't use sunscreen on a daily basis. I've tried so many in the past that were just too heavy, sticky, or shiny that I just didn't bother using it.  Now that I'm approaching my thirties, I'm just more mindful of my skin.  If this product addresses both wrinkles and skin damage, I'm all for it. 

PACKAGING

This is very much a traditional tub of cream. Though, if given the choice I would much prefer it in a squeezy tube or a pump bottle. The plastic divider between the tin lid and the actual product stops things from getting messy. I'm also really happy they've included a plastic spatula because dipping your fingers into products is not hygenic at all.

As you pull up the plastic divider, you will see that a lot of the cream sticks to the it. The cream is slimy and it stretches so it can get a bit messy if you're not careful. 

Like the essence, there isn't any scent to this product.

It's kind of an opaque gel-cream. It stretches a lot! Luckily the little spatula is able to scoop some out without mess or fuss. 

This is how it looks on the skin. It spreads out thinly and nicely but doesn't absorb immediately. When it does try, I'm happy to say that it's completely matte. My skin usually feels velvet soft afterwards with no signs of the initial gooeyness.

PERFORMANCE

As I've mentioned in the previous post, I really enjoy the CORSX Snail 96 Mucin Essence. That one I find is highly moisturizing and absorbent. I thought I would feel similarly for the Advance Snail 92 All in One Cream but that's not the case. Although the cream is much thicker and slimy, I don't think it's as effective as the essence. As a cream, it's the final step in my skincare regimen. It comes after the essence. However, it's not as moisturizing. I don't know if it's just because of the dry Canadian climate but my skin stills feel a bit dry after wearing this. This wasn't the case with the Scinic Snail Matrix Cream. Not to mention, this takes such a long time to absorb compared to everything I've ever use. The only benefit is that it dries off without a trace. 

OVERALL

I'm not a big fan of the tub packaging nor is this product hydrating enough for the climate I live in. I still enjoy that it feels light and dries down to a completely matte finish. If you're just looking to purchase one item from this snail line, go with the Essence. You'll get much more concentrated stuff and it's more effective. I'm still looking forward to trying other things from CORSX. Next pick on my list - CORSX Rice Ultimate Nourishing Overnight Mask.

2 comments corsx, korean beauty, moisturizer

[REVIEW] Snoopy Limited Edition Skinfood Royal Honey Good Moisturizing Cream

When Skinfood came out with the Snoopy Collaboration, I was so excited. It was actually this product that I saw first on Instagram of the collab. I can tell you, I was immediately in love with the packaging. Skinfood skincare has always done pretty well with my skin so I knew that it was a brand I could trust for my skin. Good skincare + super cute packaging = I needed it.

Skinfood Royal Honey Good Moisturizing Cream has been around long before the Snoopy collaboration but it was only with the adorable good packaging that I really paid attention to it. 

CLAIMS

"Free of 10: Mineral oils, methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, silicone oils, talc, triclosan, triethanolamine, polyacrylamide"

100-hours of hydration 

I love it when products come sealed. It makes a world of a difference to me!

This product comes in a squeeze tube with 200g of product. I really love how it's in a tube form. Most of the creams I've been using lately have all come in a jar form. More often than not, I'm in a hurry or don't have a q-tip around to scoop products out. It's truly my pet peeve when I get cream underneath my nails. I'm just constantly thinking about contaminating the rest of the product even though I know I washed and dried my hands. This tube, although quite large, really allows me to squeeze the right amount out. 

TEXTURE

The texture of the cream is lovely.  It's not too runny where it will just ooze out of the tube without pressure nor is it too thick where it would get stuck in the tube. It's just perfect, it really is. When you touch it, it feels light, almost like a gel - cream and upon spreading, it becomes almost watery.

PERFORMANCE

Since I've been using only this product as my skincare since I got it, I feel comfortable giving a review on its performance. As a product that can be used on the body and on the face, I really wasn't expecting much. However, I have to say, I really, really enjoy this cream. It's a simple, hydrating cream and that is completely true to its name, Good Moisturizing Cream.  Previously I've been mixing argan oil in my moisturizer to keep my skin supple, however with this, there's no need to do that. Ever since I started using this cream, I haven't really needed anything else. The watery-cream consistency allows the cream to smooth out onto my skin easy and sink in right away.  It feels really light and gives me a sense of hydration right away. The only drawback is that there is an ever, so slight, barely noticeable stick to it when I apply it on my face. On my hands, it just sinks right in and disappears. It really leaves my skin feeling nice, moisturized and smooth which is amazing because it's winter in Canada right now.  It also does well under makeup. My BB cushion applies on easier and does not cake on top of this cream. 

Although its name includes the eye catching Royal Honey, it doesn't really say anywhere on the box how this will make the cream more effective. You'd think that if it's named after something, the ingredient should be somewhere near the top of the list. In this case, honey extract and royal jelly are actually somewhere in the middle of the ingredient's list. Despite this, the ingredients list consist of some really beneficial top ingredients which include Water, Glycerin, Olive Oil, and Macadamia Oil.  True to their brand name, Skinfood, skincare is essentially what your skin eats and it makes me feel good about using this product knowing that it's made with good things and without the 10 ingredients listed in the claims.

SCENT

The scent is the only downside to this product. It smells unpleasant.  Two people have confirmed with me that theirs also smell the same so I'm sure mine isn't defective. I've been trying really hard to pinpoint what it smells like and all I can say is, it smells like a farm + plastic. When the cream is first applied to the face, the scent is noticeable and it's not appetizing. It fades after 5 to 10 minutes but it's still something to consider if you're sensitive to smell. On the good side is that it means there were no added fragrances which we all know are not good for skin anyways. 

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE ORIGINAL?

The original comes in 100g for 13 000 Won ($13USD - roughly) whereas with the Snoopy Limited Edition only 200g size is available for 20 000 Won ($20 USD).  Since they're under the same name, I would think they're the same product just in different packaging. Besides the difference in the appearance of the tube, I've also read in some reviews that the original is scentless.

OTHERS

There are actually a lot of products under the Royal Honey line. Here are some of their staples.

OVERALL

I really like this product for its mess free application. It's been gentle while super hydrating on my skin. With 200g of product, I can imagine that this will last me a while.  The only downside is the scent which is something to consider. I'm also curious to try other products in this line. Currently, I've got the BB Cushion to test out.

9 comments moisturizer, review, Skinfood

[REVIEW] IOPE Ultimate Hydro Cream

Moisturizers are one of the key skincare products that we use, yet choosing the best one for our skin is a really hard task. Today I will telling you about the cream that I've been using this past year. It's the IOPE Ultimate Hydro Cream. Readers of my blog know that I usually use Korean road shop skincare because I think they're just as awesome as higher end brands. However, I've heard amazing things about IOPE's skincare ranges and decided to give it a try.

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3 comments cream, iope, Korean, moisturizer, review

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream Review

Hello everyone~ how are you doing today?

Today, I'll be reviewing the cream I've been using for the past two months - Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream. Back a few months ago, during the Winter here in Seoul, this cream was extremely popular. It was showcased in Get It Beauty and Star Beauty show which lead to tons of Korean women buying this. What makes this cream and this line of products different from the rest is its special ingrediant: Ceramide - a lipid molecule.

I was hesitant to buy this as it is extremely hyped up and ususally I don't do so well with hyped up products. But as this Winter seemed drier than previous winters, I was really desperate for a cream that would get rid of the dry patches I got. 

I bought this at Olive Young in Korea but you can also purchase it at Sephora. 

Price: 45 000 Won (@ Olive Young) / $57CDN (@ Sephora Website)  - 50ml / 1.6 Fl.Oz.

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Claims According to Sephora Website:

What it is:
A lightweight cream to moisturize the skin. 

What it is formulated to do:
This lightweight cream with the power of microcapsule ceramides hydrates the skin barrier from within, preventing chronic water loss. Dry, rough skin instantly becomes plumped with all-day, time-release moisture. It enhances the skin’s natural strength and function for smoother, softer skin. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates 
- Phthalates 

Ingredients:
-Ceramide 3: Provides time-release moisture. 
-Licorice Root Extract: Soothes and provides anti-redness properties. 
-Portulaca Oleracea and Aloe Vera: Calm irritated skin and hydrate. 
-Panthenol: Alleviates signs of sensitivity and softens skin.

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Claims on the Packaging:

- nutrient - enriched cream

- plumps & seals for dull, dry skin

- Dermatologist Tested

- strengthens the skin's natural protective barrier

- enriched texture cream hydrates deep with ceramides for long lasting moisture

- rough and dull skin into a hydrated healthy glow

Directions: For best results apply Ceramidin Cream over Ceramidin Liquid morning and night.

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Packaging:

It comes in a simple squeeze tube - like toothpaste. It remains me of ointment. Absolutely nothing fancy about it. The casing of the tube is harder than regular toothpaste tubes so you have slightly more control over how much you want to squeeze out. As I got nearer to finishing this product, I was able to roll the tube up to sqeeze out the remaining product. It's quite expensive so I want to use up every last bit.

Scent: This does have a scent. It's smells like medicine but it's quite faint so I didn't find it bothersome. It does go away after a minute. 

Performance:  Although it looks like a heavy thick cream, it really doesn't feel so. It spreads out on the skin easily and absorbs quickly. It leaves the skin feeling really moisturized and not stickly at all. After I first apply this, I can feel a cool sensation from the cream for a few minutes. When I first used this product, I thought it was making my skin oily but later on, I realized that my oilyness was due to the changing seasons and not this cream.

I applied this cream during both day and night. During the day, I apply this before makeup. It really allows my bb/cc cream to apply extra smoothly onto my skin without any problems.  I love how my bb/cc cream don't roll up under this product. In terms of longevity of my base makeup, I don't think this cream necessary made it stay on longer than usual. It does provide a subtle glow to the skin that shows up even after I've applied my bb/cc cream. I notice that on the Star Beauty show, one of the girls mixed this in with their bb cream to create a more moisturized application so you can do that as well. During the night, I apply this as the final step to my skincare routine. By morning, my skin still feels really moisturized and supple.

I really think this product does what it claims to do in strengthening the skin's barrier in the long run and keeping the skin moisturized for a long time. It's really amazing as a hydrating cream for people with sensitive skin as it hydrates like a heavy cream but does not feel heavy. It also didn't clog any pores. When I broke out last month, I cut a lot of products out of my skincare routine but I trusted this product enough to continue using it. Dr. Jart made a lot of claims but for the most part I really think this product fulfilled them. It also got rid of my dry patches slowly.

However, although this product really keeps the top layer of skin moisturized, I think you still need a light cream or serum under it.  With this on, my skin feels soft and supple but I noticed that after I clean my face of this product, my skin didn't feel all that soft. So to me, this product is almost like a sleeping pack that you wear all day. It's good for sealing in moisture and for protection but I don't think that it really adds moisture deep into your skin, you need another product to do that. It never claim to provide  moisture deep into your skin in the first place anyways. Perhaps this is why it recommends you to apply this over the Cermidin Liquid.

The Good:

- did everything that it claims to do 

- great for sensitive skin

- creates a hydrating and protective layer throughout the day and night

- without Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates

- absorbs quickly

- the packaging is travel friendly as it isn't bulky.

The Bad:

- expensive, especially outside of Korea.

- moisture seems to be only at surface level 

Overall:

I think this is a great, gentle, cream for surface hydration, especially in the Winter time and for people with sensitive skin - we all know how hard it's to find a product like this. However, please also check out the Ceramidin Liquid when you're considering on purchasing this product.  This product has been great at moisturizing the top layer of my skin but that's just it. It's a simple product. No brightening, no scar removing, no oil control, no other frills. 

1 comment Dr. Jart, Korean, moisturizer, skincare

Collective Korean Skincare and Cosmetics Haul: Dr. Jart, Skinfood, Kiss Me Heroine Make, Innisfree, Missha

As you all know, Spring is coming around and so many stores have launched their spring collections. They've done an amazing job as well. Among my favorite collections are Skinfood's Milky Rose Collection and Missha's Lotta and Wanna collection. Everytime I walked into those stores, I can't help but want to pick up something. Here are some of the things I've picked up over the past two weeks. Some products are repurchases. 

Skinfood Rosy Essence Moist Make-up Fixer: When Skinfood's Spring collection first launched, I knew I had to get something. I really love the packaging. I needed a makeup fixer for the humidity of the summer anyways.

Skinfood Rose Essence Soft Cream Blusher in 02: I'm a big fan of this color because it's so natural and beautiful. It's a cream that once applied and spread becomes matte. It's incredibly easy to use and easy to spread out without losing it's color. You can also build up color.

Missha Time Revolution Aqua Youth Cream: I've ran out of my Primera Watery Cream so I thought this might be a good replacement. Boy was I wrong. I tried this twice before I gave up. Both times, my skin stung. I love the classy packaging though.

Innisfree Eco Science Eye Cream: This is the third time I've repurchased this. It's my favorite eye cream so far. I really like how it feels and the convenience of the pump dispenser.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara: This is a repurchase as well. It came with a box of three Smooth Gel Shadow Pencils. The packaging says Made in Korea but I'm pretty sure this is a Japanese brand.

Missha Glossy Lip Rouge in Wanna Coral: I've finally gotten over my fuschia lip phase and entered a pink-coral phase. This is the color chosen for their Wanna Coral Collection and it was the initial lipstick that sucked me into Missha. There are three in the Wanna collection: Wanna Orange, Wanna Pink, and Wanna Coral. This lipstick is really smooth and glossy. It doesn't last long at all though.

Missha Signature Glam Art Gloss in Lotta Coral: While I was browsing around Missha, I found out that they had two main collections: Signature Lotta and Wanna. This is the gloss chosen for the Lotta Coral collection. I debated in getting this or the color above but I ended up getting both. This is a beautiful pink with coral undertones. It's not sticky at all.

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream: This product has been raved about everywhere. I've seen it on a few Korean beauty shows now and on tons of blogs. After I had that stinging reaction with the Missha cream, I decided to try this out instead. It's made in Korea but I've heard that you can buy this at Sephora as well.

6 comments blush, eye cream, eyeliner, haul, Heroine Make, Innisfree, Kiss Me, Korean, Korean cosmetics, makeup, mascara, missha, moisturizer, skincare, Skinfood, spring collection

Primera Watery Cream: Alpine Berry Alpine Strawberry Sprout Review

Hi everyone, today I'm reviewing the highly hyped Primera Watery Cream Alpine Berry! Primera is a relatively new brand that launched under Amore Pacific. (Amore Pacific is a large company that owns many Korean businesses such as Etude House, Innisfree, Iope, Hera etc. ) The thing that makes Primera different from other brands is that it focuses on pureness and nature. This cream has been highly raved about in the Korean beauty community and it is also the first Primera product that I have tried.

Primera in Myeongdong

This is really how the inside of the store looks like! I feel very peaceful when I'm inside because it looks so clean like a very ideal fictional science lab that studies plants. Their store and their packaging reflect their image - that they are very simple, natural and very scientific. Sadly, at the moment there's not a lot of English information on this brand nor their products.

You can open the box to read some information on the inside.

Main Claim: A cream that provides rich hydration with alpine strawberry and aloe vera leaf extract whiel vitalizing the skin with papaya fruit extract containing vitamin C and keratinoid.

What makes this product so amazing:

Onto the actual product!

Packaging: The lid is a simple round, white plastic lid. The jar is a light blue glass. There is a thin cover between the lid and the jar. It's a bit heavy because of the glass. I like how the simple and pretty it looks.

Consistency: It has a gel- cream consistency. The gel is able to hold its shape a little when you take it out of the tube. It feels very slippery and spreads easily on the skin.

Scent: It has a very herbal scent. It really smells a bit like ginger to me.

Performance: I use this cream twice - three times a day - morning, aternoon (after nap), and night time after my toner and serum. It feels cool as I spread it over my face and sinks into my skin right away. Although it has a very slippery feel when you touch it -  almost like an oily cream, it doesn't feel oily at all. It feels very light and it hasn't clogged any pores. I've used this cream for about 4 weeks now  and I'm half way through my jar.

Although it claims to be a cream that provides rich hydration, I don't think it does. After switching to this cream from Scinic Snail Matrix Cream, I noticed that the areas around my nose felt a bit dry and flakey and the skin aroud my cheeks had a slight tight and dry feeling. It could be that it's winter here in Seoul and the floor heating system is making everything much much drier that any other season. However, I am still a bit disappointed in this cream because the Scinic Snail Matrix Cream and Nature Republic Watery Max Cream were able to perform during this time of the year but this cream could not. Not to mention, this cream is much more expensive than those two. The Primera Watery Cream retails for 35 000 Won - about $35 U.S.D. 

I was also really excited about the natural ingredients and I had hoped that it would treat my skin well but I don't know how exactly how effective the ingredients are either since I don't have the full list of ingredients, just the main three which were listed on the box. I haven't really noticed any positive changes in my skin other than the nose area becoming a bit drier.

This cream wears fine under makeup. It doesn't make my bb cream roll up as some creams do. (*cough* the newer version of Nature Republic Watery Max Cream).

You can see that even though it is a gel-cream texture, it still holds its form pretty well.

It spreads easily across the skin like a gel, leaving no residue nor stickiness.

In the After picture, you can see that the skin looks more moisturized.

Price: 35 000 Won

Overall:

I'm not really impressed by this cream. I really like the texture but it just doesn't live up to the claims. I think there are many more affordable creams out there that can do  a much better job in taking care of my skin. Maybe I will try this again in the Summer but with its high price tag and lackluster performance, I'm not sure. If you live in a more humid area or planning to use this cream in the spring or autumn, it may hydrate your skin better than it has for mine.

2 comments cream, moisturizer, Primera

The Face Shop: Arsainte Eco-Therapy Super Gel Review

I've always preferred gel moisturizers over cream moisturizers and when I found this, I was hopeful that this would be hydrating enough for the winter. When this went on sale at The Face Shop, I bought one.

Claims:

"Super size gel cream that contains iceberg winter provides moisture to skin, Phyto-hyaluronic acid water creates moisturized outer layer of skin, giving it a glowing radiance."

"Containing 1, 000mg of iceberg Water from Newfoundland, Canada and 1,000mg of Phyto-Hyaluronic acid water"

Directions: After using toner and emulsion, dispense an adequate amount and apply evenly to the skin in an outward direction. (or better cooling and soothing effect, recommended to keep it in the fridge.)

- Formula without 7 additives

- Dermatology tested

- No animal sourced ingredients

- Respect the environment

If you look closely at the gel, there appears to be micro shimmers. They don't appear on the skin.

Performance:

When I used this in the winter, I hated it. It didn't provide enough moisture and make my skin feel dry and hard.  Many reviews say that this gel is moisturizing enough for the winter, but I think that truely depends on your skin and where you live. When I used this in the summer, it made my skin feel really smooth and soft. The gel spreads easily over the face and absorbs relatively quickly. In the winter it created a layer that felt a bit slick but in the summer it is absorbed completely. (* I live in Seoul where the winters are very dry and the summers are very humid but the air conditioners are always on, thus more dry air). 

I think this is one of the most moisturizing gels for the summer. I really struggle finding a good moisturizer for the summer months. Creams like Nature Republic Super Aqua are too heavy, and aloe gel alone is too light. I find that this gel is heavy in moisture yet aborbs really quickly.

I don't know how to describe the scent of this product. It's not floral nor fruity. It's kind of strong and vaguely like lemons, kind of acid-like. Once, it is applied to the skin, you won't be able to smell it anymore.

Ingredients:

What I Love About It:

- It is a heavy duty gel moisturizer that is strong enough against the summer A/Cs

- It's  really affordable for 100ml of product

- Absorbs quickly

- Doesn't clog my pores

What I Don't Love About It:

- It creates a slick layer in the winter

- Not moisturizing enough to use year - round

- Smell takes a while to get used to

Rating: B

This gel is really good for dry skin in the summer but it is not enough in the winter. It doesn't do anything special either besides providing moisture and the smell is not for everyone.

Leave a Comment gel, Korea, Korean, moisturizer, skin care, The face shop