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

Tony Moly Floria Nutra-Energy Miracle Serum with Argan Oil [ AntiWrinkle Functional Proudct] Review

I've been looking for a good serum for a long time. Moisturizer after toner no longer felt enough. Moisture, brightening, and wrinkle prevention are the things I look for in a good serum. Also, it should not clog my pores.

The first time I tried this serum was when I received a small sample of it with a Tony Moly purchase. I didn't expect it to be so oily. In fact I had applied it on my face right before boring a car to go on a trip. It didn't absorb very fast at all and left my face looking as if I had oiled it (which, truthfully, I did BUT I had expected it to absorb ). Anyways, my co-worker told me my face was much brighter than the day before, and thus I went out and bought the full size.

This serum is part of the Tony Moly Floria Nutra- Energy line. This line contains a well raved toner, emulsion, cream, essence, and i think a massage pack.

Claims:

" This rich & full - body textured serum which utilizing the natural and argan oil base, delivers skin empowering and moisturizing effects into skin. It gives rich and soft touch; and facial tone will look significantly lifted and visibly brilliant with the vibrant presentation "

Directions:

"After cleansing, apply adequate amount o fthe product to all over face and neck. Use morning and night. For all skin types."

Performance: This serum lives up to its claims, my face does feel so soft and moisturized the morning after application. It also looks a lot brighter.

You'll want to apply this only at night time as it does leave your skin looking very shiny and oily. I find that if you mix the serum with moisturizer, then it absorbs quicker and also cancels out the shiny and oily effect. 

Some people say serum should be used before toner, but I tend to use this after my Missha Time Revolution Essence and ampole. I feel as if the Essence helps the serum absorb better and also because I feel that anything applied after the serum will have a harder time being absorbed by the skin.

Price: 24 000 Won for 35ml.

What I love about it:

     - It is effective. I can see that my face looks much brighter the next morning.

     - It smells lovely, very relaxing.

     - It is very moisturizing

     - It doesn't clog my pores

     - Comes in a convenient pump dispenser

     - Bottle allows you to see how much product you have left (VERY important)

     - Made with a lot of natural ingredients

     - The ingredient list is impressive.

What I don't love about it

     - It takes a long time to fully absorb which leaves you with a face looking so oily that you'll just want to apply this at night only.

     - Expensive for a Tony Moly item, 24 000Won for 35ml.

Texture: thick and slick. It feels slightly thicker than olive oil but definitely oily. They say that if you use oil products on your skin, you're going to be less oily than if you had used a oil-free product. The reason for this is because your skin produces oil to keep your skin hydrated. If you use an oil base product then your skin may not need to produce so much oil on its own.

Availability:  I purchased this in a Tony Moly store in Korea but I'm sure there are many online stores or ebay that sell it. The prices are probably going to be higher than 24 000Won.

Rating: A+

This is by far the best serum I've used so far. I will repurchase this after I finish up this bottle. It comes in 35ml but it has lasted me for about half a year, as I tend to only use this at night time.

Leave a Comment argan oil, Korea, review, serum, skin care, Tony Moly

Étude House Flower Moistfull Cream Review

The first thing I notice about this moisturizer is its smell. It is heavily scented.  It is not a bad smell, very floral and very pleasent. I remember my coworker asking me if I had sprayed perfume in the room after I had opened the jar, but maybe he is just sensitive to smells.

Although on the packaging, it says cream, I think it is definitely more of a gel.

Another unique thing is that it is made of various kinds of flower extracts. I was skeptical at this claim until I checked the ingredients on the box and indeed listed on the box are vairous flowers.

Claims: 
"Moistfull Flower is formulated with Baobab Tree extrct to relieve and replenish dry skin with abudant moisture and a Cherry Blossom Floral complex to help nourish, soothe and protect the face."

Directions: "Apply cream to all areas of the face and neck as the final step in skincare."

Performance: This is a great cream for the spring or summer seasons but too light for winter. It applies on smoothly and leaves a slight sheen. It requires a few minute to become fully absorbed into the skin. When you apply this into your skin, you can smell the soft, floral frangrance of the gel - cream.  I love that there are so many plant extracts in this cream but it didn't make my skin brighter or softer. It didn't clog my pores at all and it didn't irritate my skin. It just did the basics, which is keeping my skin moisturized, as well as making my skin smell good. Maybe on younger skin, it will have a stronger effect.

Texture: It has a gel texture which smooths onto the skin easily. If you look closely, you can detect a slight shimmer in the gel, when applied, the shimmers disappear.

Price: 16 000 Won for 50ml

I love the pink glass jar with micro shimmers in the glass. The cap is pink and plastic.

What I love about it:
- Lovely fragrance
- Gel texture
- Basic hydration
- Contains many plant extracts
- Cute glass jar

What I don't love about it:
- Didn't do anything special but provide hydration
- Doesn't absorb quickly


Rating: B
If you're young (teens) and looking for a great basic, affordable moisturizer for the summer or spring and is not sensitive to scent, I would highly recommend this. Don't expect it to do anything more than provide basic hydration though.

Leave a Comment etudehouse, Korean, moisturizer, skin care

Innisfree Canola Honey Pack & Cream Review

This was my first sleeping pack. I never realized the need for a sleeping pack until I tried a sample of this. After all the serum and moisturizer that goes into skin, I couldn't imagine adding another layer on top of that but I guess being in Korea, with the whole skincare craze, I've changed from being girl with one bottle of lotion to a girl who owns a drawer of skincare. 

As far as I know, the Innisfree Canola Honey line only has three products, the honey mist, serum, and sleeping pack & cream. I've tried the serum in packs and it didn't impress me at all. The sleeping pack is by far my favorite, even among all the other sleeping packs that I now own. 

Claims:

" Canola honey from Jeju island provides nourishing skin. A dual pack & cream that helps to create an elastic honey-kissed skin from deep within with its enriched hydrating and nourishing ingredients."

Directions:

" When used as a cream: following the usage order, apply an appropriate amount and softly smooth over your face and neck.

When used as a sleeping pack: apply twice the usual amount of cream and gently massage to allow formula to absorb.

When used as a wash-off pack: After cleansing, apply an appropriate amount and massage. Rinse off with lukewarm water after 5 minutes."

Usage order: Jelly mist-serum-pack&cream

Performance:

I only use this as a sleep pack because using it as a cream is far too heavy and sticky. I put this on after moisturizer before I go to sleep. When I wake up, I can still feel some of the sticky heaviness of it on my face. I rinse it off with lukewarm water and my complexion look so very bright, clear, glowy and soft.  See why I love this product? Very few products can give me this kind of result in such short time. Honey is suppose to be really good for your skin.

What I love about it:

     - makes my skin bright, glowy, soft, and clear

     - very moisturizing

     - smells like honey

     - washes off easily

     - fast results

     - 3 Free system 

     - Green complex

What I don't like about it:

     - very thick

     - a bit sticky ( I get my hair stuck to my face easily with this on )

     - Expensive 

     - definitely too shiney looking to be worn as a cream

Texture: I would say it is the same texture as real honey, a bit thick and kind of sticky. It spreads on easily but it's hard to get a thin layer of product on, which is another reason why I only use this a sleeping pack.

Price: around 23 000Won for 100ml. Sometimes, during Innisfree sales, it is 30% off.

Availability: I bought this in Korea. It will be more expensive if you buy it online.

Rating: A +

As I've mention before, this is my favorite sleeping pack. When I run out of it, I will definitely repurchase. 

   

5 comments cream, honey, Innisfree, Korea, Korean, skin care, sleeping pack

Review: Nature Republic AQUA Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream

Nature Republic's Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream has been a recipient of the Allure's 2011 award. Based on this award, I decided this must be a cream worth considering. I bought this about two months ago and have used it for everyday since. I love this cream.

Claims: "Super Aqua Max' Aqua Moisturizing cream contains rich minerals rom deep sea water and 30 kinds of pure mineral plants, delivering immediate hydrated purification. It works on the silicone gel network system, to create a thin protective film that prevents environmental damage. The natural moisturizing factors provide continuous hydration to your combination skin."

- This is from the english prints on the side of the box that housed the jar of cream. I am glad that they have english on the box as I can't read Korean. They also have some words in Chinese and Japanese.

Performance: This cream spreads easily and provides a nice cool sensation (not minty). It's fresh floral scent is relaxing and not overbearing. It has made my skin look healthy and glowy for the last two months. I currently reside in Seoul, and the weather here is becoming dryer as the winter season begins. This cream has kept my skin hydrated.

I cannot vouch for the effectiveness of having 30 mineral plants in the ingredients nor the goodness of other sea water, I just know that this cream has performed really well this past two months and did everything I expected a good cream to do.

What I love about it: It has a light fresh and floral fragrance that I can't really describe and it absorbs easily into the skin as if you had pat it with water. Some other cream will leave you with an oily sheen, but this is not like them.  I love the smell of it so much that I look forward to applying this.  It gives me a temporarily cooling feel, as if I am receiving a facial in a spa. The smell along with the feel makes application of this cream very relaxing.

What I don't love about it: Almost nothing, other than it not lasting very long which is not the cream's fault. I tend to apply this cream very liberally on my face and neck. One jar of this cream lasts me two months. If you apply just a careful amount, it may last you longer. 

* Update * Although I still love this cream for the fall and winter, I find it too heavy for Korea's humid summer. In fact, Nature Republic actually came out with two new ICE creams for the summer to replace this product.

Price: 10950 Won for 80 ml. (Around $10 US.)

Texture: As you can see from the picture above, the cream is slightly minty tinted. Fear not, the colour does not transfer onto your face (even if it did, it would probably just minimize redness - as green counters red). It applies clear and spreads easily. The more you spread and massage the cream into your skin, the more watery it becomes. 

Availability: Nature Republic is a Korean brand and is not easily available for the world outside of Korea. However, I think you can purchase it on eBay (although, like with all products purchased on eBay  you should be careful). If you are in Seoul Korea, Nature Republic is everywhere, from subway stations to subway exits. They often have 30-50% off "Nature Day" sales as well so you should look out for that. So far I have never seen this cream go on sale, probably due to its popularity.

Rating: A+

This is definitely one of my favourite purchases. It is an amazing product. I highly recommend this to people who love fast absorbing- non oily film - fresh floral scent creams.

7 comments favourite, hg, Korean, moisturizer, Nature republic, Seoul, skin care