Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask Review

*source: global.innisfree.co.kr

Claims: "Tightens pores + removes sebum + exfoliates dead skin ells + offers deep cleansing + enhances skin tone + provides cooling effects."

"This clay mask with its super volcanic cluster capsules power-fully absorbs sebum to intensively resolve pore concerns."

Directions: After cleansing, apply skin toner to refine skin texture and gently smooth over entire face, avoiding the eye and lip area. After 10 minutes, gently roll using fingertips to rinse off with lukewarm water."

4- Free System

Hi everyone, today I'm reviewing a super popular item, the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask! I've actually bought a jar of this before but I used it once and then forgotten it. It's been eight months since that time, and that jar of clay is dry and hard now. So I bought another one. I've also tired out the Original Volcanic Pore Clay Mask before, and it didn't impress me enough for me to use it continuously.

However, since this product gets so much love, I decided to try it out again. 

According to the box, this product expires 9 months after opening.

Price: 13 000Won / 100ml. It also comes in the 200ml jar. They've discontinued the squeeze tube - probably because while that is hygenic, it was not practical as this product tries up really easily.

There is no seal but there is this clear plastic cover separating the lid from the product.

Look how moist it is.

Innisfree recommends you to leave the mask on for 10 minutes. If you leave it on for more than that, it dries to this hard tight layer.

Performance:

When I first opened the jar, I was really surprised at how moist the clay looked. It was almost close to the texture of pudding. You're probably thinking no freaking way, but it's true. The previous jar I had was definitely not as soft as this one, not even when I first opened it. I checked out the manufacturing date for this jar. It's 20140509. No wonder. This is from a fresh batch!  Oh, the wonders of Myungdong. I assume that because stock runs out faster in Myungdong, the items also get a faster turnover rate. Lesson: if you want freshly manufactered products - go to Myungdong. 

The mask applied on really easily. There was hardly any resistance in the product. I applied an opaque layer on my entire face, avoiding my lips and eyes. It has a very cool feel on the skin while it was drying. As it was drying, I could feel it tightening and clinging onto my skin. The mask dried to a hard layer so it became hard to move my mouth. After the recommended ten minutes, I began washing this mask off with lukewarm water. On the box it says "gently roll using fingertips" - I've no idea what this means. I just splashed water on my face and gently massage the product off. It was really easy and I got everything off in about a minute. My skin felt very fresh and clean. I didn't notice any discomfort and I also didn't notice any of my pores being unclogged after using this product. However, I did notice that it brought drew a lot of the sebum around my nose up to surface level. At this level, I can just press my nail against the skin and sebum pops out. 

[출처] 아리따움 허니멜팅틴트, 맥 허거블 저렴이, 써머 리미티드 멜팅틴트|작성자 유주

Before 

Initial Application

10 Minutes Later - the mask has dried significantly but not as completely hard as the swatch above at the 15 minute mark. The little bumps in air pockets are due to me sweating. It's too humid!

After Washing the Mask Off - some of the sebum bits in the original picture are gone and new bits around my nose protruding.

The Good:

- drew sebum up to unclog pores

- easy to apply

- easy to wash off

- skin didn't feel striped of moisture after removing this mask.

The Bad:

- didn't completely pull out the sebum

- judging from my previous experiences, I expect this jar to start drying out in eight months.

Overall:

I've used this mask a few times now and I like it a lot. I find that it's great for the days when my skin needs to cool down and take a break from being sweaty and oily - almost everyday. Especially, with the humidity that I face in Summertime Korea, I think my pores need good care.  At 13 000Won, I'd say this is an incredibly affordable and awesome mask.

5 comments clay, cleansing, Innisfree, Korea, korean cometics, mask, skincare

Skinfood Lavender Tea Salt Mask Foam Review

"A foaming cleanser infused with lavender tea and Himalayan salt that helps moisturize skin while washing away dirt and oil. Leaves skin soft and supple, like a facial mask does."

To Use: Dispense an ample amount onto wet palms and lather. Massage skin and wash off with lukewarm water. Splash with cold water for astringent effects. 

Packaging:

It is in a simple, soft plastic, off-white squeeze tube with a soft lilac twist on lid. Some people may prefer a flip lid but since I don't use this everyday, I don't feel too bothered by it. It has a cute drawing of a salt shaker with lavender. Very simple. Very cute.

Product: 

You can easily squeeze the product out of the tube. It comes out like a thick cream with a lot of salt bits. You can definitely feel the salt but it feels very soft and gentle. It lathers up easily.

Like in the instructions, I highly recommend you to apply this product onto wet skin as it will be less abrasive.

Scent: 

It smells mostly like salt and a little bit of lavender lol. It smells relaxing and it's not overwhelming at all.

Performance:

I've had this product for over a year now. I think it was one of the first products I bought after arriving in Korea. I had recieved a sample packet of it at first and I really liked it. It's a gentle and effective exfoliator that is easy to use and smells great. It doesn't feel too abrasive nor does it strip my skin's moisture.  After washing off this product, I definitely see an immediate brightness to my skin - probably because the dead skin cells have been washed off.  My skincare products also absorb more easily after using this.  I usually use this product once or twice a week when I don't want to go through the hassle of leaving on and washing off the Skinfood Black Sugar Mask. In terms of exfoliation, I think both products are great. The Black Sugar Mask do seem to give more moisture to my skin in the long run though.

What I Love About It:

- smells really nice - very relaxing

- doesn't feel too abrasive even though it contains salt

- makes my skin feel softer

- makes my skincare products absorb more easily

- doesn't strip my skin of its moisture

- doesn't give my skin that squeaky clean feel

- easy to squeeze out of the tube

- easy to wash off

- affordable

- cute packaging

What I Don't Love About It:

- nothing

Ingredients:

Overall: 

I think this is a lovely product. I definitely recommend it because it's gentle yet effective.

Leave a Comment cleanser, exfoliator, Korea, Korean cosmetics, lavender, mask, skincare, Skinfood

Skinfood Argan Oil Silk Hair Mask Pack Review

When I first used this product, I didn't think much of it. At that time, my hair was already really healthy. It wasn't shiney, but it was smooth and silky. When I started dyeing my hair, it became really dry. It felt really dry and tangled. It wasn't until then that I truly discover the wonders of this product.

Claims:

" A hair mask pack that contains nourishing argan oil and silk to transform dry, damaged hair into healthy shiny tresses."

Instructions:

" After shampooing, remove excess water and apply to damp hair. Leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water."

You really have to follow these instructions in order to get the best effect from this product. 

INGREDIENTS: Skinfood usually has all the ingredients listed in English on their products.

Price: 7900Won for 200ml - about $7.5U.S.

Performance:

Usually after shampooing my hair, I towel try it before applying this product on. Then I go watch YouTube or do something for 10 minutes (sometimes I leave it on for 15minutes) before I rinse this product off. After drying, my hair feels so silky that it's like I have never dyed it before. One time, my hair felt so smooth and silky that it wouldn't even stay in my hair clip, it would just slip off - that is what I call truly silky. The effects on the hair eventually wears off as the weeks go by, so you really might have to use this once a week to keep your hair looking silky and smooth.  My hair definitely feels a lot healthier after the use of this product. I can absolutely feel it, but I'm not really sure as to whether or not it made my hair more shiney.  Regardless of that, this product has become of those items that I must have with me, wherever I live. No other product makes my hair feel this good and it's rather convenient and mess free. 

Even though it is an argan oil mask pack, it does not feel oily at all. When I apply it to my towel dry wet hair, it melts in with the water. It just feels like a regular conditioner. 

One thing I noticed about this product that I really didn't like is the scent. I have a hard time describing it but I think smells like rubber to me. 

I think if you already have really healthy hair that have never been dyed before, this product might not do much for you but if you have rough, tangled, or dry hair, you may see quite an improvement with the continual use of this product. 

What I Love About It:

- makes my hair smooth and silky thus extremely effective

- you can feel results after just once use

- conveniently housed in a hygenic squeeze tube.

- very affordable

- easy to use

What I Don't Love About It:

- the scent

Score: A+ 

This is a must have item for me. Every time I dye my hair, I have to use this product to make my hair feel healthy again. I don't have any other hair product that does what this product does for me. It's definitely a winner in the hair department and I will continue to buy this product until it stops being effective.

Leave a Comment argan oil, food therapy, hair, hair mask, Korea, Korean, mask, mask pack, shiny hair, silk, silky hair, Skinfood, smooth hair

Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off Review

I think this is if not the best selling and most well known Skinfood product - the Black Sugar Mask Wash Off. I would have to say I am really truly enjoying their skincare products at the moments, especially the black sugar line but their make up has been always been a bit of a let-down.

Since I'm not really a fan of super hyped up products, I put off buying this scrub for a while but now I really enjoy it. It comes in a simple white - clear tube with a twist off lid. I think this type of packaging is pretty typical for a Skinfood product. Their packaging always looks differently from the other cosmetic companies.

Claims:

"A mask that contains mineral - enriched Brazilian black sugar, and promotes smooth, glowing skin." 

Directions:

"After cleansing, massage onto damp face, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. To minimize irritation, add water or toner while massaging. Leave for 10 - 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water."

Performance:

At first I didn't really like this product. I thought it was over hyped and felt like I wasted my money... but then one day I used it again and realized that I've been misusing this product all along. Now, I absolutely love it. 

The mask is solid and hard in the tube, as you can see. I usually scrape off about a thumb size amount into my palm and add warm water to it while pressing down on it. This helps the sugar particles loosing  up and makes it easier to be applied onto the face. If you don't add enough water or loosen up the sugar with warm water, it can be really abrasive and damaging to your skin. After doing that, I gently spread the mask all over my face, avoiding eye area. I don't massage the sugar at this stage as I feel, it is still too abrasive. Then I wait about 10- 15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. As I'm rinsing the mask, the gently massage my face. After I wash off the mask, my skin looks clear and bright.

What I love about it:

- it really performs as an exfoliant and as a mask 

- it makes my skin brighter, clearer, and softer

-  smells great - it has a sweet, lemony scent 

- it makes me feel totally relax

- affordable

What I don't like about it:

- the sugar can be a bit abrasive if you don't dilute it with water

Over all:

Score: B+

I really recommend this mask if you are looking for a good exfoliant mask but the sugar could have been a bit finer. For that reason I am giving this product only a B+. 

Leave a Comment exfoliant, Korean, mask, skincare, Skinfood, sugar