Review: Etude House Skin [Mal:Gəm] Deep Moist

One rainy day in Myeongdong, I was stuck in a corner waiting patiently for a group of school girls to finish up playing with shadows so I could buy some more makeup remover, when I first noticed this line of toners. I'm pretty sure it was the Essential one that caught my attention first as parts of it look bright orangey/yellow. I remember thinking the design was so different than the rest of Etude's packaging and I needed a new toner anyways, so I grabbed the deep moist and tossed it into my growing basket as I just couldn't help myself. Damn you Etude and your awesome packaging/design/products!

Product Info:
Etude House
Skin Mal:Gem Deep Moist
250ml

Where to get it:
(In Korea) Etude House: ₩12,000 (Roughly 11 USD)
KoreaDepart: 13.82
W2Beauty: 18.43 (sale for the rest of the month: September 2013, normally 20.48)
Pretty&Cute: 19.50 (online), 20 in store

Description: 
맑음 [Mal:gəm] - The Korean word for cleanness, clarity and pureness. Skin Malgeum hypoallergenic toners promote clean, clear and pure complexion with moisturizing and pore cleansing formulas.
As with most Korean cleansers, there's a different one for each skin type or concerns. In total they have 6 products in this line and each of these products are endorsed by a member of the Korean K-pop band SHINee, and 2NE1's Dara.
So to give a bit of insight for which one is right for you, here's a description of what each one is for.

Fresh:
(use with cotton pad)
(For Oily Skin)
Controls excess sebum while providing enough moisture to keep the skin matte.
Sebum control:6/6
Karatin Care: 4/6

Soother:
(use with cotton pad)
(Exfoliation - For Dry, Hyperpigmentation, and Trouble prone skin)
Fruit acids in green grape, exfoliate skin for keeping smooth and soft skin.
Water: 4/6
Karatin Care: 6/6

Moist:
(Tap to absorb)
(For Dry Skin)
Includes Hyaluronic acid to keep skin moist and promote the skin's own moisture
Water: 6/6
Karatin Care: 3/6

*Deep Moist: 
(Tap to absorb)
(For Dry and Sensitive Skin)
Filled with nutrients to provide the skin with sufficient vitamins.
Water: 4/6
Nutrition: 6/6

Essential:
(Tap to Absorb)
(For Combination Skin)
Gives a moisture barrier by absorbing the cream into skin.
Water: 4/6
Oil: 6/6 (I'm assuming oil control...)

Emulsion:
(Moisturizer)
All in one Moisturizer+Essence+Cream

Claims:
Deep Moisturization
Reduces Pores
Nourishes
Hypoallergenic
Tones Complexion

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Germ Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Panthenol, Orchid Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Trehalose, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Phenyltrimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

Scent:
I really do love the smell of this toner. It's a sweet, citrusy....jasmine scent? Or what I think Jasmine smells like anyways - heh. It's not a very strong scent and fades away after I've finished wiping my face with a cotton pad. Since there is added fragrance into this product, I'm not sure those who have sensitive skin or noses would appreciate this one very much.

Packaging:
The packaging is what first drew me to grabbing one. The box is fairly simple in design with light blue rain drops with black and blue writing with a white background. Plain, simple, and yet classy looking. The bottle reflects the same design as the front of the box. I'm not used to Etude looking this clean, and am more used to glitter and bright pink unicorns prancing around (not that it's a BAD thing). It makes me think it's a more grown up product I guess? The simplicity of the box and bottle is what drew me to it's corner and made me actually look at it. The box seems pretty heavy duty and perhaps made out of recyclable paper (?), which I really like. There's only one side of the box that has English on it, and it's just basic instructions and ingredients which I really appreciate. My translating isn't always up to par with some of the crazy Hangul that are involved in ingredients lists, so I always appreciate when they're in English. Of course, the fun parts of the box that explain it's many uses, how EXACTLY to use it, and a bit of a back story are in Hangul. It's not important to know, but kind of sad if you don't understand any Korean.
When I first saw it in store, the bottle actually looked like frosted glass and I was quite worried as I tend to drop things a lot, luckily for me the bottle is made out of a nice thick plastic with a twist off top. When the top is taken off, there's a foil wrapper sealing the product inside. Now, I wish I had gotten a picture of this, but I was too impatient to try it out and forgot. Oops. Again, there's very little English on the front or the back of the bottle itself... But it's really not needed I guess; as long as you know it's a toner you're perfectly fine.

Swatch: 
This is what kind of worried me when I got home. I was expecting the usual watery toner that i'm accustomed to, but when it came out thick and cloudy, I was worried I accidentally bought the emulsion instead. Nope! This is normal ^^

Results:
I love the feel and smell of this product. I had been previously using my Shiseido White Lucent toner and don't get me wrong, it did it's job wonderfully, but... This one makes my skin feel super soft and moisturized. It doesn't feel like I need to slop on a ton of moisturizer or my skin will start cracking, which I do love. I mean, who doesn't like clear, beautiful clean skin!? I started to notice a difference in my skin and how soft it looked and felt almost instantly. It just got more moisturized and definitely more even in tone with consistent use. I also love the fact that barely any product is needed to saturate the face and it leaves me with a dewy finish~

Pros:
-Moisturizes skin
-Cooling effect
-Helps even skin tone
-Very little product is needed
-Sweet smell
-Clean packaging
-The price isn't too marked up, even in the US

Cons:
-Maybe a bit of English explaining what the product actually is.

Rating:
9.5/10
I cannot wait to wash my cosmetics off just to feel the cool moisturizing feeling of this toner. I love the fact that this one has so many different uses as well. I get the fact that all toners could be used in a variety of ways, but I've never had one with directions on how to do so...so it never actually clicked to try it. I love the packaging, the smell, the price, and how convenient it is to find whether you're in Seoul or America (although I wish Etude would literally go to America!). I've been using this product for 2 months now and I've barely hit 1/4 off of this baby so its also nice to know I won't have to rush back out to buy another bottle month after month.


*Translation of Box and Bottle~

Bottle:
Front
Skin Mal:gəm
Deep Moist/Deep moisturizing
(L rain drops)
Moisture index
(R) Nutrition Index

Back
Etude House
Skin Mal:gəm - Deep moist
(Absorbing Type)
Delivers deep moisturizing milk skin between the stratum corneum (horned layer - outermost layer of the skin)
Deep Moisture Care Freshener

Manufactuer: (Shares) Course Vision
227, Daehwa-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon
Volume: 250 ml (8.45 Fl. oz)
Agency: (shares) Etude
191 Hangang-ro 2-ga Yongsan-gu Seoul, Korea
Toll Free Phone: 080.022.2285


Box:
Front
Skin Mal;gem
Deep Moist/Deep moisturizing
(L rain drops)
Moisture index
(R) Nutrition Index

Soybean embryos ingredients -5 free (parabens, artificial colors, benzophenone, animal ingredients, mineral oil)

Back
Etude House
Skin Mal:gəm - Deep moist
(Absorbing Type)
Delivers deep moisturizing milk skin between the stratum corneum (horned layer - outermost layer of the skin)

•Rich with cosmetic ingredients bring nutrition for very dry skin and deep moisturizing the skin at the same time.
•Nutrition-rich soy germ contain ingredients that give your skin moisture.
•5 free (parabens, arlytificial colors, benzo paenon, animal ingredients, mineral oil free)

***3 kinds of effects for fair skin***
With rich fruit acid mixture for moisturizing panthenol (vitamin B5), skin will shine with Orchid (i) extract.
*Fruit acid mixture (Bilberry fruit/leaf extract, sugar cane extract, lemon extract, orange extract, sugar maple extract)

How to use: Take an appropriate amount on a cotton pad or hands and apply to the skin using tap tap motions until absorbed. Finally press your palms into the skin to finish.
(Soak a soft cotton in Mal:gəm and rest on dry areas as a mask for 30 seconds if more long lasting moisture is needed.)
*Does not alone hydrate the skin, but is efficient (Use a moisturizer!).


Precautions for use:
1: Cosmetics: If irritating occurs discontinue use. If symptoms persist, such as: red spots, swelling, itching, irritation, etc, consult a dermatologist.
2:Do not use over the site of a wound, such as eczema or dermatitis.
3: Storage and handling precautions:
After use, close lid.
Keep out of reach of children
Do not store in hot or cold places, or in direct sunlight.

Manufacturer:(note) 227 Course Vision Daejeon-gu, Daehwa-dong

*If there is an error with this product, contact Consumer Dispute Resolution Criteria noticed by Fair Trade Commission. You may be able to request a return or will be compensated.

Customer Service: 080-356-2222
www.etude.co.kr


Left Side 
Skin Mal:gəm Story
Did you know that translucent skin originally emitted a light?
However, the external environment and dryness, skin gradually became dry, dead and muddy, the surface is also not flexible (We're getting wrinkles easily I believe). Even on a cloudy day, the clouds clear the sky, we found water can clear the skin, we found what we can do~~!
Imagine~
Always clear and clean baby skin~
My skin is always glowing, moist and fair!

"Skin Mal:gəm Effect"
Other methods for increasing availability

"Use two kinds at once"
Clean the type of skin (fresh, smoother), or to absorb for the type of skin (Moist, deep moist, Essential) using two-steps

"30 second partial mask"
Using cotton pads or sheets, wet them and apply to dry areas for 30 seconds.
*For best results, please take advantage of using sheets.

"Full Face Mask"
15ml is more than enough to wet the whole face mask sheet packs.
*Take advantage of Skin Mal:gəm facials.

"Use as a mist"
When dry, use it often as a mist spray.
*Take advantage of combination Skin Mal:gəm's.