Review: Skin79 Rose Moisture Mask

While browsing around Pretty&Cute, I noticed Skin79 had come out with some new masks and as soon as I saw the rose one I just knew I needed it! It smells like roses and the product contains small pieces of rose petals in it. So luxurious! The Sales Associate there mentioned if I liked it to rush back in ASAP as Skin79 was discontinuing it due to the costs. Apparently the cost of the ingredients wasn't very cost effective for the type of product? It seems to be available only on Pretty&Cute right now which is such a bummer!

Review: AmorePacific Treatment Toner Alcohol-Free Freshener

This review might be a bit odd from my normal ones. Usually I have the full sized items and can tell you how long they last and show you the packaging for them. This one actually came in a mini-set with three other items so you can test and see if you really like it before making the large purchase. I received this set as a gratis piece for winning a fragrance contest and I would like to make that clear right now that I did not actually purchase this. I will be making a review on each of the items and summarize the box and if it's worth in the end!

This review is on the third step, the Treatment Toner!

Totally off topic but is anyone else excited about the new Sailor Moon series coming out? It's like my childhood all over again~

Review: The Face Shop Natural SunAQ Power Long-Lasting Sun Cream (SPF45,PA+++)

Update on life: I'm working on a slightly larger blog post, so sorry that I've been less than attentive than normal. I'm still continuing on with my AmorePacific series, but I got some samples in the mail the other day, tried one of them out for a few days and I immediately had to write this up. Sadly, I broke my phone (it had the photos on it) beyond repair or use so I had to wait until my camera batteries would finish charging (I'm really bad at charging things). I then got super sick. -.- Needless to say, this post is a week past due...But I'm back!

 I've been using the same sun screens for quite a while and like them well enough, I just wanted to find something better or at least cheaper! So I ended up ordering quite a few samples of some sunscreens since it's starting to get a lot warmer here to see if I could find a Holy Grail! Needless to say, I did not.

Review: AmorePacific Treatment Cleansing Foam

This review might be a bit odd from my normal ones. Usually I have the full sized items and can tell you how long they last and show you the packaging for them. This one actually came in a mini-set with three other items so you can test and see if you really like it before making the large purchase. I received this set as a gratis piece for winning a fragrance contest and I would like to make that clear right now that I did not actually purchase this. I will be making a review on each of the items and summarize the box and if it's worth in the end!

Today we'll focus on the first step in this box (Yes, I totally did this out of order too. Go self! -.-), the Cleansing Foam.

Review: AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel

This review might be a bit odd from my normal ones. Usually I have the full sized items and can tell you how long they last and show you the packaging for them. This one actually came in a mini-set with three other items so you can test and see if you really like it before making the large purchase. I received this set as a gratis piece for winning a fragrance contest and I would like to make that clear right now that I did not actually purchase this. I will be making a review on each of the items and summarize the box and if it's worth in the end!

Review: Skin79's Sweet Honey Sugar Scrub

I've been starting to get really low on my Black Sugar Scrub from SkinFood and thought it was about time to venture out and get a new one as there's so many wonderful products to keep trying! I stopped by Pretty&Cute while getting some groceries and saw this was on sale (box was dinged up) and grabbed it.

Review: Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil

Hello all and sorry I've been away for an entire month! Life just gets in the way sometimes but now all is good and I can definitely devote myself to a better, regular blogging schedule. I'm super excited for some posts coming up as I just got some goodies in the mail and can't wait to see how they work and eventually show them off! Anyways! Onto the review!

Review: Skin79 Smart Clear Deep Cleansing Oil

I'm a huge fan of Skin79's facial masks, bb creams and cleansers so when I saw this in the "damaged" section of Pretty&Cute I knew I just had to get it! Their damaged section applies to the box, which you can see in the photos. I never see an issue with saving a few dollars due to the package being a bit dinged! 

Review: Skin79 Lemon Brightening Mask

Every time I go into Pretty&Cute it seems they are expanding their Skin79 line, which makes me super happy as I love their wash off, "Home Self Spa Masks." Now, when I'm there I always check out their "Clearance" section isn't the same as on their site. This area seems to be for products that have damaged packaging, or at least that's what it looks like to me. I love it as there's always something for a few dollars less for a dent in the box. Does that affect the actual product? NO. I LOVE IT. So, I bought this one at $13.50, which is only $1.50 less, but still! It's always a good idea to check the clearance or damaged sections in your stores!

Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

While walking around Myeongdong (pretty much in circles...) and getting lost actually did some wonders for me! I ended up face to face with Lee Min Ho for the first time ever. Well, kind of. Thank you store window! Even with a map and the gigantic Nature Republic store to guide me, I still couldn't find the restaurant I wanted to go to, but ended up finding an Innisfree store that was still open! They had a nice sale going on and the store was almost empty too! At the time LMH was the male spokesperson for the brand and so they had his face plastered everywhere with life size cardboard cut outs placed everywhere. Man, that boy is attractive. ANYWAYS.
My main goal this time around was to grab the Black Sugar mask from SkinFood and the Jeju clay mask from Innisfree. Both goals accomplished!

Product Info:
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
100ml

Where to get it:
Innisfree Stores: ₩12000 (I got mine with a discount sale they were having - ₩9000)
RoseRoseShop: 9.00
KoreaDepart: 12.18
Sasa: 15.70

Description:
This Jeju volcanic scoria clay mask intensively absorbs sebum and clarifies skin pores. This pure and rare ingredient, formulated from solidified lava caused by volcanic eruptions in Jeju island, absorbs impurities and sebum that are deeply embedded within skin pores.

Claims:
-Tightens pores
-Removes sebum
-Offers deep cleansing
-Enhances skin tone
-Provides cooling effects

Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trehalose, Volcanic Ash, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Clyceryl Stearate, Bentonite, Zinc Oxide, Polysorbate 60, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Orchid, Camellia Japonica, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Powder, Kaolin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, PVP, Dextrin, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Red Oxide of Iron (CI 7741)

So, here we have two potentials for irritants and a few triggers for some acne break outs. Ironic as this mask is supposed to help controlling the sebum to prevent those, but anyways!
First on the list is Cetearyl Alcohol. It's ranking a 4 our 5 for acne, and a 3 out of 5 for irritant. On the safety bar, it's still listed as safe.
Hydrogenated Veggie Oil is our last guy on the list. It's listed as an emollient ingredient and ranks a 3/5 for acne, and anywhere from a 0-1 for irritation.
There are a few ingredients on the list where the safety bar is in the yellow, or middle, but nothing red or raising gigantic flags.

Scent:
It really doesn't smell like anything actually, or at least to me anyways. I mean, it kind of has the "clayish" smell to it, but I literally have to stick my nose into the jar to even get a whiff of that.

Packaging:
The box itself is made from 100% recycled paper (ink is printed from soy ink) and can be recycled, yet again! I really love this about Innisfree as well, as they ask you to return your empties to them to recycle into new products. It feels a bit sturdier than a cardboard box, but it it is what it is. The Innisfree logo is on the top, and 2/4 sides are in Korean (does the front of the box really count?) leaving one side completely dedicated to English. It explains the concept, how to apply, and the ingredients, pretty nice eh? Although, it leaves out the nifty story about Volcanic clusters from Jeju, the Innisfree promise, the 4-free system, and their outlook on eco-friendly green life. My only complaint, is it doesn't come with a spatula or any kind of tool to get this out. I end up using a new, clean spoon every time but still a bummer!

Swatch:
Like most clay masks I've used, after a few moments you can see them change colors to show the oil it's soaking up, or how it darkens to show it's dried. This mask....does none of that. It's pretty much the same color through and through, regardless of if you use it for 15 minutes or as an overnight spot treatment. I do enjoy how it's always nice and cool though!

Results:
Even after one use I started to notice my skin looking a bit brighter, after several uses there's a definite glow there now. It's also done a significant amount of damage to the congested pores I had on my nose and cheeks. They're definitely a lot less noticeable!  It's a lot easier to put on makeup, and I really don't even need an actual primer now. My foundation used to kind of sit and fill in my pores and would require a primer to help "fill" my skin in so it didn't do that. I'm happy to say I'm able to ditch the primer as there's not a lot for the foundation to sink into anymore (those smile lines are a different story though...). So, it does work wonderfully as a mask for sure. I use a bit of it on my boyfriend's nose as well as he has some pretty bad skin (love you!), and it's helped cleared out a LOT of the pores on his face. He doesn't let me do it consistently enough, which is shame. Tsk tsk!
However, he has noticed enough of a difference that he asks if I can put some on a bit zit that's appeared. I also do the same, just a bit of spot treatments before we go to sleep if need be. It helps either eliminate the bump, or tone down the redness enough that it's hardly noticeable
I've also put some on my shoulders or back when I get a bump from my conditioner and it does help tremendously. My only complaint is that the jar is SO small! I feel like I use this up so fast in such a small amount of time which wouldn't bother me if I was still in Seoul, but being stateside and running out so fast sucks a lot. Next February I'm definitely stocking up -.-!

So for a TL;DR:
For a full face mask I'd use this once or twice a week depending on how oily your skin is.
If you feel like your nose and cheek area have enlarged pores, just use a nose mask maybe twice a week.
OR! If you feel a blemish popping up (I've done this on my face, shoulders, and back), do a spot treatment and place a small amount over the blemish before bed and wake up amazed~

Pros:
-Several ways to use this product
-Brighter skin
-Tightens pores
-Feels nice and cool while on
-Helps prevent breakouts through deep cleansing

Cons:
-Small jar!
-Shipping/price hell

Rating: 8/10
I really do love the product and the fact that it really, truly does work like it says. I really wish Innisfree would plop a shop somewhere in the states so we could empty the store daily. I enjoy not only their products, but how they view helping out the world with recyclable boxes, returnable pots, and even the ink is made from soy. How cool is that? Thank you AmorePacific for making another amazing brand for us to enjoy!
The downsides are the size of the pots and the price. You can pay a bit more and get free faster shipping, or pay less and then shipping takes forever. There's no winning here. However, I do like how they've come out with a larger 200ml tube, which also includes instructions on how to use it on the entire body!

Review: Skin79 SeaWeed Cooling Mask

Now, I'm usually pulled into buying a product for the amazing ingredients, the need for it, or even an awesome SA doing their job. Well...this one just looked nifty. Yup. I said it. I bought this and the Rose mask because they looked cool. This one as it's a bright blue see-through gel, and the rose because it had petals inside it...childish? Perhaps. It's been a few months since I've purchased them and can now finally give an in depth review on the Seaweed mask.

Review: Lioele Vita Juicy Foam Cleanser

So, I've heard tons about this brand called Lioele while in the States, but when I went to Korea...I couldn't find a single Lioele store. This left me so confused! Are they just an online store? I was told there was a store in Seongnam but never found one. Oh well...
Anyways, after the failed attempt to find a totally bright pink and Cinderella covered store (think Etude but MORE pink), I just bought a cleanser when I returned from Seoul at Pretty&Cute to try the brand out. Cleansers and lipsticks are the best way to go!

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!

Review: Mizon Pore Clearing Push Out Volcanic Gommage

I've been reading about Mizon for quite a while now but have yet to try out any of their products which is odd as their Snail Cream is such a huge hit, and I do love me some snail cream. So I finally found this mask and was absolutely loving the fact that it's clay and wondered if it was similar to the famous Innisfree Jeju mask which is almost impossible to grab where I live.

Review: Tony Moly Red Appletox Honey Cream

I really had no knowledge of Tony Moly before I went to Korea other than trying some samples I had gotten from ordering BB creams online. They were nice and worked well for how long I had them, but not a lot of places offered much information on the product or ingredient lists which made me slightly hesitant to actually purchase them. So, when I walked into one of the many TM stores in Myeongdong I wasn't really expecting much. THEN....I saw the adorable fruit section. I mean, they're so cute! I had to grab a few for my mom.....and myself of course.
Now, all the labels on the Appletox are in Korean which I am a novice in so please forgive my mistakes and let me know if I need to correct something please!

Review: SkinFood Black Sugar Mask

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had hit up a SkinFood's store in Seoul, South Korea a bit ago and wasn't really looking for things to buy for myself, but ended up grabbing a few goodies. Well, this mask is another one of those goodies!
I had heard a lot about this mask from friends in Seoul as well as seeing it in a lot of window displays around town. From working at Sephora I had heard about the whole sugar mask trend and how amazing they are for your skin as the lemon helps tone and the brown sugar is a natural, gentle exfoliant that gently polishes the complexion. Seeing as I already had the Fresh Sugar Face Polish, I was curious as to how this well this one worked.

Review: Tony Moly Tomatox Magic Massage Pack

Another Tony Moly product!  I know, I know, but I can't help it I'm absolutely addicted to their products and their store! I got this as a gift for a translation that I did, but I've used it enough to comment on how well it performs. I have such a back log from switching blog platforms, so I'm trying to get caught up with all my old reviews and such. Hopefully it'll happen soon!

Review: SkinFood Watery Berry Serum

My friend and I were shopping around the 신촌점 (Sinchon) area when I spotted SkinFood and begged her to come with me inside as my Korean was still lacking. I went in originally to grab something for my mother but after seeing how cheap a lot of the wash-off masks were I realized I needed to grab like, 10. I asked the SA  if they had a line that was specifically for dry or dull skin as 14 hours on a plane is definitely not fun for the skin. She pointed me towards the Watery Berry line and started to tell us about the different berry extracts and how it contains Sodium Hyaluronate, which is able to hold up to 1,000 times it's weight in water. I finally completed a month of use so I figured it was safe to review on it.

Review: Tony Moly Broccoli Sprout Cleansing Cream

I first got this cleansing cream as a sample when I ordered a BB cream from Missha last year. I tried it, loved it and then forgot about it entirely until I went to Seoul a few months ago. While looking around a Tony Moly store in Myeongdong I kept seeing this guy, but couldn't remember if I liked it or not. I asked for a sample but then totally forgot to try it while I was there. A total and complete failure on my part. To make it worse, I didn't even realize this until I got home and saw my sample mixed in with other samples I had received from other shops. ^^;
Luckily I live a few miles from the Pretty & Cute flagship store and my boyfriend told me to grab one immediately. I paid $16.99 at the time, but as of right now they have it on sale!

Review: SkinFood Steam Milk Bubble Mask

I was shopping at the Pretty & Cute store by my house and decided I needed more SkinFood in my life after buying and loving their super famous Black Sugar Face Mask. I saw the cute milk carton and it was pretty much decided. Yup, purchasing.