CNP Laboratory Cleansing Perfecta Review

CNP Laboratory is a Korean skincare brand of which I honestly know nothing. As its name implies, I think they use a scientific (rather than cute packaging and design) approach to target trouble skin problems. Here I'll review a sample of the brand's Cleansing Perfecta.

According to the product's webpage, this gel cleanser is for all skin types and cleans the face well to rid waterproof makeup, BB cream and sun block. The directions online say to massage the cleanser on your face and rinse with warm water or remove the residue with a tissue.

This cleanser has a pleasant, slight floral scent and a white creamy gel that turns transparent. Since this is oil-free, it is very watery and therefore you don't need to dilute it with water when cleansing. However, you need to use a lot more product to cover the whole face. I like to add just a few drips of water to spread the cleanser more easily.

The Pros

• The scent is pleasant and not bothersome.
• It feels very very gentle, like nothing's on my face, yet it's still so effective in cleaning!
• Unlike many cleansers that leave a soapy feeling residing on my face, this one really quickly and easily washes off.
• Seeing how quickly my BB cream was rinsed off, it seems aqueduct for more waterproof products as well.
• My face is left being clean and matte afterwards.

The Cons

• You might need to use more product than if you were to use other cleansers.

Overall, which I'm not a fan of cleansers in general, I surprisingly do love this one! It's very quick and efficient, perfect for people like me who are lazy about their skincare routine.

SkinFood Aloe Vera Foaming Cleanser Review

SkinFood has a small line of Aloe vera cleansers that are fitting for those with sensitive skin, since these products are all gentle and soothing and non-irritating. Here I'll review the Aloe Vera Foaming Cleanser.

The description on the back states that this product is "a rich foaming cleanser that thoroughly washes away impurities and leaves skin soft and comfortable." The product's webpage adds on that the aloe extract is great for sensitive skin while the cucumber extract cleanses and moisturizes skin. The directions online say to mix the cleanser with water to foam, then gently massage your face and rinse off with warm water.

This cleanser has a metallic white sheen and feels very light and airy. It reminds me of astronaut food: solid and whole, yet with very low density. The amount pictured is plenty; this is actually abundant enough for more than two face washes. This cleanser's scent is surprisingly not like Aloe vera, but more like the typical subtle cleanly scent of cleansers.

The Pros

• This cleanser is very gentle and smooth on the skin, which is perfect for those with sensitive skin.
• The scent isn't unbearable; in fact , it's hardly noticeable.
• The texture is very light, airy and fun to play with.
• It easily foams to your desired level, depending on how much water you add.
• My face is left clean, matte and dry. (Though it may be a bit too dry for those with dry skin. I have dry-to-normal skin, and it did feel just a tad dry to me).
• Just a little product goes a long way, so this can last for quite some time.

The Cons

• While I don't have sensitive skin, my healing zits did sting for a few minutes after washing off my face.
• This seems like the same as using a bar of soap.

Overall, this foam cleanser works well as a mild cleanser. But cleansers seem only to do just that: clean the face, which I feel like soap bars would have the same effect. Therefore, those who want a gentle face wash with minimal qualities besides just cleaning the face, this is a good product. For those looking for more advantageous products (ex. exfoliating beads to rid dead skin cells), a different type of wash would be better.

SkinFood Chlorella Peeling Gel Review

One of SkinFood's classic products is the Chlorella Peeling Gel. A peeling gel is a face wash that exfoliates the skin to remove dead skin and unclog pores. I'm not really sure how this differentiates from other face washes. The description on the back states that this gel gives soft and smooth skin by removing dead skin and cleaning pores. SkinFood's website also states that this gel helps to remove blackheads.

The backside states to "gently massage over dry face." To really feel the product working at my skin, I like to use a lot of pressure to really get at my pores. It does sting a bit by using more pressure.

This gel has a translucent, pale green, watery consistency that has a light and refreshing fragrance. Once the gel has been activated by putting pressure on it, it becomes solid, pale green scraps. I usually put this amount on my fingertips, add a touch of water to make the consistency more pasty, and then vigorously scrub my face. This amount will only cover a fraction of my face.

Pros

• This gel is a great exfoliating scrub, so I guess it does its job well. I feel my acne stinging, meaning that this gel must be working well.
• I usually use this wash at the end of the day, and this product removes the oil well.
• The product is cool and refreshing to the touch.
• It washes off very easily, cutting down on my nighttime routine.
• This dries out my skin in certain areas, so it's good for those with greasy skin.

Cons

• A lot of the solidified gel scraps remain in my hair. They look like when someone wipes their tears with a tissue, and the tissue scraps remain around your eyes.
• This gel may sting those with sensitive skin.
• You need to use a lot of product in order to fully and thoroughly clean your face.
• I'm such a sucker for cute packaging, and this product does not cut it. It is a very plain and dull tube with a printed label stuck on.

Overall, I see no spectacular factor that makes this face wash better or unique compared to others. While I will continue to use this scrub for days when my face is more grimy, I'll probably want to try a different face wash next time. I'd rather save the money for a product with cuter packaging, which is my number one factor!

Shara Shara Aloe Pure Jelly Foam Review

Shara Shara is a Korean cosmetic company that isn't well known in the internet world, so I'm not able to provide much background on the brand or this product besides my thoughts of it.

This is one of Shara Shara's facial cleansers, the Aloe Pure Jelly Foam.  I have a thing for sea green and for matte finishes, so I quickly fell for the packaging despite being a basic 150 ml tube.  This tube is matte (not that it matters), and the substance inside is translucent aloe green.

The back has information in Korean, with a brief description in English that this foam cleanser has aloe to moisturize and clean your skin.  The QR code in the top right is to signify that this is a certified Shara Shara product.

Why does my hand always appear scorching red?  Anyways, the consistency is like aloe gel, but a lot more runny and diluted.  The solution is also very smooth and gentle, a plus for those with sensitive skin.  It's very translucent with just a slight green hue.  It smells light and refreshing, like lychee syrup or a mild hand sanitizer.  The amount in the photo is a good amount for my face, then I douse it with lots of water to create a white, foamy consistency.  To use, simply squirt the product in your palm, add lots of water, wash your face and rinse.

The Pros

• The foam easily washes off, leaving no soapy residue afterwards, just a clean face!
• I have combination-to-normal skin, and hours after using this wash my face is still normally and healthily dry.
• This foam is very gentle and smooth, so it's more suitable for those with sensitive skin.
• My skin has no irritation or discomfort during or after using this cleanser.
• The light aloe smell still lingers after washing.

The Cons

• Because this cleanser is more gentle and smooth, it's not a problem solver for those with target skin issues like acne.  I'll be using this product daily, along with my more medicated acne products.

Overall, I do like this product.  The mild scent and color are very refreshing, and my face does feel much cleaner afterwards.  I'll definitely keep using this as a daily cleanser.

SkinFood GoldKiwi Hydrating Mask Review

SkinFood's Gold Kiwi line mostly focuses on sun protection and whitening skin.  According to SkinFood's webpage, gold kiwis are found in New Zealand and are used to "restore your sun-damaged skin from deep under."  SkinFood's GoldKiwi Hydrating Mask especially does this, as well as moisturize and hydrate your skin sufficiently.

I received this mask as a sample from my first SkinFood purchase.  The sales representative especially recommended and praised this mask out of the 5 mask samples I received from this purchase.  If you were to purchase this mask, it's 10 of these 8ml small containers in a disposable-looking to-go drink container.  The one downfall about this style of packaging is that you can't choose how much product you want to use every time. 

The instructions online say after washing, apply and gently rub an ample amount of the product (the more you apply to an extent, the more effective), leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse off with cold water.  I was a bit confused, but I think the site also says you can apply the mask to your neck, arms and legs when they've had too much sun exposure and need moisturization.

To my disappointment, the container was less than half full with product.  In the top left photo, you can see how big this container is compared to my (super red) hand.  It was rather difficult to remove the lid.  As seen in the bottom left photo, the mask is translucent and has a pale yellow hue, with a slight citrus scent.

I applied just the excess mask (from the lid and the sides) onto my face, and that was plenty and sufficient.  But because the website states to apply an ample amount, I kept layering and layering until I had finally used up the entire container.  It took quite awhile to use up the mask and I even had to put a lot under my chin.  In the photo at the right you can see the final layering.  For the most part the mask goes on clear and glossy, but there are streaks where there is excess product.

Pros

• The mask feels very cool and refreshing on my face as I was applying it.
• The coolness of this mask reminds me of the use of aloe vera to sooth burns.  I can see why this is great for sunburns.
• My face is clean and refreshed afterwards.  I had a tough scab on my nose that was completely softed afterwards.
• My cheeks came out matte with a bit of a healthy sheen, if that makes sense.

Cons

• Because this particular mask is individually packaged for a single use, I can't choose the amount of mask to use.  This one container seemed like it could have lasted me several days.
• There is so much product on my face that it takes a lot longer to apply and to wash off.
• After applying the mask midway, the creases of my nose kept stinging.

Overall, this mask takes too much time (and product) and my results seem equal to using any other typical mask.  While it is refreshing on my face, I wouldn't use this mask often.  I probably wouldn't purchase this product, but if I attained this mask again, I would use it after being sunburned because of the aloe-like soothing effect.

The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam - Acerola Review

The Face Shop is known for using natural ingredients and for creating great skincare products, and the brand's Herb Day line fits these concepts perfectly.  Herb Day has a variety of products, such as cleansing foam, cleansing tissue wipes, cleansing cream and massage cream.  These products come in various organic flavors, with the most diverse selection of flavors for the cleansing foam.  Here I'll be reviewing my Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam - Acerola sample, which I received from my purchase at The Face Shop in San Francisco's Japantown.

I didn't know what acerola was, but based on the image it looks like a cherry.  After a quick Google search, I figured out it's a type of tropical cherry from Central and South America, as well as the tropics around the world.  The sample is entirely in English, with the front stating that this is for all skin types and the back listing the ingredients.  The Face Shop's webpage gives more detailed information on the product.  Each flavor targets a specific need; acerola is suggested for whitening skin.  The online descriptions states that this product is "a mild, natural cleanser, effective in cleansing and brightening."  To use, rub on your face until the product is foamy, and rinse off.

The consistency is rather smooth and liquidy, making it easy to use.  This cleanser has a slight pinkish hue that turns white as it's mixed.  With lots of water, it easily foams.  The amount pictured above is very abundant for washing the entire face.

Pros

• The mild, cleanliness scent isn't overpowering nor bothersome.
• My face feels and looks clean afterwards.
• It is very smooth and mild, making this cleanser gentle on the skin.

Cons

•  This product seems too mild, and seems equivalent to using plain hand soap.

Overall, as a mild cleanser or for someone with sensitive or very healthy and normal skin, this isn't a bad product. Of course, I'd have to use this cleanser frequently until I can judge whether or not my skin has gotten brighter and whiter.  In all honesty, I probably won't buy this product because it is too mild and the effects seem comparable to using an ordinary bar of soap. 

Tony Moly Latte Art Cappuccino Cream-In Scrub Review

While Tony Moly is famous for it's fruit and egg shaped packaging, the brand also has another line known as Latte Art with equally adorable products.  The Latte Art line has coffee inspired products, such as the Cappuccino Cream-In Scrub and the Milk-Tea Morning Pack, which I'll review later.

The front and sides emphasize how this scrub changes color while in use, showing that it's working. The backside has information in Korean while the bottom has information in English.

The bottom has an elaborate description and instructions in English.  The description explains all of the benefits of using this scrub, including removing dry and dead skin, providing nutrients, cleaning out pores, firming skin, slimming facial contour and leaving a smooth and glossy finish.  Much of this seems a bit bogus, but it does work as a general scrub for me.  The instructions say to rub the scrub on your face until the scrub changes color, then rinse off with lukewarm water.

The packaging, not the product itself, really won me over.  The "stirring spoon" comes straight out from the top and can be used to stir and scoop up the scrub!  I guess this feature is more for those who want to be sanitary to scoop out the scrub, but then the spoon slot will get all covered in excess scrub, which isn't good.  Also the top is adorable, showing cute latte art. 

 

The bottom of this "cup" has information in Korean and the date of production.  To open, simply screw off the top portion.  Sadly despite having a protective slip, a bit of product still spilled into the inside of the lid.   The top right photo reveals that the product isn't full to begin with.

The scrub itself is very coagulated.  You can kind of see that where I dipped the scrub, there is still an indent in the cup one day later.  The scent is of unsweetened coffee (maybe that's how cappuccino smells like?), not as strong or sweet as the SkinFood body scrub.  It reminds me a bit of hard coffee candy.  This subtle scent lasts while the scrub is still on my face, creating a soothing and relaxing environment.  The scrub first appears translucent (top left photo), then transparent once spread (bottom left), and finally opaque white (right) after rubbing it on my face.  This transformation quickly takes place as soon as my fingers heat up and massage the scrub.  I usually don't add any water and treat the scrub like a lotion.  Because the scrub is already so mild, I wouldn't want to dilute the scrub.  The scrub is mostly a smooth gel-like consistency with sparse exfoliating beads that are very gentle on the skin.  The amount in the bottom left photo covers about 2/5 of my face.

Pros

• The packaging is way too adorable.
• The scent is heavenly!
• The color-changing effect is unique and easily indicates when the scrub has taken effect.
• My face instantly feels and appears very clean and healthily matte (not glossy).
• It seems that this cup will last me awhile.
• The scrub is very gentle, perfect for an everyday cleanser.

Cons

• I honestly have nothing to complain about!

Overall, I love this product!  Not only is the packaging adorable, the scrub itself is lovely.  I use it when I am very tired and just want a quick face wash to clean my face.  Also this scrub is very mild, like a gentle cleanser, yet effective for cleaning my face.

Tony Moly Floria Flower Energy Foam Cleanser Review

I still have two samples to use from my A-Poly package, and I'm finally getting around to my Tony Moly Floria Flower Energy Foam Cleanser sample. This is one of the products within Tony Moly's Floria skincare line. Like my other Tony Moly cleansing foam sample, this sample is packaged in the shape of the bottle. The backside is written in all Korean, and I'm not sure what it says.

An English description is on the front, saying that Floria's secret ingredient is the key to young and glowing skin.  I can't access the Tony Moly website, but according to YesStyle's website, this product is to clean the face and to make tired skin more lively.  According to other sources, this cleanser contains 14 different flower extracts to improve the skin, making it moist and soft.

 

This product smells mild, like typical clean soap.  There is no distinct smell.  The consistency is very smooth and a tad runny (like in the top picture), but within a minute it coagulates comparable to the dried up lotion buildup in lotion dispensers (like in the bottom picture).

The instructions on YesStyle say to place the product in your palms and add water to create foam, then massage your face with the cleanser.  Then wash off the foam with lukewarm water.

The Pros

• A little goes a long way: the amount in the above picture is more than enough for one use.  Also once you add water, the foam is very abundant.
• The cleanser foams very easily with just a bit of water.
• I felt no sensation on my face, but maybe that means that it's not working?
• My face feels and looks clean right afterwards.
  

The Cons

• Though my face seems clean, my face doesn't really seem youthful or vibrant.
• No matter how much I rinsed my face, I kept feeling soapy residue on my face.
• The smell stays on my hands for awhile, which isn't so pleasant the longer it lingers.
  

Overall, this is a decent face wash if you want just a basic cleanser. I didn't see any immediate results for youthful, vigilant skin, but maybe if you use it on a regular basis you'll see better results.  I usually write more information in my product review posts, but I couldn't access the Tony Moly website; sorry for the inconvenience.

SkinFood Mask Reviews (cont.)

I still have more mask samples from that initial purchase at the San Francisco Stonestown SkinFood store! I love how SkinFood focuses its products around common Asian ingredients. As an Asian American, it's hard for me to find relatable Asian beauty products without having to search online. Yet SkinFood conveniently has locations on the West Coast, carrying products involving Asian ingredients such as ginseng (in my last review), rice and even black sesame! I couldn't contain my enjoyment as I saw the interesting samples.

Rice Mask
SkinFood's Rice Mask is supposed to be nutritious to soften, moisturize and brighten skin.  I hope this mask will live up to its words, because those are dashing qualities I'd love to have during this chilly winter.

The instructions on the back of this sample says to massage the product over a dry face, and then rinse off.  SkinFood's website more specifically says to apply the mask onto your face, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash off with warm water.

Please excuse my super red hands-they were soaking in super hot water for half an hour!  The consistency of this opaque white mask is very smooth and creamy and contains clear micro crystals, I suppose rice extract?  This mask has a mild cleanliness soap scent to it, which isn't bad, but isn't to my taste either.

The Pros

•  My face is refreshed, and looks and feels clean right after rinsing off the mask
• The smoothness of this mask makes it very easy to spread across my face, like melted butter
• The crystals are gentle on the skin yet they still work well to massage and exfoliate my face

The Cons

• The smell can improve, but because it's so mild, it's not that noticeable

Overall, I really like this mask!  I took a super hot bath right before putting this on, so putting this mask on was really cooling and refreshing (I wonder if I would have felt the same way if I hadn't taken the bath though).  I like how this creamy consistency feels like a lotion that moisturizes and like a scrub that exfoliates.  This silky smoothness is the best quality about this mask, which I assume is great for sensitive skin because it doesn't cause any stinging sensation.

Black Sesame Hot Mask
According to the back label, the mix of salt, sugar powder and heat opens the pores and cleans the gunk inside while the black sesame leaves skin feeling silky.  I'm not sure how this product is supposed to be warm, as there is no instruction to heat the product or store it in a hot place.  It's interesting, here I'm worrying that this product will not be hot, yet SkinFood's website is worried that this product will overheat.  Here, it says that this mask should be used with moderate temperature.  It can overheat if it is used in hot areas, like a bathroom or sauna apparently.

 

The directions say to apply and massage the mask in a circular motion onto a moist face, leave on for three to five minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.  

The left photos show the super thick, almost coagulated consistency. The mask is very stiff, so I had to really force the mask to spread across my face with my fingers. Now I know why they suggest moistening your face first: it gives a slippery texture for the mask to more easily spread.  The right photo shows the mask on my face. You can see it is translucent with a murky gray hue, and mixed in are crushed black sesame (the black dots are not my beauty marks). Also the smell is a subtle black sesame scent, but it's not as pleasant as the Chinese black sesame pudding (Ji Ma Woo in Canto).

The Pros

• My face feels and looks clean right after rinsing off the mask

The Cons

• The mask itself is very stiff and gooey, so it sticks to itself, making it hard to spread across my face
• The black sesame seeds are rough on my skin when washing the mask off
• It is hard to remove all the black specks when rinsing.  When I used my toner a few hours later, I had so much extract that was still left on my face.
• The mask is room temperature, not hot as implied by its name.

I have really mixed feelings for this mask. While putting it on and letting the product seep into my skin, I didn't like it. But now that I review my notes, I don't actually see anything completely bad about this. In the end, my face feels and looks clean. I would say just don't expect much when using this product (I'm referring to the 'hot pack' element of this mask), and you can be content with this mask.

Bare with me, I have one more SkinFood mask sample which I'll review in an upcoming post!

SkinFood Mask Reviews

SkinFood is known for their flavorful and palatable face masks, which is why I'm so excited to try a few of them! I love how SkinFood uses common Asian ingredients for their products, such as black sesame and ginseng. I definitely don't see those ingredients in health products at American stores! My SkinFood purchase from their San Francisco location came with five different face mask samples, so here I will test a couple of them out.  Note that because I received these samples from an American SkinFood branch, all the information is in English.

Ginseng Mask
I am so ecstatic to sample SkinFood's Ginseng Mask!  I love ginseng, its properties of making one feel rejuvenated, and I especially love ginseng in Korean ginseng soup.  According to SkinFood's website, this mask is meant to give you a "pure, luminous complexion" because of its main ingredient, ginseng, from Geumsan County, the largest ginseng market in South Korea.

The instructions say to place and gently massage a generous amount of product onto your face, then let it sit for five minutes and finally rinse the mask off with lukewarm water.

This mask is very fluid and runny.  It is translucent with an earthy yellow hue and contains soft, pulverized ginseng. 

The Pros

• The scent is a mild, bitter ginseng smell, which is amazing for avid ginseng lovers like myself.
• The texture is very soft and gentle, which seems great for sensitive skin.
  

The Cons

• Honestly, my face looked and felt the same after rinsing off this mask.
• The mask leaves a very thin layer on your face, so you need to use a lot of product in order to really feel the mask working at your skin.

Because this is my first time using this mask, I am not able to see a radiant complexion that I might have seen had I used this product frequently.  Overall, I was falling in love with everything about this product, until I washed it all off. Then I realized that I didn't see nor feel any effect, not even the morning after. I would use this product just for the fun of putting one of my favorite foods on my face, but nothing more.

Black Sugar Mask
I'm not so thrilled about the idea of putting sticky, goopy sugar on my face (I hate sticky substances getting on my hair), but I decided to give this mask a shot anyways.  I suppose hard sugar would exfoliate skin, which is a plus.  According to Skinfood's website, indeed this mask does exfoliate dead skin, as well as "revitalizes skin," brightening the complexion, I suppose.

The directions on the SkinFood website suggest mixing this mask with water or toner to reduce skin irritation, depending on how sensitive your skin is.  Apply the mask onto wet skin and massage, then let the product sit for 10-15 minutes and wash off with warm water.  I'm an impatient person, and 15 minutes is a long time, but when I have My Flower Boy Neighbor to watch, I sometimes let the mask sit ever longer (^_^).

A side note, I noticed a couple of my SkinFood samples had a printed white sticker covering the back of the sample, so I peeled it off to reveal the original print. The original back had Korean, so I'm guessing for the American stores SkinFood had to put the information, such as ingredients, in English.

This mask is very rough, consisting mostly of crystalized sugar and melted sugar. It's also tempting to taste! Surprisingly the product is more fluid than sticky, which is much easier to work with.  Because this mask is so gritty, I feel like the exfoliation happens instantly so it can also be used as a scrub, if you're an impatient person or you're in a time crunch. This mask also feels more like a scrub than a mask in general, so the benefits may be just as effective leaving the mask on for only a couple of minutes rather than 10, which is how long I left it on.

The Pros

• The scent is quite pleasing, like a mild coca cola.
• My face and hands are very smooth and polished afterwards (but not soft).
• The mask exfoliates my skin really well.

The Cons

• The product is very rough, especially when massaging all over my face.

Overall, I do like this mask and I would use it again. However, I would use it as a scrub and add plenty of water on my face and in the product to soften the consistency and more easily spread the product around my face.

Tony Moly Cleansing Foam and Etude House Body Scrub Reviews

I love Tony Moly products, so I was absolutely ecstatic when my A-Poly package arrived with four generous samples of various Tony Moly goodies!  Today I'm reviewing on my Dr. Tony AC Control Acne Cleansing Foam sample, along with the lone Etude House sample, Know Your Body Soft Cream Scrub, which also came with my A-Poly package.

Tony Moly Dr. Tony AC Control Acne Cleansing Foam

First off, I love the packaging of this sample.  This brand even takes the time to design cute packaging for their samples, making this cleansing foam sample into a smaller, two dimensional version of the actual product.  Majority of the information is in Korean, with English saying "Non-prescription acne-preventive foam cleanser certified by KFDA," which sounds very fancy and trustworthy. According to the information posted on the Tony Moly website, this cleansing foam has numerous benefits.  Apparently this is a multipurpose product that helps with blood flow within the face, minimizes pores, exfoliates skin, soothes redness, gives sun protection and more.  I won't be able to test any of these claims with my sample, but I'm sure that this product's advantages do outweigh its disadvantages.

This product is creamy and a bit liquidy, but doesn't run like water.  It is very smooth and consistent throughout.  There weren't any directions, at least not in English, on the package or on the Tony Moly website, so I just placed the product in the palm of my hand, added water and rubbed on my face until all of the cream became foamy, then I rinsed it all off a few minutes after massaging my face.

The Pros

• The smell is a gentle detergent scent, similar to that of hotel soap.  The scent could be better, but it's not bad.
• This product easily foams and is easily distributed throughout my face.
• My face feels matte and clean afterwards.

The Cons

•  After drying my face, I have a tingly, stinging feeling throughout my face...does that mean it's working?  It's not a pleasant feeling, but it does go away after a few minutes.

Because this is a sample after all, I'm not sure how amazing the long term effects are for acne-prone skin.  But overall, I would consider giving this product a try. Even if it won't help prevent acne, it still cleans my face. And for the tingly, stinging feeling, maybe my skin will soon tolerate it the more often I use it. At least that's how other heavily medicated acne skincare products have affected me, so it probably means that this Tony Moly cleanser is heavily medicated and great for acne-prone people.

Etude House Know Your Body Soft Cream Scrub
I always considered body scrub as an unnecessary but luxurious step in my shower routine, so I decided to test this product out. There isn't much information about this product online, so hopefully my review will shed some light on this mysterious body scrub.  My skin has been drier than usual due to the bone-chilling weather, so I'm hoping this body scrub will moisturize my skin back to health!

The packaging of this sample is simple, yet girly and adorable, matching Etude House's princess-like concept.

The back has information in Korean and English about instructions. It says to massage the scrub in a circular motion over damp skin, then rinse off. It suggests you to use this product once to twice a week.

The product itself is very light and airy, just slightly thicker than mousse.  While the name does say that this is a soft cream, which it is, there are also small, white specks that exfoliate the skin.  I'm assuming the dark pink dots on the package illustrate these minuscule specks.

The Pros

• The mousse-like texture is interesting and fun
• The exfoliation was a nice surprise

The Cons

• The scent is tolerable, but it is a light, vanilla smell (to describe it nicely) that isn't too appealing
• My skin doesn't feel soft or smooth coming out of the shower

Overall, I'm quite a lazy person when it comes to a beauty routine, and I didn't see or feel any difference in my skin (though I'm not sure if this will be the result in the long run-it could be better if I used it on a weekly basis).  I'm sure others see some benefit to using the scrub, but for me, I'm glad I got to sample it before purchasing it because I probably wouldn't purchase this.

My A-Poly Package!

A-Poly is an online retailer through Amazon.com that carries a wide range of Korean beauty brands and products. This company is located in Seoul and ship internationally. All packages are packaged and shipped with care (and lots of bubble wrap), and some packages are cutely touched with felt hearts and other decorations. They say packages should arrive in about 17 days, but on the invoice they say one month to one month and a half.  My package came in 18 days.  All of A-Poly's items are very reasonable and the shipping cost is an additional $4.40 per item.

Here are the stickers that adorned my package. Aww, my first package from Korea! The postage is so adorable.

These are the products I ordered!  Tony Moly's products are always cutely packaged, and I just had to have my hands on their popular egg pore series.  I only bought their first two eggs, Blackhead Out Oil Gel and Tightening Pack, and hopefully I'll get the Silky Smooth Balm in the future.  I also bought Etude House's Missing U Hand Cream in Harp Seal Story because of its equally cute packaging.

My purchase also came with five samples: Tony Moly Tomatox, Vitamin Essence Mask, Dr. Tony AC Control Acne Cleansing Foam and Floria Foam Cleanser, as well as Etude House Know Your Body Soft Cream Scrub.  I'm surprised and delighted at these generous samples and can't wait to test them all out!

Once I try out all of these products, I'll be sure to post up a review!

Korean Beauty Brand: SkinFood and Product Reviews

SkinFood is a popular Korean beauty brand that offers nutritious, high quality skincare and makeup products. SkinFood's motto is "Food that is good for your health, is also good for your skin." This concept is vividly seen in some of the brand's repeated ingredients: fresh sparkling apple, gold kiwi, grape seed oil, lettuce cucumber, peach sake, even gold caviar! Below is a close up of the logo on the shopping bag I received from my SkinFood purchase in San Francisco.

Here's a brief review of my current SkinFood products:

Peach Sake Pore BB Cream SPF20 PA+ in Shade No. 1
This BB cream comes in a dispenser that squirts out small amounts at a time, which is very convenient because a little goes a long way!  I usually gently push down on the dispenser to release one drop about three millimeters in diameter onto my finger.  I place one drop on the top of my cheek, one on the bottom of my cheek and one on my chin (my skin is most uneven in these places) and I quickly rub the cream in circular motions to eradicate smear marks.  The cream dries really quickly for a matte finish, so be fast!

The Pros

• Though my skin is darker than the lightest shade, this cream gives light coverage that blends well with my skin.
• The peach scent is refreshing and delightful when putting on the cream and it wears off afterwards
• This cream offers light and smooth coverage that still reveals my freckles, but creates a more even skintone
• The peachy tone blends well with my yellow skintone

The Cons

• After putting this on my nose, I notice that it emphasizes the blackheads and flaky skin on my nose.  
• Though peach is supposed to control oil, it seemed to emphasize it instead.
• To avoid both of these concerns, I just use the cream on my cheeks and chin instead.

Foodtherapy Facial Water Vita-C (Mist)

I bought this mist for $18.70 at the San Francisco SkinFood store, which is splurging for such a small bottle of mist (145ml).  This facial mist contains berries rich in vitamin C, along with fresh Alaska glacier water.  The smell is a mild, refreshing berry fragrant.  I can't stop sniffing it, it's so addicting.

The back label is all written in English. I haven't actually tried this product yet, so I don't have the pros/cons yet.  Overall, I do love the light, refreshing berry smell of this mist and will definitely use it as a fragrant mist for summer!

Foodtherapy Stick Perfume No. 3 Happy Vanilla

Retail at the San Francisco store, this perfume is $19.80.  This is a solid perfume that twists upward like chapstick and comes with a protective plastic cap inside.  The smell is a soothing vanilla scent that smells sophisticated, too sophisticated (like what much older women would wear), once I rub it on my wrists.

You can see how small this solid perfume is compared to my hand; it's about 2 inches high, perfect for on-the-go! Both the packaging of the actual perfume stick and the box are so pretty and the box is very creatively and intricately folded.

This is the bottom of the box. All the info is written in English because I bought this in the San Francisco store, but there is Korean information on the side of the box. The box says that it is supposed to "create a sense of relaxation." It definitely has a calming, soothing scent to it that can put you into a relaxation mood if you believe, I guess.

The Pros

• The packaging is elegant and pretty
• It is easy to apply
• It is small enough to fit in a purse or pocket, yet there is so much perfume to last a long time
• The first whiff is delightful
• The smell lasts a few hours

The Cons

• The next few whiffs aren't as delightful, but still offers a classy feeling

Tweezers

I bought this for $2.20.  The design is simplistic and cute, but honestly it does not work well in tweezing little unwanted hair.  This pair of tweezers is definitely not recommended to use as your everyday tweezer.

I do also have several face mask samples that came with my purchase (my purchase included the facial mist, perfume stick, tweezers and nail polish), which I will review in the future. These samples include a Black Sugar Mask, Rice Mask, Ginseng Mask, Black Sesame Hot Mask and Gold Kiwi Hydrating Mask (the sales rep highly recommends this one).  I will also definitely use more of this brand's products, and when I do, I'll be sure to post more reviews. That's it for all my SkinFood products so far!