[Review] Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser

November 17, 2019November 17, 2019 KimLeave a comment

I’ve been really into cream cleansers of late and after having success with a couple of Laneige skincare products, I wanted to try more from the brand. I have to admit that the pretty pink packaging caught my eye in the first instance but it was its moisturising properties that sealed the deal.

If you’re interested in hearing about my experience in using this cleanser, please keep on reading.

Cost

$17.74 USD from jolse.com

Ingredients

From laneige.com

WATER / AQUA / EAU, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, MYRISTIC ACID, LAURYL HYDROXYSULTAINE, LAURIC ACID, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, GLYCERIN, SODIUM CHLORIDE, STEARIC ACID, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, PEG-14M, DISODIUM EDTA, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, SODIUM BENZOATE, TOCOPHEROL, SILICA, BHT

Its hero ingredient Meadowfoam seed oil is the second ingredient and the second oil, Sunflower oil is towards the bottom of the list. Laniege claims that the cleanser contains 14.9% of plant derived oils.

Claims

from Laneige.com

The highly moisturizing cleansing foam containing plant-derived oil helps the skin absorb skincare products by filling the skin with skincare moisture starting from the cleansing step.

How to use

I use it as my second cleanser in the evening like I normally would any other foam or cream cleanser. I squeeze out a pea size amount on fingers and apply it onto my damp skin and spread it around, gently massaging around my face. I then rinse it off with warm water.

Texture

Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser – rich creamy consistency.

The texture is unique because it’s quite thick and solid for a cleanser but is still smooth and easy to spread around. Almost feels like a cream moisturiser with its rich consistency

Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser – when mixed with water it slowly starts to emulsify and eventually lathers up to be foam

Scent

This cleanser has added fragrance but the smell is subtle. It just smells clean and has a moisturiser type fragrance. I’m usually sensitive to added fragrance but this was fine.

My final thoughts

Rating: 3 out of 5 (it's ok but will not repurchase)

I had high hopes for this cleanser since it had a lot of claims to be very moisturising. The texture felt nice and it was different because it was quite rich, though can still easily form a lather. The good thing about this is that the tube is quite large and it’s filled to the brim with product. Because you only need a small amount, it will be able to last at least a couple of months with everyday use.

The downside is that my face felt tight after use. I would use it in the shower and by the time I reached my bedroom my face was feeling dry and a bit stripped. Not sure what the ph is on this but with all the oils I didn’t expect to feel this way. I’ve also tried using it in the morning but because it can form a substantial lather, its not always the cleanest thing to do at a sink. My face still felt dry and tight anyway which contradicts its claims.

I will keep using it until empty because it’s not bad and hasn’t had any negative effects on my skin but I wouldn’t buy it again. I’ve used way better second cleansers at a cheaper price point. Laniege is priced in and around the midrange bracket in k-beauty.

Let me know your thoughts if you have tried it.

[Review] Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil

August 11, 2018August 11, 2018 KimLeave a comment

Nature Republic is a k-beauty brand and they describe themselves as being a natural brand. This is evident in their line because they use a lot of natural ingredients in their products. I’ve tried a few skincare products from their Aloe Vera line and haven’t yet been disappointed.

I generally like to try a variety of products from a brand, especially if I have had good experiences with past products, so when I found this chamomile cleansing oil in it’s pretty yellow packaging, I picked it up right away.

Cost

$17 AUD for 200ml, purchased from ebay *

Ingredients

from us.memebox.com

Mineral Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Water, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobius Flower Water, Cicapfnlyl Carbonate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isohexadecane Tocopheryl Acetate, Bht, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum)

Anthemis Nobius Flower Water is Chamomile and is halfway in the list after Safflower seed oil and one of my favourites, Jojoba seed oil, which is packed with antioxidants and vitamins.

Claims

from us.memebox.com

This refreshing cleansing oil gently removes makeup without leaving a sticky residue behind. Natural chamomile water protects sensitive skin from various harmful materials and stress while providing moisture to skin.

Packaging

It’s packaging is what got my attention. Nature republic’s packaging is generally aesthetically pleasing, green is commonly used. This cleanser is housed in a sturdy plastic bottle with a pump. I love how chamomile flowers are printed on the front, giving it a nice cute touch.

I like how it has a pump but I don’t like how it doesn’t perform so well. I feel like I need to use more pumps and elbow grease to dispense the oil, more on that later.

Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil

Consistency

Its consistency is thin and runny. But not too runny that it is impossible to use, you just need to work fast. It is transparent in colour.

Scent

It has a light and natural floral scent, which I don’t mind but it’s definitely there. It doesn’t smell artificial at all and I find it quite soothing. Fragrance is the last ingredient in the list so it’s not too bad.

How to use

I would usually use this at night as my first cleanse to remove my makeup.
If you have used any liquid cleansing oils, the application method is the same.

The instructions on memebox say to dispense 2-3 pumps into dry hands but because the pump doesn’t seem to dispense properly, I end up using 4-5 pumps sometimes. It’s still quite a lot to to use so luckily the bottle is 200ml.

I would then massage it into my face, gently rubbing it in using circular motions as I normally would. Then I would jump into the shower and apply a small amount of water to my hands and continue to massage my face. Adding water emulsifies it and turns it slightly milky but does not foam. I would continue to massage for about 5 more seconds, focussing on the eyes, then I would rinse my whole face in the shower. My skin would feel soft and smooth afterwards, no sticky residue at all.

I always follow with a gel or foam cleanser. I’m using Drunk Elephant’s Beste Jelly Cleanser at the moment which I’m liking but not as much as the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (review here) .

Effectiveness

As a makeup remover and first cleanser, it does a good job. I’ve used other oil cleansers which have been more effective like the Shu uemura Skin Purifier (reviewed) and the Klairs Black Cleansing Oil (reviewed).

I wear Heroine Make mascara and Clio liquid eyeliner (some heavy duty stuff), both which are tough to remove in general. It leaves some residue on my eyes and I generally need to go in with a micellar water and cotton tip to remove the last dregs of it. It removes everything else really well, all the base makeup as well as lipstick, so no complaints there.

Nature Republic - Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner. — Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner.

Nature Republic - Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner, removes most of it. — Nature Republic – Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil vs Clio Kill Cover Liquid Liner, removes most of it.

Final thoughts

Rating: 3/5 (liked it, will use it up)

I like this cleanser and I would repurchase if they fixed up their pump system. Not sure if I received a faulty one but it takes a few extra pumps to dispense the product so it seems like you would go through the bottle quicker. Having said that, I’ve been using this for around 2 months and I still have a quarter left, which isn’t bad. It’s also cheaper than other well known oils and balms so that’s also a plus.

Have you used this cleanser before? Do you have any recommendations for me to try out?

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 🙂

[Review] Fresh Soy Face Cleanser – is it really worth all the hype?!

July 8, 2018July 8, 2018 Kim3 Comments

Cleansers are something that you will know pretty quickly whether it’s effective or not or even if you like it. It’s also a skincare product that can be used up fast so even if it’s just meh, you can still use it up and not buy it again.

I haven’t liked a cleanser enough to repurchase since I enjoy trying new stuff (and reviewing them). During the Sephora Black sale (equivalent to VIB) a couple of months ago, I bought the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser in a mini size (the checkout isle of temptation got me once again!) and I have thoughts so if you’re interested to hear whether this much hyped product is REALLY worth it, please keep on reading.

About Fresh

Fresh was founded by Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg in 1991 where they first opened a store in Boston. Their oval soap was their iconic product and this was wrapped in pretty paper and was popular as a gift. The creation of their Soy Skincare line, which included the Soy Face Cleanser, was their first foray into skin care in 1999. More about the company here.

Cost

$20 AUD, 50ml, purchased from Sephora.
Also sold in a 150ml size for $54 AUD.

Ingredients:

from fresh.com

AQUA (WATER), COCO-GLUCOSIDE, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, XANTHAN GUM, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, BORAGO OFFICINALIS SEED OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENA EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER WATER, CENTAUREA CYANUS FLOWER EXTRACT, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) STEROLS, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER OIL, MALVA SYLVESTRIS (MALLOW) FLOWER EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, PEG-120 METHYL GLUCOSE DIOLEATE, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POLYSORBATE 20, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SILICA, BENZOIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, LECITHIN, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, CARAMEL, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, PHENOXYETHANOL

DISCLAIMER: FRESH PRODUCT INGREDIENT LISTINGS ARE UPDATED PERIODICALLY. BEFORE USING A FRESH PRODUCT, PLEASE READ THE INGREDIENT LIST ON THE PACKAGING OF YOUR PRODUCT TO BE SURE THAT THE INGREDIENTS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE.

Soybean extract GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL is 7th on their ingredient list even though this is supposed to be the heart and hero ingredient of their soy line. There are a two more types of soy listed here as well, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) STEROLS and HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN. There are some really nice plant extracts and oils as well such as PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER OIL, MALVA SYLVESTRIS (MALLOW) FLOWER EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENA EXTRACT, just to name a few.

The disclaimer is a bit odd but good that they did include it especially if they do tend to change up their ingredients.

Claims

from fresh.com

Soy Face Cleanser for all skin types is an extra-gentle gel cleanser that instantly whisks away everyday impurities and makeup-even mascara-without stripping the skin of essential moisture. The multi-tasking formula also works to tone, soothe, and soften the skin for a radiant, healthy-looking complexion.

I would usually go into how to use, consistency and scent but I’ll roll it all up in my final thoughts below.

My final thoughts

Rating: 4 out of 5 (I really like it!)

I do really like this cleanser. It has some nice ingredients and is pleasant to use. I like its scent of cucumber. It makes my face feel soft and bouncy and its low ph of 5.5 is a big plus.

Fresh Soy Cleanser - 50ml — Fresh Soy Cleanser – Gel consistency

It’s important to note that I like to use this as a second cleanser, so after my first oil cleanser. I keep this in the shower so right after I’m done with my first cleanse, I hop into the shower and do my second cleanse with this product. After both steps I generally don’t see remnants of makeup on my face but it doesn’t feel squeaky clean either (which I actually prefer).

I would however argue its claims of being an effective makeup remover. If you wear really light makeup or just skincare, this might work as a first cleanser for you, but if you’re like me and wear a moderate (reasonable) amount (layers of skincare followed by sunscreen/primer/foundation/powder/bronzer/blush/mascara/mascara/eyeliner), this will not suffice to remove all of this.

I have tried to use this as a first cleanser, followed their instructions: from fresh.com

“Wet the skin, and massage over the face and eyes, then rinse.”

And when I used a tissue to pat my face dry like I usually do, low and behold I can see foundation on the tissue…. There is also traces of eyeliner and mascara (I don’t even use waterproof) left on my eyes. I’ve had to use a makeup wipe to remove the rest of it.

I would take that claim with a grain of salt and advise you to be wary of any residue it may leave behind. It has a gel consistency which doesn’t really foam so that MIGHT be why it can’t get everything off in the first instance.

Fresh Soy Cleanser - even when water is added, it doesn't really change consistency, definitely doesn't foam. — Fresh Soy Cleanser – even when water is added, it doesn’t really change consistency, definitely doesn’t foam.

If this hadn’t been marketed to it being a makeup remover, then I guess you’d assume that it wasn’t and just use it as a second cleanser to clean the skin. But the fact that it does… I also find the price a bit steep, especially compared to some of my k-beauty favs. It also claims to work as a multi-tasker, to also “tone” the skin, but I always still follow up with my toner as per usual.

Aside from these factors, it was worth a try and in my opinion, worth the hype.
Let me know if you’ve tried this cleanser and what you thought of it.

[Review] dear, Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 Kim1 Comment

Klairs is a popular korean beauty line who are known for having effective products containing simple and natural ingredients at an affordable price point. Their slogan “Simple But Enough” is evident in their product line. Their products are cruelty free, colorant free, alcohol free, paraben free and artificial fragrances/fragrance free. A fairly young company, since 2009, was acquired by Wish Company in 2012. Wish’s CEO Ryan Soungho Park, has sensitive skin and after trying out their products, that pretty much sealed the deal. Their philosophy of bringing skin care back to basics really resonated with him. He personally curates the products and also owns Wishtrend, where you can find the whole line of Klairs. The story behind Park and the acquisition is quite interesting, if you’re interested to read more about it, you can find some info here.

Now for the actual product review! I’ve been using this cleanser for around three months and it’s nearly becoming an empty. Which is why I thought it was about time to share my thoughts on it.

Cost:

$28 AUD for 150ml, from cyhouse.com.au.

Ingredients:

from www.klairscosmetics.com

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate , Isopropyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate , Polysorbate 20, Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

The inclusion of “Black” in its name is from the presence of black soybean, blackberry and black sesame ingredients in the oil.

Claims:

from www.klairscosmetics.com

The Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is composed of various vegetable oils helpful for skin care. It’s easily washable texture allows mild yet effective cleansing of dirt and makeup without causing irritation and is the best cleanser to maintain the skin’s moisture even after cleansing.

The Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is formulated with natural oils extracted from black bean to control sebum production and soothe skin. Black sesame oil provides antioxidants and black currant seed oil provides minerals and vitamins. It’s the best hypo-allergenic formula for sensitive skin

Packaging:

It is a plastic bottle with a pump nozzle which is my favourite type of packaging. It’s simple yet elegant, looks more expensive than it actually is.

Consistency:

It is clear and watery. It is also quite runny so once you pump out some product, I use about two or three pumps, you need to act fast with the application, which I will get into a bit later.

dear, Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

Scent:

Fragrance is present in the ingredients list which is puzzling since Klairs prides themselves on not adding artificial fragrance to their products. There is a light scent which smells natural to me, kinda hard to describe. It’s barely detectable to be honest.

How to use:

I use this cleansing oil as my first step cleanser in the evening or whenever I need to remove a full face of makeup. The steps are the same as any old oil cleanser or balm but if you are new to the double cleanse method, please keep on reading.

As mentioned earlier, I dispense 2-3 pumps into the palm of my hand and apply to my dry face. The texture is so smooth and slippery that you can easily spread it around. I usually massage it around my face for around 10 seconds. You will see the makeup dissolving which is pretty cool. I then hop into the shower where I slowly emulsify it by adding water bit by bit to my hands and using circular motions to massage it around once again. It will begin to turn milky. I do this for another ten or so seconds then I wash it off with warm water.

I usually follow with either my foam or gel cleanser as my second cleanse.

Final thoughts

Rating: 5/5 (loved it!)

Besides this cleansing oil, the only other product that I’ve tried from Klairs was their Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum. I thought it was just ok but memorable since it was my first taste into topical vitamin c.

What differentiates this cleansing oil to other balms and oils I have tried is how easy it is to use. It is super quick to dispense the product and the application is seamless. The oil isn’t greasy or oily at all (despite being an oil) and doesn’t leave a film on my face once I wash it off. The claims around “washable texture” is definitely true here. My skin feels fresh and smooth and most importantly, clean without feeling stripped. Because I usually follow with a second cleanser anyway, I guess it shouldn’t matter but it just makes cleansing a nicer experience 🙂 It also, most importantly, removes makeup extremely well.

Even though Shu Uemura’s oil cleanser, Skin Purifier (which I have tried), is hugely popular, I think this oil really compares to it in terms of effectiveness. In the price department however, Klairs wins hands down. It’s half the price.

I’m a bit over it (and lazy) to use cleansing balms now because you have to open the lid and either need to use a spatula or dig your nails into the balm to get the product. Yes I know it’s better for travel but I would much prefer being convenient at home. You can always transfer some into a smaller travel friendly bottle so its a non issue for me.

So yes, I love it and would definitely repurchase!

Have you tried or interested in trying this cleansing oil? What are your thoughts on it? Let me know 🙂

Skincare I’ve used up (March 2018)

March 11, 2018March 11, 2018 Kim1 Comment

Since starting my exploration into asian beauty I quickly accumulated a lot of stuff over a short period of time. I wanted to try everything so I kept buying and used parts of each product.

I eventually calmed down and started to focus on really understanding how my skin responded to each product and to do that properly, I started to concentrate on using them up. This also helped my (already crammed) beauty area as well as my wallet.

I like watching and reading other blogger’s empties videos and articles. I find that it’s a good way of seeing if they really liked the product or not. I find them to be way more useful than a haul or first impressions. With skincare, first impressions are pretty unreliable unless it causes an obvious reaction to your skin.

The products which I will be talking about were tolerable to my skin and decent enough for me to use up without any irritation or breakouts (no more than usual). I won’t be going into too much detail because this post will be super long. I will elaborate on some of these products in seperate posts.

Shu uemura Skin Purifier nutri:nectar

I wrote a full post on this a couple of months ago here.

What is it?

Its a cleansing oil which you use to remove makeup and the first step in a double cleanse. It has a soft floral scent and its texture is unique since its in the form of an emulsion. It effectively removed my makeup without leaving a residue.

Ingredients: copied from my post:

ethylhexyl palmitate, acqua, glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, propanediol, peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, sucrose laurate, sucrose palmitate, sodium methyl stearoyl taurate, salicylic acid, tocopherol, sodium hydroxide, linalool, citronellol, geraniol, ganoderma lucidium extract, isopropyl lauroyl, sarcosinate, isopropyl myristate, dicaprylyl ether, dicaprylyl carbonate, euterpe oleracea fruit extract, butylene glycol, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed opuntia ficus-indica flower extract, citric acid, perilla ocymoides leaf extract, magnolia liliflora flower extract, sodium benzoate, phenoxethanol, potassium sorbate, ethylhexyglycerin, parfum.

Would I repurchase?:

No.

I had received this as a gift from my partner and I would not buy this for myself. It is way too expensive for what it is. The product itself is fine, nothing wrong with it, but other less expensive balms and oils do the same job. It does remove makeup really well and with ease if compared to a cleansing balm but not that much more to warrant its price.

Lee Gee Haam Vita Propolis Ampoule

What is it?

It’s an ampoule serum which helps even out skin tone and gives your skin a glow amongst other benefits. It has 50% propolis extract as well as other ingredients which I love such as Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide. I usually apply this after my essence and before moisturiser in my skin care routine.

Ingredients: from glowrecipe.com:

Propolis extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Niacinamide, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Ascorbyl Ether, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/ Twig Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carbomer, Arginine, Spirodela Polyrrhiza Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate.

Would I repurchase?:

Yes.

A product like this might not seem “necessary” but for me, I liked how my skin felt and looked whenever I used it. Layering it with other skincare was fine and it did not make me breakout. It also gave me a nice subtle glow. My only gripe is that its so small, 15ml. You only need a couple of drops but its still quite tiny for the price. I bought it from ebay and I think it was around $20 AUD.

Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch

What is it?

It’s a clear patch which you apply onto any active pimples. These pimples can either be already open or still closed/almost ready to erupt. I suffer from hormonal breakouts so this has always been my saviour. I put the patch on before I go to bed and in the morning, the pimple is less angry and noticeably flatter. Its a one time use product for each patch and its pretty gross when you peel it away, but cool.

Ingredients: From stylestory.com.au

Cellulose gum, Styrene Isoprene Styrene Block Copolymer, Polysobutylene, Petroleum Resin, Polyurethane Film, Liquid Paraffin, Tetrakis Methane

Would I repurchase?:

Yes.

I have continued to repurchase this over and over, from many different sellers. Its such a great product and for around $6 AUD you get 24 patches in each pack, which I think is totally worth it.

Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick

What is it?

A cleansing stick used as the second step in a double cleanse. It lathers and foams nicely and has a soft rose scent. The stick also contains real rose petals which gently exfoliate your skin. It also has a low ph of 5.5 and leaves my skin feeling moisturised. Even though coconut oil is the third ingredient, it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. I love its packaging, in the stick form, because its great for travel and easy to use without any mess.

Ingredients: From stylestory.com.au

Glycerin, Water, Coconut Oil, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Betaine, Lauryl Betaine, Camellia Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower (0.5%), Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Castor Oil, Green Tea Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Apricot Seed Oil, Ylang Ylang Flower Oil, Lime Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Basil Oil, Origanum Heracleoticum Flower Oil, Saccharomyces/Rosa Damascena Flower Extract Ferment Filtrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol

Would I repurchase?

Yes.

I was about to repurchase this recently but found that its sold out everywhere! Then I read some posts which indicated that it may have either been discontinued or reformulated. Which is really annoying! Its such a popular product as well. If and when it does come back, I will be buying it again.

Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick – Green Tea

What is it?

This is also a stick cleanser used in the second step in a double cleanse. Green Tea is the hero in this product and I adore anything with green tea in it. It has real green tea leaves scattered in the stick which also provides gentle exfoliation while you cleanse. Sounds really similar to the rose cleansing stick right? The concept anyway. Just like the rose stick, its packaging is the same, handy for travel, messy free etc. With a ph of 5.5-6, its just as gentle as the rose stick. The rose stick felt a hair more moisturising though.

Another similarity is that coconut oil is once again third on the ingredients list and doesn’t irritate my skin.

Ingredients: from sokoglam.com

Glycerin, purified water, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid, lauryl betaine, betaine, camellia sinensis leaf(0.3%), camellia sinensis seed oil(0.1%), camellia japonica seed oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower)seed oil, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, oenothera biennis (eveningprimrose) oil, tocopheryl acetate, citrus aurantifolia (lime) oil, ocimum basillicum (basil) oil, cananga odorata flower oil, citrus limon (lemon) peel oil, origanum heracleoticum floweroil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange)peel oil, fragrance.

Will I repurchase?

Yes.

Even though I liked the extra moisturisation from the rose cleanser, I would definitely buy this again. It is a good alternative to the su:m37 cleanser if that did get discontinued or became impossible to buy. I just really like stick cleansers 🙂

Pyunkang yul Moisture Cream

What is it?

A face moisturiser which is good for both sensitive and combination-oily skin types. It is fragrance free, lightweight and easily absorbable into the skin. I read somewhere that it also cools down your body temperature so its especially great in summer and humid climates. I applied it as my final step in skincare before sunscreen and makeup. I appreciated how moisturising it was without any stickyness or oilyness. Its star ingredient is Coptis Japonica Root Extract which is known for its nourishing and anti inflammatory properties.

Ingredients: from beautyandseoul.co.uk

Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Isohexadecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl Caprylate

Will I repurchase?

Yes but not for awhile. There are still loads of moisturisers I want to try out and I don’t like this one enough to repurchase just yet. My biggest gripe is the packaging, I despise jars for creams (yes I know its common for moisturisers). Its also not great for travel because its glass and has some weight to it.

Pyunkang yul mist toner

What is it?

It’s a toner in a mist form which you can use to hydrate your face anytime or as toner after cleansing. I really liked to use this spray for both purposes, especially when I felt too lazy to pat toner onto my face or find a cotton pad. The spray is really fine so it felt pretty relaxing to mist on the face.

Like the moisture cream, the star ingredient is also Coptis Japonica Root Extract.

Ingredients: from beautyandseoul.co.uk

Coptis Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate

Will I repurchase?

Yes.

I have a few products from this brand and I respect its minimal ingredients list. Will definately buy this again once I’m through with my other ones.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know if you have and whether you would repurchase any of them.

[Review] Shu uemura Skin Purifier – nutri:nectar gentle cleansing oil in emulsion

December 2, 2017December 2, 2017 Kim4 Comments

Shu uemura are a Japanese beauty line well known for their cleansing oils so I was excited to try this one. This product is a celebration of their 50th Anniversary of making cleansing oils so not sure if this is limited edition or not.

Since getting into k-beauty, I am a total advocate of the double cleanse method. I do it every night to take off my makeup + cleanse. I’ve used a few cleansing oils, some good and and some not so great. Keep reading to find out which category this nutri:nectar falls into.

Cost

$58 AUD for 150ml

My husband gifted it to me on my birthday in September. He purchased it from shu uemura concept store in QVB Sydney

Ingredients

The shu uemura website states that it contains Essential oils, Acai, Magnolia and Reishi Mushroom. No ingredients list found on their site.

The list below I painstakingly typed from the packaging: Please reference my site if you use this.

It is non-comedogenic and has been opthalmologically and dermatologically tested.

Claims (from their website)

This extravagantly nourishing fusion is carefully composed to reboot skin barrier function while resisting the environmental stress. This cleansing oil in emulsion created with the power of nature help even dry delicate skin feels conditioned & strengthened.

Packaging

Like their other cleansing oils, the bottle is plastic and has a good pump. It is housed in a sturdy, slim and pretty pink bottle, though the product is semi-transparent.

Consistency

Its consistency is thicker than any liquid oil cleanser I have used. It is semi transparent in colour and looks a bit like gel. Because its an emulsion, it doesn’t run down my palm when I pump it out.

Emulsions can be described as a lightweight moisturiser/lotion which 
koreans apply before their more heavier moisturiser for dry skin 
types or used alone for oilier skin types.

Anyway, so the texture is alike and I quite liked that because there is no wasted product and its relatively mess free.

Scent

Their website describes the scent to be healing and comforting, as if taking a deep breath in the forest.

I would agree that it is comforting but not as refreshing as taking a deep breath in the forest as such. It is a complex smell, smells a bit florally (magnolia) but also with a hint of maybe lavender or derived from the mix of essential oils. Its not an obnoxious smell, I find it be quite pleasant and soothing.

How to use

I would usually use this at night as my first cleanse to remove my makeup. The instructions on the bottle say to pump 3-4 pumps into dry hands, then apply it in circular motions to a dry face. I only need 2 pumps, 3-4 is a bit excessive, especially for such a pricey product.

I would then massage it into my face, gently rubbing it in using circular motions as instructed. If you have used any liquid cleansing oils, the application method is the same. Then I would jump into the shower and apply a small amount of water to my hands and continue to massage my face. Adding water emulsifies it and turns it slightly milky. I would continue to massage for about 5-10 more seconds then I would rinse my whole face in the shower. My skin would feel soft, moisturised and smooth afterwards, no sticky residue at all.

To finish off the double cleanse, I would follow with a foaming cleanser. Loving the su:m37 Rose Cleansing Stick at the moment.

Final thoughts

Rating: 4/5 (really liked it)

I’ve only used about a quarter of the bottle (been using other oils as well in fear of this running out too soon!) and I already know that I really like it. The mess free application is great and you don’t need a lot of the product.

As mentioned earlier, it makes my face feel hydrated and soft afterwards without leaving any residue. I could probably do without a second cleanse when I use this but I always follow with a second cleanser anyway. I enjoy the fragrance, but if you don’t like fragrance in skincare you might not like this one.

I docked one star off due to its price. $58 is a bit too much for something that is just basically a makeup remover. I have used cleansing oils and balms at maybe half that price point which do the job just as well. I know that the shu uemura website (us) has regular sales which is great for people in the US. For us Aussies, shu uemura products are hardly ever on sale unless Sephora (the range is limited) or David Jones are having sales.

If you like the brand and you’re interested in trying out this cleansing oil in emulsion, I would highly recommend you to do so. It is also sold in a larger bottle (450ml) but if you are just curious I would recommend buying this size first.

Happy cleansing!