Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence 60 ml Review

Ingredients:


Snail Secretion Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, rh-Oligopeptide-1, Bee Venom, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Bacillus ferment, Azelaic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Deta-Glucan, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl-Arcylate Cross Polymer, Adenosine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Arginine

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green. Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Not sure if this essence irritated my skin slightly or not, a little bit redness every time I have used it (now less since I started to use The Ordinary's Niacinamide + Zinc)

- Is not hydrating enough alone (as in, just this essence + cream) for the lazy days and travelling

- A little scared to think that because they don't use much preservatives their products can get spoiled easier by different conditions (like, when they are shipped, in a hot bathroom...)

- Essence should be used in 6 months from opening

- I don't think the essence made my skin much brighter (maybe a little) and certainly not smoother! Actually in the beginning I thought the essence was breaking me out but that maybe was something else (maybe hormonal?)



+ Absorbs fast, under a minute

+ Doesn't have fragrance! (Still smells a bit stuffy)

+ Easy to spread, nice liquidy gel consistency

+ Bottle is hygienic and easy, pleasant to use, pump mechanism isn't flimsy

+ Is not heavy (however can't tell if it's hydrating or helping at all)

+ Maybe made my skin a bit brighter

+ When I combined The Ordinary's Buffet and Benton's Snail Bee Essence, I felt my skin was extremely hydrated and soft, bouncy even!

* I'm rather puzzled why in the end I didn't feel like this essence did very much, considering it is loved by so many (called holy grail and liquid gold...)

* But I feel like I prefer Scinic's Snail AIO to this essence... they are complitely different products but if I had to choose between them! Made me think about it

* Maybe this is one of those products that you notice its effects only after you stop using it? (EDIT: No it wasn't.)

* I was even wondering if I'm allergic to bee venom in the beginning but I don't think so, however I've never been to allergy tests or been stung by a bee

* The bottle lasted me 4 months, I used about 1-3 pumps at a time depending on other products

* I truly like Benton's brand image, the packaging just looked so luxurious! I totally would have bought their products in a store just based on it

* I originally wanted to try Benton's Snail Bee Steam Cream but now, I'm hesitating

Price: 

About 20 USD, I paid 14 USD

Bought from: 

Bbcosmetic

Buy again? 

No, based on the results I have gotten now. 

Worth the money? 

I think yes, especially if you can catch it on sale. There are no filler ingredients and the bottle lasts quite a long time. 

Holika Holika Make Up Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++ Review

Ingredients:

WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, ZINC OXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, GLYCERIN, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, HYALURONIC ACID, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, METHICONE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, MICA, PHENOXYETHANOL, TALC, FRAGRANCE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, STEARIC ACID, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, POLYGLYCERYL-6 POLYRICINOLEATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, IRON OXIDES(CI 77491), IRON OXIDES(CI 77492), ANTHEMIS NOBILIS FLOWER WATER, CENTAUREA CYANUS FLOWER WATER, LACTOBACILLUS/HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES FERMENT FILTRATE, GARDENIA TAHITENSIS FLOWER EXTRACT, AMINOPROPYL DIMETHICONE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, SELAGINELLA LEPIDOPHYLLA EXTRACT, ISOMALT, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM PALMITOYL PROLINE, CITRIC ACID, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, NYMPHAEA ALBA FLOWER EXTRACT, LECITHIN, RHODODENDRON FERRUGINEUM LEAF CELL CULTURE EXTRACT, LACTIC ACID

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Very, very white finish

- Did I mention, this sunscreen is so WHITE? (I'm maybe NC20 or close)

- The smell made me cough a bit when I initially opened the tube but it doesn't smell so strong after that

- The consistency is a little thicker/drier than some other creams (not by much) but it makes the application tiny bit more difficult and time consuming

- The tube feels a bit clumsy to use

- I just... look dead with this product on my face



+ Dries fast, in about 1-3 minutes

+ Leaves a nice powdery finish

+ Easy to blend foundation on top of it

+ Hides some of the imperfections effectively, not the redness much though

+ Doesn't get sticky, shiny, at all! I can't feel I'm wearing it

+ Didn't start to melt when I was a bit sweaty

+ Doesn't smell like (alcoholic) sunscreen, smells like a cheap perfume

+ Didn't break me out (physical sunscreen)

+ Bigger bottle than other sunscreens I have bought, value for money

* Yellow colour of the tube makes it stand out from all the other make up products on my table, easy to find in a hurry (yes, I'm not very organized)

* I gave this sunscreen to my sister who is as pale as a ghost

* I really really wanted to be able to use this! :( The powdery finish, the staying power, feeling... just perfect

* I didn't know "tone up" and "make up" sunscreens are supposed to tone up your skin into whiteness but now I do and I will avoid them (I thought they just would be slightly tinted)

Price: 

6.07 USD, with shipping about 10.27 USD

Bought from: 

Roseroseshop

Buy again? 

No, can't use it. So sad!

Worth the money? 

Yes definitely if you are extremely pale and don't want a dewy/natural finish! In any other case... no, because it's unwearable.

The Ordinary "Buffet" 30 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- I did not notice any big effects when using this product

- I have slight fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes but I think my skin just got irritated when I carefully dabbed this product on the eye corners

- I think the serum made my pores look bigger, actually

- I didn't notice that my skin would have been more smooth or plump or even using Buffet compared to other light hydrators

- The last drops of product are difficult to get from the bottom of the bottle



+ The bottle lasted me quite long, maybe 3 months

+ The serum is very liquid and spreads well so I needed only about 3-4 drops at a time

+ Doesn't have fragrance

+ It did feel hydrating and when I was away from home for a week and had only one essence + one cream with me for moisturizing, I felt my face was dry and I missed this serum! And weirdly it was this serum I missed, not the others

+ Absorbs fast

+ Works well with other products, no pilling or anything

+ The dropper bottle is easy and fast to use

+ Even though serum is liquid, it's not too watery so the drops don't fall of my face before I get a chance to spread them

* Nothing bad or surprising happened with the product, also nothing groundbreaking

* I would think that I am starting to be in the target group (30 years old) for The Ordinary's Buffet-serum but maybe I'm not quite there after all

* I'm intrigued by peptides and anti-aging serums of course but I'm not sure if they are worth investing into and even if they are, do I have the patience to keep using them if I can't see results within a couple of months

* I did not notice any change in my skin after I run out of Buffet

* Mainly I did use Buffet as that extra layer of light hydration

* Maybe I should just try Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 next? It's only half of the price of Buffet as well

* Ordering from the Ordinary was easy and first time (back in April?) my order was shipped after 5 days, second time (July) the next day, and they both arrived within a week

* I didn't mind the dropper bottle even though you had to expose the contents to air all the time because the bottle lasts only 3 months

Price: 

14,80 € / 30 ml

Bought from: 

The Ordinary webstore

Buy again? 

Maybe. At least when I get more wrinkles! I'm not in a hurry as I did not notice much results (other than hydration) and I have other products I want to finish/test. Also even though Buffet is not expensive, it's not dirt cheap either to have lying around and possibly get spoiled before I get to it.

EDIT: I am missing Buffer after all, more than I thought I would. I can notice difference in plumpness and hydration after 3-4 weeks from finishing the bottle. A week ago I run out of Scinic Snail AIO sample as well and my skin is just screaming and nothing else from my stash helps. So, buy again? YES as soon as possible.

Tosowoong Natural Pure Apricot Seed Cleansing Oil 120 ml Review

Ingredients:

Apricot Seed oil (40%), Mineral Oil, PEG-20, Isobutyl Isostearate, Jojoba Seed Oil (5%), Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-8 Isostearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Macadamia Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Argan Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Papaya Fruit Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Lemon Extract, Apple Extract, Fragrance

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- When I have eye make up etc I need 3-4 pumps of product and I still feel like it quite doesn't clean everything

- Sometimes makes eye sight a bit blurry... probably been sloppily rubbing my eyes. But usually it doesn't

- The bottle seems sturdy but the nozzle doesn't, however it hasn't broken



+ Smells really nice! Not overpowering, just naturally fruity and light

+ No breakouts or irritation even though the cleansing oil has mineral oil and olive oil (I did use a bottle of baby oil/mineral oil before for cleaning my make up and it didn't irritate either, quite the opposite, my skin liked it better than the makeup remover I had)

+ Cleans well with 2 pumps of product if I've had only sunscreen

+ I did get grits too while massaging

+ Doesn't leave skin oily or any film

+ Doesn't sting eyes or usually make eye sight blurry

+ Doesn't even feel like an oily product

+ Emulsifies and washes off easily and quickly

* My first cleansing oil and I'm very impressed!

* I actually feel sad now that I have to use another oil cleansing product I already have waiting (The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil)

* The first bottle lasted me 6 months! I've been using it, hmm, a bit more generously with the second bottle but it seems like it still lasts a long time

* I'm not sure if using cleansing oil has had an impact on my skin, maybe my skin is softer/less dry now that I have been able to leave harsh cleaning toners out of my routine, also makeup removers because they usually don't agree with my skin either

* My pores do look better now than 6 months ago for sure but it can be anything or mix of everything

* I am just happy to find a product that doesn't cause me any problems and is pleasant to use (and is economical too)

EDIT: I also made my family to try oil cleansing. My sister is soon finished with her first bottle and wants another one. Success?

Price: 

11,88 USD / 120 ml

Bought from: 

Jolse

Buy again? 

Yes!

Worth the money?

Absolutely and definitely. I can't believe there was a time when I did not use it.

Korean Skincare Sample Reviews Part 1

It's interesting and even a little scary to try samples. What if it causes a breakout? Or irritates my skin? Burns? Tickles? And one or two samples just are not enough to see if it helps my skin in any way. Yet I always hope for a miracle! At least I can smell and feel the consistency of the product. And sometimes I don't even know a certain thing exists before I get a random free sample.

I test samples only when my skin seems to be in a good condition, only one at a time and if I happen to have many of the same product I group them and use during the same day/week.

Tonymoly The White Tea Brightening Cream

Ingredients:

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (White Tea 73%), Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cyclomethicone, WAter, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract,Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Polyglyceryl-2 stearate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol,Glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer , Citrus aurantium dulcis, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PVM/ma copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA


* Tried 4 samples

* Smells rather disgusting, a mix of old floral, glue, plastic

* However the smell disappears quickly, doesn't linger

* Consistency more like gel than cream, feels light

* Feels surprisingly hydrating

* Took a couple of minutes to sink into skin

* Didn't irritate

* The pores on my nose sweat through the cream, a little droplets of oil

* Didn't notice any brightening or other effects

Tonymoly The Black Tea London Classic Cream

Ingredients:

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cyclomethicone ,Glycereth-26 ,Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Jojoba Esters, C12-16 Alcohols, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Polysilicone-11, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alky, Acrylate Crosspolymer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tromethamine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Dextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate


* Tried 5 samples

* Smells like White Tea Cream but not as bad, smell doesn't linger

* Thicker than White Tea Cream which was more like gel, this is cream

* Hydrates surprisingly well, used as night moisturizer and skin felt great immediately and next morning

* Feels like soothes skin and helps with redness

* Actually considering buying Black Tea Cream and Serum


Tonymoly The Black Tea London Classic Serum

Ingredients:

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium-51, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Polymethancrylate, Hydrolzed Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acryates, Carbomer, Cocoa Extract, Dextrin, Cyclomethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Capric Triglyceride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethionol, C14-21 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Jojoba Esters, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Sunflower Seed Oil, Bergamot Fruit Oil, Tea Tree Leaf oil, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

* Tried 3 samples

* Spreads very nicely, also on neck, I don't have to pull skin at all

* Quite liquid

* First time using it, my red skin could almost be seen turning into more normal colour!

* Didn't happen again but maybe my skin wasn't so irritated the next days

* Feels hydrating

* Actually considering buying Black Tea Cream and Serum

Tonymoly Prestige Jeju Essence

Ingredients:

Glycerin, Niacinamide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tromethamine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Acrylates/
C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Carbomer, Cetyl Ethylhexyanoate, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphensin, Vegetable oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lemon peel oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus aurantium dulcis, Citrus Aurantifolia oil, Pinus sylvestris leaf oil, Eucalyptus Globulus LEaf oil, gold, butylene glycol, camellia japonica flower extract, Citrus unshiu, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEntylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Cenetella Asiatica Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruits Extraxt, Cinnamomum Camphora Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extraxt, RH-Polypeptide-22

* Tried 1 sample

* Smells sweet, doesn't linger

* Consistency surprisingly gel-like, thicker than many essences

* Felt hydrating but I put many other products as well at the same time

* Didn't irritate

* Didn't notice any other effects

Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

Ingredients:

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide,Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine

* Tried 2 samples

* Doesn't smell of anything

* Consistency very liquid

* Can't say if felt hydrating or anything

* Sinks in fast

* Didn't irritate

* Didn't notice any effects

Tonymoly Tony Lab AC Control Acne Foam Cleanser


* Tried 2 sample

* Now I know what "squeaky clean" means

* Does it also mean this is too harsh cleanser?

* Cleaned very very well

* Calmed my skin down even

* Smells like basic cleanser

* Couldn't find ingredients online


Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterful Intensive Serum

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG-8, Cyclohexasiloxane, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract, Rhizophora Mangle Callus Culture Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Callus Culture Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Adenium Obesum Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance


* Tried 1 sample

* Quite thick, gel-like serum

* Had a familiar smell, like some cleanser product, not too strong

* Absorbs well

* Hydrates, but didn't notice anything else

* Didn't irritate

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Essence Lotion 160 ml + Cream 50 ml + Bouncy Sleeping Mask 90 ml Review

Ingredients:

Drops of Youth Essence Lotion

Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Parfum/Fragrance, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citronellol, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Eryngium Maritimum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Poterium Officinale Extract/Poterium Officinale Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract/Zingiber Officinale ( Ginger) Root Extract, Limonene, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum

Drops of Youth Cream

Aqua/Water/Eau, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Nylon-66, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum/Fragrance, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, t-Butyl Alcohol, Linalool, Eryngium Maritimum Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Citronellol, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Limonene, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum

Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask

Aqua/Water (Solvent), Propanediol (Viscosity Modifier), Glycerin (Humectant), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil (Emollient), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Diheptyl Succinate (Skin Conditioning Agent - Emollient), Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer (Viscosity Controlling Agent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil (Emollient), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Caprylhydroxamic Acid (Chelating Agent), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Adenosine (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Caffeine (Skin Conditioning Agent), Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer (Film Former), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture (Skin Conditioning Agent), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier)

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Alcohol denat as third and fourth ingredient is not very promising, I have recently discovered it as one of my main irritants (well, surprise)

- Essence Lotion makes my skin red and slightly itchy for a moment when my skin is not in a acne free state

- The cream in particular has a strong scent (not a bad scent, I quite enjoyed it in two other products)

- The cream doesn't work under make up, it's so silicony that it pills like crazy and rolls off almost just from touching your cheek

- And the cream doesn't even feel like it moisturizes/hydrates properly...

- So when are you supposed to use the cream when it doesn't moisturize enough to be a night cream but for a day cream it's impossible due to pilling? (can't put make up or sunscreen on top)

- The sleeping mask stays a bit sticky and when I go to bed, I can feel some of it disappear into my pillow right away

- I have to wait preferably up to half an hour before going to bed after applying the mask

- I hate having to all the time wash and wipe and disinfect the spatula for the cream and mask

- The cream didn't even come with spatula (mask did)

- The jars for the cream and mask are glass and kinda heavy and clumsy to use (they do look good but... not practical)



+ However, I can see the results of the sleeping mask the next morning and my skin looks a lot more plump and evenly textured than without

+ Also the size of mask jar is nice and big and it has lasted for months (6 maybe? While two people have been using it)

+ I have to say the bottle design for essence lotion works really well, it's perfect size, plastic and light, doesn't spill or waste any product

+ I did notice in the beginning that the essence lotion made a difference in my skin and the texture/hydration got worse when I suddenly didn't use it for two weeks while travelling, however back then I didn't use any other essence to replace it

+ The essence lotion absorbs really fast and is very light

+ For a rougher skin the essence lotion seems to work well (fiancé)

+ Even the cream has something positive: because it's so silicony, it does make pores look smaller and skin smoother

* The Drops of Youth series promises so much, to moisturize, make pores look smaller, anti-aging...

* Yet I have found out that the only product worth using is the sleeping mask

* I would not recommend the cream for anyone

* I'm a bit a lot disappointed in this series as I bought these things when I was starting to explore skincare world and they seemed like everything I wanted

* With the Body Shop the silicon feeling creams seem to be a trend, nothing I have tried works under make up (pilling)

* Also with the Body Shop, the creams don't really seem to moisturize?! Maybe it's just me but... beware

Price: 


Drops of Youth Essence Lotion
17,90 € / 160 ml, I paid 10-15 € (cruise ship)

Drops of Youth Cream

27,50 € /50 ml, I paid 19-23 € (cruise ship)

Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
32,50 € / 90 ml, I paid 10-15 € (promotion)

Bought from: 

Cruise ship (tax free), the Body Shop store

Buy again? 

No to cream and essence lotion, yes to sleeping mask if I can get some discount, if not, maybe.

Worth the money? 

I don't think the price-quality ratio is in balance here for me. Not with the cream at least, such a tiny jar lasts maybe for a month, especially because the cream leaves the skin wanting for more, and you put more and more cream... (and I did use other hydrating products before putting the cream too!) I bet there are similarly priced but better working products out there.

Korean Skincare Online Stores Review

I have ordered so far from Roseroseshop, Jolse, Beautynetkorea and Bbcosmetic. I like testing new stores and since customs are so strict here, I only do smaller orders. I've had very good experiences, everything has been well-packaged, nothing as been expired or broken and all the orders have been correct. Almost every order came with a bunch of samples too. I would say that buying the extra tracking number is not necessary but it does give me some peace of mind.

I'm not too fussed about the amount of samples or shipping time quite honestly and I would recommend all of these stores. I just check the best prices and availability. Some stores offer brands that others don't. I'm also open to ordering from other places if I see something interesting.

Roseroseshop

Roseroseshop's prices are a bit lower than elsewhere because they still charge a shipping cost that's calculated in the end. With some products they come cheaper than other stores, so I always do comparisons. They also have quite a big selection of brands and products.

RRS has been the slowest of all stores to ship (except my first order from Jolse), but shipping itself  has taken the same time. The packages were marked as a gift and value as 20 USD for both orders I made. RRS takes 4 days to ship and the packages arrived in 10 days, they both had a tracking number. I bought the tracking for my first order and second order had "free shipping" items which meant that you buy the tracking, but you don't pay for the actual shipping cost by weight. The tracking costs ₩2,800.

The products were individually wrapped in bubblewrap. I got quite many samples, maybe 5 both times. They were also put in a plastic seal bag so that they weren't moving around. The first time when I ordered sunscreens, I got 2 sunscreen samples and second time snail cream, I got cream samples and one of them was snail. Coincidence?

Jolse

I have made couple of orders from Jolse so far. They have quite a nice selection of products as well, yet I feel like RRS's is bigger. The shipping is included in the price of the products. The prices keep fluctuating a bit (quite honestly that's applicable to all Korean skincare stores).

The first order I made was shipped after 8 days. It then took 9 days to reach me. For that order I also bought the tracking number for 2.50 USD extra. The next orders took 2 days to ship without tracking number. I don't know if getting it actually made it slower to ship or they just didn't have the products in stock or were backlogged. If I remember right, it took about 9 days for other orders to come too. Shipping from Korea is fast!

I think I got about 4-5 samples with every order and twice the usual Jolse blotting papers (haven't tried them yet!). The products were individually bubblewrapped. The value of the packages were marked as 5 USD and as a gift every time.

Beautynetkorea

From Beautynetkorea I have ordered only the cheapest things (about 10 USD order value), maybe three times, and for the latest time they didn't even include any samples! Made me laugh, maybe they are trying to give me a hint...? Usually I got a couple of samples. Shipping is included in the price of the products as well and you can buy the extra tracking number for 2.80 USD.

They have some things for really good prices and it seems their selection is a bit limited. They do have the most popular and talked about things however! So many things are annoyingly showing up as sold out when you actually browse around. 

The orders were shipped the very same day or two days later. One package came in 7 days! Others about 10 days. They were marked as gifts and value as 10 USD. Everything was nicely packaged but not individually. In one package they had thrown some bubblewrap sheet on top of the product boxes and that's it but it doesn't matter because nothing was able to move around and products weren't fragile.

Bbcosmetic

I have ordered only once from Bbcosmetic and it was because some deals they have are just so good that it made me impulse buy... I do not regret! Shipping is also included in the product prices but you can buy the tracking number for 2.80 USD.

I think the package was marked as a gift and the value as 20 USD. It was shipped after 2 days and reached me in 10 days. I got 3 samples and I assume everything was well-packaged as nothing was broken but I just don't remember how.