Korean Skincare Sample Reviews Part 2

Samples are neverending! So is my search for new exciting products that will transfer my skin overnight. One must never lose hope.


SCINIC Snail All in One Ampoule

Ingredients:

Snail Secretion Filtrate, Water, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Laureth-7, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Rh-Polypeptide-7


* Tried about 15 ml

* Consistency sticky gel

* Offered very pleasant and also very annoying surprises

* Smells so so strong, cheap perfume, the whole bottle was literally reeking, poisoning the room

* However after using this for couple of weeks made me less sensitive to the smell

* Doesn't irritate

* Hydrates very well!

* Absorbs in a minute or two

* Calms skin down

* I definitely think this lives up to the promise of All in One

* Very economical price

* Wondering if I should buy the whole bottle despite of the smell

* The bottle itself (I took my sample from the bottle I got for my mom) felt a bit cheap and had leaked during shipping

* Came with a spatula

COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence

Ingredients:

Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin,1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ethyl Hexanediol

* Tried about 15 ml

* Feels like this is actually drying my face, especially if I put it straight after toner but also as a later step, it's weird because the weather/air is not dry at the moment (so that hyaluronic acid would just draw moisture out of my skin)

* I don't think I want to finish my sample bottle but I will try mixing the essence to other products

* No smell

* Clear liquid-like, absorbs fast

* I just don't feel it hydrates! And I can't see it doing anything else for my skin either

BENTON Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

Ingredients:

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (80%), Propolis Extract (10%), Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Allantoin, Betaine, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Cross Polymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Rose

* Tried about 15 ml

* Very gel-like consistency, quite pleasant

* No fragnance, doesn't smell of anything

* Doesn't irritate

* ... But also doesn't soothe the skin much in my opinion!

* Doesn't work instead or with another moisturizer because doesn't really hydrate or offer other benefits (being occlusive etc)

* Doesn't help with redness, pores, flare-ups

* Doesn't absorb very well however doesn't leave skin sticky either

* I remember I burned myself once in the sun and used some random pure aloe vera gel on the spots for several days and it didn't help with itchiness or redness so maybe aloe is just not my skin's thing (however Mizon's Snail Gel took slight sun burn redness away overnight but I don't know if I can compare as the burns weren't similar)

TONYMOLY Floria Brightening Peeling Gel

Ingredients:

Water Glycerin Quaternium-60 Propylene Glycol Carbomer Dipropylene Glycol Fragrance(Parfum) Phenoxyethanol Water Saccharomyces/Nelumbo Nucifera Ferment Extract Filtrate Disodium EDTA Butylene Glycol Ascorbic Acid Pearl Powder Caprylyl Glycol 1,2-Hexanediol Pentylene Glycol Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract Lactic Acid Serine Sodium Lactate Sorbitol Urea Prunus Mume Fruit Extract Sodium Chloride Allantoin Citric Acid

* Tried 1 sample

* First time using a peeling gel that looks like you are clearing a lot of dead skin off

* Had a faint neutral cosmetic scent

* Didn't feel like it was overly drying my face but my face still wasn't feeling soft, maybe even slightly rough

* Of course can't comment on the brightening part

* Felt overall a bit "meh" but no irritation



COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

Ingredients:

Snail Secretion Filtrate, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic acid, Arginine, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine, Phenoxyethanol

* Tried 1 sample

* Pleasant consistency, looks thicker but is like gel

* No smell

* I got one irritated spot immediately after putting the cream (not pimple or rash)

* Next morning my face looked really nice and fresh

* Moisturizes very well considering it's gel-like and light

* I got all excited about the cream before the irritated spot, don't know if I dare to order the cream but the results were otherwise above all my expectations

* I hope I get more samples to help me decide!



TONYMOLY Banana Sleeping Pack

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Petrolatum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Dimethicone, Betaine, Urea, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dimethiconol Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Cl19140, Cl 15985


* Tried 2 samples

* Smells like banana yoghurt, personally I find it disgusting

* The smell disappears quickly, in 2-3 minutes

* Looks very thick but spreads and absorbs well

* Leaves skin sticky, similar to other sleeping masks (like the Body Shop's Bouncy Sleeping Mask)

* Feels nice and decent, had to check the price point, about 10 dollars / 85 ml sounds quite tempting but the smell...

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.