Missha Near Skin Madecanol Cream 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Water, Dimethicone, Caprylic, Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Polyacrylate-13, Madecassoside, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate

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:

- Leaves skin quite sticky

- Doesn't seem to absorb well, more like stays on top

- I use this cream in place of sleeping packs/night creams and in the morning it feels a bit... slippery, slimy when I touch my forehead, different feeling from using The Body Shop's Bouncy Sleeping Mask (not a big problem, just weird)

- Doesn't provide any immediate effects (yeah I know I'm always after those) like brightening it promises

- For a day cream bad choice, so sticky and doesn't work with make-up (maybe if I would put this only to my cheeks that are dryer and where I don't usually put foundation?)

- Leaves skin somewhat shiny as well, not greasy

- The product didn't have a foil between the cap and tube (even though the cap has the sharp part that is meant to break the foil in pharmacy products)

- EDIT: Even though the metallic tube looks cool and keeps the product fresh, when you actually have to squeeze it (when it's ending) the sharp edges rip



+ Has no smell whatsoever, like... completely nothing (Benton's products are unfragranced but share the same stuffy smell, Missha cream is truly just nothing)

+ Doesn't irritate, tingle, feels like... nothing, really

+ Moisturises surprisingly well on its own, but still it's not quite there, like it's ok but I always add something else unless my skin is acting up (like rash)

+ So, I have noticed, this cream is great for soothing the skin and is a very safe option after actives (aloe gels don't feel soothing to me)

+ I did notice when I got it and used for a couple of nights (or a week?) my skin felt like it was more in balance, it felt more comfortable during the day with lighter moisturizer and make-up

* I am now almost half-way with this cream and thought that I'm going to already review it as I don't think my opinion will change

* Madecanol Cream is really inoffensive, safe, working product, no matter my current skin condition I can always trust it not to annoy my skin further

* I would be interested in trying Missha's Near Skin Ceramide Cream as well, and other products from the lineup

* I rather like the look of the tube, how it mimics dermatology cosmetics and looks like I bought it from the pharmacy, also how it asks you to write the date you opened it on the tube is a great reminder

* I think the tube can last up to 3-4 months if used only during nights, however I think I'll be done in 2,5 because I like slathering it on too much as no one will see me during nights and because I just like it

* Also the consistency of the cream is quite thick when it comes from the tube, it does melt on the skin after that but initially you always end up squeezing too much

* EDIT: Added a couple of photos as it seems like surprisingly many people are interested in this Madecanol Cream and photos are probably more useful to you than my rambling!

Price: 

14.20 USD / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Ebay seller ibuybeauti

Buy again? 

Good question! I mean, it's been everything that I bought it for, works fine, but it's not dazzling, exciting, beautiful miracle thing. I feel conflicted! Maybe. A safe option is always good to have.

Worth the money? 

For me, in the end, yes. For other people? If you don't need soothing, don't have problems with skin's moisture barrier, don't like sticky, want to use this during a day, or if you have a very oily skin... this cream will most likely not work for you. Also there are lots of options for soothing creams in this price range.

Konjac Sponges Review / Comparisons

Thoughts:


- You have to keep the sponge in a dry place and not touch it with dirty hands

- I feel like no matter how I try to handle it well it will grow bacteria immediately I have gotten it wet for the first time... I hope it's just my paranoia!

- I'm not sure if it properly dries between the times I've used it (if you use it everyday, it won't)

- I don't want to travel with it because it will not dry in humid places, I'm afraid it collects dirt, it has to be in a minigrip bag while travelling to new places and then it just stays wet for even longer periods of time!

- I read somewhere that cheap sponges, or any sponges for that matter, can be fakes that are not actually konjac plant and can include fake color to make it better looking.

- Sometimes it's annoying to wait until the sponge gets wet and soft enough to use. EDIT: This seemed to be problem only with my first sponges, the ones I've bought later on do not take that long.

- After the first weeks of use the sponge is not so soft anymore. EDIT: Yes, this is still true, but some sponges just get radically less soft and some only little.

- Some articles say that konjac sponge can clean make up etc without any cleanser used at all (not before, after, during) and that's just bs!



+ Very, very gentle.

+ I used to use face scrubs (Neutrogena) before but after buying my first konjac sponge I just didn't have a need for them anymore.

+ You can control how hard you push the sponge or where you want to use it.

+ Leaves skin so soft!

+ Lasts 3 months if used almost every day (after that it started to give me pimples but I believe now it's because I didn't boil or otherwise sanitize it often enough)

+ I don't use konjac sponge everyday anymore because I have found acids, but still I feel I have to use it at least 1-2 times a week to make my skin stay happy, so I think physical exfoliating is important too.

+ Using konjac sponge in the evening made a huge difference to my skin in the beginning, it was so much clearer (well... still is but it has become the new normal for me)

* This is a little different review as I just have bought random konjac sponges! EDIT: Will add some notes about the sponges I've used.  After a while and using several of them, I finally start to notice that they can have surprising differences and I also have my own preferences. I still love konjac sponges and notice a difference if I use it or not. It is such an amazing easy fix to go towards better skin (for me).

* I think it's better to get rid of the sponge after 2,5 months of daily/almost daily use, just to be sure, or use it for the body. EDIT: Some sponges seem to last very well despite boiling and active use, I've used Etude House Natural Konjac Face Cleansing Puff for 4 months I think! They will not disintegrate, they just are not as soft or pleasant to use or start to smell faster after boiling. I still have a bunch of old konjacs I use for my body... they just are not willing to die. Really makes me wonder what kind of sponges I am purchasing, are they not konjac plant at all?

* Using konjac sponge in sauna just makes the most perfect, soft, clean, glowing skin!

* Boiling the sponge to sanitize it is recommended, I have done it not so often and only for a couple of minutes as I'm afraid the sponge will disintegrate. EDIT: The konjacs seem to be fine even if left boiling for 10-15 minutes (oops). They will not break down, they just take very long to dry after the operation and are maybe a bit harder and difficult to wet for the first use.

* I don't use konjac sponge with any cleanser, just on its own after them.

Price: 

5-10 €

Bought from: 

Supermarket, cruise ship, online...

Buy again? 

Yes!

Worth the money? 

Definitely, considering how long you can use the sponge if you take care of it. After you've decided it's not soft/good enough for face anymore, you can use it for your body.

Active Line Beauty Cleansing Konjac Sponge Bamboo Charcoal

Size comparison between the bamboo charcoal sponge and some no-name one from supermarket.

* Active Line Beauty's sponge was dry in the package, well-protected with plastic and cardboard.

* I really enjoyed using this sponge: good size, very soft in the beginning. I would buy it again if I ever see it somewhere. Cost me 5 €.

* Lasted maybe 3 months, got noticeably harder towards the end, wouldn't get properly wet anymore.

* The small white konjac sponge in the last picture I used prior to bamboo charcoal one. It was some supermarket find that was more expensive (7-10 €?), smaller and also got harder faster. I think it was ok (as in it works), I used it for 2-3 months, would not repurchase. It was one of those I had to keep in water for a longer time until it was wet enough to be used.

Etude House My Beauty Tool Natural Konjac Face Cleansing Puff

* Etude House's Konjac Puff comes in plastic, already wet. I don't know why they do this, seems to be a thing with Korean sponges. As if I don't have time to put a sponge in a water bowl or what? Does it keep it fresh? What is the moisture, does it have some preservatives? I try to rinse it extremely well before I use it. It's nice of them to include the directions in English too even though it's not really rocket science how to use a sponge.

* EH's sponge is good size. And very, very soft. After the first week or two it loses some of the extra softness but is still soft. And stays soft for months. I've used a sponge for 4 months and it's still usable! But it has lost the jellyness and will probably soon be too hard.

* I think EH's sponge is also quite light, porous, jelly-like. Pleasant to use. Would repurchase. Costs only about 3 USD!

Missha Natural Soft Jelly Cleansing Puff White Clay

* Missha's White Clay Cleansing Puff also comes in plastic, already wet. I think the packaging is cool and neutral! Even though I myself like princess style packaging as well. I think the 10% means the white clay content? Would be nice to have some text in English.

* The sponge seems weirdly stiff, dense even straight out of the package. Especially compared to Etude House one. It is still soft, but not the same way. I do have to say I prefer EH. Maybe it's because of the clay? I've used the sponge only for a week now so can't say if the clay helps anything.

* Size is ok. Costs about 4,50 USD. I don't think I will repurchase in the future.

Pirkka Sun Cream Aurinkovoide Sensitive SPF 20 UVA + UVB 200 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Heliotropine, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate

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:

- SPF 20 is not the highest protection but good enough for me

- The product has UVB and UVA protection but it doesn't say the level of UVA protection, probably not very high either

- I think it's caused me small bumps on my arms and neck, but with good cleaning and having days when I don't put the sunscreen, they go away and don't get worse

- It is annoying to wait sometimes for the sunscreen to dry, especially if I'm in a hurry and I have to touch things with damp hands



+ Cheap

+ Easy to spread, creamy

+ Doesn't leave skin sticky, feels only a little "damp" for ten to fifteen minutes

+ Doesn't make my skin feel dry (no alcohol), almost feels moisturizing

+ Waterproof

+ Doesn't leave a white cast (chemical sunscreen)

+ Works well protecting against sunburn, I didn't burn or get any redness when using this in +30 C sun and being out all day (I did reapply but only every 4 hrs or so), however I'm not very prone to burning, just tanning, and I barely even tanned during my trip

* The bottle (200 ml) lasted me a whole summer, so about 3 months, including all the trips to more sunny countries where I applied it more generously and more often (maybe according to some people I don't use enough, but summer's been so cold, that I have been wearing long sleeves etc)

* I haven't dared to use it on my face and probably will never take that risk

* Smells like grandma's lotion, fake flowery, not really good or bad in my opinion, even though it lingers

* Good things about this sunscreen out weight the bad ones, like the bumps 

* Maybe the reason I can use this chemical sunscreen is, that it's only SPF 20 (not so much active ingredients) and no alcohol, and of course that I use it only for body

Price: 

About 6 € / 200 ml

Bought from: 

Citymarket

Buy again? 

Maybe, I mean, I already did repurchase but I would be open to try something else when the current bottle ends.

Worth the money? 

Yes, this was probably the cheapest one I was able to find without alcohol. It's not unpleasant to use and is also waterproof. I read somewhere that for protecting from sun, these inexpensive options are just as good as luxury ones. The bottle lasts a long time too. Good for everyday use.

Redken Extreme Length Primer 150 ml + Sealer 50 ml + Extreme Strengthening Shampoo 300 ml + Conditioner 250 ml

Ingredients:

Extreme Length Primer

AQUA/WATER/EAU, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, GLYCERIN, PEG-40/PPG-8 METHYLAMINOPROPYL/HYDROXYPROPYL DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, PHENOXYETHANOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYQUATERNIUM-67, CETYL ALCOHOL, BIOTIN, CITRIC ACID ARGININE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE, QUATERNIUM-33, BENZYL BENZOATE, LIMONENE, 2-OLEAMIDO-1, 3-OCTADECANEDIOL, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LINALOOL, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROOTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL (D166668/2)

Extreme Length Sealer

AQUA/WATER/EAU, AMODIMETHICONE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, TRIDECETH-5, POLYQUATERNIUM-37, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/ DICAPRATE, STEARETH-20, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, GLYCERIN, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, CETYL HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, TRIDECETH-10, CETYL ALCOHOL, PPG-1 TRIDECETH-6, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS OIL/SWEET ALMOND OIL, BIOTIN, POLYQUATERNIUM-67, ARGININE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE, QUATERNIUM-33, SODIUM NITRATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, 2-OLEAMIDO-1,3- OCTADECANEDIOL, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, LIMONENE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LINALOOL, SILICA, SODIUM ACETATE, POLYSORBATE 60, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CITRIC ACID

Extreme Strengthening Shampoo

AQUA/WATER/EAU, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, COCO-BETAINE, GLYCOL DISTEARATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, DIMETHICONE, PARFUM/ FRAGRANCE, COCAMIDE MIPA, SODIUM BENZOATE, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, SALICYLIC ACID, GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, CARBOMER, CETYL ALCOHOL, SODIUM COCOYL AMINO ACIDS, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, QUATERNIUM- 33, POTASSIUM DIMETHICONE PEG-7 PANTHENYL PHOSPHATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, SODIUM SARCOSINATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, LIMONENE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, ARGININE, 2-OLEAMIDO-1,3-OCTADECANEDIOL, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, LINALOOL, FUMARIC ACID, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN PG-PROPYLSILANETRIOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, TETRASODIUM EDTA, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CITRIC ACID (D184533/1)

Extreme Strengthening Conditioner

AQUA/WATER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, GLYCERIN, CETYL ESTERS, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, LAURYL PEG/ PPG-18/18 METHICONE, CETYL ALCOHOL, SODIUM COCOYL AMINO ACIDS, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, CITRIC ACID, CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE, QUATERNIUM-33, ISOSTEARYL ALCOHOL, POTASSIUM DIMETHICONE PEG-7 PANTHENYL PHOSPHATE, DODECENE, SODIUM SARCOSINATE, POLOXAMER 407, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, BENZYL BENZOATE, ARGININE, 2-OLEAMIDO-1,3-OCTADECANEDIOL, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL, SODIUM CHLORIDE, TETRASODIUM EDTA, POTASSIUM SORBATE (D184844/1)

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:

- Extreme Length Sealer was such a disappointment, I didn't even finish it!

- The product itself wasn't easy to rub to hair ends, it was thick(er than some other products I used)

- The brush did not serve any purpose, couldn't use it, just made it messy to get the actual product

- I found a lot cheaper split end leave-in product that worked just as well as Redken's Length Sealer so I feel like I was ripped off now

- The prices of Redken products are quite high (at least in here)



+ My favorite was Extreme Length Primer that I used right after bleaching my hair for the first time

+ The bottle of primer lasted for a very long time, probably closer to half a year

+ It had a pleasant, not too strong smell that is present in all Extreme Length products

+ It left my hair smooth and easy to comb, not heavy or greasy at all

+ Shampoo and conditioner were good products, way better than Schwarzkopf Bonacure (?) products I tried from similar price range

+ I felt like shampoo did clean my head better than the usual cheap ones I keep lying around and I was able to wash my hair less often (washing long blonded hair too often makes it worse, very dry)

* I used to have very long hair, that I dyed in several colors and finally bleached continuously. Well, that was essentially goodbye to long hair but I still tried to keep it alive for a little longer and with Redken (and others), I managed a couple of years.

* I still think Redken's products worked the best for my distressed hair during that time.

* I don't understand why I didn't try more oil products back in the day now that I think about it, I did have some oil mists but they weren't very good.

* Redken as a brand is so well known and established that it was easy to request their products as gifts! It's quite an advantage when someone is persistent that they want to give you something you will like but they have absolutely no knowledge about skin or hair care.

Price: 

Extreme Length Primer

About 14 € / 150 ml on Feelunique, here (in physical stores) about 20-25 €

Extreme Length Sealer

About 11,5 € / 50 ml on Feelunique, here about 20-25 €

Extreme Strengthening Shampoo

About 11,5 € / 300 ml on Feelunique, here about 20-25 €

Extreme Strengthening Conditioner

About 13 € / 250 ml on Feelunique, here about 20-25 €

Bought from: 

Hairdresser, Feelunique, got as gifts

Buy again? 

My hair is healthy and short right now. So, even if I have very special feelings for the primer, I'm going to have to say no.

Worth the money? 

I'm not sure the price quality ratio is quite right if I look at the prices in my own country. But if you order from somewhere where the price is on Feelunique's level or less, yes. And if you have very distressed hair. I don't see any reason getting "better than average" haircare items for hair that is short, unprocessed, shiny and smooth on its own. Hair grows so quick anyway!

Cien Men Aqua 48 h Anti-Perspirant 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Methy Glucose Sesquistearate, Parfum, Perlite, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate, Cellulose Gum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool

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:

- Could dry faster after application, takes up to 10 minutes

- Leaves white marks to clothes if still wet

- Doesn't work for 48 hrs (but rarely any anti-perspirants do unless they are some armpit killers from pharmacy)

- Contains aluminum (I would like to not use it but sadly, after trying non-aluminum products, I'm back to square one, sweating every minute and second)



+ Keeps me dry(-ish) and non-smelly all day (24 h)

+ I can shower and put it in the evening and next morning I'm all ready to go, I don't have to add again if I'm in a hurry

+ Neutral, not heavy smell that disappears quite soon

+ Easy to apply roll-on

+ Haven't noticed it yellowing any armpits of clothes

+ Cheap, always available (at least so far has been!)

+ No alcohol

+ No irritation 

* Lidl is well-known for having some good products for cheap and, ladies and gentlemen, this is one of those!

* I always buy multiples and have back-ups in the drawer

* I and my fiancé both use these

* They last maybe 2-3 months

* My armpits are quite tough as I have tried all the strong anti-perspirants that I have gotten without prescription and the worst I have had was extreme itching (but no sweat, yay?), so, to me this is very gentle but effective formula

* The green bottle anti-perspirant from Cien smells strong and horrible (well all those that are aimed at women), the smell doesn't even fade, so avoid that one

Price: 

About 1 € / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Lidl

Buy again? 

Yes yes, been doing that probably for two years now!

Worth the money? 

Dirt cheap for how good it is for people with perspiration problems, practically free. About the same or better than 8-10 € bottles I have bought from pharmacy (Bats, Triple Dry). TD used to be very good years ago but I think they changed the formula and it just didn't work anymore for me. Maybe someday I have to test them again if Lidl stops selling this antiperspirant.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 30 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, 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:

- Sometimes causes pilling in combination with other products

- I'm not sure if I should wait for it to dry or just continue my routine while it is still wet: I feel like I get different end result every time no matter which way I do

- When applied to damp skin, makes weird "foam"

- Because it's difficult to predict if it's going to pill or not, I rather use it only during nights

- Causes massive pilling with The Ordinary's Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% (which causes pilling on its own too)



+ A miracle worker! After only 3 days of using this serum, I notice a difference

+ Also when I leave it out for couple of days, I notice the difference and I want to immediately add it back

+ My skin seems brighter, the tone/texture is more even, maybe less sebum as well (of course nothing has drastically changed but many small things together make it seem so, it's an overall feeling of "hmm my skin seems to be doing well")

+ No fragrance

+ No irritation no matter how often and how much I put it on

+ Feels even slightly moisturizing

+ Easy to spread and pat into skin, watery liquid consistency, the "foam" also disappears quickly

+ Doesn't leave skin sticky

* If the results I have gotten stay or improve, I shall never stop using this product (... unless some other Niacinamide product works even better)

* Bottle lasted me about 2,5 months

* I can't believe I didn't try this one earlier! Now I will always favour products with niacinamide on the top of the ingredients list

* I think I have said before, I quite like dropper bottles as it's easy to drop the amount I want straight to my face and hygiene is not a huge problem as these small 30 ml bottles last only a couple of months

* It's a little annoying to go to The Ordinary's website to buy more, and usually the one thing you want is always out of stock - so you postpone your order - after two weeks, that thing is in stock, but another one isn't! Just ranting because this happened when I went to buy more Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Price: 

5,90 € / 30 ml

Bought from: 

The Ordinary website

Buy again? 

Yes and yes, I will buy a back up bottle(s) as well.

Worth the money? 

Absolutely, for this price it's a great deal and even a steal!

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...