Archive for June 2020

I’ve professed my love for Cosrx's Hydrium Line a number of times now but I still don’t think I can stress it enough. The brand really did a great job on this one because all of them work so wonderfully, and I can definitely vouch for these products to anyone no matter the skin type. Two products will be reviewed in this post (cause I'm too lazy to do a shoot for the products separately) but you already know the verdict on these... ;)

COSRX Centella Aqua Soothing Ampoule

About the product:

Description: Formulated with 42 percent Centella Asiatica extract and madecassoside compounds; provides ample moisture to effectively calm sensitive skin; boosts moisture and alleviates inflammation with vitamin B5; lightweight texture is quickly absorbed by skin*

Fragrance: None

How to use: Apply two or three drops onto face, avoiding the eye and mouth area. Evenly spread and massage it for maximum absorption.*

My experience:

Centella Asiatica skincare products have grown popular over the years because it's known to be effective in treating inflammation and acne. This new Cica (or Centella Asiatica) ampoule from Cosrx was specifically tailored for people who have acne-prone, sensitive and irritated skin, helping provide instant soothing and cooling effects & lasting hydration. This has a thin and watery consistency, making it easy to spread on the face.

Whenever I have troubled and irritated skin, I run to my Cica (or Centella Asiatica) products. I have inflamed areas (sides of my nose) & eczema spots on my face & the rest of my body. There are days when I don't have a problem with them but when they're particularly stubborn, I go to my Cica products for comfort. I was actually saving this up because I still had 1-2 Cica products open but after applying all of them on my face & still reeling with an inflamed face, I had to bust my Cosrx open and then... I heard angels sing. LOL. But it honestly felt like it! After a few seconds of application, the inflamed areas on my face calmed down.

Lately my inflamed areas have been reacting horribly on products I apply (even to my mild toner!!) that this is the only product it can tolerate. In a matter of days, I've already noticed how it has helped lighten the redness in these areas!

I also apply this on my eczema spots on the rest of my body because it's been so effective in helping curb with the itchiness and we all know how eczema gets worse when you start scratching it. This is such a good product to keep in your collection for your skin's rainy days when it needs instant saving and relief. This has also marked its place in my list of Holy Grail products because it's just that good.

COSRX Moisture Power Enriched Cream

About the product:

Description: A moisture-rich formula that provides deep hydration for smooth and supple skin with a velvety finish**

Fragrance: None

How to use: Use as the last step in your routine.

My experience:

Having dry to combination skin really has made me quite picky on the moisturizers I like. I rely heavily on good moisturizers and sleeping masks lest I want to wake up with a flakey face.

Two weeks ago when my room was being made, I had to reduce the products I use both for my morning and evening routines because most of my stuff was placed in boxes. I had to stick to the basic routine at night: cleanse, tone, serum, moisturizer.

This minimal routine just proved to me how good of a moisturizer this was. I didn't use any sleeping mask but this moisturizer alone sufficed. I woke up to such soft skin that feels super-hydrated, as if I drank gallons of water the previous day. It's quite thick at first, feels velvety upon application but sinks in so easily and beautifully, without jerking my skin or making it look oily. The rich cream is packed with all the good stuff—B5 (panthenol), propolis (also one of my favorite skincare ingredients), and ceramide forms that help replenish moisture to the skin. It is honestly the best moisturizer I have ever tried & I'm so happy I won in the brand's Instagram giveaway that I got to try the whole line.

Pairing this with the other Hydrium line ampoules (may it be the Hyaluronic or Centella one) is a sure winner. I've been having my best state of skin ever since I've switched to mostly Cosrx Hydrium products. The line is a total game-changer & I feel like I'll just keep going back to these products in the future. I really can't recommend the whole line enough to anyone. It's not just for people with dry or acne-prone skin but the whole line is just so good that I know it will wow anyone who uses them.

* From https://beautymnl.com/products/43155-hydrium-centella-aqua-soothing-ampoule

** From https://beautymnl.com/products/43153-hydrium-moisture-power-enriched-cream

Thank You Farmer is a Korean brand that was named thus because it took inspiration from the mentality that of a farmer— the brand does not believe in shortcuts with nature or skin. It uses "real" ingredients to help skin strengthen over time.

Truth be told, I haven't heard of the brand before I got into the skincare community on Instagram. I got curious and when StyleKorean had a $9.99 sale for the brand last 2018, I grabbed the opportunity to buy items from the brand. I got their True Water Deep Toner, True Water Deep Serum, True Water Deep Emulsion, and Back to Iceleand Cleansing Foam, all of which I have emptied except for the toner (which I forgot I had).

About the product:

Description: Provides instant moisture and soothing care; simultaneously hydrates as it controls sebum to optimize your oil-moisture balance; helps prep your complexion to better absorb your next step skincare; offers whitening and wrinkle correcting function; enriched with inositol, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide, and adenosine; unique texture refreshingly quenches skin’s thirst*

Fragrance: Light, signature Thank You Farmer scent

How to use: After cleansing, dampen a cotton pad with toner or dispense onto palm to apply gently over face.*

My experience: Because of the quarantine, I cleaned my skincare stash and found this toner. I immediately used it because it's expiring by the end of the year.

The product comes in a 150ml frosted pump bottle. Upon opening, you are greeted by the signature Thank You Farmer fragrance of the product. I honestly don't mind mild fragrances in products but if you're scent-sitive then you might do more caution with this.

As a dry-combo skin-type person, I always lean on hydrating toners. I use 2 pumps and learned from mistake that it tends to be quite sticky, because of its glycerin component, if you use more than that so this isn't really the toner to use for your 7 skins.

Disclaimer though, this product is formulated with alcohol which can be a huge red flag for other users. Personally, my skin does not react horribly with alcohol but it isn't really a recommended ingredient for products (though I know from research that there are good alcohols that are used in products. I'm just not sure if this is one of them because the ingredients list just simply states "alcohol").

This product does a good job as a hydrating toner. It's watery-gel-like texture sinks in beautifully into your skin with light taps. It contains glycerin (moisturizing ingredient) and niacinamide (a favorite skincare ingredient) that does a lot of benefits to the skin. I just think they have to reformulate this one without alcohol so that it wouldn't raise eyebrows from other users. I also have apprehensions with its price because $20+ for a toner is already expensive for me. If it weren't for its brand sale in StyleKorean, I would not have given this a chance.

* From https://beautymnl.com/products/44436-true-water-deep-toner-150ml-a194946a-b6ce-4a08-87c4-5397fa4aa16c

Mise en scene hair products are a favorite in Korea. I first heard about the brand from the skincare community on Instagram. Close skincare friends from the community would rave about it so when I saw this on sale in Myeongdong last year, I knew I had to get one for myself.

Little background on my hair: I've had frizzy hair for as long as I can remember. To address the frizziness, I used to have it rebonded every year (yikes) in high school and in college. I definitely felt the after-effects of all the chemicals on my hair because it became very dull. That's why I opted to try less harsh treatments like permanent blowdry. I've been receiving the treatment for my hair for almost 2 years now & my hair looks way better now (unlike the volume-less look rebonded hair gives you) & feels healthier too.

About the product:

Description: An oil-infused hair formula that helps repair your hair within 3 days. Provides intensive hair care to damaged and brittle tresses; highly enriched with nourishing and healing argan oil, royal jelly, and rose water; helps deliver nutrients deep into strands; transforms dry, rebellious, coarse hair into smoother, silkier, and more manageable locks; leaves hair looking healthy, silky, and glossy*

Fragrance: Light, pleasant smell you will definitely like.

How to use: (see below review for instructions)

My experience:

This is one of those products that made me giddy after purchasing so I immediately used this. After I took a shower, I blowdried my hair completely and applied the serum. I went about our day in Seoul and after calling it a day, I was kind of unimpressed how my hair didn't feel anything different.

The day after, I was determined with the product, tried it again, and alas! It worked better the second time around! That's when I realized that I was using it wrong! I mean, not totally wrong but there was a better way of utilizing the serum to its fullest:

Blow-dry your hair for a couple of minutes until it's damp
Apply the serum on your hair (I make sure to apply a generous amount on the tips)
Blow-dry completely
Use the cold temperature on your blow-dryer for about 5 minutes to complete the look

I swear to you that you feel your hair in the softest and bounciest it has ever been. This has become a staple in my routine that I no longer feel comfortable when I go out of the house without using it. I still have another one in my stash, but in a different variant (Light) and I'm excited to use it too. They recently came out with a coconut variant too which, based from reviews from skincare friends, works and smells equally as good.

Mise en Scene products are available in Shopee & Lazada.

* From https://beautymnl.com/products/15192-damage-care-perfect-repair-serum