Review: Sulwhasoo Herbal Soap

An Aritaum store opened up in my city recently and so I finally have an official retailer to get mid to high-end Korean cosmetics from! My wallet weeps at this news.

I wasn't really looking for a cleanser, since I'm quite happy with Skinfood Egg White Pore Form that I use in my morning skin routine. But I bought the Sulwhasoo Signature Kit, which comes with small versions of their "Signature" items as well as full versions of the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX (EX is the renewed version of the original Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum) and the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream.

Doesn't it look grand

Inside the box

The signature kit containing small versions of the Essential Balancing Water, Essential Balancing Emulsion, Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream, First Care Activating Serum, Overnight Revitalizing Mask, and Herbal Soap

I originally just wanted to buy the Sulwhasoo Ginseng Renewing Cream, but of course I got sucked into buying a set that has 6 other things I can try out instead! I'll be doing reviews for all of these as I go along.

Review: Innisfree Apple Juicy Liquid Foaming Cleanser

I got these samples from an Innisfree store. I don't trust buying samples anymore ever since we've had an Aritaum store open up in my city that actually sells high-end Korean cosmetics and I've noticed a difference in scent and texture in some of them. So from now on I'll only review (and use, quite frankly) samples that were given to me at a retail store.

Anyway, I'm not a particular Innisfree cleanser fan. I tried the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam but it was nothing compared to the Skinfood Egg White Pore Form that I use in my morning skin routine. But I do quite like the Innisfree apple juicy liquid line as I use their makeup remover Innisfree Apple Juicy Emulsion Lip & Eye Remover now in my daily routine. So I thought I'd give this cleanser a try.

Review: Innisfree Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock SPF 50 PA+++

Summer is here and that means it's time to try out new sunscreens! I have naturally somewhat dark skin (not the Asian pearly white skin I'm afraid), and I get dark without even trying. I've tried a million sunscreens, and none have prevented me from getting darker. Granted, that's not the point of sunscreens either. A girl can dream, right?

Anyway, so my goal for sunscreens is that its ingredients are safe (doesn't get absorbed into the skin) and effective. My second goal is that its in a consistency that I can tolerate putting on for the whole day. I was extremely impressed with Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Sun Gel SPF 30 PA++ in that it didn't feel like a sunscreen at all. It wasn't even greasy! The only thing I didn't like was the ingredients. It didn't use the two "barrier" sunscreen ingredients, titanium oxide or zinc oxide, which is good for UVA protection (more on that later). So I decided to give this one a try.

Review: Etude House Skin Mal:Gem Toner - Smoother

It's been a long time since I've changed toners. The Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner has served me well. It got rid of the pimples I kept getting from clogged pores, and it's been in my morning and night time skin routine for the past 3.5 years. But around half a year ago, I started getting pimples again. Nothing big, maybe 1-2 clogged pores that turned into pimples on the sides of my face, but there was always one there! I was hoping Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner would save me, but unfortunately, it didn't do anything this time. And then I remember one of the previous commenters (sorry, I forgot which post it was or else I'd write your name here!) suggested I try Etude House's mal-gem line of toners.

Review: Innisfree Apple Juicy Emulsion Lip & Eye Remover

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've last blogged! I haven't forgotten about this blog, in fact, I think of it from time to time and have been taking photos of new products that I try! Just that it took me awhile to get my life settled and back on track. A little summary on what's happened the past year (if you don't care, skip this paragraph): I've finally graduated and am now working as a medical resident at the hospital. I've had to move to be closer to the hospital I'm employed at, which explains the change in background! Everything's quite new to me, finally being independent and all. To be honest, I do miss my old home with my parents but fortunately it's not too far away from where I live right now. And I'm glad that I finally don't have to pay tuition and get a salary! About time! I'm 28!

I ran out of the Innisfree Apple Juicy Lip & Eye Remover and was about to buy my refill when I ran into its emulsion version and thought, why not? So I gave it a try and I actually have converted to using this now as my go-to eye makeup remover.