Unboxing Beauty

Okay, I know I purchased the Benton Value Set at Memebox about a month ago and it did sell out quickly.  When Memebox released a SECOND Benton Holiday Set,  I waffled and then purchased it, as I do love the Snail Bee High Content Essence (a staple in my skincare regime) and I also enjoyed the Snail Bee Facial Masks.   This box has a couple of different items that weren’t in my original box and I wanted to try it out.    This box was $35.00 and it just came back in stock!

 

 

 

Benton Snail Bee Essence   So, since I have written twice about this product,  Benton Value set review and in my November Products blog post, I will just repeat what I wrote at that time.   I know that this is a controversial item, as there was a bad batch of this product in March of 2014 and it really ruined the skin texture of several customers.    Benton did acknowledge that this batch was contaminated and did refund/replace the product, but I feel they did not properly compensate those users whose skin was damaged by it.    However, I purchased this item before I knew about that history and I have to say that this item has worked wonders on my face ~ it helps control my acne and oiliness and I hope with long term use, fade scars and help with reducing the appearance of wrinkles!   I make sure that I look at the manufacturer date to ensure I didn’t get a March 2014 batch and I always, regardless of skin product, place my product on the back of my hand to inspect before applying to my face.  You can purchase this at Memebox for $15.00 and it is also available at amazon.com and eBay.com

Product Description: This product contains 90% snail extract and bee venom instead of water. Powerful ingredients such as snail mucin and bee venom help to heal acne, fade acne scars, brighten skin tone, and maintain hydration throughout the day. Snacil mucin supports natural cell regeneration and replenishes moisture to increase firmness, and bee venom has natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. The gel-like essence is also fragrance free! Best recommended for those with sensitive and troubled skin.

Snail Bee High Content Essence is for all types of skin including sensitive and trouble skin types.  Instead of water, Snail secretion filtrate was used.  This high content essence uses Bee venom,  EGF and various botanical based natural ingredients to help improve your rough and damaged skin from various stree and poluttion.  In addition to the trouble skin care, cooling effect, moisturizing and skin-lifting improvement, this all-in-one functional multi-care cosmetic has functional ingredients such as arbutin and adenosine which helps whitening your skin and removes wrinkles

How To Use: After cleansing face and applying toner, apply essence. Follow with serum, moisturizer, night cream.

Ingredients:  Snail Secretion Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Arbutin, Human Ogliopeptide-1, Bee Venom, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Dios Pyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Bacilus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Cross Polymer, Adenosine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Arginine  cosDNA.com analysis

 

Snail Bee High Content Skin I am pretty excited to try this out!  This must be a toner as it is a very water substance.   It works as the step prior to the essence.  It has no scent, is clear and watery.  Absorbs quickly into my skin, leaving it soft and smooth.  This contains azelaic acid, which helps to clear up acne and prevent new outbreaks.   You can purchase this at Memebox  for $15.00 and it is also available at eBay and amazon.com

Product Description:  Packed with ultra beneficial ingredients such as snail extract, green tea extract, and bee venom, this toner hydrates and preps your skin to help with the absorption of skincare products in the next step in your routine. Green tea extracts work to hydrate and brighten the skin, snail mucin works to support natural cell regeneration, and been venom works to provide anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Recommended for those with sensitive and troubled skin.  Snail Bee High Content Skin is for all types of skin including sensitive.  Instead of water, this product uses snail secretion filtrate and camellia Sinensis leaf water, bee venom and EGF to cleanse your rough and damaged skin from various stresses and polution.  In addition to the skin-soothing, moisture supply and skin tone improvement functions, arbutin and adenosine contents in this product will help whiten your skin and remove wrinkles.

How To Use: After cleansing face and neck, pour small amount of toner onto hands or cotton pads and pat gently onto skin.

Ingredients: snail secretion filtrate, camellia sinensis leaf water, clycerin, niacinamide, human oligo peoptide-1, bee venom, diospyros kaki (Asian persimmon) leaf extract, salix alba (willow) bark extract, plantago asiatica extract, laminana digiata (brown algae/seaweed) extract, ulmus campestris (elm) extract, zanthoxylum piperitum (Japanese pepper) fruit extract, pulsatilla koreana (Korean pasque flower) extract, usnea barbata (lichen) extract, althaea rosea (hollyhock) root extract, aloe barbadenis leaf extract, betaine, bacillus ferment, panthenol, beta-glucan, allantoin, azelaic acid, adenosine cosDNA.com analysis

 

 

Benton Snail Bee High Content Masks (5)  As I received these in my original Benton Value set, I will just repeat what I wrote in that review here 🙂  I have used this mask last night and found it to be a refreshing mask.   It wasn’t the most hydrating mask I have ever used ~ SkinFood’s Thermal Water Gel Mask have been the most hydrating and moisture drenched masks I have used to date ~ but this mask felt nice and fresh and did the job.    These sell for $2.00 a piece at Memeshop and you can also, once again, find them at amazon.com and eBay.com

Product Description: This Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack is concentrated with cell regeneration snail mucin, and blemish fighting bee venom to encourage the skin’s natural recovery function. It provides a rich infusion of moisture and nutrients to the skin to help improve skin texture.  Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack is for all types of skin including sensitive.  Instead of water, this product uses Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Snail secretion filtrate, Bee venom and EGF to cleanse your rough and damaged skin from various stresses and poluttion.  In addition to the skin-soothing, moisture supply and skin tone improvement functions, arbutin and adenosine contents in this product will help whiten your skin and remove wrinkles.

Ingredients:  Camillia Sinensis Leaf Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate,  Glycerin, Arbutin, Bee Venom,  Human Ogliopeptide-1, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Bacilus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract,  Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Arginine  cosDNA.com analysis

 

 

image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcea_rosea

Althaea Rosea is not a rose ~ it is part of the Mallow family (Malvaceae).  It is used as an emollient and an anti-inflammatory.

 

Honest Cleansing Foam  I am conflicted over this product.   Benton is stating that the surfactants are made from palm oil.  Palm oil is in a lot of products and you cannot escape it completely, but they didn’t even try to hide it here, and even boast about this ingredient.    You can purchase this item at amazon.com or eBay and retails around $10.00 to $12.00

EDITED to add:  I keep reading that this cleanser is harsh based on the reviews.  I have only found two reviews out there and they both have different options.  One person did do a pH level test ~ and the pH level range was so broad  ~  but because I only found two reviews and they are very different, I will try to get a pH level test done here to compare.  I do think, palm oil aside, that it is a bit unfair, based on one negative review (that I have seen), to think the worst of this cleanser.   Some people might actually like a higher pH level (those with very oily skin) and it doesn’t bother them, but for those with really dry or sensitive skin, this cleanser would be a disaster for them if that is the case.   As far as scents go, I haven’t smelled this yet, but please keep in mind ~ what one person thinks smells lovely, others might feel differently.    What you should know about pH levels

“The pH level of most skin cleansers is slightly higher than 5.5, so the cleanser can break down dirt and oil on your skin. However, soap — especially bar soap — typically has a pH level of 9 to 12, which is too high if you’re trying to keep your skin moist. Cleansers with lower pH levels leave your skin intact instead of breaking down the fatty tissue”  (source)

“Cleansers and toners are alkaline—hand soap typically has a pH of around 9 or 10, for example—because alkaline molecules bind to dirt and accumulated oils you want to wash off”  (source)

For example, if this cleanser does have a pH level of 7, that is like cleansing your face in milk and 7 is considered neutral.   If it has a pH level of 8, that is similar to bathing your face in sea water or baking soda; ~ it could dry your skin and you would need to moisturize.  Cleansers should be around 5.5 to 6.5, but as I have oily skin, I can tolerate a somewhat higher pH level.    Please note, if you are worried about a high pH level in cleansers, you shouldn’t be using foaming cleansers, but oil cleansers.  Foam cleansers typically are higher on the pH level (there are exceptions), just like bar soap.   If your skin feels really dry and tight after cleansing, then the product you are using is not suitable for you and its pH level is too high for your skin type.   If your skin still feels greasy and oily after cleansing, then your skin cleanser’s pH level is too low for your skin type.   To learn more about the different levels, you can check out Elmhurst College’s pH Scale document.    If a cleanser’s pH level is too high for your face, you could reuse it for your hands and body, as most people do not seem to worry about their pH level of their body cleansers and if you use hand soap today, you are already using something that has a higher pH level.

Product Description:  We called it the Benton Honest Cleansing Foam because you could be reassured of using the product due to its honest ingredients used in making the product.  In order to have a healthy face wash, Benton Honest Cleansing Foam cleanses fatigued skin caused by various stress and pollution. This natural cleansing foam not only cleanses your face but further moisturizes your skin to minimize dryness of your skin.

Ingredients:  Water, Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Myristate, Potassium Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sobitan Olivate, Polyquaternium-10, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract, Rosemarinus Officinalis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Extract, Propandiol, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Phytosterol, Lecithin, Olea Europaea(Olive) Fruit Oil, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ceramide-3, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extact, Usnea Berbata (Lichen) Extract  cosDNA.com analysis

Using all of your products, this is the order in which to apply them

This value set was $35.00 including shipping, it is a $50.00 to $52.00 value.  I am very conflicted over the cleansing foam, but I will gladly use the essence, toner and facial masks!  Did you get any of the Value Sets that Memebox was offering?

 

Promos for January

I would love it if you use my links!

• 3DTGWY:  Get $3.00 off on orders $30.00 or more (S&H + taxes do not apply)
• MEMEBUNDLE3: Get $5 off on orders when you buy 3 or more Memeboxes
• MEMEBUNDLE4: Get $8 off on orders when you buy 4 or more Memeboxes
• FREESHIPPING: Get free shipping on purchases over $70 on only Memeshop items
• AFFILIATE-2841-R8H5H-KEQP $5.00 discount on orders above $100.00
• AFFILIATE-1654-71SPA-YBUU $10.00 discount on orders above $150.00

The last two codes you do not need to enter if you use my links to purchase products. They will be automatically apply to your order!

 

 [ all descriptions in italics are from the linked website.   All items were purchased by me ]