Unboxing Beauty

I’ve been working on reviewing 4 cleansers, and one of them I was saving for August, but decided to jump the gun a bit early and review it for you now.  You’ll see why I decided to that in this blog post

The Contenders

• TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Gel Oil Perfect Cleanser
• TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Mild Liquid Foam Cleanser
• illi Total Age Cleansing Foam
• Ciracle Anti-Blemish Teatree Wash

The Set Up

I used a variety of makeup items, including a cheapo, but really long lasting turquoise liquid eyeliner, mascara, matte liquid lipsticks and Korean eyeliners, both gel and liquid.    All I can say is that I need to use that turquoise eyeliner more often, because that didn’t budge!!  I did really go overboard with swatching my hand with these products ~ I can tell you, I do not wear makeup so heavily and by the end of the day, my makeup is pretty weakened from the long day and me rubbing my face (bad habits).  These swatches were  freshly done and let to set for 10 minutes before I attacked it with the cleanser. 

With that in mind, I do think that all of the cleansers I used did well in removing the makeup and I would normally use the two-step cleansing process ~ oil followed by a cream or foaming cleanser ~ to really remove all of my makeup.   I only did one step here with only using the test cleanser.

 

TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Gel Oil Perfect Cleanser  I do not bother with pH level testing on oil cleansers, as there is no pH testing that I know of that can test on oil based cleansers.   This is a fun oil cleanser ~ it has a thick honey-like viscosity to it and smells like…tangerines!  This is why I keep purchasing this line ~ the scent makes me happy!  This does its job well and another reason why I love the Hallabong line are the ingredients:

Hallabong (Mandarin Orange) ~  Has astringent and toning properties and are a great source of Vitamin C, which is known to improve and even out skin tone and texture.  Vitamin C is also important to stimulate collagen, which helps with anti-aging. 

Kiwi ~ Kiwis actually contain more Vitamin C than oranges, and this will help slow down the appearance of aging as well as repairing your skin.  Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds, and prevents rough and dry skin.   Kiwi extract will help soften your skin.  Kiwi is also a great source of Vitamin E, which helps decrease facial lines and the depth of facial wrinkles and is also a major source of antioxidants, which help combat free radicals and reverse the damage caused by them.

Broccoli ~ Broccoli is a superfood it not only contains antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C, it also has Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E ~ which creates radiant skin and shiny hair as it revives skin tissue, Vitamin A and K, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Amino Acids and Folic Acid (Vitamin B9).  All of these vitamins help care for your skin and keep it glowing and healthy.  Broccoli also contains glucoraphanin, a phytonutrient, which has been reported in reversing sun damage on your skin.

Aloe Vera ~ Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturizer that doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily or greasy.   It soothes, treats inflammation, helps speed up skin healing and also has a plethora of antioxidants ~  beta-carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which help improve your skin’s firmness and keeps your skin moist and hydrated.  It also contains over 75 different nutritious ingredients, including minerals, enzymes,  amino acids, salicylic acid and much more.

Lemongrass ~ Lemongrass will help reduce/limit the bacterial and microbial growth on your skin, as it is an  anti-microbial and anti-bacterial herb.   This means it will also help protect your skin from infections and it will help cure fungal infections on your skin as well.   Lemongrass is also an astringent and will help reduce the appearance of your pores, control sebum (oil) production and temporary firm your skin.

Avocado ~   Avocados are full of antioxidant carotenoids, such as alpha and beta caroten ~ and these antioxidants combat free radical and environmental damage and protect your skin from premature aging.  It is also full of Vitamin C, which helps stimulate the production of collagen, which leads to firmer skin and Vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant, combating not only free radical damage, but protecting and reducing the effects of UVA and UVB sun exposure radiation.  It also has an omega-9 fat, high oleic acid, which helps create a moisture barrier, making skin soft and moisturized, while regenerating damaged skin cells and reducing facial irritation and redness.

  Full Size 150 mL Value 23,300 W ($21.51 USD)

 Before

 After

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, glycerin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, purified water, Choleth-10, Butylene glycol, triethanolamine, tocopheryl acetate, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract (0.1%), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract,  Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus (lemongrass) Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, fragrance, Caprylyl Glycol, phenoxyethanol, disodium EDTA  cosDNA.com analysis

image from http://www.theyeon.kr/shop/product/product_detail.php?catCode=002000140003&productID=13944

 image from http://www.theyeon.kr/shop/product/product_detail.php?catCode=002000140003&productID=139448

 

TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Mild Liquid Foam Cleanser (pH 9) I was hoping, with the term “Mild” in the actual product name of this cleanser, that this would be a low pH.  Nope, no such luck.  This won’t be used on my face, but in case I do temporary body tattoos, I did do a before and after pic how well it removes makeup.  Because of the high pH level and because I was already pH testing, I did add a fourth cleanser to review.   This does smell like an orange grove and for a body wash, it will be delightful!   Full Size 200 mL Value 18,300 W ($16.11 USD)

Before

After

Ingredients:  Purified water, Glycerin, acrylates copolymer, Lauric Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, potassium cocoyl glycinate, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Myristic Acid, alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus (lemongrass) Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA,  yellow 5(CI 19140), Red 4(CI 14700), phenoxyethanol, fragrance cosDNA.com analysis

 

image from http://www.theyeon.kr/shop/product/product_detail.php?catCode=002000140003&productID=139450

image from http://www.theyeon.kr/shop/product/product_detail.php?catCode=002000140003&productID=139450

 

 

illi Total Age Cleansing Foam (pH 7)  I saw the mini sample of this cleanser in a Memebox Mini 3 box last year (which of course, I didn’t purchase) and I started lusting after it.  I purchased my first one off eBay and I’ve been using this cleanser, off and on, for over a year now.  illi is a brand from Pacific Amore, which is an amazing Korean cosmetics company ~ my favorite enzyme cleanser is by them.   This doesn’t have a thick sudsy foam ~ it is, in fact, a transparent gel cleanser that does cleanse really well without stripping my skin dry.  You can tell it is not a heavy gel, by my photo below ~ it starting running off my hand pretty quickly ~ it is not thick, but a bit more watery. It has a light, refreshing  scent that is supposed to be the scent of ginseng flowers, which I have never personally smelled before!  I normally do not care for floral scents, but this is a nice scent and quite different.

This cleanser uses oriental herbs to help not only cleanse, but also has skincare properties:  Green tea will help brighten skin tone, ginseng will improve your skin’s elasticity, natto gum (fermented soy bean) will moisturize and hydrate your skin, camellia will smooth your skin while red algae will soften your skin.  This cleanser does not contain mineral oil, no animal ingredients, no artificial color and no silicon.  My skin does look brighter afterwards.  There is a whole line of the Total Age skincare products, including a cleansing oil ~ that is on my next “to buy” list.  Full Size 200 mL Value $17.00 to $28.00

 

Before and After

Ingredients: water, potassium cocoyl glycinate, butylene glycol, PEG-200 hydrogenated glyceryl palmate, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxypropyl methycellulose, panax ginseng (red ginseng) root extract, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, gelidium cartilagineum (red algae) extract, camellia japonica seed oil, natto gum, disodium EDTA, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, isostearic acid, caprylyl glycol, cocoamidopropyl betaine, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate,  fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

image from http://www.illi.co.kr/product/detail.jsp?lineCd=2968&prdtCd=123093004

Map showing where the Ginseng flowers are harvested in South Korea and what the flower looks like

image from http://www.illi.co.kr/brand/perfume1.jsp

Ciracle Anti-Blemish Teatree Wash (pH 6 ) I added this cleanser into my testing this month as TheYeon Mild Cleansing Foam was not suitable for cleansing my face.  I was very shocked and happy to find out this has one of the lowest pH levels of a foaming cleanser I have tried!    I think the lowest was  5.5 to 6 and this is a solid 6!  This does smell like tea tree oil, so if you hate that smell, you might wish to avoid it.  Fortunately, I like tea tree scents, so this does not bother me.   I do think that this is a cleanser that blemish-prone and oily skinned folks should consider, despite the scent.   Not only does this have tea tree oil, which is anti-bacterial, it also has willow bark extract, which is an astringent and both of these ingredients help control the oil (sebum) in your skin as well.  This is not thick foam, but a very light foam and it really cleans my face well without making it feel dry or tight.   This is a WINNER and I am in love!  Full Size 200 mL Value $20.49

Description:  If you are looking for the best cleanser for acne prone skin, if you want to start treating the acne with proper wash, if you need to take step by step approach to cure the acne, experience the miracle from Ciracle.  The best cleanser for acne prone skin with natural ingredients.  As you wash your face with teatree foam cleanser, feel the hydration.  Mild and soft component helps you cleansing of any makeup residue or skin dirt.  Contains Surfactant with low irritation, it helps your skin to turn into clear and healthy looking one.  Refresh your skin with cooling effect from the best cleanser for acne prone skin. Acne is often caused by the excessive amount of oil on your skin. Start treating them with proper care! Clear your dead skin cells and turns it into flawless state.

As one degree of skin temperature rises, sebum creation increase by 10~20%. Teatree wash completely cleanse out the pores while leaving adequate amount of moisture on skin.

Before

After

Ingredients: Purified water, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin, propylene glycol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, sodium chloride, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, Portulaca Oleracea extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, triclosan, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, methylparaben, disodium EDTA, Rhus Semialata Gall (Chinese Sumac) Extract cosDNA.com analysis

 

image from http://www.ciracle.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=34&cate_no=58&display_group=1

image from http://www.ciracle.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=34&cate_no=58&display_group=1

 

Who Won?

Whereas TheYeon Oil Gel cleanser  works well and smells great, it is cost prohibitive at this time, as I do not live near a TheYeon store, it is currently not stocked in USA online shops and testerkorea.com is the only place that carries it (as I requested it), the shipping kills me.  I still love my banila co Clean It Zero balm, so I will stick to that.   If some online shop (are you listening Memebox and Beauteque??) carries this cleanser, I will gladly purchase it again.

illi Total Age Cleanser is easily found at this time on eBay and a few other online shops, and I usually purchase 2 to 3 of them at a time, so I have it on hand.  I really love this cleanser and will continue to purchase it, as my skin loves it, it cleanses well and it really smells nice.  This is a favorite of mine.

TheYeon Mild Foaming Cleanser ~ so sad that this wonderful scented cleanser is so high in its pH level – it is a great body wash (haha) but I will not be repurchasing this one.   I was really disappointed in this one, as I honestly thought that the word “Mild” would mean MILD.

The clear winner with my testing is Ciracle Anti-Blemish Teatree Wash ~ clocking in at a pH level of 6, as well as helping with oily skin and blemishes, I am really happy with this one.   It cleans well, smells nice (well, to me it does!) and I can find this easily on wishtrend and I do purchase a lot from that store.  Ciracle is a bit expensive at $20.49 USD, but it is 250mL, which is a pretty decent size that will last quite a while.  I will be repurchasing this cleanser again!  I am so happy to find a cleanser that is for oily skin that doesn’t have a high pH level!  

Gold, Silver, Bronze

1. Ciracle Anti-Blemish Teatree Wash
2. illi Total Age Cleansing Foam (almost tied for first, a very close second)
   
3. TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Gel Oil Perfect Cleanser (third because of the availability issue here in the USA)
   
4. TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Mild Liquid Foam Cleanser (disqualified!)

 

What do you think?  Have you used any of these cleansers?  Are you interested in trying any of them, after my review?  If you have oily, blemish-prone skin, please check out the Ciracle Anti-Blemish Teatree Wash ~ I think you will really like it!

Where to Purchase

• TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Gel Oil Perfect Cleanser  (testerkorea)
  
• TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Mild Liquid Foam Cleanser (testerkorea)
  
• illi Total Age Cleansing Foam
  • eBay
  • ShopatKorea.com
  • w2beauty.com
• Ciracle Anti-Blemish Teatree Wash  (wishtrend)

If you are interested in purchasing the Ciracle from Wishtrend and have never registered with them before, you can use my friends referral number ~ 092847308  ~ to get a $5.00 coupon from them!     Register first and wait for the coupon before you place your order.   Also, remember to save your welcome and any order emails from Wishtrend.  They usually have discount and free shipping codes just for your use in them, so you can save even more money on your next order!

 

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