Unboxing Beauty

Finally!  I thought the month of September would not finish soon enough! 

So, last month, I mentioned that I purchased a Midnight Miracle Kit (Night Care/Oily Skin) from Wishtrend, which includes the following items

• 23yearsold Pergillus 15 Sec. Foam Cleanser
• Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner
• Skin & Lab Dr.Color Effect : Red Serum
• 23yearsold Badecasil Cream

I added onto my testing routine these items, which unless marked otherwise, I have used before with no issues

• Goodal Fresh Cleanser Brightening Oil (new)
  
• My Beauty Diary Ultra Cleansing Water
• Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence [light]
• Innisfree Soybean Finish Cream
• cosRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask (new)
  
• cosRX Centella Blemish Cream

The order in which I used these products:

Goodal Fresh Cleanser Brightening Oil ->> 23yearsold Pergillus 15 Sec. Foam Cleanser –>> My Beauty Diary Ultra Cleansing Water ->>  Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner ->> Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence [light]  ->> Skin & Lab: Dr Color Effect Red Serum ->> 23yearsold Badecasil Cream ->> Sleep Pack (Innisfree Soybean Finish Cream or  cosRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask) ->>  Spot Treatment (cosRX Centella Blemish Cream)

Where to purchase will be posted at the end of this review.

How I Test

Try a product out for a day or two ~ no issues, introduce another one.  Repeat until I have my routine in place.  I have a lot of products and I prefer to test as how I would use them, with other items.   As I wait before introducing a new product, I can pinpoint which skincare item caused a problem.

Skin Type and Concerns

Oily, Blemish Prone, Clogged Pores;  Aging Concerns:  fine lines, wrinkles, Hyper-pigmentation;  Skin is not sensitive.  Allergic to scents: rose, jasmine.  Allergic to ingredients: rose

Okay, onto my testing results.  As always, my results may be different from others.  What works for me may not work for you and my HG items could be a disaster for you.  Always spot patch new products to ensure that you will not get an adverse reaction to the product.  All items in this review were purchased by me and it is not a sponsored post.

Cleansers

Goodal Fresh Cleanser Brightening Oil (Fermented Olive, Rice Bran Oil)  Since this cleanser made with lovely fermented plant extracts looks to be discontinued, I won’t say too much about it other than it is scentless and works just fine as an oil cleanser.  I was surprised that it was scentless, with all of those flower extracts, but I am also glad ~ I didn’t know the ingredient list prior to purchasing this and I thought it was a olive/rice bran oil cleanser, not a floral one!  I didn’t notice any brightening of my skin tone but it cleansed nicely and it didn’t make me break out.  I was worried initially, as there is rose and jasmine  in it, but they are pretty far down the list and I was able to do skin patch testing for several days ~ no breakout in hives, so I was good to go with my Goodal 😉   I love Goodal products but I wish they would stop discontinuing products that I am interested in!  haha   As you can see in the group photo at the top of the blog post, I used it quite a bit, as it was also my morning oil cleanser too.  Really lovely botanical print as well on this bottle.    Goodal had a whole series of these Fresh Cleansers and I really wanted to try out a few more of them.    You can find this product in limited batches on certain sites, but for the most part, it is gone by the wayside.

This ingredient did make me look up what the heck it was ~ Candida bombicola/Sucrose/Vegetable Acid Ester Ferment is the product obtained by the fermentation of sucrose and methyl, ethyl and glyceryl esters of rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil and palm acids by the microorganism Candida bombicola . As the rice bran and olive oil do not stay they are fermented in the ingredient list, I am thinking this is the only fermented ingredient.

Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate,   Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-8 Diisostearate, Purified water, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Candida Bombicola/Sucrose / Vegetable Acid Ester Ferment, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang-ylang)  Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Flower Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower / Leaf Extract, Lilium Candidum (Madonna lily) Bulb Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum (Edelweiss) Flower/Leaf Extract, Rose Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus (Daffodil) Flower Extract, Tocopheryl acetate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol  cosDNA.com  analysis

 

 

23yearsold Pergillus 15 Sec. Foam Cleanser  I initially was excited about this cleanser as I thought it was a pH 7.  Damn my initial testing, as something went wrong with it ~   it is testing at pH 10 and I did repeat this test several times.  However, it didn’t dry or strip my face, so I used it several times a week for a couple of weeks.  It has a cool texture ~ it is like glue or something ~ it sticks to your hand and you can press your hands together and create strings of cleanser!   It has a thick foam and is still sticky until I rinse it off.  This is made with fermented plant extracts as well ~ rice, ginger, astragalus ~ and something called cordyceps sinensis.  What the heck is that?  Well, and don’t get grossed out ~ it is the fermented fungus that grows on a caterpillar and yes, it does kill the caterpillar and mummifies it.   Learn something NEW every day with K-Beauty, doncha?  haha

It is a fun cleanser and if you don’t have issues with the pH level and have no issues with the ingredients, I think this would be a great novelty item.  However, I do not wish to repurchase it ~ once is enough for me.  It neither stood out as an outstanding cleanser or a horrible one.

Ingredients:  Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate , Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Beeswax , Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Extract , Saccharomyces/Cordyceps Sinensis Ferment Filtrate , Tricholoma Matsutake Extract , Tocopheryl Acetate , Lactobacillus/Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate , Lactobacillus/Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract Ferment Filtrate , Glyceryl Stearate , PEG-100 Stearate , Sodium Polyacrylate , Disodium EDTA , Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract , Pulsatilla Koreana Extract , Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol , Caprylyl Glycol , Zea Mays (Corn) Starch , Chromium Hydroxide Green , Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (beads), Fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

 

 

Watery Skincare Products

My Beauty Diary Ultra Cleansing Water  I have written several times about this cleansing water, so this review will sound very familiar as I am taking liberties and copying parts of the original review in here.  I have done a pH test on this and it is around a 6.5 to 7.  I love this product and it really does help remove any cleansing/pack product that I may still have on my face or just when I get home from work and I want to quickly clean my face after a long day.   MBD Ultra does do a great job getting into my pores and cleaning out “stuff” that I missed with my normal cleansing routine. I love this formula and my face does feel  refreshed, clean and my pores do look “tighter”, without any oily feeling and my skin does not feel tight.  I find this to be  much more economical than facial wipes and if you use reusable cotton pads, then it is very eco-friendly as well.   I still use wipes ~ those are great for when I need portability or I am too lazy, but this cleansing water has become a regular in my skincare routine.  This is a colorless and odorless cleansing water.   This is a very nice, mild cleansing water, that also purifies and remove dirt from your pores as well as tightening your pores ~ water-soluble and oil-soluble;  This does not contain oil, alcohol, fragrance or parabens.   It is good for sensitive skin and skin with “troubles” (acne) and contains broccoli extracts, flavonoids and aloe extracts, to help balance the water and oil moisture in your skin.   

Description: This 3-in-1 gentle cleansing water soothes, moisturizes and softens skin. An effective cleansing base, make up is easily removed without rubbing and face and eyes are left thoroughly clean. Perfect for those times when you want a quick, but effective face cleanse.

Ingredients: water, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, phenoxyethnol, propanediol, chlorphenesin, saccharide isomerate, bioflavonoids brassica oleracea ilalica (broccoli) extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, allantoin, yeast extract, soy amino acids, iodopropynyl butycarbamate  cosDNA.com analysis

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Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner  When I purchased the kit at Wishtrend, this was the product that I thought I would not like and be too rich and heavy for my skin.  Well, guess again!  I really enjoyed this toner ~ it is not a thin watery toner, but has a viscosity and is thicker.  It reminds me a lot of Secret Key’s Milk Toner in how it performs on my skin ~ not the texture or scent, which this product doesn’t really have a scent.   It has natto gum (fermented soybeans), sodium hyaluronate and beta-glucan, which are very moisturizing ingredients that contain anti-aging properties as well.  It also has panthenol (a moisturizer), which explains the “slip” in the texture for this toner.  Full of soothing and brightening plant extracts, this is really a nice toner and moisturized my face, without stripping it or causing me to break out.  I thought, as an oily skinned gal, that this toner would be a nightmare for my face, and in fact, it is a complete RAVE for me.  I am sold on this toner ~   which just reminds me more of an essence than a toner due to its thickness and texture.  It is supposed to balance the pH level in your face as well and I tested it as a pH level of 5.  If I ever finish with all of my growing stashes of toners, this is one that I would repurchase.  

Description: Toning is a very important step in our skincare regime. No matter what skin type you have, from normal to combination to dry to sensitive, toner helps to remove excess dirt and sebum from the skin after cleansing. Leaving your skin prepped and ready for your serums and creams! Not to mention, it aids the skin in being less prone to skin irritations from the environment and pollution by closing the pores. This limits the amount of pore clogging particles that can enter the pores of your skin. Which can potentially cause skin trouble such as blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.  On top of that, Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner contains some key ingredients

• Phyto-Oligo Ingredients like Phyto-Oligo that helps moisture flow evenly throughout the skin to help resolve skin dryness
• Amino Acids It also contains wheat amino acids which are anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce inflammation in the skin and provide deep hydration. These anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce redness in the skin, calm irritation as well as reduce redness in acne pimples.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Fragrance, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1  cosDNA.com analysis

image from wishtrend

Thanks to Fiddy @ 50 Shades of Snail, I was able to find and purchase one of these skin indicators, so look for blog posts that actually will have my “scientific” (ahaha) results to see how moist my skin with products!  I don’t have it yet, but once I do, watch out 😉

 

 

Innisfree Soybean Energy  Essence [light] with fermented bean extract  Yeah, this is my tall Soybean Goddess.   I love this essence so much ~ I am on my second bottle.  I also purchased the “regular” (non-light) version to try out after this bottle is completed.  Soybeans, how much do I love thee?  Soybeans moisturize, help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helps firm skin and can reverse UV sun damage, over time.  Innisfree makes two Soybean Energy Essences ~ one regular with 91% fermented soybean extracts, which is a more thicker essence (not by much) and this one, the light version, made with 94% fermented soybean extracts and is more suited for very oily skin.  I can use both of them, but I would not recommend the light version for dry skin, as it won’t be as moisturizing.  The packaging on this product is so nice ~ it is simple, but has a frosted finish ~ it looks like glass, but it is recyclable  plastic.  The top of the bottle has a pin hole opening and it is not difficult to get the essence out.  I put my essence on my hands and then pat into my face.   This essence is taking the place of one of my favorite essences, Goodal Waterest Tone Up First Essence, and only because Goodal is discontinuing that original formula.  If you see sales of this product ~ don’t be fooled ~ it is because they are clearing out the last of their stock and if you fall in love with it, you are SOL.  The “newer” formula doesn’t look to  be as nice as the original.  Okay, back to Innisfree Soybean Light ~ it is a very watery essence, in fact it is just like water!  Quickly absorbs into my skin and leaves my skin hydrated without any tacky, sticky feeling.   It is scentless (yeah!) and it does make my skin feel smoother and best of all, no blemishes. 

This essence is supposed to brighten and even out your skin tone, but I fear that I either need to bathe in this stuff or get some really heavy duty brightening crap.   Or a chemical peel. I do not fault these products that cannot lighten my years of sun damage from Los Angeles, but I can say that no new scarring or hyper-pigmentation has occurred.  My own personal belief is that these products work well on new scarring/hyper-pigmentation marks but for older, darker spots, that might require a totally different treatment.   My skin does seem to like this product because even when I just use it alone, my face feels hydrated and soft.   This product does help to maintain my moisture level on my skin, and yes, us oily skin types do get dehydrated skin, we just don’t think we do, due to the excess oil production that occurs when our skin gets dehydrated.   Innisfree Soybean Essence [light] has reached HG status.

Description: Formulated with naturally fermented collagen activator™  The natural fermentation factor™ from fermented soybean rejuvenates the skin to restore its natural resilience. 6-free system: no paraben, colorants, mineral oil, animal ingredients, synthetic fragrance and imidazolidinyl urea

Ingredients: (Fermented Jeju Soybean Solution 94%) Bacillus/Fermented Soybean Extract, Propanediol, Arbutin, PEG-75, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Adenosine, Subtilisin, Xanthan Gum, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane   cosDNA.com analysis

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Serum and Cream

Skin & Lab: Dr Color Effect Red Serum   I was really excited to try this product ~ so much so that I figured that since jasmine is the 2nd to the last ingredient listed, that it would be pretty much not smell like jasmine, right?  OMG, no.   The first thing I noticed was the scent ~ it is jasmine, alright, very warm and very strong.  Fortunately, the scent disappears quickly, so I just held my nose while applying.  For those who are unaware, I am allergic to the scent, not the properties of jasmine.    Now, after the scent, I noticed that this is a clear (not red) thick serum, that reminds me of a facial oil in its texture.  It really hydrated my face, which felt so smooth, soft and silky after applying and it does absorb quickly.  I also did not have any acne breakouts with this serum, nor was it greasy or sticky.   This is full of fruit extracts, blueberries, raspberries ~ which are all powerful antioxidants, and will help fight and reverse the damage caused by free radicals.   It also contains witch hazel and allantoin, which will help soothe your skin and also help regulate the production of oil in your face.

However, due to the scent, I will not repurchase and one of the reasons why I am glad my September testing is over is due to this product and the scent.  I got tired of holding my nose and breath while applying it! haha.  I guess I will give the rest of this to my mom, who will enjoy it ~ there is quite a bit left in the bottle as a little goes a long way.   I did not see any lightening of my hyper-pigmentation spots, but new chin zit (read on how that happened) was lessened in its appearance and not as red, so this might be helpful on new spots/scarring, not old spots.  This is supposed to be a dup of Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair, which I have never used, but at least that one, according to the reviews, is scentless.  If this product was scentless, I would repurchase.  I weep as I love the ingredient list, so many beautiful plants and fruits, but that smell…ohh..that smell…

 

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, betaine, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark/leaf/twig extract, punica granatum fruit extract, vaccinium angustifolium (blueberry) fruit extract, rubus chamaemorus fruit extract, lycium chinense fruit extract, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, euterpe oleracea fruit extract, lepidium sativum sprout extract, niacinamide, dioscorea opposita (wild yam) root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, caprylhydroxamic acid, boswellia serrata resin extract, prunus amygdalus (sweet almond) seed extract, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, allantoin, carbomer, arginine, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, adenosine, jasminum officinale (jasmine oil), disodium EDTA   cosDNA.com analysis

 

image from wishtrend

image from wishtrend

image from wishtrend

 

 

23yearsold Badecasil Cream  In all outward appearances, this 7 in 1 solution cream seemed to be perfect for my skin care needs  ~  it has a pH level of 3.29, maintains moisture balance, provides hydration without clogging pores, made with carbonated thermal water from Jeju Island. Sound good? Yes?   This is a thick cream that has a very medical chemical scent to it, very off-putting.  First the jasmine and now an artificial chemical scent.  However, it did absorb nicely into my skin and didn’t leave behind any greasy residue.   It did have a slight stinging feeling but that is due to the slightly acidic nature of the cream.   So far, so good.

OMG.  This is the worst thing in the world ~ from the chemical medicinal scent to what it did to my skin.  This is supposed to be a spot treatment and yet in their Night Care video, Wishtrend talked about how to apply this thickly over your skin, like it was a sleep pack.   I did that and overnight, little raised bumps appeared.  I was very concerned and backed off with this product, using my cosRX Centella Anti-Blemish cream until the bumps disappeared.  I tried again and this time, I got little white heads around my nose.  They quickly went away with a good exfoliator and I tried once more with this cream.  I guess my skin thought I needed to learn a lesson as this time, I got a chin zit that would NOT go away.  I still have the remains of it on my chin as I type this review.  It never came to head, but it did reduce in its size and redness and now it is a just a light spot on my chin.  Within a few more weeks, it should be completely gone.  I cannot (or I should say ~ I should not, as I have picked at my pimples before) pick at my blemishes as they will scar horribly.  The only thing I can say is that thru several tried and true methods, plus a few new ones (Annie’s Way Anti-Acne Facial Masks and cosRX Honey Sleep pack), I was able to minimize the damage and prevent a slew of zits from having a party on my chin.

I do not know why my skin reacted so badly to this product ~ its ingredients don’t look suspect to me.  At any rate, this tube is going into the garbage.  Perhaps someone else has tried this and has better luck with it.  All I know is that this product, which is supposed to prevent breakouts and heal my blemishes, caused my skin to break out badly.

Description: Badecasil penetrate deep into skin and clear away sebum and black heads. Badecasil Cream contains Betaine salicylate. It makes your skin deeply hydrating, lightweight wonder designed to smooth the complexion while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration. This expert essential delivers soft, healthy, glowing results.

Jeju Sahn Bang Mountain’s carbonated thermal water is known as miracle beauty water. It has highest percentage of Sodium Bicarbonate which makes skin clean and clear. Also, it helps the skin to build strength to resist external stimulus.

Betaine salicylate is great ingredient for reducing blackheads, whiteheads and troubles on skin. Also, it moisturizes the skin at same time removes dead skin cells. You will find your skin smooth, soft, and comfortable.

Ingredients: Water,Butylene Glycol, Onsen-Sui, Glycolic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Betaine Salicylate, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate,Glyceryl Stearate SE, Potassium Hydroxide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Bacopa Monniera Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum,Allantoin, Panthenol  cosDNA.com analysis

image from wishtrend

 

Sleep Packs

I used the Innisfree Soybean Finish Cream for the first 2 1/2 weeks and then switched to the cosRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask for the rest of the month.

 

Innisfree Soybean Finish Cream with fermented bean extract  I used two sleep packs this month of September, and one of them was unexpected. Innisfree Soybean Finish cream was always on my September list, however.  This tube is actually a deluxe size sample from when I purchased the Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence.   I started using this cream when I received a nice sized sample in my 3B Box, and I have to say, it is great sleep pack.  I was confused initially with the term “finish cream” but it means the last step in your night care routine (finish). 

Along with 65% fermented Jeju soybean extracts, it has some nice ingredients:  adenosine ~ helps with wrinkles and crows feet as it can penetrate deeply into the skin and also evens skin tone and firms, macadamia oil ~ rich in essential fatty acids, this lightweight oil will moisturize and soothe your skin, clay (kaolin) ~ to help absorb excess oil in your face.   This is a firming and lifting sleep pack/mask, and it does moisturize nicely without any excess dewiness on my face the next morning.  You’d think that it would be a thick cream, but it isn’t ~ it is a creamy white lightweight cream that has a light delicate scent.  It is not greasy and it does not leave a film on my face, just absorbs beautifully.  This is very hard to find as I am not sure if it is because it is discontinued (sobs, no) or because it is so popular that they cannot keep up with production. I know it is for sale at the Innisfree Korea site, so I have the feeling it is just damn popular.  I did purchase a full size one off of eBay, so there is that option.

Description: [Fermented Jeju soybean finish cream]  This replenishes your skin overnight, moisturizing and nourishing tired skin and making your skin condition perfect for makeup.  The fermented Jeju soybean extract adds moisture and flexibility to the skin.  This protects the skin from environmental damage, building a tight and elastic skin barrier.  Formulated with naturally fermented collagen activator™  The natural fermentation factor™ from fermented soybean rejuvenates the skin to restore its natural resilience.

How to use: Apply the cream as the last stage of your evening skincare routine. When the skin feels dull or dry, apply a sufficient amount of the cream as a sleeping mask.

Ingredients: Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, propanediol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil ,  Cyclopentasiloxane, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Arbutin, Cyclohexasiloxane, adenosine,  Nelumbo Nucifera (lotus) Flower Extract, Prunus Mume (plum) Fruit Extract, kaolin, purified water, Polymethylsilsesquioxane,  Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer,  glycerin, Polysilicone-11, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Subtilisin, xanthan gum, citric acid, lactic acid, phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, disodium EDTA, tromethamine, fragrance  cosDNA.com analysis

 

image from innisfree

image from innisfree

 

cosRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask   A mask called Honey but it has no honey in it!  It does have propolis and beeswax .  Propolis is the resinous substance that is collected by honey bees from flower and leaf buds.  This ingredient is an anti-septic and also contains healing properties as well as anti-aging, due to over 50 flavoinoids,, which are anti-oxidants.   Propolis is a great ingredient for blemish-prone skin. This is pretty much scentless and its gel texture is medium weight ~ it isn’t watery but it is not so thick that you need to scrape it out of the jar.  After I applied this to my skin, it absorbed quickly ~ too quickly in my opinion and I didn’t feel a lot of moisture on my skin.  I then added another layer and felt much better that I had enough product on my face.  I feel that since I am going to sleep with this product on, that my face should not be dry in the morning.  With one layer only, my face was dry and not very moisturized.  However, with two layers, I did feel that my face was sufficiently moisturized and soft.   I feel that this mask is better suited for oily skin types as I do not think that dry skin types will get enough moisture and hydration from this product. 

This did help out a lot with my chin-zit.  Propolis is wonderful for healing blemishes and I would dab a bit more on my chin area and my blemish, with help of the Red Serum and Centella Blemish cream, was kept under bay overnight.   If you have oily skin, I do think this is a fine product to use, but …. for the money, I would rather use Holika Holika Honey Sleeping Pack ~ it works just like the cosRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey, it actually smells like honey, comes in an adorable honey pot, and has three versions for your skin type needs ~ Canola, Acerola, Blueberry.   It is similar in texture and results, and I do apply 2 layers of Holika Holika as well.  I did post both ingredient lists for these Honey Sleep Packs so you can compare.  Holika Holika does have alcohol in it, but it is one of the last ingredients in the list.  You can read more about Holika Holika here. I also purchased the cosRX Rice Overnight Mask, but I won’t be trying that out until the dead of winter, as it seems to be a very moisturizing treatment.  My skin is drier in the wintertime, so I probably will start the test in December.

Description:  The Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask is designed with pure, natural ingredients for a gentle formula that effectively soothes, nourishes, and moisturizes to transform lifeless, irritated skin into healthy, radiant skin. As a 3-in-1 mask, the Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask can be used as an overnight mask, a wash off mask, or even as a cream. 

How To Use

1. As a sleeping mask:  For the last step of your routine skin care at night, apply an adequate amount to the entire face
2. As a wash off mask:  Apply a generous amount and spread out evenly. After about 15 minutes, wash off with lukewarm water or wipe off with toner. 
3. As a cream: After the last step of your skin care routine, apply as a cream and follow with makeup.

As you can see below, cosRX Honey mask has less ingredients and no water, but the Holika Holika Honey mask has whitening products and it actually contains honey in it.   cosRX is better in terms of less ingredients, no added colors or fragrance, but Holika Holika has less acne triggers and irritants.  As as far as how they work on my skin, the results are the same on my face.  I think that how you would choose which one to use is going to be based on the ingredient list.

Ingredients: Propolis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-hexanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bees Wax, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine  cosDNA.com analysis

Holika Holika Honey Sleeping Pack Canola Ingredients: Purified water, honey extract, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Extract,  glycerin, dimethicone, Glycereth-26, arginine, carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-2M, PEG-90M, Hydrogenated Lecithin,  Sucrose Distearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate,  Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea extract,  methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, ethanol,  caramel, yellow No. 5 (CI 19140), Red No. 33 (CI 17200), fragrance   cosDNA.com analysis

image source

 

Spot Treatment

cosRX Centella Blemish Cream  For my full review, please read here.   I really love this cream and it does work to keep normal pimples at bay.  I think, however, with tougher ones such as those that were bred by the Badecasil cream, I need something stronger, and I will be having a review on some Chica Y Chico products I purchased from Memebox soon.  I don’t like using stronger products on a daily basis, however, and I do like how gentle the centella cream is.  This is a great overnight, every night treatment that I apply on my problem areas, even if I don’t have blemishes  I find this cream is a great preventative treatment.

Ingredients: Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Viola Tricolor Extract, Elaeis Guineensis(Palm) oil, Elaeis Guineensis(Palm) Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Zinc PCA, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract  cosDNA.com analysis 

Final Thoughts

Between the Badecasil cream and the scent of the Red Serum, I am glad this month’s testing is over.  I think that I discovered a really nice product with the Klairs toner and I am glad that I finally wrote up something on two of my favorite Innisfree products for you.  Out of the “new” products  ~ only the Klairs toner was exceptional.  The Goodal Oil Cleanser ~ that would have been on a repeat purchase for another type, but since Goodal discontinued it, I won’t waste that much more time looking for them.   My surprise was the cosRX Honey sleep mask ~ I really thought it would be WOW, but I found it to be no better or worse than the Holika Holika Honey sleeping pack, so it isn’t one that I would really go out of my way again to repurchase again, but I might if I feel I need to add “filler” to my shopping cart.   I adore cosRX products and normally would think in a showdown between cosRX and Holika Holika, that cosRX would win.  However, it is a fine product, it is just I wasn’t overly impressed by it.

How did my face fair?  About 2 to 3 weeks were marred by the shitty Badecasil cream and my face is still not fully recovered from that horrible product.   Thankfully, the other products helped bring my skin and blemishes back under control and what could have been a horrible disaster was headed off.   Despite the blemish issue, my skin was moisturized, soft and hydrated, and it wasn’t greasy or producing too much oil.  It is sad to say that just one product threw my facial skin care routine off and even though I stopped using it after a week ~ and I didn’t use for 7 days straight either ~ the Badecasil cream left a lasting impression on my face and not in a good way.  

It goes without saying that MBD Ultra Cleansing Water, Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence, Innisfree Soybean Finish Cream and cosRX Centella Blemish Cream are on my repeat purchase lists.

What products will I be testing next? 

I have a current one and 1/2 month test going on with Primera skin care products ~ see my blog post here ~ and that review won’t be up until November.  I also will be testing out Kosmotology Lemongrass cleanser and facial oil, along with L’Herboflore Lemon Balm Hydrating Sleep Pack for the next few weeks.  Since my Primera skin care is day time products, with the exception of the sleep pack, I do not see any conflicting overlaps there ~ I always alternate my sleep packs, so this will be normal for me.   I also will be reviewing a brand new facial sheet mask for this weekend and my continuing series on the Annie’s Way facial sheet masks will start up again later on next week.

 

 

Will I Purchase Again and Where to Purchase

Many of these items can also be purchased from eBay as well.

Goodal Fresh Cleanser Brightening Oil  ~ doesn’t matter, as it is discontinued.  However, I liked it and it is a HUGE bottle.  If they make these again, I would be interested in their other Fresh Cleanser Oils, to find one without rose in it.

• Rose Rose Shop
• Amazon

23yearsold Pergillus 15 Sec. Foam Cleanser ~ No   Wishtrend

My Beauty Diary Ultra Cleansing Water  ~ Yes

• Beauteque
• Beautibi  Travel Size, if you just want to try it out first
• Amazon

Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner ~  Yes, future purchase.  I have a ton of toners right now, but this one is really nice   Wishtrend

Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence [light]  ~ Yes

• Jolse
• Innisfree World
• w2Beauty

Skin & Lab: Dr Color Effect Red Serum  ~ No, the scent is too off putting for me.  However, if you like jasmine scents, this is a very nice serum with lovely plant extracts   Wishtrend

23yearsold Badecasil Cream ~ hell NO    Wishtrend

Innisfree Soybean Finish Cream  ~ Yes

• eBay
• Amazon 
• Innisfree (sold out right now)

cosRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask ~ Maybe.   It works for my needs, but I prefer the Holika Holika Honey sleep packs and those actually smell like honey.   I have a lot of sleep packs right now, so once I get thru them all, this one could be on my reconsider repurchasing.  Seriously, I have about 5 sleeping packs open right now and they NEED to be USED UP.

• Wishtrend
• Jolse
• Cupidrop

cosRX Centella Blemish Cream ~ Yes

• Wishtrend
• Jolse
• Cupidrop
• Cosmetic-Love

You can purchase the Midnight Miracle Kit (Night Care/Oily Skin) at Wishtrend, which includes the foam cleanser, Klairs toner, Red Serum and the Badecasil Cream

 

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