Unboxing Beauty

all products purchased by me.  blog post contains affiliate links

I love skincare pads ~ peeling mitts, foaming AHA cleansing pads, soothing moisture pads, you name it, I love them.  I even did a review on four different types of skincare pads.  They don’t replace washing your face thoroughly, but they help remove the daily grime and oil, freshen your skin and also provide a dose of hydration.   I haven’t really liked any Whamisa products I have tried so far ~ I think they are over priced, over hyped and there are much better products out there, but I am always seduced to try them ~ their organic claims, fermented ingredients and pretty packaging draw me to them, like a moth to a flame.  When I saw that Whamisa created Peeling Mitts back in April, I got excited.  There are three versions of the Whamisa Peeling Mitts and I purchased them all from Amazon ~ Seeds/Pore Care, Flowers/Moisture Care and Fruits/Sebum Care.

Skin Type/Concerns: Oily, blemish prone, aging, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines/wrinkles

Whamisa Peeling Mitts ~ hmmm, one mitt is pretty much like the other.  Seriously, I did pH tests, all that jazz and they are ALL the same. The ingredients are different, however.   This review is going to be shorter than most of my reviews as I found these to be substandard.

Similarities

• pH Testing ~ All came back with a pH level of 5.  This is not really a true exfoliator ~ I mean, you will get some exfoliating physically, but not a lot chemically. To be an optimal peeling product, AHA and BHA’s should be at a pH level between 3 and 4. 
• Acids: Another questionable eyebrow raise is that Whamisa doesn’t even give you the percentage of AHA or BHA in their products and the AHA is in the lower third of the ingredients.  AHA’s need to be in the top third, preferably in the top 3 ingredients.  You will get moisturizing benefits from this low of a pH level and overtime, some benefits from the ingredients.  I do not consider these a peeling product but more of a skin booster. Yes, due to the presence of lactobacillus, you are getting some lactic acid in here, but again, without the percentage and such a high pH rating, I question it.
  
• Scent ~ All three have that classic Whamisa fermented scent, with the Pore and Sebum mitts having a more alcohol scent to them.
• Essence ~ Lots of it!  The pads are soaked thoroughly with this watery and slimy essence.  Yes, this stuff is slimy on my skin.
• Hydration ~ Yes, these pads hydrate my skin
• Residue ~ Yes.  All three of these pads leave a film on my skin.  You aren’t supposed to wash your face after using pad products like this, but on my skin, the film feels gross.  Pad products are supposed to freshen your skin and leaving it feeling clean, not deposit a filmy residue.  I only find the moisture pad’s filmy texture to be acceptable, as it is a moisture pad.  However, the Pore and Sebum Care mitts should not do this, imho. Going back and reading the description on the moisture care, you are supposed to rinse off.  That makes no sense.
  
• Pads ~ Double-sided round, soft cotton textured pads, soaked in watery essence.  
• Claims ~ Each mitt has their own specific skin care claim, but they all report to act to hydrate, smooth and bring radiance to your skin.
• Formula:  Made with 97.3% vegan, organic ingredients.  Using natural fermented ingredients, which minimizes the destruction of nutrients, the ingredients are delivered faster and deeper into your skin, providing deep moisturization.  .Free from parabens, synthetic and chemical preservatives,  artificial dyes and fragrances, petrochemicals, silicons, mineral oils, EDTA, animal origin ingredients.
• Standards: EWG Verified, BDIH Standard, ECOCERT Certified

Ingredients that have been fermented are slowly processed over weeks, months and sometimes years in a controlled and oxygen-free environment. This helps preserve the ingredients, removes toxic and harmful bacteria, while breaking down the ingredients into smaller, but more nutrient-dense particles.  Fermenting ingredients also enhance amino acids and peptides.  All of these ingredients are then more easily absorbed into your skin, as they are smaller and can penetrate deeper as well ~ hydrating, nourishing and repairing.  Fermented ingredients are a more nourishing concentrated version of the original and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits to your skin as well.

Whamisa Organic Seeds Finger Peeling Mitt ~ Pore Care  The Seeds Version has the brown lettering. The pore care mitts contain 8% alcohol and it smells like it.  They are supposed to reduce oil, unclog pores, blemishes and reduce the appearance of pores.  Eliminates sebum, blackheads, minimizes the appearance of pores.  This does contain two exfoliating ingredients, BHA betaine salicylate with no percentage and  AHA tartaric acid ~ again with no percentage and at the end of the product ingredient list.  Since the pH level is only 5,  you get more exfoliating from the textured pads than the essence.  Key Ingredients:

1. Asian cereal complex: Rice, barley seed and tears-of-job form an antioxidant complex, acting on the uniformity of the complexion and radiance.
2. Hyaluronic acid and  Beta-glucan: Two  essential molecules with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing and anti-aging properties.
3. Mung bean: Rich in vitamins B1, B2 and provitamin A and flavonoides, it smooths the skin and improves radiance.
4. Lactobacilli: These good bacteria act as a protective skin barrier. They fade hyper pigmentation, treats and accelerates the healing of  blemishes while preventing their further appearance.
   

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Unboxing Beauty’s Verdict:  Nothing special.  Didn’t reduce the appearance of my pores, in fact, made them look bigger.  Didn’t control oil as it left a residue behind on my skin.  It did hydrate my skin.

Ingredients: *Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract (44.7%), *Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract (40%), *Ethanol (8%), *Glycerin (5%), Sodium Hyaluronate, *Lactobacillus/Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Ferment Filtrate (.04%), *Lactobacillus/Glycine Soja (Soybean) Ferment Filtrate(.04%), *Lactobacillus/Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Ferment Filtrate (.04%), *Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract (.04%), *Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract (.04%), *Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract (.04%), Beta-Glucan, ***Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, ***Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, ***Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Betaine, Betaine Salicylate, Xanthan Gum, Tartaric Acid, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil cosDNA analysis  (*Certified Organically Grown ***Natural Preservative)

Whamisa Organic Flowers Peeling Finger Mitt ~  Moisture Care  The Flowers Version has the pink lettering.  I noticed that with this product, it mentioned it was best to use it in your evening care routine AND to rinse off.  I didn’t notice this description with the other two, but I wonder if Whamisa is aware that their pads leave behind that filmy residue?  Anyway, this pad has the least amount of alcohol in it at 5%, so it doesn’t have that strong alcohol scent like its siblings.  This also has the highest amount of hydrating humectant ingredient of glycerin at 10%, which makes this very moisturizing.  This is supposed to gently exfoliate and smooth your skin, while providing hydration, moisture and nutrients.  I am a little surprised that this contains BHA betaine salicylate instead of an AHA.  BHA’s are usually for oily and pore care products, whereas AHA’s are used for surface exfoliation.  At any rate, same deal with the pH level ~ it is just for moisturizing ~ the exfoliation is going to come from the textured pads. Key Ingredients:

• Aloe Maculata ~ Whamisa has both the extract and the fermented extract of this South African species of aloe.  This aloe is also called “Common Soap Aloe” as its sap is used as soap.  It is also a natural and mild sun-block, helping give some protection to UV rays. However, this particular aloe species can be irritating to sensitive skin. 
• Chrysanthemum contains a rich concentration of vitamin A and can help with skin issues like sores, irritation and rashes.  It is also an anti-inflammatory with antiseptic benefits
• Lotus helps clarify your skin, smoothing and healing blemishes, while moisturizing your skin.
• Hyaluronic acid and  Beta-glucan: Two  essential molecules with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing and anti-aging properties.
• Lactobacilli:  These good bacteria act as a protective skin barrier. They fade hyper pigmentation, treats and accelerates the healing of  blemishes while preventing their further appearance.
  

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Unboxing Beauty’s Verdict:  These are the best of the three, as its claims are moisturizing and it does do that.  I guess I am supposed to rinse off the residue on my face, but when I do that, I rinse off the moisturizing benefits.  I use this at night, so I do not rinse it off right away.  When I do my normal skin cleansing routine a few hours later, it will be rinsed off. 

Ingredients: *Aloe Maculata Leaf Extract (82.12%), *Glycerin (10%), *Ethanol (5%),  Sodium Hyaluronate, *Lactobacillus/Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Ferment Filtrate (.05%),  *Lactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Ferment Filtrate (.05%),, *Lactobacillus/Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Rhizome/Root Ferment Filtrate (.05%),, *Lactobacillus/Maculata Aloe Leaf/Molasses Ferment Filtrate (.05%),, ***Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, ***Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, ***Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Betaine Salicylate, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil cosDNA analysis  (*Certified Organically Grown ***Natural Preservative)

Whamisa Organic Fruits Finger Peeling Mitt ~ Sebum Care  The Fruits Version has the green lettering. This pad uses fruit extracts, pad is soaked with concentrated fermented fruit extracts such as apple, bananas, raspberries, yuzu, kiwi and persimmons, with some oils from apple, lime and lemons.  It has BHA betaine salicylate, which makes sense for an oil care product.  BHA penetrates into your pores deeper and can dissolve oil and dirt within the pores. Any AHA acids from the fruits are a side note, as they do not specifically mention AHA acids in the ingredients list.  The scent is similar to the Pore Care version as it does have 8% alcohol in it. Again, no percentage and at a pH level of 5, not a lot of deep peeling action going on here.  Key Ingredients:

• Aloe Maculata ~ Whamisa has both the extract and the fermented extract of this South African species of aloe.  This aloe is also called “Common Soap Aloe” as its sap is used as soap.  It is also a natural and mild sun-block, helping give some protection to UV rays. However, this particular aloe species can be irritating to sensitive skin. 
• Fruit complex: An antioxidant and exfoliating action due to lactic and glycolic acids working together on the uniformity of the complexion and radiance.
• Hyaluronic acid and  Beta-glucan: Two  essential molecules with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing and anti-aging properties.
• Lactobacilli:  These good bacteria act as a protective skin barrier. They fade hyper pigmentation, treats and accelerates the healing of  blemishes while preventing their further appearance.

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Unboxing Beauty’s Verdict:  These did nothing to control my oily skin.  Not a thing.  My face felt really moist ~ not in a good way ~ and it was very shiny.  

Ingredients:*Aloe Maculata Leaf Extract (83.99%), *Ethanol (8%), *Glycerin (5%), Sodium Hyaluronate, *Saccharomyces/Apple/Sucrose Ferment Filtrate (.05%), *Lactobacillus/Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Ferment Filtrate(.05%), *Citrus Junos Fruit Extract(.05%), *Lactobacillus/Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Ferment Filtrate (.05%), *Lactobacillus/Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Ferment Filtrate(.05%) , Lactobacillus/Diospyros Kaki Fruit Ferment Filtrate (.05%), Beta-Glucan, **Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, **Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, ((Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Betaine, Betaine Salicylate, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Oil cosDNA analysis (*Certified Organically Grown ***Natural Preservative)

Final Thoughts

Okay, the fact that I have to rinse off the pad residue cheeses me off. Seriously Whamisa?  Why?  No other peeling product, unless it is high in acids, makes you rinse off the product, which makes me believe that you know that this formula leaves behind a gross filmy texture and you don’t want people to complain about it.  So many brands out there make pore, sebum and moisture pads like Whamisa and they do not require an extra step to rinse off.  If I wanted to wash my face right then and there, I wouldn’t be using a pad.  Other than the moisture pad, as that is a nice moisturizing product ~ and I wouldn’t rinse off the residue otherwise you remove the moisturizing benefits, I wouldn’t waste my time or money on these.   The pore and sebum care neither do anything for my pores or oil control and are quite a huge disappointment.  There are other pad products out there that are much better and if you are looking for organic pads, look to indie eco-friendly brands ~ one of my favorites is Sumbody.

Where to Purchase

I bought mine from this Amazon seller (click here), who gives lots of free foil samples with your purchase.  They retail for $28.00 USD each for 25 peeling mitts and if you have Amazon Prime, it will be free shipping. If you review on Amazon and let the seller know, you will then get another set of samples, but they are deluxe size samples.

For USA and International shipping,  Mishe Beauty (click here) carries all 3 versions for $27.99 USD each, but not free shipping.

 

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