Review: SkinFood Aloe Vera Foaming Cleanser

Shops are pretty generous with their samples in Korea, especially SkinFood (or is it Skin Food or Skinfood?).  I've had this since Summer 2010 ^^ but I just started using it in February with my Youthful Essence brush (basically an ancient version of the Clarisonic Mia, which my mom bought in the 90s).  It works just great btw ;)  I'm glad I didn't buy the Clarisonic ^^  Anyway, I use this cleanser with the brush because it's a "foaming" cleanser and it's fun to watch it bubble up as I massage my face with the brush ^^

Purchased at: N/A. It was a free sample.

Cost: N/A.

A picture of the full size bottle.

Description: A fresh foaming cleanser with Aloe Extracts to soothe and hydrate the skin. Keeps the skin soft and calm after cleansing. Apply an adequate amount to damp hands. After making sufficient lather, massage your face gently following the skin’s own texture. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Scent: Kind of an artificial, clean soap scent.  The aloe plant doesn't have much a scent so I'm not surprised this cleanser has a very difficult scent to pinpoint ^^  But it's mild, fresh and subtle.

Appearance: The appearance is an opalescent cream with a tinge of green.  It's very pretty actually ^^ I'd love to see a nail polish color in that shade ehehe

Texture: The texture is very creamy and smooth.  One thing I like about this cleanser is that it actually foams and it's not drying :)  I wouldn't say it's a hydrating cleanser but it doesn't strip the oils from my face and dry it out either.  I love how this creamy cleanser foams so nicely, especially with a brush!  It's very satisfying to see and feels very nice ^_^

Effectiveness: Though it seems to be a very gentle product, it does seem to clean quite well.  Once I used it without the brush and my face still felt very clean afterward.   BUT I have never used this cleanser alone to remove makeup so I'm not sure how this would work as a makeup removing cleanser.

Overall: This seems to be a decent cleanser.  I'd probably never buy the full size purely on the fact that I'm pretty happy with the cleanser I currently use (Boscia Purifying Gel Cleanser), but I can see this being used as a daily cleanser for people who don't use much makeup.  I also believe it's not very expensive online.   Overall, it seems to be a slightly above average product.  Not amazing but does exactly what it promises: a gentle cleansing with lots of foam :)

Also check out Mischievous Mack's review of this product.

Review: Face Cleanser Comparison (Boscia VS Neutrogena)

This is actually a two part review because I figured the cleanser comparison should just be one video & post ^_^ Just to keep things tidier and shorter~

I'm on a serious Boscia fix right now - I was so impressed with the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask (review coming up in Part 2 aka the next post) that I binged on a bunch of Boscia products with the Boscia $10 off $30 off sale.   So there will a lot of Bosica reviews coming up ^_^ Anyway, this cleanser was my first try at a "higher end" aka non-drugstore, non-bar-of-soap for removing makeup attempt.  I was looking for makeup cleanser that cleans AND removes makeup in one step (I'm too lazy to do an oil-cleansing step and a cleansing step every day :P).

Bosica is all about no preservative, very gentle and as natural as possible - and while people can be just as a allergic to something "natural" as to something artificial - I had no breakouts and I felt this was a very gentle yet effective product.  I won't rehash everything I said in the video, but overall I think the Bosica Purifying Gel is a good cleanser for people with sensitive skin not on a tight budget.  This does remove all my face makeup in one step (BBcream, concealer, and setting powder), but this will NOT remove eyeliner (I tried MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and Urban Decay pencil in Zero), so you will need to use eye makeup remover.  However, it does remove Koji Dolly Wink Liquid Liner and most eye shadows.  Otherwise, this helps you get as much makeup off your face as possible at once without irritation.

This bottle is rather small and one is tempted to use more than 1 pump at a time since it seems so mild, so this runs out in 2-3 months.  Speaking of, don't be tempted to use a lot of pumps...this cleanser is a clear gel and you need to lather it up first to get enough to cover your face.  Foam up your cleanser before you decided to use more. 

The Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser claims to:

Fresh Foaming Cleanser is a cleanser and makeup remover in one.

Removing makeup before you go to bed has never been easier. This dermatologist-tested formula effectively removes dirt, oil and makeup. It even removes eye makeup, without soaps or oils that can sting or irritate the sensitive eye area. No more raccoon eyes! It rinses completely and won't leave any pore-clogging residue. Forget the excuses and get refreshingly clean skin and complete makeup removal in one step. 

- Soap-free 

- Oil-free 

- Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) 

- Hypoallergenic

I need to wash my face 2x at least to remove just BBcream, concealer, and setting powder.  It definitely does not remove eye makeup in general, though it does remove lighter eyeshadows.  It  does not irritate my face or cause breakouts, but I feel that it "strips" my face and is a little drying.  It doesn't leave a residue though.  What really turns me off this product is the scent (and appearance); it looks and smells like a cheap handwash soap you use in public restrooms :\  It doesn't seem to harm my face but the experience isn't that great.  Also, this doesn't lather any better than the Boscia Cleansing Gel.  This is a problem since Neutrogena's cleanser specifically advertises itself as a foaming cleanser whereas the Boscia cleanser is just a gel.  It's not a huge deal, but it irks me a little.

Anyway, let's just cut the chase and keep this post as short as possible ^_^

Overall, both are quite "usable" though I much prefer the Boscia - which I should considering the price!  However, even though the Boscia is effective, I still will be keeping an eye out for a cheaper cleanser that is comparable to the Boscia.  After I'm done with this bottle, I'll be back on the hunt for the perfect makeup remover + cleansing in one!  I have my reservations about finding my dream cleanser though :P there's a reason the "Asian skincare regime" involves double cleansing :(....

December 2010 Top 5 Favorites + Review: SkinFood Red Ginseng Repairing Toner

Omg 5 days till Christmas!  Time for mistletoe kisses, wrapping presents, writing cards, and a monthly  Top 5 favorites video!  I was a little schizophrenic between just "going over" products and "reviewing" products.  The concept of just talking about a product without reviewing it confuses me a little....

Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel
Purchased at: Sephora

I feel that it's gentle yet very effective at cleaning off my face makeup (not eye makeup).  I wear BBcream, sometimes concealer, and some kind of setting powder everyday and this gets everything off without me having to scrub at my face.  I wet my face with warm water, massage one pump all over my face, brush my teeth (I do this b/c I feel like it gives the cleanser time to soak in), then rinse with cold water.  This is a makeup remover and cleanser so it saves me the trouble of doing a two-step process (makeup remover wash then cleanser).  I like that it leaves no residue, seems very gentle, yet leaves my skin feeling clean.  No breakouts.   Bottle is pretty small though....ok, I need to stop, I'll cover the rest later.

Will do an in-depth review later.

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask
Purchased at: Sephora

I picked this up b/c Fuzkittie loves this mask xD   However, she recently said that it's not supposed to remove black/whiteheads, just refine and luminize skin.   However, for me, this does remove whiteheads...I will post pics of this on my in-depth review later.  Personally, this mask removes almost all of my whiteheads and many blackheads as well.  It is a very powerful mask though and you should not use this if you have open sores/lesions or popped/healing acne on your face.   I feel that this mask really helps my skin turnover and I will definitely agree that this mask refines and luminizes your face.  The texture of my skin has really improved in the 5 weeks I've been using this (have used 4x so far).   You must moisturize like a mofo afterwards though, especially since it's winter, or else you'll end up as dry as the Sahara.

Will do an in-depth review later.

Skinfood Red Ginseng Repairing Toner

Purchased at: Sasa

Description: Skin Food Red Ginseng Repairing Toner is enriched with nutrients from red ginseng and royal jelly extract. This toner with oriental medicine moisturizes and nourishes skin, making it moist and smooth.

Beneficial Ingredients (from video):

Ginseng
- Revitalizes skin cells.
- Helps skin circulation = reduces fine lines and makes skin firmer.
- Adaptogen: helps the skin adjust to stress.

Royal Jelly
- Healing, moisturizing.
- Antibacterial: effective for eczema, neurodermatitis, & impetigo.
- Restores proper pH balance.
- Contains amino acid (collagen building block) helps eliminate age spots and wrinkles.

I ended up pretty much reviewing this in the video so I guess this will be my official review of this toner :\  That said, I really like this toner!   Unlike the Skinfood Peach Sake Toner, which is infinitely more popular (no doubt because of its delectable scent), this one actually seems to work!   To quickly summarize, here's my pros/cons list from the video:

Good:
- Skin seems much healthier, plumper.
- Does not dry my skin out.
- No oily or sticky residue.
- A little goes a long way.
- Absorbs quickly.
- Very reasonable cost.

Bad:
- Honey-like consistency makes toner hard to get out of bottle.
- Herbal ginseng scent may be very off-putting (I got used to it).

Royal jelly and ginseng has always traditionally been known to be great for skin, but I've always associated both with *ahem* old ladies because the ginseng smell is so herbal and lots of older ladies in Korea use royal jelly.   But I picked this up anyway since it said this is a "repairing" toner and I am always on the hunt for something to help my scars and the texture of my skin.   I haven't been using this long enough to comment on whether it helps heal old scars, but my skin has definitely gotten plumper and seems healthier somehow. I am going to say I've recently been using a lot of face masks too, so they definitely aided the effect.  Regardless, I haven't broken out at all from this toner and my face really took to this like a fish to water.  I used it for a week before I started using sheet masks regularly and I felt like my skin was plumping out ever so slightly and it just felt refreshed - like my face could breathe all of sudden.   Also, toners are notoriously drying but this one is not at all.  It's not moisturizing per se but it definitely is not as drying as witchhazel or the Peach Sake toner.  Perhaps because of the honey-like consistency?

Like I said, this toner is a real pain in the ass to get out of the bottle; I've tried prying the plastic top off, but haven't been able to manage.  I guess that's alright though since too much would come out at once then, I only need 3-4 drop to cover my whole face anyway.  I don't use a cotton ball for toners btw, I just shake the bottle over my face and spread the droplets that land.  I feel like using a cotton ball soaks up too much toner and wipes off rather than applies :\  The scent is ginseng and pretty strong.  I found it very off-putting at first but I've gotten used to it really fast.  One you put it on your face, there's no scent anyway.  I put this toner on right after I wash my face or after a sheet mask.

I would highly recommend this to people with sensitive skin who have always found toners either too harsh, drying, or completely ineffective.   This is truly a rather unusual toner and at $10.10, it wouldn't hurt to try.  And if you like it, this bottle is gonna last you awhile. I've been using this toner for several weeks and it still looks like I haven't used any :} The fact that it's hard to get out of the bottle probably helps me limit how much I'm using at once too ^_^  Also while the scent is quite herbal, I promise that it doesn't linger on your face and you will get used to it surprisingly quickly.  

R&R Contrived Blush in X-rated
Purchased at: Official R&R website (how to order)

There are about a million swatches of this so I'm not going to bother.  Overall, it's just a luscious matte berry with cool fuchsia undertones - perfect for a holiday look.   I've seriously been using this blush everyday since the day I got it.  X-rated and Foreplay are hands down the best fall/winter blush colors ever.

NYX Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie
Purchased at: Cherry Culture

Although my initial review of this color was lukewarm, I have really fallen in love with this color.  It's my second favorite NYX color after Circe.  I never thought an orange-tinted l/s would work on me but...damn.  This color is understated, yet not quite a nude lip, and markedly trendy since it has a rather unusual orange-rose hue.  The texture is creamy and leaves a glossy sheen.  Goes well with both dramatic and simple eye looks.

My favorite look these days are understated e/s with a semi-dramatic wing, berry-colored cheeks, and Pumpkin Pie on the lips.  I feel that it's holiday-ish without being the typical bronze/gold eyes + pink cheeks + berry lips look.   It looks more natural, is easier to put on, and it looks like your cheeks are flushed from playing in the snow ^_^ Downside is that it wears off pretty quickly since it's creamy :P But it's moisturizing, which is vital for the winter months :D!

I still want to try NYX Orange Soda (still OOS on CC), which I hear is a lighter version of Pumpkin Pie though :)

Review: TonyMoly Products + Upward-Outward Face Massaging/Washing

I don't have many TonyMoly (English website) products :( I should've bought more while I was in Korea - they really have the cutest packaging ever!  Everything is in the shape of the main ingrediant ^_^ Coincidentally, the products you see below are among their most popular - yah, for being sucked in by adorable packaging!  I can't wait to try the Ice Cream Sunscreen sample I have :) I heard it feels like ice cream (aka cold, refreshing) on your face~

Sadly, I feel like TonyMoly products are getting harder to get in the US :(  Sasa.com just completely dropped TonyMoly from its inventory 2-3 weeks ago! I was SO shocked, I had the Tomatox in my cart and one day it was just gone :(  BUT they do carry TonyMoly at YesStyle so that's good~  I tend to refrain from purchasing from YesStyle though because I feel like they tend to be on the expensive side but in this case, their TonyMoly products are decently priced (though Sasa was cheaper :P).

Translation of commercial clips:

At the beginning: "How old are you?"
At the end: "How old do I look?"

This TonyMoly commercial was advertising some kind of serum that smooths out your skin to make you look younger.  The girl in the MV is Narsha, from Brown Eyed Girls, best known for their sexy Abracadabra dance, and the guy is Song Joong Ki (Sungkyunkwan Scandal), an actor known for his baby face.  The "joke" is that BEG is known for being a "noona" group aka they're "old" as far as pop singers go (ages 23-29) and it's "trendy" in Korea  for guys to date older woman or rather, girls to date younger guys (if such a thing can even be a trend).   Anyway, that's what the MV is kind of poking fun at~ :)

In any case, I think I went pretty in-depth in the review video so I'll refrain from writing too much xD

TonyMoly BB Slim Pact Party Lover

Shade 2: Natural Beige

Super soft sponge!  Very easy to wash :)  I'm a NC25 (max NC30) and Shade 2 is a nice color.  It may seem a little white on application but when you blend it out it's quite natural.  It's not translucent although it is quite sheer.  Texture is creamy and blend-able although it can cake if you add to much (duh) and very moisturizing.  It does crumble sometimes though if you rub the cake too hard with the sponge :P But that started happening only after I hit the pan so it prolly does that since the cake is thinner and more fragile now.   It has Light-Medium coverage but you need to blend well and build up to it.

Overall, I really like this  little compact :)! It's so portable and convenient.  Perfect for touch-ups and has remarkably good coverage~  Recommended :)

TonyMoly Contouring Brush 

Nothing much to add beyond what I said in the video. Overall, I don't recommend it because it's just so typical and there's no way you'll be able to get this for a fair price if you need to import it.

TonyMoly Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream

Ahh...no doubt this is one of the cutest peeling creams eva~!!  Besides the uber-cute packaging, this thing really got famous after a candid photo of a some k-celebrity couple lovingly massaging each others faces with this *sigh* started circulating the net (I searched everywhere for this pic >_< couldn't find it).  Anyway, now green apples are pretty much the symbol for "peeling" masks :P   Anyway, even with all the the hype - for once, imho, this little baby actually lives up to the hype :)!

It's quite gentle yet leaves a refreshing feel after you wash it off.  However, it's a gentle peel for reason - this is a massage cream - not an exfoliater, the exfoliating is just a bonus.  Very moisturizing and smells amazing - like sweet granny smith apples.  It's not a very intensive peel but it's ok because then even sensitive skinned people can use it.   Also the gentleness makes this is great for winter because if you over-exfoliate during winter, it will make most people very dry and flaky instead of silky smooth :P  And remember: this must be used on a dry-ish face!  It's not as effective if your face is soaking wet, so you can't use this in the shower :P

On Face Massaging & Face Washing
Koreans are big believers in face-massaging.  They believe that massaging your face helps circulation in your skin (more youthful complexion) and can even make your face smaller/create a natural face lift over time ^_^  I dunno about the latter but many celebrities swear by "face massages."   They do this by massaging in an outward-upward fashion with massage creams like Appletox.  I'd imagine that you'd have to massage your face every night to get a real effect :P but I don't think that means it doesn't work either. You should also wash your faces like this - splash on water and sweep upward and outward to rinse, never down.  While I don't know if this upward-outward massaging/face washing will really keep my face from sagging forever, better safe than sorry right ^_^?  Plus it kind of makes sense in a way....if you tug your face downward while washing, even for 15 seconds every morning and night - over a lifetime that adds up to a lot of time you spent making your face saggy, neh?

This Japanese lady was on a Korean TV show once to show how she washes her face.  She's famous for her amazing skin - and I must say - it is amazing, very firm and youthful!  Can you believe she's 52-years old?! She did an awesome demo of it on the show, she's tiny and super cute ^_^ I couldn't find the clip of the actual show I watched but the link above shows essentially the same thing.  Notice that she never tugs her skin downwards, she is always looking up, and uses only the gentlest foam on her face :) She also massages in tiny circles to stimulate circulation.  To rinse, she only dabs at her face to prevent pulling.  Both my mom and I switched over to this method after watching the show cuz it sure as hell is working for this lady xD

On the Korean version of the show they did a camera closeup of her face of a water droplet hitting her face.  The way the water drop hits your face demonstrates elasticity.  For example, when water hits a baby's skin the droplet tends to stay as one "drop," while on mature, less elastic skin, water "splashes" outwards when it hits your face.  Basically, this Japanese lady's face is literally soft as a baby's butt ^0^

I also reviewed the TonyMoly eggpore Shiny Skin Soap before.

Review: SkinFood Products, Part 2 of 2

Ehhe missing a bunch of items ^^ Threw out the packaging before I could get a group shot :}

Part 2 of the Skinfood review!  Believe it or not I actually have even more Skinfood stuff to review ^_^

Version without background music.

Skinfood Product Reviews, Part 2 of 2
1.) Carrot Sun Cream
2.) Honey Black Tea Jelly Foam
3.) Rice Mask Wash Off ***recommended***
4.) Orange & Mint Body Wash
5.) Hop Beer Hair Wash
6.) Lychee Essence Mist
7.) Moisture Egg Hair Pack ***recommended***

In-Depth Reviews + Pics
1.) Carrot Sun Cream

  
Very sunscreen-y smell :P The entire Carrot line in Skinfood is unscented and that's probably why it's not particularly popular xD I dunno, it's really just a regular sunscreen, not much to say.

It's a slight off-white. It does absorb pretty quickly leaves a bit of a shine on your face that you could argue as either greasy or dewy.  I didn't try topping makeup on it but considering the greasiness it leaves behind, I dunno how well makeup would stick to it.  I feel like it would cake :P

2.) Honey Black Tea Jelly Foam

I really hated the smell and look of this foam.  It does foam very well but lord knows the herbal smell is hard to ignore.  Plus it feels very drying and I am a very oily skinned person; this is really odd considering it's supposed to have honey (a moisturizer) in it.

Doesn't it look awful :(?  Actually the Hop Beer Hair Wash looks just like this too...and both smell weirdly herbal....  I almost have nothing good to say about this except that it foams well.

3.) Rice Mask Wash Off 

This is very nice indeed, moisturizing, wonderfully scented and gentle even though it's an exfoliater. Very recommended.

See the little granules of rice?

FYI(s) the actual product comes in a tub, which I find a little unhygienic since you have to dip your hands into the tub to get out the mask.   It's a pretty good sized tub too so you probably won't be able to finish for at least a few months and you definitely don't want bacteria festering in there in the meantime.  I'd say make sure you scoop this stuff out with a spoon if you buy the actual product, maybe even refrigerate it.

Also you're supposed to put this on a clean DRY face.  I once just used this in the shower and the exfoliating and moisturizing affect is lessened if you don't use it on a dry face; why that is beats me.  After you wash you face, put the mask on and massage gently.  When you first put on the mask, it should be all white and goop-y.  After a couple minutes of massaging, the grains should still be on your face but the white cream/gel part should be gone and your face should like a bit "greasy."  Then rinse and you will see how moisturized your face is :) You can find this for a reasonable price all over the internet (ranges $11-15 USD), so it's not pricey considering how many uses you get out of it.  I don't recommend this for those looking for heavy exfoliation.

4.) Orange & Mint Body Wash

Very, very strong mint scent with a hint of orange.  I find it a pretty nice smell, refreshing and zesty but it might be too strong for some.  It's definitely a "summer" body wash considering the fragrance and the slight drying quality.

Looks like a typical body wash, a gel with a faint orange tinge.  Nothing special really but nice as a sample.

5.) Hop Beer Hair Wash

Again, the herbal fragrance was off-putting but it wasn't nearly as bad as the Jelly Foam. Faint and quite bearable.  But the smell just sticks to your hair though even if you follow up with another shampoo.  Can't say much about the cleansing strength because I have so much hair (hence only got to used it once) and this didn't foam very much. 

6.) Lychee Essence Mist

Not too bad and it does work if you use it very generously.  But then again, I have a lot of hair.  I read reviews about people saying they like how light this is and how it leaves no residue.  This is true, this leaves no greasy residue or shine and absorbs very quickly.  So this may very well be an excellent product for someone who has less hair then me.  For people with thick hair though, this is way too light. Once I finish this I look forward to trying the DHC Hair Lotion.  Also the scent is most definitely not lychee (smells like any other hair spray).

7.) Moisture Egg Hair Pack

I like~ I've been trying to pinpoint what the fragrance is exactly -- it reminded me of egg but yet...not egg. Then someone said custard!  And that's exactly right :D this smells like custard.  It's sweet without being cloying and it definitely works.

Tip: You must squeeze the water out of your hair before you put on the Hair Pack, otherwise it won't work nearly as well.  I made this mistake the first time: I just put it in my hair like a regular conditioner without wringing out my hair.  I didn't think it worked.  The next time I squeezed the excess water out of my hair, lathered the hair mask into my hair then rolled my hair into a bun so it wouldn't get wet while I scrubbed.  It worked much better :)

Review: SkinFood Products, Part 1 of 2

I almost tore my hair out because the first time I recorded I had this static sound in the background :(  So I gave up for a few weeks ^^.....and then just finished it yesterday. I had to leave some of the old static-y bits in though because I threw away the packaging accidentally before I could re-record :P

This version has music in the background but someone commented it was distracting,

so I uploaded a Music Removed version, which you can view here :)

Skinfood Product Reviews, Part 1 of 2
1.) Mushroom Multicare BBcream ***recommended***
2.) Peach Sake Pore BBcream
3.) Peach Sake Toner
4.) Agave Cactus Prime Gel
5.) All Over Muffin Cake Finish

In Depth Reviews + Pics
1.) Mushroom Multicare BBcream 

Shade 1: Bright Skin

That's a pretty accurate look at the color of this BBcream.  It has a gray tint to it and I've heard some people say "who the hell would want a gray-tinted foundation?" To which I say, because it oxidizes into a perfect yellow-undertoned color.  I get a nice dewy finish and I have plenty of red acne scars so I shie away from foundations/bbcreams that'll make me look "rosy" because they inevitably seem to make me look blotchy.  On top of which, this BBcream provides solid medium coverage, decent oil control (must blot after 5 hours), and lasts for 5-6 hours flawlessly (unless you are sweating and stuff).  It lasts longer if you top it off with a setting powder.   This is a staple for me and is actually the BBcream I use daily. I highly recommend this BBcream, as it is my favorite, especially for those seeking more than light coverage, a slightly dewy finish, and have a slight yellow undertone (I am a NC20-25 for reference).

Good:
- Very natural, perfect for yellow-toned skin.
- Does not oxidize orange.
- Medium coverage, could possibly build to heavy coverage but looks a little cakey.
- Decent oil control.
- Dewy finish.
- Smells clean - like fresh cut grass.

Bad:
- Squeeze tip can get messy. 
- Tiny color selection.

A little side note: This BBcream looks exceptionally light/almost ashy when you first put it on your face but give it 3-5 minutes to "set"/oxidize and the color will darken - this is the BBcream's true color.  This BBcream also doesn't oxidize orange (at least in my experience) and stays a nice yellow-undertoned color all day. Most BBcreams tend to be like this, they come out of the tube a shade lighter than the actual shade and darken a bit as it's settling.  So when you're testing out BBcreams, makes sure you wear it longer than 5 minutes to get an accurate color match.

2.) Peach Sake Pore BBcream

Wonderful scent but despite the description, I really think this BBcream is suited for people who have pretty good skin to begin with (aka with minimal acne scars and only want to perfect what they already have rather than complete coverage).  Good for filling in enlarged pores and adding a nice glow to your face.  I feel like there are faint gold glitters in this BBcream but that could be me hallucinating xD In any case, it has a warm peachy base.  This definitely does have better sebum control than the mushroom but that's kind of a must considering this is called Pore BBcream.

This is overall a good product but it honestly is a bad color match for me.  This has a warm peachy, gold undertone to it and I look like I am wearing a mask even with the sheerest coverage.  I would only recommend this to those with warm pink undertoned skin and looking for light coverage.

Good:
- Decent (though not amazing) oil control.
- Slightly matte-dewy finish.
- Good for those with warm peach-pink undertoned skin.
- Smells excellent.


Bad:
- Expensive as other Skinfood BBcreams go.
- Very light coverage.
- Tiny color selection.

3.) Peach Sake Toner

For those curious, that's not the expiration date. Korea stamps products with the manufacture date and it's up to the consumer to know when it's expired (generally 1-2 years max).

Not much to say, great scent.  I find toners and primers to be a little gratuitous.  Nonetheless, if you're looking for a sweet scented primer, this is for you.  I commented that I didn't see any change in my face using this, however, my mom told me it may be because I don't even have enlarged pores in the first place :\  I guess I'm my own worst critic, I thought my pores were huge O_o  Anyway my mom (early 50s) has been using this and she says she thinks it works well on her ^_^ And I must admit she does have enlarged pores (at least larger than mine).  So if you legit are troubled with pores then I reckon you should try this out, it may work well for you :)  But personally, I will not be re-purchasing this.

4.) Agave Cactus Prime Gel

I love the scent (aloe candy!) and the sponge :] It's utterly ineffectual in terms of makeup priming but it sure feels good on your face, all cool and clean feeling :]

5.) All Over Muffin Cake Finish

The second picture is a pretty accurate look at the color of the muffin. Really pretty in the pan :)

LT: No flash/fluorescent lighting RT: Flash.

Unfortunately, this is very powdery and not natural looking on the skin. The gold flecks are pretty in regular lighting but it looks like flour with flash :( Most disappointing Skinfood product in this bunch.

Part 2 coming up later this week :D!

Review: TonyMoly eggpore Shiny Skin Soap

When I saw this in the TonyMoly shop I was so excited because it's so bloody CUTE.   Egg-shaped soap. In an egg container.  I have blackheads I'd love to get rid of so that's a plus too but I have to admit that this is something I picked up on packaging alone.

I forgot which egg is supposed to be used during the day but I decided white for the morning, brown for the evening.  Besides the excellent, adorable packaging the soap is pretty nice too. It lathers really well, it kind of surprised me.   The white soap has a mild scent...of something. Like Skinfood's Egg Hair Pack, you can tell they wanted to soap to smell kind of "egg-ish" without smelling like food.  It's a really hard scent to describe but it's quite acceptable, it's not bad and smells clean with a sharp oddly floral under-scent.  The brown soap smells significantly stronger.  Same scent as the white egg but 10x stronger with a sharper edge.  It is not the best scent I've ever come across but it's not entirely unpleasant.  Interestingly, the scent of these soaps get stronger when you are lathering them up but once the foam is on your face the scent is pretty mild for both soaps. 

In an (egg)shell: This soap is supposed to remove environmental impurities and blackheads with deep cleansing action.

I really love the intense foaming action these little eggs put out.  They look so innocuous but these babies lather so well and dry off pretty quickly so i can see these little soaps lasting me a good while even with every day use. They don't get all squishy and melty, in other words.

I've only used this for 4-5 days so no word on long term results but my face feels very clean and refreshed after using them.  Very promising indeed and no breakouts in sight.  In fact I'd say this egg soap has been soothing the breakout I got during my time o' month and has a brightening affect.   This makes sense since "real" egg masks are supposed to tighten pores, soothe acne and be a "natural face lift."  So it does seem like this soap has all the benefits of a real egg without the bother of having to deal with real eggs.  

UPDATED 11/4/2010

The marks on my nose in the last one are from my glasses ^^

And you can see my lovely eyebags too :)

As you can see, I've been using this since 9/28/2010 (actually, I started a little before that).  So the first pic is of my nose before the soap, the 2nd pic is before the soap and the last pic is almost exactly a month after using the soap.  The reason I included two Before pictures is to show how the soap really hasn't affected the appearance of my blackheads whether or not I'm using it.

Umm, I don't know about you but despite my excitement, the effect of this soap seems quite minimal (if a bit on the negative side)... I can say that the pores on my cheeks have gotten smaller but the blackheads and pores on my nose don't seem to have changed one way or another. I have just about religiously been using the white soap in the morning and brown soap in the evening.  Sometimes I don't was my face in the morning but then in the evening I'll use both the white and brown soap.   On the other hand, it doesn't appear to be breaking me out one way or another and they do seem to be smoothing out my cheeks. 

I don't remember how much this cost but no doubt prices will be jacked up for those not in Korea.  Thus my final verdict is that even though this is a very cutely packaged soap, I don't think it would be worth buying this especially since I am sure you can find comparable products locally.  I certainly won't be purchasing it again once I am done these soaps :(  So I guess it's back to the real egg....:P