Review | SKIN1004 Cocoon Soap Mask

As I have previously reviewed a product from the SKIN1004, I want to share another one that has kept me interesting onto their brand which is this wash-off mask in the form of a soap and it is actually made with cocoon extract.

If you are not familiar with what cocoon extracts are good for, apparently it is featured in many pore-tightening and clarifying sheet masks with some even claim to give a firming effect on skin.

Now, firming one’s skin might sounds a bit over the top but clearing the pores out of impurities without drying out the skin is something that I’m looking for. Clay and charcoal wash-off masks are traditionally good for blackheads and whiteheads too but these ingredients tend to dry out my skin even more so I’m down for a much gentler option.

High points of this mask-soap!

Skin1004 highlighted that the Silk Cocoon Extract supposedly cleanse the skin gently, tighten enlarged pores by removing dead skin cells and blackheads to visibly enhance skin firmness.

This mask-in-soap also contains the brand’s signature ingredient, Centella Asiatica; its component, the Madecassic acid which is known for its ability in suppressing inflammation therefore is great for acne-prone skin. Argan Oil is known for its function in replenishing the skin nutrients that allows to treat and prevent acne scarring.

The cleanser comes in 100g size so I estimated that this actually lasts for about 4 months, used twice daily.

Ingredients list:

Purified Water, Cocoon Extract, Argan Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Myristate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance

Packaging:

 

The facial cleanser comes in a box with sufficient English product description printed on the sides of the box for your reference.

 

The expiry date is printed at the side of the bo in YYYYMMDD (year-month-day) format.

There is instruction on how to use the soap mask printed on the inner lid of the box both in English and Korean for your convenience.

 

The soap was covered with a thin white wrapping paper and sealed with the brand sticker across the knot. Although you do not have to worry as it is actually fully covered with clear plastic wrapper inside; I’m assuming for hygiene and quality purposes. The soap was debossed with the product’s name right in the center of it.

Application:

 

You can simply lather up the soap by running some water with it and get decent amount of foam within seconds but I would prefer to use a bubble maker like I’ve shown above to get more foam and bubbles.

The foam is lightweight and it feels so fluffy on skin! It is easy to rinse off in a sense that it is not too soapy, so it takes less time and water.

It has a mild scent to it so it doesn’t bother me much but I think it’s still tolerable if you’re not into fragrance-containing skincare products.

Thoughts:

I’d like to highlight that I always use this mask soap as a morning cleanser. It is not that I don’t trust this product to wash away excess of makeup removers in the evening but after using this for over couple of months, I find that this mask soap doesn’t make my dehydrated skin drier even I were to take my time after rinsing off the lather and dried my face with towel.

But the pore-minimising effect gets me every single time. My skin looks smoother and softer to touch after every wash. Thanks to Centella Asiatica contained in it, my redness area somewhat reduced or does not look inflamed or irritated (which is usually happened with cleansing bars) at the very least.

I considered this wash-off mask as a mild exfoliating cleanser therefore I always follow up with layers of hydrating toner and use lightweight moisturiser as a sealant to my routine prior sunscreen or base makeup application.

Overall, I give this product 5/5. It works well even during my sensitive skin days. My normal skin with oily T-zone feels comfortable and as you see in the above photo, I do have a backup for it.

How to store this mask soap is depends on your liking but for hygienic purposes, I either just simply let the mask soap in the bubble maker and hang it on the wall just like that but once it dried out, I’ll keep it in a ceramic case (plastic will do too!) to avoid water contamination in between uses as shown above.

I saw in their official Korean website that you can simply use the soap for about 10 seconds but I’d say, take a good 30 to 60 seconds of massaging your facial area with it before rinsing it off. This product is definitely unique compared to others I have encountered before; including non-Cica products so that’s actually quite interesting.


I guess that's all from me so definitely let me know if you have tried anything from SKIN1004 before as I'd like to try more from the brand. I'll see you guys on my next post ! Annyeong~

Review | Innisfree 5-Minute Green Tea Leaf Powder Face Mask (Wash-Off Type)

Other than committing to 7 to 8-step evening skincare routine on every single night, I do love adding extra steps into the routine by introducing treatment masks mostly focusing on boosting up my hydration. Compared to common daily sheet masks that I bet you too are guilty of hoarding several in your stash, I seldomly indulge myself in wash-off masks especially those in full sizes simply because I do not have the luxury to treat myself with 45 to 60-minute-long facial sessions on monthly or weekly basis; at least not by myself hence the beginning of my hunt for wash-off masks that not only easy and quick to use but also in a form that I can further customise to taylor the needs or conditions of my skin on the day but before I go in-depth about that, let's go to some details on this product.

Product Description:

Enriched with freshly double-squeezed green tea from the Jeju island to deliver abundant moisture and nourishment deep into your skin.

• 3-in-1 green tea leaf powder mask with Jeju green tea extract; 1, instantly hydrates 2, soothes and 3, brightens the skin in just 5 minutes.

How to Use: 

1. Fill the measuring spoon with the powder up to the first scale mark and then fill it with skin (toner) to the second scale mark. 
2. Mix the powder and skin (toner) with your fingers and evenly spread it over your face.
3. Massage and rinse the mask pack after 5 minutes with lukewarm water.

5-Free System.

Capacity: 70g

Ingredients list:
Diatomaceous Earth / Solum Diatomeae / Terre de Diatomées, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Kaolin, Silica, Trehalose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Glyceryl Caprylate, Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Water / Aqua / Eau, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.

Packaging:

 

There are sufficient information about the product printed in English on the sides of the box.

 

The product comes in a box with sufficient of information printed and labeled on the sides of the box in English for your convenience. Period-After-Opened is 12 months.

 

The wash-off mask comes in the green tub with screw lid on top. There is actually another white lid that supposedly can be placed inside to seal the tub but I decided to get rid of it as that inner lid is making it very difficult to screw the outer lid properly. I'll just need to make sure to store the product away from humidity and direct sunlight so the mask will not become clumpy although it is still safe to be used.

 

There is the Expiry Date printed at the bottom of the tub in the format of YYYYMMDD (Year-Month-Day) and indeed the mask comes with its own measuring spoon for your sole convenience .


Application:

The powder appears to be in that light green colour and filled over 3/4 of the tub.

 

For the first few times of using this wash-off masks, I decided to simply use mineral water to really see how it performs on its own before substituting the liquid medium to several different toners that I have in my skincare stash. As you can see on the right, I have added the mineral water to the second scale mark before mixing it around with merely my fingers.

That is basically how the wash-off mask look like once mixed and I have noticed that the mixing process need to be done within seconds as the mixture started to harden within less than a minute so I guess that is why it is mentioned in the instruction to simply mix with fingers and apply directly onto the facial area.


Final verdict:

    

Indeed 5 minutes seems short but within that amount of time, the mask does making my skin appears much smoother, brighter and I feel refreshed after every single time of using it.

Unlike most clay masks that I have personally tried, this one does not dry out my skin afterwards so that is such a huge plus for my dehydrated facial area.

So far, I have tried mixing the wash-off mask with basic Hyaluronic Acid-containing hydrating toners, green tea toners, milk even honey and I'd say it is best to use watery liquid to mix with so it is easy to apply on facial area.

For me, I personally really like using this wash-off mask in between my exfoliating night and other non-clay-based treatment masks as it is a little bit of both kind of masks so if you are looking for something relatively mild to improve your overall skin complexion and texture not forgetting in such a short time, definitely give this wash-off mask a try. 


Overall, 5/5. I love it! Definitely will be repurchasing another tub; the repackaged version from local Innisfree store. Bought this at RM93 here at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall. I know it is pretty pricey but I'm having fun mixing the powder around with different liquid especially toners so.


I guess that's all from me! Have you tried powder mask before? Tell me all about it in the comment section down below and I'll be seeing you on my next post. Annyeong~

Blogger Mail | Wako Beauty X Skin1004 Malaysia

A package arrived from Wako Beauty as they sent me the above Skin1004 Malaysia Zombie Pack & Activator Kit / Pore Tightening & Lifting Pack, a 4-pack Box to try and as it's Saturday, I’ve managed to do a first impression on InstaStory so here’s my mini review!

First off, a little bit info on the product; Zombie Pack is known for its ability to diagnose skin issue (lack of moisture and elasticity in the skin) AND provides skin tightening and replenish the hydration onto the skin.

Knowing that the product contains Albumin from egg whites so I’d be expecting some skin tightening with a little bit moisture thanks to Propolis extracts. There’s also Aloe Vera extracts so that should help with soothing and calming my skin with a little bit redness. The pack and activator were easy to mix and applied on skin by using the provided brush.

On the first use, my pores are clean and minimal in appearance. I’ve never seen my pores almost diminished like that. I'm quite impressed as I don’t feel my skin feeling dry or right after rinsing it off. Just smooth and soft to touch!

I'll update more on this after I've finished using them all - more like a month-program so do stay tuned for that!

Review | Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask

At this point of the year, I think it's safe to say that I am finally back to my usual skincare routine; brightening and well-ageing skincare products for evening routine that I have missed so much! I am still maintaining 3 to 5 steps for morning routine as work is getting crazier and crazier towards the end of 2018. With that said, I'm back with testing new products for reviews and personal endeavors as my skin is less sensitive compared to few months ago although I'm still struggling with my dehydrated area around my jawline.

As you've read the title above, I'll be giving my thoughts on this exfoliator; dead skin cells remover or 'peeling' product if I may; a term coined to skincare products that supposedly helps in smoothing out your facial area gently with the helps of non-abrasive agent like acid that tends to break down the bonds between dead skin cells or cellulose that generally rolled together with your dead skin as you massage your skin with it. All exfoliators that I've personally tried and tested are to be used after double cleansing step in evening routine but today, I'm going to talk about an exfoliator that is not only easy to use but also requires little amount to the point that I can actually squeeze it into my express morning skincare routine.

Now, let's go into some details on this product first.

Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask

Product Description: This gentle peeling mask contains milk for a refreshed complexion. A self-bubbling clay texture creates a dense lather to remove dead skin cells.

Ingredients highlight:

• AHA
• Removes dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.
• BHA
• Removes impurities and unclogs the pores
• Milk
• Moisturises and refreshes the skin
• Casein Protein
• Provides the skin with hydration and keeps it moisturised
• Soft clay to whipped cream bubble texture
• The creamy clay texture bubbles into a rich lather to deep cleanse the pores and remove dead skin cells.

How to Use:
Dampen the skin and apply an even layer onto the skin, massaging till a rich lather forms.
leave on for 30 to 60 seconds before rinsing away with warm water.


Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Glycerin, Disiloxane, Bentonite, Propanediol, Myristic Acid, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Stearic acid, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitic Acid , Ethylhexylglycerin, Milk Proteinextract, Disodium Edta, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Titanium dioxide (Ci 77891), Fragrance (Parfum), Coumarin*, Hexyl Cinnamal*, Citronellol*

Now, let's talk about the packaging!

The wash-off mask came within the cute white box that is in similar design to their Althea box  used for delivery. There's Korean product description printed at the back of the box so if you still need further information in English, I have provided the link to the product at the end of this post for your convenient.

There's product batch and expiry date printed at the bottom of the box and the bottle itself. The format is YYYYMMDD. 

As you can see above, the wash-off mask came in a small bottle in opaque white with soft blue cap. There's simple product description at the back although it's fully printed in Korean. I'd say that you need to be careful to not accidentally leave the cap off as that might oxidise the mask in the bottle. It happened to me before and it was really hard to pump out product once it's oxidised as it can change not only in texture but also in colour which means it can no longer be used even it's still within the 12 months of period-after-opening.

The product comes with pump that dispenses small amount per pump so I'd say you'll be needing at least 5 pumps per usage but for the first time, start with 3 pumps then you can apply your forehead first and estimate how much product you actually need.

APPLICATION

 

Upon first application, the consistency is light yet creamy texture as I was evening it out on my facial area then after few seconds, the clay mask started to bubble up (right photo) and there's of course the tingling sensation; I've found myself laughing every time I've used this.

After using the product, I've noticed that my face is indeed felt way smoother than before although I do noticed that there's white cast all over my facial area; similar feeling to after using THE FACE SHOP Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam, thanks to titanium dioxide that's commonly found in physical sunscreen.

I'm totally fond of the baby powder-like scent although looking at the list of ingredients, those of you who have sensitive skin might want to avoid this plus the bubbly sensation might sensitise your skin even further. Those with acne-prone skin, you guys might want to be careful with Myristic acid as this might trigger breakout.

For those who doesn't have much of skin issues then you might find this product fun to try plus it's actually gentle as the acids put into this product are mild and gentle so I'd say with 30 seconds to 1 minute of having this on, you can start with having this clay and gentle acid-containing wash-off mask in your morning routine like 2 to 3 times a week.

I feel no dryness or tautness after washing it off with water and facial sponge while I'm at it so I guess, the moisturising agent works and pores are definitely appear less than before.

As I've mentioned above, this is my current morning skincare routine; cleanser, toner, light moisturiser, topped with sunscreen. I use the Milk Peel Cream Mask right after cleansing and made sure to use cotton pad with the Primer Water.

Depending on my skin condition of the day, I'd incorporate simple hydrating or moisturising sheet mask or layer another hydrating toner prior the Primer Water but of course, if you're someone who consider yourself as beginner in skincare or just want to go for #skincarediet instead of doing a typical 10-step Korean skincare routine, you can try these Althea Exclusives that include from cleansers to moisturisers to fit your daily skin needs. If you're new to Althea and planning to purchase more than RM150, use my link (click here!) for 20% discount off your first purchase!

So I guess that's all from me! If you have already tried this wash-off mask, do let me know what you think or if you haven't, tell me about similar products that you've personally tried that you'd like me to try next by leaving comments down below.

Until next post, annyeong~

|||   SHOP THE POST   |||

Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask RM36.00 (Malaysia only) 

||| Official links |||

Website | http://my.althea.kr/

Facebook | http://www.facebook.com/altheamalaysia

Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/altheakorea

Disclaimer: Links provided are non-affiliated. This product was sent to me for review purposes and all opinions here are based on my personal use of the products.

Blogger Mail | Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask

Yesterday, I've received another blogger mail as I'm part of Althea's Beauty Ambassador Community; Althea Angels and this time it's about a product that I have never encountered a similar product to it; clay mask that turns into bubble mask! In my 5 years K-Beauty journey, I've tried sheet mask that bubbles up, bubble facial cleansers and I think the most similar to this product is a peeling gel that bubbles up but the result was slightly above average when it comes to smoothing out my skin so I didn't repurchased it or similar product as I'm not that impressed. 

As my U-zone area is still sensitive due to the whole allergic reactions I had few months ago, I'll be testing this product on my cheek towards my T-zone area to see how this work on my Instagram Stories later so do stay tuned for that.

This product is already available to purchase on Althea; link is down below and if you're new to Althea and planning to purchase more than RM150, use my link (click here!) for 20% discount off your first purchase!

I guess that's all for now and I'll be seeing you guys on my next post. Annyeong~

|||   SHOP THE POST   |||

Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask RM36.00 (Malaysia only) 

||| Official links |||

Website | http://my.althea.kr/

Facebook | http://www.facebook.com/altheamalaysia

Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/altheakorea

Review | Althea X Get It Beauty Real Fresh Skin Detoxer in Green Tea and Rose

When I got these two products from Althea as part of their Althea Angels Welcome Kit, I opened them right away as I was very excited to try them because of two things; Green Tea and Rose are both my favourites when it comes to ingredients for my special care products like sheet masks and wash-off masks. The second reason would be this is the first time I'm trying this kind of product! I've tried oil-to-foam cleanser before and that's surprisingly very convenient although I just can't change my double cleansing method but mask-to-cleanser can be a game changer in my skincare routines.

But first, let's go into details of these new products from Althea!

"Naturally fresh, premium ingredients for modern urbanites."

Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer are created to suit the hectic schedules of modern urbanites, this product harnesses the goodness of nature and translates that into freshness and vitality for the skin.

Made with premium ingredients sourced from various parts of the world, this 10-second mask is filled with the vitality and freshness from nature to ensure your skin stays healthy and clean everyday.


Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Rose (Refining):  Recommended for morning routine

• A skin refining recipe made with roses to detox, gently smooth away roughness and give the skin a radiant glow.
• Use in the morning to help to balance the skin's natural pH levels and protect it, evening out the skin's texture for perfect makeup application.

Ingredients:

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Rosa Gallica Flower Powder, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol

Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Green Tea (Purifying): Recommended for night routine

• A skin-purifying recipe made with green tea to detox , soothe and nourish sensitive skin. 
• This product boosts the skin's natural regeneration process at night when the skin cells are most active by ensuring the skin is clarified and ready to rest.

Ingredients:

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol

Now, let's talk about the packaging!

The products came within these boxes. The design is minimalistic with merely wordings for the products' names and the main ingredients' illustrations on the side. If you've noticed, there's the Get It Beauty logo at lower part of the box I'm guessing to indicate that these two products are indeed collaboration between the brand and the beauty TV show.

If you're still confused on what category these product fall on, they're actually wash-off masks, recommended to be used for 10 seconds after first oil-based cleanser (for double cleansing method) on daily basis.

At the back of the boxes are the product descriptions in Korean but rest assured, you can get all the information you need here. Unless of course, if you can read and understand Hangeul  that is. (>.<)

On the side of the box there's a note regarding the natural real rose and green tea leaves contained in the products so don't freak out if it's starting to change in its colour although I haven't seen it yet either. 

The products came in almost transparent tubes which is again, something I'd appreciate as I'm tired of putting those products in tubes that I have in my stash behind the light just to really see how much of product left inside. I also am digging the part where they've provided a space at the back of the tube for me to properly write the opened date for these products.

Like most Korean products, these tubes products have seal stickers at the opening. Oh, you can check the expiration dates at the top of the tube. Such a great movement in Korean skincare manufacturing industries I'd say as it's really nice to know when the products are going to expire instead of counting the months and the years from the manufacturing dates printed on products back in 2015. The format is YYYYMMDD.

Now, let's go to each of the product.

ALTHEA REAL FRESH SKIN DETOXER ROSE

I was catching up with previous episodes of Get It Beauty on iFlix few weeks ago; there's one episode where the participants of the show known as Better Girls were comprising of foreigners that currently residing in Seoul being invited to the show. I recalled there's part of the program where the hosts revealed some beauty products that they discovered during their overseas trips; host Lee Honey brought her self-made perfume while she was visiting Grasse, France and guess where one of these two's main ingredient sourced from? Grasse, France; the world's capital of perfume, indeed.

The consistency for both of these products is similar; thick gel, run slightly and this being the Rose variant is containing rose petals in it. The scent is of course filled with rose scents but it does smell like chemical although slightly.

When it comes to application, I've noticed that Althea recommends for Rose to be used in the morning to refine the skin texture and promote smooth skin texture. I have to agree that this mask-to-foam product does give me that especially when I have flaky skin around my jawline area thanks to multiple allergic reactions I've been having for the past month or so (no worries, I'm consuming lots of veggies these days) and as I've been using this product every other day for more than 3 weeks with use no physical scrubs in my routines as I'm afraid it might be too harsh for my skin' the same goes to my Clarisonic brush, I've seen improvement as the area is very much smooth.

ALTHEA REAL FRESH SKIN DETOXER GREEN TEA

The Green Tea variant is an absolute delight for my skin as it cleanses deeply; I see no dead skin cells whenever I tone my skin after using it in my evening routine. The scent is so nice and therapeutic within the short seconds while applying this on. 

Although I have to let you guys know that around the second week of using this, I applied this on for a little bit longer than I should and with my jawline being sensitive and all at that point, the whole area went overly dried and worst than allergic reaction aftereffect, I cried. I guess the formula is indeed intense hence only 10 seconds recommended for it to work well on your skin so I'd suggest for you to follow the instructions well before using.

Overall, I would say that these two products work well and if you're like me who are busy and got not much time to do physical scrubs, do wash-off masks like 3 times a week; the whole nine, I'd definitely recommend these products maybe for daily use, or every other day you can build up the frequency according to your skin concerns. 

You can purchase these separately with individual price of RM43 or in a set with 10% discount (no code necessary) with both variants. If you're new to Althea and planning to purchase more than RM150, use my link (click here!) for 20% discount! 

So I guess that's all from me! If you have already got these products, do let me know what your thoughts on them by leaving comments down below.

Until next post, annyeong~

||| Official links |||

Website: http://my.althea.kr/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/altheamalaysia
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/altheakorea

Disclaimer: Links provided are non-affiliated. The products were sent to me for review purposes and all opinions here are based on my personal use of the products.