Skincare Review: Akoco K-Beauty Goodies

Akoco sent over a few K-Beauty products and I have been playing with me for a few weeks now. I have been doing a longer morning routine are now more discerning as to how most products work.

I am no stranger to cleansing pads but the Latte Bubble Deep Cleansing Pads from Sonreve feels so gentle on the skin while cleansing. To use, you wet one side with water and lather before wiping the embossed side on the face. You can use the rougher side afterward before rinsing but I only do that when I want to exfoliate.

To tone, the Fresh Calming Balancing Toner Pack from Laneige promises to refresh the skin and restore the skin’s moisture and oil balance. I have not tried the bottled version of this one but this toner pack is very travel-friendly. I know we can’t travel right now but the thin packaging would be very useful when we do. For now, I have been using this while checking my emails. It feels calming and not stripping.

I never thought I’d be able to mask while I work but this is where we are now. The Aloe Soothing Mask Pack from Benton aims to revitalize, hydrate, nourish, and moisturize the skin using aloe leaf water, camellia sinensis leaf water, glycerin, pentylene glycol, and sodium PCA. I have tried this before and it’s soothing and relaxing to the skin, especially when your skin is feeling sensitive.

The No-Sebum Mineral Powder from Innisfree claims to be a replacement for oil control paper. This is also another product that I have tried before and it does mattify the skin. It’s great for those who don’t wear much makeup but wants to keep the skin matte.

The Sonreve Latte Bubble Deep Cleansing Pads, Laneige Fresh Calming Balancing Toner Pack, Benton Aloe Soothing Mask Pack, and Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder were provided by @akoco. Available at akoco.com

Skincare Review: Hanskin Hyaluron Bubble Pop Cleanser and the Hyaluron Eye Serum

New from the Hyaluron line of Hanskin is the Hyaluron Bubble Pop Cleanser and the Hyaluron Eye Serum both promising to hydrate the skin.

The Hyaluron Bubble Pop Cleanser uses sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, and soap bark extract to draw water into the skin while plumping, hydrating, and moisturizing it. A liquid cleanser from the packaging, it pumps a foamy face wash that feels gentle on the skin. I prefer cleansing foams so I enjoyed using this. However, this leaves a thin film after rinsing.

Using irish moss extract, sodium hyaluronate, and sugarcane extract, the Hyaluron Eye Serum aims to plump and hydrate the skin. This eye cream has a metal applicator, which has a cooling sensation. It helps depuff the eye area. I have not seen its effect on fine lines but it does hydrate my dry under eyes and helps prevent my lids from getting oily. I like to use this in the morning, especially when I’m applying eye makeup as this helps keep it longer. This is one of the eye creams that doesn’t leave my under eyes dry and my lids slick.

The Hanskin Hyaluron Bubble Pop Cleanser and the Hyaluron Eye Serum were provided by @hanskin. Available at ulta.com

Skincare Review: Aromatica Reviving Rose Infusion Treatment Toner and Reviving Rose Infusion Serum

Aromatic sent over some products a few months back and these two really caught my attention. First off, the new packaging looks modern and pretty at the same time. Second they smell like roses, which I like, as someone who enjoys floral scents.

The Reviving Rose Infusion Treatment Toner uses rose water and rose essential oil to hydrate and lock moisture into the skin. This feels a bit creamy but not like the essence toner hybrid products I have tried. In terms of consistency, this is more watery than most. However, once applied, this feels like it has some weight to it. It dries into a slightly dewy finish without leaving product on top of the skin. This does feel moisturizing but I need more hydration for my oily skin. Used alone, this wouldn’t be enough for me so I use this in conjunction with other hydrating products.

To firm and moisturize the skin, the Reviving Rose Infusion Serum uses rose water, rose essential oil, elder elderberry, raspberry, Indian gooseberry, rose hip fruit, and plum. The damask rose bud infused here is extracted with purified water boiled at 80℃, which promises to provide the benefits of the flower without losing its nutrients.

This is a lightweight serum with a gel consistency that feels very watery when applied to the skin. Again, this is hydrating but not hydrating enough when used alone on my oily skin. Those with drier or more hydrated skin types might find this okay.

These products are cruelty-free and are made without synthetic alcohol, parabens, phenoxyethanol, synthetic fragrance, silicone, mineral oil, disodium EDTA, phthalates, PG, and BHT.

The Aromatica Reviving Rose Infusion Treatment Toner and Reviving Rose Infusion Serum were provided by @aromatica. Available at thearomatica.com

Skincare Review: Tony Moly Moisture Boost Gel To Water Morning Cleanser, Cooling Hydrogel Eye Patches, and Cooling Algae Eye Serum

With very light and gentle products, the Moisture Boost products from Tony Moly works great for days spent at home, without the stress of sunlight, pollution and the other elements.

I start the day with the Moisture Boost Gel To Water Morning Cleanser, which leaves my skin fresh and hydrated, without stripping off the natural oils. It contains 5 types of centella asiatica, panthenol, ceramide complex, AHA, BHA, and PHA.

Being very lightweight, it’s a good addition to the morning routine for those who prefer a gentle cleansing gel.

At night, I use either the Moisture Boost Cooling Hydrogel Eye Patches and Moisture Boost Cooling Algae Eye Serum, which both promise hydrating and depuffing effects for the eyes.

The serum, which uses hyaluronic acid, plankton extract, and seawater, has a cooling effect on the skin around my eyes but doesn’t do much besides that. I prefer the eye patches, which not only make my skin feel refreshed. It’s made with spirulina extract, plankton extract, and seawater to hydrate and soothe the eye area. They are hydrating for my dry under eyes and they make me look more alive.

The Tony Moly Moisture Boost Gel To Water Morning Cleanser, Cooling Hydrogel Eye Patches, and Cooling Algae Eye Serum were provided by @tonymoly. Available at tonymoly.us and @ulta.

Cult Favorite: Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion

I remember buying my first Perfecting Cushion from Sulwhasoo 4 years ago while I was in the Incheon airport waiting for my flight back home. It’s what I bring to work because it’s compact and it’s liquid, which I prefer overpower foundation when it comes to retouching. So, naturally, seeing the Limited Edition Spring Cushion Compact with its beautiful embroidery is really just an added bonus. I mean, look at how pretty and old school it is. I also love the fact that the embroidery has a cushion underneath as well.

This product was provided by @octoly and @sulwhasoo.