[Review] COSRX ONE STEP ORIGINAL CLEAR PAD

I was going through my blog posts archives when I noticed that I couldn't find a review of the Cosrx One Step Original Clear Pad so I decided to take pictures and post my review in time before it could end in my empties bin

This is the best selling pads from Cosrx. It has a been a cult favourite for years and has won several awards for its amazing performance. I have the green pads from the same line in my cabinet. (Read detailed review here )

The award-winning COSRX One Step Original Clear Pads are pre-soaked in betaine salicylate and willow bark water to chemically exfoliate without drying out your skin. Active ingredients penetrate deeply into pores to dissolve oil and dead skin cells, which help in controlling breakouts.

The first thing that caught my attention was the cute illustration of Mr Rx on the lid. I mean common how can you not love this cute and funny guy ? Anyways the pads are enclosed in a solid white tub. There are a total of 70 pads so even if you use one on daily bases . This will last you a solid two months. I would recommend partially opening the seal on top so that the solution does not dry out faster and there pads remain moist for long

These are dual texture pads. One side has an embossed pattern while other side has a smooth property to it. I usually swipe my face with the embossed side and then clean it off with the clear side . To me these pads smell like candy ( yum candy to be specific , my mom on the other hand thinks that the smell is close to floor cleaning solution)

I use these 3 times a week. I have noticed that with continuous use this clears up acne and refines skin texture. These have been around for several years but they haven't lost their popularity . Cosrx recently repackaged these to more serious/mature looking tub but the product is same. I would recommend these to anyone who has acne, clogged pores. It effective, easily available and affordable

Read More

My Skincare Staples for Humid weather

So even though it is pouring cats and dogs in many cities around the world. The weather is still hot and humid. And now that we are going through another wave of the Covid19 mask has now become a necessity. Now I  am really grateful that I haven't lost my sanity yet but my skin on the hand has gone berserk with acne ( effect of internal and external stress)

So in a desperate effort to restore my skin's balance I tested a few products for weeks and this is the final line of products that worked wonders on my poor skin

The first hero in the line up is TONYMOLY From Ganghwa Pure Artemisia First Essence. I wont be getting into the detailed review as I have already done that in my previous post ( you can know more about my thoughts here ) but I will mention one cool thing about this essence that I have noticed recently. If you place this is in fridge prior to use the scent becomes more potent. Moreover the soothing properties are amplified because of the cooling effect. I love doing toner packs with this toner. It is best for the current weather and the light weight texture works for all skin types

ISNTREE Real Mugwort Clay Mask (read detailed review here).This comes off as no surprise as you might be aware that I clearly like Mugwort based products.  I have been hooked to Isntree lately. Everything from ingredients list to packaging is spot on . Plus the brand goes on sale at Jolse quite frequently. I use this mask every other day. It grabs all the sebum, feels cooling on the skin, and calms the skin at the same time. The crushed leaves also give mild exfoliation to the skin as well. What more can you ask for ?

Time is indeed running out my friend if you haven't tried this gem of a mist from Sioris called 'Time is Running Out'. Though the oil part is a bit too moisturizing and heavy for the current weather the water based part is actually pretty good. It sets makeup, refreshes skin and add a layer of hydration . ( as always you can learn more here )

Give your skin a hug with the Purito Comfy water Sunblock. Just like people your skin needs reassuring and what better way there is than to protect it with a good sumblock. I have benn religiously applying this Purito sunblock and I am happy to announce that my skin has 99 problems but sunburn ain't one. I have posted a detailed comparison post on All the sunscreens by Purito you can read the review (here)

And Lastly lets raise our glass for Cosrx One Step Original Clear Pad the knight in shinng armour who has been removing the dead cell buildup and cleaning the pores at the time. I am admittedly a bit vary ro try out the new updated version but I have faith in Cosrx that the new versions will be as good as the previous one

So that wraps my top 5 most trusted skincare picks for the current awfule weather. Feel free to suggest the products that work for you. I always love to try new options

Read More

[Review] COSRX BHA BLACKHEAD POWER LIQUID

I am posting a one year post usage update/review on this cult favourite product from Cosrx. I got this a year ago on sale for just 12$ from Jolse. For many people this a HG ride or die product

The packaging is simple. A slightly frosty tall plastic bottle with pump. The pump is pretty good and it doesn't spit out the product like many other pump bottles you get in the market .

Quantity: 100 ML

Features:

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid gets rid of dead skin cell and blackhead within the pores and prevents oxidized sebum from turning into blackheads. BHA Blackhead Power Liquid has mixed a natural BHA ingredient, Betaine Salicylate, at 4% and you can witness your skin get smoother and glossy as time goes by, as well as it light texture.

SO there are 3 popular chemical exfoliants Namely AHA ( Alpha Hydroxy Acids ) these work on the surface of the skin to remove dead skin cells. Then comes BHA ( beta hydroxy acids ) these can go deep into the pores to dislodge the stubborn /clingy dead cells. It also clears out pores and reduces blackhead formation. Then there is PHA ( and I honestly don't know much about it except for the fact that is the gentle one out of the 3 chemical exfoliants )

COSRX BHA BLACKHEAD POWER LIQUID contains BHA ( 4% Betaine Salicylate) mixed in Willow bark water. This looks water like in the bottle (the liquid is clear ) But once you dispense it on your palm . It feels a bit oily. There are two ways to apply this . Either pat this into the skin with your hands or pump the product onto a cotton pad and then swipe it across the skin .

I prefer the cotton pad method ( even though a small fraction of product is wasted on each application ) because I dont like this somewhat bitter smelling liquid on my hands.  Another point worth mentioning is that this  feels heavy/greasy on the skin so on a hot humid day you might not enjoy this on your skin for long.

I have tried using this is in smaller quantity but the greasy/sticky feeling remains. So i usually apply this to my face and leave it for 4 hrs and then wash my face before goinv to bed. I have noticed that this liquid with continuous use unplugs clogged pores. It also reduces sebaceous filaments and blackheads and regulates sebum production.

I have been using this for a solid 1 year now ( 3 times a week ) and this clears up congestion on my skin every single time. I have also read a very interesting article on fiddy snail blog on how to reduced black heads using this liquid along with a clay mask and I will testify that it is very effective ( you will have to check her post to know more )

Do I recommend this product ? Yes 100% . It is effective , it is affordable and the hype is real. You can buy this from Jolse here (COSRX BHA BLACKHEAD POWER LIQUID )

Read More

[Review] COSRX Low pH Centella Cleansing Powder

Powder washes have been around for quite sometime but for some reason I wasn't particularly drawn to the idea of powder cleanser. However all of this changed when i tried a small sample of powder cleanser.

This is Cosrx's latest releases and the centella part was the charm which piqued my interest

Features

An acidulous cleansing powder that cleanses the skin mildly and tends the dead skin cells and pores simultaneously
Centella Asiatica ingredient soothes and cleanses the sensitive skin with smooth, acidulous bubbles. The innovative powder cleanser cares dead skin cells and sebum with the characteristics of enzymes. Helps skin care products convey their ingredients effectively for better makeup

CosRX Centella Cleansing Powder comes in a rather unusual packaging. Instead of a regular plastic bottle these come in individually packed 30 cute small pods with a certain ratio (0.4 g ) of product already assigned in each pod. This might be ideal for people who travel a lot but for regular everyday use I find the packaging to be a bit wasteful.

The direction are simple just add powder to your palm . Mix it with water and apply it to the face. In terms of lather it is minimal. (Very fine and subtle) due to the ingredient list expected this to have a faint scent lf centella but its completely scent free

This does not exfoliate as the powder dissolves completely so you I personally didn't notice any physical exfoliation. This is to be used as second cleanser as its mild. I personally like this gentle cleanser , I also enjoyed the powder aspect of it. My only wish is that cosrx would change the packaging to some thing more environmentally friendly

COSRX Low pH Centella Cleansing Powder is now available at Jolse.com

Read More

My Current Skincare routine 2019 [ Summer Edition ]

Since the weather has taken an unpleasant turn, it's time to switch up my skincare routine. I have been using suitable moisturizing products for the past few months but due to hot weather and excessive sweating some products are clogging my pores and making my skin more oily

My goal of this current skincare routine is to keep my skin hydrated, but sebum and acne free . For reference I am in my twenties and my skin type is oily+ acne prone. There used to be time when harsh alkaline cleansers and mud mask was all I had in my skincare routine but as I learned more about korean skincare my preferences changed and so did my skin (for the better)
Despite all the 10 steps Korean skincare routine hype I apply certain products on certain days and no I don't have 10 steps nor do I have the time to follow 10 steps.

I will start with cleanser which in my opinion is the most important step . My current choice is Secret key Lemon Sparkling cleansing Foam . This thoroughly removes sebum and dirt from the face. It does dry out the face ever so slightly but since I apply toner straight away it not much of a problem. I do use an oil cleanser to remove makeup from my face but by the time the post is going to be posted I might have finished my balm cleanser

I recently stumbled across this Malaysian skincare brand called Good Virtues Co and I got the brightening facial toner out of sheer curiosity. To my surprised this is actually a very good mild toner plus it has a spray mechanism so you can use this as a setting spray.

I am going to skip serum/essence here because I can't decide what I want to use this month but one of my favorite serum is black rice serum by HaraHaru check my previous blog posts if you are interested :)

I recently got these beautiful G9SKIN Pink Blur Hydrogel Eye Patch 120pcs and these literally are so good plus very economic as well. Can you believe it but there are actually 120 patches in a single container ( cool right) . A detailed review will be uploaded soon on my blog and Instagram.

Isntree Real Mugwort Clay mask
This by far the best clay mask I have ever used. Its cooling, soothing, purifying and hydrating at the same time. I have posted a detailed review (check it here). Highly highly recommend this so good :)

Skincare is incomplete without sunscreen and I recently made a switch to the Leegeeham life sun cushion . I particularly like this because of the convenient packaging .

And lastly the Low Ph Pha Barrier mist by Cosrx. This is my secret to keep the skin cool and hydrated during the day. The mist is fine and feels very refreshing on the skin

So this is all for now. Have you switched yiur skincare routine for the new season tell me in the comments below

Read More

[Review] COSRX Shield Fit All Green Comfort Sun SPF50+ PA++++

Cosrx has recently been releasing a lot of good stuff.  Since it will be summer soon I thought now was the best time to try a new sunscreen. There are two sunscreen in the COSRX Shield Fit. I selected the green version because according to Cosrx this was a better match for my oily skin. As pollution is increasing day by day, sunscreen has become a necessity for everyone. Be it a man or women. But since sunscreen is one cosmetic item that is worn for longer duration a comfortable light weight formula is what eveyone is looking for

Features
A mild mineral sunscreen forms skin protection film, so it protects your skin from UV without white cast.
Effectively lower skin temperature from ultraviolet rays to make skin calm.
It can be applied many times, providing light and fresh feeling, regardless of the season,even on days when the skin is sensitive.

This particular sunscreen is packaged in a  slim light green colored squeeze tube. I really appreciate the slim packaging. I find this very purse/ pocket friendly

This has a very runny texture. Its easy to apply on the face. I can also detect mild somewhat floral scent. The formula is non greasy and light weight ( you can barely feel the sunscreen on your skin)

Cosrx claims this to be white cast free but unfortunately that's not the case. It does leaves a white cast. ( though the white cast effect is slightly decreased if you wait for a few minutes but still you can detect the tone up effect this gives). The results may differ for other skin colors specially very pale skin. If you look at the ingredient list you are going to see Zinc Oxide an ingredient used in physical sunscreen which is responsible for white cast effect.

The white cast maybe a problem if you plan to wear this on its own but for me I wear sunscreen under my foundation so the white cast is not that much of a problem. Due to its almost matte finish this works so well for oily skin. It sits nicely under makeup and control sebum to some extent

Personally I am enjoying this sunscreen a lot and wish that cosrx would release a 50ml version of this sunscreen in future.

COSRX Shield Fit All Green Comfort Sun SPF50+ PA++++ is available on Jolse. I highly recommend you to give this a try if you have oily/combination skin type.

Read More