WHAT: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Care Kit

Hello, friends! Here's a quick review for the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Care Kit. I got this as a freebie with my purchase on Althea Korea. If you want to try this, I saw this trial set retailing for about 130-250 Php on Shopee.

the back of the packaging

WHAT'S INSIDE

Product empties. Sorry I don't have pics of the cotton pads!

The Pore Care Kit consists of:

• 1 Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam 13ml
• 1 Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner 10ml
• 7 pcs Innisfree Eco Beauty Tool Cotton pads

Let's start with the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam.

pH test = around 7.5

Product Description: " Jeju Island's volcano clay is very fine and contains few impurities, and attaches well to sebum to clean it out effectively. Also, it is low alkaline which is similar to human body."

This cleanser is effective in making my face feel really clean. If you have oily skin, I think you will appreciate this because all oiliness is stripped away. The description "low alkaline" checks out because the pH is around 7.6. However, I prefer gentle cleansers with lower pH so I will probably not buy the full size.

The 150ml full-sized bottle retails 350 Php at Althea.

Now, about the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner...

pH test = around 6.4

Product Description: "The toner’s mineral powder contains volcanic ash and scoria, a porous substance formed from solidified lava. The natural volcanic scoria contains pure, rare, and earthy ingredients that clear out sebum from your face and minimize pores. Use this alcohol-free toner to remove sebum and other skin wastes. It will clear and tighten your pores, leaving your face with a soft and smooth glow."

This toner is thin and watery and has a cloudy look because of the volcanic ash and scoria in it. It is mildly scented and smells like fresh flowers. I liked using this because it made my skin look less oily but after a few days, my skin got bumpier. I suspect my skin did not agree with the volcanic ash or one of the ingredients. Anyway, according to my pH test, the toner has an approximate pH of 6.4. It won't be low enough to use with actives like AHA/BHA.

The 250ml full-sized toner is 800 Php at Althea.

Last but not the least, the Pore Care Kit contained 7 pcs of Innisfree Eco Beauty Tool Cotton pads. It is made of 100% pure cotton and therefore, very absorbent. It would sop up lots of toner so be careful when dispensing! The pads are pressed on both sides but they were not stitched. After vigorous use, the pads kinda unraveled. Haha. I'm still thankful it was included in the kit. Everything is just enough for one week of use!

VERDICT

I enjoyed using the kit. I was able to try out products that I am curious about without committing to the full-sized items. I think the kit will also be perfect for traveling because of its tiny size. 

What are your must-try mini kits? Let me know!

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. This review is based on my own experience and opinions. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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What: Beauty White Vampire Whitening Soap v.2, 85g
Price & Where: 85.00 PHP, from a Shopee seller

Hi, guys! I told you in a previous post that I hauled some Thai products through Shopee. My first Thai product review was a disaster but, whatever! Nothing can stop me from trying out this Vampire Whitening Soap from the brand Beauty White. This is another Shopee best-seller and of course, I'm a curious cat and I just have to try it myself.

Without further ado, here's my review!

About the Product & Packaging

The back of the packaging

First of all, the soap is housed in this black & red vampire-inspired box. It is holographic and twinkles if you move it to and fro. The stuff on the box is written mostly in Thai, except for the ingredients list.

The soap inside is protected by plastic. It is smaller than I expected, being only 85 grams.

The soap has this vampire logo imprinted into it.

Ingredients (from the box):
Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Auranium Amara Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Oil, Fragrance, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water

The product description (from the seller) says this has rose oil extracts to help stimulate the skin cells and blood circulation resulting to healthy skin, lycopene from tomatoes to maintain skin's youthful appearance and soft like baby skin, arbutin that inhibits melanin causing freckles and dark spots, and glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin B3  to help skin look healthy, luminous, even when out in the sun.

Except for Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), I don't see the stuff mentioned above in the actual ingredients list. What gives? So deceptive! Always read your ingredients list, guys! The soap indeed smells like roses except, like I said, rose oil extract is not in the actual ingredient list. It's probably the added fragrance. -___-

My Experience

With Vampire in the name and packaging, it's obvious I'm gonna be a vampire after using this, right? Just kidding. Vampire pale, perhaps. I'm not really looking for super-whitening but I want all the help I can get to even out my skintone. Let's see if this works.

soap lather and the color

This soap lathers really well! Just a few rubs and I was able to get the pic above. The soap suds were tinged pink from the soap's color but it went away after foaming it up more. I left it on my skin for 2-4 minutes then rinsed it off. It's good in removing dirt and grime. I felt clean after washing the suds off.

A downside I noticed is that this soap is not compatible with Maxipeel (Tretinoin + Hydroquinone). I'm using Maxipeel Exfoliant #2 (which I got it from my Summer Girl Saladbox) on my face and neck.

During the first time I used this, I applied the soap all over my face and body. My face and neck felt itchy all day even if I rinsed it off. I stopped using it on the Maxipeel areas and the irritation stopped. If you are on tretinoin or hydroquinone, I don't recommend using this at the same time.

Another downside is that this soap melts really fast. I divided the soap into two and only use it once a day. Despite that, the whole bar only lasted for 2 weeks. That's a really short time! Maybe that's why I don't see any changes in my skin tone. It didn't give me the vampire skin it promised me. Not one bit! Like, nothing at all! Yikes.

Will I Recommend/Repurchase This?

Honestly, NO. I'm not impressed. The downsides far outweighed the very few positives it had. Sure, I used it for a very short period (only 2 weeks!) but I have previously tried a soap that really delivered results within the same amount of time! This vampire soap pales in comparison.

I have a few more purchases from Shopee. Fingers crossed they work because what I tried so far are quite disappointing. Have you tried this product? Tell me below if it performed miracles for you! Haha!

Disclaimer: This review is written based on my own personal experience. I bought the product with my own money. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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Have you heard about Shopee PH? It's a relatively new shopping app/website here in the Philippines. It's very user-friendly plus there are lots of sellers and official shops to discover! The part I love the most? FREE shipping if you spend Php 500 above! Ang baba lang ng threshold, di ba? No kidding when I say it has easily become my favorite online shopping portal!

In case you're wondering, I'm telling you all this because Shopee has rekindled my interest in Thailand products. I have tried a few items before but I moved on since it's not readily available here. Anyway, through Shopee and its free shipping (lol), I have recently hauled a lot of Thai products. Expect to see them in my upcoming posts but for now, I'm gonna give you my review of this Grape Gluta Mask from Marin Skincare!

About The Product

What: Grape Gluta Mask, 50g
Price & Where I Got It: 95 Php from a Shopee seller
(prices vary depending on where you get it)

Claims:
🍇 evens out skin color
🍇 reduces dark spots/scars all over the body
🍇 skin becomes shiny and smooth
🍇 works especially on elbows and knees

🍇 refreshes the old skin

Ingredients: 

AHA extracted from Grapes, Vitamin E, Collagen concentration, Whitening. AHA, Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Glycerine

How to use:

Apply mask over your body and leave it for 15-20 minutes and rinse with clean water. Don't use on face.

the back of the box

Apparently, this is the #1 best-selling whitening mask in Thailand. It is made from a mixture of fruit acids and grapes. It claims you can get whitening results in just one use! 

I'm kinda skeptic but the drastic before-and-after pictures make me wanna try this at least once. Let's see, shall we?

My Experience

Inside the box is this plastic pouch.

The instructions say you have to test it on a small area first so I decided to do it on the back of my hand. The texture is like a very light lotion, but unlike lotions, the mask just sits on top of my hand instead of getting absorbed. It doesn't dry out.

I waited 15 minutes then washed it off. Results? See for yourself.

Oh my gosh! Such an incredible, unbelievable result!

Look again and you'll see - WALA! As in, nothing! The lighting has changed (sorry about that) but you can definitely see na wala talaga!!! Haha, kaloka!

There's still a lot left inside the pouch so I decided to give it another chance. I used the rest of the mask all over my arms and legs, and this time, I left it on for 20 minutes.

So.... did it finally deliver? Nope! Wala pa rin. Nothing, nada, zero, zilch.

Unlike wash-off face masks that make my skin feel soft like a baby's butt, this one made my skin feel very dry. It's a double nope.

Will I Repurchase/Recommend This Product?

NO. Save your money. It doesn't work.

Like I said earlier, I'm a bit skeptical about this product. I have very low expectations. I'm not expecting a dramatic before and after just like the "testimonies", but I did hope for at least a tiny bit of result. It did not live up to its claims. Needless to say, I won't repurchase again.

Have you tried this product? Did it work for you? This is a fail but that won't stop me from trying other Thai items. Let me know what items I should check out next!

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Note: This blog is written based on my own experience and opinion. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. This is not a sponsored post. I bought the featured item with my own money.

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Ever thought about fizzy water for skincare? Well, I haven't but guess what, Innisfree has a product like that!

The Jeju Sparkling Mineral Powder will make carbonated bubbles when mixed with water for a spa-like massage effect. It is part of Innisfree's Jeju Sparkling Mineral line. All products in the range are enriched with sparkling thermal water from Jeju island and claims to moisturize and also brighten the skin.

I got this inside my Althea Pore Care Box and I wanted to try this product ever since. I watched a vid demonstrating how to use this and it looks really fun! Without further ado, let's proceed!

About The Product

What: Innisfree Jeju Sparkling Mineral Powder, 30g
Price: Php 126.85 on Innisfree Website, Php 70-150 on Shopee

Description: A cleansing powder with Jeju sparkling mineral water that delivers rich mineral for skin that’s clear and filled like it's been soaked in a hot spring

1. Sparkling water pack benefits - It dissolves easily to form carbonated water that provides all the benefits of both spa therapy and sparkling water pack when washing the face. 

2. Contains extract of fresh tangerine peel - Jeju tangerine peel extract cleanses pores and gives the skin an instant brightening effect. 

3. Sparkling bubble massage - Fizzy sparkling bubbles provide a sparkling massage effect on the skin to make it feel smooth and revitalized."

what it looks like at the back

The upper part is written in HanGul which I can't read 😅
Here you go, in case you wanna see it.

English Translation is provided too

The item has two 15g packets inside - Step 1 & Step 2

Directions:

1. Dissolve 1st powder in water (1.5-2 L) fully.

2. Put 2nd powder into water and stir in.

3. Wash your face with both hands or immerse the face in sparkling water while feeling an effect of bubble massage.

4. Rinse off with water after 2-3 minutes.

Ingredients:
Packet 1: Sodium bicarbonate
Packet 2: Citric Acid, Silica, Onsen-Sui(1000ppm), Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Orchid Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Propanediol, Magnesium Stearate

Packet 1 is sodium bicarbonate or what is commonly known as baking soda. Oops. I have my eyebrows raised because facial use of baking soda is actually discouraged. (Read why here). Packet 2 has citric acid first on the list. It is a pH adjuster so hopefully it is enough to adjust the alkalinity of the baking soda. The other ingredients look okay to me so I'm still giving this a go. Please check the ingredients first for any irritants that may affect you!

How I Used It and My Experience

Packet 1 is just baking soda.
Packet 2 is a powder mix of citric acid, Jeju water minerals and various plant extracts.

The item has two 15-gram packets to be dissolved in 1.5-2 liters of water. Even one liter is enough to immerse the face so I only used half per packet. I used a measuring spoon to make sure I still applied the same proportion. I then resealed the packets for later use.

Half the powders is enough guys

After dissolving the half of the first packet, I added the second powder. It bubbled and fizzed immediately. Just look at the video below. So sparkly!

I immersed my face in the mixture and was pleasantly surprised with the sensation. The tiny bubbles crackled and popped on my skin and it felt very tingly. It stings a little bit but I think that's just part of the "massage" effect.  It's tolerable for me. After a while, I got used to it. I have some healing skin from a pimple and it did not hurt (aside from the effects I mentioned). Make sure not to get this in your eyes though because it will burn a lot!

It felt warm but the sensation subsides then comes back again. Maybe it's the heat produced from the reaction? Anyway, the bubbles surprisingly kept fizzing for a long time. When the sparkling slowly faded, I mixed the water around to intensify the bubbling again. I rinsed it off with water after 2-3 minutes.

So... was it effective?

Yes! I love the brightening effect it gave me! My skin looks radiant and matte. It looks really matte, like my face never knew oil, but my skin feels so soft and supple. My pores also look smaller!

I used this at night and hours later, with all my skincare products piled on, my skin looks dewy. Before, I just looked greasy. 😆 My skin still looked good the next day too. No breakouts or irritation after. I think this will also do well when used during daytime. It kinda gives a jamsu-like effect since the pores are really minimized.

Will I repurchase?

Yes, but I don't recommend this for people with sensitive skin. The baking soda niggles me a little bit but it's a fun product to use every now and then. I personally love how it made my skin look after. It's very economical too - you can stretch the usage of the product for up to three times so you can really get your money's worth. I later found out you can also use it for the hair. I will have to try that some time. 😊

Hope this helped! Have you tried this too? How did it go? Got any questions or have any products you want me to try? Shoot me a line in the comment section!

UPDATE!!!

I recently got myself some pH testing strips so, of course, I tested this! I dissolved a packet in 1.5 liters of water and dipped a ph strip in the solution. I'm really curious. I mean... it's partly made of BAKING SODA!!!

Looks like the pH is around 5

The pH, as you can see above, looks like it's around 5. That's a lot lower than I expected! Honestly, I thought it would be above 8.

The pH is 4.6 according to my digital pH tester.

The results above remove my fear of this product being very stripping. It's within healthy pH range (between 4.2 - 5.6 pH).

I used it again on my face and my first impressions still hold up. It removed excess oils and made my face look matte but glowy.

I soaked my hair too in the solution. After rinsing it out, my hair feels kinda dry (like how it would feel if you use a shampoo). Didn't use conditioner afterwards but after my hair dried, it became so bouncy! No sign of grease and my hair got so much volume! Downside is I got tangles and frizz but that's easily fixed with a little bit of styling. I recommend it for people with straight but limp, flat hair.

And, that's it for this update! Thanks for reading!

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Website: http://www.innisfreeworld.com/main/index.do
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Item featured is bought with my own money. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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Skin Genie Black Mallows Fluffy Scrub 100g (150PHP)

Skin Genie is a local brand offering whitening and anti-aging products. They claim all their products are safe, gentle, all-natural and suitable even for sensitive skin. I haven't heard of this brand before but I am all for discovering new stuff, even more so if they're locally made. #supportlocal, amirite ;-)

You can get the scrub in two sizes: 450 Php for the 250g jar or 850 Php for 500g. The scrub is also available in a 100g bag for 150 PHP but I think this is a limited size. The Skin Genie Black Mallows Fluffy Scrub I have is included in my October 2016's Saladbox (read my unboxing here). Props to Saladbox for introducing this to me because #spoiler, never have I loved a body scrub as much as I love this!

About Black Mallows Fluffy Scrub

every scrub is cutely shaped and looks like a delectable choco crinkle <3

Product description: Chosen carefully, these power-packed scrub has the ability to nourish, rejuvenate the skin and gives plenty exfoliation.

Ingredients:

• Forbidden Rice - Rich in antioxidants, forbidden rice is a potent source of skin-loving antioxidants and Vitamin E. It contains antioxidants and protein that help maintain skin firmness and restore elasticity. 
• Activated Charcoal - It acts like a magnet to attract and absorb dirt and oil. When dirt and oil in your pores come in contact with Activated Charcoal, they stick to it and then get washed away when you rinse.
• Niacinamide - is a powerhouse ingredient. It can help firm, reduce signs of aging, reduce hyperpigmentation, and prevent moisture loss.
• Rolled Oats - Oatmeal can help remove dead skin cells and soak up oil, acting as a natural remedy to acne It can provide soothing relief from sunburn, poison ivy, and other irritations, and can heal skin and open pores.
• Cranberry and Apricot Beads - Smoothly removes the cells of dead skin and the blackheads, unblock the pores, and clean the skin gently. It triggers the growth of fresh cells.
• Grapeseed - Can provide protection against sun damage. It has astringent properties and therefore, can tighten the skin. The linoleic acid found in grapeseed oil can be very beneficial in skin conditions like, acne, dermatitis and eczema. Linoleic acid can soothe and nourish the skin, and help it to repair. 
• Sodium Bicarbonate - Can be used to correct the skin’s pH balance, it is a natural antibiotic that cures the underlying fungal infections. Sodium Bicarbonate can also slowly erase acne scars and speed the healing of acne damage.

Instructions:

Begin with wet skin in the shower—warm-to-hot water is ideal to soften the skin. Apply the Black Mallows Fluffy Scrub in a circular motion. For around 10 to 15 minutes, leave the scrub and give enough time to open up the pores. This will also allow the ingredients to penetrate your skin. Rinse and pat dry.

My Experience

I mentioned in my unboxing article that I'm impressed with this because this is such an innovative idea. It looks like marshmallows but it melts when soaked with water. Normal scrubs are potentially unsanitary because you have to scoop them out of a jar. In contrast, the Black Mallows are all separate, just take one and break off what you need.

pic taken immediately after dissolving the scrub on my arm

Speaking of quantity, the 100g pack I got contained only 4 marshmallow scrubs. Don't worry because a piece can seriously go a long way.  I'm generous in application, so I usually use about half. Even a quarter is enough to cover the whole body.

This mallow scrub smells very pleasant. I am reminded of lakatan mixed with tutti-frutti flavor whenever I use this. The scent is not annoying at all.

Close-up of the cranberry and apricot beads. I left it for about 10 minutes like the instruction said

After dissolving the scrub on my face and body, I let it sit for a while. The greyish suds got clear after a few minutes leaving the cranberry and apricot beads behind. There are also some rice grains in the mix. When I thought enough time has passed, I rubbed the beads again to remove any remaining dead skin cells.

Be gentle on the face though, the beads can be rough if you use force. Don't go gaga over exfoliating and remember, once or twice a week is enough. After scrubbing, I added a little bit of water to get suds. This can be used as a soap too. Amazing, right? Lastly, I finally rinsed off everything.

Voila! So soft and smooth!

I expected my skin to become red from all the rubbing I did, but no, it did not. My skin feels new - very soft and nice to touch, even the elbows!. The scrub is moisturizing too. I didn't feel the need to apply lotion after. To sum everything up, here's a list of Black Mallows' pros and cons:

Pros
-Sanitary, just break off a piece you want to use
-Easy to use
-Has lots of beads for that exfoliating power
-Lathers up and can be used as soap
-A jar of this scrub will last forever
-Pleasant smell, the scent is not annoying at all

Cons

-A bit messy in the bathroom, there are lots of beads!

-The exfoliating beads can be rough on face

-Time consuming

-You need to keep these away from children, it looks so good to eat!

Will I buy this again?

Isn't it obvious yet? Haha. Yes, I'll repurchase this again. I think this product is worth it and I sincerely recommend everyone to try this. Hope this review helped.

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Any judgment given is entirely my own honest and unbiased opinion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update: 

Skin Genie has an ongoing Holiday Sale where most of the items are 50% off til January 15! I got the 250g jar for only 225 PHP! *heart eyes*

Black Mallows Fluffy Scrub, 250g jar 

The jar is not heavy since it's only 250g but it has a handle for easy carrying

The Black Mallow scrubs inside are all rectangular and thinner than the ones in the pouch.
Same functionality though!

Anyway, that's it for my update! See you in the next blog!

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Daiso is a Japanese dollar store chain that offers a great range of affordable Japanese products, with most of their items priced for as low as 88 PHP! No kidding when I say Daiso is a treasure trove full of goodies waiting to be discovered. I can easily spend a few hours in there looking at cute stuff! I consider myself lucky because I have 4 stores very near me, such luck!

I got Daiso's Charcoal Natural Cleansing Foam from their Charcoal line when I ran out of cleanser. Here's my review.

Packaging 

The product comes in this long, narrow 70-gram tube decorated with black and gray bubbles. The plastic tube is thick and doesn't feel cheap. For its price point, I think this is well made.

Daiso Charcoal Cleansing foam (this pic is the real actual size)

The labels and instructions were in Japanese but they have translated it into English as well.

Features: Small tiny halls of charcoal absorb dust and pollution. It clears dirt and sebum in pores.
How to Use: Make bubbles with water, softly massage and wash out.

Precautions to take when using this product

Made in Korea for Daiso Japan

I lost my other pictures but this cleanser is sealed with foil. I like that you can be sure that the product was not opened yet. The packaging is simple enough so there's really not much I can say, but one thing I dislike is the screw top. I find the standard flip cap handier. The cap also gathers some of the product and tends to smear it all over the tube, just like the pic below. This is potentially unsanitary. I wipe the tube and cap clean every now and then.

some of the product inside spills out on the cap

Experience

The first time I used this I was quite surprised because I was expecting the charcoal foam to be darker than it is. The cleanser is thick in consistency, almost like a cream.

When you add water, it lathers very easily and creates lots of foam. It washes off very easily too. Let's test its cleaning powers, shall we?

I swatched random stuff on my arm for my cleaning test

First wash using the Charcoal Foam. It removed everything but left traces of the gel eyeliner and the lippies

Second wash using the Charcoal Foam. I took my time rubbing the cleanser in a circular motion.
You can see it got rid of everything except for the matte lipstick which left a stain.

I think the results above are pretty good. When I have makeup on, I usually use a makeup remover first and then follow-up with a normal foam cleanser. I think this will do its job nicely in cleaning up any remaining dirt or makeup.

By itself, I think the cleanser is quite mild. I feel the need to double-wash. It's not drying the first time, but my face feel squeaky clean during my second wash. I make sure to use a moisturizer after.

Bang for the Buck

You get 70 grams for only 88 PHP and this tube is enough to last 2-3 months, depending on your usage. I think that's very affordable! I bought this during the first week of October. I use a pea-sized amount every morning and evening. Guess what, the tube was able to last me for more than two months!

Final Thoughts

I don't think there is anything breakthrough about this item but it does the job well enough. Will I buy this again? Maybe. I will consider this when I ran out of cleansing foam again because it is affordable.

Have you tried this? What are your own impressions? Have any product you want me to try? Comment down below!

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