Holika Holika - Apple shine scrub soda

Holika Holika - Apple shine scrub soda                                                                                             

                            

Price: 8,500 won ($8.50)

Holika has an assortments of scrubs, and most of them look really boring.... I am such a packaging whore. Seduced by the pretty or new.

I can't remember why I bought the Apple shine scrub soda.... It certainly wasn't for the packaging, which looks almost as boring as stuff here in the west.

Has anyone else noticed the inconsistent packaging and style of Holika holika? There website pretty clearly defines their style, but.....
I haven't noticed it with other companies, has anyone else?

On to the scrub- The apple shine scrub is a scrub. It comes in a very generous tub.  (tee hee, that rhyme was accidental...)
The scrub is very odd. It's basically moist baking soda.... Which makes sense since it is a Scrub "soda". I've never used baking soda as a facial scrub. 

                               

Does anyone know if baking soda is supposed to have special properties for cleansing? I love baking soda toothpastes.
Having never used a baking soda scrub, I'm not sure if I can accurately access it. I found it bad. Oh so bad!
It's really rough, I think too rough for the face. It's textured like baking soda with a bit of water added, and it has no scent! It says apple in the name, but I can't detect any apple.

It is a very rough scrub, so it does exfoliate well, my face feels very smooth afterwards. 

In the end, I will never buy this again. It's not worth it at all....

Etude house - Peach Beam blusher

Etude house - Peach Beam blusher

                          

The whole peach line from Etude house is WONDERFUL! But sadly it only contains a handful of items. This is the newest addition, a two tone blusher. The style is very similar to a lot of companies in Korea, a lot of eyeshadows and blushes are showing up in this crescent moon shape. In fact I adore the similar looking eyeshadows from Holika Holika.

I can't be certain, since it does not say on the package, but I am fairly certain it is a BAKED blush. It has the mounded shape, and the texture of a bake powder.

The blush comes in three choices.  I picked #3 Peach beam.

It contains 2 colors, a peach toned pink and an orange ( contrary to the name this half is more orange then peach.)

Swatches- The middle is the two colors blended!

Both colors are very pearly, which I find weird since the lighter color is meant to be a highlighter(in which case it makes more sense for the blush to be matte, or at least less pearly.... Don't you think?) 

Not only is it pearly but it's sparkly too! It has tiny golden sparkles. It is definitely a very Young looking blush!

I am willing to bet that this alone would put off a lot of you reading this.  But the truth is the colors are lovely! They are soft, and beautifully coordinated, the  blush is soft and fine, and of medium strength.

So really, I think it's very wearable. Especially since blush is usually very subtly applied. I feel that with a light hand, The Peach Beam blusher is lovely. It's warming, and softening, and just gives a face light.

I adore this blush, I really should have picked up all three colors...

As you can see the blush is pearly, but the sparkles are barely noticeable. It can be lovely and subtle!

Holiday Nails

My holiday Nail look!

I used Holika Holika - white

Konad special polish - red and green

Konad plate - M65

What do you think?

Love Balm –in Rose – Nature Republic

Love Balm –in Rose – Nature Republic

Love Balm. Sounds dirty J

It’s so not *sigh*. So for all of you readers who were hoping for another sort of review, well I guess you are going to have to look else where.

The Love Balm is a potted lip gloss by Nature Republic.  I’ve be wavering between curiosity and dislike with Nature Republic. I so often find their products boring and lack luster.  Which with all the wonderful and exciting things in the Korean beauty care world, means I generally don’t buy.

But since Nature Republic replaced my favorite little Etude house shop, sometimes I would wander down there when I was bored.

When I am bored, I spend money on things I don’t need. Is there anyone out there like that???

Anyway, this lip balm comes potted, without an applicator. I have come to hate potted lip glosses.  Mostly because it gets under my finger nails, and I then need to wash my hands.

But, I love the scent. It smells exactly like the Moroccan Rose facial spray, which for ages was the ONLY thing from NR that I liked! This also means, if you don’t like rose scents, or potent scents, this is not for you.

I don’t think Korea has become aware of the fragrance free trend, everything seems to be LOADED with scent!

But personally, I love it.

The lip gloss base is nice, It’s thick smooth, and minimally sticky. It is certainly a balm rather than a gloss. I haven’t found it to be exceptionally moisturizing. In fact it’s a pretty average, pretty basic balm.

I do like it, I use it every night as a lip treatment, after using my rose toothpaste, before using my Rose Mask….

I’m a bit rose obsessed at the moment.

For you, I f you are looking for a nice basic balm, and like rose, great. This is the one for you, between that and the inexpensive price, it’s a good buy.

If you have to import it, or are expecting miracles, then this would be a….. pass!

Etude House- First snow Ice cotton Toner

Etude House- First snow Ice cotton Toner

STRANGE!!!

Alright, so this is the weirdest thing I’ve ever encountered while make-up/skin care buying. Even in Asia, this is bizarre!!!!! So, if you’ve been reading my blog,  then you will know, I HAD to buy it!

Seriously, I was compelled.

So what it is, is a toner.  It comes in a tall thin aerosol type can. It was part of Etude house’s very small first snow line out for the summer.

It might seem backwards to have ‘first snow’ items be part of the summer line, but the premise is the products are cooling. So it makes perfect sense…

The ice cotton toner is just that, a toner. It’s based on the traditional way of applying toner, putting the product on a cotton ball, then applying it to the face.

This takes it to a whole other level. Did you notice the word cotton in the name? That’s because the cotton ball is in side the can! You press down, and out shoots a white stream of cotton ball!! It looks like white silly string, but feels like cotton.

You are supposed to spray it in a circular motion, and make your very own cotton ball!

It’s sooo weird.

Plus, the whole thing is cooling!

And once you are done toning, most of the cotton ball has completely disappeared.

Of course, it never  completely disappears. You are always left with a small little piece of lint to be tossed out.

I really like this toner. It’s odd, but fun to apply. The toner itself is actually really light, and really cooling.

So if you have a chance to pick some up, I really recommend you do. I had a lot of fun!

Holika Holika Aqua jelly Trio!

Greetings Bloggers!

I’m Back officially!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It took me a while to get here, I am no longer in Korea, and am now in the possession of a new Laptop, with which to blog.

But as exciting as all this is, here is My first post.

With a little bit of the peculiar from Holika Holika!

 For the summer season(2010) Holika Holika released a new line called Aqua Jelly.  The colors and look, bright pastels, all done in cheap plastics, did not suit the style of Holika Holika at all. But then again, Holika Holika has tons of stuff that doesn’t suit the witchy, border line gothic style.

The selling feature of the whole Jelly line is awesome, its all about moisture J. I personally have dry skin (ugh which is s so irritating). So a line of moisture enhanced beauty products, sounds good to me!

But does anyone else think it’s a bit odd for them to be releasing a moisture line for the summer? Don’t most brands do that for the winter?

The line included, foundation and highlighters in jello type molds (cute and different). I tested the foundation out, and it’s lovely, it smooth, and the texture is quite unlike a jelly, but it is very moist . I really wanted it, but the lightest of the two shades was WAY too dark for me. And the highlighter was far to similar to other highlighters I have to justify bothering….

Lip glosses, in totally boring cheap looking packaging.

And this thing…. The Aqua petit Jelly – Triple kit.

I was shopping at the new Holika Holika store in Ulsan(korea) with a friend, and I came across the triple kit in a display. I picked it up, tested it on the back of my hand, and was suitably puzzled.

What in the world is it for?

So of course I had to immediately buy it and find out!

What it is, is an eye cheek and lip kit.

It has three products, purple sparkly, peach sparkly,  and green gloss.

And when you mix the purple and the peach, you get pink.

So you can where these products anywhere. The purple and the peach can be applied directly onto the eyelids as a cream shadow, or on the checks as a blush. The green gloss, is meant to go on the lips. When applied alone, it applies clear, or when applied in combination with the other colors, it goes on colored.

The little tube at the top of the case, is a double ended sponge applicator.

So, what do I think of the kit?

It’s stupid.

Here are the colors swatched. The colors are accurate(My skin is currently really pale...)

After the three colors, the shiny bit, is the gloss...

The purple and peach colors are boring and weak. The texture doesn’t work well as an eye shadow at all. It’s better as a blush, but still very weak.  They are creamy but dry, very much like other bad cream eye shadows I have tried, and they dry out, with a tendency to clump. The gloss itself isn't glossy, it's more like lip balm.
And the colors mixed with the gloss are too dry to be a gloss.

The whole kit seems like something you get for kids. You know the kind, with magic makeup that changes color, and is easy to wash off…

What a waste!

I'm back..... Almost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear readers;
I have missed you all!
I aven't forgotten my blog, I haven't gotten a new computer yet....
But! I am going to Have a grand reopening Decemeber 1st! With a STACK of new reviews.

So here is your chance, what do you want to read about first?
I've gotten a million new Korean items!
Maybe eyeshadow, or toner,
Or request something strange(I've picked strange beauty products :)
Just leave a comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sigh*
tragedy has befallen me.

My laptop has died. I am in Korea with no hope of fixing it.
So since all my pictures and saved posts, and lovely things were on the horrible old beast, it might be a bit before I post again.

In a few weeks I will get a new laptop, and then I will be back!

Skinfood Tea Tree and Lavender Toner for Men

Skinfood Tea Tree and Lavender Toner for Men

Price:$9.90 (9900won)
Size: 140ml
My boyfriend is not in the least metro sexual. I’d say he’s more of a flannel sexual (reference to According to Jim, awesome show!). Basically he has no interest in Skin care.
He keeps himself clean, and that the extent of it.
He’s happy with a bar of soap.
But since we’ve been in Korea, and I’ve been droning on and on about skin care stuff and Makeup (what a trooper he is for putting up with it) and dragging him to this store and that, I’ve somewhat piqued his interest.
So we picked him up some basic skin care products. Most of them from Skinfood, since I’ve been having such good results.
He has oily, acne prone skin. I have dry skin, with no issues with blemishes.
The Tea Tree Oil Toner, comes in a beautiful green glass bottle with a metallic top.
It’s some of the prettiest packaging available at Skinfood. It’s kind of odd that’s its for one of their Men’s care lines… But maybe I’m wrong to assume guys don’t care about pretty things….
Inside is a traditional liquid toner. Different from the more common Korean gel toners (My personal preference.) It is a bit astringent, and does contain alcohol.
I have used it myself, and it’s not nearly as astringent or Harsh as my toner’s I’ve used in North America. It’s the harsiest toner I’ve ever used here in Korea, but would be one of the mildest compared with back home.
And it does leaver my face soft, and not dried out. My Boyfriend who has been using it semi regularly for the past weeks has not noticed dry skin.
But his skin has been more consistently clear.
The toner does smell of lavender and tea tree. The scent is herby, not floral. It’s not distinctly masculine. And personally I don’t feel like I’m using a “men’s” product when I use it.

Overall, I really recommend this toner if you have problem skin and want a more gentle toner.

Giveaway!!!!!!!!

CLOSED!!!!

Giveaway!

5 Winners, over 5 weeks!
I've got a ton of Samples, so I'm going to share :)
Each winner will get 2 Korean sheet masks (Super popular, of random types... Daily Fresh, Etude House, It's Skin, etc.)
and a bunch of samples, at least 5 each winner, plus a toner and emulsion(moisturizer set)
The first winner will get

                  

  Rules (They suck but…. It’s free stuff!)
1. You must be a follower! (So you need to be logged in when you leave your comment so I can identify you!)
2. Please leave a comment on any post regarding samples, telling me what YOU would like to try!
3. The contest is open world wide!
4. Triple entries for anyone who reposts this on their blog or twitter feed!
5. There will be a winner drawn every SUNDAY, until June 13th. 5 Sunday's, 5 winners!

Your chances of winning something are really really good!
6. You can't win twice, but every entry counts for every draw! So you will have 5 chances to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Giveaway winner

This weeks Giveaway winner!!!!!!!!!!! 

nude lace turns to colour

There are still  more drawings to go! Enter soon!

Apple vinegar fresh foam

Apple vinegar fresh foam

Transparent-type foam  cleanser containg a large amount og potassium, minerals and a citric acid that makes drab skin caused by horny substances smooth, and whose honey extract provides moisture to your skin and thouroughly removes make-up residue.

The Apple Vinegar Fresh Foam sample is precisely the reason I am using only samples for a month. This is exactly the sort of thing I would NEVER buy for myself, and the sample has been sitting in a cupboard for like 6 months. Apple Vinegar..... eww? What do you think? Would you buy a Vinegar face wash?

Smells - Like apples. Like real apples, not like artificial apple scent, with a tiny faint touch of vinegar in the background. But I suspect I only noticed the vinegar scent because I was looking for it! I really like the smell. I love the smell of apples, and the scent of this cleanser is appley but not super strong.

Texture- A gel! I expected a cream, or something, but it looks like HAIR GEL!!!!! So bizarre!

Effectiveness- Wow. That's probably all I need to say, but brevetity is not my strong suit.
So i saw that the cleanser was a gel, and was perpelxed. Then I read the instructions, which say to rub it on the face with water, and it will foam. I patted it on, and with only a tiny bit of rubbing it foamed, just like soap. I actually ended up using way to much cleanser, because I thought there was no way the little bit I was using could foam up enough to do my entire face.
But it did, with tons of extra. Next time, I'll try for half as much!

I washed it off, getting some in  my mouth and eyes as usual (I swear I'm like a kid), The cleanser tastes more vinegary than it smells, but you really aren't supposed to be eating it. And it stung a bit in my eyes, but nothing surprising.

With it all washed off, I dried my face, to find, Wow! My face was soooo soft and smooth! Like I had just exfoliated, and moisturized! Soooo good. 

Buy?- Bought. Seriously. My skin was so soft, and so nice! I might buy extras....

Skinfood Aloe Vera Foaming/Cream cleanser

Skinfood Aloe Vera Foaming/Cream cleanser

A fresh foaming cleanser with aloe extracts to soothe and hydrate skin. Keeps the skin soft and calm after cleansing.
I am quite sure that the Foaming cleanser and Cream Cleanser are the exact same thing. They look and smell the same....
The Foaming cleanser came with the Summer travel set that was GWP!

The Aloe Vera Cleanser is one of the most common samples from Skinfood. It seems every time I buy something from Skinfood I get a packet of this or the Hop Beer Hair wash.

Scent- Unlike all the other Mini's that come in the Summer skin set, the Aloe Vera cleanser does not stink.  It smells like Aloe, soap, with a background of wood. But the scent is mild, and not unpleasant. I'm not keen on 'green' smells, but as far as they go, the Aloe is nice.

Texture- A very thick creamy cleanser. The white cream is pearly, very pretty.

Effectiveness- The cleanser foams and cleans beautifully. Its very gentle, and removes all my makeup. It leaves my skin soft, and doesn't strip.
Buy?- Probably not. I get enough samples of this, I may never run out.... But If you are looking for a very good everyday cleanser, I recommend this. It's a good all round cleanser!

Skinfood Hop Beer shampoo and conditioner, Wormwood body wash

Skinfood Summer Travel Set

I got the Skinfood Summer Travel Set as a gift with purchase when I spent 30000won($30) just before Christmas. Why exactly they released the Summer set in the Winter... I don't know.  With 30ml in each sample, it's a really nice free gift! The Aloe Vera Cleanser I reviewed separately, here.

Hop Beer Hair Wash

I've gotten a number of samples of this shampoo. My hair tends to be finnicky, and the idea of a Beer shampoo really doesn't appeal to me. It seems like the sort of thing that should be in the Men's section of skinfood. But it's not. 

Smells -  Wow does this stuff smell. It's intense. Possibly the most potent product I've ever come across. The weird thing is, it doesn't smell like beer. A little like hops, but very musky, very much like a man's cologne. I really think this should be a Men's product!

Texture- It's a clear brownish orange shampoo. Looks like a orange stout beer.  It doesn't foam very much!

Effectiveness- Except for the smell, the shampoo is quiet nice. It's gentle, but cleansing. It doesn't leave residue, but it also doesn't strip my hair. It's nicely inbetween.

Buy?- Maybe, but only as a gift, for a guy. The shampoo is actually nice. It cleansing ability is something I could comfortably use everyday, it doesn't strip or way down my hair at all. But the smell. It's just so manly. I washed my hair one night before bed, and after work the next day(almost 24hours later, I could still smell my hair at random moments. Ugh. But for a guy, it would make a nice present.

Beer Hair Conditioner

Smells -  Much nicer than the Hair wash(shampoo), It's the same scent, but a lot gentler. Not as over powering.

Texture-  Nice and creamy, it's a light orange brown.  

Effectiveness-It's lightly moisturizing. Nice, not too much. In fact if it weren't for the smell, I would probably by the set. It's a good everyday conditioner, moisturizing without weighing my hair down. It's a really well balanced conditioner.

Buy?- Like the beer shampoo, I would only buy this as a gift for a guy. But with that said, it would be great for a guy, it's well balanced, without being girly.

Wormwood Body Wash

Smells - Green! Like a twig from a tree that you just snapped, kind of like freshly cut grass. It's not a bad scent, a bit manly, but interesting. It's not nearly as smell as the Shampoo, but OMG this stuff is potent! So so so smelly. Even after the container having been opened for months.... It still smell intensely. After using it my whole bathroom smells for the rest of the day!

Texture- The Body wash is a green gel wash, that doesn't foam much on it's own. When used with a body puff it foams a lot more.

Effectiveness- Cleans well, even without using a puff to make it foamy, the cleanser leaves me feeling clean and fresh, and very scented. It's not drying but it's not moisturizing. Pretty basic overall

Buy?- No. It's smells intensely manly, and the cleanser is pretty basic. It's definitely not worth purchasing, for any reason.

Skinfood Mushroom Lifting Ampoule 100 and Algae Smooth Ampoule 100

Skinfood Mushroom Lifting Ampoule 100 and Algae Smooth Ampoule 100

I got the Mushroom and Algae ampoule together(they are joined). Both are super tiny. Barely enough for one application each. But Most packet samples are good for about two aplications so it makes sense (1 application each=2 applications)

And I have, in the 6 months I've been buying skinfood and getting samples, I only received this one sample of the Mushroom and Algae ampoules.
Amazing considering I've gotten duplicates of just about every thing else.

I have no idea what th number 100 means. Maybe the concentration? The ampoules are both supposed to be used as serums. 

Mushroom

Smell- Gross. It smells like wood and dirt. I've never noticed that mushrooms have a smell, so maybe thats what it is. But to me this ampoule smells like rotting wood.

Texture- A runny clear liquid. Not like the thicker serums I'm used to.

Effectiveness- Left my face a little bit sticky, even though I only used a teeny tiny bit of the ampoule. Beyond that I saw no noticeable affect on my skin. After one application I wouldn't expect a positive result. But on the plus side it was at all irritating to my skin, didn't make me break out. 

Buy?- No. The smell itself is a turn off.

Algae

Smell- No detectable scent. Yay!

Texture- Thicker than the mushroom apoule, not quiet a gel, but close. And interestingly enough it's filled with irridescent sparkles. Although they do not show up on teh skin after application!

Effectiveness- Unlike the mushroom ampoule, the Algae absorbed cleanly, I could feel that it was on my skin, but only barely. Beyond that, I noticed no reaction with my skin. 

Buy- I'm considering. There is no way to tell if a serum is good with only a single use. Sure you can spot a bad one, but a good one, not so much. Based on the tester it seems like it could be a decent serum. And I SWEAR it's not because it's sparkly!

With a few drops of each left, I applied some of the Mushroom ampoule to one side of my face, and the Algae to the other. By the next morning, the side with Algae was smoother than the other. Especially my forehead. Smoother, and clean feeling. The side with the Mushroom ampoule felt just barely sticky, the residue of leftover product!

Skinfood Gold Caviar Line

Skinfood's Gold Caviar Skin care line
The line includes the essentials, Toner, Emulsion(moisturizer) at least 2 kinds of creams, Ampoule, Serum and Dual eye creams.
I have the full size of the Serum, and the eye creams. All of which I love!

Gold Caviar Toner

Clear Toner, though in the little plastic sample it might look orange, but that's just the bottle. It has real flecks of gold dispersed within it. The toner is thicker than western toners, but not a gel (*sigh* Gel toners are my favorite).

Scent- Perfumed, exactly what the scent is I can't tell, it smells like generic perfume. However, the scent isn't strong, and once it applied it dissipates quickly. It doesn't bother me in the least, plus without perfume, would it smell like fish(caviar) EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Texture- Not a gel, but thicker than western toners. It has little flecks of gold in it! yay! They do not show up on the skin once the toner has been applied.

Effectiveness- A nice light toner. The smell is faint, and the texture is nice. I've used this Toner sooo many times. I've gotten countless samples of it! I really do enjoy it.

Buy?- Maybe. It's on the expensive side for Skinfood, and it's not a gel toner. I just prefer a gel (no cotton pad need for application!). But on the other hand, its really gentle, makes my skin feel a bit softer, and the only lightly scented. If anyone is thinking of picking it up, you really can't go wrong.

Gold Caviar Emulsion, Gold Caviar Collagen Cream, Gold Caviar Lifting Prime Skin

- I lumped the three together in one review because they are all so similar, they are just variations of moisturizers from the same line from Skinfood. Therefore, the scent is all the same, and the same as the Toner and Serum. Its a light perfumed scent. Not strong or offensive, or even distinct. 

I have the cavair emulsion (moisturizer), the Gold Caviar collagen cream, the Gold caviar lifting prime skin, plus I think there is a gold caviar cream.... What the difference between all of them is....

Not much.

The Gold Caviar emulsion is the runniest and the lightest. But still a med-heavy moisturizer.

the Gold Caviar lifting prime skin is thicker.

The Gold caviar collagen cream seems the same as the lifting prime skin.

The emulsion and collagen cream are the most similar, they both absorb quickly, without leaving a white cast.

The Lifting prime seems to be a different composition.

If you look at the picture, it leaves a white cast.

Beyond that the differences are small. I like Lifting prime the least. It leaves a residue, and the white cast. Which is really peculiar. I can't figure out why it's so different.

It's a toss up between the emulsion and the Collagen cream. The cream if you want more heavy duty moisture, and emulsion for something lighter.

Gold Caviar collagen serum

I love this Serum, I love it so much I bought the full size! See the review Here.

Giveaway winner #1, Still time to enter!

Giveaway winner #1!!!!!!!!!!

Halifax

There are still 4 more drawings to go! Enter soon!

Skinfood Salmon brightening eye serum

Skinfood Salmon brightening eye serum

Cosemecutical

Containing arbutin and the extracts of Omega 3-rich salmon roe produced in Hokkaido, japan, this eye serum brightens and relieves dark circles arount the eyes.

It seems peculiar to have an eye serum. Does that mean it's supposed to be layered with a eyecream also? Plus, it says it's a cosmecutecial. Suggesting it's supposed to be used before makeup?
I'm not quite sure to be honest what it's supposed to do.

Scent- It does not smell like fish! Yay! It's got a very very faint scent, nothing I can pin down, just faintly perfumed.

Texture- Peculiar for a serum this is creamy.... 

Effectivness- It absorbs beautifully. So if it is meant to be layered under makeup or an eyecream it's definetly light enough to do so.
Beyond absorbtion I'm not sure how well it works... It definetly not a cosmetic, though 'Cosmecutical' suggest an immediate result...  I've used it for a number of days straight, with no significant effect. Although since I've only had a couple of sample packs to use I really can't say.

Buy?- No... It doesn't seem like a bad product, ambiguous yes... But not bad. But it has also done nothing for my dark circles, so unless I hear some good reviews of it, it's a pass.

Skinfood Broccoli sun Cream SPF42 PA+++

Skinfood Broccoli sun Cream SPF42 PA+++

-Waterproof sun screen cream which offers high protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Portulaca aleracea linne, aloe and camomile ingredients protect skin.

Scent- The scent of this sun screen is only faint, and not chemical like many sunscreens. It smells a bit green, a bit like broccoli actually. It's not unpleasant (Even though I HATE broccoli!).

Texture - Very light, very smooth.
Effectiveness - goes on very white, but absorbs quickly, and even though I applied a really heavy layer, it did not leave a white cast on my face.

For such a high SPF this is quite a feat! I find anything over 35SPF leaves somewhat of a white cast.

The only issue I have with this Sunscreen was it left me shiny! Very shiny!
This shouldn't be a problem if you where loose powder, or even pressed powder. I have dry skin, so I almost never do....

Buy?- No, it's a nice sunscreen, but there are a couple of Japanese sunscreens I like Way better. 

Skinfood- Black Raspberry

Skinfood- Black Raspberry

Black raspberries are not black berries, though they look the same.... I've eaten them here in Korea (I haven't been able to find regular raspberries), they do not taste the same, very woody, but not bad. And Here in Korea, Skinfood has a whole skin care line using actual extracts from the black raspberry(exactly what this is supposed to do, I don't know....

Black Raspberry Youngyang Serum

-Containing rubus coreanus miquel extract which was used to take care of course and dry skin in the old days and sap from twelve herbal plants, this nutrient serum instantly relieves dryness of your skin.

Smells - Stinks! It smells like wood (maybe raspberry brambles) and pickles. Plus it's really intensely smelly!

Texture- A cream..... Bizarre for a serum, which are usually clear, mostly oil, sometimes water based. But a cream? A white cream? Bizarre.

Effectiveness-

Buy?-NO! Too smelly!

Black Raspberry youngyang eye cream (wrinkle Care)

- This functional eye cream rapidly enhances resilience around your eyes

Smells - same as the rest of the line. Eww!

Texture- beautiful light cream, really soft, really light. Absorbs super quickly!

Effectiveness-

Buy?- No!

Black Raspberry youngyang cream

-Containing rubus coreanus miquel extract which was used to take care of course and dry skin in the old days and sap from twelve herbal plants, this nutrient cream instantly relieves dryness of your skin.

Smells - same as the serum, wood and pickles.....

Texture- A smoth nice cream. A little sticky, but absorbs pretty well. Not too heavy for summer, and really nice for drier skin.

Effectiveness- Thick, creamy and nice. My skin felt soft the next morning. Not amazingly soft, but better than your average cream.

Buy?-No, I just can't get past the smell....


The line overall is lackluster. Maybe if I had tried the full sizes, instead of 3 days worth of samples, I would have felt differently, but I don't think so. The smell was werid, and the product lack luster. This is a pass If I've ever seen one.

Skinfood- Black sesame hot mask

Black sesame hot mask

-This mask opens up the pores with a warm heat of salt and sugar powder and eliminates wast material in a rough skin affected by accumulated keratin. It provides an amazing silkiness to skin with nourishing black sesame extract.

Smells - very lightly of seasame, barely noticable, at least until I washed it off, then it was strongly sesame. A nice smell though. Not articifical at all. 

Texture- not that scratchy, but a bit rough, not rough enough to be a scrub.

It has big chunks of black sesame, which also aren't scratchy.

Until washing it off, then it felt very scrub like, and could be used as a scrub. Interesting how the wash of texture was different than the apllication texture!

Effectiveness- gets quite hot whe applied to a damp face. My face got quite hot, and very red, as the mask brought up lots of blood. But in a hot mask, this is a good thing. It actually made me sweat!

It was almost to the point of uncomfortable, which in my opinion is a good thing. Hot but not too hot.

Left my face very very smooth, softer, and very warm!

Buy? Yes. I am definitely going to get the large version of this. I generally find heat up masks are gimicky, rather than effective. But this one is not like that,  after one use this mask made my skin extra smooth.