Showing posts with label toners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toners. Show all posts

Monday, February 9, 2015

Review: Origins united state balancing tonic

Origins is a great skincare line formulated without parabens, phthalates, and other harsh chemicals. I've seen this brand so many times in Macy's and have always wanted to try some products. While these products are on the pricier end, I believe that their products—or at least their balancing tonic—are definitely worth the price!

I've been using the Origins united state balancing tonic for a little over a month now (ever since middle of December). My parents bought it for me because I didn't have a toner during the winter break, as my Etude House toner was over the liquids limit and I wasn't planning on checking in my baggage... I'm definitely thankful for my parents spending over $20 for this one skincare product!


When I was in Macy's, the saleslady helped me choose this product. At first, I wasn't quite sure that I had combination skin, but she was very patient and helped test what skin type my skin was! She said the united state balancing tonic was great for those with combination skin, so I decided to give it a try.

 

According to its description, this toner contains "state-of-the-art exfoliators [that] slough the flakes, sweep pore clogging debris, and smooth rough spots." Wow~ Sounds cool doesn't it? Continuing on, the toner should de-shine T-zones without being too drying. The toner will reinstate the skin's pH and keep the skin refreshed and moisturized.

MY OPINION

I really enjoyed using the toner. The product has a nice and calming herbal scent. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been using this toner for a month already—actually I’e been sharing it with my sister. We still have about 1/2 the bottle left! The toner isn't drying and is a great addition to my cleanser. It removes excess dirt that the facial cleanser missed. I'd have to admit that I don't always wash my neck well--I have a huge pet peeve about water dripping down my neck and onto my clothing. However, after using this toner on my neck, the cotton ball is noticeably dirty! That's how well the toner works in removing dirt!


However, there are a few negative points about the toner that are worth noting. First, the packaging is very cute and simple, but there's no top-filter on the bottle (as you can see in the above image). I usually don't cap the bottle until I'm finished, so that means the bottle can easily tip over! I'd hate to waste any product...especially on the floor... Second, alcohol is one of the ingredients used in this product. Fortunately, this product doesn't smell too much like alcohol and it isn't drying. Third, the price is definitely on the higher end...this 5fl.oz costs $21.50 at Macy's!


Overall, though, I quite enjoyed this product and would definitely love to try other products by Origins!

Overall rating:     

Packaging:     
Ease of use:     
Effectiveness:     
Ingredients:      (CosDNA)
Hygiene:     

Where to find this product?
Origins - $21.50
Sephora - $21.50
Amazon - $33.50 + free shipping over $35


Friday, December 5, 2014

Review: Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner

This is my first Etude House product! I'm so excited :) My friend had purchased it for me from Hong Kong as a random gift! She's so sweet <3 Love her!!

Anyways, Etude House is a pretty popular Korean skincare and cosmetics brand. It's known for its high quantity products sold at affordable pricing~~ More over, Etude House has some of the cutest packaging/designs. I was overall very excited to try the brand's products!


Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner

This is the 10-in-1 benefits version (original had 7-in-1). Similar to a toner, the Freshner should be used directly after cleansing, twice a day. It claims to help clean and minimize pores, refine skin tone, provide moisture for the skin, maintain ideal skin pH, and more! 

The Freshner is 250ml, which, for me, can last quite some time. The toner ingredients are quite safe. The only qualm I have with the ingredients list is that alcohol is listed second. Alcohol tends to be drying for the skin, and in large quantities can be harmful for the skin. Unfortunately, Etude House uses enough alcohol in this product to have it listed second...


This product definitely isn't a magical cure. It won't instantly remove blackhead or minimal pores, and I have yet to see much change. Additionally, the smell isn't that great. Unlike some of the other products I've used, the smell is very simple and a little alcohol-y. It definitely doesn't smell like roses. hahaha

It does, however, do a good good of removing dirt and doesn't leave behind any residue (it's has a watery, toner-like consistency). Lastly, I would say that this product can help control oily skin, as the alcohol helps remove the oil on the skin. My skin has definitely felt less oily after using it. Considering all the alcohol in this product, it's not too drying (leaning more towards the moisturizing side) and leaves my face feeling fresh, soft, and smooth. However, moisturizer is still a must! 

Overall rating:     

Packaging: N/A
Ease of use:     
Effectiveness:     
Ingredients:      (CosDNA)
Hygeine:     

Where to find this product?
Amazon: $14.95
W2Beauty: $17.15*
Cosmetic Love (Set of Freshner & Pore Solution): $22.74*

*free shipping+samples