Naruko Haul & Skin Update

12:08:00 AM mandy 14 Comments

I have a confession to make...

I completely neglected to take care of my skin over the summer!

After I finished my last round of skincare products (in maybe June or July), it was the perfect opportunity for me to use up the sachet samples I accumulated the last few years. All was going well until my skin started to break out all over.

I thought maybe going the simple route [just washing my face with water and not put anything on] my face would help. Alas, it did not. Ultimately I gave up trying altogether. But school was starting and I really did not want to go anywhere with my face looking the way it did.

I had been meaning to go to Naruko earlier to buy a new set of products to use. I wanted to try the Tea Tree line for a long time now because of one of my besties raves of it. But since it's started to get cooler here, I had a difficult time choosing between products for oil controlling & acne fighting or moisturizing. In the end, I decided to go for the former choice because I chose to go shopping right after my facial appointment. At the time I felt like treating acne and the red spots were top priority! Whether this was a bad decision in the long-run...we'll have to wait and see soon.

My haul in all its glory! I did make a big dent in my wallet with this one. But I think it was worth it. It seems like it's doing good stuff for my skin. Plus the Naruko store in Brooklyn had (might still have?) a special GWP promotion at the time. I think it was something along the lines of...spend $30 and get a free mask(s), spend $60 and get a free $25 product, spend $100 get a $10 off coupon. Since the necessities that I chose were close to the $100 mark anyway I decided to add an extra toner [Rose Astringent Lotion] to my total to get the $10 off. What the heck, right! I'll need it in the future anyway.


Top row, L to R: Rose Astringent Lotion, Tea Tree Oil Out Night Gelly, Narcissus Total Defense Repair & Relaxing Eye Mask*, Apple Seed & Tranexamic Acid*

Bottom row, L to R: Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Brightening Cream, Narcissus Total Defense Night Brightening Serum*, Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum, Tea Tree Oil Out Toner

*GWPs

I also bought the Tea Tree Acne Clay Cleanser with a coupon I got from them. [I forgot to take a photo of it, so sorry!]

Ah! Heads up to those who are in NYC/Brooklyn and want to purchase from the store rather than order online. I found that the prices in-store were all +$1 whatever is listed on naruko.us ...I'm not exactly sure why it is this way (maybe to make up for shipping) but just to let you know! The boutique does add tax. I've never ordered through their website so I'm not quite sure how it goes with tax there. Also, if anyone is the type who likes to look around by themselves...I warn you to be patient there. Like almost all other Chinese beauty stores I've been to in NYC, the SA(s) really like to follow you around and make sure you are being helped. If somehow you can get away from them pestering you, in the end, you'll eventually have to ask them for help to get your products anyway.

Of all the products that I bought, I only started to use the basic ones.


Toner & Serum


Moisturizer & Gelly (Sleeping Mask/Pack)

Even though I've used tea tree infused products in the past, I still cannot really get used to its scent. Other than that I have really come to like my new skincare goodies. I seem to have a lot fewer breakouts and clogged comedones compared to how it was a week ago. I wish that Naruko had an actual moisturizer (gel/lotion/cream consistency moisturizer) for the Tea Tree line rather than its milky lotion (which I consider a toner, but the SAs all tell me otherwise).

Both photos are unedited.
Sorry if they scare anyone...

One week earlier & Current skin condition


Please excuse my dark circles! Anyways...back to the main point here!

As you can see the red spots have almost all completely disappeared within the week. I noticed there are fewer breakouts on my forehead and chin (but not completely...sigh..my chin is always the problematic area). My face hasn't felt this soft and smooth since April! I hope this is here to stay and not just a temporary stage *knock on wood & cross my fingers!*

However, I'm having a difficult time trying to decide whether this is because of the new skincare products or if the facial really did help my skin. Perhaps both contributed equally? What do you think?

14 comments:

  1. I wanted to try Naruko products as soon as I heard about them years ago when Fuzkittie was still around.... But to this day I have yet to try anything from them! Your skin looks a lot better and I hope it's the products working for you :) Please update us and let us know how they work when the weather gets cooler!

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    1. That's when I wanted to try Naruko products too! I wonder what happened to Fuzkittie recently :\
      I'll try my best to get to the update!!

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  2. Oooh sounds exciting! Glad your skin has healed and it looks much better now! What if the facial was just a "it gets worse before it gets better" kind of thing? :O

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    1. Ah..that might be the case too! Totally forgot about that..no pain no gain?! =X

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  3. I remember Naruko carried a moisturiser in their tea tree line because I bought it for my boyfriend. Maybe it got discontinued? I love their balancing serum! When I feel a pimple coming, I dab a little bit on the affected area and it gets flatten the day after :) Glad to know your skin got much better! I think that might the products because you use them continuously.

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    1. I had that in mind when I went to the store. But the SAs said the Naruko discontinued it...*sigh*
      The serum is that effective? :O I have to experiment some more with that then...I have a lot of erupting pimples.

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  4. I've been eyeing the Naruko skincare for a long time. From all the reviews I've read on Naruko, they seem to work really well!

    Glad to see that your skin is returning to normal! I read somewhere that after a facial, your skin "purges" itself and all the spots come out, but after a while your skin returns to normal.

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  5. I've actually been looking into Naruko, but as a creature of habit, I've been sticking to my Lush and/or Kiehl's for the longest time. Glad to hear that your skin is getting better; you're so brave to post before and after photos too!

    With love from San Francisco, California,
    Sabrina
    http://www.rougespark.com

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    1. Well I guess if it's not broken you shouldn't fix it right? :P
      Being curious hurts the wallet haha! At least you're using things you like and will always finish :]

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  6. the results look amazing! I didn't know you're such a big fan of Naruko products =P hey you got the night jelly! I remember you saying you wanted to try that for the longest time. I wanted to get the 紅薏仁 one when I was in Taiwan but decided against it since I have so many masks lol! What are your favs from this haul???

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    1. I can't say I'm a big fan (yet). But since they're suppose to be more natural I can't help but want to try more of their products! I really like the serum and moisturizer so far. But I wish I wasn't so liberal whenever I get products from the jar...I'm hitting the bottom already :X

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  7. I popped by as I'm gonna haul some Naruko products soon again. :D
    Does the rose astringent toner work well? Looks good but it's always out of stock over in Singapore :(
    I'm glad Naruko works well for you too :DD

    Regards,
    Jas
    ----
    www.thatwhimsicalblogger.blogspot.sg

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    1. I actually haven't gotten to use the rose astringent toner yet! Still using the tea tree one. Sorry I can't share any thoughts on it with you :(

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