Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner

12:08:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

A mist with only 6 ingredients, none of which is water, sounds almost too basic...too good to be effective. Yet this is kind of the norm, ingredients-wise, for Pyunkang Yul's hanbang (Korean herbal medicine) based products. Pyunkang Yul's Mist Toner is mainly a concotion of humectants and a single medicinal herb, coptis chinesis root. Its simplicity surprised me yet its effectiveness did not.



Ohlolly's description:

A cooling, incredibly hydrating and convenient misting toner made up of 91.9% coptis japonica root extract, a powerful antioxidant known for its anti-inflammatory, energizing and nourishing properties, Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner quickly absorbs to hydrate and refresh skin. Perfect as a toner in your regular skincare routine or as a mist anytime throughout the day (goes over makeup flawlessly). Made with only necessary ingredients, Pyunkang Yul is always free of artificial fragrances, dyes or irritants.

Best if:
- You easily get warm and sweaty
- Your skin tends to be shiny and oily
- You have enlarged pores and are prone to breakouts related to excess sebum

Directions
After cleansing, hold the bottle 7-8 inches away and spray. Follow with serum and moisturizer. Use as a mist to freshen up throughout the day.

Ingredients
COPTIS JAPONICA ROOT EXTRACT, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, SODIUM HYALURONATE

Mist 200 ml / 6.7 oz

Pyunkang Yul (Korean retail): ₩18,000
YesStyle: USD $21.90
Style Korean: USD $19.80
Ohlolly: USD $19.00
oo35mm: USD $18.99


Mist 100 ml / 3.4 oz

Pyunkang Yul (Korean retail): ₩12,000
YesStyle: USD $13.90
Style Korean: USD $13.20
Ohlolly: USD $12.00
oo35mm: USD $11.99

Packaging

Like most products in the main Pyunkang Yul line, the lightweight and transparent spray bottle is deep blue in color with a black-accent spray nozzle. New bottles of mist come sealed with plastic shrink-wrap around the top only. I believe the larger 200ml sizes are sold with additional box packaging.

I love that the bottle is see-through, no surprise here; this allows me to see clearly how much product is left and which direction the long plastic suction tube is nestled in to easily spray every last drop out. The 100ml bottle is a great size—not too tall nor too wide for my small hands. The mist that comes out is very fine and even.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

The liquid is colorless and orderless. It feels just like water—no tackiness, no residue. Skin doesn't become dewy or matte, just softer and more hydrated.

How I Apply

In-between skincare steps // Especially between cleansing and toning because I tend to wait a while before toner and my skin gets tight and dry during that time.

On my dry chapped hands // Helps relieve tightness I get during the cold weather without the residue like with lotion.

Thoughts & Recommendations

Herbal medicine is always a touchy subject. I can't say I am a believer but I will still give things a try now and again. Pyunkang Yul says coptis japonica root/coptis chinesis root supposedly is anti-inflammatory, soothing, and nourishing. The mist is loaded with humectants to help draw in moisture and keep it there. On paper it couldn't sound any better!

After using this mist along with a bunch of others around the same time, I can say the Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner was easily my favorite. My parched face and hands were instaneous relieved of tightness. It never irritated or stung my eyes if the toner happened to find its way there. Likewise, my skin hasn't reacted badly either.

The main differentiating factor between all the mists available is usually the spraying mechanize, which I am glad to say, actually sprays well and gives a nice cloud of liquid. Also, compared to other mists I have tried so far, Pyunkang Yul's mist in both the 100ml and 200ml sizes are a very generous amount for the marked price tag.

Whether I actually experienced any anti-infllammation benefits is debatable. As a hydrating mist to help relieve tightness in-between skincare steps or through the day, I think this is a solid inexpensive choice. For those looking for something with extra added skincare actives/special ingredients, it will probably be pretty lackluster. I can see those with sensitive skin would probably enjoy this as it has such minimal ingredients and lacks most irritants. While I say I would "repurchase in the future" a lot for products I like but never end up doing, the Mist Toner is most definitely going to be repurchased purely because it is the most effective AND affordable I have used thus far.

AROMATICA Orange Cleansing Sherbet

10:16:00 PM mandy 0 Comments

I have got to say, I am continuously impressed by each and every different cleansing balm I have tried so far. Aromatica's Orange Cleansing Sherbet wooed me with its impressive size and kept me hooked because of its effectiveness. While Aromatica is a new brand to me, this product alone and the brand's focus on high quality/toxin-free focus has me intrigued.





Aromatica's description:

AROMATICA's Orange Cleansing Sherbet removes impurities and all traces of make-up and balances oil production in the skin.

A sherbet type cleanser of fresh feeling leaves skin deeply cleansed, moisturized and soft.

Plant-derived canola oil and organic babassu seed oil allow the cleanser to dissolve grime and dead cells.

Directions
Apply a moderate amount of Orange Cleansing Sherbet to dry skin.
Gently massage using light circular movements and rinse well with warm water.

Ingredients
[CANOLA OIL] HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL(CONDITIONER), SORBETH-30 TETRAOLEATE(PLANT-DERIVED EMULSIFYING AGENT), POLYETHYLENE(VISCOSITY CONTROLLING AGENT), [APRICOT KERNEL OIL] PRUNUS ARMENIACA KERNEL OIL(CONDITIONER), *[BABASSU SEED OIL] ORBIGNYA OLEIFERA SEED OIL, **LIMONENE, [YLANG-YLANG Oil] CANANGA ODORATA FLOWER OIL(CONDITIONER), [CEDARWOOD OIL] CEDRUS ATLANTICA WOOD OIL(SOOTHING AGENT), TOCOPHEROL, [SWEET ORANGE PEEL OIL] CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL(CONDITIONER), **BENZYL BENZOATE, **LINALOOL

*CERTIFIED ORGANIC **FROM NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS

Balm 180 g / 6.7 oz

AROMATICA (Korean retail): ₩25,000
AROMATICA (American retail): USD $36.00
Peach & Lily: USD $35.00

Packaging

Note: Aromatica seems to have updated the labeling design for many, if not all, of their products. The Orange Cleansing Sherbet is not an exception. However, judging from the ingredients lists on the tub I have and the one listed on their website with the new label design both appear to be made of the same things and probably still have an identical formulation.

A tub of cleansing balm which comes in a sturdy wide, shallow, and opaque-white plastic jar sans box (at least that is how Peach & Lily presented it at their sample sale). It has a sole green security tape which connects the lid to the jar body. There is a reusable inner seal tab with an included golf club-like spatula.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

A soft beige balm that scoops easily, spreads well, and melts with little to no effort. It kind of reminds of the consistency that coconut oil has when it isn't fully solidified. The "sherbet" balm emulsifies well; there isn't any residue left behind after fully rinsing. My face usually doesn't feel tight afterward either.

The one thing I could do without is the initially strong, almost artificial smelling, orange/citrus scent. I am reminded of household cleansers every time I use the cleansing balm. Judging by the ingredients the scent is definitely not because of any added "fragrance". It seems to come 100% from the fruit and plant oils/extracts (i.e. limonene, citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil, etc.). Luckily, the smell doesn't linger out of the jar in small quantities.

How I Apply

1. Scoop an appropriate amount (varies depending on how much makeup I had put on my face).
2. Massage it gently all over. Focus on crevices and areas with a higher concentration of colors.
3. Sometimes wet my hands a little and emulsify the balm.
4. Continuously splash my face with water to fully rinse dissolved makeup and balm away.

Thoughts & Recommendations

The Orange Cleansing Sherbet is by far one of the largest tubs of cleansing balm I have tried thus far. Most products in this category offer ~80-90ml. Anything above 100ml is pretty rare and generous. Aromatica's version has a whopping 180ml! I like that it is reasonably priced per ml too at ~$0.19/ml.

To no surprise, this cleansing balm is effective at removing my makeup at the end of the day. The photo above is of it trying to erase fresh makeup on a completely bare arm (in terms of having no skincare/body care). It cleanses gently and doesn't leave my face feeling stripped of moisture. I never broke out or reacted badly to the product either.

What is surprising would be the balm's short ingredients list (only 11 components) compared to other cleansing balms on the market. A good chunk of the 11 ingredients is essential oils which may not work for those with super sensitive skin. Aromatica doesn't do this for all their products but I appreciate that they list the general reasoning behind each ingredient for the Orange Cleansing Sherbet specifically on their website.

The two biggest changes I would love to see, in order for this to be my HG cleansing balm, would be a less scented product and a flip-top lid instead of the screw-on top. Otherwise, I think this is a solid choice for most skin types and a great value all-around. As always, I am placing this on my "Repurchase" list but I will probably continue to try other cleansing balms before that re-buy time comes.

ohii Mini Mascara - Black

12:33:00 AM mandy 0 Comments

Asian lashes are usually described to be short, curl-less, and therefore stick straight. My own lashes definitely fit into that category and unfortunately am not the exception (unlike my male family members, ironically). Even though I can wish for long and lush eyelashes there is a limit to my dreams. Products like mascara and fake lashes can only do so much because I wear glasses every waking minute of the day and too much stuff would immediately be nothing but a bother. The ohii Mini Mascara is quickly changing my mind to see how nice the addition of define lashes could be without being a daily annoying chore.



Urban Outfitters's description:

Perk up your lashes with ohii’s mini mascara, perfectly formulated for daily use. Impactful, but still natural, this vegan mascara comes with a thin wand, perfect for catching even the teeniest lashes for a natural look. Leaves lashes dark and soft with no clumpy, spidery texture or messy fallout. Want a more dramatic look? Mini Mascara plays well with others - just wipe on a layer as a primer before following up with a volumizing formula.

- Plays well with others
- Darkening formula
- Non-clumping
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, mineral oil-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free

Directions
Apply to lashes on its own as a lightweight mascara or use as a primer for your favorite volumizing mascara

Ingredients
WATER/EAU/AQUA, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), SYNTHETIC BEESWAX, ACRYLATES/ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE COPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX/CIRE DE CARNAUBA/CERA CARNAUBA, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, GLYCERYL BEHENATE, PALMITIC ACID, STEARIC ACID, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE, TROMETHAMINE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SORBITAN STEARATE, POLYSORBATE 60, MONTMORILLONITE, NYLON-66, POTASSIUM SORBATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, LAURETH-21, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, SILICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), XANTHAN GUM, OCTYLACRYLAMIDE/ACRYLATES/BUTYLAMINOETHYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, PEG-240/HDI COPOLYMER BIS-DECYLTETRADECETH-20 ETHER, CETYL PALMITATE, SORBITAN OLIVATE, SORBITAN PALMITATE, POTASSIUM LAURATE, BHT

Mascara 3.2 ml / 0.11 oz

Urban Outfitters: USD $16.00

Packaging

The slim tube of mascara has a very bright coral-pink exterior. It is slightly shorter than the length of my hand and a little bigger in diameter than a Sharpie marker. The longer cap allows for a more comfortable grip. I like that the distance between the cap and wand is short, which gives more precise control.

Obviously, the most unique aspect is the super slim mascara wand. The bristle-y portion is about the length of the top part of my finger but it is only about half the size of a typical brush. It is a pretty simple and straightforward design yet works well with the mascara formula.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

ohii Mini Mascara only offers a Black shade right now.

When I swatched the mascara on my hand, the formula is quite dry and not the deepest black mascara on the market. It applies onto my lashes on the drier side as well making it a quick step in the mornings even when layering. Interestingly, there is a sparse amount of fibers even though the brand doesn't mention it is lengthening. It has no added fragrance and generally unscented.

ohii doesn't market this as being water resistant or waterproof, but from my own "test" and experience it is slightly water resistant until rubbed and absolutely not waterproof. What I mean by this is that tears and running the mascara underwater will not cause the mascara to run down in black streaks. However, when the lashes with mascara are wet and subsequently rubbed or wiped the product will easily be removed.

How I Apply

Wiggle the mascara wand onto curled lashes. Layer twice if I feel like it.

Thoughts & Recommendations

Just to be clear...the ohii Mini Mascara is definitely not an affordable buy. It has half the amount of typical mascaras (drugstore and high-end), 0.11 oz versus 0.20's oz. At USD $16 it is double the price of typical drugstore mascaras. A closer comparison, size to price wise, would be the "mini" versions of full-sized high-end mascaras available at Sephora and Gift With Purchases.

With that said I have nothing but nice things to say about how the mascara performs. My natural, naked lashes don't have trouble holding a curl throughout the day. They are just so short and thin that even the curled lashes do not look drastically different.

ohii Mini Mascara adds the necessary definition without being heavy and clumpy. I think the light and dry formula really helps keep the curls up instead of gradually weighing down as the day goes on. Somehow ohii was able to make a dry mascara that is not crunchy. The small number of fibers lengthen a little without looking spidery and most importantly never leaves marks on my glasses lenses.

Besides the formulation, I really do think the skinnier wand does wonders for applying the mascara to my type of lashes. I can get to every nook and cranny easily. Each individual lash is defined because of packed yet evenly spaced out bristles.

My eyes never feel irritated when I use the mascara. It can last a long time if I don't cause physical disturbances (tears or rubbing). I also think it fairs pretty well against my oily eyelids. The mascara remains mostly intact after 12+ hours of wear. On bad days, there will be some stray fibers under my eyes. On super bad days, it will leave small flakes and smudges. Overall, I have more good (clean) days than not.

Call me crazy but I think this is the perfect natural, no-makeup makeup mascara for the polished and refined look. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for obvious length and volume. You will be sorely disappointed. Perhaps it would be a good base as ohii suggests? Until I find something better and more affordable, I will probably repurchase in the future. However! I am keeping my fingers crossed because I noticed innisfree and few other Korean brands have similar skinny mascaras.

December & January Hauls

12:08:00 AM mandy 1 Comments

Maybe the ongoing trend will be me purchasing makeup brushes and products for my feet at the end of one year and the beginning of another? At least that is how it has been 2017 going into 2018 and, likewise, 2018 going into 2019.

I go into my stash drawer more often now than ever. I constantly remind myself of all the stuff I have and don't need to buy. But old shopping habits die hard, I guess; less skincare means more other stuff like brushes and foot balms. At least this kind of purchases seems to only happen once a year at most and only because of sales & coupons.

Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blushed Brush
Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection
Real Techniques Perfect Crease Duo
Real Techniques Eye Smudge + Diffuse
Aveeno Cracked Skin Relief CICA Balm
Aveeno Crack Skin Relief CICA Ointment

The brushes were picked up from Harmon's Face Values in December when they were having a sale/clearance on Real Technique brushes. I believe the sets were 25% off and the Bold Metals blush brush was discounted.

In recent memory, the Aveeno CICA line is the only beauty-related TV ad I saw and was immediately intrigued by. It came at the right time when my heels were cracked and as centella asiatica gains momentum in America skincare. I have yet to try either balm or ointment but am excited about the promised outcomes.