I purchased the Ground Plan 24 HOUR Secret Mist without knowing anything about the brand. When I found out after Peach & Lily officially launched the curation on their site that this little bottle sold 1 million bottles in the 2 years since its launch, I was intrigued. I vaguely remember hearing that people in Korea loved it because it was safe to use during pregnancies and with babies (not that I am or have either)—this just indicates how non-irritating it could be and potentially good towards my acne-prone skin.
Peach & Lily's description:
Ground Plan’s most famous, holy grail product, this mist is truly a superstar mist that does it all — it hydrates, cools, soothes, cleanses, and even helps with irritated, sensitive skin. That might sound too good to be true, but Ground Plan sold 1 million units of this Secret Mist in just 24 months in Korea through word of mouth because it really is that effective. This superstar mist is not water-based or watered down, containing 85% witch hazel extract, which is balanced out with glycerin and anise fruit extract to maintain moisture and condition your skin. Witch hazel extract has astringent properties, tightening skin and minimizing the appearance of pores, and it’s particularly great for acne-prone skin because it helps control oil production. A fine mist that settles comfortably on your skin, this Secret Mist is not only great in the morning as you look forward to your day, but it’s also perfect for a pick-me-up throughout the day whenever your skin needs some refreshment. It works over your makeup, too!
TEXTURE: light, fine, cooling
SCENT: subtle, clean, plant-like with hints of lavender
SKIN TYPE: suitable for all skin types
Directions
Hold about a foot from your face. Close your eyes and press your lips together before spraying evenly over your face. Pat into skin to absorb.
Ingredients
HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) EXTRACT, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, POLYGLYCERYL-10 LAURATE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 MYRISTATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, ILLICIUM VERUM (ANISE) FRUIT EXTRACT, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, ALLANTOIN, XYLITOL, BETAINE, CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, MONUS ALBA BARK EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID
Mist 60 ml / 6.7 oz
Ground Plan (Korean retail): ₩22,000
Ground Plan (American retail): USD $24.00
Peach & Lily: USD $22.00
Mist 120 ml / 3.4 oz
Ground Plan (Korean retail): ₩38,000
Ground Plan (American retail): ~USD $37.72
Peach & Lily: Sold out at the moment
Mist 300 ml / 3.4 oz
Ground Plan (Korean retail): ₩72,000
Ground Plan (American retail): ~USD $66.86
Packaging
A lightweight, metal bottle (I am assuming it is aluminum) metal-wrapped plastic bottle with a black-colored spray nozzle. The manufacture date is clearly printed on the bottom and plenty of empty space to jot down an opened date for those who keep track of that. I don't believe the bottle nor box were sealed in an extra way. I prefer mists to come in a see-through bottle but a quick shake also gives a general idea of how much product is left inside.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
The liquid is colorless but not scentless. There is a very strong floral/lavender smell straight out of the bottle. Luckily for me, unfortunate for some, the scent doesn't linger long. The mist 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
Given the popularity and claims, I really hoped I would be a part of the majority and love the 24 Hour Secret Mist. Yes, that does imply I didn't quite like it as much as anticipated.
The product isn't bad. The spray nozzle is actually one of the better ones of the many mist sprays I have tried so far. While some people love the calming scent of lavender, it usually is too strong for me; a personal preference kind of thing really. The main reason why I didn't love the mist was the formulation would sting my eyes if I overspray and droplets find their way near my eyes. It isn't a huge problem on the daily but it is something to consider.
I probably won't be repurchasing this myself again based on the scent and eye-stinging alone. However, I think those who love a light lavender scent would find this pleasing. Just don't go spray crazy and keep the mist a good distance away from the face to get a nice fine mist every time. Those who are sensitive to essential oils and/or witch hazel may want to look for something else.
The theme for last month's beauty purchases circled around sunscreens. While I have been pretty open to trying more "chemical" sun protection lately, the ones I picked up this time are of the "physical" variety. I just happened to be running low on the current sunscreens, but the overarching reason for the selection I made is because I am about to head on a cruise later today and the destinations specifically ban certain chemically organic ingredients (Oxybenzone and Octinoxate) for the health of corals. How would they check if everyone's sunscreens are safe or not is beyond me; at least I will feel less guilty about it in my heart and mind.
Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish SPF 50+ PA+++
COSRX Shield Fit All Green Comfort Sun SPF 50+ PA++++
A'PIEU Madecassoside Sun Cream SPF 39 PA++
I scoured Sephora, drugstores, and most K-Beauty carrying stores in NYC to find these three "mineral" sunscreens that seemed to have the least amount of white cast. The Etude House one has been a long time favorite in the K-Beauty loving community but is, surprisingly, my first time trying it. The COSRX and A'PIEU ones seem to be recent launches yet both look very promising with the addition of the beloved Centella Asiatica. I will only bring the Etude House and COSRX sunscreens onto the cruise since they claim to have higher UVA and UVB coverage than the A'PIEU. Let's hope I apply and reapply well to avoid any major burning/skin damage whilst away.
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.
