March is always a tough month for me when it comes to spending. Most purchases are fueled by the thought of, it's my birthday just once a year. What's a little splurge?
I like to think I did alright this time around. Of the items I actually paid for, half were to replace product categories I constantly use up (cleanisng balm and cleanser) and the other half was completely impulsive (highlighter stick and cream blush). The other items were "free" with point usage.
Glossier Cloud paint - Dusk
Glossier Haloscope - Quartz
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift - Drunk Elephant edition
AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peeling Masque
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
BANILA CO. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm - Nourishing
I never thought there would come a day I would try a cleansing balm I did not like. Okay, I'm sorry, that is a bit overdramatic—I haven't tried that many compared to what's available on the market. But you get the idea right? Most tend to look, feel, and/or perform more or less the same. FEMMUE's Extraordinary Beauty Cleansing Balm gives the most different user experience from start to finish that is too unconventional for me to adapt to.
FEMMUE's description:
Just simple rolling massage with Femmue's Balm relieves your body and mind fatigued by stress during the day, just like you are in a spa. The mild heat created during the balm massage melts bodily waste and dead skin cells blocking the skin pores while offering ample nourishment. It offers wonderful softness and radiance to the skin. Femmue's unique gel-type cleansing balm changes from jelly to oil and emulsion form when applied, allowing diverse massaging and cleansing for users. It also soothes and enriches your mind with its mild ylang-ylang fragrance and fresh citrus and woody fragrance.
Olive Oil: Mildly cleanses off makeup while changing its formulation during application. With vitamin E helping strike oil-moisture balance for the skin, it is excellent for skin soothing.
Evening Primrose Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Macadamia Oil, Avocado Oil: The plant-based oils help create a moisturizing shield and retain long-lasting skin hydration.
No artificial fragrance, no artificial color additive, no chemical surfactant, no preservatives ensure minimal skin irritation and perfect comfort for the skin.
The natural skin protective shield created by the product ensures hydration even after facial wash while preserving the natural skin lipids and moisture.
Directions
Scoop about a dime-size dollop onto hands and rub between fingers.
Gently massage onto dry skin.
Use tepid water to emulsify oil and rinse away.
Ingredients
GLYCERIN, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL, MINERAL OIL, DIGLYC- ERIN, SUCROSE STEARATE, POLOXAMER 184, POLYGLYCERYL-10 BEHENATE/EICOSADI- OATE, BEESWAX, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, WATER, GLYCERYL BEHENATE/EICOSADIOATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL, MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL UNSAPONIFIABLES, CANANGA ODORATA FLOWER OIL, PEL- ARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS OIL, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL, JUNIP- ERUS MEXICANA OIL, CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) PEEL OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL, LAURUS NOBILIS LEAF OIL, SALVIA SCLAREA (CLARY) OIL, AMYRIS BALSAMIFERA BARK OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM BERGAMIA (BERGAMOT) FRUIT OIL, V- ANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT, CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM BARK OIL, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER EXTRACT, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, SODIUM DILAURAMIDOGL- UTAMIDE LYSINE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
Balm 50 ml / 1.76 oz
FEMMUE (Korean retail): ₩45,000
FEMMUE (American retail): USD $46.00
Peach & Lily: USD $38.00
Packaging
A thick and hefty frosted-glass jar with a screw on cap. New tubs of cleansing balm should include an inner seal but sadly lacks a spatula for something that is supposedly more luxe. Although pretty to look at on the counter, it is not the best for travel because of the weight and delicate nature of glass.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
The texture of the Femmue's cleansing balm is by far the most unique I have tried. It is transparent and bright yellow in color, which is supposedly all natural. The balm is very thick and resistant to scooping, unlike the softer "sorbet" varieties that are more common; the closest comparison I can say would be a cross between Vaseline and Smith's Rosebud Salve. Emulsifying and rinsing off the makeup remover requires more effort whilst not giving the cleanest feeling afterward. There is a very strong floral scent that doesn't dissipate until it is fully washed off.
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.
5. (For me personally) Must follow up with a cleanser after.
Thoughts & Recommendations
All the little things that make the Extraordinary Beauty Cleansing Balm unique are what I found to be most cumbersome. This isn't any rash judgment either as I bore through the entire jar of balm.
I believe Femmue chose to have it be such a thick type balm to elevate the textural sensation in order to match its luxurious image. They want it to be spa-like and encourages facial massaging, which a rich & shiny balm seems fitting for. My issue with it is how body heat doesn't ever "melt" the cleansing balm as much as one would imagine. It just smooths onto the skin as if I am spreading out a layer of lip balm all over my face. Too little balm and I would tug at my skin when removing makeup; too much product and I would feel overwhelmed by the heaviness.
Femmue says the product is formulated to leave a "protective shield" to seal in natural facial oils and moisture. If that is the reason why the balm leaves a slick oily finish even after persistent rinsing, I could have done without the shield. My skin isn't ever dried out with the product and there is a soft quality after. I also know that a squeaky clean face is a no-go but the finish I get is more similar to when I try to clean an oily dish with just plain tap water—in my opinion, just doesn't work.
While most of the cleansing balms I have reviewed so far did a poor job against fresh waterproof pen liner, they ultimately did great against worn-out waterproof pen liner that was mixed with my oily eyelids. The Femmue balm is the only one so far to require a lot more attention with massaging and rubbing yet working not as well. Sometimes the more I massage (just lightly with my ring fingers) the more the balm would end up irritating and stinging my eyes, which is a completely new experience for me with any balm.
Otherwise the strong floral scent isn't so bad that it would give me headaches. Perhaps those more sensitive would not like it. I am just glad to say the cleansing balm never broke me out or irritated my skin, even with all the essential oils in its formulation. It does a good enough job at removing worn-out, non-waterproof makeup and sunscreen too.
Since I didn't enjoy using the product, I was glad the jar only had 50ml of product and that I bought it at a steep discount from the Peach & Lily sample sale. If I had enjoyed the balm more the 50ml would have been disappointingly small to be almost USD $40. Least to say, I will not be repurchasing another of the Femmue cleansing balm in the future. I do seem to be in the minority as many do rave of it on the Peach & Lily website.
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.
