Sandal season might be over but foot care is a reoccurring "To do" task for me. Even though I love the ease and convenience of my sock-less shoes, I have long traded them in for sneakers and boots now that the colder temperatures have set in. I would love to forget about foot peels, as I do with shaving in the winter, but memories of painfully deep cracked heels say otherwise. Prevention is my motto this season!
Since it would be an extremely boring and redundant to do the same routine I've done for previous foot peels again, I chose not to do any extra feet soaks to help speed up the peeling process. Unsurprisingly, It's SKIN Self Care Foot Peeling worked just as well as the SAEM's, The Face Shop's and Etude House's versions—it was just a much slower shedding this time around.
It'S SKIN's description:
Herbal extracts help soften and peel away dead skin for smoother feet.
Directions
1. Wear the self care foot peeling socks on both feet.
2. Put liquid from each pouch into the socks.
3. Soak feet for 1.5 hours and remove.
4. Wash feet gently with water.
Cautions
- Do a patch test if you have skkin allergy or sensitive skin. Put a small amount of liquid from the pouch onto the soft part of feet and leave it for 20-30 minutes.
- Do not use if you have a wound, swelling, or eczema.
- Do not use if you are diabetic or bleeding.
- Stop using if there is any redness, swelling, or itchiness.
- Do not scratch feet after using the product.
- Old skin with fall off naturally in one to two weeks.
- Do not forcibly remove dead skin when peeling begins.
- Foot baths in warm water helps the peeling process.
- Recommended frequency of use is once every 2-3 months. For more extreme cases it may require a second application at intervals of 28 days.
- Do not drink.
Ingredients
WATER, ALCOHOL, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM LACTATE, GLYCOLIC ACID, GLYCERIN, ARGININE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, SALICYLIC ACID, FRAGRANCE, DISODIUM EDTA, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA (LIME) FRUIT EXTRACT, UREA, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) EXTRACT, LAVENDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) EXTRACT, THYMUS VULGARIS (THYME) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS EXTRACT, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, MELALEUCA ALTEMIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF EXTRACT, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF EXTRACT, EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LEAF EXTRACT, MENTHA SPICATA FLOWER/LEAF/STEAM EXTRACT
It'S SKIN (Korean retail): ₩7,000
RoseRoseShop: ₩7,000
*Availability and price of this on K-Beauty online shops vary.
The skin on my soles felt very thick and rough since the last peel was a good 3+ months ago. My heels, in particular, got so scaly that no amount of pumice stone scrubbing could get through the surface. These kind of masks are the only things I have found so far that works painlessly and almost effortlessly (I would much rather soak my feet in liquids once a month than rigorously scrub at it every night). The results this time weren't as clean but keep in mind the weather is much drier and my skin, as gross as it sounds, has been accumulating layer by layer for a long time.
Packaging
It'S SKIN Self Care Foot Peeling looks exactly like the previous road shop brands I've tried. The foot-shaped pouches come with ready-to-use serum and the plastic booties are double-layered and need to be secured via tying (versus a sticker).
Ingredients
The list of ingredients seem longer compared to the previous ones I've used but has the same general components: AHA's + BHA's + a bunch of essential oils.
Color & Scent
The serum is colorless and relatively odorless despite containing essential oils and fragrance. Again, I did not experience any sensitivity to the acids this time around either.
Before
Soaked my feet for 30 minutes in water prior to soaking it for 90 minutes in the peeling serum.
Day 1-5...even 6
Saw no changes. Didn't do any extra soaking.
Day 7-8
Feet finally started to see glimmers of the peeling process beginning: skin felt tighter and looked even ashier. No extra feet-soaks.
Day 9-12
Dead skin started to flake off; first where the skin was thinnest (between the toes) and then the arches and balls of my feet. The calluses were struggling but it slowly came apart as well over those few days. Still no extra soaks.
Day 13-14
80-85% of the skin completely shed off. The remaining 15-20% was all the heel calluses—that area had the most trouble and just didn't want to budge. After 2 weeks of patiently waiting, I accepted the fact that the acids didn't reach the remaining bits. A tried to pumice the stubborn skin off and finished the process with maybe 5-10% of dead skin remaining?
Thoughts & Recommendations
When the skin on my feet is thick enough to be clipped off like fingernails, these heavy-duty chemical peels are the only trustworthy products I can rely on. I am glad to know that all 4 of the different Korean road shop brands I have tried, It'S SKIN included, have in fact worked well...enough. It seems impossible to get every last bit of crusty skin with the rate calluses form on me. Heck, it has only been a week since the skin finished peeing and it's already starting to get ashy and scaly. Maybe I need to find something else to help maintain the baby soft skin post-peeling without the labor-intensive work that pumice stones require?
Typically when I spend too much time mulling over a product, I ultimately tend to find it to be just average overall. The time spent is usually to try and find more ways to justify the money spent despite knowing it didn't work out well. But the longer I used the JUNGSAEMMOOL Artist Concealer Palette in Blend the more I liked and reached for the palette. It is rare for something to first fell into the unsure bunch, then moved into the regrets pile, before discovering the specific conditions to finally graduate it to the love group. It's been a whirlwind relationship with this one.
JUNGSAEMMOOL's Description:
Exclusive concealer palette for professional makeup artists that allows to cover any type of skin imperfection.
Professional Color Shade
Broad spectrum for various skin colors suggested by professional makeup artists.
Full Coverage with One-Stroke
Provides full-coveraged infused with One-Touch Covering Powders.
One-Touch Covering Powder
Infused with plate powders that have high-adhesion to skin, it provides full coverage with only a single stroke. It also has perfectly buildable texture that allows to adjust the level of coverage by layering.
Customizable Blending
Customizable colors of concealer enable to create variety of skin imperfection by blending in together.
Long-lasting
Skin Barrier Paste System protects the skin from getting dried while Marsh Mallow Powders absorb the oil and make the skin stay clean and smooth for a long time.
Skin Barrier Paste System
It creates a skin barrier after using to protect the moisture inside skin from getting evaporated.
Marsh Mallow Powder
Soft and bouncy powders selectively and quickly absorb the oil from skin and provide refreshing feeling without dryness.
Directions
Stroke with a brush or fingertip and lightly tap around it for blending.
Ingredients
Blend White
TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, POLYBUTENE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)
Blend Orange
TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, POLYBUTENE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)
Blend Pink
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)
Blend Green
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090)
Blend Lavender
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), RED 7 (CI 15850:1), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)
Blend Yellow
POLYBUTENE, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA (CI 77019), ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CERESIN, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, TALC, POLYETHYLENE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), SILICA, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, ADANSONIA DIGITATA FRUIT EXTRACT, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, SILICA SILYLATE, METHICONE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, WATER, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE (CI 77861), PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491)
Correctors - Largest pans 1.6 g // Mid-sized pans 1.1 g // Smallest pans 0.6 g
JSM Beauty (Korean retail): ₩35,000
JSM Beauty (USA retail): USD $44.06
Peach & Lily: USD $45.00
Packaging
Six colors of correctors in various sized pans, housed in a thin lightweight plastic palette with a generously sized mirror and dual-ended concealer brush. The lid closes shut with a click-lock mechanism.
Color usage recommendations
Blend White
Highlighting, Tone-up blending. (For covering dark spot or expressing soft color. Can be blended with other colors.)
Blend Orange
For covering brown dark circle and using as blush.
Blend Pink
For covering deep brown dark circle and using as blush.
Blend Green
For correcting the redness of dark circle and blemish, and correcting flush.
Blend Lavender
For correcting the yellowish skin tone and reddish blemish.
Blend Yellow
For covering bluish dark circle and correcting the redness and discoloration.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
At first touch, the correctors feel quite dry. Give it a few seconds with some body heat and it becomes a whole lot creamier. But the correctors have a tacky/balmy quality to them, especially when applying via fingertips. Instead of being creamy in the sense that it'll slip and smooth easily, the JUNGSAEMMOOL correctors apply better when tapped onto the skin or swiped on with short and light brush strokes.
The colors in the palette are very pigmented. None of the correctors are thick in texture; all of them blend and adhere thinly as if it was like second-skin. Coverage, therefore, is light to medium at best. However, since it applies on in such a light layer the concealers are all highly buildable for more coverage—just never full.
Once blended, the concealers don't feel wet or tacky. It has a satin-like finish and in my opinion, doesn't require setting powder or a very minimal dusting. Fragrance isn't listed in any of the ingredients lists nor do the correctors have any scent to them.
How I Apply
Fingers // Using either my ring or middle finger, I warm up and soften the correctors before dabbing and tapping the colored concealers all throughout my face. Offers the smoothest and most natural application.
Concealer brush // Use a flat concealer brush or flat/paddle-shaped foundation brush to dab and tap the concealers onto my face. Offers higher coverage with fewer layers but is more difficult to blend.
Thoughts & Recommendations
Why I was initially unsure. Of all the concealers I have tried so far, this palette has the most unique texture. It is creamy with body heat but blends into something incredibly thin and dry. The product is the most natural-looking concealer type product I have ever used. Once the creaminess is blended in, all I am left with is the pigmentation of the correctors. While the finish is skin-like and transparent, it means coverage is also on the sheer side. I guess I expected it to work too much like a concealer instead of thinking it as a corrector.
Why I almost regretted. Due to the drier nature of the formulation, it clings onto dry patches and flaky dead skin like no other. I made the mistake of patting on the corrections over top poorly exfoliated areas and many pimples that were in the midst of recovery (i.e. shriveled and flaky). I also over powdered my face just a tad with translucent powder since the weather was warm at the time. The combination of all three led to arid makeup and scaliness.
Why I have grown to love. Mattifying powders, begone. Highly hydrating moisturizers, welcome! Once I had my skin balanced and textural issues fixed, the correctors apply so beautifully. They still have high adhesion and longevity despite the lack of setting powder. While the coverage is lacking, my skin tone is well balanced, not cakey, and still looks skin-like just with splotches of absurd colors—allowing me to go over with a lighter layer of foundation or cushion for the needed coverage. I love that my dark circles look brighter and livelier. The redness on my cheeks and around my nose isn't completely counteracted but it seems less severe.
The pigment is highly concentrated and shows up very evidently on light to medium skin. I only use Blend Orange and Blend Pink alone for the under eye area if I apply foundation or cushion overtop. Otherwise, I prefer to mix a bit of Blend Orange/Pink with Blend White for a pastel-peachy/salmon shade. Blend Green is my most used color and a favorite in terms of green correctors, in general, —it leans quite warm and has a muted-yellow undertone, which is quite rare in the realm of green correcting products (that all tend to have a white base). I reach for Blend Lavender and Blend Yellow the least. When I do they, typically go in areas that need a bit of brightening: corners of the mouth, corners of the eyes, and other highlight points.
What I would like differently. I have finally gotten used to the formulation and figured out the specific conditions my skin has to be in for the correctors to work well: well moisturized and well exfoliated. Now all I wish for is if JUNGSAEMMOOL made all the pan sizes more balanced or possibly release the green shade separately. I barely reach for the purple and yellow shades. Contrastingly, I use Blend Green just as much as, if not more than the two dark circle correctors, yet it has the smallest pan in the palette. It has only been a few months since I have incorporated it into my makeup routine and the bottom pan is already peeking through. I would gladly hoard Blend Green if she sold it individually. Refill pan maybe?
The palette would work great for those interested in color correctors but hate the thick and cakey makeup look. I am currently torn on whether I would repurchase the palette in the immediate future. There is still a ton of Blend White, Orange, Pink, Lavender, and Yellow left. The only color I see running out soon would be Blend Green but it isn't quite worth the $40+ dollars for the entire palette when I only want the one specific color. With that said, however, if I were to see more pan for a few of the colors I would 100% repurchase the Artist Concealer Palette in Blend.
It will be a long while before I tackle my next DIY furniture project; the cold and unpredictable weather doesn't help speed up any prospective plans either. In fact, unlike my last DIY where I had thought about and drew up plans for years earlier, this future project is as of right now completely unplanned for. Practically impulsive if I do say so myself...I saw the amazing price the set hairpin legs were selling for during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at DIY Hairpin Legs Co. and I couldn't help myself.
I had toyed with the idea of making a bench-like piece after I completed the desk. A bench would be 100% a want instead of fulfilling any sort of need. It would be nice to have something that will match my desk in terms of aesthetics. It would be nice to have something more spacious to place bags I frequently reach for. It would be convenient to have a lighter "table" I could move around for taking photos for the blog. Yet the main thing that held me back was the cost of all the materials just couldn't justify any of those wants.
When the after-Thanksgiving sales began, the company I previously bought my hairpin legs from had a deal I just couldn't pass up on. Instead of paying nearly $80 dollars (pre-shipping) for a set of 4 2-Rod, 16" high, 1/2" thick, and pre-painted (powder-coated) white hairpin legs, I was able to get the set for just $30 (pre-shipping). That is more than a 50% difference! Plus all the time I would save because I don't have to personally paint the legs white this time around, hallelujah.
The package from DIY Hairpin Legs Co. came in a much better condition. There was only a small hole on one of the sides and the box, in general, was intact. Instead of kraft paper, each individual leg was wrapped in a foam sheet that was further wrapped with stretchy plastic cling film. Everything was bundled up with so much more care! I don't know if this is because the company recently changed their packing style or if the painted hairpin legs just generally receive more attention than the raw steel ones. Either option could be possible but I think the latter makes more sense since it would be terrible if the pre-painted legs arrived chipped.
Compared to the hairpin legs that I painted myself, the pre-painted version feels so smooth and looks much glossier. I don't think it is noticeable from afar but the glossiness is definitely apparent the closer I get to the legs. Good thing these little guys are half the height of my table legs; no one will ever really stoop that low to take such a close comparison view of both together anyways. I can't wait to think more about what to actually do with these legs now. I have a good half year before the weather starts to get warm again...
