Review: Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash

Yikes. I’ve been MIA for far longer than I anticipated but working full-time, studying full-time, and living full-time doesn’t really allow much free time for anything else.

Anyways, this is my first (new) skincare post in F O R E V E R. I’ve actually been wanting to write about this product since I started using it way back in the fall of 2015, but alas, here we are… nearing the end of spring… in 2016… Oops…?

Without further ado, I present to all of you Tosowoong’s Enzyme Powder Wash.

PSA: Ingredient Lists & Retinol

So…you know that feeling you get when you can’t remember the name of that one song by that one artist whose name you also can’t remember?  Or the feeling you get when you’re about to saying something, and when it’s at the tip of your tongue, it seems to vanish from thought?  It’s like a mental itch that you can’t scratch, and it drives me (and you?) C r A z Y.

A few months back, I encountered some of these mental itches in the Korean skincare world.

1.  the difference between the order of Korean ingredient lists and U.S. ingredient lists
2.  the lack of retinol in Korean skincare products

These two questions have been sitting in the back of my mind, slowly festering, and eventually drove me to my wit’s end.  For the sake of my sanity, I decided to reach out and ask a Korean cosmetic company for the answers to the questions that have been driving me mad.  And I am happy to say that I now have peace of mind.

Review: Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence

First essences are something that I really enjoy using, which is why I didn’t mind splurging on an SK-II First Treatment Essence as my first one…which probably was a disservice to myself now that I think about it. I kind of spoiled myself, and now anything I use, I end up comparing it to the SK-II First Treatment Essence.

Anyways, long story short, Secret Key’s Starting Treatment Essence is nowhere close to being a dupe of SK-II’s First Treatment Essence (formerly known as Secret Key…coincidence?).

Fermentation: More than Kimchi and Alcohol

The only other thing that comes close to rivaling my love and addiction for skincare is my love and addiction for good food.  I mean, after all, we need to eat to live, right?  Why not enjoy it?

One of my favorite foods – and a staple of Korean cuisine – is kimchi (김치).  If you’re not familiar with kimchi, it is a traditional Korean side dish made from various types of vegetables (cucumbers, radishes, and other leafy greens) and spices (ranging from mild to burn-your-tongue-off spicy).  Now, when most people hear kimchi, the default kimchi that people think of is the spicy napa cabbage kimchi (hence this post’s picture).

SOS Adventures: SK-II Pop-Up Studio Shenanigans

So, I had planned to meet my best friend who lives in New York City.  I don’t know about all of you, but I personally could care less about the City That Never Sleeps.  The only redeeming qualities this city has to offer are the food, the fashion, and my friend.  However, to add to this, I learned that SK-II had a pop-up studio in Manhattan for the whole month of October (thanks to u/cecibeautytherapy).

Just a little background on SK-II.  It is a Japanese company owned by Proctor and Gamble and has been around for quite some time.  They are one of the top brands in Korea, if not the top, because of their ingredient Pitera™.  It’s the trademarked name of the filtrate made from the fermentation of yeast, and the method for manufacturing this fermented goodness is actually patented…but that didn’t stop other companies from trying to copy this liquid gold.  In order to avoid a super lengthy post, I’ll explain why this fermented filtrate is so loved by many.

Review: COSRX Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the benefits of propolis and how it stole my heart. I was wondering which product I should review next, and I realized…I have yet to review a COSRX product!

If you aren’t familiar with COSRX, then you are definitely missing out.  COSRX is a cosmetic company that I discovered not too long ago.  From then on, I have tried product after product and have yet to be disappointed.  COSRX has stolen my heart, and I’m sure they’ll be out to steal yours next.

Their company name is actually a compound word derived from “Cosmetic” and “Rx” – a cosmetic brand that produces products that also have an efficacy similar to prescription-grade medications.  Now, that’s a pretty bold statement for a company, but  COSRX delivers on their promise.  They are a minimalistic company (in regards to ingredients and packaging) that offers simple and effective products at an affordable price.  What’s there not to love?!

In short, I love everything that is COSRX, and…

*spoiler alert*

I love this product.

Review: Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream

As always, whenever I do an ingredient highlight post, I like to follow up with a review of a product that uses said ingredient.

This product is pretty special to me because it was actually the gateway for me into the real world of Korean skincare.  In case you didn’t know, Koreans, generally speaking, have a thing with luxury brands – Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, etc. because luxury means prestige.  For one reason or another, Koreans have a thing about showing off their wealth (or lack thereof).

Skincare isn’t any different.  If you go into any department store in Korea, they only carry luxury brand skincare products, i.e. SK-II, AmorePacific, Hera, O Hui, etc.  Most older Korean people would prefer using a luxury brand skincare line over, let’s say…Mizon.  Regardless of the efficacy of the product, prestige is more important.  Not to discredit luxury brand skincare companies because I do love me some SK-II Facial Treatment Essence…just not the price tag, but a lot of times street brands (Missha, Innisfree, Nature Republic, Etude House, etc.) or online brands (Mizon, Tosowoong, COSRX, etc.) can be just as effective without the heavy damage.

This Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream (Mizon AIO) was actually recommended to me by a friend.  I was hesitant at first because I had never heard of this company, but I went out on a leap of faith and bought this product.  Fast forward to present day, and here I am trying out new products from companies I have never heard of and reviewing them here on this blog. AND to this day, I am still using this cream. ❤

I got 99 Problems, but a Snail Ain’t One

Hit me.

But in all seriousness, there have been many people who have asked me what the deal was with all these snails on my blog, and I am here to answer that question.

Review: Tosowoong Propolis Sparkle Ampoule

“On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was” -Mean Girls

As you may remember, last week I posted about how I fell in love with propolis – not a person but a godsend made by bees.  Unlike people, propolis will never be a Brutus – even though Gretchen Wieners made a valiant attempt to defend Brutus:

Brutus is just as cute as Caesar, right? Brutus is just as smart as Caesar, people totally like Brutus just as much as they like Caesar, and when did it become okay for one person to be the boss of everybody because that’s not what Rome is about! We should totally just STAB CAESAR!

Gretchen was doing so well…until that last line, which further validates why I would feel much safer placing my trust in the always dependable, never-failing propolis.

Propolis: For Us By…Bees?

Remember when FUBU was actually a thing?  People actually wore FUBU.  Let that sink in for a bit.  LOL.  There were so many brands that had their 20 minutes (seconds?) of fame before sizzling out – Phat Farm, Baby Phat, Rocawear, Sean John, etc.  Speaking of Sean John, is P Diddy even relevant anymore?  Last I heard, he slipped and fell at the 2015 BET Awards, which seems to be a reflection of his career.  Hah!

Anyways, we all have phases we go through in life.  I have a tendency to change my career goals depending on the TV show I’m watching.  I’ve watched many shows spanning from Law & Order: SVU (the only Law & Order worth watching, IMO) to House to even Korean dramas revolved around baking.  I have wanted to become a detective, a doctor, a chef, a baker, a lawyer…all after the age of 20…and within a few months of each other. Hehe…Needless to say, I’ve had my fair share of phases.