Memebox Changes and Haul #1

Disclaimer: I purchased this.

In early March Memebox announced some changes they will be making, which prompted 2 separate purchases on my part. Here is a screenshot of part of the announcement I received via email:

Since Memepoints expire on April 30 (plus they added $5 in points to my account), I did a little shopping.

Our Remedy for Sensitive Skin Set

The Our Remedy for Sensitive Skin Set ($22) is no longer available, although most of the items are if purchased separately. The Holika Holika 99% Aloe Vera Gel ($8) will be great for my skin now that the weather is getting warmer. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which came in handy when I needed  something to soothe some raw spots caused by allergies on Lily, my miniature Schnauzer.

The Tea Tree Refresh Calming Toner by Secret Key ($10) is targeted towards those with oily or acne-prone skin, which makes it a good option for me. It is supposed to calm break outs and inflammation, as well as regulate sebum production.  The ingredient list looks like it could deliver on it's claims, so we shall see:
Tea Tree Leaf Water, Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria digitata, Ulmus campestris, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, 4-terpineol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Nonoxynol-12, Lemon Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Althaea rosea, Aloe Barbadensis, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

The Enzyme Powder Wash ($9) by Tosowoong is a powder-to-foam mild cleanser that is enriched with vitamin E. I'm excited to see it has a pH level of 5.5, as my skin does better with gentle cleansers. I dual cleanse my skin each evening, which means I use an oil cleanser to remove my makeup and then a second cleanser, typically one that foams. This should fit nicely into that slot. I'll be interested to see how it compares to the other enzyme powder I own, which is from Amore Pacific and is quite pricey ($60) compared to this one.

This set also contained 4 masks, a Donkey Milk Healing mask ($2) and 3 Dr. Troubex Sparkling masks ($1.50 ea). I really enjoy the Donkey Milk masks and purchased multiples in every variety to round up my purchase to the free shipping amount in both hauls.

I also purchased a travel kit from Manyo Factory so that I could try out a variety of their products. Manyo Factory is a newer (2012) South Korean skincare company that utilizes only natural, organic, and botanical ingredients in their products. Consequently, the shelf life of their products is only about 6 months, which makes the travel sized items quite appealing to me as well. I'm currently using these and should have a full review up in a few weeks. Initial impressions are positive :-)

It will be interesting to see what Memebox will be like with the new changes. It sounds like they will be focusing more on their own brands Nooni, Pony Effect and I'm MeMe, while other brands will be sold and shipped directly by their partner retailers. I missed out on the early Memeboxes when the site first launched, which were great values, but I have really enjoyed the accessibility to Korean brands they have provided. They also have a 25% off code for their clearance items going on right now, in case you need to stock up on anything.  

Ciracle Vitamin Source C-20 Serum Review

Disclaimer: I purchased this.

Way back in December I purchased a vitamin C serum from Memebox - Ciracle's Vitamin Source C-20. I had been reading about all the good things vitamin C can do for the skin, and I thought to myself "I want me some of that."  I just finished the bottle today, so I guess it's time for a review :-)

First off, a little about vitamin C for the skin: it's a temperamental little beast. Maybe temperamental is not the right word I'm looking for. Delicate perhaps? You see, it has to be formulated at the right pH level (less than 3) to be effective yet not too low (above 2.5?) or it can irritate the skin.

Vitamin C is also notoriously unstable and starts to degrade when exposed to heat, light, and air. So whatever vitamin C product you go with should be in an air tight, dark bottle that gets stored in the refrigerator.  Based on all this, I'm sticking with temperamental and delicate as adjectives.

Yet an effective vitamin C serum can do such good things for the skin! Vitamins C and E paired together protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays and scavenges for damaging free radicals. Vitamin C can reverse the chemical compound that causes skin discolorations for a more even complexion. Vitamin C is also thought to aid in collagen production, which means tighter, firmer skin. It's a skincare powerhouse, pure and simple. For reference, I've got super oily skin with under the skin bumps caused by sebaceous hyperplasia, sun damage from years of not wearing sun screen and living on the Gulf Coast, and I'm old :-)

Source FutureDerm: The Science of Beauty 

Ciracle's C-20 is a thin, slightly viscous pale yellow liquid.  I used about half a dropper's worth for my face, neck, and back of my hands.  It stings (tingles?) slightly after applying, and has a somewhat sticky finish. When I did wear it during the day I did not notice it interfering with my makeup in the least, and that slight stickiness could work as foundation primer, I suppose. This did not irritate my skin nor did it cause breakouts.

Ingredients: Water, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Glucose, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Bicarbonate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, PEG-180, Gluconolactone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Lecthin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ubiquinone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Methyparaben

Here is something I just learned a few weeks ago: vitamin C's effects on the skin last 72 hours, which means you really don't need to apply it daily. I felt pressured to use up my bottle ASAP due to the limited shelf life (1 year from opening, but then there are those pesky oxidation issues nipping at your heels), so I'm not sure knowing about the 72 hour lasting effects would have slowed me down any.  The bottle I purchased from Memebox ($25) had an expiration date of 1/28/16, but it worked well right up to the last drops. It still took me a good 8 months to finish off this bottle using it 3-4 times a week, as I would sometimes forget because it was in the refrigerator. Out of sight, out of mind, you know.

So did I see any difference in my skin? Yes, I believe this did make a difference. The dark spots on the left side of my face are slightly lighter and the overall tone and clarity of my skin seems better. I liked using a vitamin C serum enough that I want to keep one in my skin care routine, although I'm not sure it will be Ciracle's C-20. Memebox no longer carries it, but I do see it on amazon.com for about $35 and at the official Ciracle site for $39.30. I just purchased a reasonably priced vitamin C serum from a US brand called Simply Radiant, so I'll have something to compare. I've also heard good things about Drunk Elephants C-Firma Day Serum, but I'm not quite ready to spend $80 to try it out :-)

Benton Memebox Review

Disclaimer: I purchased this.

Back in May I purchased the Benton Box ($30) from Memebox. Now that I've been using the products for a little over 2 months, I thought it was time to give them a proper review. For reference, I have oily, congested skin with under the skin bumps (sebaceous hyperplasia) and dark spots from sun damage from years of living on the Gulf Coast and an aversion to wearing sun screen (now reformed).

If you are not familiar with Benton, they are a South Korean brand that features a skincare product line made from snail mucus and bee venom, appropriately named Snail Bee. Those are two ingredients that my oily skin really enjoys, and while I've used both snail mucus and bee venom separately in other products, this was the first time I was able to use products with a combination of both. The products also feature niacinamide (skin brightening, improve elasticity, enhance skin barrier) and green tea (antioxidant), as well as other plant extracts with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation benefits.

Included in the Benton box (now sold out, although I wouldn't be surprised if it comes back around again) are:

• 3 Snail Bee High Content Mask Packs: these facial masks have become a favorite.  They are plenty hydrating without leaving a sticky residue on my face, something I really don't like and is not that uncommon with sheet masks. The sheets are completely saturated with essence and I can wear these for a good 30 minutes of refreshing coolness.
  
  
• Snail Bee High Content Skin ($15): a toner designed to hydrate and prep the skin for better absorption of other skin care products. Used immediately after cleansing, I do a few pumps into my hands and apply directly to my face, patting it in as opposed to rubbing.  Alternately, I sometimes apply it to a 2-piece facial sheet that I let sit on the skin for a few seconds before tearing it apart and lightly swiping over my face.
  
• Snail Bee High Content Essence ($18): I've really been enjoying using the High Content Essence during the day, as it's light texture works well in the summer heat and provides enough moisture when used in combination with a hydrating toner that I don't feel the need to add another moisturizer to the mix.  Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Arbutin, Zenthoxylum Peperitum Fruit Extract, Uanea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Bee Venom, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Althaea rosea flower extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Bacillus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Human Oligopeptide-1, Allantoin, Arginine, Panethnol
  
  
• Snail Bee High Content Lotion ($15): A light weight moisturizer that I use sporadically when I feel like my skin needs more moisture than the toner and essence supply on their on. It  doesn't seem to make my skin more oily and works will under makeup, and I can see using this even more during the cooler weather months.
  
• Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream ($15): This moisturizer is made using a process where high temperature steam in injected into the ingredients, which helps the ingredients work better together plus gives the cream a lightweight creamy texture.  I haven't used this much at all, as I'm waiting for cooler weather when my skin is not in oil hyper drive. I did read one review which said the lotion was more moisturizing than the steam cream, so I should probably give this one a go to see for myself. I did read some reviews from people who said the steam cream broke them out, but the ingredients look pretty clean to me, based on cosDNA.
  
  
• Honest TT Mist ($8): I used this as a makeup setting spray, and I loved it!  It's on the smaller side but lasted 2 months, which isn't bad for near daily use. Good stuff.

The box also contained samples of the Aloe BHA Skin Toner and Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel. I've since bought a full size of the Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel, I like it so much.  I'll leave that to another review, however.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that several years back Benton experienced a contamination issue with their Snail Bee line.  Benton uses only natural preservatives, which means their products have a limited shelf life (both the origin and expiration dates are clearly marked on the packaging) and they can become unstable at extreme temperatures. I admit I was a bit nervous, as you never know the storage or shipping conditions of items, especially those originating so far away. I did some skin testing prior to fully immersing myself in the products, and have not experienced any problems at all.  I really like this line! 

I will continue to use the toner and essence during the rest of the summer, as they are worked very well for me. I'll incorporate the lotion and steam cream more once the temps cool down and my skin needs a bit more moisture.

February-March Skincare: Scinic and Some Snail Slime

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Back in January I picked up the Scinic Memebox ($35), which contains 6 different items:

• Prelab Toning Peeling Tap ($15):  a highly-concentrated essence that cleanses, moisturizes and exfoliates the skin.   
• Snail All-in-One Ampoule ($25):  an all-in-one essence formula that contains snail slime filtrate, peptides, and aloe vera extract.
• Snail Matrix Cream ($13):  a cream designed to aid in the process of skin care renewal with a formula featuring 23% of snail slime filtrate blended with peptides, adenosine and EGF.
• Peeling Solution Kit ($5):  a 2 step peeling (AHA) and moisturizing kit (whitening ampoule) for glowing skin.
• Black Dual Mask Aqua White ($3): 2 masks for your T-Zone and V-Zone to relieve dryness with it's Black seed complex with charcoal powder formula.
• All Day Fine Pore Clay Mask ($15):  Clay mask with 5,000 mg of Amazon Clay blended with Carbonic Acid to effectively absorb sebum and impurities from the skin.     

For February and March I decided to integrate the All-in-One Ampoule and Snail Matrix Cream into my day time skin regimen, so now it's time for a review.  For reference, I've got aging, oily, congested skin that is marked by under the skin bumps caused by sebaceous hyperplasia and hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage.  Now, on to the review!

A little leakage happened in transit

Some background:  I already know I like snail slime as a skin care ingredient, based on my use of the CosRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (review here).  It contains 96% of snail slime compared to Scinic's 50% snail slime content. However, ampoule's are designed as multi-purpose products, which means a variety of ingredients are in order.  In addition to the snail slime, which is great for sun-damaged skin, the Scinic ampoule also contains botanicals with anti-inflammatory and soothing properties as well as peptides for collagen production.

Look how big this bottle is!  Seriously, I'm only about an inch down after 2 months of usage.  Having said that, I'm not a huge fan of the packaging, which did leak a bit in transit.  I find it somewhat cumbersome removing the top, dipping in the plastic spatula, smearing it on my skin, and then replacing the top. First world problems, I know, but I prefer pump bottles for ease of use and the lower risk of contamination.

This ampoule absorbs easily into my skin, even with a heavy application.  I end up applying it to my face, neck, decollete, and back of my hands because invariably the spatula picks up a fair amount. There is a peachy/floral fragrance that dissipates quickly.  I can't say it's offensive but I don't really care for it and wish companies would quite putting uneccessary fragrance in their products.

I follow up the ampoule with the Scinic Matrix Cream, which contains 23% of snail filtrate, and the cream does have that stringy quality I associate with snail slime. This uber reasonably priced cream has some other interesting ingredients as well:

I was happy and surprised that, given the variety of oils included in the formula, this did not leave my skin overly moisturized or shiny.  Considering I was using this prior to makeup application and I've got oily skin, I'm sufficiently impressed. Neither product caused irritation or breakouts, and my skin felt hydrated and smooth after use.  Considering I was using these during the colder months, I thought they did a good job of moisturizing without feeling heavy.

Overall, both products worked well for me and I think the Scinic Memebox is a great buy (it's still available at Memebox, by the way). I do prefer the CosRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence due to it's ease of use but the Scinic All-in-One Snail Ampoule is good.  Given it's size, I'm going to start using it on my body after showering so that it doesn't go to waste. My skin in general is looking really nice and it's been great identifying ingredients that work well for me, namely manuka honey (see here) and snail slime.

Clean Face Oil Control Essence by The Face Shop

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

The Face Shop's Oil Control Essence was part of Memebox's Korean Beauty Starter Set for Oily/Combination Skin that I purchased back in August.  I've been using it since then and thought it was time to post a review with my impressions.

I'll start with a description of my skin:  oily, congested, aging and with occasional breakouts.  I've been an oil slick ever since puberty, to the point where I would wash my face as soon as I got home from school and reapply my makeup before I went to my after school job.  My skin is not quite that oily now but I'd still describe it as oily.  I've tried a plethora of products described as being able to control or cut down on oil production and have been disappointed with most.

I keep trying though, and Clean Face Oil Control Essence has not left me completely disappointed.  I realize that's not a glowing endorsement, but hear me out, because I'm really enjoying it as a daytime essence under my makeup.  It's actually a really nice primer for oily skin!

No doubt that's at least partially due to cyclomethicone being the second ingredient on the list, which acts as a conditioning and carrying agent as well as a humectant.  Cyclomethicone also gives the skin a silky feel and can fill in wrinkles, giving the skin a more plump appearance.  It does not feel like other silicone based primers I've tried (in a positive way), and in general I'm liking the ingredient list.  My skin seems to like it as well, as I've had no unusual breakouts since incorporating this into my routine.

Overall, I'd say I like this enough that I'm two thirds of the way through my bottle, which is pretty good for a fickle skincare product user like me.  Is my skin less oily as a result?  I think so, although it's not a dramatic transformation. Every little bit helps, though.  It doesn't look like Memebox carries this in their regular lineup of products, but you can get it on Amazon for under $12.  There's that as well :-)

COSRX Memebox Review

Way back in August I finally broke down and bought my first Memebox.  It's a rabbit hole I've been avoiding, because you know, I tend to overdo stuff.  Plus, there is so many friggin' Asian brands and Asian beauty seems to have a never ending sequence of steps and who has that kind of time?  But I digress....

The COSRX box is the one that tipped the iceberg for me.  I've been using the products to varying degrees for 3 months now, so let's take a look at the items in the box and see if this was a worthwhile foray.

First of all, I do like the minimalistic packaging of COSRX.  The mission/aesthetic of this South Korean company is to make effective products with safe and natural ingredients, all while keeping prices lower by minimizing advertising and design costs.  The brand is also known for it's AHA/BHA products, two of which are included in this Memebox.  My oily skin should, in theory, benefit greatly from AHA/BHA's, so that was one of the draws for me in purchasing.

The AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner ($13) is supposed to be a gentle pH balancing toner, and the AHA/BHA properties come in the form of the Willow Bark Water, Apple Fruit Water, and Glycolic Acid.  This is one of my favorite items from the box, and the one I've been the most faithful in using.  I tended to spray it all over my face as opposed to using cotton pads, especially in the mornings.  I've got about 1/4 of a bottle left and have purchased another, so I'd say I'm a fan.

Tied with the toner in my affection is the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence ($19).  This is my first snail product, and it's composed of a whopping 96% of the clear gel-like substance that is secreted when snails crawl across rough surfaces.  Why spread snail slime on your face, you ask?  Well, apparently it has some powerful skin healing properties.  Plus, it works well on my oily skin as a light moisturizer and does not interfere with my foundation.  My skin absorbs it quickly and I then apply my moisturizer of choice.  I dunno,  gels and I are compatico.

The product that has seen the least amount of use from me is the BHA Summer Pore Minish Serum ($15).  Notice the demarcation in the ingredients?  There is a powdery essence in the mix that is supposed to help absorb oil, although my skin seems to defeat everything.  I admit to getting a bit lost with how to layer Asian products, and I'm just not really sure how to incorporate this in my routine. Plus, it lives in my refrigerator and I tend to forget about it as a result.  Once I get over these hurdles it could well turn out to be a star.

Shake, shake, shake to mix!

Last up is the Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser ($7.50).  I'm educated about Asian beauty enough now to know that many consider low pH cleansers to be de riguer, and this one has a high pH level of 9 or so.  Personally, I haven't had a problem with it, but the issue is that high pH cleanser may disrupt the skin's protective lipid barrier, making it more prone to irritation, bacteria, and other less than optimal things.  High pH cleansers also mean you need to use a pH adjusting toner to get your skin back to the levels that will work with AHA/BHA's, so there's that as well.  COSRX has now come out with a lower pH level cleanser, but I'll continue to use this one at night as part of my double cleansing routine.  It smells of tea tree oil, which I happen to enjoy, and lathers up nicely if that is important to you.

Ingredients:  Glycerin, Water, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Peg-32, Cocamidopropyl Betaine Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyquaternium-7, Lauramide Dea, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Polysorbate 60, Peg-100 Stearate, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cellulose Gum, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta

Overall, I feel like my skin is looking pretty good!  My pores look smaller/more refined and breakouts are minimal.  I've actually got a COSRX sleeping pack on the way in addition to the AHA/BHA toner, so I'm branching out.  I'm also reading the No/Low Buy Asian Beauty thread on reddit.com just in case.  It's a rabbit hole, I'm telling you.

The COSRX Memebox is still available for $46 ($67 value), and there are usually some discount codes floating around (I always Google for those) that can help lower the cost.  Here is my referral Memebox link if you'd like to use that, which I believe nets me some Memebox dollars?  I really can't remember.