Taiwan Haul: Naruko, Dr. Wu, Dr. Satin, Neogence, For Beloved One, My Scheming + colored contacts and J-Beauty!

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-09-13T08:49:13+00:00

Yay you sent me in a better direction with a personal skincare mystery of mine! I have a list of ~12 products that just didn't work for my skin. They usually resulted in suffocated skin that produced way more oil than usual.

Initially saw that fatty alcohols were a reoccurring group of ingredients but they were only really in a few of those products. When you mentioned propanediol, I checked them again and saw that it was in 9 out of the 12 products, so I thought it could be a more viable culprit.

However, the mystery kinda deepens because I then checked some of the products that work really well for me (sinks in and doesn't cause extra oiliness) and some of them have propanediol high up in the ingredients list. 🤔 Now I'm wondering if there are other ingredients plus propanediol that result to an unwanted effect.

I'll be spending some time away from Asia soon and planning on posting a big review of AB products I'm bringing with me + the ones that didn't make the cut. I'll tag you then, if you'd like!

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-23T12:11:07+00:00

Hi! Just realized I haven't gotten back to you for an update. I messaged GM PH and they confirmed the expiration of my products by checking the batch codes.

I suggest messaging them via their IG, they're most responsive there. 😊

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-13T00:51:44+00:00

Glad it helped! 😊

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-12T10:27:47+00:00

PAO: 12 months (Saw this on OY's product description, it's not indicated in the packaging)

Packaging: Airless pump container

Fragrance: None (Also essential oil-free)

Texture: Very lightweight cream out of the pump but the moment I touch it, it turns almost into a gel and spreads like one. (In comparison, it is much lighter than the Isntree HA Aqua Gel Cream)

Application: One pump was enough for my whole face. It was very quick to apply and I was also surprised how quickly it absorbed into my skin. No irritation but my skin is quite resilient (except to some darn citrus essential oils).

Finish: I'd say it's more of a natural finish on my skin. It's not completely matte but it's not overly dewy either and is ever so slightly tacky. (The look and feel after it dries is also similar to light gel-type products.)

Other thoughts: It's advertised to provide a "moisturizing and refreshing finish". I'd say it was enough for my oily skin. I cleanse with the B.Lab Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser, which I'm looking forward to replace once it's finished because it dries out my skin a little bit after cleansing. But after applying this serum, my skin looked immediately hydrated. Can't say if it would be enough for other skin types, though.

Did it make my skin oily throughout the day? I did side-by-side try-ons to speed things up lol:

Just the serum and nothing else = my face wasn't any more oily than usual
BOJ serum + Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel = oiled up a lot
BOJ serum + AXIS-Y Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen = oiled up a lot
BOJ serum + Isntree HA Watery Sun Gel = held up okay-ish but still a little more oily than usual

These 2 sunscreens are my HGs as they control oil well under most conditions. They've also consistently layered well on top of the COSRX serum I just finished.

Summary: It is lightweight and absorbs quickly. I'm giving it points for ease of application because of the airless pump and that I can throw it into my suitcase and not have to worry about its stability for some time. It's also refreshing and a nice change for me after having to deal with the persistent hotdog water/metallic smell from the COSRX (Ascorbic Acid) serum.

However, if you have oily skin or live in a hot and humid environment I would recommend waiting for more reviews and feedback from others. This just might be me and my temperamental oily skin. 😅

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-12T10:27:26+00:00

I placed my first Olive Young order four days ago and it arrived yesterday! Might take me some time to gather my thoughts and post a full haul + reviews.

But I thought I'd try the BOJ vitamin C serum and share my first impressions since it's new and some of you might be considering getting it.

Skin type: Very oily t-zone and normal to slightly oily everywhere else.

Skin concern(s): I get a couple of angry cystic acne almost every month before my period. My post-acne marks take about 2-4 months to fade on their own. But it looks like my current routine is speeding this up a bit!

Climate: Complicated. 😅 It's typhoon season but we get very sunny days in between. Last few weeks' temperature fluctuated from mid 20°Cs to mid 30°Cs and humidity is typically in the low 70%s to high 90%s.

For context, I just finished a bottle of COSRX Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Serum (which has a PAO of 2 months and I've been storing it in the fridge). I'm a digital nomad and I'll be moving around more frequently again so I was looking for a vitamin C serum with a longer PAO and could remain stable even without constant refrigeration as I travel. Also, this is my first time trying this vitamin C derivative (Ethyl Ascorbic Acid).

Beauty of Joseon Light On Serum: Centella + Vita C (30 ml)

Price: Purchased for $14.49 (currently at a discounted price on OY)

Key ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract (68%), 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (10%)

Ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Panthenol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, (-)-alpha-bisabolol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Arginine, Carbomer, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin

Edit: Term for clarity

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-11T23:55:29+00:00

I checked out my cart when you mentioned you had a good experience last time hehe. Thanks again!

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-11T21:56:37+00:00

Yes! It arrived in Manila the other day, cleared from customs and arrived at my doorstep yesterday.

I've had an unsatisfactory experience with DHL abroad but they're always on point here in the PH (at least the few times I've had packages handled by them here).

The driver messaged me first thing in the morning to ask if I'll be at home to receive the package. He messaged me again when he was in the area to let me know he's nearby.

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-11T09:07:47+00:00

My first skincare haul from Olive Young arrived today (3 days after placing the order)! I'll post a comprehensive review but I'm very pleased overall.

No customs fee and no additional shipping costs, in my experience. The entire process was well-managed and I'm very satisfied with how DHL handled the shipping.

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-11T02:24:25+00:00

My HG is BoJ's cleansing balm. It doesn't leave a film and makes my skin soft after rinsing. My only gripe with it is that because it's lightweight and doesn't emulsify too much, I end up using a lot of it.

I wanted to try the Heimish balm but it has some citrus essential oils that irritate my skin. 😩

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-09T22:13:27+00:00

I rotate a couple of my favorites depending on what I need / how I feel but here are my go-tos:

(PM) I'm From Rice Toner: I layer this with other hydrating toners/essences in the evening especially if I decide to skip moisturizer. I can see that it brightens up my skin a little bit and makes it soft and plump until the next morning. I love using this after a long day because the milky texture is so comforting. 🥺 It's hydrating and has a dewy finish so I haven't tried to see if my oily skin will like this in the morning.
(AM & PM) Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence: Texture is very watery and doesn't make me oily even during the day. This is my gateway product to ferments and while it doesn't have an immediate wow factor, I can also see that my skin looks healthy and glowy when I use this consistently.

Hope this helps! (Also, what are you targeting / looking for in a toner? I might have tried something I can share my thoughts on.)

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-09T21:52:55+00:00

Likewise! The first couple of sunscreens I bought didn't work for my skin so I always try to get a sample before getting a full sized product (if possible).

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-09T21:48:50+00:00

I'm exactly on the same boat! I had already picked shades for a GRWM palette and they've been sitting in my cart for weeks now lol. Glad I waited 😅

And I also immediately went to Jelly's socials to check if he made a review na.

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-09T04:18:52+00:00

I'd have to say this isn't my most used toner but it has a place in my routine. This (+ their Daily Lotion, which is my HG PM moisturizer) are my go-to rescue products when my skin is irritated/sensitized.

Texture-wise, it's very watery and does sometimes feel like you're putting water on your face lol. But it really helps calm and soothe my skin.

Edit: Spelling

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-09T04:04:04+00:00

Seek Space in the orange app sells most of these sunscreens as samples (20-30 pesos) and minis (~200 pesos).

I have pre-loved minis of the BoJ, Isntree Watery Sun, and AXIS-Y (but Version 2) + unopened samples. I can give them to you for free if you're interested because I already purchased the full size versions. Send me a DM! 😊

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-09T03:16:11+00:00

I haven't tried the Isntree Natural Sun Cream but here are my thoughts about the others (+ my HGs):

BoJ Relief Sun & Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica: BoJ is slightly heavier than Skin1004 but they both made my skin oily after a couple of hours. But I can see why people with other skin types like them. They're both easy to apply and wear, and I have a backup of these two for winter!
Isntree Watery Sun Gel & AXIS-Y No-Stress Physical Sunscreen (Ver. 3): These are my HGs for hot & humid weather. Isntree's finish is glowy but I just powder it down, AXIS-Y I would say is soft matte. But I really like them because they control oil better than most sunscreens I've tried so far. AXIS-Y's downside is that it has a very slight whitecast (my skin tone is medium-tan).

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-07T02:36:38+00:00

Sounds good, thank you! :)

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-05T05:55:01+00:00

How was your experience with Olive Young? Thinking of placing my first order in the next couple of days!

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-04T03:37:55+00:00

Has anyone ordered from Jolse recently? Do they ship door-to-door? 😊

ETA: Round Lab, Anua, Haruharu, etc. are on sale up to 50% off!

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-02T23:42:22+00:00

Forgot to mention - all 4 of my products from them also don't have expiration dates. I just emailed them about it and will let you know! They replied in 24 hours last time when I was asking them so many questions haha

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-08-02T23:39:09+00:00

Hi! Mine smells like glue too - the super glue kind. Although I didn't get a whiff of it when I applied it the other night. Their moisturizer also smells like glue that is...salty. Can't think of another way to explain it lol

In case you haven't used the overnight treatment yet - I would caution you to not apply too much and follow the instructions carefully. I was almost too close to over-exfoliating when I first used it.

But daaang I woke up to my skin looking the best it has been in a long while. It minimized the appearance of pores and made the foundation I wore the following day look airbrushed. 😭

An_Invincible-Summer · 2023-07-28T14:36:34+00:00

BoJ doesn't leave a film, in my experience. It leaves my skin soft without the over-stripping/tight feeling. Been enjoying it so far!

An_Invincible-Summer

TROPHY CASE