Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo | Free Samples!

I’m an avid believer in eating clean and healthy every chance I can get. The same idea applies to the everyday skincare and body products I use. With so many mainstream items on the market, it’s easy for me to get caught up in frenzy, which is why I was very happy when Maple HolIstics reached out to me about their all-natural hair, skin, and body products.

With my sensitive and dry scalp. I opted for their tea tree shampoo. Tea tree is commonly found in skincare products for those with acne-prone skin, as it helps to minimize breakouts and calm irritated skin. Why not apply this concept and relieve the same skin troubles for your scalp, right? The shampoo is sulfate-free, which means it doesn’t lather up like most shampoos do but that doesn’t make it any less effective. After using the shampoo for over a month, though I have not seen major differences, it does make my hair feel super clean after each wash. For me personally, tea tree has a distinctive herbal-like scent, but it isn't overwhelming and I like the fact the scent doesn’t linger. The all-natural formula contains only seven ingredients, and it’s safe to be used on my colored hair. I’m pleased with the product, as it is gentle on my scalp and leaves my hair soft and clean. 

If you’re not a fan of tea tree products, there are other notable products on the site, such as the Argan Oil Conditioner. They also have a free samples program that includes a great selection of products for those who are not sure where to begin. Maple Holistics specializes in cruelty-free and premium products and it’s definitely worth giving it a try, as I strongly believe in their philosophy.

*All opinions are my own and I'm not being paid to write this review.

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Korean Beauty Review: SOKOGLAM

High-quality ecommerce shops for Korean beauty products have made a big name for themselves in American pop culture, as they have quickly become one of the hottest trends. From snail creams to gel masks, the Korean beauty industry seems to be way more advanced all the while keeping the products at an affordable cost. I haven't done much shopping for Asian beauty products since my Memebox haul in March, and being that the site reduced its selection of skincare products since then, I decided to try a different shop. 

Sokoglam is a Korean beauty and lifestyle site that offers quality skincare and makeup products - all hand-picked by beauty experts. Read below to see what I purchased from the trusted brand: 

Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil 

Comes in a sleek design, with the twistable pencil on one end and the spoolie on the other. The pencil is easy to use, and the dark brown shade goes on smoothly. It adds definition to my brows, while creating a soft and natural look. 

Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Cream

A lightweight moisturizer that claims to lock in hydration all day long. I was a bit thrown off when I opened the lid and it looked like 1/4 of the formula was missing. It could've simply been a design flaw. A little goes a long way with this lightly scented cream. It has a cooling effect, and makes my skin feel fresh and clean. It also absorbs quickly and gives my skin a dewey look that unfortunately lasts about 5 minutes after applying. The airy consistency is similar to Etude House's Collagen Sleeping Pack. The Super Aqua Cream has a long list of ingredients, as the formula contains 30 different extracts for deep hydrating purposes. I recommend using this cream at night for deep hydration.

Klairs Supple Preparation Toner

Formulated for those who have extremely sensitive skin. The product claims to reduce irritation and provide hydration. This may be strange to point out, but I'm so used to seeing the gunk left on the cotton pads from my previous toner that this one doesn't seem to collect as much dirt and oil after each use. Not sure if it works differently or that it's just not as effective. Though it contains fragrance, the toner doesn't have a smell upon use. Even though it's a simple and gentle product, it's nothing impressive compared to other toners that I've used. I especially enjoyed the Holika Holika toner from awhile back.

Review: Carols Daughter hair smoothie

Another hair-related post! If you missed my last post, which I talked about my new haircut and dyeing my hair, you can catch up here. 

With my fresh new 'do, I realized that I need to start taking better care of my hair and find ways to give my hair the shine and softness that it's been lacking for who knows how many years now. With my full asian genes at work, my thick hair is course and gets slightly frizzy after a wash. Also, when I was in the hair salon getting my haircut, the lady commented on my hair looking dry and dull. I was mainly looking for a hair mask that would moisturize, soften, and add shine to my hair. So the other day when I was in Target, I picked up this product: Carols Daughter moisture & shine hair smoothie in Black Vanilla. This stuff smells so wonderfully sweet and delicious! It reminds me of sugary vanilla cupcakes. Not just ONE cupcake, but cupcakeS because it's got such a rich & sweet scent. The 'smoothie" part of the product refers to the whipped consistency, which is more on the liquid side. Despite the instructions that say to use it on wet hair, the beauty consultant actually suggested to apply it directly on dry hair, and leave it in overnight for a deeper treatment. That night, I applied it generously all over my hair and left it in for 30 minutes, with a hair cap on. The formula absorbs quickly, making it easy to apply a lot of it at once. I used a golfball size amount on my short-medium long hair, which I now think about it, I may have applied too much. Going for ping-pong size amount next time. After the wash, my hair was instantly soft and smooth, it added a bit of shine, too! 

The product claims it restores moisture, improves manageability, and enhances shine, and after one use, I feel like it did it all. I'm vey impressed with this product, and I love that it's free of parabens, artificial colors, and other harmful ingredients. It smells so good that it feels like a real treat when I'm using it. I highly recommend this hair mask for anyone with dry and course hair and who are looking for a quality deep hydrating hair formula. 

Review: 3 things from TBS

Aloe Gentle Exfoliator

With the help of this product, I'm hoping it would get me into the habit of exfoliating daily to remove my stubborn blackheads. It's gentle and non-irritating. Though it's fragrance-free, it has a salicylic acid smell to me. It's faint, so it doesn't bother me. It cleared away the blackheads on my nose after the first use, but the stubborn ones managed to come back days later. I will definitely be holding onto this one to see if it makes any long-term differences for my skin. The exfoliator is no longer available on The Body Shop's website, but you can find their Aloe Gentle facial wash here.

 Color Crush Eyeshadow

This is a classic nude color in the shade Champagne & Gold. It's versatile, as it can be used as a base or on its own. It blends easily and is never cakey. I like to dab some on my inner eye corners for a brightening look. The shade has a bit of shimmer, but it's very subtle and doesn't get all over my face. The only downside is that it comes in a small size (it's about the same size as the Nivea lip butter), so price may not seem reasonable. 

Hand Cream 

Whenever I use this mango hand cream, it makes me think of a fruit stand in the summer time. It has a light citrus scent that lingers for a while after application. The gel-like cream absorbs easily, and the non-greasy formula leaves my skin feeing very soft. The twist cap can sometimes be too much to bother with, but the packaging looks nice and elegant!

Look out for a monthly favs (and not-so-favs) video from me where I will be mentioning some of these things!

Review: Best of Memebox Set

I guess we can call March the month of Memebox, because this marks the third time I will be talking about products purchased from their online Korean Cosmetics and Skincare store. Ever since I discovered the trendy Korean beauty company a few months ago, I've been wanting to try a box from their wide selection of affordable beauty box sets. From special USA boxes, such as The Hangover Box to exclusive mystery boxes, like the Easter Mystery Box, I was really intrigued by it all. Being that the boxes are limited and they tend to sell out fast, I was excited that I was able to get my hands on the "Best of Memebox Set". In it contains five products that had rave customer reviews, and some were winners of the 2014's Memebox Beauty Awards. As a first-timer, I'm very happy with the products. Their range of beauty boxes are unique and affordable, and they are great for those who are new to the Korean beauty trend. 

1  MISSHA Pure Source Sheet Mask

I'm a huge fan of Korean brand sheet masks, and this one did not disappoint. I could tell it was extremely hydrating when I teared the packet open, and some of the essence splattered out. I wouldn't say it brightens, as I've only used it once. It's great to use in the warmer seasons, because it instantly cools and refreshes the skin. 

2  IT'S SKIN Babyface Gel Pencil Eyeliner

Though the product says it's "gel", it seemed more like a regular pencil eyeliner to me. The eyeliner came in Champagne Pink, which is a lovely pale color with sparkles. I use it on the inner corners of my eyes for a bright-eyed look. It's long-lasting, which makes the white flecks hard to wash off. The sparkles don't like to stay in one place, but a little eyeshadow primer should do the trick. 

3  TONYMOLY Bunny Gloss Bar 

The site claims this to be a lipgloss/lipstick, but the lack of shine and color of the product reminds me of a lip balm. It glides on smooth, and has a soft peach-colored tint. It acts as a good base for layering on other lip products. On the first few applications, the product left behind bits of colored residue/flakes on my lips. It's not a super hydrating formula, and I discovered that it contains parabens. 

4  IT'S SKIN Babyface One-Step Base

This is a 3-in-1 primer, with SPF 15. Mine was in Lavender Pink, which claims to be best for people with yellow undertones and helps to brighten dull complexion. A little goes a long way for this product, as the formula is on the liquidy side. It's easy to squeeze out more than you need because it's very runny. The formula has a sweet scent, and is in the shade of a light lavender color. It becomes white when blending it onto the skin. Be careful not to use too much, or it might leave a white cast on your face. It's very gentle, and helps even out my skin tone. 

5  Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer Goddess Cream

This is actually my second jar. The first time I got it was when I first discovered Memebox, and bought it as an individual product to try. I was running low on the first jar, and didn't mind getting it again because it was more affordable to get it as part of the box set. As I mentioned in another Memebox review, I like to use this at night, as it delivers incredible hydration and soothes my skin. It has a clean scent, and the airy consistency absorbs easily into the skin. It's an all around great product!

Have you stepped into the Korean beauty trend? 

Review: Holika Holika Aqua Fantasy Toner

Holika Holika Aqua Fantasy Toner

Toners are one of my favorite things at the moment. It's funny that half a year ago, I didn't know much about them aside from the fact that they followed the cleanse-moisturize-routine. Ever since I read about the benefits of using a toner, I've incorporated it into my daily skincare routine. Now it's an essential part of my skincare regime. This brings me to talk about the Aqua Fantasy Toner I purchased recently. When I first opened the box, I took a good five minutes marveling at the sleek bottle, because it's unlike anything I'v gotten before. Leave it to the Korean beauty market to come up with such a fresh, yet edgy design. I thought it looked nice on the website, but it looked even better in person. Okay, enough of me rambling about the beautiful bottle, and onto the review.

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What it claims: 
The paraben-free formula delivers deep hydration to the skin layers to relieve and refresh stressed and tired skin.

First impression: 
I was in awe when I saw this beautiful glass bottle. The packaging is unlike anything I've ever gotten before. It has a twist cap, and because the toner has a gel-like consistency, it requires a few shakes to dispense the product onto a cotton pad. It has a light and refreshing scent, and is very gentle on my skin.

Final thoughts: 
I absolutely love this toner! Over the few weeks I've been using it, I noticed that it has improved my complexion. I may just be imagining things, and could still be in awe with how pretty the bottle is, but I feel that the toner leaves my skin super soft and smooth, and complexion clear and bright.

❊ ❊ ❊

I shall end this post with some of the wonderful things about using a toner:

1) It minimizes the look of pores
2) It removes toxins, and provides extra cleansing.
3) It balances the skin's pH level, which is helpful for oily and/or acne-prone skin types.

What's your current skincare favorite?

A little update + Memebox

Hello! Happy 1st of March! I will say it again and again, how is time flying by so fast?! I'm drowning in my studies, as week 9 of the school's quarter system is just around the corner. Final class assignments and papers are all I can think about right now. And preparing for next quarter has got me all nervous, because it means i'm this close to graduating in Spring. Oh my goodness, don't even get me started on my plans after graduation. It's very overwhelming and makes me want to crawl into a Alice's rabbit's hole. As i've clearly been absent on the blogging front, I wanted to do this quick update and say, (or maybe just remind myself), that i am well and (barely) surviving these few weeks i have left before spring break. I probably won't be posting much until then. But i leave you with another beauty-related review!

_   _   _

If you love the Korean beauty trend, then you'll be very excited to hear about Memebox (pronounced me-me-box), a company known for selling exclusive boxes filled with the hottest Korean beauty products. Aside from their special boxes, they also have a USA shop where you can purchase individual products. I opted for this feature, as I was looking to stock up on a few skincare products. Being the indecisive person that I am, it took forever to pick out the products (when i only needed three things), because there were so many to choose from. Everything looked high-quality and it was hard to resist all the cute packaging.
Shipping was very fast, as it came two days after my order was processed. I'm completely obsessed with the site now, and it will be the first thing I hit up when looking for Asian-brand beauty products.

INSIDE MY MEMBOX:

Tony Moly Sheet Mask

Being that this is a very popular Korean brand, I was disappointed to find how poor of a quality the sheet mask was. It teared when i was unfolding it and ripped some more on the side when I was smoothing it onto my face. Though the scent was nice, I probably won't be getting it again.

Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer Goddess Cream
I mostly use this at night before i go to sleep. It absorbs easily and has a cooling effect, which suits my oily skin type. It's extremely lightweight, and the airy consistency is very similar to the one from Etude House (link here).

Missha Near Skin Cleansing Cream
This cleaning cream doesn't work up to a lather, as it completely absorbs into my skin when I message it onto my face. The scent-free cream has tiny yellow beads, and according to the product details, they contain vitamin E, which help get rid of impurities. I've never used anything like it before, but i like that it's gentle and makes my skin super soft. I've also noticed that I've been breaking out less since using it. I highly recommend it for those with sensitive skin! 

3 things from Sephora

This is a long overdue post, because I purchased these items around Christmas time. But being that I don't usually buy things from Sephora, this is something I thought would be fun to share. I'm completely clueless when it comes to makeup, but I'm always curious so I like to play around with it here and there. Most of the time though, my face just ends up looking no better than what I started out with. But that doesn't stop me from going to Sephora and looking at all the pretty makeup and beauty-related things.

Here's the 3 things I picked up:

Aanastasia Brow Wiz

Having been strangely obsessed with having some eyebrow game going on lately, I picked up the Anastasia brow pencil. I heard great reviews about it, and for the price, I definitely had high expectations. I find the pencil extremely easy to apply, but apparently I didn't get the "a little goes a long way" memo because I used a good few inches of the pencil after just my third use. Because the pencil is super thin and I happened to chose a light shade, it's easy to keep on applying without noticing a big difference. I like that it creates a very soft and natural look however. With my black hair and medium skin tone, I wanted to soften my features a bit and picked out the shade in "medium brown". It lived up to my expectations, but for a college student like me, the price is just a little too steep. I'll be keeping my eyes open for a more affordable alternative after using up this one.

Rosebud Salve

I picked this up from those display boxes on the side while waiting in line to pay for my things, telling myself that there's no such thing as having too many lip balms. I'm really happy I got it. It has a light flowery scent and I bring it with me everywhere I go. It's very hydrating, which means I don't have to constantly worry about reapplying it throughout the day.

Precision Pore Cleansing Pad 

I'm putting all my hopes of getting rid of my stubborn blackheads onto this little pad right here. It has a suction thing on the back that you can use to stick it on the shower wall or the bathroom mirror, which is super helpful when letting it dry. There's also an area on the bottom end of the pad that has massage beads instead of the soft bristles. I usually stick to the bristles, but the massage beads are great for when you want to try something different. I like that it gives my face a deep cleanse, but after using it for over a month now, those blackheads just won't budge. Maybe the fact that I haven't been using it on a daily basis could be why I'm not seeing much of a difference. Will definitely keep you updated on that! As you can probably tell, I'm pretty horrible at keeping a consistent skin care regime. Does anyone else go through this?

Review: Etude House toner & night cream

This has probably been the longest I've been away from the blogging scene since I first started this space for my thoughts and all things random. I have no excuses, except to say that balancing school with work, and trying to squeeze in a bit of a social life has basically taken up a good chunk of my time. In case you missed my previous post, which was back in early October, you can read all about it here - it's a little catch-up post consisting of the bits and pieces of my time being back in school during the first week. 

Now that we're halfway through November, you have no idea how excited I am for the holiday season! I'm already in the Christmas spirit even though we haven't started with all the Thanksgiving festivities. You might think it's a little early to get out the Christmas lights and such, but personally, it is never too early. (I've already put up fairy lights in my apartment). The holiday season almost always goes by in a blink of an eye. So, why not start early?!

Anyhoo, I've gone completely off topic and let me just dive right into the review here:

Wonder Pore Freshner 

For the price, this all-in-one toner comes in a very generous size. It has a refreshing and light scent, which makes the skin feel incredibly clean after each use. It's gentle, absorbs easily, and does not irritate my skin. It claims to minimize the look of pores, control oil, and firm the skin. From all the positive reviews I read online, a few users noticed differences in as little as a week. Unfortunately, this was not the case for me. I've been using it every night for over a month and has not seen any improvements to my skin. 

Moistful Collagen Sleeping Pack

I picked out this night cream, because I ran out of the Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizer. The cream is incredibly lightweight and almost has an airy feel to it. Like the Wonder Pore toner, it has a light scent and leaves my skin feeling refreshed. It's very gentle as well as hydrating for my skin. I've been using it as part of my nightly routine along with the toner and have noticed that I wake up with with a slightly brighter complexion than I used to.

~ ~ ~

I think the the toner and night cream are great purchases for those who want to try Etude House's face products for the first time. Whenever I try new face products, I always have high hopes of them working its magical properties and seeing wondrous results. Clearly, that's not the case. But I will continue using them since it does keep my skin fresh and clean, and because I feel it would be a waste not to. I will keep you updated if I notice any major differences! :)

Have you tried any of Etude House's products? What did you think of them? 

Empties & almost empties review

Hi there! I'm typing this post up as I just got out of a nice and long shower after doing one of Blogilates workouts on Youtube. Tried the 5-minute ab workout for the first time and boy, was it intense!

Anyhoo, after I used up my bottle of Aveeno shave gel the other day, I thought I would do a quick review of it along with a few other products that are close to emptying out. I was thinking of saving the empties and do a collective review on all of them later, but I hoard enough things as it is that I think it's going to be hard to keep track of everything. So here are my thoughts on the things I've used up (and almost using up): 

Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel

First impression: Very gentle on the skin and has a light scent. It works into a creamy lather and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. 

Product details: Helps you to shave less often and helps prevent nicks, cuts, and razor burns. It's gentle enough to use on sensitive skin. 

Final thoughts: While it didn't irritate or dry out my skin, I still managed to get a few razor burns from time to time. After multiple uses, I noticed that I didn't have to shave my legs as often as I used to. The hair on my legs seemed to have grown back slower and lighter. Though the same cannot be said about the armpit situation. 

Mini Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel

First impression: A basic, travel size shower gel that has a refreshingly crisp and clean grapefruit scent. 

Product details: Soap-free, lather-rich, refreshing grapefruit scent 

Final thoughts: This tiny bottle is not worth the retailing price ($4). While I enjoyed the scent, the shower gel didn't stand out to me.

Nuance Airy Ultra Honey Hair Mask, Japan

First impression: It made my hair feel light and soft. It has a flower scent that's not overwhelming at all. 

Product details: Formulated with honey and milk protein that strengthens and protects severely damaged hair. Leaves hair soft, elastic, and easy to manage. Gives limp and flat hair a light and bouncy feel.

Final thoughts: A quick hair profile ~~ I have naturally wavy thick hair with no split ends. ~~

With all the sun and heat damage my hair has gone through, I feel that this mask has really helped with keeping the ends of my hair hydrated and protected as they aren't as dull-looking as they used to be. Overall, it's a good moisturizing hair mask that leaves hair feeling extremely light and smooth.

I hope you have a warm and wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

The Body Shop Review | A hit...and a miss

If you've been reading my review posts lately, you've probably noticed that a majority of the stuff are from The Body Shop. Maybe it's because I'm still a newbie when it comes to beauty things, but I always find myself going back to The Body Shop to look for products to try. I think it's their endless sales and promotions that keep reeling me in. Here are two of their "best-seller" products, Nutriganics Drops of Youth and Vitamin C Skin Boost that I'm going to review. One's a hit and one's a miss. 

Nutriganics Drops of Youth

It didn't take me 'till now to realize that Nutriganics Drops of Youth is actually an anti-aging serum that targets the first signs of aging. I think this just goes to show how clueless I am when it comes to beauty-related things, ah bare with me please haha. I do love to experiment and play around with new products however! 

I was very impressed by this serum when I first used it that I bought another one after finishing the first (note: this item no longer ships to California, can be purchased in stores only). It does exactly what it claims as it enhances surface skin condition, smoothes, and instantly moisturizes. For such a small bottle with a pretty big price tag, I mostly use it at night time after washing my face and it leaves my skin super soft, dewy, and fresh looking. On occasion, I would use it during the day to give my skin a fresher and healthier look. The serum has a light scent and unlike FAB's liquid serum (review here), it has a slightly thicker and goo-y consistency, making it easy to apply and massage onto my face. In terms of its anti-aging claims, I haven't noticed any major differences, but it has made my face look a lot brighter and smoother than it used to. 

This serum is an essential part of my daily skincare routine. It's gentle and non-drying while leaving my skin looking smooth and fresh. I would highly recommend this serum to those of you who have a dull/rough complexion. 

(P.S. You can usually get the product at a cheaper price than it originally retails with the sales & promotions that they always have going on!)

Vitamin C Skin Boost

Now onto the one that was a miss...

I was really excited to try this because I was looking for something to help brighten my skin tone. After the first use however, my thought was that this small bottle was not worth the price. It claims to create instant smoothing radiance with a silky smooth finish and enhance your glow. But in actuality, this product did not work for me at all. Since it's slightly oily, I would use it in the mornings before I put on my moisturizer. It dispenses a tiny amount in one pump and it's more than enough to smooth over my entire face. Although it was an easy application as the formula glided on my skin and had a nice citrus scent, it really didn't do any more than that. The "glow" that it supposedly gives is from the light-reflecting specks in the formula, but I honestly did not see any brightening effects.

In short, the Vitamin C Skin Boost left my skin smooth and soft, but only temporary. At $27 a bottle, I would not be buying this again because I didn't see any long-term results. I think this would make a good base for makeup, but that's not really what I was looking for. 

I hope you found this review helpful and thank you for reading :) 

Review: Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

This was the first toner I've ever purchased and it has left a lovely first impression on me. Before I got  the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner from The Body Shop, I did some research and many users raved about how it wasn't over-drying and prevented breakouts. 

I've been using the toner for over 6 months now and noticed a couple of differences. First, it didn't sting or dry out my skin at all. After using it for so long, I expected my skin to get a little dry, but nope, there's absolutely no signs of it drying out my skin. It actually left my skin very fresh looking and smooth. Second, it mattified my skin like it claimed on the bottle. Since I have oily skin and am always looking for products to control my shiny t-zone area, I found this to be very helpful. In terms of breakouts, it didn't entirely stop me from breaking out every now and then, but I did notice that the pimples that I would get went away rather fast. They didn't linger like they used to and I was extremely happy about that. As for the scent, it was a little strange, but it wasn't overbearing so I didn't mind it. 

Personally, this was a very good first toner for me to start out with. It was extremely gentle and my skin reacted pretty well to it. After I finish this bottle, I think I'm going to try out a different toner just so I can have something to compare it with. Hmm, I've been especially keeping an eye out for toners that help reduce redness and minimize pores. I'll definitely keep you posted! 

[Empties]: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Liquid Recovery

This is the first beauty product that I've emptied in a very long time. I have this thing where it takes me forever to finish anything that is skincare and beauty related. I have tons of half used lotions, chapsticks, and makeup products sitting around the house - forgotten and probably way past its expiration date. I'm not the only one who's like that, right?

So it was somewhat of a surprise when I noticed that I was nearly done with this whole bottle of First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Liquid serum. Since I have sensitive skin that gets inflamed super easily,  I picked up this particular product, which claims to "hydrate, reduce redness, and repair stressed skin."

Personally, I was disappointed to find that the product did not make much of a difference to my skin. It was indeed light and hydrating, but other than that, nothing else stood out. Firstly, it had a very funky smell. Scent is everything to me when it comes to skincare products so I was thrown off by the unpleasant smell. Second, because the serum is liquid based, I did not like that it was designed in a way where I had to squeeze the tip to get the formula onto my palms. Often times, the liquid would drip right through my fingers before I could even pat it onto my skin, resulting in a bit of a waste. 

Like most skincare products out there, the serum did a good job providing temporary results. My skin appeared the smoothest and hydrated when I used it right after showering and washing my face. But that could just be the result from my other skincare products that I'm using.

Overall, I was not impressed and considering the price, it could've been better. But then again, it might work for someone with a different skin type.

Review: Origins Charcoal Face Mask

I've been wanting to try a charcoal mask for a while now and decided to try the Origins Clear Improvement Mask. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or how my skin was going to react to it so I got the travel pack edition, which comes in four individual packets. 

The mask has a light scent and hardens after 20 minutes. I'm not going to lie, that moment when I feel the mask tightening on my face is just oh-so-satisfying because that's when I know it's working and sucking out all the dirt from my pores. It gets me pretty excited haha. The best part was seeing the results - I noticed a clearer and brighter complexion in my face after each use. 

As far as blemish-control goes, the product doesn't make me break out, but it doesn't completely prevent breakouts either. I could tell that the mask definitely reached deep into my pores and did its magic because it helped get rid of the blackheads that were around my nose. I was bummed that it was only temporarily though. A few days after each use, those feisty blackheads reappeared in the same exact spots on my nose as if they've never left. 

In short, the charcoal mask was gentle on my skin, did an amazing job getting all the gunk out of my pores, and left my face touchably soft and clean. 

Skin type profile:

✳︎ Sensitive 

✳︎ Oily/T-zone

✳︎ Redness/Inflammation

✳︎ Enlarged pores around nose area