[REVIEW] Korean skincare: how my skin has changed in 1 month!

Hello dear reader, and welcome to the first post on my blog! 

 If you're reading this, I believe that you've been curious about the infamous Korean products for achieving the 'perfect skin'. It is well known that Korean women are very vigorous and picky about their skincare, and also, they hold their skin to the highest standards. 'Poreless', 'Glass-like' and 'Moisturized' are only a few words we meet when getting acquainted to this type of skincare, so bare with me :)

I have tried a Korean skincare routine for 1 month (5 weeks in real time, as I've been skipping some days due to chronic laziness), rigorously, every morning. I have done some heavy research regarding:

1.What I want from my skin.
2.What I need for my skin.
3.What works for my skin.

Being a full-fledged oily/acne prone girl, I've transformed to a mixed/sensitive one, so this was a true journey.

I will go in depth as to what I have been experiencing. My skin went through brightening, scar healing, flaking (dead skin removal), overall softness, increased sensitivity and dryness. 

It is very important that while you are in the process of exfoliating (morning or night) that you have a moisturizing routine in parallel.

I usually exfoliate chemically in the morning, exfoliate physically 2-3 times a week and hydrate at night. Because oily skin does not go well with moisturizing products, I tend to overproduce oil when in their presence. AND EVEN THOUGH I so heavily moisturize at night, my skin started to dry out when not using the products. ALSO I could not wear makeup after exfoliating, because after a few hours, the skin started shedding. So when you add foundation, it peels off. If I had to go out in the morning, I tone and use a gel-type moisturizer (which I will be showing in future posts).

These are the products that I've used and what has worked for me.

1. Cleansing foam. I have used the NAKEUP SKIN AC Herb Mask Foam. 150 ml.

It has a low ph (5.5), contains BHA (Salicylic acid) and tea trea oil. Deep cleansing for sensitive skin, as it is free from 8 harmful ingredients:  mineral oil, talc, artificial color, paraben, benzyl alcohol, dimethicone, triclosan (and another one, i lost it).

Pros: VERY CONVENIENT. (You simply press the cap and the foam comes out; very easy to rinse off; no residue left) 
Cons: It stings sometimes and you cannot travel with it, as it leaks. Based on the translation, if I were to see this in the store, I would of taken it as a joke and passed on it. God bless the internet. Herb fragrance.
Would I repurchase: YES. There are a lot of foams out there, but this has the best ingredients hands down. (And targets all of my skin's needs).

2. Toner. COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. 150 ml.

It contains low percent (0.1%)  AHA (glycolic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid) and has a low ph (3.9).

Pros: Gentle exfoliation; gentle on the skin; doesn't sting; refreshing sensation; Fragrance free.
Cons: The pump is very fine, so you end up using quite a lot. I finished almost half in one month; can't use it alone, needs a cotton pad.
Would I repurchase: NO, as there are other toners that have higher acid concentration. Definitely would try other similar products.

3. Essence. COSRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence. 100ml.

 It contains 95% Galactomyces. These are fermented yeasts that are used for wrinkles and brightening (healing scars from pimples, hyperpigmentation). I can definitely tell that it works as I can feel a tingling, refreshing sensation after I used it (it felt strange at the beginning, but I started to like it over time). It has a watery-gel consistency.
Very important: yeasts also have benefits for pore control and also helps with the absorption of the next products you use in your skincare routine.
Free of 7 harmful ingredients:  parabens, ethanol, synthetic surfactant, artificial colorants, artificial fragrance, triethanolamine, phtalate.

Pros: Tingling sensation; refreshing; a little product goes a long way; helps with scarring, lessens sebum production; appropriate for sensitive skin; Fragrance free.
Cons: NONE.
Would I repurchase: Probably not. Not because it isn't good, but because there are lot of Essences and I'd like to try more before I make my up my mind. It is one of the purest essences out there, that is for sure!

4. Serum. TIAM My Signature C Source. 30ml.

 This serum contains 20% vit. C, a very strong concentration, but I have never experienced burning or stinging sensations. The consistency is fluid, also very sticky and leaves the skin tacky. Which is very good for applying the moisturizer of choice afterwards. It enters the skin very rapidly, smells strongly of citrus (orange) but is pleasant. This is a very strong Vitamin C serum, which exfoliates, brightens, clears pimples, hyperpigmentation, fills in fine lines and wrinkles. Some people like to use this as their primer (due to its tackiness) but I find it very risky, even if you use SPF cream (WHICH YOU NEED TO) .

Pros: Rises up to ALL its claims, the quantity is actually very high because you need very little (I've used almost 1/4 in on month)
Cons: Needs to be stored in the fridge, kept out of sunlight, goes bad in 3 months (I've heard) as vitamins oxidize fast.
Would i repurchase: YES. (If I don't find other more powerful/convenient products).

5. Moisturizer. Palmer's Moisture Rich Night Cream. 75 ml.

[Yes, I know that I've said KOREAN routine, but I just bought this cream and wasn't going to let it go to waste. But if it stayed, it means IT'S GOOD.
Palmer's are actually one of the very few brand that i have in my country that I ACTUALLY LIKE. (I will be posting later with my Palmer's collection).]

When I used it alone, I used it as a night cream (as it was meant to be used), and it was deeply moisturizing, but after using it with these other products I've mentioned above, it helped with exfoliating and practically STOPPED my sebum production! This cream contains Retinol (Vit. A),Vitamin E and Peptides which regenerate and protect the skin's structure, and also other moisturizing elements (Shea Butter, Aloe). Shea butter is the most similar to our skin's structure, making it easily to absorb! Yes, oily skin people! We can actually use butter on our face! It is also free of 3 harmful ingredients:  parabens ,phthalates and dyes.

Pros: VERY LARGE quantity for the price, very effective, helps skin renewal, hydrates, absorb fast (when used with exfoliants), non-comedogenic!
Cons: Fragrance, Heavy Packaging
Would I repurchase? No. I am always on the hunt for new moisturizers, new ingredients, and I think I'll be hitting snail mucin and placentas next!

Edit: After I was almost finished with the tub, my skin started burning/itching from the fragrance. It ended up sensitizing my skin, so no, I would definitely not recommend and not repurchase.

And this is all that I use for my face. But, I also use and eye cream so here you go:
secretKey Starting Treatment Eye Cream .30g.

 Again, we meet the galactomyces (80% contained)! (They're pretty popular in Korean skincare). Also contains ceramide and oligopeptide (moisture retainment). But unfortunately, this has done nothing for me. It is a nice cream, hydrates alright (not considerably), has healthy ingredients but didn't do anything for my dark circles. I had hoped that the 'whitening' would of worked for dark circles, but unfortunately, no. In this case, you get what you pay for so I'm not mad. It has a light scent and is Free of 5 harmful ingredients: paraben, animal oil, coloring, mineral oil, benzophenone.

Pros: VERY LARGE quantity for the price, softens the skin, no eye irritation,
Cons: it has lots of claims, but it doesn't do much except for softening.
Would I repurchase? Definitely Not. I'm already using a new high end eye cream at night.

And here are all the folks in one big happy picture :)

 We've been acquainted in the last month, and I'll be using them for one months, with 1-2 weeks breaks, because right now my moisture levels are in distress. But they have cured me of my pimple problems and now I have those really bad scars.

I got the scars from a couple of misfortunate events, from my part and other people's, but now we're headed in the right direction :)

I definitely can say that Korean technology is one of the best out there and worth a try for everyone and any skin type :)