Korean Beauty Products

I could go on a tangent about beauty standards in Korea... but I won't. My goal is to review the beauty products that I have bought and tried here in Korea.

In case you've ever visited Korea or ever plan to visit Korea, one of the first things you will notice is the overabundance of makeup stores -- Etude House, Nature Republic, TheFaceShop, Innisfree, Missha, Saem, It's Skin, Hanskin, Aritaum... the list goes on. Most of these stores are easily seen in shopping areas, university areas, and subway stations. In many locations, 2 or more of the same branches can be found within a 1/2 radius... I kid you not.

Anyways, my point is that with such an abundance of stores and beauty products, it can be difficult to decide what products are worth it... and which aren't.

The below reviews are solely my own opinion and derive from my personal experience with said products, so take from it what you will.

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First off, I'm actually going to review a U.S. product I purchased at CVS in Berkeley before I came to Korea. The only reason I am doing this is because of how upset I am.
Lumene Sensitive Touch Eye Makeup Remover

By far, this is the WORST eye makeup remover I have ever used. True, I have limited experience... but... it does not discount how poorly this product works.
It requires a large amount to remove my mascara and eyeliner and it requires me to put extra pressure on my skin. Did I mention it stings my eyes? I had high expectations and so I am highly disappointed.
Price: ~$6 (I bought it on sale for $3)
How it works: 2/5
Would I recommend it: No. Absolutely not.










Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream

I first tried this as a sample and when I ran out of Olay moisturizer, I decided to give it a shot. I use this as my moisturizer after I come out of the shower and after I wash my face with cleanser.

It applies smoothly and is extremely light on your skin. As you can see, the jar is actually really cute and there are three different versions for dry skin, oily skin, and combination. Each version is a different color and I chose combination because well, I think I have combination skin. The jar is a nice size and it comes with a hygienic spoon which you can use to apply it (although honestly, it is a bit of a hassle, so I just apply with clean hands). The smell is really nice, although it wears off fast. Would I repurchase? Honestly, no. For the price I paid, I feel as if I could get a better product elsewhere. Although my skin feels nice when I first apply it... after an extended period of use, I have yet to see an improvement in my skin's moisture. Although maybe, the cold weather has something to do with it.
Price: ~10,000won = ~$10
How it works: 3/5
Would I recommend it: I say, this is a product you can try and it may have good results for you. But for myself, I would not repurchase. And I don't think it is worth the cost of shipping overseas to the US.

EDIT (4/7/12): Since my last review, I have now finished the bottle. Unfortunately, after returning to California, I've realized what a gem of a product this was. On using the moisturizers I had previously used, I realized how good of a moisturizer this was. As such, I am rightfully editing this review.
How it works: 5/5
Would I recommend it: Absolutely! The gel-like consistency is super light-weight and smooth. My face was extremely soft and smooth and well-moisturized. I also did not break out while using this product. For the price I paid, this was a bargain. I have used similarly priced items here in the US with less success and less results. And in fact, I will be ordering this to be shipped to me in CA.

Nature Republic Pine Daily Brush Cleanser

I purchased this cleanser when I realized I hadn't cleaned my brushers in a while since I had been to Korea. I was confused about the way to use the cleanser since I have only ever used Sephora's cleanser... but as the Nature Republic sales lady explained, spray the cleanser into a paper towel or a towel and simply wipe down your brushes. I'm not sure if there is any anti-bacterial stuff in it, but it smells nice and it dries easily. It's a daily cleanser, so you can wipe and then use instantly. I can tell that the brush is cleaner, but I don't think I would choose this product over the cleanser I use at home. The Sephora Purifying Brush Shampoo seems to work better and I can visibly see and feel the difference (it's like my brush is brand new again).
Price: ~4000won = ~$4
How it works: 4/5 (I'm giving it a little extra because it does the job, it smells good, and I feel unfair comparing it to a brush shampoo)
Would I recommend it: Sure, but... I don't know if it's work the shipping overseas. But while in Korea, I had difficult finding even this brush cleanser... I'm not sure if that was just my own experience. But I would definitely recommend this over not cleaning your brushes at all.

Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel

I saw this advertised as a multi-purpose item -- moisturizer, lotion, sleeping mask, etc. And so I had to buy it. My original intent was to use it to moisturize my legs. Although the immediate results were nice -- my skin was nice and shiny, later in the day, my legs would continue back to their dry state. I learned recently from my roommate (who asked a sales person about it, something I DID NOT do): this product is supposed to be used underneath and IN ADDITION to your moisturizer, lotion, etc. OMG. My life.
In any case, it smells nice, and it's very soothing, and as you may be able to read, it's paraben free, mineral oil free, artificial colors free.
Price: 3300won = ~$3
How it works: Excellent if you remember to follow it up with lotion
Would I recommend it: Eh. Mixed feelings. It's a nice product, but it is an additional step to remember. It may not be worth it to ship it either (especially since aloe vera products are in abundance in the US). But, the naturalness of the product and the lack of parabens, mineral oil, and artificial colors intrigues me.
If you try it and have excellent results, please let me know. I'm honestly still using it improperly and would love to know how the results are when you use it correctly.

TheFaceShop Sweety Mint Moisture Foot & Heel Cream

The condition of my heel is not at all attractive. They are pretty gnarly, let's just leave it at that. Anyways, I purchased this in addition to a foot pumice and I have to say, I have never seen my feet looking so nice in years. The smell is very nice, extremely minty. It dries fairly quickly and I'm on my way. I usually apply it straight after I shower (where my last step is to use the foot pumice across my heel).
Price: 5500won = ~$5
How it works: 5/5 (but I only say this, in combination with a foot pumice. How the results are without one, I'm not sure)
Would I recommend it: Yes. But not if you are purchasing and shipping it to the US. It's not THAT special. But if you are in Korea, you might want to try it out.






Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble R 4-step Program

I purchased this program in order to try out the products without having to purchase all of the full-sized items. It comes with an anti-trouble skin liquid (that you apply via a cotton swab), lotion, spot treatment, recover gel, and a one-time use V-line face mask.

I purchased the set to combat my acne and redness on my cheeks. I'm not sure if there really has been any improvement. Although, I must add, my skin was not dried out by this product as it has been from other anti-acne products I've used in the past. I've used it for roughly two weeks now... Anyways, the smell is unique and very earthy. Innisfree is known for being an all-natural store and so I feel comfortable using their products without fearing horrible chemicals being placed on my skin. This is another product that I was extremely excited about but was disappointed by the results.
Price: ~15000 = ~$15
How it works: 2/5 I'm not actually sure it even worked...
Would I recommend it: No. I'm sure there are better products out there with greater, more visible results and so for it's price, I say, go out and explore. Actually, if you can afford it and are curious, you might want to try it. But, I probably won't buy the full-sized products.

In summary: None of the products I have reviewed are recommended as to be purchased if you are overseas, unless you buy in bulk or if there's a sale, etc.
Domestically however, is a different story.
Edit (4/7/12): With the exception of the Nature Republic Super Aqua cream which I recommend both domestically and overseas. It's definitely worth it :)

Again, this is only my own personal opinion and experience, if you have better results, let me know how it goes :)

I went on a bit of a binge when Nature Republic had its December sale, I will review some of these products if I have the chance.