[NATURE REPUBLIC] Hawaiian FRESH *Acne Cleanser & Clay Pack*

Until today I didn't find the perfect product for oily skin, enlarged pores or breakouts. Therefore I constantly try out new products and seldom repurchase an previous used one. A few months ago I found the new skincare line from [NATURE REPUBLIC] called Hawaiian FRESH. This line consists of different products like cleansers, toners, body scubs and face masks.
I got the Hawaiian FRESH Acne Cleanser and the Hawaiian FRESH Clay Pack which are recommended for acne/troubled skin. I would also like to try the Mango Pack, though.
 
Description: Hibiscus flower and Noni Extract offer vitality to skin to create healthy skin.

Acne Cleanser:

Description: Trouble Care & Acne Cleanser for clear skin.

This face wash comes in a 150ml light blue tube and has a pretty painting of the ocean and a palm tree leaf on the front. On the bottom is a white flip-top lid!

The soap-like cleanser has a light floral fragrance and a simple white color. It contains Triclocarban and Hibiscus for healthy skin. Furthermore it contains Pure Clay Water from the Hawaiian sea and Deep Sea Water which is full of minerals.

I currently use this face cleanser in the evening and I like it so far. It makes my skin so clean and smooth after usage without drying my skin out too much (but it might burn when you get it in your eyes).

Clay Pack:

Description: Pore-cleaning Clay Pack that tightens pores, making the skin feel fresh, soft and smooth.
At the moment I prefer to use those sheet masks but I still wanted to try out this Clay Pack for acne skin which comes in a round light blue plastic jar. The jar contains 95ml and has a silver twist-off lid. The jar itself comes inside a clear plastic box!

The pore-cleaning clay pack contains Hibiscus, Noni Extract, Pure Clay and Deep Sea Water.
Hibiscus tightens pores while Noni Extract offers moisture to the skin.
It also contains ingredients like Fig Fruit Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Aloe Vera Juice, Volcanic Ash, Alcohol and more.

The creamy face mask has the same floral scent as the Acne Cleanser and a pinkish-brown color. Just apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 10~15 minutes before you rinse it off.

The Hawaiian FRESH Clay Pack isn't bad and I really like to use it once a week because I do believe it cleanses my pores way better than those sheet masks.
If you got troubled skin and look for a clay pack you can give it a try! It's similar to [Lioele]'s PORE CLEAN & TIGHTENING PACK which I might review soon as well.

Price: Between 14,- € and 18,- €/ US$18-20

Bought at: eBay (kococolor & hsckoreanimport) 

What I love:

It cleanses my skin quite well and has a nice scent!   

What I don’t like:

The Acne Cleanser burns in my eyes - that's all I don't like atm. 

Will I buy this again? I might but I will get the Mango Pack first

[ETUDE HOUSE] moonlight in Spoon ~ Blending Sleeping Cream *Evening Primerose*

Not long ago [ETUDE HOUSE] released a new sleeping pack range called the moonlight in Spoon ~ Blending Sleeping Cream. Available is this "overnight" face mask in eight (8) types:
- Blueberry (Antioxidant & Moist)
- Olive (Richly Moist)
- Shea Butter (Nourishing & Moist)
- Royal Jelly (Firm & Moist)
- Rosehip (Bright & Moist)
- Evening Primerose (Shine & Moist)
- Green Tea (Clear & Moist)
- Seaweed (Smooth & Moist)

For now I got Evening Primerose only but would also like to try Green Tea and Seaweed...

Description: This is a Blending Sleeping Cream containing Evening Primerose, Lavender, Chamomile and Mint.

The moonlight in Spoon ~ Blending Sleeping Cream is inside a spoon-like container.
Each spoon contains 6g and is for a single-use only what might make it a rather expensive product - I got 3 of them.

Each type of the sleeping cream comes in another color - Evening Primerose in beige and brown shades. On the back of the packaging is the description in korean as well as in english. The spoon is made of plastic!

How to use this Blending Sleeping Cream?
1. Squeeze paper cover to slightly open up and remove enclosed spoon.
2. Remove sealing cover slowly starting from the end of spoon handle.

3. Break off the spoon from pack container and evenly blend together golden herb water-gel and cream with spoon's smaller end.

4. Pick up blended Sleeping Cream with hands and evenly apply a certain amount onto face. Wear overnight and rinse off with lukewarm water the next day.
You can apply remaining contents onto neck for effective neck care.
Use immediately after opening and do not apply directly onto face with spoon handle!

Sleeping Cream before blending: golden herb water-gel and yellowish white cream.

Sleeping Cream after blending: creamy face mask ready to use.

Till now I tried this product only one time but I kinda like it. I apply the whole pack to my face/neck and wait for a few minutes until it got absorbed and doesn't feel too sticky anymore. The next morning I wash it off - my face feels more soft and less dry.
Evening Primerose is ideal for normal to dry skin but it's also said to be good in treating eczema, acne or rosacea. For oily skin I would recommend to try Green Tea!

Price (for 3): around 6,- €/ US$8
Bought at: eBay (f2plus1) 

What I love:
The cute design and the moisturizing effect.

What I don’t like: 
Each spoon is for a single-use only what makes it an rather pricey product.

Will I buy this again? I might try out one of the other types!

[SKINFOOD] STRAWBERRY BLACK SUGAR MASK *WASH OFF*

I was always a bigger fan of mud masks but recently I also love to use sheet masks. I got tons of those masks from Korea and Taiwan like Kieskin, My Scheming, My Beauty Diary, innisfree, DERMAL, VANEDO, PUREDERM and so on.

I like that I just put the sheet on my face, leave it on for about 20 minutes and remove it without washing it off. The quality of the sheets are different: some are a bit too thick, so that it feels not very comfortable on the skin, others are so thin that they easily break when I unfold them.
I got different types while my favorites are always those for troubled skin (tea tree, charcoal, propolis, mango) or just for moisturizing (bamboo, watermelon, seaweed, herbs).
I would like to try japanese sheet masks as well but I never find interesting ones except of the moisturizing LuLuLun FACE MASK.

Back to mud masks: I received two new ones. One of these is the [SKINFOOD] STRAWBERRY BLACK SUGAR MASK WASH OFF. Most of the korean masks I used were from [SKINFOOD] and I decided to get this one because it is a mix of a facial scrub and face mask. In addition, strawberry is often used in products for oily or troubled skin with enlarged pores.

Description: A facial mask that contains mineral-rich Brazilian black sugar along with strawberry seeds and strawberry seed oil. Applies smoothly on skin and leaves skin fresh, clean and fragrant with a strawberry scent.

Like all face masks from [SKINFOOD] the STRAWBERRY BLACK SUGER MASK also comes in a milky white, slightly see-through plastic container with a white twist-off lid and 100g inside.

The description is written in English and Korean!

The ingredient list is only written in Korean and hard to read for me. The only things I could find out are Sucrose/ Sugar (16,500mg), Glycerin, Candelilla Wax, Lanolin, Macadamia Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Strawberry Seed (1,000mg), Berry Seed Oil (500mg) and Caramel.

The consistency is rather thick and feels kinda oily. When applying the mask to the skin you can instantly feel all the sugar in it. The strawberry seeds are also visible in this reddish-brown 2-in-1 product.
The sweet strawberry scent is nice but I don't think that the scent last very long on my skin.

I use a spatula (not included) to take the product out and mix it with a bit water before I apply it to my face. Then I massage the STRAWBERRY BLACK SUGAR MASK for about 1 minute - the sugar will start to melt away and makes the mask more soft. It reminds me a bit of [Holika Holika]'s Pig-nose clear black head cleansing sugar scrub!
After another 5~10 minutes I wash it off with clear water.

Afterwards my skin really feels smoother and cleaner. The sugar works as a scrub and removes dead skin cells while the strawberry inside cleanses the pores.
Since I have sensitive skin I use it only once a week!

How to use: After cleansing, massage onto damp face, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. To minimize irritation add water or toner while massaging.
Leave for 10~15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Price: around 9,- €/ US$12  
Bought at: eBay (f2plus1)  
 
What I love:
My skin feels smoother and cleaner afterwards!
 
What I don’t like:    
The sugar might be too harsh for sensitive skin but when mixed with water it's way better.
 
Will I buy this again? Not sure yet because I always like to try out new stuff.

[Holika Holika] Pore sea stem *Tightening Mask*

One of [Holika Holika]'s latest new product line consists of five (5) products exclusively made for oily skin with enlarged pores. Since I have some enlarged pores on my nose and cheeks I decided to get at least one of these products. For now I have the Pore sea stem Tightening Mask only but still thinking about getting the Cover Balm, too.

Anyway, the five available products are:
- Mineral Scaling
- Tightening Mask
- Finish Serum
- Cover Balm
- Mineral Freshener

Description: Sleek brush mask that tightens pores with coral and marine mineral components.

The outer packaging of the Pore sea stem Tightening Mask is light blue with some colorful coral prints on it. The description of the product is in Korean and English on it.

The large, but rather flat tube, is also kept in light blue, contains 100ml and comes sealed with a twist-off lid. A brush attachment is seperately included.

Some of the ingredients of the Tightening Mask are Water, Alcohol, Coral Extract, Sea Water, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Wheat Protein, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract and more.

The included white brush has soft bristles and can be closed/ openend.

The masks consistency is gel-like with a hint of pink color. The scent is ok as well, kinda marine-like!

When using the mask you have to unlock the cap and squeeze the tube until you can see some product coming out where the brush is. Then apply the mask with circular motions on your skin, especially on areas with enlarged pores.

The mask is barely visible on the skin and seems to get a bit absorbed as well (when dried).

I used the mask only a few times but I didn't see any improvement on my skin yet. Even right after using this mask I didn't notice any change on my pores size.

Furthermore, I find it a bit inconvenient to apply the product with the brush because it's not foaming etc. It might work better when you apply it without circular motions, though.

How to use: Straighten out your skin texturewith a toner and unlock the brush. Take the right amount and spread out the content. Wash off the product after 10~15 minutes.

Price: around 13,- €/ US$16
Bought at: eBay (f2plus1)

What I love:
Nothing really atm. 

What I don’t like: 
The mask is barely visible and I didn't notice any change yet.

Will I buy this again? No! But might get the Cover Balm.... or the Mineral Scaling (is it a cleanser??).