Beauty: Facial Cleanser A-Z - Part 3

The skincare routine has developed vastly over the past few years. But still, the most important thing is the cleansing step. I had a great time trying out different brands and types of cleansers for this section even though, it took 5 years this time, longer than the previous one. Maybe, because most of the product is more than 150ml, it took longer than before. I liked almost all of the products listed below. 

So, let’s get started!

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

This product is the first product from Kiehl’s that I ever bought. I’ve been eyeing Kiehl’s products since 2015 and finally got to try them in 2019. I chose this cleanser because this product is the most general cleanser out of all the other product lines. Kiehl’s has a lot of product ranges for different skin types.

Texture

It is really a gentle cleanser. It has a clear gel-type texture. I like this kind of texture for skincare. Even though it’s like a gel, it foams quite okay. This product is suitable for any kind of skin type, especially sensitive skin.

Scent

This product has almost no scent, which is quite a down-turner for me because personally, I like nice scented (not fragrance) cleanser. The product itself didn’t include any fragrance, so it is really suitable for sensitive skin.

Result

At times when I had an oily face due to the hormonal cycle, this cleanser isn’t really effective. But, on regular days, the product really did well enough to clean my face. The product doesn’t strip too much oil, so it doesn’t make tingly skin. I had quite an alright experience while using this product.

Repurchase?

Yes! I would definitely spend another 20 dollars (if I got to buy it outside Indonesia) for this cleanser sometime in the future. I really recommend this cleanser.

Lagom Morning Gel to Water Cleanser

I got to know this brand after I watched ‘Get it Beauty’ back in 2018. And I finally bought the product in 2019, right before I went back to Indonesia for good. I really liked the philosophy and design of this brand. I actually liked the product, but to be honest it was quite a hassle to use two different cleansers for morning and evening time.

Texture

The product has a watery gel texture, just like what’s written on the tube. This product is a gel-to-water cleanser. I enjoy this kind of cleanser, even though it is not foamy.

Scent

This cleanser didn’t have any particular scent. I’ve smelled a similar scent in some baby products, so I guess it’s really suitable for sensitive skin types. After all, this product doesn’t include any fragrance at all.

Result

I think it is not really suitable for Indonesia’s weather. Most of us use air conditioning all night long, so we develop dirt even in our sleep. So, I’m not sure whether the product really cleans the face in the morning. But, it surely moist up the skin and prep the skin to absorb the skincare afterwards.

Repurchase?

Maybe. If I’m going to repurchase this product line, I shall buy the evening cleanser as well.

Muji Face Soap

At first, I had no idea of any brand beginning with M, so when I went into Muji store in Tokyo and saw they sold skincare products, I bought them straight away regardless of not knowing the ingredients at all. Price-wise it was pretty much the same with some drug stores’ products, so I don’t have any concern when buying it back then.

Texture

This product has a regular facial foam texture with some scrubs inside. I have no complaints about the texture, but over time it gets too watery. Maybe because I tend to spray some water while in the shower and the water gets into the tube.

Scent

The facial foam doesn’t have any particular scent, even though they included some grapeseed extract.

Result

To be honest, I don’t really have much to say about this product. I don’t really like it or dislike the product. It just cleans my face without having anything special.

Repurchase?

Nope. I don’t feel any special while using the product, so I won’t repurchase.

Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser

Personally, I think Neogen is one of the best skincare brands in Korea that produce unique products. They are the first player to release peeling pads with wine extract. I have a great experience with their peeling pads, so I am not hesitant to try this facial foam. There are a few variants of the facial foam and I chose the green tea one. They include real fermented green tea leaves in the facial foam and it blew my mind. It gives the consumer a sense of truth. I just found out that the product has been released since 2015 and I just know about it almost 10 years later. Gosh, where I’ve been this long!

Texture

I really love the foam texture! I love to play with it before massaging it to my face. The liquid cleanser turns into a foam with the pump, so I don’t need to lather the product beforehand and it cleanses my face faster. Facial cleanser with this kind of texture is really suitable for every skin type.

Scent

The green tea scent is really refreshing and I loved it. It’s really subtle but refreshing. It might be refreshing because it also includes sugar cane, lemon, grapefruit, and other tropical fruits. While cleansing my face, I tend to take some moments to take a breath and smell the foam. This scent is really my type.

Result

The two previous criteria have passed, so I also love the result. It’s really gentle on my skin, but it also cleans the oil and dirt without making it squeaky clean. It's even removed a pencil eyeliner in one usage. I could feel my skin moisturized after using this cleanser, though at some time when that time of the month comes and my hormonal oil production increases, the facial foam is not effective enough to hold the oil production for a long time. But, I still love the product so much. Plus, the product has included niacinamide, which is really good for your skin health.

Repurchase?

100% will repurchase! I just love the feeling of using this cleansing foam. The product is packed with so many great ingredients. I love every single thing about this product. Very recommended!

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

Ever since I was in the beauty world, I’ve always wanted to try the product from the Origins. I landed my hand on this facial wash as the first Origins product that I got to try. This product looks very ordinary, but turns out this is one of the top lists out of this group. Though this product is the most expensive one in this group, I love it dearly.

Texture

The texture of this product is creamy with some subtle scrub. When it lathers, it is super foamy, just like its’ name. I just need a little squeeze and it could cleanse my face perfectly. I also liked to play with the product while cleansing my face because I liked the texture.

Scent

The second top scent out of the 5 products. It has spearmint leaves and bergamot extract, which I really love this combination. I can really smell that “expensive skincare” scent. The spearmint leaf oil acts as an invigorating aromatic, and I feel quite relaxed while using the product. The facial wash is suitable to be used day and night as it can freshen up the mood thanks to the aromatic scent.

Result

Super satisfied with the result. It cleans your face immediately and gives moisture right after usage.

Repurchase?

The repurchase rate is 80% for now because I haven’t finished using this product and since I had to buy this product from outside Indonesia, it wasn’t easy to reach out immediately. But, for everyone that is accessible to this product, I would recommend this product as a little self-reward in your daily life.

Geez! I thought I had taken the before and after results for all of the products, but I don't where they've gone. I'm sorry that the pictures are not uniform. Some of the products were finished, so I couldn't take additional photos.

Have you ever tried any of the products above? If yes, which one and what is your verdict? I am so excited to try out the next five. I have some products that I’ve been eyeing, but I am open to any recommendations! Send me your recommendation for the brands beginning with R, S, and T.

See you on the next A-Z Facial Cleansing Review!

BEAUTY: Top 5 Favourites of 2022 Empties

I summed up the top 5 products out of my 2022 empties below. Full products that I have emptied can be seen in my YouTube videos, watch them here and the second part here.

This product is the best body scrub I ever had! I would like to give this product 20 out of 10. I love the texture, the scent, and the amount of the product. It was just perfect. And what’s more is that when you take the empty tube back to the store, they will give you a voucher to purchase other products. This brand is actually under the H&M company, so it is not a Korean brand.

They have various types and scents. From hand wash to body lotion. I really love the scent that I bought, Arabesque Wood. It has an earthy note and a twist of citrus (they said). Super love. I mentioned the texture before and the reason why I love it is that they have a just right texture. It is not harsh and not too fine. Unlike the regular body scrub that I had tried before, this product has the best texture. I don’t regularly scrub my body, so this 250ml worth of product took quite some time to be finished.

This product is the best loose powder that I’ve tried so far. I love that this powder is lightweight and mattify the skin, especially when those red pops appear. After the application, your skin will feel super soft and I really love it. Even though the powder is white, it is free of talc, synthetic colors, and 4 other ingredients. It is very convenient to use, even though the applicator is quite small. Regardless of the applicator, I still love this product very much. I’m on my second tube and will repurchase it soon!

I got this product as a gift from I don’t know where. But surprisingly, this product is quite good. I didn’t expect it. Though it is thicker than the La Roche Posay sunscreen, this one is lighter than the Nivea sunscreen. After application, it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky at all and it has a quite matte finish, which I think and suitable for oily or acne-prone skin. The sunscreen has quite good and water resistant. I will reach out to this product after I finished all the sunscreens I have now.

The best multifunctional skincare product on my vanity. I couldn’t remember how I got to know this product, but this product works like a magic. Well, sometimes it took some time to really get the result to be seen, but it really does work. This product was known for making stretch marks invisible. But, this product also works for scars as well. The main function of this product is to improve the skin. I am very grateful that I came across this product because I didn’t know that I could have severe aftermath when bitten by some insects. The oil has improved my skin tone back to normal several times. I also use this for my stretchmarks, even though I don’t have a baby yet, but since I gained weight a lot, I got some of it around my thighs.

I have great relief that I finally found a shampoo without detergent surfactants. The regular shampoo I usually see in drugstores and supermarkets mostly has an SLS or known as Sodium Laureth Sulfate. The thing that makes your shampoo foamy. This shampoo has a little foam compared to regular shampoo. This thing might clean the hair, but in the long run, it can ruin your scalp which results in hair loss. This shampoo has a good scent even though it doesn’t have additional perfume. It consists of a few essential oils. This shampoo is very awesome! Though the price is a bit higher compared to the general shampoo and it’s an imported product. My hair is my biggest asset, so I had to take care of my hair carefully.

So, that is the top 5 products from my empties of 2022. I have used many products this year, but most of the products are my all-time favorites, so I don’t want to repeat the review. Also, I mentioned some of the travel products that I’ve used in my YouTube video. You can watch the video here.

Have you ever tried any of the products above? If yes, which one and what is your opinion of that product? Let me know in the comment section down below.

I will see you soon on my next post, soon!

BEAUTY: BEST OF EMPTIES 2019

Since I have to finish what I’ve started, here I present the best of my second half of ‘Empties 2019’. I’ve uploaded the video, where you can watch it here. I’m terribly sorry for the late upload, but I hope it is still valid for helping you. The beauty market evolves quickly these days and I have a hard time keeping up, but since I only stick to a few staple products, I hope it can help you to buy the right product for you. Always remember that everyone has their own skin-type and conditions, so not all products are suitable for your skin. Know yourself first, then you can find suitable products for you. 

So, here it is the best products out of my 2019 empties!

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

This is the cheat key in the beauty world. Ever since I used this patch, I have no worry about acne. Well, I don’t have lots of acne on a regular basis, but sometimes when I have distorted meal plans and hormonal activities occur, I can see a tiny bump of acne. When it came out, I put on this patch, and voila! The next day you can see the bump decreased. I put on my Skinmiso spot serum after I washed my face to help to clear out the acne scar. I only use it once a day and mostly at night time. I rarely put the patch on day time and with makeup on. But, this patch works also even when you have makeup on.

Etude House Proof 10 Gel Pencil Liner

My very best-eyeliner-friend! I think I have bought this product like 3 times and still love it until now. This product is one of the products that I devoted to. I’ve bought this product since 2014, and I can’t believe that I have this huge loyalty for an eyeliner. It stays for most of the day and inexpensive, so what else do I hope for? I’ve raved about this product a lot both on my blog and videos, so you probably heard how much I love this product.

Innisfree Natural Eyelashes

I didn’t like to wear fake eyelashes regularly, so it is quite surprising that I listed this product here. But, I loved this product a lot. It is lived up to its name, natural. It looks natural on me and I fall in love with it. The price is also friendly enough and it made me stock it up. I used this eyelash when I have big events such as, on my graduation and my friend’s wedding. These eyelashes helped you to achieve the Korean celeb look that you used to see in a drama. I think it is similar to the eyelash Seo Yeji has for ‘It’s Okay to Not be Okay’. Totally recommended!

Ugly Duck Multi Shield Cream

I got this product from my cousin and I’m surprised that I liked this product. I never knew about this brand at all, but it turned out that this product is amazing. Too bad I couldn’t finish up all the product, but I had a good experience using this product. The cream is like a light balm, but it is not greasy and doesn’t make your face oily. I will buy this product when I got a chance to go to Korea again.

Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water

The only non-Korean brand on the list. I came across this product before Bioderma captured the cleansing water market. At first, I tried the travel size one and it helped to remove delicate makeups. So, I decided to buy a normal-size one. What I love from this product is the packaging. They used a very convenient pump. The solution is also not soapy at all. Sometimes it feels sticky, but it depends on my skin condition at that time. Well, I don’t have any problem with that. It also has a refreshing scent, which came from the green grape extract. This product is paraben-free and kind to the environment. A plus point! I have 3 micellar water in the cabinet right now, so I won't buy any kind of cleansing water for the next 2 years, but definitely will repurchase this product after I emptied the other 3.

That’s all the products that made up to my list! I hope this helps you in buying the products and encouraging you to empty the products you’ve bought. Let’s be more responsible and wise for shopping. Thank you for reading till this part. 

See you in my next post, which I’m going to continue my JCP Features series! ^^

EMPTIES: TOP 10 EMPTIES PRODUCTS FROM 2018 - (HALF) 2019

I've made “Empties 2018 - (half) 2019” video and uploaded it on my Youtube Channel, but it might be too long to watch (unless you have so much spare time to watch). So, I made highlighted products that are really really good and worth to try on this blog post. 
Note that there is no particular order for this top 10 products

The best shampoo I’ve ever used. I used to use drug store shampoos since I was a kid. Since I came across the world of beauty on YouTube and got to know more about harmful ingredients in our toiletries, I started to pay attention to the ingredients whenever I bought beauty products. This shampoo lives up to its name, perfect hair day. Since I use this shampoo, my scalp is less oily, but not drying. The only problem with my hair is it easily break and this shampoo kinda minimizes it. I haven’t tried out the conditioner yet, but I probably going to try it out when I repurchase this shampoo. The scent is pretty nice, despite they don’t add artificial fragrance to it. This product is definitely worth to try. Find the most suitable formula for your hair.

My holy-grail product of all time! This product saves my skin on scorching hot days in Korea (41 degrees is not a joke). I didn’t get sunburn even though the sun is streaking right to my bones. The formula is ultra-light so it doesn’t feel greasy at all. Plus no white marks at all. I made a full review of this product on my “Sunscreen Battle” post and you can read it here.

The best finding I’ve ever found on the internet. Not many people reviewed this product even though it was that good. One Korean department store has this brand on it, so actually, it was that legit. I really liked this product and I’ve still remembered the texture and the scent of this product. Full review about this product is up on my blog, you can read it here.

This serum is my holy grail product on the list. I’ve used up two bottles of it and I have a good experience with it. Let me emphasize this again, this serum is not meant for specific problem tackling product. This serum is good for prep your skin, especially when you do the 7-steps Korean Skincare thing.

Ever since I used this product, my skin looks brighter and less red. It is one of my holy grail products if I could say. The ingredients are mostly natural extracts, so it is safe for all skin types. This product was made by Korean Midas’s hands in the world of beauty, Son Dae Sik and Park Tae Yoon. So, in one word, this product is LEGIT. This multi-purpose product can act as a toner or cleansing water. I haven’t tried it on waterproof mascara yet, but I guess it can work too!

This moisturizer is not the thick-type moisturizer like you used to know. This moisturizer is the typical Korean moisturizer. It is lightweight and watery. It is very good for oily and sensitive skin types because you don’t need to rub and the water portion is bigger than any other ingredients. The smell is quite calming, so it was very good for night time. I don’t use a moisturizer at day time, because it’s hot here in Indonesia, so I don’t layer lots of product on day time (But, when it’s winter, you probably need this regime!). I haven’t found any toxic ingredients on this product, where The Faceshop mostly use parabens on its products, so I might repurchase this thing again.

I found this brand thanks to Imjenim. What I love from this product is the wipes are soft and smell pretty good. Cucumber extract good for bloating and refreshing at the same time. They have several variants, but I haven’t tried it. Out of all the options they spread, I think I like this variant the best.

The cushion market in Korea is extremely fierce up until now. I’ve just tried 2 cushions from hundreds of options in the market and one of them is IOPE Air Cushion XP. Actually, I recommended this to my mom, but she didn’t see it good for her (but then, she bought another IOPE cushion though), so she gave it to me. I really liked this cushion because it is full coverage but not tacky. It also gives you the “Korean glow” like you see on the ads. I’m going to try another cushion next time I go to Korea, but definitely going to repurchase the refill for this cushion!

Too bad Skinfood has to close down. I really liked this foot scrub because it was that good. It smells good and really soften harden skin. I’m open to a new foot scrub because my foot is super ugly.

This eye cream is my first eye cream ever and I’ve finished two jars of it. I’ve reviewed this product on my blog, where you can read it here. I wrote that I couldn’t find the negativity of this product, it’s because I haven’t read the ingredients properly. Packaging and texture-wise it was all I needed for back then. Since I’m getting older, I tend to find more effective ingredients inside my skincare products. I’m so excited to try out “Avocado Eye Cream” from Kiehls because avocado helps with moisturizing, which will make our eyes less dry. Dryness might lead to show aging marks.

Wow! That’s pretty a lot. Well, those 10 products are my favorite products, but not all of them might not suitable for you. I’m so sad that Skinfood has to close down and I don’t have any foot scrub anymore. So, I’m open to new recommendations from you. Thank you so much for reading till this far and much more thanks if you finished watching my video too. I’ll see you soon! (I haven’t planned anything yet for my blog, but I will see you soon!)

Disclaimer: credit to Google Images for Innisfree, IOPE, Son and Park, Bobbi Brown, and Yesto photos.