My cheeks feel smoother and my pores look smaller. I also feel like my skin is generally softer and more supple to the touch then it used to be. In Korean Skincare, they operate on the philosophy that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ This is why there is a HEAVY emphasis on hydration and protection via toners/essences and sunscreens respectively. In recent times, I feel like there has been a demand for more active ingredients which is why they have begun to formulate with acids. Overview This thing applies gloriously! I’m going to have to throw shade at the Paula’s choice BHA again (sorry). For comparison sake, just look at the difference in spreadability/finish between the both of them.

Most people will find no issues with sulfate, however if you find your skin doesn't like sulfates then free feel to avoid them by looking out for the sulfate-free icon on Skincarisma. So what exactly is this heaven sent liquid and why is every beauty blogger raving about it? The first thing you should know is that this product contains 4% BHA, that’s short of Beta Hydroxy Acid (sounds scary, but it’s not). People often confuse willow bark extract with salicylic acid. They are not the same thing. Willow bark simply has salicin in it, which in the presence of enzymes, or when absorbed orally, converts into salicylic acid.

If not, don't worry about it - they do have had one of the longest safety records as preservatives! Pump the product onto a cotton pad and gently wipe it across the face, avoiding the lip and eye area The challenge for any new skincare product is figuring out how to add it into an existing routine, and in my case, it’s bit harder because I need to take pH into consideration. Fortunately, my friend Becca tested the Poreless Liquid on a pH strip and found that it registers at 4.5 to 5 pH level. BHAs work best at a pH between 3 and 4 so this is a bit higher, but I treat this more as an acid toner anyway so it’s not an issue for me. Given the pH level, it seems best to apply this after the actual acids. After using it for about a week, I began to notice the changes. But to understand my experience, you need to know more about my skin. Until a few years ago I had combination skin- a very oily T-zone with dry patches in areas. As I hit my 30s, my skin started drying out and I find myself reaching for my moisturizer more than ever.

For the same reasons they are popularly used, they are also commonly avoided. Anecdotally, many individuals have reported that Silicones cause/excerbate breakouts, irritation, cause a feeling of skin being unable to breathe, cause clumping of cosmetic products and find it difficult to wash off. As a result, those who find them problematic are avoiding them and increasingly, cosmetic companies are avoiding them as well.We kept the ingredients list short and simple and excluded all the unnecessary ingredients that might irritate the skin. Warning or Restrictions And best of all it’s gotten rid of some stubborn closed comedones that I had for months! I was literally beginning to think that they were just going to be a permanent part of my face. Several 15% salicylic acid peels hardly made them budge. But I sh*t you not, within a few days of using the COSRX BHA one of them nearly shot out of my face! And while products containing BHAs are typically prescribed for individuals with oily and breakout prone skin, I actually have dry skin and am still able to use this product. So all my fellow dry skin peeps it’s safe to keep reading. On the other hand the COSRX BHA is reminiscent of my childhood because it smells exactly like those lemon lime green shots the ice cream man use to sell! If you have any idea what I’m talking about you’re awesome. :p

The Silicone-free label only includes the most common Silicone ingredients that have indentified been reported by individuals that could potentially cause issues. If you are concerned about the health safety of parabens, then feel free to avoid them by looking out for the Paraben-Free icon. It’s important to note that the main ingredient of this formula is actually Salix Alba Bark Water, which supposedly comprises 88% of the product. This ingredient is derived from the white willow tree, and contains salicin - a substance that can turn into salicylic acid under the right conditions, but isn’t exactly the same thing. Willow bark water is a popular ingredient for acne-related products because it helps to soothe inflamed skin, and not because it can act as a BHA substitute. It’s such a popular product that if Google is anything to go by, it is being searched over 100,000 times every month. Yep! That’s how popular it is. Of course, during my first introduction to Korean Skincare, I had to try it out for myself. Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water / Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol

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Founded in 2013, Cosrx is one of the most popular Korean Skincare brands that formulates cruelty-free skin-friendly products with natural ingredients. It’s safe to say they are the ones that popularized the use of Snail Mucin in skincare products. If you’re into Kbeauty, there is no way you wouldn’t have used any products from Cosrx. It’s almost like a rite-of-passage. After double-cleansing, I’ll use a Muji cotton pad and do 2-3 pumps across mainly my t zone area ( please avoid your eye and lip area). Some people prefer to pat this on using their fingertips, but I find if I use a cotton pad I can see that there’s still either makeup or dead skin after application so I use it as a last step cleansing method. And a lot of the other closed comedones I had have since disappeared as well. Cooler yet, it didn’t even make my skin purge. Generally when I use active ingredients they will make the clogs I have come to a head, and I’ll be left with a nice little whitehead for a couple of days. -___- To be honest, I’m surprised at how well it works considering it’s so gentle on the skin. This Cosrx BHA actually feels like a hydrating toner, and I half expected it to fail because of this.

At SkinCarisma, we've done our best to identify as many ingredients as possible but note the fungal-free label may not be 100% accurate due to the complexconditions and combination of ingredients that malezzeria can thrive on. c) Sodium hyaluronate has the ability to boost skin’s moisture content, reduce inflammation and reduce moisture loss to keep skin hydrated.Of course, we also have Niacinamide which makes this product perfect for anyone with oily acne-prone skin. Chemical exfoliants on the other hand, because of their texture and active ingredients, can go beneath the surface of the skin to help shed more dead skin cells and even promote cell regeneration.