Harro! As you can probably tell by the dismal state of my blog this month, I’ve been pretty busy lately. (And when I manage to get a break, I have been zoning out in front of Netflix.) And since I get so much positive feedback about product reviews — especially ones regarding Korean beauty stuffs — I’ve decided to pop back in with some of the items I’ve been loving these days!

First up is skincare products.

From the top left, going clockwise:

• The su:m37 White Award line. I have tried samples and/or purchased all the 9 items from this collection (you can see them all here), and I don’t think I have ever been more satisfied from a single product line. Is it a miracle worker? No. But it is moisturizing without being greasy, and has really helped brighten and even out my skin while fading some spots. 

  Even if you’re not looking for whitening/brightening effects, I highly encourage you to check out the other lines from the company. (Some popular ones are Water-Full, Secret, and Time Energy collections.) Yes, su:m37 as a brand is on the high end of the spectrum when it comes to prices. But believe me when I say that it is one of the most loved luxury Korean beauty brands, and people can’t stop singing praises of it!

• Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel. This stuff intrigued me as soon as I read about it because it just sounded so gross. It is a “gommage peel” — a fairly new type of at-home peel — that balls up into granules as you massage it into your face, picking up dead skin cells along the way. Just like 때 (ddae, which is the Korean word for dead skin and other dirt that accumulate on your skin that comes off when you scrub your skin very hard after soaking in hot water)! Look how gross it looks!
  

  When I use the peel, the combination of the balled-up product and dead skin cells doesn’t look quite as gray as in the picture above. All I know is that massaging and creating those little balls is pretty darn satisfying (am I weird in admitting this?), and the peel leaves me with smooth, baby-soft skin afterwards.
  You can purchase the Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel from Amazon ($16.38), Peach & Lily ($18), or Urban Outfitters ($18). You can also find it in the $10-$12 range from Korean e-stores and eBay sellers that ship from South Korea.

• Shara Shara Honey Bomb All-in-One Ampoule. This stuff is the bomb! (See what I did there? 😉 ) I had read such great stuff about it but was still afraid to try it in fear that it would be thick and sticky just like regular honey. But the Honey Bomb is only slightly viscous, absorbs into my skin beautifully, and leaves it with a soft glow. In fact, it has become my go-to product whenever my skin needs to be soothed.
  

  Although it is more expensive than most other Korean skincare products, it comes in such a huge jar and you only use so little at a time that I wouldn’t be surprised if it lasts an entire year.
  Where to buy: Glow Recipe ($40, get $5 off through this link), Amazon ($34.05, ships from Korea), KoreaDepart ($21.71, ships from Korea)

• su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick. This is a product I can confidently say deserves its cult status. Why else would it be selling out everywhere, with consumers practically revolting when the company temporarily stopped production last year due to a shortage of the type of roses they use in the product?
  The MRCS is not only formulated with superior ingredients, it is within the ideal pH range for cleansers, cleanses well, and the luxurious packaging is just so enticing! And YES, that’s real rose petals embedded within the stick for exfoliation purposes!
  

  The MRCS is usually priced between $30-$40…and due to its popularity, you will see that the stores that do have it in stock tend to sell it at a premium. So if you want to get it at a good price, your best bet would be through a trusted eBay seller or Korean e-tailer…and wait the dreaded 2-8 weeks shipping time. 🙁
  (If you ever come across a su:m37 store or a counter — even at the airport — you should ask a salesperson if they have the MRCS in stock. I have read that most stores and counters do not have them on display, but will happily bring them out for you if you ask.)

• Whamisa Organic Flowers Water Cream. Whamisa has quickly become one of my favorite Korean skincare brands due to its ingredients and the efficacy of its products. (Thanks, Glow Recipe, for introducing me to them!) This particular cream features natto gum, or Japanese fermented soybean, as an ingredient. Not only that, it is water free. Say what??? That’s right. Despite its name, the Organic Flowers Water Cream does not contain water and instead relies on a blend of organic moisturizers and antioxidants.
  

  While those who prefer heavy creams may not find the Organic Flowers Water Cream not moisturizing enough, this combo/oily skin blogger finds the soufflé texture and light yet rich, penetrating deeply and leaving a velvety finish on my skin. I love the smell too! I’m a bit particular about scents in my skincare products (I especially loathe heavy flowery scents), so I was pleasantly surprised with the earthly sweet, fermented smell of this cream.
  Where to buy:  Glow Recipe ($35, get $5 off through this link).

Just in case you’re wondering, no I do not use every single one of these products every day. Nor do I have a specific routine I follow to the teeth. Because my skin changes slightly every day due to hormones, environmental factors, or for seemingly no reason at all, I switch out my products depending on what I may need that day. For example, if my skin feels especially stressed, I love to slather on an extra thick layer of the Honey Bomb before I go to bed. Or if it seems dull and/or uneven, I choose the su:m37 White Award products.

…I feel like I’ve rambled long enough for today. Stay tuned for part 2, which will included masks, makeup, and tools!