Skinfood Black Pomegranate Premium Kit Review

   It is another Skinfood review day my dear readers! Not to mention another way overdue product review. The product I will review today is one of the 2 lines from Skinfood that I love...the black pomegrante line. This line focuses on anti-aging and a little on brightening the skin.

   Months ago, I did a review about the Black Pomegranate Emulsion and since I found it effective, I always wanted to have a regular sized of that or a set if budget permits. Anyway, last December, I was sent 2 boxes of this kit by one online seller that wanted to be anonymous hahaha. When I opened the package I was so happy because my wish came true. 

   
  The Black Pomegranate Premium Kit consists of 4 products from the line: a 10ml toner and emulsion, a 5mg cream, and 8ml voluming serum. We use this set in this order: toner > voluming serum> emulsion> cream. I used these at night time because it is moisturizing. They all have this mild fruity scent.

  First let me talk about the toner and emulsion. Both contains 10ml of product. The toner is watery in consistency while the emulsion is a bit thick and white. The toner claims to give soft and supple skin. Apply it on skin using a cotton pad/ball and pat skin for better absorption. The emulsion claims to make skin soft and plump. IMO, there is nothig too special about the toner. It cleanses skin gently and that's it. I can always use my Wonder Pore toner as an alternative. It is cheaper compared to this toner anyway. The emulsion gave me instant soft and plump skin the next day. That's the reason why I fell in love with this line. I saw and felt the difference.

  The voluming serum is contained in a cute bottle with pump. It is a bit thick in consistency but not as thick as the emulsion. I am not sure if the sample serum has the powder content like its big bottle counterpart. This serum claims to hydrate, illuminate and plump the skin. You need to wait a little for the skin to absorb it before applying the emulsion.

   The last one is the cream. It is stored in a tiny little plastic jar. The opening is big enough for a finger to fit in. It has a thick consistency and it is very oily for my skin so I only use this at night and use only a little amount. This cream claims to give one a luminous and resilient skin and has anti-wrinkle effect. This cream is perfect for dry skin. It gives you a boost of moisture while you sleep. 

PROS:
- live up to its claims
- you can see and feel the effects
- divine fruity scent
- a little amount goes a long way
- nice packaging (both sample and regular sizes)
- non-irritating
- did not cause me any breakouts

CONS:
- (regular size) is pricey
- the kit is hard to find 
- the cream is not recommended for oily skin

  Overall, I would recommend this line for mature or dry skin. This is also suitable for people looking for a moisture boost at night. I am sad that I wasn't able to show you some before and after pictures of my skin. I was really convinced by this product's effectiveness. It made my skin look and feel soft and plump. I saw significant changes with my skin's texture and glow. Each product included in this line costs more than a thousand each. (Like I always say) Skinfood is pricey. You can save 200-300 bucks when you purchase them online. The best one to have on this line is the emulsion. A bottle can last for months because you don't need much to cover your face and/or neck. If I were to choose this line versus anti-aging products readily available in stores, I would still choose this. The price may be a bit same so I would rather go with something that really works fast. I give this premium kit a 5 out of 5!!!!!
   

Skinfood Parsley and Mandarin Emulsion Review

    Many of us, both men and women struggle with pimples, acne and skin irritation. Oftentimes, it is a trial-and-error thing to look for a product or product line that really works. Over the holidays, I had a problem dealing with on and off pimples. Yeah it is weird because instead of worrying about dryness due to the weather, it was pimples that I had.

   I happened to drop by a Skinfood store at Trinoma last month to check out their sale items. Unfortunately, those on sale were products that were expensive and some were products I am not interested with. Also the sales assistant was not helpful and accomodating at all. She just followed me everywhere I go. I said to myself that that would be the first and last time that I will go inside that store. Anyway, back to the topic, I checked out 2 lines that were suitable for me and it just so happened that I had redness and pimples on my face I want to get rid of so I decided to purchase the Parsley and Mandarin emulsion. This emulsion is smooth-textured that provides soothing relief from skin irritations. The Parsley & Mandarin line is for trouble care. Korean use the term "trouble" instead of pimples or acne. 

   

      This emulsion is contained in a glass bottle with 160ml of product inside. It is quite big and fragile. Therefore, not a travel-friendly one. The SA told me that a bottle would last up to 6 months with day and night use. There's this plastic lid you need to remove on top that served as its freshness seal. You just need a small portion to cover the entire face and/or neck. The product is watery but not runny in consistency. It is very light and refreshing when applied. Just apply a moderate amount so your face won't feel sticky. The product gets easily absorbed by the skin which is very good. You won't feel like there is something on your face when you apply the right amount. The smell....I don't like it. It's like topical meds from my dermatologist. Smells like parsley perhaps.

   I wasn't able to have a before and after pictures taken so I will just describe it. I had a few scattered pimples on my chin and left cheek and some redness. After 3 days (and nights) of use, my pimples were dried up. Some got smaller the next day and the redness gone overnight. I also noticed that there was moderate sebum production on my t-zone which was very very good. I didn't experience any irritation at all because not only that this product's for troubled skin but it'a also good for sensitive skin. 

PROS:
-mild
-effective in controlling pimples and skin irritations
-a little sebum control (which is a bonus)
-a bottle can last for months

CONS:
-glass bottle
-not travel-friendly
-the scent

   Overall, this emulsion from Skinfood is perfect for both men and women with pimples/acne and some skin irritations and at the same time with sensitive skin. This is good for day and night use. The verdict, a 4.5 out of 5!!!!

Innisfree Green Persimmon Pore Dual Kit Review

   Are you one of the many struggling with huge pores? If you are, I officially welcome you to the club! Today I will review a mini kit from Innisfree that targets pores and sebum. It is the Green Persimmon Pore Dual Kit. This kit was one of the many goodies I received from @hellogorgeous17 a month ago. As you already know, skincare products targetting pore and sebum control are my main collection.

   So what's the story behind green persimmons? Unriped persimmons are harvested during summer while they are still green. Though they taste bitter, they contain high levels of tannin that tightens pores. This line from Innisfree helps manage aggravated pores and controls the balance between oil and moisture for skin.

   The pore dual kit consists of 5ml toner and essence which are neatly packed in this earth-friendly box. I used these two during daytime for about 3 days for the toner and almost 2 weeks for the essence. According to their shopping site, the pore care toner is ethanol-free and helps prevent skin infection from excessive sebum and remove dead skin cells that cause skin trouble (pimple or acne). It also keeps the skin in healthy condition of ph 5.5. The essence is free from 6 harmful ingredients: paraben, synthetic colorants, mineral oil, animal-originated ingredients, artificial fragrances, and imidazolidinyl urea. This essence claims to control sebum, tighten pores, promote skin elasticity, enhance moisture level of skin, and prevent disassembling of collagen.

   This particular line's got a lot of claims right? Now the question is did it live up to its claims? The kit includes 2 small bottles so my views are based from my observations during the short span of time I have used it. To begin with, the two products smells citrusy. The toner cleans the skin very well and does not have a sticky after-feel like other korean toners I have tried. It is also mild and I haven't had any irritation nor redness. Sebum control was not "met" by this toner. No pore reduction as well. Disappointing. I would prefer sticking to my Wonder Pore toner. The regular sized bottle is pricey for a 200ml. The essence reduced sebum production a bit but my pore size remained the same. It is not sticky. It is very light to wear during daytime, alone or under makeup. It is also mild on skin. It is also non-drying. It kept my skin balanced. The regular size of this essence is pricey for more than a thousand bucks. 

   After using the kit, I think there is no need for me to purchase the regular sized ones. Aside from the fact that it is pricey, it did not help in minimizing pores which is the main target of this line. The essence, though it helps with balancing oil and moisture of the skin, just thinking of the price makes me instantly choose other products with the same claims. Comparing between the Green Persimmon and Jeju Volcanic line of Innisfree, I prefer the Jeju Volcanic line. The verdict... 3 out of 5!

Sample Review: Skinfood Premium Tomato Line

   I have quite a number of sample products and mini kits here so I decided to do a mini review after I finish using each one of them. A mini review because they are only samples and they may or may have instant or noticeable effects when and while using them. They are also skin care product samples and not make up samples. Make up samples can have an in-depth review compared to skin care samples. 

   I receive a number of samplers with each purchase I make especially online purchases because online sellers are more generous (unconditionally generous IMO) unlike actual stores. But I would have to make an exemption when referring to actual shop this time...the Skinfood kiosk at Wellworth Fairview Terraces. The saleslady assigned there was friendly and generous and not to mention, knows a lot about each product she's selling. I just forgot to ask her name. Anyway, she gave me quite a number of samples and the product I will review today's one of the few she gave- Skinfood's Premium Tomato Line. It includes a toner, essence, emulsion, and cream (used in that order). 

   The Premium Tomato line targets skin whitening. Its main ingredients are tomato extract and vitamin C derivative. The picture above is how the actual sizes looks like. This line also includes a milky face pack (wash-off mask) and a sleeping mask. Those 2 are add-ons to the basic inclusions. Each product has different tomato extract content. The toner has 10%, essence has 30%, emulsion and cream has 20%. 

   The samples I got does not have anything written in English except the name of the product so I had to rely on Skinfood's website for details. The toner included was good for single use but all I can say is that it is effective in removing dirt on my face that I have accumulated the whole day. The amount was so few I was not able to detect if there was any scent present. The only thing I did not like was face felt sticky.The essence has a watery consistency and absorbs quickly. The emulsion was translucent white and a bit thick compared to the essence. The cream was white and thick but glided on skin easily and smoothly. The essence, emulsion, and cream has the same divine scent as the black pomegranate emulsion but only lighter but I like it. The quantity of the product shown on the pictures are the actual quantity I used to cover my entire face. So a little goes a long way don't you think? I also applied a little amount on my neck.

   I used the samples before bedtime because they felt heavy on the skin and they have no oil control claims. They didn't get absorbed easily and felt sticky unlike the other (usual) night time products I use. The good thing about this line was I woke up with fresh and soft skin. After a few nights of using this, I noticed my skin became brighter, softer, fresher, and the pimple marks slightly improved. I also noticed how soft my skin was after rinsing it in the morning using a facial foam. I have not experienced such soft skin sensation with other overnight products I have used. I cannot attest the overall whitening effect though because I only used samples and I was born with a yellowish white complexion so I am not much into whitening facial skin care stuff. 

   I was impressed with the samples from this line. But since I am not into whitening products for my face, I have no plans of purchasing the big ones. The normal sizes are expensive. I guess people looking for whitening products but are on a budget will stay away from these. Well, Skinfood is expensive here and that's the harsh fact we have to accept. My score for this samples? 4 out of 5!

Skinfood Black Pomegranate Emulsion Sampler Review

   I have tried a couple of emulsions from my stash of samplers here. Most of them are for oily skin. Almost all Korean skin care brands offer emulsions for various skin concerns. Emulsions acts as a light moisturizer. Most are the 2nd or 3rd step for a Korean skin care routine (after toner usually). They are usually a borderline between watery and creamy in consistency. If a brand's skin care line offers a serum/ampoule, emulsions serves as 2nd step and is usually used during daytime because of its consistency. 

   I was recently given this emulsion sampler sachet from Skinfood last week. It came with a toner from its Black Pomegranate line as well but it was good for a single use that's why I cannot include so much about it here. All I can say about it was it deeply removed my makeup and skin dirt in one sweep unlike other toners I have tried. Anyway, let us focus on the emulsion instead. I decided to write a review about it before I throw the sachet away because I instantly fell in love with this particular product.

   This emulsion is used to make skin soft and plump according to the Skinfood website. This line consists of several products I cannot clearly remember. The normal packaging of this product is a red/black glass bottle with 150 ml of the product. It smells divine. The product itself is milky white and is slightly creamy in texture. It is a bit thick as well so a tiny drop can almost cover your entire face. I use this on my neck as well. Of course the skin on our neck needs hydration as well. This tiny sampler lasted for 5 nights.

PROS:

- moisturizing/hydrating

- skin will look and feel refreshed and plump

- smells great

- a tiny drop can cover the entire face/neck

- gives immediate results

- did not cause any breakouts 

CONS:

- (the actual size is) pricey

- sticky and/or heavy when applied excessively

   The result was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! For 5 days I woke up with hydrated, smooth, plump skin. No kidding. No exaggeration. This was the FIRST emulsion I have ever used that gave IMMEDIATE RESULTS. I recommend this product for people who want to have instant results. For people with dry skin and are looking for anti-aging product that delivers its promise. If you have normal/combination or oily skin like mine and still want a dose of hydration, I suggest you try this emulsion and use it at night only before dozing off to dreamland. I will definitely purchase the one in the bottle as soon as I have saved enough for it because a bottle is more than a thousand bucks online and in stores. The verdict? 5 out of 5 for this heaven sent product!!!!

Innisfree Fest 3: Jeju Volcanic Pore Solution Kit Review

    We are on the last part of our Innisfree Fest but I hope there will be more Innisfree products to come to my possession. Hihihi. Who knows?! Santa might grant my wish this X'mas right? 

      

     Anyway, today our part 3 will be the Jeju Volcanic Pore Solution Kit. The contents of this kit are miniature versions of the line's toner, lotion, and emulsion. Koreans are not into shortcuts when it comes to skin care. I mean facial wash, toner, and a moisturizer is enough right? They are into multi-step beauty routine. Like the facial wash, this kit is focused on controlling oil and pore care.

     I got this kit from hellogorgeous17. I don't exactly know if this kit is still available in Innisfree. I have read that Innisfree sells testers and tester kits. Cool right? I mean if you are a fan of Innisfree you are aware how much their products costs. This line is one of their best sellers and one of the expensive line (huhuhuhu...). It is a nice idea that you can use not just one of  the line's product at a fraction of a cost or for free.

Here's how the big ones look like. And I want to have them all!!!!

     I don't use the kit like everyday because it is so small. I just use it when I plan to go out (`1st step before makeup) for oil-control. To be honest I saw/felt its effect on the first use. I used it after taking a bath and it really kept oiliness at bay. I mean, of course there will always be a little production of oil on the T-zone, chin, and nose. But everytime I use this the secretion's cut in half. Like really!!!! And because of that I am sooooo hoping to have the big ones this X'mas. Ummmmm....ok the lotion and emulsion and masque are fine. Hahaha!

     (Again) this product is meant for individuals with oily or combination skin. Peeps with normal or dry skin's fine to use this but there are Innisfree products which are more suitable for you guys like the Green Tea line. Innisfree's got products for every skin concern. I would love to have them on my X'mas stocking (am I overemphasizing this or what?). But since the big ones are not budget-friendly, I am still weighing things down and seeking help whether to buy this or the Green Persimmon line which is almost the same as Jeju Volcanic line but instead on focusing on sebum control, it targets pore reduction (yessssss!!!). I give this baby a whopping 5 out of 5 rating. A freakin' must try!!!!