Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm Review

I tend to avoid cleansing balms because I hate the oiliness and the hassle of cleaning off all the greasiness afterward. But Dr. Althea seems to have fixed that problem with their Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm.

The balm emulsifies almost immediately upon contact with water, which solves my biggest “ick” with cleansing balms in general. It glides and melts onto the skin, and once water is added, it emulsifies and rinses away without leaving that greasy residue behind.

cleansing balm

What it is:

According to Dr. Althea, this cleansing balm is formulated with only 14 essential natural ingredients and is designed to provide a gentle cleansing experience, particularly for sensitive skin.

It is enriched with Madecassoside and plant-based oils to cleanse while keeping the skin soft and hydrated.

Benefits:

• Powerful yet gentle cleansing

• Hydrating and nourishing finish

• Hygienic grinding balm design

The product is also designed to remove sunscreen, makeup, and even waterproof products with a small amount.

My experience

Unlike most cleansing balms I've tried, I wouldn't consider this a deep-cleaning cleansing balm. Depending on your needs and expectations, this could either be a positive or a negative.

It does a good enough job, but it definitely isn't as powerful or "deep-cleaning" as I expected. However, if you have sensitive skin and want a mild and gentle cleansing balm that helps calm redness and protect your skin barrier, this could be ideal.

I appreciated that they added Madecassoside and plant-based oils to help keep the skin hydrated, although I found the moisturizing effect to be a bit too light for my liking. I also really appreciate that there is zero fragrance, which makes it even more appealing for people with sensitive skin.

I tried their recommended "half turn" for melting sunscreen and a "full turn" for melting and removing makeup. After some trial and error, I found that the full turn works best for me. The half turn simply isn't enough to cover my whole face, let alone provide enough balm to properly massage the skin and melt away sunscreen, makeup, and everything else sitting on my face.

The grinding design

One of the things I really like about this cleansing balm is the innovative and hygienic grinding design. It prevents the need for repeatedly dipping your fingers into the container, which makes it feel much cleaner and more hygienic than traditional cleansing balms.

However, there is one frustrating problem: there is always some product left behind on the plate. No matter how hard I try to scoop it out with my fingers, it just won't budge! 😩

It makes me feel like I'm constantly wasting a little bit of product, which is frustrating when cleansing balms aren't exactly cheap.

The packaging

I'm also not entirely sure why they opted for a solid green container. While it looks nice, it makes it impossible to see how much product is left inside.

By the time I realize I'm running out, it's already too late!

I also struggled with the container at first because I assumed it was a screw-top or twist-style container. It isn't — it's simply a lid that clips into place.

The lid is easy to open and close, but it moves around quite easily and doesn't feel particularly tight. Whether that's a pro or a con probably depends on how much you hate fiddling with lids versus how much a loose lid annoys you. 😂

Overall thoughts

This is definitely not the cleansing balm I would reach for when I want a deep, heavy-duty cleanse. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

What I like most is how different it feels from traditional cleansing balms. It melts beautifully, emulsifies quickly with water, leaves behind zero greasy residue, and doesn't have any fragrance. For someone like me who normally avoids cleansing balms because of their oily texture, that's a pretty big win.

The formula is gentle and comfortable, and I can see why someone with sensitive skin might really appreciate it. My biggest complaints are that the cleansing power is a little too mild for me, the moisturizing effect isn't as substantial as I expected, and the grinding design still leaves some product behind.

Conclusion

Overall, Dr. Althea's Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm is an interesting take on the traditional cleansing balm. It solves one of my biggest complaints — that greasy, oily feeling — and the hygienic grinding design is genuinely innovative.

I don't think it's the best choice if you're looking for an intense, deep-cleaning balm, but if you want something gentle, fragrance-free, easy to emulsify, and comfortable on sensitive skin, this is worth considering.

For me, it's a good cleansing balm, but not a perfect one. I love what Dr. Althea was trying to accomplish, and I especially appreciate how cleanly it rinses away. I just wish the cleansing power was a little stronger and the packaging was a little more practical.

Score: 7.8/10
Website: https://doctoraltheaglobal.com/products/pure-grinding-cleansing-balm?srsltid=AfmBOoqvTommIBhuBrLvv1rxilb7rJEO4z-lAOXp0XcIjPFG7aH5ZdX2

SEPHORA COLLECTION Oil Infusion Hydrating Lip Oil Cherry review

Before I begin this review, I want to mention how flawed and dumb the design of the packaging is! It always tips over and knocks everything on my desk onto the floor, creating a huge mess! This happens at least once or twice a week!

Whoever thought it was a great idea to make the base too small, the container too heavy, and the shape too rounded… 🤦🏻‍♀️

Whoever came up with this design needs to be sued!! 😂

The product, on the other hand, is actually good!

I chose the Cherry shade, which is a sheer red. It has a nice, soft scent that doesn't linger, and it gives my lips a subtle glossy tint without being overly sticky. I also really like using it on top of lipstick because it enhances the colour and gives my lips that slightly glossy, polished look.

What surprised me is that, unlike a lot of lip glosses I've used, this one doesn't leave my lips feeling dry after wearing it. It gives me the glossy effect without that uncomfortable, sticky feeling I sometimes get from traditional lip glosses.

The only downside is that the shine doesn't last very long — it disappears pretty much immediately after eating or drinking, so I do find myself reapplying it throughout the day.

A lot of people have compared this to Clarins' Lip Comfort Oil, but having used both, I think they're actually quite different.

Clarins is thicker and feels more substantial on the lips. It's also much more of a self-contained product that I can wear on its own. This one, on the other hand, works really well on top of lipstick. I think of it more as a finishing product that adds a little shine and tint rather than something I would necessarily wear by itself.

The applicator

The applicator is a thin paddle, and it gives me just enough product to cover about half of my lips at a time. I actually really like this because it gives me good control over how much product I use. I never feel like I'm accidentally putting on too much.

Pros:

• Sheer cherry-red tint
• Soft, pleasant scent that doesn't linger
• Adds a subtle glossy finish
• Works really well over lipstick
• Not overly sticky
• Doesn't leave my lips feeling dry
• Paddle applicator gives good control
• Easy to apply without overusing the product

Cons:

• THE PACKAGING. >___<
• The container tips over way too easily
• The small base + heavy, rounded container is a terrible combination
• Not as versatile as Clarins' Lip Comfort Oil
• Sheer colour may not be enough for people looking for a more noticeable tint

I've had quite a few bad experiences with Sephora-branded products, so I'm actually really glad this isn't one of them!

Well… except for that cursed container. 😑

The product itself is good. The packaging, however, is a completely different story. 😂

Score: 8.5/10
Website: https://www.sephora.com/product/oil-infusion-hydrating-lip-oil-dragon-fruit-P518068?country_switch=ca&skuId=2882843&om_mmc=ppc-GG_2024543160_70610901974_pla-420315098113_2882843_354815103824_9000895_c&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=2024543160&gbraid=0AAAAADnIXb3bCW9bDDDCyCKwNIDqBTFpk&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjueJrPyuKnZGDqVIq-vIZ6e7CdaiVkF0Cbslqa5gADNYSlAI9CaGaxoCAXEQAvD_BwE

PÜR Gum Review: Xylitol vs. the Typical Sugar-Free Gum

Unlike in Asia, it is quite hard to find xylitol gum here. I’m not sure why it is that so many of the sugar-free gums I come across in North America use sweeteners like aspartame instead of xylitol.

In Asia, especially in Hong Kong, I’ve noticed that xylitol gum is much more common, and it is often recommended as part of good oral hygiene. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that doesn’t feed cavity-causing bacteria the way regular sugar does, and chewing sugar-free gum also stimulates saliva, which helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids in your mouth. There is evidence that sugar-free gum, including xylitol-sweetened gum, can help reduce cavity risk when used as an addition to regular brushing and flossing.

So, I’ve always wondered why xylitol gum isn’t more popular in North America.

That was until I learned about PÜR Gum.

PÜR is headquartered in Toronto, which made me even more curious about why it can sometimes be so hard to find. Are people just scooping them up, or are they not as popular as I thought? 😂

I bought a pack and honestly, if it weren’t for the xylitol, I probably wouldn’t have liked it very much — especially when there are already so few alternatives.

PÜR Gum is sweetened with 100% xylitol and is completely aspartame-free. The company also says its gum is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial flavours and colours. One interesting detail is that although PÜR is headquartered in Toronto, the gum itself is manufactured in Switzerland.

I tried several different flavours, thinking maybe the short-lasting taste was just a flavour issue (because some flavours of gum naturally seem to lose their flavour faster), but of the few flavours I tried, they all had the same problem.

PÜR Gum doesn't last very long.

It usually starts losing its flavour at around the 10-minute mark, and by about 25–30 minutes, the gum starts to disintegrate. I usually spit it out at the 30-minute mark because it loses its chewiness and just doesn't feel like gum anymore.

This isn't exactly a cheap gum either. Compared to some of the other brands, it falls somewhere in the middle:

• Excel sugar-free gum: $6.69 for 60 pieces — $0.11/piece
• 5 Gum sugar-free gum: $2.99 for 15 pieces — $0.20/piece
• Mentos sugar-free gum: $3.98 for 50 pieces — $0.08/piece
• PÜR Gum sugar-free gum: $5.49 for 40 pieces — $0.14/piece

(Prices based on what I paid/observed and may vary by store.)

My biggest issue

For me, the biggest problem isn't the flavour itself — it's the fact that the flavour and texture don't last very long.

I actually like the idea of PÜR Gum quite a lot. I like that it uses 100% xylitol, and I like having a sugar-free gum option that doesn't rely on aspartame. But when I compare the actual chewing experience to other gums, I find myself disappointed by how quickly it loses its flavour and chewiness.

Conclusion

I really wanted to love PÜR Gum because it checks so many boxes for me: xylitol, sugar-free, aspartame-free, and made with ingredients I feel more comfortable chewing regularly. Unfortunately, the actual gum experience just isn't quite there for me.

If you're specifically looking for a xylitol gum, PÜR is definitely worth trying because there aren't that many options available. But if you're judging it purely on flavour longevity and chewing experience, there are other gums that I enjoy much more.

So, for now, I'll keep looking for that perfect xylitol gum — one that gives me the oral-health benefits I'm looking for and actually lasts long enough for me to enjoy it. 😅

Score: 6.5/10
Website: https://thepurcompany.com/

The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser review

 

(I'm having issues with Airdrop, so I'm not able to upload any pictures T___T please excuse the lack of images and pictures in this post)

The Face Shop was one of the first Korean skincare brands I ever used, and their products have always proven effective for me. Over the years, I’ve gravitated toward other brands, so seeing their products at my local Costco reminded me of how much I used to like them.

I was looking for a facial cleanser, and the timing was perfect — this one immediately caught my eye. I’ve always liked rice-based skincare products, so this was an instant “yes.”

After doing some research, I discovered that The Face Shop launched this cleanser back in 2006 — that’s 20 years ago! In a highly competitive skincare market, it’s already impressive for a product to last even 5 years (I still mourn some of the discontinued Korean products I’ve loved), but this cleanser didn’t just last… it lasted 20 years. That definitely says something about its effectiveness and loyal fan base.

What’s even more impressive is that they’ve continued to improve it. Despite being a best-seller, this foaming cleanser was reformulated to be free of sulphates, artificial dyes, cocamide MEA, glyoxal, and silicone.

What makes it special:

• Made with Yeoju rice from Korea, fermented to maximize potency and efficacy
• Gentle whipped, creamy texture that lathers into a dense foam, effectively removing dirt, impurities, and sebum without stripping the skin
• Contains vitamin-rich rice water and white yeast from hibiscus, which provides mild lactic acid for brightening and barrier care
• Enriched with ceramides to help moisturize and restore the skin barrier
• Soapwort extract acts as a natural foaming agent while providing antioxidant benefits
• Suitable for daily use (morning and evening)
• Made in Korea

(image of consistency of cleanser will be placed here)

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Leaves a semi–squeaky clean feeling without fully stripping the skin
• No scent
• Skin condition has noticeably improved (not sure about brightening, but my skin feels much softer)

Cons:

• Stings the eyes >__<
• The foam is quite “thirsty” — I often need to add more water to keep it from getting too thick while cleansing
• Didn’t notice any significant brightening effects (after over 2 months of use)

Conclusion:

Overall, this cleanser lives up to its long-standing reputation. It’s gentle, effective, and reliable — the kind of product that quietly does its job well without being overly flashy. While it didn’t deliver noticeable brightening results for me, it significantly improved my skin’s softness and overall condition. For a well-formulated, everyday cleanser with a proven track record, this is definitely one I’m happy to keep in my routine.

Score: 9.0/10
Website: no website

McCafe Mango Pineapple Refresher short review

 

 (I wanted to post a picture of the actual drink instead of the generic one on McDonald's website, but my Airdrop is not working >___<)

This is the final Refresher from McDonald's/McCafé (same difference 😜) summer refresher lineup, and it is by far the most interesting of the three. It was also probably the most frustrating and yet enjoyable experience of the bunch (you'll see why below).

According to McDonald's, this drink is:

A match made in the McDonald’s kitchen: a refreshing lemonade beverage made with real lemon juice concentrate, with the sweet taste of mango and pineapple swirled in. Finished off with strawberry-flavoured popping pearls, this drink is like a dance party for your mouth.

Impressions:

• love the strawberry popping pearls!
• surprisingly difficult to get the popping pearls without a straw because of the ice
• any size straw works for sucking up the pearls
• the popping pearls completely steal the show
• mango and pineapple become secondary flavours to the strawberry pearls
• mango and pineapple are much weaker than expected compared to the strawberry

First off, I love the popping pearls. They were easily the highlight of the drink, and I thoroughly enjoyed the little "pop" sensation every time one burst in my mouth.

Ironically, the thing I loved most about the drink was also what frustrated me the most. The popping pearls settled at the bottom of the cup, while the ice sat on top, making them surprisingly difficult to reach without a straw. It almost defeated the "no straw" design of the cup because, at least initially, a straw made drinking the pearls so much easier.

Once the ice melted a bit, however, everything worked much better. The pearls became easier to drink without a straw, which I suspect was how the drink was intended to be enjoyed.

As for the flavour itself, I was expecting the mango and pineapple to be the stars, but the strawberry popping pearls completely took over the show. The strawberry flavour was sweeter, tangier, and much more intense than either the mango or pineapple. In comparison, the mango and pineapple were surprisingly subtle and mostly acted as a backdrop to the pearls.

Despite the minor frustration, this ended up being my favourite of the three Refreshers. I never thought I would prefer a mango-pineapple drink over the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, but the addition of the popping pearls made the experience much more fun and memorable.

This one isn't just a drink — it's a drink and a snack at the same time 😛.

Score: 9.5/10 🥭🍍🍓✨
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/mango-pineapple-refresher-medium.html

McCafe Blackberry PassionFruit Refresher short review

 (I wanted to post a picture of the actual drink instead of the generic one on McDonald's website, but my Airdrop is not working >___<)

This is the second drink I got to try from McDonald's/McCafé (same difference 😛) Summer Refresher lineup.

According to McDonald's, this drink is:

Turn your lemonade beverage all the way up to 100 with the sweet and tart taste of blackberry and passionfruit, and the undeniable refreshing flavour of real lemon juice concentrate. Now, push it to 200 with irresistible freeze-dried dragon fruit for an extra punch.

Impressions:

• sweet with chunks of dragon fruit
• tastes more like blackberry than passionfruit
• sweet rather than tangy
• lots of dragon fruit pieces in every sip

I liked this one — it was quite good — but it is still my second favourite compared to the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher.

I am not a huge fan of blackberry, but this drink actually helped me appreciate blackberry's unique flavour. Despite McDonald's describing it as a blackberry-passionfruit drink, I found the blackberry to be the dominant flavour, while the passionfruit was much more subtle and harder to detect.

I was also expecting it to be more tart because of the blackberry, passionfruit, and lemonade combination, but surprisingly, it leaned much more toward the sweet side than the tangy side.

What I enjoyed most were the dragon fruit chunks. They added a nice texture and made the drink more interesting to sip. If you've ever eaten dragon fruit before, you'll know it has those tiny edible seeds that create a texture similar to kiwi. McDonald's was quite generous with the dragon fruit pieces, so if you enjoy that texture, you'll probably love this drink. If you're not a fan of those little seedy bites, you may not enjoy it quite as much.

While it didn't beat the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher for me, it's still a refreshing and enjoyable drink that helped me see blackberry in a new light.

Score: 8.0/10 🐉🫐✨
website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/blackberry-passionfruit-refresher-medium.html

McCafe's Strawberry Watermelon Refresher Short Review

 

(I wanted to post a picture of the actual drink instead of the generic one on McDonald's website, but my Airdrop is not working >___<)

It’s that time of year again when McDonald's/McCafé (same difference 😛) introduces their Summer Refreshers! This year, they have three flavours, and I got to try the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher first! (The other two are: Black Passion Fruit and Mango Pineapple)

According to McDonald’s, this drink is:

“A refreshing lemonade beverage to quench your thirst, made with real lemon juice concentrate, and the sweet taste of strawberry and juicy watermelon. But the pièce de résistance? Freeze-dried strawberries for something a little fancy.”

Impressions:

• not too sweet
• more strawberry than watermelon
• nice tanginess
• huge strawberry chunks in every sip

I really liked it! Despite how it looks, it isn’t overly sweet at all — it has the perfect amount of sweetness, which I really appreciate (I hate overly sweet drinks).

There’s a reason strawberry comes before watermelon in the name, because the drink is mainly strawberry-forward, with the watermelon balancing it out so the strawberry flavour doesn’t become too intense.

I don’t usually like sour or tangy drinks, but this one has a really nice balance — not too tangy, but enough for me to enjoy it.

And what I liked most were the huge strawberry chunks in almost every sip! They’re soft, chewy, and honestly make the drink much more enjoyable and interesting to drink.


This is definitely off to a great start for McDonald’s summer refresher lineup!

Score: 9.2/10 🍓 
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/strawberry-watermelon-refresher-medium.html