COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser review

I never paid much attention to the ingredients in facial cleansers, as long as they effectively clean the skin without harmful components, I was content.

My confusion peaked when I decided to try the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser. I couldn't fathom why snail mucin was necessary in a cleanser, especially one that remains on my face for less than a minute, primarily designed to cleanse the skin.

Initially dismissing it as a gimmick, my perception shifted after the first use. COSRX successfully convinced me of the importance of incorporating moisturization ingredients into the cleansing process.

Enriched with Snail Mucin, this cleanser not only eliminates impurities from the skin but also provides nourishment and moisture.

directions and info

Directions:

1. Gently massage the cleanser on wet skin. 
2. Rinse thoroughly with tepid water.

Caution:

For external use only. Do not get into the eyes.

Google Translated the Korean text

impressions:

• it is a bit slimy (similar to the all-in-one cream)
• it cleans my face but my skin feels so moist and clean!
• my skin is so soft and smooth!
• I love this!

So... this snail mucin gel cleanser is amazing. It is hard to go back to other regular facial cleansers (unless I am looking for deep cleaning).

My skin is gently cleaned, and it is moisturized. (this small container lasted me 2 weeks). I will definitely be purchasing the full size.

score: 10/10
website: https://www.cosrx.com/collections/snail-mucin/products/advanced-snail-mucin-gel-cleanser

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream review

product variations

Every now and then, we come across products that are so good, you know they will be part of your routine forever. This is definitely one of those products. Since I have sensitive skin, I wanted to make sure that my skin liked this product before committing to the full size. 

This product is formulated with 92% Snail Secretion filtrate (mucin), and this cream claims to help your skin naturally and create an appealing glow of healthy skin. 

ingredients, directions, caution

Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Arginine, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine

I didn't see any red flags in their ingredients (and my super sensitive skin did not have any issues or bad reactions to this cream).

Directions: Apply to face at least twice daily or as needed to soothe dry, uncomfortable skin. 

Caution: 1. For external use only. 2. Do not use on damaged or broken skin. 3. Stop using and ask a doctor if a rash occurs. 4. When using this product, keep out of eyes. 5. Keep out of reach of children. 6. If the product is swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. 

Translated Korean text to English

I checked using Google Translate to see if there was additional information that was not in the English text.

They mentioned Efficacy: helps improve skin wrinkles.

Usage: Take an appropriate amount of this product and apply it evenly to the skin.

I scanned the Korean text on Google translate

Most of the info was identical to the English.

except for the directions, The Korean text gave more directions to put the product on your hands before rubbing lightly on your skin and patting the remaining contents for absorption.

The English directions were to use twice a day or as needed to soothe dry, uncomfortable skin. 

slimy and stickiness of the cream

Since this is an all-in-one cream, you won't need to use it along with other products. This one is enough (at least, that is how I felt when I used it).

impression:

• the cap/lid is metal, but the container is plastic
• extremely sticky
• smooth on skin
• skin takes a few seconds before it fully absorbs the product
• makes skin feel so soft and smooth

In the beginning, I really hated the stickiness of this cream. It is called a cream but it has a gel texture (which I like) but the stickiness needs getting used to. It also left a thin residue layer on top of my skin. This cream did not irritate my skin or eyes at all. It is gentle yet effective.

It took 2-3 days before I started seeing the efficacy of this product.

Eventually, I got to really like this cream because it made my skin feel so soft and smooth. It got rid of all the dry patches and crustiness. I can look past the stickiness 😅.

gel-like texture

This cream is viral for a reason, and it is viral for all the right reasons. It works very well, it corrected my winter dehydrated skin and even improved the condition of my skin. If you haven't already, please give this product a try and don't let the stickiness prevent you from overlooking its benefits :).

Score: 9.8/10
Website: https://www.cosrx.com/collections/snail-mucin/products/advanced-snail-92-all-in-one-cream

BePlain Clean Beauty Trial Kit review

I was on Olive and Young and purchased some of the BePlain popular products. They gave me 3 trial sets and I decided to test them out. Upon research, I discovered that all these are their best products. Other than step 4 (CicaCalming Gel), all of them have received one or more beauty awards.

I started testing these out on a day when my skin was famished and I had worn a (medical) mask for over 5 hours. It was a very cold day, so my heater was on full blast, not to mention, the humidity at home fell to 38%. My skin was sensitive. This is when I decided to give this kit a try!

Each kit contains 5 products. Before I begin the review, I wanted to mention that if you are planning to try out a trial kit, a good tip to remember is to give your skin enough time to absorb the product from the last step before you begin using the next step, this will allow your skin to benefit from each product and won't cross-contaminate the ingredients of each by mixing them together.

For each description, I pulled the translation from Google Translation (and made small edits)... apologizes in advance if they sound strange.

Step 1: Greenful pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam

This is a mildly acidic cleanser that is recommended to use every day. Clear to ultra-fine dust!

Mung bean extract and mung bean powder contain moisture, moisture-free face wash with mild acidity

#ideal for sensitive skin, 

#safe face wash, 

#mung bean face wash

Mung bean clears tired skin and gives a beautiful mind

In the old days, when there were no face washes, mung bean powder was used to wash grains. Mung bean has been loved for a long time as a raw material that helps purify the skin. 

BePlain mung bean foam contains mung bean extract to provide excellent cleaning powder as well as the comfort provided by grains. 

This is a gentle daily facial cleanser that is made with Mung bean extract that helps cleanse impurities while keeping the skin hydrated and comfortable.

Take a small amount and later with water, gently massage onto your face and rinse thoroughly.

impressions:

• hardly any scent (but did smell a bit like mung beans)
• very sticky and dry (needed to add water as you lather)
• worked up a nice pasty lather
• I noticed that my skin got a bit.... brighter/whiter

I noticed the aroma of mung beans the moment I started using this cleanser, it felt like I was slabbing on some mung bean paste dessert on my face. There were even bits of mung beans in the cleanser!

Step 2: Chamomile pH-Balanced Toner

Gin - Full of chamomile! Premium soothing and moisturizing feeling provided by premium ingredients/

non-plain chamomile weak acid toner

Medication containing chamomile flower extract (U.S.) Acidic production Moisturizing for the whole family

#Whole Family

#Daily

#Safe moisturizing 

Checkpoints
01 Dark chamomile flower extract and hypoallergenic formula gently soothes tired skin from external environment and stress

02 moisturize #toner pack on sensitive days. If your skin is irritated, moisten a cotton pad or dry sheet and use it as a sheet pack

This is a mild and calming toner containing Chamomile flower extract.

After cleansing, use either your hands or a cotton pad to gently pat over your face and neck in the morning and evening.

impressions:

• no scent
• very soothing
• it has an alkalized feel
• my skin absorbed everything and it felt good and plump

Step 3: Cicaful Ampoule II

A full bottle of bottle grass FULL!

The best soothing ampoule for men and women with troubled skin by word of mouth

Be Plain Cica Full Ampoule II

Contains Centella Asiatica extract

Soothing/moisturizing ALL CARE

Daily soothing ampoule

#troubled skin

#calm sica

Use it like this

01 For both men and women who need sedation

#after shaving ampoule

It has a non-sticky, refreshing finish that is suitable for any skin type. 

Men also, try using it for soothing

02 What if you need more calming?

Wet a cotton pad in the ampoule and leave it on the skin for 5 minutes. When used as a simple #ampoule pack, it is more effective for quick skin soothing. 

A highly concentrated nourishing ampoule with Centella Asiatica extract that soothes and hydrates skin.

Soothe your face with toner. Gently apply a few drops on the face and neck. Ideally use twice daily, AM and PM

impressions

• has a slight hint of floral but it is close to not having any fragrance
• ampoule = serum? it has a very serumy texture (they weren't joking when they said a few drops... all you need is a few drops for your face AND neck... you don't need more... your skin will give up absorbing more than the few drops it needs.

Step 4: Cicaful Calming Gel

Cica Gel, which contains the FULL true energy of Cica Full Ampoule, the best-selling Be Plain

Be Plain Cica Full Calming Gel

Contains Centella Asiatica extract

Soothing/moisture Barrier ALL CARE

skin temperature soothing gel

#Cica Gel

#hydration

Use it Like This

01 Use as a sleeping pack

Apply twice before going to bed and use it as a sleeping pack. The next morning, you can feel your skin feeling more comfortable.

02 Write with toner pack

Wet the toner and put it on your skin, then put Cica Full Calming Gel on it. 

It does not dry out even after leaving it on for more than 10 minutes, and it further enhances the effect of the toner pack.

A gentle soothing gel cream with Centella Asiatica extract and Fig extract that instantly produces relief and hydration for sensitive skin

take a moderate amount and gently massage over the face and body. Use twice daily, AM & PM

impressions:

• didn't feel sticky
• very light
• no scent
• has a gel-like texture similar to aloe vera (from the leaf)

Step 5: Chamomile pH-Balanced Lotion

Chamomile pH-Balanced Lotion

I did a double-take and thought this was the same product as the second step, but it isn't, they look similar but this is a lotion and that one is a toner.

Gin - Full of Chamomile! Premium soothing and moisturizing feeling provided by premium ingredients

Non-Plain Chamomile Slightly Acidic Lotion

Contains chamomile flower extract

Weak (US) acid manufacturing

safe moisturizing for the whole family

#Whole family
#daily"
#safe moisturizing

Checkpoints

01Dark chamomile flower extract and hypoallergenic formula
it gently soothes the skin tired from the external environment and stress.

02 Milk Type soft lotion
It is quickly and freshly absorbed, leaving rough skin soft and moist

A mild and calming lotion containing Chamomile flower extract that delivers hydration to skin for a supple, soft, and healthy-looking complexion

soothe your face with toner, apply twice daily in the morning and evening. 

impressions:

• reminds me of emulsion (light milky moisturizing solution)
• no scent
• added an extra layer of "protection" to seal everything in
• face felt even softer after using

so.... wow! just.... wow! I love this trial kit! I used this skin routine for a few days (since I had a few trial kits) and noticed a dramatic change in my skin!... 

This is perfect for those who have very sensitive skin and/or damaged skin. 

I'm done! This post took A LOT LONGER than I thought it would take!... I apologize for any broken English (my brain was fried by the time I finished trying to figure out what the Korean-> English translations were saying).

Overall, BePlain seems to be a good skincare brand. I am planning on buying their full-size products for the Camomile products and the green bean (mung bean) cleanser. 

Let me know if there were any products you found interesting :) or which ones have you used/heard about and are interested in/have an opinion about :)

DQ (Dairy Queen's) Bacon Cheeseburger short review

Dairy Queen's burger box

This is the first time I ordered something from DQ (Diary Queen) that does not involve any sort of cold ice cream (FYI: I love their ice cream). People have been raving about their cheeseburgers and I decided to give it a try :)

I ordered their Bacon Cheeseburger (the official name of this burger is: Bacon Two Cheese Deluxe 1/3 lb.* Signature Stackburger)... but I was a bit disappointed... The presentation wasn't bad but the taste wasn't as good as I thought it would be. 

This Bacon Cheeseburger was a bit dry and a little bland (compared to Wendy's and McDonald's cheeseburgers...).

pros:

• very very filling, a substantial meal
• many layers adding to the burger's depth
• features two types of cheese
• lots of meat (burger patties were 1/3 pounders!)

cons:

• dry
• bland (needs way more flavours/flavouring)
• cheese was lacking the cheesiness we all crave in a burger

score: 6.5/10 (I will stick to their ice creams and ice cream cakes)

website: https://www.dairyqueen.com/en-ca/menu/bacon-two-cheese-deluxe-signature-stackburger/

Bioderma Hydrabio Serum review

NOTE: Before the review, I wanted to mention that this review was written on January 15, 2018... I have gone through a few bottles since (which proves this is a good product and it works really well for me)... I found this review sitting at the bottom of my drafts and realized I forgot to publish it... so here it is! :D

Hey, my sweeties!

I found an amazing serum and I wanted to share it with you! I found this at my local drug store but I'm sure it is available in most drug stores because of Bioderma's popularity (around the world) and this is one of their main products. 

Some info about the product:

• Made in France
• 40 ml (it is only available in one size)
• approximately ¥3200 JPY (in 2018) $43.00 CAD before taxes (in 2023) thanks to inflation 😡 

This is a Moisturising concentrate serum that is suitable for very dehydrated sensitive skin. 

However, that being said, I have noticed if I apply more and too often, it does worse than it does good. (weird bumps will form when I use this more than the daily recommended 1-2 times). 

The directions are to apply to the face and neck in the morning and/or evening after cleansing and using a toner. Use alone or before applying a Hydrabio skin care product. 

I find much joy in using this pump... it gives you an exact amount for your face :D I like how it has a substantial touch which gives it a more controlled 

I use it with my HadaCrie. This not only helps my skin absorb more, but it multiplies the effectiveness and benefits of this serum.

impressions:

• it feels like my skin has drunk water
• quenches my skin
• soft subtle aroma that doesn't linger
• glides onto my skin and is absorbed well
• unlike most serums, it feels slightly thicker (between a moisturizer and serum)
• it is thicker but lightweight at the same time

They say that time will tell (this is me writing this portion in 2023) and this serum has lived up to its hype (or lack thereof). 

I'm glad that Bioderma is as popular as it is, and I can find this brand/product in most drugstores I have visited around the world :).

This product always quenches my skin and leaves it feeling moist and hydrated, the best way to put it is that it makes my skin feel like it has drunk lots of water.

There is a slightly silky and stickiness when you first apply the product on your skin but your skin will immediately absorb it and your skin should be velvety and moist. If there is residue, it means you have applied too much and bumps might develop overnight. SO... DO.NOT.APPLY.TOO.MUCH.PRODUCT!

score: 8.5/10

website: https://www.bioderma.ca/en/all-products/hydrabio/serum

Facial Ice Roller review

 

I ended up with a faulty one, this one leaked. But since it technically still does its job, I can still give it a review. 

I had concerns about using ice on my face because I was worried that the ice might "stick" to my face (like what happens when you lick an ice pole in winter and your tongue gets stuck on it). But after using ice on the face, I can confirm that it will not happen. Your face is warm enough to melt the ice quickly unlike a pole where the heat is retained. Be sure to do this over a sink or a towel, because the ice melts fast, and before you know it, the water will start dripping down your face.

I found that if you have super sensitive skin (and are bothered by how cold the ice is) you can use this facial roller with the silicone on. On days my skin feels sensitive, I prefer to leave the silicone on and use it. It works really well and prevents the cold from stinging my skin/face and less water drips from your face. The ice will simply melt inside the silicone container.

Impressions:

• so cold but makes my skin feel so good
• skin becomes saturated/quenched in water
• makes applying skincare much easier (more on that below)
• skin feels so much softer after using
• easier to control where ice/coldness should be

I really like this face roller! It calms inflamed pores and acne. 

Skincare and Ice Roller

The Ice Roller fills your pores with water, and your skin feels like a saturated (filled with water) sponge. It feels strange touching your skin because it will have a weird pore filled with water texture (think flat water balloons).

It helps my skincare products absorb much better, but do not apply your products right after, allow your skin to absorb the water before you apply any skincare products or they won't be absorbed properly. 

I can't think of any cons to this product! It is affordable, it works, and it comes with many benefits.

Score: 10/10

no website

Comparison: Oral B Satin floss vs Glide Advance

 

These two are from the same brand, Oral-B, but are completely different. 

It's funny how everyday topics can become unexpectedly interesting. Today, I find myself discussing something as mundane as dental floss. But something as simple as dental floss can make or break your day. I want to explore the similarities and differences between these two options, Satin and Glide. It's a conundrum many of us face when we stand in front of the dental care aisle, wondering which one to choose from the many options available. 

I leave it up to luck to choose the right one, they look similar and sometimes I choose the wrong floss. It can be incredibly frustrating. It's funny how we tend to hoard things, even dental floss! But after writing out this review, I have clarity and I will toss out the Satin floss. Sometimes, letting go of what isn't working and sticking with what does is the best approach. So, it is time to bid farewell to the Satin floss and avoid those pesky bad flossing experiences in the future.

My Experiences:

Pricing:

The Satin floss is priced at $5.50 for 50 meters, whereas The Glide floss is available at $6.29 for 40 meters. While Glide may come at a slightly higher cost, it's a case where you genuinely get what you pay for, and it's well worth splurging that extra 70 cents for a superior product that provides less floss.

similarities:

both are minty but the Glide is more minitier than the Satin. (that's all the similarities I can find)

the floss on the left is Satin, the one on the right is Glide

From the picture, you can already see that the Glide is much more solid and tougher than the Satin. The Satin is too thin and flat. 

Satin

Pro-ish:

• While it does an excellent job of thoroughly cleaning and dislodging hard-to-reach particles stuck between your gums and teeth gap, there's a notable downside. Every single time I use it, it seems to dig quite deep into my gums, leading to bleeding gums without fail. The cuts it creates in my gums can be rather painful and linger for a few days afterward. 
• It is disappointing... even when I try to floss as gently as I can.

Cons:

• It is plasticky, feels like a folded-up/rolled-up plastic bag, causes a weird friction between the floss and my teeth and forces me to floss harder.
• It is flat, so the sides feel sharp. On the note of being flat, the floss always ends up folding up (horizontally) making it weaker and narrower.
• The material used easily breaks, sometimes, it breaks in between my teeth, creating more things for me to floss out. >___<
• The floss is too flat so you need to use it a few times to get everything out.
• Barely minty

Glide

Pros:

• It does a perfect job flossing, I do enjoy using it as it fits nicely in between the teeth and does not hurt your gums.
• Does not hurt gums, it, like the name, glides smoothly and gently removes.
• it is solid and waxy and doesn't easily give way or break.
• the shape remains consistent/constant and the area never gives in and properly gets rid of the particles.
• very minty

Cons:

• Can be a little thinner than I would like it to be. Sometimes, it does not have enough strength to remove everything in one floss.
• It can be a bit waxy and leave your fingers with some wax substance.

Verdict:

I have tried to discuss my experiences in as much detail as possible and the clear winner is Glide Advance. Although it is slightly more expensive than the Satin floss, the pros outweigh the cons. 

If you want a good flossing experience, the Glide Advance is the much. better choice :).