Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture

Remember my flowery back-drop from my blushers series? Well here it goes again, for this post only (hoping that when I visit my sister, I'll have a product photo session again because they look lovely...they look lovely right? please agree!).  Let's get back to the main element of the above photo though and I must say it's the priciest toner skincare product I ever bought but still worth it!

I thought that Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture is an essence (which explains why I bought it because by the time I ordered this I told myself that I would "amplify" my skincare and I'll start with an essence but, toink I didn't research much and rely on the "refiner" word...it's as if the beauty world is saying "your okay with your cleansers, now on with the toner...don't skip upgrading it, lady it's an important product").  "Skin Refiner" who wouldn't want a product that can refine the skin especially when your pores are awkwardly big?  Fact by the way, pores don't open and close and two of the main reasons why they appear to look "open" is one, it's clog with hardened sebum and dirt and two, it's not "toned" you know when you wash your face it requires some hours before it can get back to it's normal condition before you can apply other stuff like skincare and makeup and that's why Toner was born: it tones/conditions and prep the skin for the next step!

Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture is perfect for boys and girls that have dry skin like me because it really has some moisturizing thing to it...I actually lost the paper that list the ingredients so I don't know what specific stuff does it.  Also, it has a bit of an alcohol smell maybe from some low concentrated acid which I found out to be okay to be present in toners because it acts like a mild daily peel/exfoliant for the skin...just remember though that it should be mild, ditch those strong astringent your skin may not handle it!  If I go over that mild alcohol scent, this toner smells nice and clean.

For the effect, this toner is one of the reason why my skin is soft and looking smooth as if my before big pores we're blurred so they look smaller now so I can say that it does it's job in toning/conditioning the skin.  It says in the description that it's "Moisturizing skin refiner with purifying and softening effect for clear skin" -not 100% sure about the purifying part because I still have blackheads and whiteheads but my skin is clearer than before.

It's a very nice toner with very pretty packaging (I had a hard time throwing the box because it's well put together and I think I'll also have a hard time letting go of the container, I wish I can find a way to recycle it) and it also has a really really "nice" price, I know there are a lot of girls there that really invest on products and will think that this has a cheap price but for me, it's already pricey but considering how well it perform, it's still a good buy!

I think that's all I have to say for this toner.  I'll just leave you with this more colorful photo (than the first photo which is more on the dreamy side).

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Skin Mal:gem Part 2: Smoother and Deep Moist

So for my first toners, I decided to try the Skin Mal:gem's Smoother (makes me think that it will make my face smooth) and Deep Moist (yep, my face really need some moisture).

Smoother

 

"Fruit acids in green grape, exfoliate keratin on a skin clearly for keeping smooth and soft skin."

• For Normal Skin Type
• 250 ml

The scent is on a citrusy side with a faint smell of alcohol (I guess it's the alcohol that i smell).  It has a clear and runny (like water) consistency just like any other regular toners.  My face feel and look refresh with a clear, a little matted finish with Smoother.  I use this toner at night after cleansing my face.

I used to apply this toner with the free cotton pads that i got; those in circles specifically made for skin mal:gem toners (or malgeum or malgum).  The circle cotton pads have wavy lines on the other side that helps in the exfoliation process of the skin.  After a week, I have to buy a regular cotton pad (the rectangle one in the grocery stores) as using the circles everyday kind of irritates my dry, sensitive face.  Right now, I'm using the circle and rectangle pads alternately.

Deep Moist

• For Very Dry Skin Type
• 250 ml

The tag of Deep Moist is a little funny for me: "Highly nutrient skin to provide the skin with nutrients".  I think Etude House should clarify this.

For the first week, I used the Smoother and Deep Moist side by side at night.  But (for goodness sake), I realized that the two are just basically toners. And since the Deep Moist gives a little moisture on the skin when used, I decided to use this during daytime which saves me from putting another layer emulsion (I commute so it's irritating to put something heavy on my skin).

Same with the Smoother, it has a faint chemical smell to it but it's barely noticeable unless you closely sniff the product but overall, it has a powder-like smell.  Its color is milky white and is thicker than essence but runnier than emulsion.  2 to 4 drops of the product can already cover the face and the neck area.  I don't use cotton pads with this toner, instead I spread then tap the Deep Moist for around 15 seconds or until fully absorbed by the skin.  I like the dewy and the shiny effect (the healthy a little matted kind of shine) it gives me.

I'm on my third week now on using the two toners and they somehow minimizes the appearance of the pores on my cheeks (where the big pores are).  Not dramatically but at least they lessen the visibility (take note that I also use other products like moisturizers, peeling creams and face masks/packs).

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!
p.s. Skin Mal:gem Part 1

Big Pores? Skin Mal:gem might be the Answer Part 1

In cosmetics, skin toner or simply toner refers to a lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink the appearance of pores, usually used on the face. Toners can be applied to the skin in different ways:

• On damp cotton wool. (most frequently used method)
• Spraying onto the face.
• By applying a tonic gauze facial mask - a piece of gauze is covered with toner and left on the face for a few minutes.

-from Wikipedia

Why did i put the definition?  Because after living in this world for more than twenty years, it's my first time to have a toner and my oh my, I couldn't believe that it's the answer to one of my face problem: Big Pores.  (all this time, i thought it's just a water with harmful chemicals).

For my toners, i brought 2 types at home and they are from:

*photo from The Etude House

You probably heard or read this but just to complete my review, here's the meaning of mal:gem:

"The Korean word for cleanliness, clarity and pureness.  Skin Malgeum hypoallergenic toners promote clean, clear and pure complexion with moisturizing with and pore cleansing formulas."

There are 5 toners in this line: Fresh, Smoother, Moist, Deep Moist and Essential.  Also included in the line is the Emulsion.

*photo from Etude House Philippines facebook

What caught my attention?
It claims to be:

• Hypoallergenic
• Paraben free
• Void of Animal Ingredients, Benzophenone, Artificial Dyes and Mineral Oils

So i think it's safe for a beginner like me.

*photo from The Etude House

The containers are intriguing.  They look like an expensive water bottles (so sosyal and pretty) but don't be fooled, they are just made of plastic.

So from Etude House Philippines official website, here are the ways to use the toners:

This entry is getting to long, I'll just post another with my thoughts on the Smoother and Deep Moist.

Thanks for reading.  Fighting!

p.s. Part 2 Skin Mal:gem