Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence Review

Missha's Time Revolution: The First Treatment Essence

I didn't have very high expectations when I first bought this essence. I had tried SK-II's essence before and it did the complete opposite to what it claimed for my skin. But when I heard about Missha's dupe I couldn't resist trying it out, and I am really glad I did. I have been using western toners for years now, thinking that they would help with treating my acne, but they were really only making it worse . Korean toners aren't the same as the ones we have in the west, they're gentler, they soften and moisturise the skin. First off, I use this straight after cleansing as I would a normal toner. There is an initial feeling of stickiness but that disappears after a minute or two. When it's fully absorbed into my skin I then continue with the rest of my routine (serum > eye cream > moisturiser).

Having oily skin I was worried about over-moisturising my face, but this essence hydrates my skin without making it feel disgustingly oily. I'm even able to use it in the day time. As well as containing a lot of moisturising ingredients it also has a lot of whitening and anti-inflammatory properties (glycyrrhiza glabra, centella asiatica and camomile) which really helped clear up the redness around my cheeks and nose as well as existing pimples. Overall I've noticed a huge improvement around my T-Zone. Enlarged pores around my nose and forehead are tighter and even my blackheads seem to have shrunk. The redness around my nose and cheeks have disappeared and I love how smooth my skin feels after applying this.

I bought this from RoseRose Shop for $33, so it is on the expensive side but no where near as expensive as SK-II's essence. The 150ml bottle is priced at $185 AUD at David Jones and Myer here in Australia. Missha's is quarter the price and double the size, and in my opinion far superior in results and quality. These South Korean brands never cease to amaze me.

Missha Cell Renew Snail Cream Review

Straight off the craze train from South Korea is the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream; yes, it's a mouthful, and yes, it's made up of 70% snail mucus. 

What this snail cream offers:

• anti aging and whitening properties
• Heals blemishes,
• treats existing fine lines and wrinkles
• Soothes irritated, dry skin
• Evens out skin tone and pigmentation
• Restores skins elasticity

• It's also colour, paraben and mineral oil free!

The snail secretion itself contains a whole lot of natural ingredients such as allantoin: which helps moisturise, soothe and heal damaged skin; collagen and elastin to helps keep the skin cells tight but flexible and in the long run help prevent and treat fine lines and wrinkles; and lastly: glycolic acid, an exfoliating agent that smoothes the skin by removing dead skin cells. Sounds too good to be true, right?

The cream itself is a very light, gel like texture which is great for those with combination to oily skin because it absorbs quickly without greasing us up. It's surprisingly hydrating as well. Although this product is supposed to be used before moisturiser in summer I find I can just wear this on its own. 

There's a lot of talk out there about whether or not snail mucus is legitimately beneficial for the skin or whether it's just a passing fad. I too was a little sceptical because Missha isn't exactly considered a high end brand over in Korea but I have to say that this cream has really helped clear up my acne quickly, especially during periods when it's constantly breaking out. The morning after I first used this my face felt plump, soft,  bright, and irritated spots from the day before were greatly reduced. Instead of taking a week to heal it will only take a couple of days now. After a week of use I even noticed that the eczema around my noise was almost gone! Hmm. Seems legit to me.

I could go on, but the bottom line is that I love this product, and I'm seriously considering branching out and looking for more snail mucus based creams.

Have you tried snail creams before? How do you feel about them?

Missha's Mega EX Volume Mascara Review

Mega EX (Cat) Volume Mascara by Missha

During my most recent Yes Style haul I decided to try out a couple of South Korean cosmetic brands. Missha's Mega EX (which I am going to assume means 'EXTREME') mascara was one of them. I picked up the Cat Volume one, but they also have a Doll and Fan volume; but what really intrigued me about this mascara was the packaging. As a visual design student I tend to have a weakness for sleek, shiny things and when I saw this mascara, I don't know why, but I couldn't help myself.

The packaging is, well, plastic and looks even more so in real life, and the brush looks so hairy  it looks like I stuck it in a pile of dust, which I probably did now that I think about it. After going over my lashes 4-5 times it starts to clump a bit too much for my liking, and although you can work it to give your lashes quite a bit of length it lacks that 'MEGA EXTREME' volume the name implies. Its staying power is pretty decent though, in fact, even after my regular eight hour shift there was no smudging and the length hadn't dropped off either.

Before | After

Overall, it's not a bad mascara. It almost looks natural from afar, so It's great for those lazy days at home or when you just don't feel like dealing with your messier, high-end mascaras. Considering that I only paid $14 AUD for it, I think I got my money's worth, but if I had the cash to go back and buy another one at its regular retail price ($19) I'd probably put it towards a better mascara for a few dollars more.