Review: Étude House - Wonder Pore Freshner

Prior to heading back to the UK for the start of my second semester, I was stocking up on several asian skincare products. Even though the majority of the skincare products I used were more to westernised brands (Kiehl's, L'oreal etc), I have noticed how certain Korean skincare products work just as well, if not better at a fraction of the price. I was onto my last bit of Lush's toner and after browsing through the Etude House store in Singapore's Wisma Atria, I found the Wonder Pore Freshner by Etude House (500ml). More commonly known as a toner, the product is meant to balance pH levels, ease skin troubles caused by pH imbalance and cleans the inside and outside of your pores with its special peppermint extract. It is a 10-in-1 Solution that promises deep cleansing, sebum control, tightening of pores and leaves the face feeling refreshed and prepped for both day and night. 

I've been using this for the past 2-3 months and although I don't exactly see drastic results with the condition of my skin, it has helped in keeping my face clean and fresh. One aesthetic thing I love about this product is the pump of the bottle. Instead of tipping the bottle over to dispense the product you simply pump once or twice onto a cotton pad (which is provided when you purchase the bigger bottle like I have) and gently massage into your face. 

Would I repurchase? Most likely. I like how it feels on my face after cleansing, and the pump is an added bonus for a person like myself who prefers a pump. I'd recommend using this with the Etude House Wonder Pore White Clay Clear mask to reap the most out of this product. I do have this here with me but I haven't gotten around to using it simply because I'm too busy using my Lush pots up :p

You can find the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener online here in Singapore and here if you're overseas.

Love,

thehungryunicorn

 I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Lush: A skin + hair care review

Lush prides themselves in using all natural ingredients in their products. I've been a long time fan of Lush, not just for the quality of the products they produce but the results it gives my skin. I've recently experienced a mini breakout due to collagen I've been consuming (age and stress is unfortunately beginning to take a toll on me) and was on the lookout for products that would alleviate irritated skin. 

Lush has been an advocate of being against the use of animal testing and is seen perpetually giving back to society in the form of charity pots and participating in animal campaigning. I recently picked up Angels on Bare Skin (£6.75/100g) a face and/or body cleanser that consists of ground almonds that help to exfoliate the skin, lavender oil that balances and calms and kaolin, a type of clay that draws out impurities. I can't bear to slather such huge amounts on my body, so it's mostly reserved as a face mask. The lady over the counter couldn't stop raving about how this helped brighten and cleanse her skin. I've been using it for a week and I'm pretty sure this is a cleanser I'll run back to when I want an all natural, gentle cleanser.

Another product that's been highly mentioned is the Mask of Magnaminity Face Mask (£5.50/125g). As much as I love the fresh face masks Lush offers, I find that I can never seem to finish a full pot before the expiry date. The jovial sales keeper recommended I try one of their self preserving masks. I'm not a big lover of minty scents to it, but I wouldn't complain since does soothe the redness on my skin. The mask is made with peppermint oil to stimulate, marigold oil to treat the skin; evening primrose seeds and aduki beans to gently exfoliate as you remove it. There’s also mineral rich kaolin to nourish, antibacterial honey, and peppermint oil to stimulate the blood cells just under the surface of your skin to leave it looking bright and refreshed. Since I'm more of a face mask junkie than a face sheet, I've always loved face masks that come in pots. It dries up and feels more effective than slapping a sheet of face mask for 20 mins on my face, constantly making sure it wouldn't slide off my face. I naturally gravitate to this twice or thrice a week, especially when I don't have other face masks on hand.

I've only recently discovered the Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask (£6.50/75g), a gentle and balancing fresh face mask with antibacterial tea tree and fresh garlic working together to cleanse. What, garlic?! you say? No worries, the scent of garlic is far from noticeable! The scent is relatively hard to describe but it does have a thicker consistency that feels like paste when applied on the skin. It's thick and sticks on your face like super glue, which is great especially when I'm multi-tasking.  This mask is the bees knees for troubled skin and combats spots. Tea tree is also present in this mask which aids in killing those nasty red bumps that appear on the surface of your skin.

Ever since I arrived in the UK, my hair has been in its worse state. I've been told by a hairdresser here that the reason why my hair has been dropping at an alarming rate is due to the water:( Unfortunately, I haven't figured out a cure for this but the lady in Lush told me that the Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo (8.95/250g) would help with weak and thin hair (which is what I'm facing now). You must be wondering whether the word 'stout' really does mean that there's beer in this shampoo. Lo and behold, there is. And that's the magic! Stout is full of protein, which helps with the hair body and strength. Cynthia Sylvia Stout compromises of beer, vinegar, and lemon juice to give your locks a glossy sheen. I've only tried this twice (it doesn't leave any smell of beer, no worries) but it definitely does strengthen my hair and prevent breakage. It doesn't help with the hair loss, but I'm hoping I'd find a cure for that soon.

--

Thanks for reading my humble review and if you'd like to tell me what your favourite products are from Lush, please leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you guys. x

Love,

thehungryunicorn

 I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.