Just An Ordinary Girl

Reviews

[Review] Tohato Chocobi Chocolate - Crayon Shin Chan's Favorite Snack

By Elin Chow - Sunday, February 21, 2021

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Reviews

[Review] Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner

By Elin Chow - Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Photo By: Elin Chow

Formulated with 10,000 ppm of nature tea tree leaf extract, the Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Tone claims to improve skin conditions in just 30 days. The toner claims to exfoliate, treat acne, pigmentations, shrink pore sizes and reduce blackheads.

I was feeling a little skeptical when I learned about this tone because it simply sounded too miraculous to be true. However, as a person who has been deeply bothered by blackheads all the time, I could not help trying it out. Furthermore, I was convinced by all the raving reviews online. Therefore, I bought a bottle of it from Lazada and have been using it ever since till now.

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Xylitol, Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil

For those who do not know, tea tree oil is a natural acne remedy that is often used to treat acne. It helps to soothe inflammation, redness, swelling and prevent and reduce acne scars.

Other than Tea Tree leaf extract, the toner also contains three types of acids, namely AHA, BHA and PHA.

AHA (Citric Acid) - A very gentle exfoliator that helps to remove stubborn dead skin cells and impurities on the surface of the skin

BHA (Salicylic Acid) - Get rid of impurities and sebum inside pores. It helps to reduce the appearance of pores and acne

PHA (Lactobionic Acid) - Known for its antioxidant properties which helps to reduce moisture loss and fight free radicals

Besides AHA, BHA and PHA, the toner is also formulated with a number of other skin-benefitting ingredients.

Niacinamide - Known to hydrate, soothe and lighten skin, as well as treats wrinkles and acne.

Papaya fruit extract - A naturally derived AHA that helps to reduce flakiness and blemishes

Lentil seed extract - Known for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties.

Swiftlet Nest Extract - An antioxidant that renews and tighten skin

Witch Hazel - A naturally derived AHA that helps to reduce sebum and dead skin cells and speed up skin renewal

The toner is free from 20 harmful ingredients such as parabens, colorants and mineral oils. In addition to that, the toner has also passed the hypoallergic test. It has a very low PH level, which means that it can be used everyday without irritating the skin, making it suitable for people with sensitive skin. However, I have to mention that it contains a few drop of peppermint oil and thus, can be irritating for sensitive skin.

Packaging

The toner comes in a 150ml transparent green tinted bottle with a black screwed cap, packed in a white green cardboard box.

Consistency

The toner is transparent with a very watery consistency. In fact, it is much more watery than most other brands of toners I have used so far.

Smell

The toner has a very mild medicinal peppermint scent. It is not overpowering and does not linger on the skin.

The product claimed to be a very gentle exfoliator that can slowly remove dead skin cells and whiteheads and blackheads. My skin definitely looks cleaner and clearer since I started adding this toner to my everyday skincare routine. However, It does not help to remove deep-rooted blackheads.

I actually expected some drying or stinging to happen because exfoliating products are often known to dry the skin out. But surprisingly, it did not. The toner is surprisingly very gentle. Even though it is not extremely hydrating, it does not irritate or dry the skin out.

The toner had changed my skin condition significantly. I have started to notice an improvement in my skin texture after using it for just a week. My skin felt so soft and smooth to the touch. It also appeared brighter and more radiant.

I usually do not have acne problems until recently. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, I have started to develop breakouts due to wearing a mask. However, I have not experience a breakout ever since I started using this tone (well, except hormonal).

I feel that this toner does help to control sebum production. My skin has became less oily since I started using this toner.

How To Use

I apply the toner with a cotton pad straight after cleansing, followed by a moisturizer. The toner spills and drips easily due to its watery consistency, so I really recommend applying the product with a cotton pad instead of your hands. Furthermore, a cotton pad can help to grab and remove any excess sebum and impurities sitting on your skin.

Some By Mi has actually recommended to use it twice a day for the best result. But I only use this once at night before going to bed and the result is still surprisingly good.

Conclusion

Did the Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner lives up to its claims? Definitely yes! I feel that this toner would help to improve the overall health of skin in long term. It is extremely gentle and helps to reduce the occurrence of whiteheads, blackheads and acne. I would recommend this toner to anyone who is struggling with various skin problems, especially acne, whiteheads and blackheads. However, it may be a little drying for people with dry skin. You may reduce the frequency of use if you find it drying. Get this from Lazada!

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Reviews

[Review] Tony Moly The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream

By Elin Chow - Friday, January 29, 2021

Photo By: Elin Chow

The Tony Moly Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream is a gel-based cream moisturizer that promises to deliver intense hydration. I bought this because green tea has always been one of my favorite ingredient in skin care. When we talked about green tea in K-beauty, I believe many of us will naturally think about Innisfree Green Tea Seed serum, which is also one of my most favorite skin care products.

Tony Moly The Chok Chok Green Tea line is less well-known, but it is a true gem. The product claims to provide intense moisture without being sticky or heavy on the skin. So I guess it would work pretty well for people who have oily/combination skin and live in a hot and humid countries like me. Furthermore, there are lots of raving reviews online.

For those who did not know, Chok Chok means "wet" or ''moist'' in Korean, which is used to describe dewy, bouncy and fresh skin. Read on if you would like to find out whether this product actually lives up to its "Chok Chok" name!

Ingredients

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (63%), Cyclomethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Pantaerythrityl Teraethylhexanoate, Buthylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polysilicone-11, Phytosterly/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream is formulated with "ChungTaeJeon", a special type of green tea ferment extract that has been naturally fermented over a year in order to obtain the best skin-enhancing benefits. These fermented green tea extract are high in antioxidants that helps to moisturize, brighten and protect the skin from pollution and UV damages.

Other than fermented green tea, the cream also contains Lemon Seed oil and Rosewood oil. Both of these ingredients, along with green tea, are known for their anti-aging, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They are intensely moisturizing and helps to soothe redness, treat irritated skin as well as diminish the signs of aging.

The product also claims to form a hydration layer over the skin to retain moisture upon application, leaving it healthy and youthful looking.

The product is free from alcohol, paraben, fragrance and allergen. Even so, it might not be suitable for people with sensitive skin as it contains Lemon Seed Oil as it might increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, causing redness and irritation.

Packaging

The product comes in a cheap green plastic jar with a black screw on cap that is packed in a white and green cardboard box. The packaging is a little bulky but sturdy. It is available in a couple of sizes - 10 ml, 60ml and 100 ml.

I bought the standard size (60 ml), which is bigger than most other brands of moisturizers that you will find in the market. The usual standard size that most other brands offer would be 50 ml. It does not come with a spatula for application, so it can be a little unhygienic. But it is not really an issue for me since I always make sure to wash my hands before application.

Texture

The cream itself is creamy white in color. It looks rich and heavy, so I am really worried that it might break me out or makes my skin oily. However, the consistency of this product surprised me. It is a bit watery and almost gel-like. Well, not too watery to the point it will actually drips, but certainly not as thick as a cream either. The texture is actually silky soft and fluffy! Upon applying onto the skin, the cream will immediately becomes thin and watery. It certainly does not feel heavy on my skin at all.

Smell

The product has a distinct citrusy green tea scent that many people love, but I do not really like. It is not that I hate smell of green tea. I just find the scent a little too strong. But luckily, the scent will go away almost immediately upon application.

The product is easy to spread and can be absorbed quickly by skin. I love that it is extremely lightweight and does not make my skin sticky after application. However, I noticed that it does leave a greasy shine on the skin. I suppose this is the 'hydration layer' that the product is talking about. But it does not make my skin feels uncomfortable or extremely greasy at all.

I love how soft and supple my skin feels after application and the next day, my skin will look plump with a very nice glow. I could not stop touching my face because it feel so silky soft and smooth!

How To Use

A little goes a long way. I just need a very small amount of it to cover entire face. I use it as a daily night time moisturizer after a toner. But you can use it as a day time moisturizer since it is extremely lightweight.

Conclusion

All in all, I think this product lives up to its "Chok Chok" name. I have been using this every night for months already and I have never experienced any acne breakouts so far. I would recommend this product to anyone with oily/combination skin, especially those who live in such a hot and humid country like me. However, I think it might not be moisturizing enough for people who live in a dry and cold country or with dry skin. This product is actually more suitable for people with normal to combination and oily skin.

Despite its larger size, I think the price is still pretty affordable. I bought this for RM 54 from Althea, but you can also find it easily at many other online stores at almost same price. This is definitely a product that is worth trying without breaking the bank.

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