Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Water

125mL ($50 USD)

I wasn't going to review anymore whitening products, but since the sun is still quite strong even in North America, I feel I should review this set which has strong whitening effects... 

During the Summer, we do have to use whitening products to "prevent" ourselves from getting darker. After the Summer, when the sun is not as heavy, it's time that we use better whitening products to replenish and get whiter.

The Sulwhasoo Snowise line contains many kinds of Korea medicinal herbs, including Kozo, fermented soybean natto, rhubarb, marsh parsely, concentrated pomegranate, licorice root and white mulberry. These ingredients are intended to help brighten, clarify, detoxify and even-out skin tone. 
The Sulwhasoo products all have a herbal scent. 
I have used the whole whitening line for ~9 months. 

This line is suitable for the summer as well. 
The Snowise EX Whitening Water is a clear and gentle gel type toner. 
Since the texture is thick, it can provide deep hydration to dry skin. 
This whitening line uses nanotechnology, so particles can penetrate and be absorbed quickly. 
My skin sucks its water moisture like a sponge! 



After using First Care Serum, pour some Snowise EX Whitening Water on your hand (palm) and apply or massage on your face. 

I haven't applied the toner on my hand yet, you can see these dry fine lines on my skin.  

After application, the fine lines are not visible anymore!!  

I will give this toner a 4.5 out of 5 and will definitely get it again!!

Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Skin

140 mL, 12000 won

I tried a few tea products but they never smell like tea... include this one.. 
The Green Tea Pure Skin smells like the Etude House Magic Enzyme Pack Peeling, kind of perfumey.... probably even stronger, but no green tea smell at all... 
It got to a point that I find the scent too strong....

Most toners are watery... but this one is like a clear gel

It feels so hydrating and refreshing, absorbs super quickly
My face is fully hydrated, feels like I just applied a light face gel ~

Suitable to be used during the summer time. Not moisturizing enough for the winter or those that live in cold and dry area... like me... I won't use it during the winter for sure =)

During the summer, you can try putting it in the fridge to make it cooler. After a day of sunshine, use it and it feels so cool on your face~

The Innisfree Green Tea Line consists of skincare for 3 skin types (dry, normal/ combination and oil)

Dry skin:
Innisfree Green Tea Moisture Skin
Innisfree Green Tea Moisture Essence
Innisfree Green Tea Moisture Cream


Normal/ Combination skin:
Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Skin
Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Lotion
Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream

Oil skin:
Innisfree Green Tea Fresh Skin 
Innisfree Green Tea Fresh Essence
Innisfree Green Tea Fresh Lotion
Innisfree Green Tea Fresh Cream

For all skin types:
Innisfree Green Tea Pure Powder Wash
Innisfree Pure Cleansing Foam
Innisfree Pure Cleansing Oil
Innisfree Pure Cleansing Water
Innisfree Mineral Cleansing Bar

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Oil
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Deep Cream

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Eye Cream

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask 
Innisfree Sleeping Pack

Innisfree Pure Gel Hand Cream
Innisfree Mineral Mist
Innisfree Eco Natural Green Tea BB Cream


For Body:
Innisfree Pure Body Cleanser
Innisfree Pure Body Lotion
Innisfree Pure Body Gel Scrub

Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water

125 mL, $44 USD

This is the 4th step in the Sulwhasoo process, to be used after the First Care Activating Serum

The Balancing Water is a toner, but the texture is a light gel that spreads easily and absorbs fast.
You don't need to use a cotton pad, otherwise you would need to use 3x as much and it's such a waste, just pat it on your face
It has a light herbal scent that is warming, calming and relaxing
Suitable for dry or combo to dry skin
It belongs to the Basic Line in Sulwhasoo and only provides hydration and moisture
It helps foundation to better stick on your face
It also controls oil and reduces acne
Since it's stored in a glass bottle, the gel is always in a cool temperature
I always prefer to use products that give an effect, such as whitening or anti-aging...
So for a Sulwhasoo toner, I would prefer using the Snowise EX Whitening Water or this one

Steps: 
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil --> Gentle Cleansing Foam --> First Care Activating Serum --> Essential Balancing Water / Snowise EX Whitening Water --> Essential Balancing Emulsion/ Snowise EX Whitening Fluid

Skinfood Avocado Rich Toner

160mL, 11000 won, $215 HKD, 690 NT

I didn't buy the full size for this line, I only tried the sample set which lasted ~1 week.

Avocado contains Vitamin A, D, B2, B6, C, E, proteins, minerals and etc...
It has anti-oxidants and supplies nutrients to your skin. 
Avocado can retain moisture and absorbs easier than Olive oil~

Suitable for dry skin, helps balance oil secretion and smooths fine lines. 
It smells like berry and nothing like avocado.... the texture is the same as some of the Skinfood toners, thick (more like a light gel), easy to spread, fast absorbing and very hydrating.

After using it, it makes my skin feel so soft ~
The avocado products I have tried were thick and creamy and made me feel so uncomfortable~

It does an excellent job with oil control, after using it for ~1 week, the size of my pores reduced and my skin became softer.

According to the instructions, the avocado line is for dry skin, but I have combination oily skin and found that this is suitable for me as well, I quite liked it~ 
The Avocado line is way better than I thought ha ha, next time I would definitely get a full size toner ~

Skinfood Gold Caviar Toner

145mL, 19000 won, $370 HKD, 1100 NT

According to the descriptions, the caviar series include Premium Russian Caviar and 24 K gold (softens your skin). Together they can recover, moisturize, firm and supply nutrients to the bottom layer of your skin.

Caviar contains Omega-3 which helps to recover damaged skin cells, cleans up impurities within cells, reduces fine lines, hydrates, anti-ages, and softens your skin. It increases the level of absorption for other skincare that follows.

Gold contains negative ions which aids blood circulation and cells regrowth.

I received a few sample sets for this toner and emulsion, so I didn't buy the full size.

One sample set lasted me ~2 weeks. Skinfood is quite generous making big size samples.

The packaging for the full size is quite simple yet elegant. The toner smells like flower and the scent is not strong at all~ 
Many of the Skinfood products have a strong scent. The texture is just like a clear light gel, most Korean toners are thicker than other watery toners. It doesn't feel oily, feels super hydrating and refreshing and absorbs fast!! Same feeling I had for the Innisfree Olive Real Skin and Skinfood Black Raspberry Toner. 

The 24K gold as one of the ingredients make me feel elegant!! 
I've never used a "golden" skincare product ever in my life~ HAHA!!

Sana Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Rich Toner

200mL, 598 yen

The name is super long.....
I am interested in natural products lately and I've heard that soy beans provide whitening effects.
I bought the Sana Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Rich Toner from a Phama Cosmetic store in Osaka.

Ingredients include concentrated soy bean essence, fragrance-free, non-allergic, non-oily, contains plant ingredients

Main function: provides hydration

Soy beans originate from Japan and has been known for its benefits as skincare. The main ingredient in this line is fermented soy bean, which contains a high volume of anti-oxidants. Soy beans is very similar in structure to female hormones, hence the Japanese combined technology to come up with this moisturizing soy bean line. Soy bean can increase elasticity, balance skin tone and softens your skin.

Suitable for any season, for normal to dry skin 

I've read lots of reviews before getting this product, lots of people loved it!!

The most attractive thing is that the whole product is made with natural ingredients.
It makes me feel better when I am NOT putting too much chemical cosmetics/ skincare on my face!

There toner comes in 2 types: normal and rich. I bought the rich toner cause I live in Canada and it's quite dry here...

The whole series include:- Sana Nameraka Honpo Makeup Cleansing Oil
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Makeup Cleansing Cream
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Cleansing Soap
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Makeup Cleansing Milk
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Cleansing Foam
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Scrubbing Bag
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Facial Lotion (Light Toner)
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Moisture Lotion (Rich Toner)
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Facial Milky Lotion
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Moisture Milky Lotion (Rich Lotion)
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Face Cream
- Sana Nameraka Honpo UV Make Up Base
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Sheet Mask
- Sana Nameraka Honpo Body Cream

Innisfree Olive Real Skin

180mL, 14000 won

The new packaging is ~50 mL more than the previous one

This has always been one of my favourite products!!

Water gel texture, but this is actually a toner !!

Out of all the lines in Innisfree, my favourite ones are Olive (for the winter) and Green Tea (for the summer). Olive is a bit thicker and Green Tea feels cool and refreshing.

When I was in Hong Kong, I sweat like hell and became quite dehydrated!

After cleaning my face, I quickly splat some Olive toner on my face

I feel like i am reborn from a dead plant!!

My face sucks the water moisture like crazy!! It's very thirsty!!

The Innisfree Olive Real Skin is very hydrating, gentle and non-irritating.

If you live in a tropical hot country, I recommend using this during the night time.

But if you are living in a cold ice-cream country like Canada or parts of the States, you can use it day and night.

The diagram above shows 3 ways of using the Innisfree Olive Real Skin:

1. sheet mask (use a clean & dry face mask sheet, soak ~30 mL then apply onto your face for 15-20 mins)

2. mix ~1 drop with your foundation/ BB cream to increase hydration

3. mix with mask powder then apply onto your face for ~15 mins

Etude House Moistfull Toner

150mL, 8500 won

The weather is getting try, hydration is definitely something we need!!
The Moistfull series have been a long lasting product of Etude House!!
Soothing, gentle and cool
Smells refreshing, thick texture, provides lots of hydration!!
My skin is getting dry lately and it sucks the water moisture like a sponge!!

I love the pink packaging!!

There's 3 ways you can use this:

1. mix 1 drop with BB cream or foundation to increase hydration

2. use as sheet mask, get a piece of clean sheet mask and soak it with ~15 mL of toner

3. mix it with mask powder to create a soft mask

Skinfood Black Raspberry Toner

135mL, 13900 won, $260 HKD, 850 NT

Black Raspberry contains a rich supply of Vitamin A、C、Phospholipids，jayangboeumdan and cheongyeondan. Phospholipids keeps your skin smooth and smooth, it absorbs water easily, increasing the water level in your skin and yet keeping your pores unclogged. Cheongyeondan helps improve your skin color, brightens up your skin and makes it look radiant.

A fast absorbing thick toner that feels more like a liquid gel. It keeps my skin all hydrated.

I didn't buy this product, I received samples when I was shopping at Skinfood Korea. The set below can last ~1.5 weeks. I noticed the difference right after using it for the first day. The toner absorbs right away and my pores look fine. My face oil is balanced, so it also has oil control. However, the smell is quite strong... it's a black raspberry product but smells like ginseng....

Suitable for normal to dry skin.

Laneige White Plus Renew Skin Refiner

120 mL, ~22000-25000 won

I kept talking about different kinds of whitening and hydrating products for the past month.

That's because during the summer time, these 2 products became increasingly popular!!

Hydrating and whitening are the main concerns for girls~~

Many people think that after using whitening products for a day, you'll immediately see results... 

That's IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Usually you need to use it for 2-3 days in order to see results...  

so.... should you use it day? or night?

well... you need to use it BOTH day AND night!!

In the morning, whitening products help protect your skin from getting a tan and preventing UV rays from harming your skin. 

In the night time, whitening products help repair your skin.

so.... can I just use 1 whitening product to achieve the whitening effect??

This is ALSO IMPOSSIBLE....

If you want the BEST result, of course you should buy the whole line home... 

But if you don't want to spend too much money, then just target on the main products

such as essence, lotion/ cream, mask, UV protector/ sunscreen

Other products such as whitening face wash, toner, eye cream are just secondary whitening products that doesn't do any or much whitening to your skin.

However, when using whitening products during the day, YOU MUST USE A SUNSCREEN!

Otherwise, after your applied whitening products and the sun shines onto your face, it will have the exact opposite result!! blackening your skin... 

The toner is contained in a light blue, heavy glass bottle.

Texture is thick, like a water gel and has excellent hydration effects!!

Whitening effect is not quite noticeable.... 

If you pour the toner onto a cotton pad and rub it on your skin, it'll take off dead skin cells and improve skin discoloration. Amino-acid peeling ingredients remove makeup residue and impurities.

Best suitable for people who live in a cold area (such as North America) or work in an air-conditioning environment.

Innisfree 7 Herbs Whitening Skin

150 mL, ~10000-15000 won (I don't really remember)

Innisfree uses natural ingredients for most of their products. I have never seen any other brand using all natural ingredients for their whitening skincare line.

Ingredients include Peppermint, Primula, Mallow, Lady's mantle, Speedwell herb, Balm mint and Yallow. These ingredients provides triple effect to whiten, moisturise and hydrate your skin! In addition, Arbutin brightens dull skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots.

I don't like the smell... it's too "herby"... the toner or "skin" is clear and thick. Since it's stored in a glass bottle, the toner is cool when I pour it out.  It does a good job hydrating, but other than that, it's just a normal toner... 

The price is a little expensive... compared to other whitening product brands, but it is acceptable. 

Missha Time Revolution White Cure Super Essential Toner

150 mL, 22000 won, $385 (HK retail stores)

This is a very watery toner, not like the other Korean thick toners...

I couldn't take a picture, coz it just runs off the back of my hand.

Ingredients: Neo-White LP (whitening particles), Chromocare TM (adjusts tone color), 20% White Flower Extract 

According to the Missha website, it can help lighten and balances skin tone, improves skin quality, prevents melanin from forming and hydrates

This set of whitening skincare by Missha is a little expensive
Results aren't very obvious..
Light lemon scent, clear watery texture
suitable for dry skin
If you want the best whitening effect, you must use a serum + moisturiser, the toner is just an "assistant"....

Innisfree White Tone Up Skin

200 mL, 18000 won

I really don't know why Koreans call toner.. skin... if you ask a salesperson in Korea, it sounds so awkward... "Do you have skin?" well obviously I have skin! =P

Innisfree toners are generally thick in texture, but this one is not.. it's watery... 

When I was taking pictures I keep spilling it all over my hand.

it's summertime anyways, I prefer watery toners over thick toners

Milky ffeeee in color, light lemon smell

Etude House has a similar product Etude House Vitamin C O2 White Tone-up Toner

but that one has a way stronger lemon scent!

 

Since ffeeee has always been my favourite color, I loved the packaging!!
For those who wanna shop like crazy in Korea, you will be so disappointed of the glass bottle packaging...

Ingredients include Mulberry, which contains 5 kinds of natural berry essence. These essence include Vitamin B3, which can prevent melanin from forming dark spots on your skin, bringing out the whitening effect.

The product is made using the nanology technique, so it's easy to penetrate your pores and absorbs quickly. If your pour the toner on a cotton pad and rub it on your skin, it will remove dead skin cells as well. 

I do not feel any pressure using this product. 
ingredients are natural, the product itself is scent-free, mineral oil free, colorless
It feels good and very suitable for my skin

The entire series include:
Innisfree White Tone Up Skin (200mL) -- 18000 won
Innisfree White Tone Up Lotion (160mL) -- 16000 won
Innisfree White Tone Up Essence (50mL) -- 20000 won
Innisfree White Tone Up Eye Serum (30mL) -- 20000 won

Etude House Vitamin C O2 White Tone-up Toner

150 mL, 13000 won

Etude House changes their products quite fast... this line is from 2010. 
I expect they will have an entire new whitening line soon....

Ingredients: O2, Vitamin C, Vitamin B3

The toner helps to remove dead skin cells. Pour some toner on a cotton pad, rub it onto your face and you'll see black/ grey dead skin cells. Vitamin C strengthens the anti-oxidation effect, helps brighten your skin, making it look fresh and radiant.

The first time I use it... I smell strong lemon... kind of like... Sunlight detergent...??
Probably it's because of the Vitamin C, that's why there's such a strong lemon scent

The texture is runny and watery, not like the other Korean toners that are thick (like a light gel). 

Skinfood Lettuce & Cucumber Toner

135 mL, 9000 won, $195 HKD


Ingredients: lettuce and cucumber extracts, Vitamin A & C, lavender

Lettuce has healing effects and cucumber can help with swells.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Skinfood Lettuce and Cucumber line having great hydration effects!! Finally I bought a set in Korea.


The opening is badly designed!! The hole is so small (~2mm diameter) and it takes forever to pour just a bit of the toner out!! Finally I took the opening apart, but now you need to pour very carefully or you will pour too much.  Texture is thick, more like a light gel, unlike the other watery toners. 

I have been using this toner for nearly 3 months now, my skin looks transparent and hydrated. 
It smells very refreshing and clean~
Since the toner is inside a glass bottle, the toner is always cool.

Suitable for any season. During the summer, you can use it to cool down your skin, during the winter you can use it to provide more water moisture. It absorbs super quick!! Those who work in an air-conditioned office everyday definitely needs this for your dehydrated skin!! I like to use it in the morning before my make up, cause applying make up over hydrated skin makes your make up more smooth and pretty.