Sparkled Beauty

Tony Moly is a Korean brand launched at Sephora not long ago and at the Bay very recently, with "criminally cute packaging and fun products". I came across a store while on vacation with extensive product lineup, and bought a few skin care products :)

This first product is not a stranger to North America - Egg Pore blackhead steam balm.

Meant to acts as a steamer to open up your pores and help remove dirt and oil, the self-heating balm feels like a gel.

The formula is infused with:
- Charcoal powder and sea salt to aid with blackhead concerns
- Vitamin E, egg shell powder and egg yolk extract to hydrate the skin.

The packaging is, though cute, a little misleading as the lid, which accounts for more than half of the "egg", is actually empty and the product is all housed in the small bottom part :)

Instruction: apply onto areas with blackheads, gently massage 3-5 minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

I find the heating effect pretty mild, but the gel does a good job in cleansing the skin. The areas with black heads do seem to be improved after a few uses but I cannot say for sure if they are all removed.

I personally prefer this product than those pore strips, a lot more gentle and I do have the control over how much pressure I want to apply.

Ingredients: Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sea Salt, Onsensui, Charcoal Powder, Vinegar, Egg Shell Powder, Cellulose, etc.

The "egg" has 30g of product, I paid about $20 (tax in) vs. $23 (before tax) at Sephora. The line also includes Egg Pore Silky Smooth balm and Tightening Cooling pack, cleansing foams, primer, nose packs, etc. that Sephora does not carry.

I bought this Peach hand cream plainly because of the packaging. I love the plush pink gradient on top of real peaches, am so glad that Tony Moly replicates that.

And not only that, they replicate the scent as well, not the overly sweet scent but the delicate fresh peach scent, I could not get enough.

Hate to get that smooth surface getting scratched up so I haven't carried it in my bag but leave it on my coffee table instead and reach for it whenever I can.

The formula is infused with shea butter, real peach extract and adenosine to provide antioxidants and support natural elasticity of the skin.

The texture is very creamy but does not take long to rub in and does not feel sticky after.

The moisturizing effect does not last extremely long, but the product does what a hand cream needs to do, so no complain here.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Vegetable Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, etc.

The jar is 30g, $10 vs. $14 at Sephora.

On to products that I have not seen before, starting with this Clean Dew Apple Mint cleansing oil.

The formula contains:
- Pure green complex (green tea water, tea tree water and Japanese cypress water) to retain moisture on the skin for hours
- Apple mint to remove dead skin and impurities.

Standard bottle with a pump, and the bonus small clip to act as a stopper for the pump to avoid spillage, which I think is very helpful.

It is important to note that this cleansing oil is quite different from others I have tried here. It feels very light, with texture somewhere between an oil and a cleansing water, with a subtle apple scent. It emulsifies very well with a small amount of water added on after being massaged in, but takes more time to wash off completely.

This does bother me a little bit at first, because I want a quick rinse but the skin feels very refreshing, clean and soft after that I can deal with a few extra time at the sink. I am a fan!

Ingredients: Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polysorbate 85, Fragrance, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Olea Europaca (Olive) Fruit Oil, etc.

The oil is paraben/ phenoxy ethanol/ benzophenone/ sulfate surfactant/ tar color free. The bottle is 150ml, $20.

Another exciting product is the Aquaporin fresh (no wash) cleansing water, which I got as a free gift with my purchases.

What a gift it is, as it is just what the name suggests, a refreshing cleansing water that does a good job with even long wear liners and mascaras. No irritation nor greasy feeling after, and no panda eyes in the morning.

It has a light fresh scent which, to me, making cleansing work more fun. Needless to say, this cleansing water is favourite status, despite the higher price tag (Bioderma level).

Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-32, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Plankton Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

The bottle is 300ml, almost $20. The Aquaporin line is quite extensive, with products from masks, sleeping packs to mists, emulsions and gels.