
Unscented K-Beauty (Korean Skincare) – Cleansers, Moisturizers, Toners & Serums Part II
As you know, I am boycotting mainstream brands for obvious reasons, and am replacing (or have replaced) everything I used to buy from them.
Read:
WHAT I LOOK FOR
My only real stipulations are that the products must be scent-free, perfume-free, fragrance-free and effective. Period.
I put in another order of Korean and Japanese (Asian, really) beauty skincare, and made sure to pore over the ingredient list for anything that said ‘Perfume’, ‘Parfum’, ‘Scent’ or any hint of Essential Oils.
I find that those ingredients are really want make the products smell for me, and I would rather have no smell or a clinical smell than something faked. Plus, I am not really entirely convinced essential oils (even in minute quantities) are good for your skin.
CLEANSERS
I tried out two new cleansers… I had been using the HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Gel and SoonJung Foam cleanser (reviews here) but I have not been entirely sold on the products. Not because they are not effective, but mostly because I do not think I am a face cleanser gel or foam cleanser kind of person. I prefer a lotion or a cream, hence why these two picks were on my list.
Dear, Klairs – Gentle Black Facial Cleanser
The brand name is so odd to me because of the comma, but anyway… I got it because it promised to not be a gel nor a foam (the name implies neither), and I am happy to report it is more of a very very thick hand cream that squeezes out. Think of a very. thick balm or paste, and you sort of have the texture.
I used just a tiny pea-sized drop of it, and it foamed up very nicely. It did not smell, and felt pretty good on my skin, cleaning it. It leaves absolutely no film on the skin or any sort of lotion-y softness. It really makes your skin feel dry and ‘clean’ at the end, with no residue. If that is the kind of vibe you are looking for in a cleanser, then it is pretty good.
I also think it is a very thick balm texture (a bit hard to squeeze out if I am to be honest), because there is not a lot of water added to it. A lot of cleansers tend to be more liquid-y in texture, but that is because water is one of the main ingredients. I like to think of these kinds of cleansers are being quite economical, due to its waterless composition.
It also foams up beautifully which.. I know is completely psychological, but is kind of what I want to see and feel in a facial cleanser.
mixsoon – Centella Cleansing Foam
A lot of promises were made in the word ‘centalla’ which refers to the famed tiger grass (the grass tigers supposedly roll in to heal their cuts and so on), and I was scared it would smell quite herbal-y or too scented for me to use.
I was pleasantly surprised that it did not smell, and the foam was a lot thicker than the SoonJung Foam Cleanser I had tried before. The texture is a lot like rubbing skin lotion on my face, and it has zero foaming texture. Absolutely none at all. It also leaves a light, kind of plump, hydrated feeling to your skin afterwards – it does not leave it feeling dry or ‘clean’ (some say ‘stripped’ but I don’t believe that) like the Dear, Klairs version.
While I am still not entirely sold on cleansing foams, I rather liked this one and would use it again in a pinch. As it comes in a mini format, it would be great to carry on trips.
Anua – 8 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
This one is very much like the Dear, Klairs one. Same sort of balm texture (very difficult to squeeze out of the tube), much like a thick toothpaste, and it foams beautifully. The only difference between this one and Dear, Klairs, is this one leaves a soft, plumped, hydrated texture to your skin after you wash it off.
TONERS
I have always thought toners to be a bit of a scam, and I am not entirely convinced of them.. and yet I purchased two to try out. I will say that it SEEMS to make a difference on my skin. It SEEMS to prep it before I layer on a serum and moisturizer, but maybe it is all a placebo.
So, to really talk about the difference between these two toners I tried? Kind of useless.. I think they function about the same.
Purito SEOUL – Wonder Releaf Centella
Unscented Toner
‘RELEAF” .. get it? Because centalla is a leaf…? Oh forget it.
Anyway, this toner works, and I think it slightly edges out the other one by a small hair just because it has the word ‘centella’ in it and for all you know, those tigers know something we don’t if they are rolling in those leaves each time they get hurt. I feel my skin sort of tingle a little when I spread it all over my skin and let it absorb. It is kind of refreshing.
Be careful of this brand, they have a scented version as well. You need to buy the UNSCENTED version which comes in this beautiful pale sage green colour.
Dear, Klairs – Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
It is just like any other toner. It goes on, doesn’t dry out my skin, and I wonder if it is a useless step. Perhaps it is. I think if I were to buy a toner, I would stick with the centalla one.
SERUMS
Purito SEOUL – Wonder Releaf Centella UNSCENTED Serum
You know, this one feels pretty good on the skin. It doesn’t feel sticky or gross, and when I spread it on, I can feel a little light tingling. Maybe it is because of some ingredient they added to make my skin feel like that, but maybe it is the centella working.
After about a week of using the trio of toner + serum + cream (scroll down), I noticed my skin feeling different, flaking off more and kind of renewing itself. Maybe it is nothing, but I did like using the product, a lot. Would I buy it again? Yes, and maybe rotate it around the other serums once in a while for some variety.
Be careful of this brand, they have a scented version as well. You need to buy the UNSCENTED version which comes in this beautiful pale sage green colour.
Rohto Mentholatum – Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Essence Lotion
Everyone and their unicorn has been talking about this magical premium essence lotion, so I had to buy it to try it out after I made sure it had no smell or fragrance added.
And you know what?
They were right.
Those unicorns had something of substance in all that talk, because it really does make a difference in my skin. I feel like it is softer, more luminous, and flakes off as well (that cell turnover business happening). I would 100% buy this again. In fact, I sometimes use this and don’t even bother with a moisturizer, as it is so hydrating.
On the Reddit boards, they are complaining about some recipe change (?) that happened in 2023, but the bottle I got did not feel sticky or anything. I wonder if I got an older bottle or maybe I just did not have anything to compare it to.
Anyway, I will buy a new bottle when this is up and then I will know for sure. I cannot abide by sticky or tacky feeling things, so this one is a winner in my books.
Dear, Klairs – Rich Moist Soothing Serum (Unscented)
It said unscented. I had to try it. I then sorely regretted wasting money on it because it is the stickiest, most tacky serum ever. It feels like the CosRX snail serum crap that they formulated for North American markets (yes you heard me, do not buy the brand CosRx!!!), and it just felt gross on my skin. I am going to try and use it on my legs or something to not waste it, but STEER CLEAR of this horrible product.
Purito SEOUL – Wonder Releaf Centella Unscented Cream
Be careful of this brand, they have a scented version as well. You need to buy the UNSCENTED version which comes in this beautiful pale sage green colour.
I very much liked this face cream. So much so, that I will most certainly buy it again as my face cream, which means my SoonJung Etude-House 2X Moist Emulsion Cream is now usurped by this one. I will keep the SoonJung Etude-House 10-Free Moist Emulsion Cream for my body as a very expensive, but effective body cream, and use this one on my face instead.
I love the way it spreads on, tingles and moisturizes my skin. I am definitely choosing this one.
haruharu wonder – Black Rice 10 Hyaluronic Cream Unscented (2023 version)
It feels like velvet, goes on great, but I am not convinced. It is somewhat moisturizing – needs layering or a serum underneath – which is nice because it is not too thick and would be good for warmer months. The smell is .. like an unscented lotion. It is not good or bad, but it sort of reminds me of candlewax in a way. I am not entirely certain I really want to buy it again. I will use it up, but that is about it.
Skincotton – Unscented Day Hand Cream
NOT for the face, but perfect for the hands. It is thick, unscented, and REALLY moisturizes, the way a good hand or foot cream should. I would also use this as a body cream, a very thick one, as it is thicker and more moisturizing than the SoonJung Etude-House 10-Free Moist Emulsion Cream.
FINAL VERDICT…FOR NOW
These are the winners for me, for a fully unscented beauty routine:
- Facial oil cleanser: Rohto Mentholatum – Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Oil
- Facial cleanser: Dear, Klairs – Gentle Black Facial Cleanser or Anua – 8 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
- Toner: Purito SEOUL – Wonder Releaf Centella Unscented Toner
- Serum: Rohto Mentholatum – Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Essence Lotion
- Facial Cream: Purito SEOUL – Wonder Releaf Centella Unscented Cream
- Body Cream: SoonJung Etude-House 10-Free Moist Emulsion Cream
- Hand Cream: Skincotton – Unscented Day Hand Cream (can also be used as a winter body cream)
Melissa | Welcome Objects
I use the Dear, Klairs supple preparation toner and also have am suspicious of whether it actually does anything. But I have the regular scented one and like the smell, so I just consider it a daily aroma therapy