Cleanser Exfoliator Mask

Review: COSRX Gel Cleanser, Overnight Rice Mask, AHA7 Liquid ▴ My First Foray into COSRX

5 March 2016

COSRX

Ummm… so. I’ve unknowingly been away from this blog for almost a month (I swear it only feels like a week!) but I’ve been a lot more active on my main blog, which captures events from the rest of my life sans beauty.

In an attempt to make up for lost time, I’m reviewing THREE products at a go!

This is my first time trying out COSRX, but I’ve heard great things about them, and when I had to shop for gaps in my skincare routine, I jumped on the chance to try them and picked out a few of their best products.

I left out the full names in the title but they are:

  • Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
  • Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask
  • AHA7 Whitehead Power Liquid

COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

After I stopped using foam cleansers because the ones I’ve been using has been bringing the Sahara desert to my face, I was on the search for a cleanser that I could just use without leaving my skin so tight and flaky.

I am not on board the IF YOU DON’T USE A LOW PH CLEANSER YOUR SKIN BE GOING TO HELL train. I chose this COSRX cleanser purely because it had pretty good reviews, and because it was cheap (less than $7 – with shipping!) So no harm even if it didn’t work for me. Lesson learnt after I coughed up $28 for Su:m37’s cleansing stick which failed spectacularly.

It’s a clear gel that lathers easily (don’t expect much foam though) and smells strongly of tea tree oil. If you’re allergic or dislike the smell, you’ll have to stay away from this cleanser! Although as a side note, my sister (who was visiting and didn’t bring any of her own toiletries) is allergic to The Body Shop’s tea tree line, and she used this without realizing it contained tea tree and was fine. Interpret that however you will (I cannot be be held responsible for the consequences though!)

I use this as a second cleanser and I find it cleanses the skin well without leaving it feeling stripped. THANK YOU. Am I finally seeing the end of the cleanser-hunting tunnel?

Verdict

I feel like I should love this cleanser. It is gentle but cleanses well, doesn’t not irritate the skin, and doesn’t leave it feeling dry. It comes in a generous tube. It’s ONLY SEVEN DOLLARS.

For sure, I appreciate that I finally found a cleanser I can fall back upon. But love? No, I don’t think so.

Is it the simple, no-frills packaging? Is it the less-than-sophisticated scent? I’ve always been drawn to the more pretty, fancy things. Or maybe cleansers are just like that? Something that people just use, but not love?

Rating: 4/5

ratings-bt

Price

I bought it for $6.55 from rubyruby76. I see that the price has gone up to $9.35, but I think it’s still very affordable. Also found on Amazon.

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COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

After I used up my Laneige, I was looking around for a new sleeping mask. I love my Laneige, but you know… there are so many other goodies out there waiting to be tried!

Then I came across COSRX’s overnight masks and was deciding between the honey and rice masks. I loooove honey/propolis/royal jelly, but consequently have many of those products so I decided to go with the rice one.

I layer a reasonably thick-ish layer as the last step of my skincare routine. It is a thick gel-cream (you can hold the tub upside down and nothing would even shift), but when spread, becomes reasonably light. There is hardly any scent; if I had to say, it smells faintly of starch.

It does take a while to dry down and never completely sinks into the skin, which is understandable (and perhaps, expected) of an overnight mask. I have to take extra care not to sleep on my side, more for fear of smudging away the mask rather than staining the pillowcase.

Verdict

I’ve been using it on and off once/twice a week but haven’t noticed any difference in my skin. Most masks usually leave some sign (smoother/softer skin, even if just for a while) that they were there, and while this mask is still mostly there, physically, when I wash it all off, it was like last night didn’t happen.

Oh, how you break my heart! Didn’t spending an entire night together mean anything to you?

I just read a review that said that she saw results only after continuous usage, so I guess I’m going to give that a last shot before binning it. I will come back and update if things change, but for now, the rating is what it is.

Rating: 3/5

Price

I bought it for $12.80 from Jolse (they were having a 20% discount then). It can also be found on eBay and Amazon. Compare prices to find the best deal!

— —

COSRX AHA7 Whitehead Power Liquid

I bought this on a whim, thinking that it might be a good addition to my skincare routine as I thought it could help with these pesky bumps that I can see (when my face is 1cm from the mirror) but can’t feel. My skin feels smooth to the touch, but I see them! I know it sounds weird, but I swear they are real.

This liquid is supposed to help clear up dead skin as well as whiteheads; a sort of chemical exfoliation for the skin.

I use it after cleanser and toner, and leave it on for at least 15 minutes for it to work its magic. After which, I follow up with the other steps of my routine.

Note: For the first month of use, use it only once a week so as to let the skin slowly get used to it.

Right now, I use it about 2-3 times a week, or as often as I can remember or can be bothered to. Really, who has all this time or patience to wait in between steps?!

But… I really should do it as often as I can because the results are amazing! My skin is always left smooth and polished as if someone just ran a buffing tool all over my face! Don’t worry, it only looks like someone used a buffing tool. It obviously didn’t feel that way. (not that it needs clarification… but still.) At the beginning when I first started using it, there was some tingling when I applied the liquid, but now I don’t feel anything at all.

WIth the dead skin out of the way, I also feel like the other products get absorbed better. Purely psychological? Perhaps, but it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?

The only downside to this product? The smell. Ack. It smells like some industrial waste funk! It’s really not pleasant.

Verdict

Despite the smell, this is a product I will definitely repurchase for all the effect I see on my skin!

Side note: I’m convinced enough to also want to try the BHA liquid. Lucky I have some samples of it to try out first ;)

Rating: 5/5

Price

I bought it for $14.40 from Jolse (they were having a 20% discount then). It can also be found on eBay and Amazon. Compare prices to find the best deal!


Yep, and these were my first experiences with COSRX! 2 hits, 1 maybe-miss. Not too bad for starters! Do you have any experiences with COSRX to share?

 

Read the disclaimer regarding reviews here.

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10 Comments

  • Reply Lona 20 March 2016 at 4:55 am

    I’ve been meaning to try this cleanser, but then again, I don’t really do the whole “double cleansing” thing, so I’ve stuck with my Bioderma cleanser, which I would definitely say “I love”! :)

    It’s odd that this sleeping pack didn’t do anything for you! I usually see a lot of good reviews on this one, but then again, YMMV.

    Lastly, I’ve only tried 1 COSRX product so far – their new oil-free lotion, but based on your review I guess I should also give their AHA a try!

    • Reply Rin 20 March 2016 at 10:59 pm

      Hi Lona, which Bioderma cleanser are you using?

      Yeah, I was kind of sad the sleeping pack turned out to be so meh. It sucks to be on the wrong end of YMMV :(

      I do love the AHA! But to reference the previous point, YMMV. And some people love the BHA more, and yet some others prefer using them together. Whatever you choose, I hope it works well for you!

  • Reply Carolyn 3 July 2016 at 8:12 am

    Thanks for your honest review. Its great to know that I am not the only one mehing the cosrx rice sleeping pack

    • Reply Rin 6 July 2016 at 1:20 am

      Great to know that I’m not the only one too! It feels awfully lonely when everyone else seems to be doing good with a certain product, doesn’t it?

  • Reply Lina 6 October 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Hi rin 😊 i was wondering what essence you have used and liked? Also what serum do you like? I am looking for essence and serum but i have not found one that i like yet. I just bought cosrx rice mask because of rave reviews😣 hopefully it’s gonna be meh for me hehe

    • Reply Rin 7 October 2016 at 12:47 am

      Hi Lina! One of my favorite essences is this one. As for serums, it’s a bit pricey, but I like this one.

      Haha why would you hope for a product to be meh for you?!

  • Reply Lina 7 October 2016 at 9:18 am

    Hi rin! Thanks for the reply and the recommendations. Haha No i meant you did not really like the cosrx rice mask. But hopefully it would any difference to my skin?

    • Reply Rin 7 October 2016 at 11:51 am

      Ah haha you meant “hopefully it’s NOT gonna be meh for me” then haha. I was confused for a second there lol. Yeah, I hope you’ll see some difference in your case!

  • Reply Amy 17 February 2017 at 6:50 am

    Just want to see if you wipe your face after the 15 mins are up (with maybe the toner) or do you apply the next product right away? Since BHA and AHA are supposed to remove oil and dead skin cells from your face, I feel like the face would need to be wiped down to help remove what the products “dug up”. Thanks.

    • Reply Rin 22 February 2017 at 6:13 pm

      Hi Amy, I don’t wipe it off. I apply the next product directly. (although yeah, it does sound like we should wipe it off, doesn’t it?)

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