This is going to sound weird, but the anger you expressed over expensive products failing is like a breath of fresh air. Everybody is so afraid of offending others, getting cancelled, etc., and I really feel like companies are using this to their advantage. You are absolutely right. There is simply no excuse for (ESPECIALLY) expensive products not being fully tested. What the actual heck are we paying for, if not for rigorous product & packaging testing?
Currently studying for Step, and you are my much needed study break! I love how you said "please don't buy every single exfoliating products we've reviewed". When I was young and didn't know much, I was told to use exfoliants, so I just bought every single exfoliant within my reach in hopes of treating my severe cystic acne. I would layer BHA and AHA (at high strengths), PHA/lactic acids wasn't a thing then. And of course, it only made everything worse, so much worse. Cannot stress that PSA word of wisdom enough! As for the packaging issues, I feel the same. Like c'mon, you're a billion dollar industry reaping 3-4 hrs of my hard earned paycheck, yet you cannot test your products prior to selling?! Sure, remediating problems is cool, but these problems should NEVER happen in the first place. And the thing is, these companies don't even do a formal "recall products" and refund you even when it's past the return period (or at least I haven't heard of any). This is just nasty merchandising. I feel just as mad as you are.
YES. YES we get absolutely no recall!? It’s absurd. If the packaging is unusable, we shouldn’t be over here struggling - the company should acknowledge their mistake and offer us options It’s ridiculous!
Hi Alice! ❤I really don't like not being able to finish products, if it is a serum or moisturizer that I can't finish for one reason or another I will use it on my legs or feet. If it is an eye cream that I can't use under my eyes, I will use it on my forehead. Facial Cleansers that I can't finish - I put in the shower and use them for my body. I actually like products that are 30 ml - except eye products, I like those when they are 15 ml - I can use the product enough to know if I like it, if my skin is responding well to it, and if I am seeing results that are measurable. I wouldn't mind having to repurchase over and over, but this way if it didn't work out it isn't a whole lot of product wasted. There are some moisturizers that are 100 ml and toners that are 200 ml, feels like forever to get through them. On another note - I have been on the Missha Chogongjin rabbit hole - and found out that there are four lines in that brand: Sosaeng, Geum Sul, Yougan, and Sulbon. Missha has other lines as well - but I am still doing a little bit of dive to decide which line would suit by skin the best. Great video as always, thank you and have a lovely evening! 🌸💮🌸 So sorry for my long posts.
I had a face palm moment reading your comment. I have cleansers I can't use on my face and I NEVER thought about using them on my body. I will give this a try, thank you for the comment :).
Yup finishing products on the body is a brilliant way to use them up! I have needed to purchase significantly less bodycare since figuring that out LOL Yougan is hands down my favorite. One of those products will even be in a video later this week - the whole brand is great but that line is unique AND effective!
@@AliceintheRabbitHole Amazing! So excited to see that video - it is unique (Chogongjin), I love products lines that have sub-lines (if that is a word). Like Pyunkang Yul another favorite brand for me that has different lines that each have their specific ingredients or star ingredient. BTW - I purchased the Pyunkang Yul Intensive Ceramide Lotion and Innbeauty Project Extreme Cream yesterday - just have to try, lol
Love reading posts like this! My skincare collection has gotten a little out of control 😅 so good to know in case a product doesn't work for me. Recently I've found that tretinoin just does not work for my face 😩 just makes my skin really congested, so will be using the rest of my tubes up on my body while going back to my trusty adapalene. Shame as that was around £50 worth of product
I love these types of videos, i hope even more creators join the train because this is so insightful Im also finding that the numbuzin no3 serum doesnt do much, however, under makeup its amazing! Might repurchase just for that lol
Misery loves company 😂 I thought I was the only one unable to finish what I bought ! Before K beauty, I had only 3 or 4 products in my routine. I had the 10% niacinamuziide from the ordinary and had no issues using it. Then came along all my k beauty ( I want to try just one more product tempatation) items and suddenly I could not tolerate the 10% niacinamide. Yes, I have half a bottle of the numbuzin no 3 serum and an almost full bottle of no 3 toner and a few other toners and serums. Now I make a cocktail of all of them for DIY sheet masks !! I was so tempted to try the manyo serum but resisted thinking the SK II should be sufficient. For my skin the pyunkang yul essential toner is simple, elegant, hydrating, leaves my skin feeling like velvet, and works great in as many layers as I need for that day. I have learned the hard way that my skin needs hydration badly and very little non occlusive moisturizers. At work I need to wash/sanitize my hands more than 20 times a day and the pandemic did not help. No amount of hand cream seemed to take away the wrinkling effect. Then I made a hand spray using the Naturie Hatomugi skin conditioning milk ( the watery one) a hydrating toner (I could spare LOL)and a few drops of glycerin. Now I have smooth, hydrated hands to which I can add a dab of moisturizer if needed - costs pennies !!
@mandywong1408 I had ordered a 1 quart size of vegetable glycerin on amazon. It costs around $24. I even use it to augment my ziip halo gel , which is, after all, glycerin with some additives.
Oh these are such good ideas. As someone who is notoriously bad with using hand creams, a spray sounds BRILLIANT. And yes to the sheet mask cocktails! (I do know that story 😁😁)
I think it was also Tina who suggested putting face wash that didn't work by the kitchen sink (if you don't have anyone to pass it on to). A lot of what is too harsh on the face is perfect for repeated hand washings!
Hey Alice, I was watching this great video and listening to you it’s just occurred to me that you would be the perfect person to give us a rundown of the perfect serums, moisturizers and eye creams to use under make up. This is something that I really struggle with -finding products that are going to allow my make up to apply well and stay put. I think skin care channels are mostly quite separate from make up channels, but you seem to wear and discuss a fair amount of make up and I think you would have great insight so if you would be willing to take the time and trouble I and I’m sure plenty of other Subscribers and viewers would be very interested in a video about what to and what not to wear under make up 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💖💖
When I worked at Sephora, I always told people to bring things back if they didn’t love it. You exchange your time for money which you then exchange for goods. Start looking at products in time instead of money. Is this product worth a whole day of work? Would I spend the next week investing my time to afford product x? If no, return that shit immediately!
Alice! Hi! Yes, I saw Tina’s first! Love this style of video! You know what? your rage is justified! It’s completely unacceptable to have faulty Packaging like that! And the brand should’ve offered a refund to everyone without the hassle of sending it back. Smh So I understand why you’re not as forgiving to Tatcha, that’s a huge let down. Personally, I thought your rage was tame! I enjoyed this.
@@AliceintheRabbitHoleI completely agree. I appreciate you sharing your perspective on it. It just did little to nothing for my skin and I have wondered why, given all the hype around it. This is a nice sanity check for me!
Same opinion with me for numbuzin no.3 serum. It didn’t do much in my opinion, if any it took very long time. They felt a bit warm when I first put it on my skin and I didn’t like that ( It was not irritation, I heard some people had that happened to them too). Now I’m just trying to finish it off cause I’ve bought it. Gonna try other serum with fermented ingredients next!
I'm so glad you did this video because I get to share my story. I've bought a few products you've recommended and I've loved them, so when you recommended the Mary&May Blackberry and Idebenone range I bought the essence, serum and moisturiser. I loved them... for 2 days until my face and neck began developing red welts, itching and burning. Long story short, I must have had an allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients and after 3 days of steroid cream and antihistamines, my skin finally settled down. Trying to be 'scientific' I experimented with each product in patch testing on my arms and can report it's the serum and moisturiser that are the problem. But here's the sting: I *loved* the serum soooo much before the reaction, I ordered another bottle! 😭 Now I have more product I can't use. Silly me.
I’ve been using the numbuzin no 3 serum for a little while and I liked it at fist too but I’m not sure it’s doing anything anymore, I’ve started using adapalene so I’m pretty sure that’s where the texture decrease is from. I have the manyo too but I actually reach for the numbuzin more. I feel opposite as you in that one ! :)
Bad packaging is such a pet peeve of mine. lolavie, Jennifer Aniston‘s hair care line which by the way is wonderful IMO, initially released their conditioner in a bottle that was completely ridiculous. You couldn’t get half of it out and people surely did complain. Their solution was to put it into a squeeze tube, voila! But for those of us that are stuck with this weird square bottle that doesn’t squeeze getting anything after half the bottle was gone out was nearly impossible.
I also started getting irritation from high percentage Niacinamide. Previously I used the Ordinary one just fine, but for some reason, I can't use it anymore! Turns out not a big deal because I found out that my skincare really didn't need it.
I once had a product which shed part of the label every time I touched it so I covered it in tape, it wasn't pretty but I finished the product (then removed the tape so the packaging could be recycled!). As for openings being too big/small, I keep a variety of empty bottles and just transfer it into something more suitable (you might be able to remove the stopper in the toner bottle?), but I only do about a weeks worth of product at a time as I know this can affect product stability.
That’s a smart call! Yeah with the toner, I’m thinking that if I can pop the stopper out, maybe I can gently widen it and pop it back in? Siiigh, gotta problem solve lol!
The packaging got me too with the Estée Lauder Nutritious Booster Drops. Half way through the bottle I noticed I had little glitter flicks on my face after applying the serum. Come to find out, I was smearing the press droppers coating of plastic (?) that was peeling off of it. I’m using it to the end though, by using a tissue to cover the press dropper 😒😑🫤 so I won’t get that plastic (?) residue on my fingers and hands.
The only product I truly couldn't finish in any manner (face, scalp, or body) was the Cosrx Snail Mucin cream. It wasn't hydrating, moisturizing or occlusive enough for me. I tried everything and eventually had to throw it out. Most of the time with moisturizers that aren't perfect I can put on a thick layer like a face mask and use it that way but the Cosrx made my skin feel more dehydrated.
I'm not surprised that people are getting broken Rare Beauty blushes. I ordered the highlighter in that formula and it arrived broken as well. It's a very softly pressed formula so any jostling during shipping will break it. I was hoping they'd have addressed the problem before releasing the blushes, but apparently not.
I had a gorgeous Rare Beauty highlighter that I dropped and it broke into a million pieces the second or third time I used it. As soon as I saw those powder blushes come out I was all SRSLY? They look beautiful but NOPE.
It would be nice if we could get sample sizes for everything. Have you heard of the Ilia the base face milk essence? I think I've seen it compared to the Laneige. And speaking of jelly cleansers, Dr. Idriss just released one that looks interesting (supposedly good for all skin types and sensitive eyes).
You recommend face wash I use Isntree green tree face wash You recommended my toner the Isntree yam root toner You recommended my moisturiser the Isntree yam root cream Pls recommend a sunscreen for me I have tried so many and get easily irritated
Hey Alice, great video as always ❤ I love having you around when I get ready in the morning 😊 I have a random request but I think of you as a bit of an expert on wigs.. and Im getting used to my new wig (newly cancer diagnosis..). I thought you could make a video on how to care for a natural hair wig?
Hi Alice, I have similar skin type as yours, dry, sensitive, with occasional acne. I tried quite a few of your favorite products, and they work so well for me. Thank you! ❤After watching other influencers' contents, I tried Numbuzin No 5 niacinamide concentrated pad, just with 1 time use, I had severe allergy on my whole face for over a week. The allergic reactions even expands to the areas where I did not use the niacinamide pad.... Maybe we're even allergic to the same thing?! LOL Please keep up your great work. I love your contents~😍😍😍
Hello skin twin, we have similar skin type. Thanks for recommending beautiful products.. I don’t have manyo one available in my country can I instead use Isntree bifida ampoule…
Oh my gosh, the packaging crumble is infuriating! I really love the Money Masque from Color Wow to use as a deep conditioner 1-2 times a month. It smells amazing, makes my hair so soft and shiny BUT the packaging flakes off and gets stuck in my hair. That hair mask is way too expensive to be picking little pieces of the label out of my hair for days. Last time it took 2 washes to get it all out. 😂
I also am struggling to use up that numbuzin 3 serum. I just can't see where it does anything for my skin at all. I've only made it through maybe a third of the bottle, forcing myself to use it every night, but it gets to be less and less I use each time. I'm now done to a single drop, more of a gesture of usage than actual usage at this point. LOL Also, at this point I've accepted I will never finish the Beauty of Joseon cleansing balm. Every time I use it I start getting clogged pores the next day. There is just no amount of emulsifying, rinsing, toning after that prevents it from clogging my pores. And I don't have oily skin.
Oh wow! I wouldn’t have expected that with the BOJ balm. Alas, it’s so true that nothing is for everyone (and sometimes it’s hard to identify WHY that is!)
I was going to comment about the Rare Beauty blushes but you brought them up😂 This is going to sound dramatic- but with the cost of some products, I want to be devastated when I finish a product. I want to be scraping out the packaging while I wait for a refill to arrive 😅
Skincare packaging gripes I've experienced: - SomeByMi Beta Panthenol Repair Serum: should be in a pump bottle instead or even a tube. The dropper is not adequate to get the product, the formulation is too thick for it to be packaged in a dropper bottle. - Frudia toners: the toner is on the thicker side and I usually had to put more force shaking it out of the packaged bottle. This one should've also been packaged in a pump dispenser bottle for better ease of usage. My own personal perferece reagarding tube packaging: I prefer flip caps instead of twist caps, which I find inconvenient if I want to take the product on-the-go with me b/c the cap would roll away or be hard to get grip on to twist it off
YES I completely agree on that serum!! I’m tolerating it because I like the product itself, but it is annoying to use. Why on earth did they go with a dropper system!? 😑
Hello Alice, it is very frustrating when you spend your money, buy products and you cannot use them or they do not offer you the results you are looking for and it can always happen, although the product you feel has all the options to work for you, it happened to me. numbuzin tonic #3, because it gives me a bad reaction and it's impossible to know until you buy it and try it, even though it works for a lot of people. And there are many aspects that occur in your body and you do not control them, for example I think that my skin has been changing a lot with the onset of menopause. A hug Alice and I hope you are well 😘
Yuuup, the toner was out for me after a few uses!! At least the serum doesn’t wreck my skin, phew. It’s wild how much different folks have different experiences!
I usually always finished my products, like it does not work on my face I use it on my body or hands. It has never not worked there, but the feet would be the last resort. I liked the Glow recipe avocado cleanser but yeah the packaging is crap. I always end up decanting products when I hate the packaging, and for cleansers I always put them in pumps
I had talked myself out of that for a while, but seriously am considering it again. It’s been SO hit or miss, with the misses being…awful lol. But the hits? Oh the hits are soooo good…
I’m From Licorice Soothing Ampoule! Love the product but the dispenser doesn’t work properly. I had to completely open the top to use it, now I can’t be bothered to repurchase.
Since I know you focus on mature skincare, would you still recommend the Manyo bífida ampoule or would you recommend the Instree bífida ampoule instead for younger skin? I’ve got dry, sensitive and acne prone skin too. I use Stratia lipid gold but am looking to add another skin strengthening product into my routine
That is a good question! We don’t really have data on varying age ranges yet, but I’d say the mechanism of hydrating/repairing tends to not be limited to an age range. That said, it would mean you would see more results if your skin is prone to irritation and/or dryness. Someone with oily, hearty skin might see “nothing” from bifida ferment lysate! And personally, manyo is my fav, but I’ll bump Isntree up to my second favorite bifida product (and usually a lot more affordable too!)
I always have a problem with finishing exfoliants. I can't use some of them every day because they are too stong. I don't know why would someone make huge AHA toner to use once per week, and in the end I use up only half of the bottle. I also can't finish products gifted by brand and even as micro content creator I do get a decent amount of pf. I stopped accepting pr if they want me to review products asap. Most of the time I can't choose gifted products and often they don't match with my skin type
If it helps, I can say that I really like using up AHA toners on my feet. Which sounds like I’m insulting the product, but I really mean: no, I like having soft feet LOL! Maybe you could try that?
I try not to waste products either but I've got only one body and one face so if it needs to go, it's going. I also have no shame in returning things that don't work for me or that I just plain don't like. Next video do you think you could do a makeup declutter?
I got so many products to try for the first time from YesStyle and Stylevana about a week ago. I've been putting so many different things on my face that yesterday I got a huge pimple on my nose for the first time in decade 😢
@@AliceintheRabbitHole I felt like a teenager for a day or two :) But it cleared up super fast, even if it was huge and red. With Tretinoin and everything, my skin bounces right back I guess. It's fun seeing how different things affect my skin! For now HOLIKA HOLIKA - Less On Skin Redness Calming CICA Balm is my new favorite thing. And Haruharu sunscreen. And Heimish Matcha Eye Patches :D
Speaking of percentages in products, I’ve always wondered about the AMOUNT pf product that you apply as well. Take for example, 1% niacinamide seems like a relative lower concentration but how does 1% niacinamide in a toner that you use a lot of compared to a 5% niacinamide serum that you use relative less of per use. Really curious to hear what you think.
I have that Numbuzin serum and I don't think I will finish it either, I believe it makes me break out. At least it was a giveaway win so didn't spend any money on it XD
That tatcha spf did me dirty too. Freaking amazing formula. 😢 finally had to give up after smearing flakes from the bottle on my face. In the future I may purchase it in the new packaging but yeah I’m salty. Truly unusable.
CeraVe PM Moisturizer - was my 1st facial moisturizer, and I tried convincing myself that I was just still "purging" cuz it's gotten SOO much praise by both dermatologists and the community, but it's incredibly clogging for. CosRX Birch Sap Moisturizer - wayy too fragrant and gives me CCs. Any Niacinamide Serum w/ 10% or higher. I've tried a few different brands, and they all make my combo skin feeling tight and sensitive. Any SA product on anywhere BUT my nose. I can't tolerate SA for shit 😂 Tocobo Collagen Eye Gel - The lavender oil in it burns my eye area to a crisp.
I’m so glad I read this as I was considering the tocobo!! Why would they put lavender in it; I’ll never understand it. Is anyone’s eyeballs begging for fragrance, because I would very much think it’s the opposite…
@AliceintheRabbitHole I'm usually a stickler when it comes to ingredients, but it was on sale, so I impulsively (and irresponsibly) pulled the trigger on it. I put it around my eye area while on my lunch break at work and came back in with red raccoon eyes 🤣 it BURRRRNED. Thankfully, it made me double-check the ingredients for their Bifida Biome Essence, before pulling the trigger, and when I saw "fragrance" listed as a singular ingredient, I was like "NOPE!!" Went with the Isntree Bifida Ampoule instead.
I feel like Anua and Numbuzin just aren't for me. The Anua oil cleanser and toner, along with the nimbuzin sunscreen really irritated my skin. The numbuzin no3 serum left my skin too oily in humid weather.
@AliceintheRabbitHole good luck! 😆 I received some Dr G Red Blemish products (red blemish soothing cream, soothing toner pads, red blemish soothing foam cleanser), and they have worked wonders for me lately. There are so many skincare options (especially kbeauty) that sometimes I forget to self-reflect on what i need out of my routine. I appreciate your insight in these types of videos!
Alice, I would love to share ideas, lessons learned, or ask questions, but I get so in my head writing a comment, “it’s too long, is it clear? will anyone care? Is this dumb?” But if you had a voicemail it’d be a comfortable option for us yappers -cut us off at a minute or two, lol. I’ll probably edit this like 9 times 😅 Could also maybe be a series… For instance I recently learned that BP cleansers have come a long way since proactiv, also I know now how to properly cleanse my face and not bleach everything around me like when washing my face was a chore. Since getting over my BP trauma, I use it twice a week in a cleanser and a cream cleanser with no actives on the other days. Since that I had a skincare aha moment and let go of my daily salicylic acid cleanser and toner from my routine (which also includes a daily vitamin c [AM] adapalene [AM -I’m working away from daily use] and tret [PM] I would also top my tret with BOJ’s retinal eye cream that’s right… all over the face retinal on top of retinoic acid… even though I knew better, I held false beliefs on what worked for me. For instance salicylic acid was my pimple cure, not a exfoliant 😒 Ughhh how did I get there… well I was no longer breaking out, and my skin became tolerant, plus I didn’t know what good skin on me felt like… I just knew I had to prevent breakouts and begin anti aging. My skins looks good, but now it feels good. I used to believe I was allergic to niacinamide, turns out I was only reactive to it bc my barrier was compromised… I’ll still avoid high percentages, but don’t have to avoid it all together anymore. BTW, I do use a sunscreen when stepping outside for longer than 10 or so mins., I’m a homebody and WFH. There’s so much more I need to learn about transitioning from a habitual acne prone skincare routine to an anti-aging skincare routine for my skin today. I’m convinced I probably grew out breaking out constantly, I hardly ever do, but i’m too scared to fuck around and find out and drop all my actives. I appreciate all I’ve learn from you, I working on putting into practice now. Hope my intro doesn’t come off as entitled, I get some many ideas sometimes and share unsolicitedly. ☮️💟
It sounds like we have had a similar journey! I too use BPO cream cleanser alternating with cream/gentle cleansers (and that’s really it, minus the occasional product testing!) I actually don’t use salicylic acid much anymore except in pimple patches. I just don’t need much of it, it turns out 🤷♀️
I finish things on my body. BHA and AHA can go on my nails, elbows, toes and heels. Sometimes they are nice to reduce razor bumps. Packaging flaws are inexcusable.
product fails are the worst especially when they're hyped up products!!! i don't have anybody to give them to either so i have to begrudgingly use them on other parts of my body... all that money gone to waste unfortunately 🙃
I asked about especially my compact powders I keep for touch ups, the Charlotte Tilbury, Kosas , now Lawless all broke within a couple months. The clean no talc and softly package product can't with stand being in. A purse. Well Ef that ! I doubt touching up my t zone will give me cancer. Thanks J and J talc litigation for making a tiny weeny amount send the makeup industry freaked out reformulate everything only to have it behave like shit and then break.
So I feel like the most common products I don't work through fall into two categories: 1) Subscription box products, free gifts, or set inclusions I wouldn't have bought independently; and 2) Cheap products I bought from Korean sites (lower threshold to try). The reasons for not using them mostly fall into 4 categories: 1) Actives I don't want to use or that are included in formats I don't want to use them in (I have a tret serum, I don't want a retinol moisturizer); 2) Scent, I don't mind it and can like it but they can also be off-putting if strong and something you don't like; 3) Texture, common issue for moisturizers or cleansers; or 4) They took a useful spot in my routine and didn't do anything. Knowing your skin is really good, it's taught me for example that I want all my exfoliation to come from cleansing and/or wash-off masks. Watching reviews also help you from having to try everything as well, and for picky people I specifically suggest watching "best of" videos. As for the Tatcha packaging issue, I'm not defending the company but if you like the product two questions: 1) Have you reached out to customer support to see if you could exchange the old bottle for new packaging? I kind of assume they'd say no, but if they fixed it so quickly they have to be aware of the issue and sometimes it's interesting to see how companies at that price point respond. 2) Have you considered dumping what's left into a travel container? I don't love the idea of switching up packaging much but at times if I have something like a cap break, which can but doesn't always have to be as much the brand's fault like Tatcha where everyone experiences it, I'll move a product and just make sure I run through it quickly.
I had that same struggle with subscription box products! And yup scent is a big one, and can even include fragrance-free. I’m having way more of a struggle than I anticipated with a fragrance free peptide serum at the moment (Paula’s choice booster). Phew, it smells horrendous…and I thought I could tolerate a lot It is a good idea to contact the company. It’s so funny that I would suggest that to others, but like with the returns issue…I tend to just suffer my own losses LOL. As for decanting, I will likely do that with the farmacy (as I like the product), but sadly sunscreen is about the only category where I could never recommend changing the packaging. It’s too sensitive of a product to guarantee stability 😭
@@AliceintheRabbitHole I have no way of knowing about the Farmacy product for sure, but with some Korean essences I found they don't work well with the opening size at the beginning of the product, but once you get some empty space in them you can get them out without problem. If you're on the first or second use might be an interesting experiment to decant 10-20ML and try again.
I used to work in tech- software quality assurance. I can tell you for a fact that very little QA is done these days in tech. It doesn’t surprise me that other industries have abandoned it, too. Until consumers demand it, quality will continue to decrease. Return what doesn’t work and complain to the manufacturer. It’s an issue of deserving to get what we pay for. The “snitches get stitches” ethic doesn’t apply here.
Mmhmm I really could let it slide if this was a surprising, very rare instance. But at some point we all have to collectively notice that we are paying premium prices on products with glaring flaws!
I related to that part about niacinamide at different percentages or in formulations with different ingredients so much! I got the Paula's choice azelaic acid booster as a Christmas present (because spending more than 20 euros on a single skincare item is out of my teeny tiny budget). my skin loved it. I could pair it with my geek&gorgeous retinal serum without irritation (I even "graduated" to their stronger retinal without issues at all). however, once it started running out, I looked for a replacement that was within my budget. enter the inkey list's azelaic acid treatment. it's the same concentration and it doesn't have the BHA that the Paula's choice does (which I had been nervous about since i have dry skin, but I shouldn't have been because it was amazing), so I didn't think it would be much of a problem. still, I patch tested on my neck when i got it just in case. didn't have a reaction within 48 hours, so I went ahead and used it. I alternate the azelaic acid+retinal and copper peptides (another Christmas present. I'm dreading the moment it will run out because i may have to splurge, even if it hurts my soul and wallet), so it took about a week of using it every other day for my skin to really start reacting to it. it had been vaguely itchy from the start, but it's also allergy season for me and itchiness isn't uncommon for me during this time. but no, my skin became undeniably drier and inflamed while I was using itand even started peeling a bit. I stopped all actives and used my most soothing stuff to let it recover, then started on my actives again, without the azelaic acid this time. after a week or so, I added the azelaic acid again and the irritation returned. against my better judgement, I may give it one last go, maybe using it less frequently. I just hate the thought of being too rash (no pun intended. ok maybe a bit intended) and throwing a product that is barely even used and could maybe work if I use it a bit differently (perhaps less frequently or in the morning instead of with retinal at night). but I'm also mentally preparing myself for maybe possibly perhaps having to actually purchase the Paula's choice one for myself eventually. also, I just ran out of the toner I was using and as I was trying to decide which of the ones I had saved to go for next, I made a horrible discovery. turns out, I didn't read the ingredients of one of them carefully enough when I purchased it, because when comparing them to see which one would be better for my compromised skin barrier, I noticed one of them had citrus peel oil. I'm very sensitive to all essential oils and fragrances in general, but this one sneaked its way past my radar. I don't even feel comfortable gifting it (even though the rest of the ingredients look quite promising) because no one in my life uses sunscreen religiously (other than myself, of course) and I'm too aware of the potential for photosensitivity. I may give it a try (when my skin isn't angry at me) once again ignoring my better judgement, and hope it doesn't irritate my skin and I can finish it and then never purchase it again. seeing this video right after I made this terrible discovery made me feel less alone in my self inflicted skincare woes 😅
I have been there, in both instances!! Sometimes you can’t replace a pricey product with something else (SK-II. Siiiiigh lol). And I’ve bought products with my allergens in them; oh how I spend the rest of the day walking around with this face: 😑😑😑
@@AliceintheRabbitHoleI got a refund from Tatcha without having to return the product after I sent them pics. But I only thought to do that after seeing reviews complaining and seeing the replies from Tatcha. Won’t buy it again though, too expensive.
@@AliceintheRabbitHole So, I decided today to open one of these. I bought it awhile ago, so old packaging too. The sunscreen squired OUT all over the place. That should not happen either.
I'm sure I've mentioned before how awful the Tula Cult Classic Purifying Cleanser is under the comments of your other videos. That is a cleanser that should never exist; it smells very strongly like laundry detergent! If I wanted to wash my face with laundry detergent, I could go to my laundry room and get the bottle of Tide! 😂
YES. You know they came out with a fragrance free version but…I was reading the reviews, and people said it still smells of fragrance What is going on over at Tula lol
quality control is missing for handbags and cosmetics. They want to charge more but with bad quality. what's missing in the equation. honestly I just wait until other people review before making any purchases. too many over hyped products. e
Halfway through the video I had a flashback to Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit. One pill makes you larger One pill makes you small And the ones that mother gives you Don’t do anything at all Just swap out skincare and you’ll be humming along…❤
Disagree with returning products that don’t work out for you. If there is something wrong with the product or packaging, then it makes sense but wherever you bought it shouldn’t have to take a financial loss because it didn’t work out for you. Use it in your body, give it to someone or donate it. People who are abusing the return policies are going to make it bad for all of us. To reduce losses, companies will start charging a restocking fee, reduce the return window, etc. Limit what you buy to reduce losses, expenses and waste. 🙏
omg well i’ll take the anua off your hands😂 my skin loves this one. but i think this is really the only product from their brand i like unfortunately. love your channel! thanks for all the insights❤
This is going to sound weird, but the anger you expressed over expensive products failing is like a breath of fresh air. Everybody is so afraid of offending others, getting cancelled, etc., and I really feel like companies are using this to their advantage. You are absolutely right. There is simply no excuse for (ESPECIALLY) expensive products not being fully tested. What the actual heck are we paying for, if not for rigorous product & packaging testing?
Exactly. I’m not going to pretend it’s acceptable!
Currently studying for Step, and you are my much needed study break! I love how you said "please don't buy every single exfoliating products we've reviewed". When I was young and didn't know much, I was told to use exfoliants, so I just bought every single exfoliant within my reach in hopes of treating my severe cystic acne. I would layer BHA and AHA (at high strengths), PHA/lactic acids wasn't a thing then. And of course, it only made everything worse, so much worse. Cannot stress that PSA word of wisdom enough!
As for the packaging issues, I feel the same. Like c'mon, you're a billion dollar industry reaping 3-4 hrs of my hard earned paycheck, yet you cannot test your products prior to selling?! Sure, remediating problems is cool, but these problems should NEVER happen in the first place. And the thing is, these companies don't even do a formal "recall products" and refund you even when it's past the return period (or at least I haven't heard of any). This is just nasty merchandising. I feel just as mad as you are.
YES. YES we get absolutely no recall!? It’s absurd. If the packaging is unusable, we shouldn’t be over here struggling - the company should acknowledge their mistake and offer us options
It’s ridiculous!
Hi Alice! ❤I really don't like not being able to finish products, if it is a serum or moisturizer that I can't finish for one reason or another I will use it on my legs or feet. If it is an eye cream that I can't use under my eyes, I will use it on my forehead. Facial Cleansers that I can't finish - I put in the shower and use them for my body. I actually like products that are 30 ml - except eye products, I like those when they are 15 ml - I can use the product enough to know if I like it, if my skin is responding well to it, and if I am seeing results that are measurable. I wouldn't mind having to repurchase over and over, but this way if it didn't work out it isn't a whole lot of product wasted. There are some moisturizers that are 100 ml and toners that are 200 ml, feels like forever to get through them. On another note - I have been on the Missha Chogongjin rabbit hole - and found out that there are four lines in that brand: Sosaeng, Geum Sul, Yougan, and Sulbon. Missha has other lines as well - but I am still doing a little bit of dive to decide which line would suit by skin the best. Great video as always, thank you and have a lovely evening! 🌸💮🌸 So sorry for my long posts.
I had a face palm moment reading your comment. I have cleansers I can't use on my face and I NEVER thought about using them on my body. I will give this a try, thank you for the comment :).
Yup finishing products on the body is a brilliant way to use them up! I have needed to purchase significantly less bodycare since figuring that out LOL
Yougan is hands down my favorite. One of those products will even be in a video later this week - the whole brand is great but that line is unique AND effective!
@@AliceintheRabbitHole Amazing! So excited to see that video - it is unique (Chogongjin), I love products lines that have sub-lines (if that is a word). Like Pyunkang Yul another favorite brand for me that has different lines that each have their specific ingredients or star ingredient. BTW - I purchased the Pyunkang Yul Intensive Ceramide Lotion and Innbeauty Project Extreme Cream yesterday - just have to try, lol
Love reading posts like this! My skincare collection has gotten a little out of control 😅 so good to know in case a product doesn't work for me. Recently I've found that tretinoin just does not work for my face 😩 just makes my skin really congested, so will be using the rest of my tubes up on my body while going back to my trusty adapalene. Shame as that was around £50 worth of product
Same here, all unfinished products go to my hands, can use up very fast because I apply after every washing hands!
Do more can't finish skincare products Alice. Love this kind of video. 😊😊😊😊😊
I love these types of videos, i hope even more creators join the train because this is so insightful
Im also finding that the numbuzin no3 serum doesnt do much, however, under makeup its amazing! Might repurchase just for that lol
That’s so funny you mention that - I know exactly what you mean! Some products are better than others under makeup!!
Misery loves company 😂 I thought I was the only one unable to finish what I bought ! Before K beauty, I had only 3 or 4 products in my routine. I had the 10% niacinamuziide from the ordinary and had no issues using it. Then came along all my k beauty ( I want to try just one more product tempatation) items and suddenly I could not tolerate the 10% niacinamide.
Yes, I have half a bottle of the numbuzin no 3 serum and an almost full bottle of no 3 toner and a few other toners and serums. Now I make a cocktail of all of them for DIY sheet masks !!
I was so tempted to try the manyo serum but resisted thinking the SK II should be sufficient. For my skin the pyunkang yul essential toner is simple, elegant, hydrating, leaves my skin feeling like velvet, and works great in as many layers as I need for that day. I have learned the hard way that my skin needs hydration badly and very little non occlusive moisturizers.
At work I need to wash/sanitize my hands more than 20 times a day and the pandemic did not help. No amount of hand cream seemed to take away the wrinkling effect. Then I made a hand spray using the Naturie Hatomugi skin conditioning milk ( the watery one) a hydrating toner (I could spare LOL)and a few drops of glycerin. Now I have smooth, hydrated hands to which I can add a dab of moisturizer if needed - costs pennies !!
Where do you buy your glycerin?
@mandywong1408 I had ordered a 1 quart size of vegetable glycerin on amazon. It costs around $24. I even use it to augment my ziip halo gel , which is, after all, glycerin with some additives.
Oh these are such good ideas. As someone who is notoriously bad with using hand creams, a spray sounds BRILLIANT. And yes to the sheet mask cocktails! (I do know that story 😁😁)
I think it was also Tina who suggested putting face wash that didn't work by the kitchen sink (if you don't have anyone to pass it on to). A lot of what is too harsh on the face is perfect for repeated hand washings!
Yesss, it was Tina! Love the shoutout! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hey Alice, I was watching this great video and listening to you it’s just occurred to me that you would be the perfect person to give us a rundown of the perfect serums, moisturizers and eye creams to use under make up. This is something that I really struggle with -finding products that are going to allow my make up to apply well and stay put. I think skin care channels are mostly quite separate from make up channels, but you seem to wear and discuss a fair amount of make up and I think you would have great insight so if you would be willing to take the time and trouble I and I’m sure plenty of other Subscribers and viewers would be very interested in a video about what to and what not to wear under make up 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💖💖
Ooh I love this idea!! Thank you for suggesting ☺️
@@AliceintheRabbitHole oh wonderful, I’m glad you think so! And in that case I can’t wait…….😁
Glow Recipe Avocado 🥑 😡 yep, agree 👍 you're the best. Love that hat, especially with the choker necklace. Love that vibe! ✌
When I worked at Sephora, I always told people to bring things back if they didn’t love it. You exchange your time for money which you then exchange for goods. Start looking at products in time instead of money. Is this product worth a whole day of work? Would I spend the next week investing my time to afford product x? If no, return that shit immediately!
That’s a good way of thinking about it! It’s also absolutely wild how much some of these products cost now (especially once you find K-Beauty lol!)
If only other stores accept returned products😓
Alice! Hi! Yes, I saw Tina’s first! Love this style of video! You know what? your rage is justified! It’s completely unacceptable to have faulty Packaging like that! And the brand should’ve offered a refund to everyone without the hassle of sending it back. Smh So I understand why you’re not as forgiving to Tatcha, that’s a huge let down. Personally, I thought your rage was tame! I enjoyed this.
Haha glad to hear! Yeah I really think it’s absurd that we get no resolution to these kinds of issues. Especially with expensive products, ugh!
I saw the numbuzin serum in the thumbnail and had to tune in. Was considering placing an order with it...
I see why people like it, but I do think it went a bit into the “overhyped” territory. Good hydrating serum, not the best I’ve ever tried for repair
@@AliceintheRabbitHoleI completely agree. I appreciate you sharing your perspective on it. It just did little to nothing for my skin and I have wondered why, given all the hype around it. This is a nice sanity check for me!
i think glow recipe reformulated that cleanser and fixed the hole too
I heard the same. They probably did or we would be hearing a lot more about it lol!
Same opinion with me for numbuzin no.3 serum. It didn’t do much in my opinion, if any it took very long time. They felt a bit warm when I first put it on my skin and I didn’t like that ( It was not irritation, I heard some people had that happened to them too). Now I’m just trying to finish it off cause I’ve bought it. Gonna try other serum with fermented ingredients next!
Mmm so it’s not just me! I mean, it’s FINE, but with as much hype as it had, I really thought it would be next level.
I'm so glad you did this video because I get to share my story.
I've bought a few products you've recommended and I've loved them, so when you recommended the Mary&May Blackberry and Idebenone range I bought the essence, serum and moisturiser. I loved them... for 2 days until my face and neck began developing red welts, itching and burning. Long story short, I must have had an allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients and after 3 days of steroid cream and antihistamines, my skin finally settled down.
Trying to be 'scientific' I experimented with each product in patch testing on my arms and can report it's the serum and moisturiser that are the problem.
But here's the sting: I *loved* the serum soooo much before the reaction, I ordered another bottle! 😭 Now I have more product I can't use. Silly me.
Oh no so sorry to hear!! Reactions are beyond frustrating 💔
I’ve been using the numbuzin no 3 serum for a little while and I liked it at fist too but I’m not sure it’s doing anything anymore, I’ve started using adapalene so I’m pretty sure that’s where the texture decrease is from. I have the manyo too but I actually reach for the numbuzin more. I feel opposite as you in that one ! :)
Bad packaging is such a pet peeve of mine. lolavie, Jennifer Aniston‘s hair care line which by the way is wonderful IMO, initially released their conditioner in a bottle that was completely ridiculous. You couldn’t get half of it out and people surely did complain. Their solution was to put it into a squeeze tube, voila! But for those of us that are stuck with this weird square bottle that doesn’t squeeze getting anything after half the bottle was gone out was nearly impossible.
These companies really need to offer solutions for the customers that already shelled out the money. It makes me so mad!!
i'm here to agree with you about returning the product that does not work within 30 days or you will be more mad over time
I also started getting irritation from high percentage Niacinamide. Previously I used the Ordinary one just fine, but for some reason, I can't use it anymore! Turns out not a big deal because I found out that my skincare really didn't need it.
Put clear wide shipping tape over the tatcha sunscreen. Thats what I did to cover the flecks that come off.
I once had a product which shed part of the label every time I touched it so I covered it in tape, it wasn't pretty but I finished the product (then removed the tape so the packaging could be recycled!). As for openings being too big/small, I keep a variety of empty bottles and just transfer it into something more suitable (you might be able to remove the stopper in the toner bottle?), but I only do about a weeks worth of product at a time as I know this can affect product stability.
That’s a smart call! Yeah with the toner, I’m thinking that if I can pop the stopper out, maybe I can gently widen it and pop it back in? Siiigh, gotta problem solve lol!
The packaging got me too with the Estée Lauder Nutritious Booster Drops. Half way through the bottle I noticed I had little glitter flicks on my face after applying the serum. Come to find out, I was smearing the press droppers coating of plastic (?) that was peeling off of it. I’m using it to the end though, by using a tissue to cover the press dropper 😒😑🫤 so I won’t get that plastic (?) residue on my fingers and hands.
The only product I truly couldn't finish in any manner (face, scalp, or body) was the Cosrx Snail Mucin cream. It wasn't hydrating, moisturizing or occlusive enough for me. I tried everything and eventually had to throw it out. Most of the time with moisturizers that aren't perfect I can put on a thick layer like a face mask and use it that way but the Cosrx made my skin feel more dehydrated.
I'm not surprised that people are getting broken Rare Beauty blushes. I ordered the highlighter in that formula and it arrived broken as well. It's a very softly pressed formula so any jostling during shipping will break it. I was hoping they'd have addressed the problem before releasing the blushes, but apparently not.
I had a gorgeous Rare Beauty highlighter that I dropped and it broke into a million pieces the second or third time I used it. As soon as I saw those powder blushes come out I was all SRSLY? They look beautiful but NOPE.
I just bought the Tatcha sunscreen during the VIB sale. So glad I didn’t pick it up the first time around.
Wise choice! It really is lovely, but it needed that packaging change like woah
It would be nice if we could get sample sizes for everything. Have you heard of the Ilia the base face milk essence? I think I've seen it compared to the Laneige. And speaking of jelly cleansers, Dr. Idriss just released one that looks interesting (supposedly good for all skin types and sensitive eyes).
Big same. I’ve heard so much about that essence! Might give it a try in time. That does sound like a nice cleanser!
Hey, have you tried putting tape on the tatcha sunscreen ? It might protect your hands from the flaking.
You recommend face wash I use Isntree green tree face wash
You recommended my toner the Isntree yam root toner
You recommended my moisturiser the Isntree yam root cream
Pls recommend a sunscreen for me I have tried so many and get easily irritated
Hey Alice, great video as always ❤ I love having you around when I get ready in the morning 😊 I have a random request but I think of you as a bit of an expert on wigs.. and Im getting used to my new wig (newly cancer diagnosis..). I thought you could make a video on how to care for a natural hair wig?
💕
I’ve actually never owned a natural hair wig 👀 so sorry I can’t help there!
Hi Alice, I have similar skin type as yours, dry, sensitive, with occasional acne. I tried quite a few of your favorite products, and they work so well for me. Thank you! ❤After watching other influencers' contents, I tried Numbuzin No 5 niacinamide concentrated pad, just with 1 time use, I had severe allergy on my whole face for over a week. The allergic reactions even expands to the areas where I did not use the niacinamide pad.... Maybe we're even allergic to the same thing?! LOL Please keep up your great work. I love your contents~😍😍😍
Numbuzin was such a mixed bag for me overall! I did have a few hits from them BUT…it was unscented products 👀
Gimme that anua tranex + Niacinamide. My skin reaaallly loves it! Also, can you do a review on the VT reedle line?
Sadly I couldn’t use the VT 100: too strong for my skin type 💔😭
Hello skin twin, we have similar skin type. Thanks for recommending beautiful products.. I don’t have manyo one available in my country can I instead use Isntree bifida ampoule…
Oh my gosh, the packaging crumble is infuriating! I really love the Money Masque from Color Wow to use as a deep conditioner 1-2 times a month. It smells amazing, makes my hair so soft and shiny BUT the packaging flakes off and gets stuck in my hair. That hair mask is way too expensive to be picking little pieces of the label out of my hair for days. Last time it took 2 washes to get it all out. 😂
Crumbly packaging is uncalled for!! These companies really need to do better
I also am struggling to use up that numbuzin 3 serum. I just can't see where it does anything for my skin at all. I've only made it through maybe a third of the bottle, forcing myself to use it every night, but it gets to be less and less I use each time. I'm now done to a single drop, more of a gesture of usage than actual usage at this point. LOL
Also, at this point I've accepted I will never finish the Beauty of Joseon cleansing balm. Every time I use it I start getting clogged pores the next day. There is just no amount of emulsifying, rinsing, toning after that prevents it from clogging my pores. And I don't have oily skin.
Oh wow! I wouldn’t have expected that with the BOJ balm. Alas, it’s so true that nothing is for everyone (and sometimes it’s hard to identify WHY that is!)
I was going to comment about the Rare Beauty blushes but you brought them up😂
This is going to sound dramatic- but with the cost of some products, I want to be devastated when I finish a product. I want to be scraping out the packaging while I wait for a refill to arrive 😅
No I totally agree! The prices are through the roof these days; we should love every minute we spend with these products!
Skincare packaging gripes I've experienced:
- SomeByMi Beta Panthenol Repair Serum: should be in a pump bottle instead or even a tube. The dropper is not adequate to get the product, the formulation is too thick for it to be packaged in a dropper bottle.
- Frudia toners: the toner is on the thicker side and I usually had to put more force shaking it out of the packaged bottle. This one should've also been packaged in a pump dispenser bottle for better ease of usage.
My own personal perferece reagarding tube packaging: I prefer flip caps instead of twist caps, which I find inconvenient if I want to take the product on-the-go with me b/c the cap would roll away or be hard to get grip on to twist it off
YES I completely agree on that serum!! I’m tolerating it because I like the product itself, but it is annoying to use. Why on earth did they go with a dropper system!? 😑
Hello Alice, it is very frustrating when you spend your money, buy products and you cannot use them or they do not offer you the results you are looking for and it can always happen, although the product you feel has all the options to work for you, it happened to me. numbuzin tonic #3, because it gives me a bad reaction and it's impossible to know until you buy it and try it, even though it works for a lot of people. And there are many aspects that occur in your body and you do not control them, for example I think that my skin has been changing a lot with the onset of menopause. A hug Alice and I hope you are well 😘
Yuuup, the toner was out for me after a few uses!! At least the serum doesn’t wreck my skin, phew. It’s wild how much different folks have different experiences!
I usually always finished my products, like it does not work on my face I use it on my body or hands. It has never not worked there, but the feet would be the last resort. I liked the Glow recipe avocado cleanser but yeah the packaging is crap. I always end up decanting products when I hate the packaging, and for cleansers I always put them in pumps
Thanks for sharing! Pump cleansers really are so much better - that’s a great idea!
Alice, I think you need to do a yesstyle clothing video (please). I'm not on instagram but interested in some of the tops you wear :).
I had talked myself out of that for a while, but seriously am considering it again. It’s been SO hit or miss, with the misses being…awful lol. But the hits? Oh the hits are soooo good…
Love your lip color! Please share!
Thank you! It’s the makeup by Mario plumping serum in bronze glow ☺️
That Tatcha sunscreen crumble on me within 3 days of use and the product break me out …..
Oh nooo I hope you were able to take it back? Unbelievable that it was released in the first place ugh
I’m From Licorice Soothing Ampoule! Love the product but the dispenser doesn’t work properly. I had to completely open the top to use it, now I can’t be bothered to repurchase.
Ugh that’s so frustrating! Sorry to hear 😢
Since I know you focus on mature skincare, would you still recommend the Manyo bífida ampoule or would you recommend the Instree bífida ampoule instead for younger skin? I’ve got dry, sensitive and acne prone skin too. I use Stratia lipid gold but am looking to add another skin strengthening product into my routine
That is a good question! We don’t really have data on varying age ranges yet, but I’d say the mechanism of hydrating/repairing tends to not be limited to an age range. That said, it would mean you would see more results if your skin is prone to irritation and/or dryness. Someone with oily, hearty skin might see “nothing” from bifida ferment lysate!
And personally, manyo is my fav, but I’ll bump Isntree up to my second favorite bifida product (and usually a lot more affordable too!)
I always have a problem with finishing exfoliants. I can't use some of them every day because they are too stong. I don't know why would someone make huge AHA toner to use once per week, and in the end I use up only half of the bottle. I also can't finish products gifted by brand and even as micro content creator I do get a decent amount of pf. I stopped accepting pr if they want me to review products asap. Most of the time I can't choose gifted products and often they don't match with my skin type
If it helps, I can say that I really like using up AHA toners on my feet. Which sounds like I’m insulting the product, but I really mean: no, I like having soft feet LOL! Maybe you could try that?
I try not to waste products either but I've got only one body and one face so if it needs to go, it's going. I also have no shame in returning things that don't work for me or that I just plain don't like. Next video do you think you could do a makeup declutter?
It’s so true. And oh how I’m so overdue for a makeup declutter!! Asian makeup or all of it?
@@AliceintheRabbitHole All of it would be fun but maybe crazy long, maybe by category? Like eyes, face, lips?
I got so many products to try for the first time from YesStyle and Stylevana about a week ago. I've been putting so many different things on my face that yesterday I got a huge pimple on my nose for the first time in decade 😢
Oh nooo hope it goes away quickly! That’s such a frustrating situation 😭
@@AliceintheRabbitHole I felt like a teenager for a day or two :) But it cleared up super fast, even if it was huge and red. With Tretinoin and everything, my skin bounces right back I guess.
It's fun seeing how different things affect my skin! For now HOLIKA HOLIKA - Less On Skin Redness Calming CICA Balm is my new favorite thing. And Haruharu sunscreen. And Heimish Matcha Eye Patches :D
Speaking of percentages in products, I’ve always wondered about the AMOUNT pf product that you apply as well. Take for example, 1% niacinamide seems like a relative lower concentration but how does 1% niacinamide in a toner that you use a lot of compared to a 5% niacinamide serum that you use relative less of per use. Really curious to hear what you think.
Yes, you definitely get more of the niacinamide (in this example) if you’re applying more of the product!
Oh Alice, I FINALLY found my holy grail cleanser and I'm so excited! Its the Gleanser from Prequel. The price, the hydration, etc. Magnifique!!!
That’s so awesome to hear!! It really is such a unique cleanser (and near impossible to beat the price per oz!)
I have that Numbuzin serum and I don't think I will finish it either, I believe it makes me break out. At least it was a giveaway win so didn't spend any money on it XD
That tatcha spf did me dirty too. Freaking amazing formula. 😢 finally had to give up after smearing flakes from the bottle on my face. In the future I may purchase it in the new packaging but yeah I’m salty. Truly unusable.
The flakes!! The flakes were SO disturbing. 😳
Hey Alice! Do you have a Style Korean affiliate code? I have a cart full, but didn’t come across a code for them.
I don’t sadly, usually I watch for whatever coupons they are running. I believe it’s 10% off right now (not that I was just browsing…😅)
CeraVe PM Moisturizer - was my 1st facial moisturizer, and I tried convincing myself that I was just still "purging" cuz it's gotten SOO much praise by both dermatologists and the community, but it's incredibly clogging for.
CosRX Birch Sap Moisturizer - wayy too fragrant and gives me CCs.
Any Niacinamide Serum w/ 10% or higher. I've tried a few different brands, and they all make my combo skin feeling tight and sensitive.
Any SA product on anywhere BUT my nose. I can't tolerate SA for shit 😂
Tocobo Collagen Eye Gel - The lavender oil in it burns my eye area to a crisp.
Wow, I had the same problem with Cerave pm! But I immediately stopped using it
I love the birch sap moisturizer. I use it and beauty of joseon red bean gel moisturizer. Only two that works for me.
I’m so glad I read this as I was considering the tocobo!! Why would they put lavender in it; I’ll never understand it. Is anyone’s eyeballs begging for fragrance, because I would very much think it’s the opposite…
@AliceintheRabbitHole I'm usually a stickler when it comes to ingredients, but it was on sale, so I impulsively (and irresponsibly) pulled the trigger on it.
I put it around my eye area while on my lunch break at work and came back in with red raccoon eyes 🤣 it BURRRRNED.
Thankfully, it made me double-check the ingredients for their Bifida Biome Essence, before pulling the trigger, and when I saw "fragrance" listed as a singular ingredient, I was like "NOPE!!" Went with the Isntree Bifida Ampoule instead.
8 out of 10 I wanted to try from your list of products in today’s video 😂
Just like what I said, just because a product have galactomyces in it, doesn’t it is SKII dupe or replacement
I feel like Anua and Numbuzin just aren't for me. The Anua oil cleanser and toner, along with the nimbuzin sunscreen really irritated my skin. The numbuzin no3 serum left my skin too oily in humid weather.
I’m getting to the bottom of Anua as a whole this month - will see how it goes
Thanks for sharing your experience!
@AliceintheRabbitHole good luck! 😆 I received some Dr G Red Blemish products (red blemish soothing cream, soothing toner pads, red blemish soothing foam cleanser), and they have worked wonders for me lately. There are so many skincare options (especially kbeauty) that sometimes I forget to self-reflect on what i need out of my routine. I appreciate your insight in these types of videos!
Alice, I would love to share ideas, lessons learned, or ask questions, but I get so in my head writing a comment, “it’s too long, is it clear? will anyone care? Is this dumb?” But if you had a voicemail it’d be a comfortable option for us yappers -cut us off at a minute or two, lol. I’ll probably edit this like 9 times 😅 Could also maybe be a series…
For instance I recently learned that BP cleansers have come a long way since proactiv, also I know now how to properly cleanse my face and not bleach everything around me like when washing my face was a chore. Since getting over my BP trauma, I use it twice a week in a cleanser and a cream cleanser with no actives on the other days. Since that I had a skincare aha moment and let go of my daily salicylic acid cleanser and toner from my routine (which also includes a daily vitamin c [AM] adapalene [AM -I’m working away from daily use] and tret [PM] I would also top my tret with BOJ’s retinal eye cream that’s right… all over the face retinal on top of retinoic acid… even though I knew better, I held false beliefs on what worked for me. For instance salicylic acid was my pimple cure, not a exfoliant 😒 Ughhh how did I get there… well I was no longer breaking out, and my skin became tolerant, plus I didn’t know what good skin on me felt like… I just knew I had to prevent breakouts and begin anti aging. My skins looks good, but now it feels good. I used to believe I was allergic to niacinamide, turns out I was only reactive to it bc my barrier was compromised… I’ll still avoid high percentages, but don’t have to avoid it all together anymore. BTW, I do use a sunscreen when stepping outside for longer than 10 or so mins., I’m a homebody and WFH. There’s so much more I need to learn about transitioning from a habitual acne prone skincare routine to an anti-aging skincare routine for my skin today. I’m convinced I probably grew out breaking out constantly, I hardly ever do, but i’m too scared to fuck around and find out and drop all my actives. I appreciate all I’ve learn from you, I working on putting into practice now. Hope my intro doesn’t come off as entitled, I get some many ideas sometimes and share unsolicitedly. ☮️💟
It sounds like we have had a similar journey! I too use BPO cream cleanser alternating with cream/gentle cleansers (and that’s really it, minus the occasional product testing!) I actually don’t use salicylic acid much anymore except in pimple patches. I just don’t need much of it, it turns out 🤷♀️
Have a wonderful week ❌️ ⭕️
Thank you, you too! 🥰
I finish things on my body. BHA and AHA can go on my nails, elbows, toes and heels. Sometimes they are nice to reduce razor bumps.
Packaging flaws are inexcusable.
That’s such a smart way to use those up!
@@AliceintheRabbitHole partner manicures are in your future. Those serums are amazing and disappear quickly.
Nails? What does it do for nails??
product fails are the worst especially when they're hyped up products!!! i don't have anybody to give them to either so i have to begrudgingly use them on other parts of my body... all that money gone to waste unfortunately 🙃
So upsetting I have a box of exfoliating products to probably not use lol. 😥
I asked about especially my compact powders I keep for touch ups, the Charlotte Tilbury, Kosas , now Lawless all broke within a couple months. The clean no talc and softly package product can't with stand being in. A purse. Well Ef that ! I doubt touching up my t zone will give me cancer. Thanks J and J talc litigation for making a tiny weeny amount send the makeup industry freaked out reformulate everything only to have it behave like shit and then break.
You could always wrap the tatcha sunscreen in duct tape and it would let you use it still.
Alice IS mad...or has GONE mad? 😂 Thanks for another fun and informative video!✌️💜
You aren't allowed to return products here in the UK! such a cheek!
I really hope there’s an exception for packaging flaws!?
@@AliceintheRabbitHole Only if it's leaking.
So I feel like the most common products I don't work through fall into two categories: 1) Subscription box products, free gifts, or set inclusions I wouldn't have bought independently; and 2) Cheap products I bought from Korean sites (lower threshold to try). The reasons for not using them mostly fall into 4 categories: 1) Actives I don't want to use or that are included in formats I don't want to use them in (I have a tret serum, I don't want a retinol moisturizer); 2) Scent, I don't mind it and can like it but they can also be off-putting if strong and something you don't like; 3) Texture, common issue for moisturizers or cleansers; or 4) They took a useful spot in my routine and didn't do anything. Knowing your skin is really good, it's taught me for example that I want all my exfoliation to come from cleansing and/or wash-off masks. Watching reviews also help you from having to try everything as well, and for picky people I specifically suggest watching "best of" videos.
As for the Tatcha packaging issue, I'm not defending the company but if you like the product two questions: 1) Have you reached out to customer support to see if you could exchange the old bottle for new packaging? I kind of assume they'd say no, but if they fixed it so quickly they have to be aware of the issue and sometimes it's interesting to see how companies at that price point respond. 2) Have you considered dumping what's left into a travel container? I don't love the idea of switching up packaging much but at times if I have something like a cap break, which can but doesn't always have to be as much the brand's fault like Tatcha where everyone experiences it, I'll move a product and just make sure I run through it quickly.
I had that same struggle with subscription box products! And yup scent is a big one, and can even include fragrance-free. I’m having way more of a struggle than I anticipated with a fragrance free peptide serum at the moment (Paula’s choice booster). Phew, it smells horrendous…and I thought I could tolerate a lot
It is a good idea to contact the company. It’s so funny that I would suggest that to others, but like with the returns issue…I tend to just suffer my own losses LOL. As for decanting, I will likely do that with the farmacy (as I like the product), but sadly sunscreen is about the only category where I could never recommend changing the packaging. It’s too sensitive of a product to guarantee stability 😭
My Tatcha sunscreen looks the same way lol
@@AliceintheRabbitHole I have no way of knowing about the Farmacy product for sure, but with some Korean essences I found they don't work well with the opening size at the beginning of the product, but once you get some empty space in them you can get them out without problem. If you're on the first or second use might be an interesting experiment to decant 10-20ML and try again.
I really wish they wouldn't put niacinamide in everything. I have a reaction to it every time. 😪❌️⭕️
It is in *everything* 🤯
If you want to finish the Tatcha sunscreen, why don’t you wrap the bottle in clear tape so there is a permanent barrier
That’s such a smart idea
The packaging on the Tatcha spf is sooooo disappointing! It is my fav sunscreen - by far. I’ve wrapped mine in paper towel 😂
That’s a good idea!
Don't like any Numbuzin I've tried out.
I used to work in tech- software quality assurance. I can tell you for a fact that very little QA is done these days in tech. It doesn’t surprise me that other industries have abandoned it, too. Until consumers demand it, quality will continue to decrease. Return what doesn’t work and complain to the manufacturer. It’s an issue of deserving to get what we pay for. The “snitches get stitches” ethic doesn’t apply here.
Mmhmm I really could let it slide if this was a surprising, very rare instance. But at some point we all have to collectively notice that we are paying premium prices on products with glaring flaws!
Clicked on this as soon as I saw that numbuzin 3 serum. I’ll finish it for you !! 😭😭🤣🖤🖤
🤣💕
I related to that part about niacinamide at different percentages or in formulations with different ingredients so much! I got the Paula's choice azelaic acid booster as a Christmas present (because spending more than 20 euros on a single skincare item is out of my teeny tiny budget). my skin loved it. I could pair it with my geek&gorgeous retinal serum without irritation (I even "graduated" to their stronger retinal without issues at all). however, once it started running out, I looked for a replacement that was within my budget. enter the inkey list's azelaic acid treatment. it's the same concentration and it doesn't have the BHA that the Paula's choice does (which I had been nervous about since i have dry skin, but I shouldn't have been because it was amazing), so I didn't think it would be much of a problem. still, I patch tested on my neck when i got it just in case. didn't have a reaction within 48 hours, so I went ahead and used it. I alternate the azelaic acid+retinal and copper peptides (another Christmas present. I'm dreading the moment it will run out because i may have to splurge, even if it hurts my soul and wallet), so it took about a week of using it every other day for my skin to really start reacting to it. it had been vaguely itchy from the start, but it's also allergy season for me and itchiness isn't uncommon for me during this time. but no, my skin became undeniably drier and inflamed while I was using itand even started peeling a bit. I stopped all actives and used my most soothing stuff to let it recover, then started on my actives again, without the azelaic acid this time. after a week or so, I added the azelaic acid again and the irritation returned. against my better judgement, I may give it one last go, maybe using it less frequently. I just hate the thought of being too rash (no pun intended. ok maybe a bit intended) and throwing a product that is barely even used and could maybe work if I use it a bit differently (perhaps less frequently or in the morning instead of with retinal at night). but I'm also mentally preparing myself for maybe possibly perhaps having to actually purchase the Paula's choice one for myself eventually.
also, I just ran out of the toner I was using and as I was trying to decide which of the ones I had saved to go for next, I made a horrible discovery. turns out, I didn't read the ingredients of one of them carefully enough when I purchased it, because when comparing them to see which one would be better for my compromised skin barrier, I noticed one of them had citrus peel oil. I'm very sensitive to all essential oils and fragrances in general, but this one sneaked its way past my radar. I don't even feel comfortable gifting it (even though the rest of the ingredients look quite promising) because no one in my life uses sunscreen religiously (other than myself, of course) and I'm too aware of the potential for photosensitivity. I may give it a try (when my skin isn't angry at me) once again ignoring my better judgement, and hope it doesn't irritate my skin and I can finish it and then never purchase it again. seeing this video right after I made this terrible discovery made me feel less alone in my self inflicted skincare woes 😅
I have been there, in both instances!! Sometimes you can’t replace a pricey product with something else (SK-II. Siiiiigh lol). And I’ve bought products with my allergens in them; oh how I spend the rest of the day walking around with this face: 😑😑😑
If I pay for it I expect quality 👏🏾👏🏾😑
That is BS about the packaging. Sad. They should take them back. IMO as a brand.❌️⭕️
Yup I really think it should have been actually addressed. New packaging is great but…what about everyone who bought the bad packaging!?
@@AliceintheRabbitHoleI got a refund from Tatcha without having to return the product after I sent them pics. But I only thought to do that after seeing reviews complaining and seeing the replies from Tatcha. Won’t buy it again though, too expensive.
You could wrap your tatcha bottle in washy tape.🎉
🤯🤯🤯
I love this solution!!!
@@AliceintheRabbitHole So, I decided today to open one of these. I bought it awhile ago, so old packaging too. The sunscreen squired OUT all over the place. That should not happen either.
@@Randilynn66the same Tatcha sunscreen!? Ugh! Too many problems for such a pricey sunscreen 😢
👍👍👍
I'm sure I've mentioned before how awful the Tula Cult Classic Purifying Cleanser is under the comments of your other videos. That is a cleanser that should never exist; it smells very strongly like laundry detergent! If I wanted to wash my face with laundry detergent, I could go to my laundry room and get the bottle of Tide! 😂
YES. You know they came out with a fragrance free version but…I was reading the reviews, and people said it still smells of fragrance
What is going on over at Tula lol
quality control is missing for handbags and cosmetics. They want to charge more but with bad quality. what's missing in the equation. honestly I just wait until other people review before making any purchases. too many over hyped products. e
That’s the smart way to do it!
I can't believe how long it took tatcha to fix their flawed packaging. Especially for a luxury brand.
Same. It does not inspire confidence in future purchases for me 😑
🐰
Yikes those packaging fails are pricy!
Halfway through the video I had a flashback to Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit.
One pill makes you larger
One pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don’t do anything at all
Just swap out skincare and you’ll be humming along…❤
You know what, this really works with pimples. Some products do make them bigger (and some do nothing at all…)
@@AliceintheRabbitHole😂😂😂
@@AliceintheRabbitHole
Go ask Alice
I think she’ll know
@@celiareed1402she sure does!!!!
Hahaha... nothing pisses me off more than bad sunscreen packaging and there are sooooo many bad ones out there!
It’s truly the worst because there aren’t any other options. Can’t decant a sunscreen 😭
I got one of those Tatcha sun screens! I had the packaging all over y face
Disagree with returning products that don’t work out for you. If there is something wrong with the product or packaging, then it makes sense but wherever you bought it shouldn’t have to take a financial loss because it didn’t work out for you. Use it in your body, give it to someone or donate it. People who are abusing the return policies are going to make it bad for all of us. To reduce losses, companies will start charging a restocking fee, reduce the return window, etc. Limit what you buy to reduce losses, expenses and waste. 🙏
Hi Alice. Cooking and watching ❌️⭕️
Oh yum! How are you doing now?
@@AliceintheRabbitHole Feeling better. I am making steak on the grill. Easy and yummy.
Glad to hear!
omg well i’ll take the anua off your hands😂 my skin loves this one. but i think this is really the only product from their brand i like unfortunately.
love your channel! thanks for all the insights❤
I am a name hussy. If it says Lisa I almost always buy it. I am shameless!👀❌️⭕️
🤣😂 it’s so hard to resist!
I’ve heard the numbuzin no. 3 serum works great for feet 😅 (recommendation from MadAboutSkin)
My feet are so spoiled from all these rejected-by-my-face products 🤣😂
Hey, have you tried putting tape on the tatcha sunscreen ? It might protect your hands from the flaking.