Dating Diaries: Is Your Tinder/ Bumble/ Hinge Profile Hurting Your Game?

During the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, if you visited the Olympic Village you were gifted your very old gold medal – er Tinder account. Tinder upped the ante by giving each and every member enjoying the festivities in and around Gangwon province special privileges. It was entirely overwhelming for the women I knew, but for men it was an absolute blessing.

With a Tinder Gold account you can see who likes you (has swiped right), change your location, and hide your age (if that’s your jam?) You get unlimited likes, can rewind the last swipe (no more swiping left on your soulmate!), and you get 5 superlikes a day (LOL cause you need to joke that often, right?) From my straight male friends’ perspectives, they get far fewer matches than the ladies. Jackpot with Tinder Gold. For us gals? Too many matches to sort through (humblebrag, but only kind of!) I found that I was no longer swiping through men in my area, but was limiting myself to those who had swiped right. What a mess of offensive images, profile bios, and anecdotes!

If you’re finding you’re not getting quality matches, maybe it’s time to analyse your own profile on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, or any other of the plethora of window-shopping opportunities you can manage from your smartphone while dropping a deuce.

Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and other dating apps are taking over the way we meet people and begin relationships. Is your profile hurting your game? Typically when I put together an online dating profile, I think about how someone from my company would react if they stumbled upon it. This probably stems from the fact that I used to work for Plenty of Fish, but it’s a good rule of thumb, too. First dates are like job interviews – you’re seeing if there’s a mutual connection. Always be honest, but make sure to put your best foot forward. I went to my instagram followers to see what the most off-putting profile elements were for them. As the saying goes, ladies first:

Ladies’ Tinder/ Bumble/ Hinge Profile Fails

Ladies’ Photo Fails

Photos that are too dark or far away – we want to see what you actually look like – yes, even on Tinder!
Group pictures – if your profile is all group picture, we’re assuming you’re the “ugly one”.
Overly filtered/ Snapchat – That dang puppy ear/ mouth filter. You’re 35, woman. Get your act together. If you don’t show up on a date with those damn ears, you’re paying for the drinks or craft supplies I’ll need for that to be a reality.
Dirty Mirror Selfies – or ones with unmade beds or clothes all over the floor. If you can’t clean up, at least learn how to crop!
Only headshots – do yourself a favour and have at least one full-body shot. If you’re not his cup of tea, it’s better not to match at all (in my personal opinion).
Old photos – we have the most advanced camera phones out there. Why are you still using your webcam?
DUCK FACE – none of us are Paris Hilton and this isn’t 2002.

Ladies’ Profile Fails

Trashing the ex – if your Tinder/ dating profile has a laundry list of things your next boyfriend better not replicate from your last relationship, it shows that maybe you’re not quite over that ex of yours, maybe you’re still harboring resentment/ hurt feelings, and maybe you’re not quite ready to move on. Not the best look, right?
Listing things you want in a relationship – pretty much any laundry list isn’t going to portray you as the most open-minded person on the planet. Also, throwing yourselves into a relationship scares most men (and women!) Go out on a date before deciding that he’s “the one”!
Negativity – most people want someone around whom they can relax and be themselves. If you’re already showing lots of negativity in your profile I think most people would agree it’s a left swipe!

Men’s Tinder/ Bumble/ Hinge Profile Fails

Men’s Photo Fails

Photos that are too dark or far away – we want to see what you actually look like.
Group pictures – if your profile is all group picture, we’re assuming you’re the “ugly one”.
Only selfies – do you have friends? Is your body not proportionate to your head?
Shirtless selfies/ gym mirror selfies – again: do you have friends? Why aren’t they telling you to stop this?
Riding an elephant or cuddling a drugged up tiger – it’s 2019. We KNOW BETTER.
Drinking straight from the bottle – Even on Tinder, it’s just not classy! Is this something you do so often that you feel you need to advertise this element of your life right away?
Fishing – honestly? I like getting out in nature, but there’s just something about someone displaying a live fish like a trophy that’s totally off-putting.
Middle finger up or other lewd gestures. Why, guys, why?
Picture of your junk – okay, so meeting the love of my life on Tinder is very unlikely, but even if someone is just on the app for a good time, not a long time – women value a little mystique. Women tend to react more emotionally than visually, too. Putting your junk out there isn’t as effective as, say, going out for a few drinks and creating an emotionally stimulating connection. Food for thought.

Men’s Profile Fails

No bio – putting no effort into your bio at all tips the scales for me. Even if you’re really cute, I know nothing about you and will most likely swipe left.
Just your height – this is almost worse than having no bio at all. Really? You think that’s all it boils down to? I’m interested in way more than your height, just as I hope there are various elements of my personality and my life which will be of interest to you.
“Tell you later” – uhhh, no you won’t ’cause I’ve just swiped left.
“No fatties” – bugger off. Seriously? You’re no prized pig, yourself. Even when I was in the best shape of my life (for me I was about 20% body fat and damn – I looked and felt great!) I’d swipe left on anyone who wrote this in their bio. That’s so rude and hurtful and unnecessary.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take – Wayne Gretzky – Michael Scott” – We’ve all seen The Office. This isn’t original or funny anymore, it just shows you’ve given no thought to your bio. Special mention to: “Work hard, play hard” and “You win some, you lose some”. Next!
Having “Assistant to the Regional Manager” or “Mr. Manager” as your job title. See above.
Fake testimonials – “Takes great pictures without his shirt on” – My Mirror, “Get out of our house” – My Mom, “Woof” – My dog. PLEASE STOP DOING THIS

Have I missed any major dating profile faux pas? Let me know in the comments!

Candidly Cartier: “Influencer” is Not a Dirty Word

Influencer Filth

More and more on social media I’m seeing the word “Influencer” tossed around like absolute filth. Whether it’s disdain for those who flaunt their lives like they’ve been sponsored to take their next breath (you know who you are) or annoyance that content isn’t authentic, there’s a real hate on these days for people who make a dolla dolla bill or two from content creation.

influencer

/ˈinflo͝oənsər/

noun

a person or thing that influences another.

“he was a champion of the arts and a huge influencer of taste”
MARKETING

a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media.

“influencers can add serious credibility to your brand”

Influencers – They’re Just Like You!

This idea that the common person is like a celebrity is an interesting shift in the makeup of our society. They haven’t done anything particularly spectacular, or so most people think. From my view, someone of influence finds beauty in the mundane. This is a new(ish) form of art combining the written word (yes, captions can be poetry), photography (okay – hiring photographers for your OOTD is a little much), and graphic design (you know how much editing goes into some of these ‘grams). Most of these people are also crafty AF in the way they live their lives. They’ve carved out a niche where (well, the successful ones) can follow their bliss daily. It doesn’t happen overnight, however. Building a business, even if your brand is yourself, is hard work. The competition is bloody fierce.

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On Sundays we brunch! @orettatoronto had great atmosphere, fantastic (and quick) service, and super tasty eats! We shared a bottle of prosecco and: • Bombolone Milanese $19 Fried chicken thigh sandwiche, bombolone bun, spicy bacon aioli, slaw. • Uova Burrata e Tartufo $19 Scrambled eggs, asparagus, burrata, black truffle, focaccia. 🍳// #brunch . . . . . . . . . . . #bhgfood #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #droolclub #feedfeed #foodblogger #foodgawker #seoulfood #foodstagram #forkfeed #prosecco #Sundayfunday #huffposttaste #kitchenbowl #kingwest #sweetmagazine #tastespotting #thefeedfeed #thekitchn #torontofood #toronto #브런치 #맛집탐방 #먹방 #eatingfortheinsta #cravethe6ix #brunch🍴

A post shared by Kate Carter Hickey 🛫 Travel (@torontoseoulcialite) on Nov 6, 2018 at 7:37am PST

Influencers – They Eat!

I get it – going to a restaurant with friends and having your dining companion make the table wait until the food is cold is incredibly obnoxious. When the food arrives and everyone scrambles to create a table with the greatest aesthetic standing up on a chair with a portable flash in one hand and their phone in the other, it’s obnoxious. This behaviour really takes a toll on the guest experience of every other person in the restaurant. This detracts from the carefully prepared and plated meal they restaurant’s team has put together. As someone who has worked in the hospitality industry for many, many years and has worked with chefs and bartenders passionate about their craft, I wonder if the food even tastes good or if it’s just pretty. I wonder if these “influencers” can tell the difference between tarragon and turmeric.

Influencers – They Shop!

This is the thing about “aspiring influencers” that drives me up the wall. Influencers Faking Brand Deals is nothing new. I knew of plenty of people doing this while I was in Korea in an attempt to secure new business. I also knew of desperate women who would be given discarded goods from influencers within the Korean Beauty Space who would put “#gifted” on everything. No, you weren’t gifted sh*t, little girl. Your friend who spent hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars becoming a skincare expert gave you the crap she no longer wanted, and you gave it a glowing review.

Making Money Blogging

Building blog and a brand costs money. Most of the people I knew when I started blogging were trying to share the latest and greatest spots in the city giving directions in the process. Heck – I made a whole video about how to get to the Raccoon Cafe in Seoul when I was still living in Busan. I shared restaurant reviews where I spent a pretty penny and felt I got great value. I was never “doing it for the ‘gram”, and the friends I met through the blogging community (at first) weren’t either. We just wanted to share cool things we found in English for people who might not be having the easiest time navigating in Korean. The secret to making money blogging? HARD WORK.

Passion Projects Put to Work

That’s the thing – most content creators turned influencers built a website and started writing about life hacks, amazing products and fantastic deals they genuine adore and want to share. I began my blog, The Toronto Seoulcialite, while in Korea because I was leaving the marketing world and didn’t want to become irrelevant and undesirable as a potential hire upon my return. Now I work as a writer for a law firm because:

I was a teacher – I taught spelling, grammar, syntax, and flow. These are essential skills in my daily tasks at work.
I learned about my audience, SEO, link-building, social media marketing, and wordpress. These are desirable skills within my industry.
Once I realised that there were companies who wanted to partner with me, I amped up the business of blogging. Creating pitches and proposals for companies with whom I desired to work became necessary. Paying for for products and experiences was normal. Sometimes I could organize a partnership to offset the costs of running my blog. I wasn’t a hack job with my mouth wide open hawking a food product I would never eat, if you know what I mean. Now, I research companies and write marketing materials to show how our team is the best fit for a particular project.

Influencers – The Hate is Real

The problem with influencers in our 2019 society is that thing have gotten out of control. What used to be an industry of finding cool things, expressing honest emotions (This Crazy Thing Called Life isn’t sunshine and roses. Sometimes sh*t gets real) is now a forcefield of gritting a smile and showing no weakness. The glossy, glamorous lives of aspiring influencers aren’t real. These people in Facebook groups trying to get you to join pyramid schemes so you can “travel the world for free” are conning you. The reason content creators had influence was because they weren’t perfect, they were passionate. The start-up nature of sharing your life’s ups and downs was real; authentic.

Now, “engagement” is easy to fake. You can pump some money into Facebook to promote or pay off a bot farm to like the image for you. It’s infuriating that PR companies – people who are supposed to be professionals in this field – don’t see through the fake followers and inauthetic content. It’s sad to see companies partner with “influencers” who are guaranteed to bring no reach, engagement, or revenue from the rates they charge. I can totally understand and respect why the every man or woman gets a hate on for the influencer life. The hate is real.

When it comes down to it, there will always be people of influence. When genuine, and not pay for play, an influencer is someone honest who gives a review you can trust. With cost of living at an all-time high, that trust should be sacred. Influencer isn’t a dirty word, we’ve just forgotten the meaning.

Buy This, Not That: Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pad vs. Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic To-Go

Buy This, Not That: Cosrx vs. Pixi Beauty

When I came back to Canada after my 3-year stint in Korea I was in a bit of a pickle. Several of my Korean beauty products had been confiscated from my carry-on at the airport in Bali. With the heat, I had used up all of my hydrating toner pads. Granted, I clumsily packed in an attempt to avoid overweight charges. My toners and essences took the hit and I was stuck waiting for my slow shipment from Seoul. I went to Shoppers Drug Mart in search of some local goodies to test out. It was especially exciting because, for the first time in 3 years, the ingredients would be in English (and French! – sometimes). My eyes grew wide and glazed over as I saw the ever increasing prices. What had I done? What a mistake I had made leaving all that liquid gold in Indonesia.

people girl boxing gloves fitness exercise work out woman athlete — Matheus Ferrero

Battle of the Hydrating Toner Pads

Both of these pads claim to have hydrating and exfoliating properties. One left my skin feeling like a rough astringent had been applied. It made my more viscous products tough to apply. The other makes my skin feel clean, but soft and supple, too. We all have different kinds of skin, but in my experience the value of one one of these hydrating toner pads far outweighs the other. Read through for my verdict in Buy This, Not That: The Battle of the Hydrating Toner Pads!

Glow Tonic To-Go Pads

Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic To-Go

Regular price $24.00

“Everything you love about the Glow Tonic, TO GO! Travel-friendly pads pre-soaked in Glow Tonic to tone, brighten, hydrate and gently exfoliate for clean renewed skin.”

The best routine is the one you’ll actually repeat, so toner pads are a no-brainer for a lazy K-Beauty lover like me! These were the only ones under $50 at Shoppers, and since I needed something that day, I decided to suck it up and hope my pension came through sooner than later. I picked out the Pixi Beauty brand based on their clean, feminine packaging and prices which I thought were high for the product type, but better than the others. I looked them up online and found that a number of other beauty bloggers and influencers had featured the products in their feed, so I should give them a fair shot. What exactly was in these products, though? What was I really putting on my skin? Is it the right product for my skin type? Why did I spend nearly $110 on 3 itty bitty items which would probably have cost me $30 in Korea? These hydrating toner pads cost me $24 plus tax. A lot of the time we skim over certain products assuming because the price is low the product must not be good quality. Now, I feel far more inclined than ever to buy Korean beauty products online.

Product Details

These pre-soaked pads tone, brighten, hydrate, and gently exfoliate.
• Skin looks clearer & feels smoother.
• The ultimate travel-friendly, gentle skin renewal
• Formulated with 5% Glycolic Acid
• Suited for all skin types
• Alcohol free
• Not tested on animals

How To-Apply

Use: Either in the AM and PM or when needed
• Step 1: Cleanse your face
• Step 2: Sweep pre-soaked pads across face , neck and décolletage after cleansing, avoiding eye area.
• Step 3: Follow with a serum or moisturizer. (no need to rinse off)

Ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Biotin, Panthenol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Caramel, Red 4 (CI 14700). Made in USA / Fabriqué aux États-Unis.

Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pad

“It is a daily moisturizing pad presoaked in a toner of Propolis Extract and Hyaluronic Acid. It helps to fight against main features of dehydrated, delicate and flaky skin. TIP: It is convenient to wipe off and fix makeups during the day. You can also use as a mini sheet mask on specific dry areas such as cheek or chin. Do not use BHA products if you are allergic to aspirin.”

HOW TO USE

Swipe the embossing side across the face avoiding eye area after cleansing.
Swipe the softer side across the face to pick up the remaining debris.
Replace the lid tightly to make sure the pads stay wet and clean.

INGREDIENTS

Propolis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil

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#mybeautyawards @influencer Had to pick up some essentials before leaving Seoul. Yes, you can get most of them in Canada, but aren't they gorgeous against the marble in our luxurious bathroom at @seouldragoncity @novotelhotels? Thank you @cosrx for hooking me up! ♡ 1. #cosrx One Step Moisture Pad – pads smell amazing and are full of a liquid which gently exfoliates and softens the skin with 0.5% BHA and 79.14% propolis extract. Leaves my face looking soft and dewy and feeling fresh! 2. @chanelofficial Joues Contraste Blush in Rose Glacier- actually smells like roses and is a less shimmery version of @narsissist orgasm. 3. #Chanel Les quatres ombres multi-effect quadra eyeshadow. I haven't worn green eyeshadow in a while. With blue eyes this quad is perfect for my almond lid and blends amazingly well! 4. @leegeehaam_global Grow Matcha Green Tea Clay Pack – tightens and leaves skin soft and bright. I'm not one for strong scents, but I like a little something something and this one totally hits the spot! 5. @lanvinofficial Modern Princess – cheesy name, great, light scent for daytime! Pink lady apple for a clean and crisp fragrance and white musk, vanilla orchids, jasmine, and freesia flower. 6. @banilaco_official #CleanItZero is my favourite make-up remover bar none. It's a balm that you rub between your hands to turn it into a silky, naturally exfoliating oil remover. This product takes off even the most stubborn mascara! 7. @burberry fresh glow luminous foundation – goes on looking like my own skin is perfectly flawless! 8. @diormakeup #Dior #LipGlow in Holo Purple. When you've got a giftcard, do the FUN thing! 💄// #travelwithcosrx . . . . . . . . . . . #imagineyourkorea #Korea #seoultrip #kbeauty #koreanstyle #beauty #데일리 #맞팔#맞팔해요 #새벽 #서울 #선팔 #셀카 #소통 #웃스타그램#인스타그램 #인친 #일상 #일상스타그램 #좋아요#팔로우#팔로우미

A post shared by Kate Carter Hickey | Blogger (@thatgirlcartier) on Mar 5, 2018 at 10:15pm PST

I first tried the Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pads at the Novotel in Seoul. Cosrx partnered up with the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Yongsan (Seoul Dragon City) and placed their Korean skincare goodies in the uber luxurious bathrooms. What a genius idea! I was hooked on several of their products right away, including these hydrating toner pads! You’ve seen Cosrx on my site before. They have the most fabulous cleanser which isn’t on the market quite yet. This cleanser is gentle and doesn’t leave a residue. The same can be said for these hydrating moisture pads (the Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pads). You can use them for spot treating, prepping for more viscous parts of your skincare routine, or tidying up makeup gone wrong. After trying the Pixi Glow To-Go pads, there’s just no comparison. Cosrx Moisture up pads are a big BUY THIS.

balloon birthday bright carnival celebrating celebration color colorful decorating decoration exclamation expression festive hand hand lettering message party pastel person sign text word yeah yes

BUY THIS: Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pads, NOT THAT: Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic To-Go Pads

I’ve made a chart for you of the different ingredients in both hydrating toner pads. You’ll notice that there are a few overlapping ingredients. For the most part, the Pixi pads have a lot more colouring (I’m not sure why – they’re white), fragrance, and additives. Personally, I prefer a shorter list of ingredients with elements I actually understand. For example, I know some beauty bloggers work with natural ingredients like lemon which can be extraordinarily drying and damaging to the skin. I prefer to leave that to the professionals (Cosrx). Why Pixi is putting caramel and red dye in their white pads is beyond me. I’ve left the Pixi at my parents’ place to use the couple of times a month I go visit, but for daily use opt for the gentler, more nourishing blend.

Ingredients

Pixi Beauty “Glow Tonic To-Go” Pads: Acne-Fighting, Brightening, Anti-Aging
Safe for Oily Skin, Risk for Dry or Sensitive Skin
Ingredients:	Purpose:	Notes:
Water/Aqua/Eau	Solvent
Glycolic Acid	Whitening, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Exfoliant	Anti-aging, Good for Oily Skin, Bad for Sensitive Skin
Butylene Glycol	Solvent, Skin Conditioning, Masking, Fragrance, Humectant (retaining or preserving moisture), Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity decreasing Agent	Good for Dry Skin, Comedogenic Rating 2- slight chance of clogged pores
Glycerin	Solvent, Perfuming, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Denaturant	Good for Dry Skin
Sodium Hydroxid	Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Denaturant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice	Skin Conditioning	Good for Sensitive Skin
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water	Skin Conditioning, Drug Astringent – Skin Protecting	Good for Oily Skin
Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract	Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol	Solvent, Skin Conditioning, Perfuming, Surfactant (foaming agent), Fragrance, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying	Comedogenic Rating 2- potential to clog pores
Fructose	Humectant, Flavoring Agent
Glucose	Humectant, Flavoring Agent, Skin-Conditioning Agent- Miscellaneous
Sucrose	Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Flavoring Agent, Soothing
Urea	Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Buffering Agent
Dextrin	Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding Agent, Binding, Absorbent, Bulking Agent
Alanine	Skin Conditioning, Masking, Fragrance, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning
Glutamic Acid	Fragrance, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning
Aspartic Acid	Skin Conditioning, Masking, Fragrance, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning
Hexyl Nicotinate	Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antistatic Agent
Panax Ginseng Root Extract	Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic
Ethylhexylglycerin	Skin Conditioning, Deodorant
Disodium EDTA	Viscosity Controlling, Chelating (bonding) Agent
Biotin	Skin Conditioning, Hair Conditioning, Antiseborrhoeic (breaks up oils/ removes flakes)
Panthenol	Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning	Promotes Wound-Healing, Good for Dry Skin
PPG-26-Buteth-26	Skin Conditioning, Surfactant, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Hair Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil	Perfuming, Surfactant, Fragrance, Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol	Fragrance, Preservative
Fragrance (Parfum)	Masking, Perfuming, Deodorant
Caramel	Masking, Fragrance, Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant
Red 4 (CI 14700)	Cosmetic Colorant


Cosrx “One Step Moisture Up” Pads: Promote Wound-Healing, Acne-Fighting
Low Risk for All Skin Types
Ingredients:	Purpose:	Notes:
Propolis Extract	Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol	Solvent, Skin Conditioning, Masking, Fragrance, Humectant (retaining or preserving moisture), Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Decreasing Agent	Good for Dry Skin, Comedogenic Rating 2- slight chance of clogged pores
Glycerin	Solvent, Perfuming, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Denaturant	Good for Dry Skin
Betaine	Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Viscosity Controlling, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate	Hair Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate	Surfactant (foaming agent), Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol	Solvent
Betaine Salicylate	Antimicrobial Agent, Exfoliant, Keratolytic (remove warts, calluses and other lesions)	Acne-Fighting
Panthenol	Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning	Promotes Wound Healing. Good for Dry Skin
Allantoin	Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing	Good for Oily Skin, Good for Sensitive Skin
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer	Viscosity Controlling, Emulsion Stabilizing
Sodium Hyaluronate	Skin Conditioning, Humectant	Promotes Wound Healing. Good for Dry Skin
Ethylhexylglycerin	Skin Conditioning, Deodorant
Sodium Hydroxide	Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Denaturant
Xanthan Gum	Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emulsion Stabilizing, Binding Agent, Binding, Surfactant -Emulsifying Agent, Gel Forming
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil	Masking, Fragrance

Step 1: Breathe, just breathe – Holy Grail Skincare

Seoul Korea Botox Fillers Eunogo MH Clinic Ruby Plastic Surgery MVP Clinic VIP Plastic Surgery Whoo Spa Sinsa Facial — Photo: Robert Evans

Korean Holy Grail Skincare: Cleansers Available in Canada

Skincare isn’t this mystifying secret combination of product formulas and equations. It’s actually quite simple to have a skincare regimen that works! To have clear, flawless, pore-less skin, we’ve got to get back to basics. This starts with a clean, make-up free face. With winged liners out the wazoo and Fenty foundation a-flutter, how do you actually get that gunk off you face (and out ya dang pores) at the end of the night? …and how do you fix the damage from those dreaded nights when you pass out with a full face on? Love, I have 2 holy grail products for you.

Skincare Good Night Mild Oil Cleanser Cosrx Holy Grail Korean Skin Care Clean it Zero Banila Co.

Banila Co. Clean it Zero

Get a Discount by Buying Through iHerb

Banila Co. is a cosmetics and skincare shop in Korea much like the others. It’s a bright, airy shop with plenty of cute models shot making goofy faces. I like their liquid eyeliner, but haven’t tried much in the way of makeup there. Banila Co. has one item, however, for which I’d trek all over Seoul. I made sure to pick up the largest container they had before leaving Korea for good. This skincare holy grail item is the one which takes off the majority of my makeup. Many Koreans use a double or triple cleansing system because of the pollution, but also because normal make-up removers just can’t get everything off. I like to begin with the “sorbet” textured product because it takes off the majority of my make-up and cleans out pores. “Lightweight sorbet-like textured makeup removing cleansing balm that whisks away pore-clogging impurities. Use the spatula to take a small amount and massage gently in circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water, or use tissue to wipe off the balm with gentle strokes.”

Ingredients

Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG -10Isostearate, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol, Water, Rubus Suavissimus (Raspberry) Leaf Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Viscum Album, (Mistletoe) Leaf Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Carica Papaya, (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Epilobium, Angustifolium Leaf Extract, BHT, Butylparaben, CI 16255, CI 15985, Fragrance

Skincare Good Night Mild Oil Cleanser Cosrx Holy Grail Korean Skin Care

Cosrx: Good Night Mild Oil Cleanser

Get a Discount by Buying Through iHerb

I got to try the series of Cosrx products when I won a 2-night stay at the new Seoul Novotel Ambassador Dragon City near Yongsan. I’m such a fan of Accor Hotels, and this stay was even better because my massive bathroom was fully stocked with Cosrx samples. Some of these samples aren’t even on the market quite yet. I’m hoping that a glowing review (and my glowing skin) will help Cosrx make the choice to start selling Good Night Mild Oil Cleanser in Korea, and hopefully soon in Canada (or at least on iHerb). While Clean it Zero can get most of my mascara off, the Cosrx formula makes certain that any hint of CC cream, liquid eyeliner, or mascara is erased. The formula is really mild. Unlike other oil cleansers I’ve tried. it doesn’t stick around when I go to rinse it off.

Bad News/ Good News

While the Oil Cleanser doesn’t seem to be on the market quite yet, Good Morning Gel Cleanser is available online for shipping to Canada. It is described as: “Start the day right by treating your skin to a mild and gentle cleanser with a low pH that effectively removes excess oil and dead skin. Formulated with tea tree oil and natural BHA to refine skin texture, the Good Morning Gel Cleanser’s pH level is the closest to your skin’s natural pH levels and leaves skin soft, moist and refreshed without stripping it of its natural oils.”

Do you have any cleansers you swear by? Are the available in Canada (or online to ship here)? Let us know in the comments!