Have you tried KoComall.com yet? Because I just placed my first order with them and I'm very pleased with the results.
In case you've never heard of KoComall: It's an online beauty shop selling mostly (or maybe entirely?) Korean beauty products. They carry popular brands (i.e. Etude House, SkinFood, TonyMoly) of skincare, makeup, men's products etc. They ship from Korea, so the prices on most of their items are much lower than what you'd find in a local beauty supply shop in the US. I had read some good reviews of them online, but since I hadn't tried them before I placed a small order. Here's what I got:
Pictured above:
- The Face Shop - Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam (Peach)
- Innisfree - Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil
- The Face Shop - Real Nature Mask (Mung Bean)
- The Face Shop - Real Nature Mask (Aloe)
Not a huge order, but it was my first time buying from them so I wasn't sure what to expect. This was also my first time trying all of the products pictured, but more on that later.
Anyway, about my experience with KoComall: I placed the order on July 3rd, got a shipping notice on July 4th, and received the package on July 12th. It was sent via regular small packets airmail, so that is really quite fast - obviously the shipment times are somewhat dependent on where you're located and whether or not your package gets held up in customs, but considering that most packages from Korea take about two weeks to get here they must have a very fast shipping turnaround once you order. Here's what my package looked like:
I dig the purple, haha. I'm not sure an envelope is the best choice when you're shipping liquids across the globe, but the contents were wrapped in a double-thick layer of bubble wrap. The foaming cleanser was also shrink-wrapped, so unlikely to leak, but the oil cleanser was just taped shut. Personally, I would put anything with a liquidy consistency inside a plastic bag and THEN bubble wrap it, but thankfully it didn't break or leak.
Their shipping prices seem to be based on region and weight, and as far as I can tell they don't overcharge by a great deal. I don't know if you can make out the shipping label on the picture above, but it says ₩5970 - my shipping charge was $5.97, which is slightly more than ₩5970 (not a lot though), and I think a lot of websites set it at a 1-1 exchange ratios to the US dollar to allow for minor currency fluctuations. My order arrived super fast in any case, and this option is a hell of a lot cheaper than EMS! They do offer an EMS option by the way, if you're really in a hurry.
Payments on the site are processed through Paypal, which I honestly prefer because my bank always shuts off my card when I try to use it on foreign sites. Fraud protection and all that. If you sign up prior to your first order you can get a $5 off coupon (on a minimum order of $10), which is pretty sweet, especially since their prices are quite low to begin with. They are also pretty generous with the samples:
Eight samples - nice! A lot of places only send you two or three. The only one I've tried so far is the Aqua Super Aqua Max Fresh Watery Cream - there is practically nothing in those little packets so I can't comment on how effective it is as a skincare item, but I can at least say that it smells pleasant - sort of like an oceany cologne that dissipates before it starts to make you sneeze.
Moving along to the product reviews...
Innisfree Apple Juicy Oil Cleanser
From KoComall's product description:
Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil completely removes makeup, clears pore-clogging debris and brightens skin with fruity organic apple oil extracts. It contains softening and protective properties that help to preserve the skin's hydro-lipid barrier. This product contains a unique formula that instantly eliminates all traces of impurities leaving the skin feeling clean, soft,fresh, and protected.
I LOVE the smell of this cleanser. Love love love love. It smells like ultra-tart apple juice, with a slightly sweet note at the end. As an oil cleanser, it works well to remove makeup without being too heavy or greasy. I am prone to breakouts in the T-Zone and this did not cause me any acne or problems, so very good all around. Of course I did follow up with a foaming cleanser after using this, but some oil cleansers leave a reside that's hard to get off. Here's what the pump looks like:
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The pump is good - it doesn't gush an obscene amount when you press it, and it comes with one of those little guard thingies that you can put on to keep from accidentally pumping oil everywhere. I'd say one pump is enough for my face, and this comes in 150ml bottle so I suspect it will last for some time. The oil starts out clear (as you can probably see from the bottle) and turns milky once you've started to rub it in.
Overall, Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil was a total win for me. KoComall's sale price on this was $9.72, which is pretty good since I've seen it on other sites for around $12. For under $10, I think this is a great buy.
The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam - Peach
From KoComall's product description:
A mild, natural cleanser, which brings more dampness with nine herbs and organic acid
BRING ON MORE DAMPNESS PLEASE! The package says it's suitable for all skin types, and I think that's probably true. This product is nothing special, but it does perfectly well at cleansing and doesn't dry my skin or break me out, so I'm content. To be honest, this doesn't smell much like peaches to me... more like soap with a hint of fruitiness. The Herb Day 365 cleanser comes in a few additional scents, so maybe others are better? I don't know.
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| It's a normal tube! |
Much like most foaming cleansers, a little goes a very long way. The amount picture on my hand above is more than enough for my whole face, as it lathers up very well.
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| All foamed up. |
Overall this isn't a mind-blowing product, but it does what it's supposed to and doesn't break me out, plus it only cost $2.03. What more do I need?
The Face Shop Real Nature Sheet Mask - Mung Bean
I actually haven't used the aloe mask yet, so I'll just be talking about the mung bean mask and the general fit/feel. The back of the mask says it's meant to "keep pores clean". This is what it looks like on:
Yes, I'm weird about privacy. The mask sheet is on the thin side and is a so-so fit for my face. I thought the mouth/nose holes were very large compared to other masks I've tried, which isn't really a problem for me but might be for someone with a smaller nose. One good feature of the mask is that it has strategically located little cuts, making it a bit easier to fold it over and customize the fit, like so:
The scent isn't especially unique - just that sort of vague "herbal" smell a lot of sheet masks have. It also should be noted that this did not have a paper backing like some masks do, but it didn't tear when I was unfolding it. Unfortunately, this didn't live up to its claims of pore cleansing. I didn't really notice any serious benefits from this mask other than a little bit of moisturizing. At 95c a pop these are cheap, but for a few cents more I can get a My Beauty Diary mask that does a lot more for my skin. So overall, meh.
So that's it for my first KoComall haul - I was very pleased with their prices and fast shipping, so I will definitely be ordering from them again. If you're a first-time customer, don't forget to sign up for the $5 off coupon!
Have you ordered from KoComall before? How was your experience?
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