Pimple/Blemish Toner Pads Showdown

Pimple/Blemish Toner Pads Showdown

(Feat. Peter Thomas Roth vs FirstAid Beauty vs Cosrx)

Pre-moistened Toner Pads have been an uprising trend ever since the Cosrx One Step Pimple Clear Pad took over the whole beauty industry by surprise in 2017 with its overall great performance and at the same time reasonably priced. Also considering that K-beauty has recently hit the global/international beauty industry, hence gaining this product more recognition worldwide.

But little does the world know that these pre-moistened toner pads has been around us yearssssss ago. I would say at least 5 years or even more! And in this blog, I’m only focusing on those toner pads mainly targeting for blemish-prone skin/containing BHA or more known as salicylic acid. Peter Thomas Roth (PTR) Max Complexion Correction Pads is one of the first few I’ve came across 3 years ago and it wasn’t even a new release when I discovered it. So I’m pretty sure this type of product have been longer in the beauty industry. XD However, this PTR products hasn’t been getting much attention and I totally understand why after trying it out which I’ll go through it in-depth later.

Next discovery was First Aid Beauty (F.A.B) Blemish Patrol Pads also 3 years ago. I was more attracted to the brand’s vision of producing products safe for those with even the most sensitive skin. So, I decided to give it a try but does it stays true to the brand’s claim? We shall see!

Let the SHOWDOWN begin!  (For a brief/quick reviews, please kindly refer “Overall Review” and "Repurchase" section)

Claims:

Peter Thomas Roth	First Aid Beauty	Cosrx
1) Cleanse skin 2) Clear up active acne and blackheads 3) Pore-minimizing visually 4) Reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (anti-aging benefits) 5) Calm the look of skin 6) Anti-oxidant benefits 7) Suitable for normal, oily, combination skin type	1) Prevent breakouts 2)Tighten appearance of pores 3) Mattify skin 4) Soothe redness 5) Gentle and non-irritating daily alternative to medicated acne treatment 6) Suitable for ALL skin types	1) Clear up existing pimples 2) Prevent further skin trouble 3) Helps eliminate blackheads 4) Unclogs pores 5) Dissolves deep down oil 6) Sebum control care 7) Mild exfoliator 8) Face makeup remover 9) Suitable for oily, acne-prone

Table 1. These claims are gathered from the above brand's official website respectively/Sephora/Hermo shopping website (Not my personal opinion/made up)

Generally they’re all both physical (embossed/textured-sided pad) and chemical (AHA and BHA) exfoliative toners which claimed to help with existing acne/acne-prone skin.

*Those highlighted in RED are the ones I’m either unsure of/completely disagree.

Packaging:

To be honest, I’ve nothing to complain about either of the packaging since they’re all made up of plastic (travel-friendly) and I’m not expecting them to be fancy/attractive. The ONLY complaint is the AMOUNT of pads provided. Cosrx (70 pads) has 10 pads more in the jar compared to Peter Thomas Roth and First Aid Beauty which provide only 60 pads each. I know 10 pads more doesn’t seems like a big deal but the latter two cost at least twice the price of Cosrx. So, it is a BIG DEAL! XD

Pad’s texture:

To no doubt, all three brands came out with I would say almost very identical double-sided sheet pads as seen in picture. One embossed/textured side (almost like honeycomb-shaped) used as step 1 for exfoliation/unclogging pores. The other side is a smooth surface used as step 2 to toned and moisturized the skin.

The very slight difference I can notice is that Peter Thomas Roth cotton pads are not so densely packed and tend to wear off slightly easier which may cause over-exfoliation/irritation to the skin. First Aid Beauty and Cosrx seems quite similar in terms of the quality of the cotton pads.

Another slight difference would be “Are the cotton pads fully-soaked with toners?” My answer would be Cosrx > First Aid Beauty > Peter Thomas Roth. But has it become a concern? NOT at all.

Do all the pads get the job (as in Exfoliation & Toner) done? I would say YES to ALL.

Ingredients Dissect:

Peter Thomas Roth	First Aid Beauty	Cosrx
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Salicylic Acid 2% INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Alcohol Denat., Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Amyl Cinnamal, Arginine, Benzoic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Fragrance/Parfum, Geraniol, Glycolic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Isobutylparaben, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Triethanolamine, Water/Aqua/Eau	Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water , Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Salicylic Acid, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Benzoic Acid	Salix Alba(Willow) Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine Salicylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate,Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil,Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil , Ethyl Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide

First of all, I’m very thankful to all three brands for formulating these products without parabens, sulfates and phthalates. But there are few things I’d like to bring to your concern individually on each product, listed below:

Peter Thomas Roth potent ingredients such as maximum strength 2% salicylic acid (highest concentration among all three) and 10% glycolic acid seems very promising in terms of keeping up with its claims. BUT…. disappointment due to the high content of alcohol which I personally think might not be suitable for those with severe active on-going acne. This is because high level of alcohols is likely to disrupt the skin barrier, followed by weaken skin and hence promoting a more acne-prone situation. According to Paula’s Choice Skincare’s Ingredient Dictionary, denatured alcohol listed as fifth ingredient or higher is considerable risk for sensitising skin which in this product is the first ingredient. I appreciate that PTR tried adding in ingredients such as Arginine, Allantoin, Aloe Vera and Chamomile Extract to calm/soothe the skin and also combat the high concentration of acids BUT acids are not the main cause for skin irritation here! ALCOHOL is! Also it’s formulated with fragrance and a very strong peach scent is present upon/after application which is completely unnecessary.

First Aid Beauty is indeed the smartest to play safe so that it stays true to its brand’s motto of “safe for even the most sensitive skin”. Why do I say so? Because salicylic acid is so much lower in the list which I truly believe is in a very low concentration, reducing risk of skin irritation. In the Sephora’s website, the brand stated “A set of non-medicated pads formulated for oily and acne-prone skin types to help prevent breakouts and control excess oil.” which is a very safe way of marketing unlike Peter Thomas Roth. Ingredients are mainly focusing on natural ways of targeting skin troubles such as Witch Hazel (natural astringent), Tea Tree Oil (reduce irritation) and Licorice Roots (Antioxidant). It really caught me speechless! XD

Cosrx right off the bat with the simplest, shortest ingredient list. The main active ingredient is 1% Betaine salicylate derived from plants, similar to cholesterol which occurs naturally in skin, making it a good moisturizing, skin soothing ingredient but at the same time mildly exfoliates skin. pH level is also desirably at 4.0-5.0 which suits our slightly acidic skin. Using Willow Bark water as the main medium in replacement of just pure water is simply impressive for the price you pay for.  

Irritability:

Peter Thomas Roth always leave my skin irritated, obvious redness which lasted quite awhile after application. And I would blame it solely on alcohol because I’m simply allergic to it.Refer to the ingredients section for details.

First Aid Beauty seems to cause me slightly more skin irritation to my skin, probably due to lack of moisturizing ingredients but seriously cause no harm.

Cosrx simply amazing! I’m loss for words! It gets the exfoliation work done and at the same time moisturized and hydrates my skin which doesn’t always coalesce in an acne-marketed product.

Overall review:

Reviewing Properties	P. Thomas Roth	First Aid Beauty	Cosrx
1) Exfoliation	STRONG *Over-exfoliation is never a good thing though	ABOVE MILD *Suitable for daily use without use of other acids	MILD *Suitable for daily use and all skin types
2) Purifying	SAME	SAME	SAME
3) Pore-minimizing	Visually Temporarily	Visually Temporarily	Visually Temporarily
4) Breakout Prevention	NO *Ingredients cause skin irritation leading to more skin troubles	YES	YES
5) Oil-controlling	NONE	NONE	SLIGHTLY *Most likely due to higher moisturizing/ hydrating properties
6) Toning/Moisturizing	LITTLE	SLIGHTLY MORE	MOST

Repurchase:

Peter Thomas Roth (RM167)	First Aid Beauty (RM144)	Cosrx (RM74.20)
NEVER Sadly allergic to alcohol and I do believe it’s in a very high concentration. Also NOT recommending to anyone!	MAYBE/UNLIKELY An overall decent product but not necessarily worth the price point. Recommend only to acne-prone without severe on-going acne.	DEFINITELY Very mild and gentle product for daily use. Very reasonably priced too! Recommend to EVERYONE!

Please excuse me for the lack of pictures as I was busy moving house and those were empties so I had to throw them away already. XD

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Review

This bitch is right off the bat AMAZING! (I can’t wait till the end of this review!) XD It’s that AWESOME!! LOL

To be honest, I was really late with this product and I regretted a lot. I’ve been eyeing on this product even before it was launch but didn’t have enough to buy it. (It’s quite the higher end price: USD45) But when I decided to buy it, Shiseido decided to launch their first cushion, Synchro Skin Glow Cushion Compact from the same ‘Synchro Skin’ series and of course I’m a sucker for cushion foundation. So I went for the cushion first which is a slightly dewy version and instantly felt in love with it. And that’s when I went back and got the Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation which is a matte version. Later on, Shiseido launched Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Fluid Foundation which I’ve tried using sample pack but didn’t really liked it.

To be honest, I'm very impressed with the amount of shades this brand has come out with despite being marketed as a Japanese brand which is almost always only catering for fair to medium skin tone. Also, it's very smart in categorizing the shades in Rose (Pink undertone), Neutral (Yellow undertone), Golden (Peachy undertone) for the consumer's convenience in selecting their perfect shade. However, I'm also disappointed by the fact that Malaysia only carries shades up to number 3 in each categories. Not all Malaysians are fair to medium skin tone! We do have people with tan skin too!

   

Packaging:

First impression: Heavy and ‘expensive-looking’ packaging! XD

It comes with a black gradient cap and a transparent frosted matte glass bottle which you can easily view the colour of your foundation. It also has a pump which is a PLUS point for hygiene purpose. Also, the pump outlet almost never caught on to any leftover product! (You know what I mean! Sometimes pump foundation dispenses pieces of “foundation clots” before the truly usable liquid foundation) but NEVER with this pump!   

My only complaint is the cap which seems impossible to adhere tightly to the bottle! That’s why I never travel with this foundation because I’m so worried if the cap loosen and cause a foundation mess in my suitcase.

Claims:

It stays to the claim quite perfectly EXCEPT a few in RED

        1)      Coverage: Medium / Buildable (YES)

        2)      Finish: Semi-matte, Natural (YES)

        3)      Skin Type: All skin types (Might be slightly drying for DRY skin)

        4)      Maintains clarity and prevents creasing, fading, and shine all day (YES)

        5)      Ultra-smooth, weightless sensation (YES)

        6)      Mother of Thyme Extract helps prevent skin damage caused by oxidation, and Hypericum      Perforatum Extract helps prevent skin roughness (YES for BOTH!)

        7)      Non-comedogenic (YES at least on my skin)

Overall, SUPER-DUPER satisfied with the performance based on the claims.

Ingredients:

I’m generally quite satisfied with the ingredients list. It’s oil-free and paraben-free.

Active ingredients are Octinoxate 2.9% (chemical sunscreen which is NOT recommended for sensitive skin type) and Titanium Dioxide 2.4%. (Physical sunscreen)

Key ingredients from this Synchro series includes:  Mother of Thyme Extract (helps prevent skin damage caused by oxidation), and St John’s Wart Extract (helps prevent skin roughness).

Possible Irritants:

SD Alcohol 40B, Tocopherol, Fragrance*

Comedogenic:

Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Talc*

*This foundation contains fragrance (very light floral scent) and talc (known to settle in pores/fine lines)! Seriously not a fan of these.

Are the ingredients skin-friendly? I would say yes since I didn’t experience any break out or skin irritation/rashes. But if you have sensitive skin then think twice since it contains chemical sunscreen, Octinoxate.

Texture:

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation in Shade: Neutral 3

As claimed, very fresh, oil-free, fluid-like formula. Runs very watery! Not sticky at all and sets reasonably fast on the skin! Glides on smoothly with the puff and never appear streaky despite being a matte finish. You can still dot it all over the face before blending it because it doesn’t sink into the skin immediately. I’ve tried applying it with a Flat Kabuki brush but not the best way to apply though because it appears slightly streaky and took away a bit of the coverage.

Coverage

Overall coverage is medium and buildable up to medium-to-full coverage.

Is it possible to build up to full flawless finish? I’ve tried putting on 2 full layers and it still looks kind of slightly-above-medium but not full coverage. Also, it sets quite a matte finish so I wouldn’t recommend layering too much as it might look slightly cakey.

I’ve break down a few concerns below where coverage is needed and how much can this foundation cover:

1)      Acne: 65%

2)      Redness: 70%

3)      Hyperpigmentation: 80% (Darker acne scars)

4)      Texture skin: Refine by 80%

5)      Pores: 85%

Overall coverage is very satisfying despite being super lightweight! My only complaint is that it doesn’t quite cover up the redness at the corner of my nose. But still I’m amazed.

Finishing:

The finishing is as claimed to be Semi-Matte (Not satin though) finish. However, it’s still very skin-like as it gives out a tint of glow as if you just finish your skincare routine. I’m extremely impressed with the formula to be honest. It sets down to a powdery finish and does not transfer easily. Your skin will feel as if a newborn’s butt upon touch!

*With that being said, I personally think this foundation might not suit DRY skin.

Longevity (Day Diary)

Day Tested: 30 August 2017 (Wednesday)

Weather: Extremely hot and sunny (Highest at 36°C) + No Air-conditioner   

Activity: Doing household chores indoor & Exercise outdoor (Full-on sweat mode)

Overall, very satisfied with its longevity considering I’m testing on harsh weather and also vigorous activities. Beside the timeline, I’ve also included a few concerns regarding the longevity below (I’ve Oily Acne-prone skin):

1)      Oil control	Fresh &matte for 7 hours First blot needed at 9 hours (I blotted because I was sweating. Not because of the greasiness) 10-12 hours: Blotting needed depending on weather/activity
2)      Caking Up	Slightest on chin area (after 10 hours)
3)      Dry Patches	NONE (But likely for DRY skin)
4)      Settling into pores/fine lines	YES (after 9 hours) Smile lines slightly (Not obvious) Pores too (As shown in picture) *Most likely because it contains Talc
5)      Colour Change/Oxidised	NONE at all
6)      Dryness/skin feel tight	Skin feels dry after 9 hours

*I must admit that I push this foundation to its limits hence the results. Otherwise, as an office/indoor/inactive person, this foundation works perfectly!

Recommendation:

Only for combination to oily skin type since this formula is oil-free and drying matte finish. Highly recommended for those searching for natural-looking finish but still wants MATTE-ness for oil-control. But you might want to think twice if you have large pores like me. I personally don’t mind the foundation settling into my pores after a good 9 hours and I only had it on for 12 hours because of the wear test.

In Conclusion:

My oily skin LOVES this bitch to bits! <3 <3

Is this for dry skin?
NEVER! But there’s always Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Fluid Foundation which is in the same line! 

Is it good for a daily wear? 
Definitely YES! Wear time definitely exceeds 9/10 hours without fail.

Pros:

a) Great mattifying/oil-control foundation (Up to almost 9 hours)

b) Natural, skin-like finish for daily wear 

c) Oil-free

d) Non-comedogenic

e) Satisfying medium coverage

Cons:

a) Settling into lines and pores

b) Contains alcohol and fragrance

c) Not for sensitive skin (Octinoxate and alcohol) and dry skin

d) Skin feeling dry/tight after 9 hours wear
e) Very limited shades available in Malaysia (Not catered for dark skintone)

Diorskin Forever Perfect Cushion SPF35 PA+++ Review

I bought this cushion a month after I fell in love with the Diorskin Forever Foundation SPF35 PA+++ (If you’re interested in the review, click here). I thought it would be great if the liquid foundation comes in a compact and more travel-friendly packaging, CUSHION! And they really did! I was simply thrilled by the fact that I can fasten my morning make-up routine, touch up anytime/anywhere and be able to travel with it.

I’ve been trying this cushion for more than 4 months on and off. Also, I’ve used this cushion daily for the past 1 week. So I guess it’s time to do a full in-depth review to serve some justice for the brand or for my money! LOL XD

Packaging:

Diorskin Forever Perfect Cushion SPF35 PA+++ at Taiping Lake Garden (Malaysia)

Hmm…. The packaging for this cushion is not for every cushion’s lover LOL. The Diorskin Forever Perfecting Cushion has the simplest, most classic Dior look to it.  At least to me, the cushion’s packaging is the BOMB! Even though it’s made of plastic but it looks expensive and classy! It has the Diorskin Forever series’ dark blue as the base colour and the word ‘DIOR’ imprinted in silver. The applicator puff included feels very dense, thicker and bouncy (Pros and Cons). It’s also very gentle on the skin. The puff grabs product evenly from the cushion but I somehow felt that it soaks up too much product and dispenses very little on the skin. (I understand it’s never easy to make a good cushion’s puff)  

Claims:

It stays to the claim quite perfectly EXCEPT a few in RED

1) 16 hours wear (Slightly less than 9 hours)

2) Luminous matte finish

3) Fresh, fluid texture

4) Weightless

5) "Air Cushion" technology (retains the quality of its pigments and the benefits of its skincare ingredients each time it is opened)

6) "Colour-Lock" technology/colour doesn’t change (Half a shade darker BUT not obvious)

7) Refine texture day after day (“Poreless Effect” Skincare Essence)

Overall, satisfied with the performance based on the claims.

Ingredients:

I’m quite surprised that the formula/ingredients in this cushion is slightly different from the liquid foundation. But with less irritants and comedogenic agent which is a good thing!

Possible Irritants:

Petrolatum, PEG-100 Stearate, Yellow 5

Comedogenic:

Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol

Are the ingredients skin-friendly? Not so. But it doesn’t cause me any obvious break out. Just be aware if you’re allergic to any listed above. So far, I’ve not heard of any online reviews complaining about severe break out after use.

Texture:

As claimed, very fresh, fluid-like base product. Not sticky at all and sets quickly on the skin! (Quicker than the Liquid Foundation version) Glides on smoothly with the puff and never appear streaky despite being a matte finish. I’ve tried applying it with a Flat Kabuki brush but not the best way to apply though because it took away a lot of the coverage.

Tips: Apply using the puff provided and apply part by part!

Coverage:

Overall coverage is medium and buildable up to medium-to-full coverage.

Is it possible to build up to full flawless finish? I don’t think so! It’s obviously more sheer compared to the liquid foundation formula and it’s as expected of a cushion compact. This is definitely a very daily type of foundation. So NO high expectation of coverage from it.

I’ve break down a few concerns below where coverage is needed and how much can this foundation cover:

1)      Acne: 60%

2)      Redness: 80%

3)      Hyperpigmentation: 60% (Darker acne scars)

4)      Texture skin: Refine by 60%

5)      Pores: 70%

Shade: 030 (Medium Beige)

Finishing

The finishing is as claimed to be Luminous Matte (Not satin though) finish even after it is let to set on its own! (But I do feel that it’s more matte and more luminous than liquid formula) I’m extremely impressed with the formula to be honest. It does leave the skin slightly tacky even after set but does not appear slippery. (Good for Dry skin) It doesn’t transfer as much as liquid foundation formula when touched so skipping setting powder is possible!

Longevity (Day Diary):

Day Tested: 23 August 2017 (Wednesday)

Weather: Sunny (34°C) and rainy in the afternoon

Activity: Doing household chores indoor & outdoor (Full-on sweat mode)

Overall, very satisfied with its longevity considering it a cushion product. Beside the timeline, I’ve 

also included a few concerns regarding the longevity below (I’ve Oily Acne-prone skin):

1)      Oil control	Fresh &matte for 5 hours First blot needed at 6 hours 7-12 hours: Blotting needed depending on weather/activity
2)      Caking Up	YES especially upper lip and chin area (after 8 hours) Cake up at the corner of the nose (after 8 hours)
3)      Dry Patches	NONE
4)      Settling into pores/fine lines	NONE
5)      Colour Change/Oxidised	Colour remains same for 8 hours 8-12 hours: Become half a shade darker

Recommendation:

All skin types even acne-prone. Great for oily skin type. Not so for super dry skin since it's more matte and might dry out the skin throughout the day. 

Slightly sceptical about the ingredients but so far no new-forming acne/breakout. 

Highly recommended for those searching for natural-looking finish but still wants MATTE-ness for oil-control. 

In Conclusion:

An all-rounder cushion for oily skin which I'm extremely amazed.

But is it a good alternative to the Diorskin Forever Foundation SPF35 PA+++ (liquid foundation formula)?
Somehow felt it's better considering greater oil-control property! Only downside is the caking up on my T-zone area. 

Is it a good cushion for touch-up?
NEVER! Most likely because it has a matte finish and sets too quickly. Touch up will looks slightly cakey and dry.

Is it good for a daily wear? 
Definitely YES! But limited wear time. (about right for working hours of 8 hours)

Pros:

a) Pretty Classic Dior Packaging 

b) Nice and more luminous & more matte finish 

c) Natural medium coverage for daily use

d) Oil-control: Up to almost 6 hours (AMAZING!)

Cons:

a) Caking up on T-zone (after 8 hours)

b) Coverage isn't enough for textured, acneic, hyperpigmented skin

c) Strong fragrance (which might affect some individuals)