[Review] 9wishes Rice Powder Polish Scrub

Price: $19.98 on Amazon or $17.00 on BBCosmetic.com

(Use affiliated coupon: C10T190S3 for 8% off) 
Verdict: 10/10
Repurchase: Yes

Price & Shop

I received this 9wishes Rice Powder Polish Scrub from  BBCosmetic in exchange for an honest review a while back but all thoughts are my own, as always. ^^ It's $19.98 on Amazon as sold via 9wishes directly or $17.00 on BBCosmetic.com with an additional 8% off if you use my affiliated code: C10T190S3  applied during checkout.

9Wishes Contemporary Beauty is a new skincare and cosmetic brand in Korea that specializes in producing high quality products for reasonable prices. There hasn't been much talk of the product outside of Korea. They carry a lot of products that's aimed for dealing with specific skincare steps/problems. 

Packaging

Packaging for this product is fairly simple. It comes in an unassuming white box with the 9wishes logo printed on the top left corner of the box. The tube itself is also white and once that's opened up, I saw that they've included a whole lot of seals under the cap. XD The initial white seal keeps the product from getting wet while the second seal was a waterpoof layer that absorbs whatever liquid does form and then keeps it from dripping into the product. Past that layer is another plastic layer to protect the product. This 9wishs Rice Powder Polish Scrub comes complete with a spatula to scoop the product out with, which I've been finding really helpful. :)

I like the packaging of the product. I've been taking a scoop of this outside the bathroom prior to showers with me, and then use the single scoop while I wait for the conditioner in my hair to do it's thing. ^^ 

Ingredients

Ingredients include Canola Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostea rate, Microcrystalline Wax, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Water, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Origanum Vulgare Lead Extract, Protulaca Olieracea Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extrac,t Portulaca Oleracea extract, Gluatmic acid, Serine, Aspartic acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Istidine, Methionine, Cysterine, and Fragrance. 

The only two ingredients ranging higher than 1 on cosdna were the fragrance and butylene glycol so it's safe to say that this product is good for sensitive skin as well (unless you're allergic to some of the oils). My friend's mom is allergic to nuts so the macadamia seed oil in the product might actually be triggering for her. :(

The main ingredient in the product is defintiely the micro-ground rice powder.  It is infused with rice bran water. It's a gentle exfoliating cleanser that aims to release dead surface skin cells. The rice enzyme in the scrub is able to increase natural absorption of the skin. It also decreases the chances of adversely affecting the skin since the fermentaion process has neutralized it's toxicity. 

The various Amino Acids (Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, ect) in skincare has been proven to have significant effects on the skin, ranging from antioxidation, boosting UV protection and promotion of tissue repair, to anti-aging, toning and smoothing skin.

The Macademia Seed Oil adds as an emollient (an occlusive). Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory omega 6 work as a pro-inflammatory. According to thenakedchemist.com, which makes macademia oil great for those who suffer from sensitive skin conditions.

9 ingredients that you wouldn't be able to find in the scrub are alcohol, paraben, artificial colorant, sulphate, synthetic perfume, mineral oil, BHT, Formaldehyde, and triclosan, which is nice. ^^

Intructions & Texture

Instructions says to massage the scrub gently onto moist skin for 2-3 minutes and this can be used 2-3 times a week. It can also be used on the body for exfoliating and moiturizing. I struggled not to use this daily cause my skin is fantastic afterwards. The scrub, once added with water, is actually creates a surprising white scrub that feels exactly like it says - rice powder. I only really need a spatula of the scrub (about a coin-sized amount) for my entire face, which isn't much at all so this will likely last a long time. 

The texture is soft but slightly grainy. This is soft enough that I can massage this on my skin and remove dead skin cells effectively. The fine, natural rice powder is supposed to clanse blackheads and impurities from the skin whilst keeping the skin hydrated and soft. The minerals, amino acids and other instructions in the product can also provide other benefits to the skin.

Performance

This 9wishes polish literally smoothens skin and makes my skin feels baby soft. Even my palms feels amazing and I just want to touch my cheeks forever~ There's also a slight brightening effect, as you can see in the before (left) and after (right) picture. The lighting is slightly off, which makes it a little hard to compare, but I do feel like everytime I use this mask, the red spots on my cheeks are smoothed and brightened somewhat. 

I really look forward to using the scrub in the mornings. It just leaves my skin so smooth, soft and clean, all without feeling too stripping or harsh. This actually softer than even the Skinfood masks that I've tried.

This 9wishes Rice Powder Polish is 3 times the price of the Skinfood masks I'm quite fond of. Initially, I didn't have high hopes from them since the skinfood masks are able to make my skin super soft and glowy and I didn't think this could do much else. When it comes with skinfood wash off masks, once I add another product on my skin, and the effect is gone. The softness effect from the 9wishes powder lasts after applying my skincare routine.

The tube is huge, with 80g of product. I think I'll get these instead of the skinfood masks once I'm finished since I do feel like I need more of the Skinfood product per wash and as I mentioned, that effect is temporary.

Price: $19.98 on Amazon or $17.00 on BBCosmetic.com

(Use affiliated coupon: C10T190S3 for 8% off) 
Verdict: 10/10
Repurchase: Yes

I also do quick, short reviews on my instagram so if you're up for it, do follow me here too! :D https://www.instagram.com/peachy_amy/
And Like my Facebook page? :D https://www.facebook.com/MalaysianBeautyHaul/

[Review] Queen Helene Mint Julep & Mud Pack Masque

Price: RM15.62

from iHerb.com (if your'e not a member, I'd love it if to use my iHerb Rewards Code: HJK634. I get a small percentage of your first purchase to use for my next purchase. :) )
Verdict: 9/10
Repurchase: Yes

Shipping: ~1 month to Malaysia

Shipping Fee: RM16

Samples: I think I got a free paper ruler out of this? ^^

Price & Shop 

I bought this back in April in a haul from iherb.com. The shipping fee was more than a little painful at the price of an additional mask. T.T RM15.62 for the mask pack and RM16 for shipping. Still, I've been looking around for Queen Helene masks since I first tried them in the States and they were the first mask I've ever used, so I do have a sweet spot for them. There is a weight limit of 1.8kg before it falls into another tier for shipping and shipping charges increases. 

In addition, it is practically impossible to find this locally so I didn't mind paying extra to have them shipped to me all the way from the states. I just checked and price has increased to RM18.63 due to currency exchange rates.

Texture

The texture of the mask is easily spreadable. I really like that it comes in a squeeze tube, which meant the parts that I didn't use is kept sealed and secure. In comparison, the elizavecca carbonated mask and Innisfree clay masks come in tubs. I use a scoop for those, but I always feel like I'm contaminating them somewhat. 

After 15 minutes, the mask dries firmly on the skin and have to be washed off with warm water. 

Ingredients and Directions

Mint Julep: Distilled water, kaolin, bentonite, glycerin, zinc oxide, propylene glycol, sulfur, chromium oxide greens, fragrance and methylparaben.

Mud Pack: Aqua (water), kaolin, bentonite, glycerin, zinc oxide, propylene glycol, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, citronellol, geraniol, linalool, fragrance (parfum), iron oxides (CI 77491).

Cleanse face and neck thoroughly. Apply masque generously and allow to dry for about 15 minutes. Leave on problem areas overnight, if desired.

I've never tried to leave this on problem areas, but I've read about people leaving this on as spot treatment both to bring a pimple up to head, or get it to go away. It could go either way from what I've heard, but I don't trust myself to not get this all over my pillows.

Performance

Queen Helene was my favorite mask to use before I've tried other pore masks. Still, between this and the Elizavecca bubble mask, I much prefer this one. The Mint mask and the mud pack were very similar in terms of performance, in my humble opinion. The only difference is the way the mask felt as it dried on my skin. The mint mask had a tingling, minty sensation that's quite pleasing and very refreshing.

They were both able to clear up the oil, gunk and dirt from my face, clearing my pores and soothing my pimples in the process. I leave this on for 15 - 20 minutes before washing them off with warm water. My skin feels super clean and refreshed after washing this off. I prefer the innisfree clay mask to this though, since my skin feels less stripped after using the Innisfree. This can be fairly stripping. (-1)

I would suggest those with dry skin avoid this altogether though, since I have oil yskin and this dries up my face completely. I'd imagine dry skin would just completely freak out.

I have a fair amount of this mask left even after using once or twice a week for four months (since April). Think more than 75% of the product is still left, which is great. I wouldn't need to repurchase this for a good while yet, but I think once I'm out, I'm going to continue repurchasing until it gets discontinued. It's a cheap, effective ingredient that does its job well. ^^

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Really cheap. The tub sells for RM16 on iherb. Even if you get just one plus shipping, that's RM32, which is still cheaper than most masks I can get my hands on here! 
• Cleans and refreshes. 
• Cleans pores and clears up oiliness, shrinking pores for a little while too. 
• Minty feel while it dries is a great bonus! ^^

Cons

• A little too stripping. (-1) 

Price: RM15.63 (I just checked and price has increased to RM18.63 due to currency exchange rates)
from iHerb.com (if your'e not a member, I'd love it if to use my iHerb Rewards Code: HJK634. I get a small percentage of your first purchase to use for my next purchase. :) )
Verdict: 9/10
Repurchase: Yes