Last year, sometime around October, I took a aspect at MŪN (pronounced "moon"), in addition to thought it would live overnice to seek it.
Then, I approximate it was inwards November, I genuinely commented somewhere that I was thinking of getting the MŪN Anarose toner, because I dearest roses. And upwards until then, all rose products I had tried were, well... non really rosy.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few days afterward I had an electronic mail from MŪN waiting for me inwards my mailbox, offering to ship me a laid of their products to bear witness in addition to to review. Whoa! Serendipidipidipity. Or mayhap a really active social media presence?
I had already told the homo to acquire me the toner for Christmas. I speedily told him to acquire me something else instead (he commented amongst why is it something something for women something something thus difficult to construct upwards their minds, something something). And in addition to thus I replied to MŪN that I'd live delighted to convey their offer.
See, I don't ordinarily convey sponsored products. Unless they are from cool Taiwanese brands, or from brands that I've been going to seek anyway.
With MŪN, I decided it was the universe's means of telling me that MŪN in addition to I were meant to be.
"Wait a minute..." I listen yous say, "isn't MŪN an American brand? Why are yous blogging virtually it?"
Yes, MŪN is a U.S. based fellowship in addition to they are really clear in addition to upfront virtually it (unlike Tatcha). But, in that location is a connector to Asia.
The founder of MŪN is Munemi Imai, a Japanese makeup creative someone based inwards New York City.
Ms. Imai doesn't know it, but means dorsum when, inwards a far distant land, our paths genuinely crossed on i occasion. I didn't realize it either until I started reading virtually MŪN in addition to had my "whoa! I squall back this woman!" moment. I used to operate inwards the fashion in addition to beauty business, too, simply inwards a to a greater extent than behind-the-scenes capacity.
Here yous tin give the sack read to a greater extent than virtually MŪN in addition to its founders - link.
Now, I promise yous tin give the sack sympathise why I was thus excited to seek MŪN.
It took some fourth dimension for the MŪN goodies to acquire to me. First, I was inwards Red People's Republic of China in addition to North Korea, in addition to thus I was sick, in addition to and thus operate hitting me total strength inwards the face. And in addition to thus my beautiful MŪN goodies arrived here, simply when I desperately needed something to cheer me upwards in addition to brighten my day. Serendipidipidipity.
But offset things first.
What is MŪN?
It's a minimalist, natural skincare construct that is based on the crude from the seeds of the prickly pear cactus a.k.a. Opuntia ficus-indica.
Opuntia crude had its 2d of glory inwards the beauty the world inwards 2015. Everyone in addition to their woman raise were talking virtually it then. Yes, it is indeed a really beneficial cosmetic ingredient.
In general, cheers to their skincare properties, Opuntia-based ingredients are really pop inwards Asian cosmetics. You tin give the sack notice them inwards a huge diversity of products, from human face upwards washes to sunscreens.
So, is Opuntia practiced for your skin? Yes, it is. It is known for its peel repairing in addition to anti-aging benefits. In folk medicine, Opuntia was used for injure healing in addition to scientific studies (conducted, amidst other places, inwards Italy) confirmed these healing properties.
So, is Opuntia a novel ingredient? It's not. It's been around for a really long time.
Back to MŪN.
What does MŪN hateful past times minimalist?
This:
All fans of multi-step "Asian" skincare routines must live inwards total daze now. Such words? Coming from a Japanese woman? How is this possible? The the world is going to end!!!
Actually, I am non surprised. Japan, dissimilar Korea, is the working capital missive of the alphabet of all-in-one products. Drugstores hither are total of them. And I similar quite a few of them, too.
When MŪN said "minimalist", they weren't joking. The entire routine, from start to finish, consists of simply 3 steps. Three.
There is simply i cleanser - MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser - link.
There is simply i toner - MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner - link.
There is simply i serum - MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum - link.
There is also a trunk toning serum in addition to argan oil, but I didn't seek those.
I received this Daily Face Essentials set:
So, let's acquire started, shall we?
This is what my laid looked like:
I brutal inwards dearest amongst the tagline:
Your #munglow starts from inside (but our products assist too).
I also loved the minimalistic bundle blueprint in addition to the dark drinking glass bottles - simple, clean, sleek notwithstanding sturdy at the same time.
And these are the official descriptions. Yes, the "Pure Beauty Ritual" phrasing makes me cringe, too.
I cleared my skincare schedule in addition to started testing.
Here is my MŪN story.
MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser - 100 ml for US$60.00
I did non destination the bottle.
In theory this cleanser sounds great. It's non a offset cleanser. It's non a 2d cleanser. It's the alone cleanser.
As someone who religiously double cleanses (I credit double cleansing amongst keeping my breakout-prone peel zit free) in addition to refrains from scrubbing, rubbing in addition to using washcloths, I knew this cleanser would live difficult to take.
And it was.
The claims are genuinely impressive. According to MŪN website - MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser unclogs pores, removes waterproof makeup, is non stripping, detoxifying, pH balanced.
Was it?
Well...
It pains me to state that, but no. It wasn't.
I've gone through literally hundreds of cleansers inwards my 46 years. I know a practiced cleanser when I run into one. Sadly, this wasn't i of them.
It was a thick in addition to viscid mess that cleansed OK, but was impossible to rinse. Let me repeat it. Impossible. To. Rinse.
I tried it amongst the included washcloth. I followed the directions. I tried it using my hands only. I ignored the directions in addition to improvised. And nothing. Sticky oily mess it was. And viscid oily mess it stayed.
In desperation I started mixing it amongst my trusty Shu Uemura Ultime8 Cleansing Oil.
And that did the trick. MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser became manageable. But equally anyone who uses Shu Uemura cleansing oils tin give the sack tell you, these are non oils that yous desire to waste materials past times mixing them amongst other unruly cleansers. Don't know virtually you, but I can't afford to literally pour coin downwards the drain.
I switched from Shu to my economic scheme size bottle of cleansing crude that I utilization inwards the shower (what? waterproof sunscreen is non going to withdraw itself from my cervix in addition to arms) in addition to this is the alone means that I could get MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser to work.
With this method, MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser became a offset cleanser in addition to needed to live followed upwards amongst a 2d cleanser. That variety of defeated the role of a minimalist skincare routine, didn't it?
MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser ingredients:
Despite beautiful claims in addition to ingredients, I am non a fan of this cleanser.
This is Japan. There are hundreds of amend cleansers (including those amongst natural ingredients) for a fraction of the price.
The website claims that MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser has a pH gain of 4.7 to 5.2.
As my electronic pH meter is out of committee for the fourth dimension being, I used strips to verify this info.
My MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser shows to live definitely closer to pH vi than betwixt iv in addition to 5.
Another affair that I wasn't especially happy virtually was the ticker design. The ticker stopper (cap?) was awkward to use.
As I wasn't going to go amongst this big bottle of cleanser, I tossed the stopped in addition to hoped for the best.
Unfortunately, the same ticker blueprint is used for the serum bottle. I wanted to go amongst the serum. But that damn cap / stopper drove me bananas.
I thought I was beingness unfair inwards my assessment, thus I gave the relaxation of the bottle to Ms Y, thus she could bear witness it too. Ms Y usually double cleanses using a elementary Muji cleansing crude in addition to Fancl washing powder.
Her persuasion of MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser?
"Life is also brusk for shitty cleansers."
Later, when I told her how much this cleanser costs, she replied, "Go acquire your caput examined."
And that is the destination of my adventure with MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser. I wanted to dearest it thus badly, but I simply couldn't. We were non meant to live together.
MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner - 100 ml for US$65.00
I finished the bottle.
Let me tell yous this.
I am attempting to house an society for non i bottle of this stuff, but TWO. At once. Just to stock up.
I tried to do it yesterday, but it was sold out.
Today it's dorsum inwards stock, but I simply realized that my credit carte is expired in addition to I haven't gotten a novel i inwards the postal service notwithstanding (oops! I promise everything is ok, otherwise I'm screwed!) As presently equally I tin give the sack sort it out, I volition consummate this order.
Yes, I am repurchasing a sponsored / PR sample product. To utilization AND to stock up.
That is pretty much all yous ask to know about MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner, because it hardly ever happens inwards my case. I am picky, blunt, in addition to nearly impossible to please.
MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner is non 100% perfect. But practiced plenty for me to overlook the gasp-inducing price.
So, let's convey a closer look, shall we?
If yous are expecting a Japanese means hydrating toner, yous volition live disappointed. MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner is non a Japanese hydrating toner. It's a western toner designed for western audiences. Whatever hydration is in that location is minimal when compared to Asian toners.
So, what's thus bully virtually it?
I guide hold rosacea. Finding a simple, no fuss toner that would operate amongst my peel AND calm the redness is nearly damn impossible. MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner does it. It soothes my skin, it keeps it glowing, it controls the rosacea demon, it industrial plant amongst all other skincare I threw on overstep of it.
Even though it doesn't incorporate whatever ferments (or galactic mices*, equally nosotros telephone telephone them hither for fun), the destination outcome is what I expected from SK-II Facial Treatment Essence but never got. Except SKI-II smells similar pee, and MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner smells like, well... roses dnd something really strange.
So yes, MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner smells similar roses (kind of), is cheaper than SK-II, industrial plant similar a dream (I'm willing to forgive that it's non hydrating enough), in addition to performs miracles on rosacea skin. Get on my human face upwards already!
Oh yes, what does the construct state virtually it?
MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner is supposed to be:
- calming (yes!),
- balancing (yes!),
- soothing (yes!),
- hydrating (not really),
- pH from 4.5 to five (no idea, I didn't cheque myself).
MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner ingredients:
As yous tin give the sack see, this is a stellar list, in addition to equally much equally I tend to side-eye natural products in addition to their claims, MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner is the existent deal.
Is in that location anything that I didn't similar virtually it?
Apart from beingness hydrating alone inwards the name, I wasn't happy amongst the spray overstep nozzle.
It failed to dispense plenty liquid in addition to after a brace of weeks died completely. This is unacceptable inwards such an expensive product. I ended upwards unscrewing the overstep in addition to removing the nozzle, in addition to taking my chances amongst a cotton fiber foursquare straight from the bottle.
The official directions are such:
I dearest how MŪN understands that people mix in addition to gibe their skincare in addition to doesn't subscribe to the myth that thus many brands perpetuate - that yous ask to utilization the entire laid to acquire the best results.
What virtually the toner itself?
It looks similar this:
Conclusion:
MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner is an fantabulous production in addition to powerfulness live an interesting choice for people sensitive to ferments, but who desire that ferment-induced offset handling essence glow.
MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner and I are definitely meant to be.
And final but non to the lowest degree - MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum - xx ml for US$95.00
I finished the bottle.
That toll definitely makes yous aspect twice. But in addition to thus again, compared to other natural high-end skincare products, it's genuinely i of the to a greater extent than affordable options.
Matt from Dirty Boys Get Clean on Instagram loves this serum. He said, quote, "First impression is : Aknari & I are totally dating". And I totally understand. MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum is a really interesting serum.
I wouldn't telephone telephone it serum, though. It's a beauty oil. Here, convey a aspect at the ingredients.
MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum ingredients:
Yes, this is non a typo. There are genuinely simply 3 of them: Prickly Pear Seed Oil, Argan Oil in addition to Rose Flower Oil.
That is lovely. What is non lovely, in addition to allow me acquire it out of the means correct now, is the smell. Maybe it's simply my nose, maybe I got a funky bottle, but this aroma is simply odd.
I guide hold the same work amongst a few other crude serums. They tend to guide hold these weird "natural" scents.
MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum smells similar roses in addition to rancid yak butter. The aroma takes me dorsum to Kingdom of Bhutan (that's where I learned how yak butter smells.)
Have yous ever drunkard Bhutanese (Tibetan) tea amongst tabular array salt in addition to yak butter? Now imagine drinking this tea side past times side to a bunch of fresh roses in addition to yous guide hold a really unopen approximation of what MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum smells like.
If yous tin give the sack acquire past times its really "organic" fragrance, then MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum turns out to live a really efficient in addition to effective crude serum.
I used it alone at nighttime in addition to mixed in addition to matched amongst other skincare products. It worked equally effectively equally pure squalane crude (HABA) or rice crude (Kuramoto Bijin).
The fellowship claims that MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum:
- smoothes wrinkles (yes, it kinda did)
- repairs Sun harm (can't genuinely confirm or deny)
- lightens dark spots (not equally effectively equally Kuramoto Bijin sake serum)
- soothes inflammation (yes, it does!)
- brightens nether oculus circles (I think it's an optical illusion due to the fact that the peel appears plump in addition to nicely moisturized amongst this serum)
- makes peel soft in addition to radiant (yes in addition to yes),
- has a "heavenly" scent (hell no!)
MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum is indeed really lightweight in addition to cosmetically elegant. Too many crude serums experience heavy in addition to greasy in addition to tacky. This i doesn't.
I'm genuinely on the ground amongst this serum.
On i hand, the results are really practiced in addition to it is soothing in addition to calming for my rosacea skin. On the other mitt the toll in addition to the aroma bother me.
I'd similar to seek it again, but it's non a necessity for me the means that MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner is.
If I get MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum again, I think I'll seek to mix it amongst straight upwards rose crude to consider if I tin give the sack kill the scent of yak butter.
As it is now, MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum is non a "must have" for me. Just a "nice have" if given a chance.
The Daily Face Essentials laid also included an Ikeuchi Organic washcloth.
I genuinely guide hold a laid of Organic5 Ikeuchi bathroom towels (white in addition to purple), thus I am familiar amongst the brand. I used my white Ikeuchi bathroom towel equally the background inwards the photograph of Akwi Purifying Cleanser in addition to the cleansing crude before inwards this weblog entry. I dearest these towels! They are soft in addition to luxurious in addition to construct me experience similar a princess. So the washcloth was a overnice addition.
This is the destination of my MŪN story.
Caroline Hirons reviewed the MŪN Ayour Body Toning Serum last twelvemonth in addition to she liked it a lot.
As yous tin give the sack see, I genuinely like MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner.
About MŪN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum I similar everything except the aroma in addition to price.
And I don't like MŪN Akwi Purifying Cleanser at all.
You tin give the sack purchase these products straight from MŪN Skin hither - link.
As ever amongst my reviews, fifty-fifty though the products were provided equally PR samples, it had null outcome on my persuasion of them. And the fact that I am repurchasing MŪN Anarose Hydrating Rose Toner speaks for itself.
I would similar to give cheers the squad at MŪN for giving me the chance to bear witness in addition to review these products.
You tin give the sack follow MŪN on Instagram hither - link and on Twitter hither - link.
Have an amazing week, everyone!
Until side past times side time!
*) galactomyces ferment filtrate a.k.a. galactic mices
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