Troiareuke Skincare Diary Week 4 *Update*

Hello all! I apologize for not updating in a while, but lately I've been having such a hectic life--I've been running on an average of 4 hours of sleep lately and some nights have even been only 2 hours. Obviously, all the stress and my hormones have not been kind to my skin... And please forgive me, I have not been able to take that many shots when I barely have time to eat and sleep.

But! This was a wonderful opportunity to perfectly see the prowess of Troiareuke's products!

Without further ado, here are the observations I've noted in my skin:

• The TOC toner (and possibly the rest of the ACSEN line) has been suppressing my pimples. It's really odd and interesting: I still see the beginnings of the pimples, you know, those ugly, tiny, red bumps that roar their heads out before becoming a full on pimple. They still pop up, yet all except 1 became an actual pimple! Now that is quite amazing! Normally, with this type of a schedule and my raging hormones I get lots of tiny pimples. But this time, not with Troiareuke, no sirree. 

• Now about that one and only large pimple that managed to combat its way past Troiareuke's fastidious army. The total lifespan of the pimple was a brief 4 days. Within 4 days of applying TOC toner on a pad to specially treat that spot, the pimple had completely disappeared and just left some pigmentation on my chin. The pigmentation then disappeared within 1.5 weeks of religiously applying the Recovery Cream to my chin. Talk about efficiency! I have never experienced a line of products that works that fast and effectively on my skin!

• Now for the best part... the main reason why I decided to plunge for Troiareuke's products: the ACSEN Recovery Cream. This Recovery Cream has bee performing some black magic on my pitted scars. It has now been 4 weeks and although my pitted scars are still there, they are recovering. And I can visibly see my skin started to grow up and out of the pitted scars. Some serious regeneration is going on within those scars. It freaked me out the first time I noticed this two weeks ago, in a frighteningly lovely way. I can bet that with continual usage of Troiareuke's line and the Recovery Cream, my pitted scars may be able to fully heal in a few months time. "A few months?!" you may say, but please remember this is without cosmetic surgery. That is really astonishing feat skincare can achieve and just a few months? I know full well many products out there that require a year or two to see effects. This is nothing, and it pleases me greatly that I can heal my pitted scars without having to go through any surgical procedure or some product with risky chemicals!

• My pores are still the same size, but they feel cleaner thanks to the Pore Control Mask. I suppose pore minimization can't be helped because it takes a very long time to notice a change in those. But my face does feel tighter each time I use the mask. Anti-aging ladies, take note of this! :)

Here's a picture of my skin before (week 1, above) and after (week 4, below): (You can clearly see the pitted scars are less obvious! Woohoo!) The lighting may be darker in the photo above, but they are pretty accurate renditions of how my skin looked in real life.

Please know that these are all of my true experiences with full honesty and no exaggeration. I know some people will always be doubtful of how much exaggeration is present in blog reviews. But please know everyone's skin is different and you may experience a different effect with any product I review. 

I will continue using the ACSEN line and updating everyone every few weeks on how my skin is doing. This is definitely not the end of my skincare diary! :)

Lately, the weather here has been really hectic. The weather can't seem to decide whether it wants to be hot or cold... which has made my skin doubly confused, resulting in it being quite dry and oily. Thankfully, my new little helpers from Troiareuke are here to help me with these new problems. I will be featuring them soon in my new skincare diary updates and separate reviews! Hope y'all have a great week and stay tuned!

Troiareuke Skincare Diary: Week 1

Good day to you! It has been almost one week since I have started using Troiareuke's products. To see what products I have been using since then, you can check out the first post I did on my Skincare Diary series: http://globalexpressreviews.blogspot.com/2017/02/skincare-diary-series-entry.html

(The post includes lots of detailed info on each products and what their targeted effects are.)

I have been routinely using the products in the following order:

1. Acsen TOC Toner

2. Acsen Pore Control Mask (once every 3 days)

3. Acsen Selemix Serum

4. Acsen Recovery Cream

Here's a picture of my skin condition a week prior to starting the Troiareuke products (left side) and afterwards (right side):

*Note: I apologize for being unable to exactly recreate the lighting and the angle--I hope my skills will improve in the future so I can present you all a better idea of my skin condition.

It may be hard to tell due to the differences in the lighting and angle, but I have noticed a few things:

• My pores have been looking somewhat happier and less enlarged. 
• This is probably thanks to the power of using the Pore Control Mask and the Selemix Serum (and possibly the TOC toner). However, I must say that I experienced nothing near what Joan and Edward experienced after using the mask (in their videos, they claim their pores were greatly minimized). I most unfortunately did not have Edward's moments of, "Pores?! What pores?". 
• After being initially disappointed that the mask did not make my pores disappear (how unrealistic of me, though haha), I figured out the best way to use this mask to effectively clean the pores and maximize the efficacy of this mask: 1. Apply, leave on mask for 5-15 minutes, then wash off. 2. Massage onto skin some Jojoba oil (or tea tree oil) or an oil cleanser. Leave on for 5-15 minutes, wash off (you may need to use a cleanser if it was just plain Jojoba oil). 3. Apply Selemix Serum or a pore minimizing product. 
• Youtuber Liah Yoo's video on blackhead clearing illustrates this the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mefEggrnrjY
• The Pore Control Mask effectively brings the impurities and comedone/sebum closer to the surface, and the oil helps to dissolve it all away (remember basic chemistry: like dissolves like? Since your pores are mainly clogged with oil, you need an oil to fully get rid of them.). 
• Impression of the Pore Control Mask thus far: 
• excellent for drawing out the sebum in the clogged pores without overly drying out/damaging the skin (super big plus for combo skinned peoples like me)
• Insanely miraculous tightening feeling without being drying. I can definitely feel that V-line lifting effect (but no, you should not expect to feel like you have just had your jaws shaved off from plastic surgery =_=").
• As you can probably tell by the photos, some of my pitted scars have been slowly filling themselves in. This is what amazed me and frightened me the most. It's literally black magic. I have never used a product that is capable of such. 
• I digress, as amazed as I was by the some of my scars recovering, note that I use the words "some" and "slowly". You can see in the photos that they are all still there, and some of the deeper ones have yet to show any sign of significant improvement. Hence, here is a disclaimer: Troiareuke's products are meant to be products that work slowly over time, ranging from 2-4 weeks or even longer. That is because: A) their ingredients are some of the most natural and safe ones I have encountered, B) this is skincare--not invasive treatments. If you are looking for immediate effects that happen overnight or within a day, I suggest you look into chemical peels or other medical cosmetic procedures (sidenote-that-is-not-an-ad: Troiareuke is connected with Troipeel, which provides such services). It should also be noted that usually most of the products that deliver immediate effects prove to be just temporary. Troiareuke's products aim at correcting the skin on the long run.
• Even though it is a slow process, my pitted scars (especially the newer and less deep ones) have been recovering. They are definitely less obvious.
• Due to my hormones, I had a tiny pimple break out on my forehead. Then you must ask, why did you not document such a opportune happening?! What better way to showcase the Acsen line than to use it on pimples themselves!? My friend, the night that pimple popped up I just applied some extra TOC Toner on a cotton pad to it, then applied the Recovery Cream, and thought, I'll take a picture of it tomorrow. The next morning it resembled nothing of a pimple. The bump was gone, and the pigmentation was significantly reduced. That's right, I missed the opportunity to document the work of Acsen on a pimple because it happened too fast. 
  
• However, I need to say that this was a tiny pimple, so I am not sure how it would work on a larger pimple. Next time I run into a larger one, I will be sure to show you before and after pictures.
• Since it was a tiny pimple, bear in mind the potency of the products will differ from people to people and pimple to pimple.

Those are the main differences I have seen thus far in my skin condition. Before I end it here, the story about the tiny pimple allowed me to showcase another use for the lovely TOC Toner:

The TOC Toner,  in addition towards being the ultimate backstage hero in improving my skin condition, can be used as a spot treatment for random pimples! Just apply it to a cotton pad and stick it to the pimple until the pimple has soaked up all the goodness. It certainly worked on my tiny pimple, but I am not sure how well it would work on large ones. And not to worry, the toner has a lovely consistency of somewhere in between a gel and water:

It is a little moisturizing and doesn't just disappear from your face like the water-based toners do. (You should still moisturize though!)

Alright--that's all I have for today! I will see you in a week to update you all on how my skin has been doing. Have a wonderful day and rest of the week!

Skincare Diary Series: Entry #1/Introduction

Hello all! Today I will be starting an extended review in the form of a skincare diary. The main stars of this series are from... *drum roll* Troiareuke! I expect most of y'all have not heard of this skincare line, which makes sense since they are actually a skincare line developed for spas, skincare clinics, etc. under the huge MK Universal umbrella. It's a unique brand with the theme of groundbreaking scientific skincare--something a scientist like me can really appreciate. (Having worked for a large corporate beauty company before, too often do I find some of theories regarding skincare a bit gimmicky and unscientific.) If you are interested in more about their brand's story and information, you can visit their websites and facebook page:
http://troiareuke.tradekorea.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ilovetroi/
http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/cosmetic/troi-areuke/

**Notice: today's post is mainly information on the products--if you are here for a review, please subscribe and wait for my posts to come. I will have reviews every few days to check in and show you my skin's progress.

My current skin condition: 
Type: combination/oily, somewhat acne prone
Main concern: old acne scars (pitted), enlarged pores :(
Currently, my skin is going through a stage where I rarely get any acne (mainly just some small, hormonal zits) and my skin is quite happy in terms of moisture. I used to get a lot of acne and suffer from severe dry patches and a super oily T-zone. Nearly all of that has been fixed thanks to drinking a special blend of fruits and veggies. (If you are interested, leave a comment below and I will write a blog post about it). Although the drink has helped my skin become moisturized and significantly less acne prone, it couldn't help my enlarged pores and pitted acne scars that were left behind.

Here are pictures of my skin, which will be used as a comparison for future diary entries:

Unfortunately, my camera has a beautifying function that makes my pores and scars look less obvious. But you can still see my painfully obvious pitted scars and my pores. :(

Thus, Troiareuke suggested their Acsen line to me, which targets acne and sensitive skin. Even though I am not really acne prone nor do I have sensitive skin, a lot of the products from the Acsen line target my pore and scar problems.

I heard about Troiareuke first through Edward Avila and Joan Kim on Youtube (check out their channels--they're very fun and informative!). They raved about this line of skincare constantly in several of their videos, and I was sold the minute Edward said, "Pores? What pores? So smoooth!" after applying the Pore Control Mask in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg3byzLpCNE
I messaged them through their facebook page, intrigued and dying to try out their products. Christine first responded, then forwarded my messages to William the main FB manager. They asked for a photo of my bare face, to assess what products would suit me the most, which was their Acsen line.
I had the opportunity to try out their:
1. Acsen TOC Toner
2. Acsen Selemix Serum
3. Acsen Pore Control Mask
4. Acsen Recovery Cream
5. H+ Cushion

Two days ago, I finally received the package with all their products!

They are downright the sweetest company you'll buy from, as you can see in the photo: they included a painfully adorable package of Korean snacks and a handwritten note from them! It really makes the experience feel so much more personal and it's like receiving those sweet, heartwarming care packages you get when you're away from home.

Scientific info (for those that love details and the how/why): Troiareuke's skincare line targets not only the surface layer of the skin (epidermis), but also tries to penetrate the deeper layer of skin called the dermis. What we see is the epidermis and serves as an protective barrier for our body against harmful external factors (UV, pollutants, damage, etc.). The inner layer, or the dermis, works to provide our out layer of skin with new skin cells, minerals, nutrients, etc. Thus, we can see that the dermis is crucial towards the condition of our epidermis. Troiareuke's products attempt to correct the dermis, which is unlike any other skincare brand I have heard of so far.

Without further ado, let me introduce the products to you!

1. Acsen TOC Toner

Theory:
The "TOC" in this toner's name stands for "turn over cycle", and reveals the main function of this toner: to increase the turn over cycle of skin cells. As we age, our TOC slows down and we lose the lovely complexion we once had. The toner aims to speed up our TOC (to normal and healthy levels, of course), which renews our skin cells and makes our skin healthier, stronger, and brighter.
Further information:
If you watch Joan's videos, you will surely know how much she loves this by how much it appears in her empties videos. She claims it has brightened her complexion, and provided it with a lot of benefits. Edward also loves this toner, and their skin has visibly been improving.
Ingredients and further facts: http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/6756/#toggle-id-3

2. Acsen Selemix Serum

(The original sized serum was extremely pricey, so I decided to just go with a small 5 mL sample of it)
Theory:
The information packet they sent me described this serum as the key to finding the perfect DNA code for anti-aging skincare. Directly quoted from their pamphlet:
"Selemix serum guides the skin cell to function as responsive as young cells in epidermis layer. For the dermis layer, Selemix serum will find the code to increase production of new cell and build up cell matrix."
Being a researcher of the biosciences myself, I find it hard to believe they are changing your DNA in this product or "directing your skin to find the right DNA". (I have a hard time theorizing how they could do this, but hey, they could indeed have a method to achieve this.) But I do believe that the anti-inflammatory, pore-tightening, firming, less sensitive skin, and radiance promised can come with this serum. Serums in general are punches of the most important ingredients, making them the most potent step in your skincare routine. It definitely is capable of some black magic, as it is the most expensive yet coveted product from the line.
Further information:
http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/troiareuke-acsen-selemix-serum-100ml/#toggle-id-2

3. Acsen Pore Control Mask

Theory:

This is probably the product I looked forward to the most. Their theory is simple, yet effective: pore tightening comes with V-line tightening (overall skin tightening). The saggier your skin, the most enlarged your pores will be. This mask tightens you skin like those 19th century corsets that produced those tiny Victorian waists (not that tight--that would be drying and uncomfortable, which this mask is not). But it definitely does tighten your skin and remove all the impurities from your pores, which should allow for smaller pores in the long run.

Further information:

http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/troiareuke-acsen-pore-control-mask-200ml/

4. Acsen Recovery Cream

Theory: 

This acsen recovery cream is also another product I had mainly wanted to try because of its claims to be able to heal pitted scars. It contains 4% centella asiatica extract, which is an extremely high percentage of the extract. This ingredient is one you may have not heard of before, but it is slowly gaining much popularity overseas. Centella asiatica has the miraculous ability of cell regeneration and is the key to healing those pitted scars. 4% is probably the highest you can find in any product available in the world, making Troiareuke's recovery cream the one and only cream with such high potency. 

Further information:

Joan and Edward also frequently mention this product, and they even claim that it's so potent that the next day after applying you'll see a difference in those pitted scars. 

http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/troiareuke-acsen-recovery-cream-25ml/#toggle-id-3

5. H+ Cushion

Theory:

This amazing cushion claims to be 99% skincare and only 1% makeup. How cool is that!? And if you have seen some reviews of this cushion, you'll notice that this cushion definitely is not lacking in coverage. The skincare inside is also wonderful, as it contains 4 ingredients that each are champions at their job:

• Adenosine: anti-aging/anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory, cell regeneration, wound healing
• Niacin amide: whitening, UV recovery, melanin minimization 
• Centella asiatica: (already discussed above in the recovery cream description) cell regeneration/wound healing
• Portulaca extract: anti-inflammatory, moisture infusing

Further information:

You can definitely check out Joan and Edward's reviews on this cushion. A lot of other Youtubers have done reviews on it, which may give you a good impression on how it looks. There is only one color shade, unfortunately. 

http://mk-corp.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/6911/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I plan to post an update/entry to these skincare series every week, with pictures of how my skin is doing for reference. I will also have a more detailed reviews for each of the products, especially for the H+ cushion.

Until then, have a wonderful day/week!