I’ve been watching Kennie JD on youtube a lot more recently, and she always talks about how amazing K-Beauty products were. It was honestly something I didn’t look deeply into at first because not only can the products be pricey, but I really wasn’t interested in paying International Shipping fees.
When I came across Cala Products, I was not only interested because they have a US headquarters, but mostly because they offer Korean beauty products at a drugstore value, making it accessible to everyone who wants quality skincare. Their skincare products are also cruelty-free, as well as ethically sourced.
I was graciously given the opportunity to pick 3 items, so I checked out my skincare products and requested items that I was missing from my routine. Here’s what I got!
JADE FACIAL ROLLER - ROSE GOLD DETAIL ($23.75)
A good friend of mine and I have been talking about Jade rollers since November, and how effective they are at removing inflammation from your face. We just couldn’t get our hands on one, because we rarely see them in the stores we visit, and the ones we’ve come across have been fairly expensive.
I leave my roller in the fridge so it is cool when I use it in the morning, and right before bed. I love that after rolling my face, there is a cooling sensation on the areas you’ve used it, that lasts for a few minutes afterwards. It’s been a great addition to my routine, especially during allergy season when my eyes and face is often puffy from irritation.
ADVANCED MEDI-BIO CAPSULE MASK SET - 3 PACK ($12.00)
My nighttime skincare routine has about 10 steps, but I was missing a mask. Jackie Aina regularly posts videos and pictures of herself in sheet masks, but I have never tried one before. Michelle Phan also shared her nighttime routine on Youtube where she also uses a sheet mask, but hers were capsule masks. When I saw Cala’s three pack of capsule masks, I knew I had to try them out.
It was a fortunate mistake, because I thought that the capsule was meant to be broken into the mask, but you apply it afterwards. Technically you’re getting 3 masks, and 3 serums for $12 which is almost a steal.
The pack comes with an advanced hydration mask/ceramide serum capsule, brightening mask/glutathione serum capsule, and a firming mask/hyaluronic serum capsule. The sheets are naturally derived from coconuts that are moisture-rich and feel like "second skin."
So far the only mask I’ve had a reason and time to use, was the hydration mask. It has a skin cooling formula, so your face feels a little cool during the 40 minutes you have the mask on. This was most surprising, because even as it absorbed into my skin, I still felt the cooling which was very relaxing.
After the 40 minutes of wearing the mask, I applied the serum which left my skin with a very glow and hydrated appearance. It also helped to refine the appearance of my pores, and kept my oil production in check. I usually wake up to dry skin, but I didn’t have any of those issues for the week I used the ceramide serum.
The good and bad of the serum in the capsule, is that you receive a lot of product. I was able to use mine twice a day, for 5 days before running out. What makes it bad, is that the capsule is not resealable. Once I broke it open, I had to carefully align the the pieces and stand it up right in a jar, to try and limit oxygen from weakening the strength of the serum.
Hydrogel Under Eye Patch; Coral & Aqua - 60 pcs ($24.00)
I saved the best for last because Eye patches weren’t necessarily something I was missing from my routine, but the concept of masks specifically for your eyes definitely grabbed my attention.
The coral & hydrogel hydrates and purifies with ingredients that help to promote circulation, tone and moisturize the delicate under eye areas. While I don’t have dark circles per say, I do have dry discolored patches and puffiness in my infraorbital furrow (space between eye & nose that catches tears) that you can see in the pictures above.
I’ve also been keeping these in my refrigerator, so the additional coolness can reduce inflammation under my eyes. At first I thought they would be a great addition to my morning routine, but unfortunately they don’t stay in place when you are standing upright. I’ve tried a few times while getting ready, but the ingredients on top of the hydrogel patch make it very easy for them to slide down your face.
I find that the best way to use these, is as the last step in your skincare routine. I avoid putting my other serums and moisturizer in my eye area, and out these on last. That way, I am able to lie back in bed while they work their magic for 25 minutes, and I can go straight to bed as soon as I remove them.
I did have minor irritation under my eye where i have a blocked gland. I had some slight itchiness, and redness that formed, but it went away 5 minutes after removing them. Oddly enough, I did not notice the irritation until after I removed the patches. They felt perfectly fine while on, so I am thinking it could have just been a reaction caused by my environmental allergies.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Adding these three items to my routine has helped tremendously with reducing the amount of inflammation I see in my face. They are all gentle, and provide results that you can see immediately. I’ve had better results from these products, than I have with a lot of high-end expensive products I’ve used in the past.
I don’t know if I will keep these items in my regime once I run out. Not because I did not like them, but because Cala offers so many different K-Beauty products on their website, I want to test out as many as I can to make sure I have the best ones for my skin type.
If you are interested in exploring the world of K-Beauty, Cala is a great affordable introduction. See their wide variety of hair, makeup, and skincare items on Cala Products Online.