It’s been a while since I last posted a review of Korean skin care products outside of Memeboxes, so today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite k-beauty purchases – RE:CIPE by Nature value set that I snatched during one of Memebox’s crazy sales last year. I didn’t actually start using the products until much, much later, so now’s the time to finally tell you how good they are!
First of all, RE:CIPE by Nature is kind of a small, indie brand, that isn’t well-known in Korea. They make products with natural ingredients and extra-gentle formulas, paired with cutesy packaging that adds visual appeal to already amazing formulas.
I first tried their best-selling Slowganic Cleanser as a sample in one of the early Memeboxes [reviewed here]. It was a sampler trio with a very generous serving of each cleanser variety, so I really took my time deciding on this one. Slowganic Cleanser comes in a jar, that looks like a jar of preserves or honey. It’s rubberized at the top to prevent the moisture from escaping the jar, which might dry out the cleanser. By the way, the cleanser has the funniest formula ever – it looks and feels like a marshmallow blob, how fun is that? Each jar comes with a large spatula, but I already misplaced mine, so I just pinch off small pieces with my fingers now.
In my value set I received the Green Tea variety, which is targeted for problem skin, and even has tiny exfoliating granules inside. To fully cleanse my face I usually need about a dime-sized amount, which I rub between wet palms until it foams a lather, then gently massage that lather into my skin before washing off with lukewarm water. Slowganic Cleanser has a perfectly neutral pH5.5, which is ideal for any skin type. It doesn’t seem to do a good job at removing makeup though, so I use it as a second step of my cleansing routine after using cleansing oil or balm.
Next product in the value set is Tangerine flavored Tangle Hand Jam, which literally looks like jam. In a jar. Squeeeee! I scoop it out with fingers and massage into my hands throughout the day to get a boost of hydration and energy, thanks to its uplifting citrusy aroma.
The “jam” feels like a plain aloe vera gel, albeit delightfully scented, so it’s not really anything special in my book. Despite that, I still like using it when it’s warm outside, because of it’s fast-absorbing non-greasy formula.
Last but not least, I got this dangly Ice Cream Swing Gloss in 02 Sweet Fiona that you can put on a key chain, and it’s just the cutest little plastic cone of ice cream ever! I’ve seen some tacky plastic key chain glosses and rings before, but this one is high quality and looks well-made. The balm appears green in the pan, but goes on clear; it also kind of smells like a fruit basket, which is a nice bonus.
Do you need these? Out of the three, I would say the cleanser is the most unique and has a truly nice formula that is probably gentler than most of the products of this type [how fun is that marshmallow texture]. It doesn’t irritate my skin, and instead makes it feel comfortable and clean. I consider the hand cream and the lip balm purely vanity items, and even though they both seem like decent products, neither one would stand out in a blind test. They sure would make great gifts though!
WHERE TO BUY:
- Slowganic Cleanser – $35 USD for 100g. Available at RE:CIPE by Nature, TesterKorea, eBay.
- Tangle Hand Jam – $9 USD for 30ml. Available at RE:CIPE by Nature, eBay.
- Ice Cream Swing Gloss – $8 USD for 6g. Available at RE:CIPE by Nature, TesterKorea, eBay.
Do you pay attention to product packaging? Have you tried Korean skin care before? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post features products purchased by Glamorable and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
