Quite possibly the best Memebox released in 2015, Beginners’ Luck Korean Beauty Starter Kit is everything I could have wished for. I bought it immediately after seeing IOPE, Neogen, and Grinif on the list, and the more I read about the rest of the products, the more I fall in love with each one of them.
HOW IT WORKS: Memebox is not a typical subscription service. They periodically curate boxes filled with assorted beauty products popular among Koreans, and those Limited Edition bundles are sold on first come first serve basis. Prices vary depending on the type of the box. At this time Memebox ships to USA, China and Korea. All themed boxes tend to sell out fast, so by the time you read this review this particular box probably won’t be available for sale anymore. Click here to see available boxes. Coupon codes:
- Use code FABFIVE to get $5 off $50 in Memebox USA shop and XO Memebox products. Can be used 3x per account.
- Use code SOOTHING10 to get 10% off your entire order when you buy Soothing Sista Eyeshadow Quad. Yes, it works on boxes, too!
- Use code WELCOME to get 15% off your first purchase. Works only for first-time customers.
- Use code MARCHMADNESS to get $20 off your purchase of $100 or more. Expires 3/31/2015.
IOPE Essential Moisture Relief Cream was the product that immediately set off my must have alarm, because I never tried anything from the brand, but keep hearing amazing things about them. IOPE is owned by AmorePacific, which is a company that makes high end cosmetics sold at department stores worldwide; and IOPE products fall somewhere between mid-range and luxury in terms of prices. Now, we know that price doesn’t necessarily equal quality, so this was a great opportunity to sample one of their bestsellers. First impression: cooling, soothing, and highly fragranced. I might have applied too much, because the cream left my face slightly sticky to touch, and a little powdery. Several hours later my skin still felt soft, supple, and hydrated, but the scent was still bothering me, because I kept catching whiffs of it throughout the day. I think this might be a very nice daily moisturizer for someone with dry skin, but not if you are scent-sensitive and prone to migraines, like myself.
How to use: Apply to skin after toner and serum, and pat in for absorbance. Suitable for dry and normal skin. Not suitable for people sensitive to strong chemical fragrances.
Dermakey She’s First Key Whitening Cream – At first I wasn’t too sure about this cream, because while I like brightening products, whitening creams are just not something I’m personally interested in. After looking at the ingredient list, I figured the whitening part was just a marketing gimmick – it’s just a good ol’ brightening formula with adenosine and niacinamide, which both do a splendid job at fading sun spots over time. So, while I was upset that IOPE cream didn’t work out, I was pleasantly surprised this one was so nice. I has a light citrusy fragrance to it, and feels like milky emulsion on the skin, leaving it soft and powdery, but not sticky at all. I really like it so far!
How to use: Apply to skin after toner and serum, and pat in for absorbance. Use in the AM under sunscreen. Suitable for all skin types.
Bioen Aqua Essence – This essence was featured in Dermocosmetics 2 Memebox, which I regretted not getting when it first came out. The expiration day is in April 2017, so I will keep it stashed away for now and use other products instead. From the sound of it, looks like it’s a fairly basic hyaluronic acid-based serum, so not quite sure why it has this crazy price tag.
How to use: Apply to cleansed and toned skin and pat in for absorbance.
Nasarang Jasmu Eye Cream – At first we were supposed to receive an eye serum, but Memebox had to swap it for this eye cream instead, so they sent out emails informing customers about the change and gave everyone an opportunity to cancel their order. I kinda feel sorry for those who did, because this box turned out to be so amazing and was never restocked again. Anyway, the eye cream comes in a pump bottle, and there’s quite a bit of product inside – enough for several months of daily use. Ladies, I am obsessed with this cream! First of all, it smells like sweet jasmine flowers, which I adore, so that’s already a big plus. The consistency is sticky yet smooth, like those bouncy snail slime creams that make strings for miles. This cream makes my undereye area look instantly firmer, brighter, and so soft! Looking forward to long-term results after I finish two eye creams that are both almost empty.
How to use: Apply a rice-grain amount of cream to each eye and gently pat in with ring finger until absorbed. Suitable for all skin types.
Grinif Tea Tree Mist – Right now I use another tea tree toner spray to deal with breakouts, and it seems to work well. This one is something between a mist and a fine spray, so it’s not like a splash of water in the face, but also not unnoticeable, like Missha microsprays. Grinif says that this toner contains tea tree and witch hazel extracts, but the ingredient list has grapefruit extract high up on the list as well, which suggests that this toner might be good for killing off acne-causing bacteria and also to reduce post-acne discolorations. It has a light herbal fragrance that doesn’t linger on the skin or trigger my scent-sensitivities.
How to use: Hold the spray 12″ away from the face, and mist the skin as often as necessary throughout the day to refresh, hydrate, and rebalance the pores. Suitable for normal, combination, and oily skin.
Neogen Prism Shimmer Base – Among Meme-fans Neogen products have something of a cult following, so any spoilers with Neogen products ensured that the box would sell out right away. Same happened here – as soon as I saw Neogen, it was pretty much a green light for my credit card. This shimmer base is a pinkish liquid highlighter in a twist-up tube, that also has skin caring properties. It makes the skin look healthy and dewy, but not shimmery – just the kind of glow I like for a regular day-do-day makeup look.
How to use: After cleansing and toning, apply to the entire face prior to makeup. Suitable for all skin types.
THE VERDICT: I’m blown away by this box! The value and the quality of everything is outstanding, and this is everything that I love about Memebox – great brands, great formulas, great prices. What a deal it was!
If you bought Memeboxes before, what was your favorite meme-product? Have you tried Korean skin care?
| Product | Retail value |
|---|---|
| IOPE Essential Moisture Relief Cream | $93.90 |
| Dermakey She’s First Key Whitening Cream | $42.00 |
| Bioen Aqua Essence | $72.00 |
| Nasarang Jasmu Eye Cream | $65.00 |
| Grinif Tea Tree Mist | $17.74 |
| Neogen Prism Shimmer Base | $15.43 |
| Box Retail Value | $306.07 |
