Memebox (미미박스) From Jeju Box Review, December Discount Codes + Rumors & Concerns

I bet you all feel like I’ve been posting Memebox reviews one after another lately. Truth is, I bought too many and they all arrived within the same 3-week span, so I’m a bit overwhelmed with all of those products right now. There are five more boxes under my Christmas tree that I didn’t even take pictures of yet! So, without further ado, here is my unboxing and brief review of Memebox From Jeju.

HOW IT WORKS
Memebox Global 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. Memebox ships internationally, so make sure to check on their website and see if they ship in your country – chances are they do. All themed boxes tend to sell out fast, so by the time you read this review this particular box might not be available for sale anymore.
Click here to see available boxes.

COUPON CODES
Take $5 off your order of $30 or more using code 4GQ37H. Expires 12/31/2014. [will update when I get my December codes from Memebox]
Take $5 off your purchase of 3 boxes or more using code MEMEBUNDLE3.
Take $8 off your purchase of 4 boxes or more using code MEMEBUNDLE4.
Get free shipping on orders above $70 from Memeshop using code FREESHIPPING.
Order over $100 using this link and receive $5 off automatically at checkout, no code required.
Order over $150 using this link and receive $10 off automatically at checkout, no code required.

Skindeco Volcanic Pore Clay Sparkling Heating Mask – It sounds pretty nice, but I am going to keep it sealed for now, because I don’t want the mud to dry out. I have two similar products that I’m currently trying to use up, so I think it’s smarter to wait in this case.

How to use: Spread the mask evenly over cleansed face, leave on for 15 minutes, and rinse with lukewarm water. Suitable for oily, combination, and normal skin.

According to the product card, this mask contains high concentration of volcanic clay, carbonated mineral water, and plankton extract from Jeju Island that cleanse, soothe, and firm the skin. Just from seeing the list of ingredients, I think I’m going to like it. Anyone here used this mask already? What did you think about it?

TheYeon Jeju Hallabong Ade Energy Peeling Toner – I put this toner in my rotation immediately after opening the box, because it smells divine! I use it as the first step of my layering routine right after cleansing and exfoliating, and so far it worked really well to prep and prime my skin.

How to use: Soak a cotton pad in toner and gently wipe your face with it. Suitable for all skin types, except sensitive.

Hallabong is the name of a type of sweet orange that is only cultivated on Jeju Island. It provides brightening and light peeling effect, thanks to Vitamin C and papaya enzymes, that help even out the complexion.

Skincure DanDaWha Natural Mild Cleansing Oil – Cleansing oil is always the first step in my routine, because I follow the double cleansing method. I know, it might sound counter-productive to wash your face with oil, especially if you have oily or combination skin, but nothing melts makeup [and excess oil in your pores!] better than an oily cleanser, followed by a foam cleanser. This product features 100% pure camellia oil from Jeju Island that promises to leave the skin clean, soft, and supple.

How to use: Dispense a small amount onto dry palms and gently massage all over face, focusing on areas with excess oil or dryness. Rinse off with lukewarm water and follow up with a foam cleanser. Suitable for all skin types.

I used it a few times, but honestly I like my Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil better. This one works alright if you don’t have any makeup on, but I had trouble removing BB cream and mascara, even though it wasn’t even waterproof. I do, however, think that it’s a great cleanser for sensitive skin, because it felt very comfortable and soothing.

Etude House Clear & Moist Green Tea Blending Sleeping Cream – This is a sleeping pack packaged for one use, but I thought it contained enough product for at least three applications, on my face anyway. Inside there is a cream and a gel that have to be mixed together to create a sleeping pack, and the handle of the spoon packaging detaches and becomes a spatula to mix the formula together.

How to use: Apply at the end of your nighttime beauty routine and rinse off in the morning. Suitable for all skin types.

I love the idea of this product, because it contains just the right amount for a short trip. It’s not my favorite sleeping pack though, because it doesn’t seem to give me the same results as my current favorite [you’ll find out what it is in my next Memebox review!]. It’s also very strongly fragranced, in a bad way, so I doubt I’d use it often even if I had more.

Secret Nature From Jeju Serum – Raise your hand if you just *knew* this serum would be in the box! Memebox even on sale at some point, so it was just a matter of time before we saw these in a box, and this one fits the theme perfectly.

How to use: Apply to skin after cleansing and toning and pat in for full absorbance. Suitable for all skin types.

This serum looks creamy and milky in the bottle, so I sort of expected it to feel nice and soothing, but my face actually tingles a little when I put it on. Its fragrance-free formula contains extracts of broccoli, carrots, and asparagus dissolved in pure aloe instead of water for increased penetration. I’m not a chemist and don’t know if it helps in any way, but it was an interesting thing to know, since most products I own contain water. After using this serum for about a week and a half daily, I can say with confidence that my skin just didn’t care for it. It neither disappointed nor wowed me, but like it always happens with skincare, it could very well be someone else’s Holy Grail serum. As for me, I’ll probably pass it along to someone or use it on my legs.

Etude House Soothing & Clean Green Tea Mask – This is not my first Etude House sheet mask, and I love them particularly because their shape and size fit my face really well, and because they are soaked in just the right amount of essence, so the sheet doesn’t slide around whenever I move a muscle.

How to use: Spread the sheet mask over face, leave for 15 minutes, then take off the sheet and pat in the remaining essence. Do not rinse. Suitable for all skin types, especially problem skin.

This green tea mask contains essence that helps reduce the redness and help heal the breakouts from within the pores for a clearer, brighter complexion. I have several of these, and they really do work well for mild hormonal acne.

TheYeon Jeju Canola Honey Silky Hand Cream – I did not try it yet, but it looks like another great product from TheYeon. My product card doesn’t give this hand cream much of a description, so I don’t even know what to expect from it when I get to it, but I’m looking forward to that day.

How to use: Apply to hands as often as necessary. Suitable for all skin types.

THE VERDICT
From Jeju turned out to be a solid box, and one of my favorites among this pile of Memeboxes I recently received. I found a great toner that I otherwise never would have tried, and I will probably repurchase it when I run out. That discovery alone made this whole box worth it to me!

RUMORS
There are rumors that Memebox is planning to become a cosmetics manufacturer instead of being a reseller. I don’t buy that, because I doubt they will make nearly as much money as they do with boxes that feature an assortment of different brands. However, here is the quote from a July article that sprouted the rumors.

Memebox is an online retailer for Korean Beauty products. With $1.5 million in seed funding, and the prestigious accolade of being one of Y Combinator’s top 3 startups for Winter 2014, Memebox is poised to make a big play in the online consumer goods sector. This year, Memebox will transition away from being a reseller of cosmetic products to an online-only cosmetic manufacturer.

Karl Loo // Strategy & Operations at Memebox

If it turns out to be true, that will explain why we didn’t see any new box releases in a long time. I know I won’t shop at Memebox if they stop curating Memeboxes, though.