When I met my husband, he used some highly fragranced US-designed personal hygiene products that quickly gave me contact allergies. I don’t think he knew that SPF isn’t just for the beach, that there’s such a thing as face lotions, and that skincare doesn’t stop at washing your face with shower gel (I shudder a little just writing this). Good thing he has such a motivated (obsessed?) wife.
Fast forward two years to today. He has his own little corner of the sink with “guy stuff”. Korean skincare manufacturers must understand a stereotypical male, as men’s lines are much less complex than female ones. Of course, don’t let gender stop you - if you want the full 10 step experience and just happen to have that Y chromosome, more power to you - get ALL the things!
It all started with an Innisfree Forest for Men gift set - a convenient way to get the basics (toner, lotion, and trial face wash) in one good-looking package.
The line offers three varieties:
Moisture (blue) - for dry skin
Fresh (green) - for normal/combination skin
Oil control (turquoise? Blue-green? Sea foam? Argh!) - for oily skin
All of the Forest products contain a unique phytoncide complex - a blend of Cypress, Cedar and Pine tree extracts from the pure Jeju island. The phytoncides protect the skin and can help reduce the signs of stress and fatigue.
The husband has oily skin (sometimes shiny) with enlarged pores that clog easily. At the time of the initial purchase, the oil control line wasn’t available, so I got the Fresh gift set. Since then, I have repurchased the face wash in full size twice and now he’s on the oil control wash.
The Fresh cleanser was quite nice. It foamed well, could be used as a shaving cream, and smelled of pines. Based on observation, it didn’t do the best job at controlling the sebum production long term, so it’s definitely nice that the manufacturer came out with the oil control line.
Husband’s current basic routine consists of the following:
Innisfree oil control cleanser - forms a rich, nicely smelling foam that cleanses deeply without overdrying/tightness. Controls oil production well and makes the pores much clearer (and smaller) with consistent use. He repeatedly says how much he likes this wash, and I notice that his face is matte and oil free.
Innisfree fresh toner - has the consistency of water and the same woodsy smell as the rest of the line. Doesn’t sting if used as an after-shave, balances the pH and prepares the skin for the last steps.
Innisfree fresh lotion - quite liquid, absorbs very well and slightly mattifies the skin.
All the products are easy to use - first, cleanse the face with the foaming cleanser, then apply toner, and then lotion.
The one thing about writing reviews based on family experiences is asking the said family to describe the products. It went something like this.
“Do you like the new face wash?”
“Yeah”
“What do you like about it?”
“Um, it’s nice”
“More specifically, please?”
“It’s probably the best I’ve had so far”
“More details?”
“Um… eh… I like it?”
He doesn’t have a future in skincare blogging :) But the best indication is the fact that I’m having to reorder the face wash. My husband is very kind and doesn’t openly criticize things often - he would just quietly not use them. But this stuff runs out regularly, so it must be well liked.
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Innisfree Forest for Men Fresh Cleansing Foam Ingredients: WATER, ALCOHOL, PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, NIACINAMIDE, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, ORCHID EXTRACT, CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (CAMPHOR) LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, DISODIUM EDTA, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIF.ERA FRUIT EXTRACT, BETAINE, SALIX NIGRA (WILLOW) BARK EXTRACT, CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, PINUS PINASTER BARK/BUD EXTRACT, CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA WATER, PEG-6 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, FRAGRANCE
Innisfree Forest for Men Oil Control Cleansing Foam ingredients: WATER, GLYCERIN, STEARIC ACID, MYRISTIC ACID, PEG-32, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, LAURIC ACID, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SILICA, HYDRATED SILICA, CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA WATER, CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, PINUS PINASTER BARK/BUD EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIF.ERA FRUIT EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (CAMPHOR) LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, ALGAE EXTRACT, CORALLINA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, DISODIUM EDTA, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, LACTOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, MENTHOL, SUCROSE, ALCOHOL, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH, ULTRAMARINES (CI 777), XANTHAN GUM, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, PEG-1 STEARATE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, SODIUM BENZOATE, FRAGRANCE