Saturday, September 1, 2012

Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Line Review

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Finally reviewing the whole Bulgarian Rose skincare line now that I have most of the products. Holika Holika also has a rose oil and mist in the line, but I didn't purchase those. Note that I'm reusing the pictures and pretty much the same thoughts of the items from my previous posts. Also, I placed the items above in the order I would use them. My skin is combination oily (oily T-zone and normal cheeks). 


1. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Petal Skin (150ml)

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This toner claims to "hydrate the skin and tone complexion". It is alcohol-free. After cleansing, I shake it out onto a cotton square. You don't need that much to use all over your face. 

I bought this just to try it out and ended up liking it more than the current toner/lotion I was using which was Rohto Hadalabo's Gokujyun Lotion. It feels refreshing and it removes makeup and dirt that my cleanser missed. It also absorbs faster than Rohto's Gokujyun Lotion and hydrates nicely. I've been going through this pretty quickly and was planning on ordering more from Gmarket, but Holika Holika isn't having a sale this month : (. At the same time I'm also thinking that it's just too expensive to keep on buying from Gmarket. I just ordered Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel which I hope is similar. If I like it, I was thinking of just reusing the glass bottle when I finish it.


2. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Eye Cream (30ml)

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Description on box: Bulgarian Rose Eye Cream with ultra-moisturizing benefits: Reduce dark circles, puffiness, and signs of tiredness around the eyes with this gentle cream. Enriched with precious Bulgarian Rose Water and Rose Essential Oil, this cream will soothe, moisturize, nourish, and tone the delicate skin around the eys.

Decided to try out this eye cream because I was running low on the current one I was using (MAC's Charged Water Moisture Eye Cream). The consistency of this eye cream is like Crisco: thick and solid. It easily spreads, but leaves a layer on the skin. The eye cream has a bit of the same pink sheen as in the face cream, but it's not that noticeable. This eye cream definitely nourishes and moisturizes, but I find it too heavy for my skin. When I wake up in the morning I still find a layer on my skin. Right now I'm only using it at night. At 30ml, it will last me a long time since I only need a tiny tiny bit. 


3. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Serum (50ml)

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Description: "intensive moisturizing effect for normal to dry skin" "leave the skin rejuvenated and help to retain moisture"

This is my favorite out of the whole line (I finished up one and ordered two more). I love the pump that comes with the container. It has a gel-like consistency and absorbs well. If I put too much on my skin still remains slightly sticky and my forehead and nose get oily so I only need a little bit. Now that it is summer I stop at this step because I feel like this serum is enough for my skin. Even though I moved to my second bottle, I still have a teeny bit left in my first one but it's impossible to get out even with storing it upside down.


4. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Emulsion (150ml)

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Claims: hydrate, soothe, soften, moisturize, firm, and improve overall skin complexion.

This is a light lotion to be applied after toner and serum (either use emulsion or cream after toner and serum depending on skin type). I don't use it right now because it's summer and I feel like I don't need the extra step, but I'll definitely use it during the winter when my skin gets dry. When I tried it before, I found that it made my skin too moisturized and oily, but I think that was because I was using too much product or my skin didn't need the extra step. 

The thing I don't like about it is that it's hard to get out of the glass bottle. I either have to shake it out or hit the bottle (kind of like removing ketchup from a glass bottle). I apply it by rubbing the product between my hands and patting it all over my face. It does hydrate, soothe, soften, and moisturize, but I haven't used it long enough to see if it firms and improves my overall skin complexion. 


5. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Pearly Blossom Cream

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Claims: rejuvenate, moisturize, soften, and retain moisture.

This is a thick cream to be used after toner and serum. It moisturized and softened my skin when I used it before. It contains pink shimmers and leaves a noticeable pink sheen similar to Etude House's Nymph Aura Volumer. For me, I don't see the point in the sheen because I only use creams at night. If my skin was super dry, I would use it in the day and the pink sheen would serve the purpose of making my skin glowy.  


6. Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Petal Moisture Mask

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I don't use masks, but tried this once for review purposes. It has a nice rose scent and actual rose petals in the mask. When I tried it, I wet my face and left it on for 10 minutes. It was a bit hard to wash off. This is a bit weird (it's the only thing that I can think of), but the product and my skin felt exactly like when I wash off Nair's peach sugar wax off the paper clothes they provide. My skin didn't feel soft and I didn't see a noticeable difference.


Pros of the line:
-Softens
-Moisturizes
-Lovely rose scent 
-Pretty glass bottles

Cons:
-Shipping is expensive when buying it from Gmarket
-Overpriced when buying it from ebay and other online sites 
-Glass bottles are not portable
-Hard to get out all of the product

Overall, I like this line because it moisturizes, softens, and has a rose scent. The only items I would repurchase are the toner and serum.  

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