K-Beauty Sparks Joy... Or Does It? A Brutally Honest Review

After a few days of anticipation, I finally carved out some time to try this intriguing product. The instructions directed me to soak a cotton pad with the solution and leave it on my T-zone for 15-20 minutes to "melt" the blackheads. Then, rinse. My initial enthusiasm waned a bit. I had envisioned a leave-on product, not something requiring rinsing. It reminded me of the Ilso blackhead product I had tried previously, but that one only needed 10 minutes. 20 minutes felt like a significant time commitment!

The packaging, unfortunately, added to my growing disappointment. It felt cheap and flimsy compared to the sleek, matte finish of the Ilso packaging. Regardless, I dutifully soaked a cotton pad and placed it on my nose. My skin was feeling a bit neglected that day, so I hoped this product would deliver some much-needed magic.

Fifteen long minutes later, I removed the cotton pad. Nothing. Absolutely nothing seemed to have happened. My blackheads remained stubbornly in place, seemingly mocking my efforts. I rinsed my face as instructed, but still, no change. Total bust.

While I might continue using it to see if anything changes over time, I'm not optimistic. The overpowering witch hazel scent also detracted from the experience. I don't usually mind a bit of witch hazel, but having that strong scent trapped under my nose for 15 minutes was not pleasant. First impressions: not great. The cute packaging, however, remains a redeeming quality. If you’ve tried this product and had a different experience, please let me know! I'm genuinely curious if I'm missing something.

• Water
• Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water
• Butylene Glycol
• 1,2-Hexanediol
• PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• Salicylic Acid
• Panthenol
• Allantoin
• Ethylhexylglycerin
• Disodium EDTA
• Fragrance

While editing this blog post, I realized I forgot to mention something crucial. I’m a huge advocate for oil cleansing. The principle of "oil dissolves oil" makes oil cleansers incredibly effective at removing sebum and blackheads. I suspect my lack of impressed with these pore care products stems from my positive experiences with oil cleansing. They just don’t compare to the results I achieve with a good oil cleanser. I wanted to clarify this point, as it might explain my seemingly harsh reaction. I wasn't trying to be unduly critical, just honest. My expectations were likely skewed by my love for oil cleansing.

My first impression: watery texture, lovely grapefruit scent. The fragrance felt natural and refreshing, not at all artificial. But…it was sticky. Like, really sticky. While it imparted an instant glow, I could definitely feel it sitting on my face. The sticky sensation was reminiscent of the pressed serums, which is why I eventually stopped using them. It felt heavy and somewhat suffocating, despite the initially watery texture. Not a fan of the finish.

Now, this is a niacinamide serum, so I didn't expect immediate, dramatic results. I have some stubborn hyperpigmentation that I doubted this serum could erase overnight. For the price (around $30!), I wasn’t convinced it was worth the investment. If you enjoy a tacky, glossy finish, you might appreciate this serum. But for me, it was a no. I even had to wash my hands after application because they were practically glued together.

Despite my initial reservations about the sticky finish, I felt that this serum might help even out my pore texture over time. Similar formulations have proven beneficial in the past. By evening out skin tone, these types of serums can make pores appear less prominent. The application itself was smooth and milky, but the tacky feeling intensified once the serum settled. Keep this in mind if you’re considering this product. It’s definitely not a lightweight serum. While nicely packaged, the Blythe Targeted Blemish Serum ultimately left me feeling a bit disappointed. I had hoped for a light, glowy serum, not this sticky mess. Let me know your thoughts if you’ve tried it!

• Water
• Niacinamide
• Propanediol
• Butylene Glycol
• Tranexamic Acid
• Alpha-Arbutin
• Glycerin
• Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
• etc. (Full ingredient list available on product page)

The packaging was…basic. Like, old-school Olay basic. A simple, unadorned tub. No fancy design elements whatsoever. The scent transported me back in time – it smelled exactly like Johnson & Johnson baby lotion. Very nostalgic, but not very K-beauty.

I applied the cream to half of my face first to compare the moisturized side with the un-moisturized side. The texture was undeniably creamy, perhaps even a bit too creamy. It felt potentially comedogenic. The formula contains hyaluronic acid, so it provided immediate hydration and plumpness. It also felt very cooling upon application. I wasn’t entirely sure about the finish, though. It felt tacky, as if designed for makeup application. It set quickly, but I didn’t see a significant visual difference. However, it definitely felt moisturizing.

Overall, it’s a decent moisturizer. Nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary. If you need a basic, affordable moisturizer (around $12), this is a perfectly acceptable option. But if you have other moisturizers on your wishlist, I’d recommend prioritizing those. This one is very…baseline. Peptides, hyaluronic acid, and that’s about it. Not bad, just not particularly exciting. No “wow” factor. It effectively moisturizes and locks in hydration, and the tacky finish is indeed suitable for makeup application. It spreads nicely too. But the fragrance is a major drawback. It smells strongly of the 90s! Removing the fragrance would instantly elevate this product.

Despite my dislike of the fragrance, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the application and spread. It’s a good, no-fuss moisturizer, especially for younger skin or those on a budget. It’s like a slightly elevated drugstore moisturizer.

• Water
• Glycerin
• Butylene Glycol
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
• Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
• Niacinamide
• Cetearyl Alcohol
• etc. (Full ingredient list available on product page)

The packaging is simple and minimalist, reminiscent of Beauty of Joseon or Round Lab. I applied it directly to my face…and whoa, it was thicker than I expected. While it spread reasonably well, there was a definite white cast. I blended diligently, but the cast lingered, giving me a slightly ghostly appearance. False advertising! It felt sticky and thick, not very “layerable” at all. One layer was more than enough. I decided to wait two hours and assess the finish.

Two hours later, the finish wasn’t terrible. Not as greasy as I had anticipated. But it was still very sticky. Layering was definitely out of the question. Perhaps I had applied too much initially. I decided to try a thinner layer.

A thinner layer improved the situation somewhat, but it didn’t provide much coverage, which is concerning for a product claiming sun protection. I also disliked the strong floral scent. Comparing the touched-up side to the untouched side…I wasn’t a fan. This was not the lightweight, feathery application advertised. It felt heavy and greasy. My hands were slick, and I could definitely feel it on my skin. It wasn’t as bad as a typical physical sunscreen, but for a chemical sunscreen, it was surprisingly greasy. I couldn’t understand how they could market this as a “perfect layering” lotion. It didn’t layer well at all. It felt cakey and thick. I’d choose a sun stick over this any day. Ultimately, I was disappointed.

• Water
• Dibutyl Adipate
• Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
• Ethylhexyl Triazone
• Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
• Niacinamide
• etc. (Full ingredient list available on product page)