REVIEW: Sophiemonk Strawberry Blackhead Bye Bye Set

WARNING: This post contains unpleasant images

Hello everyone.

Its been far from awhile since I post anything. I was too busy on my classes and due dates so I tend to reach home very late and exhausted. Sorry! So today I am back with a new review (not so new because this review is supposed to be done on first application cuz it's that good LOL). I used to remove my blackheads and whiteheads using Biore Pore Pack which is super easy to use, no messy dripping of any sorts and effective (not to mention painful). But to some extent, I found out that my blackheads and whiteheads came back the day after. At first I was used to it (I thought its normal) because I never use any other pore pack before until I actually use this. Sophiemonk Strawberry Blackhead Bye Bye Set. I've been using this for 4 times already and the results are all the same. Which is good by the way. I bought this at nattacosme for RM40 of approximately 12 USD. Here are the photos.

Sophiemonk Strawberry Blackhead Bye Bye Set

Directions and claims

Ingredients

Product

Basically, the box came with three steps; step 1, step 2 and step 3. From the first picture, you can see the number on each item stated 1, 2 and 3 and that indicates the step. When I first open the box, it smells like strawberry or bubblegum. Smells yummy. All of these steps have the same scent which is strawberry scent and it is not overpowering. Before usage, you must of course cleanse your face but what I did was applying peeling gel to remove dead skin cells, then I continue on charcoal mask and later I use this. It took me several hours before sleep to finish the whole routine but it works wonderfully!

As you can refer to the picture above, step 1 acts as sebum softener. I think the only reason I love this product is the sebum softener because it makes the whole process so much painless and effective. Before usage, the bottle came with a rounded seal (which I forgot to take picture of) on the end on the tip. I need to cut the rounded tip to start using it. The tip is narrow so to prevent overflowing. Same goes for the bottle on step 3. The texture of the step 1 is colorless slightly thicker than water consistency. I can say the texture is like a very diluted glue, like a sugar dissolved in water, or thin oil something like that.

Move on to step 2. The step 2 is actually the mask itself. They call it sebum purifying mask. It is opaque pastel pink in color and in very thick consistency. It is glue like, gooey kind. It is thicker than PVA glue consistency but not too thick as it can easily glides through skin (especially when it is wet). It has this micro beads on it but I am not sure the purpose of it. I think it is meant to lift dead skin cells? Here is the photo before usage.

The tube's seal

The last step is step 3. Step 3 is basically to close back the pores opened previously due to step 1 till step 2. They call it pore treatment essence. The consistency is almost the same as step 1, it is colorless but this time it absorbs in the skin. I do not know if it is even useful because I will later put on pore tightening sheet mask on my face as to close the routine.

How I use it

I just put the step 1 around the places I want to use the mask (step 2) on which is around my nose area, forehead near the nose and my chin. When it runs on my skin, it feels oily. It states that I need to massage it on my skin for 3 minutes so I did (not the whole face though). Later on I need to rinse my skin with water and I decided to rinse well until the residue lessen (which is when the oily feeling slightly disappeared). I can't remove it thoroughly as it is not easy unless if I use facial cleanser but I did not. After that, I took a warm cloth (dipped in hot water then squeeze the water out) and put it on my face until the cloth is back to room temperature. I repeat this step for 3 times (approximately 5 minutes) and then I rinse my skin once before the second step. I need to make sure my skin is still wet to apply step 2 which is the mask.

For step 2, I applied it on the area I applied step 1 previously but I will make sure I apply it thick enough until I can no longer see my skin color. Just pure pastel pink. This is to ease the peeling of it later when it dries up. I always wait for 45 minutes to let it dry thoroughly but some areas are too thick that it dries up longer than other portion. So I do suggest using this when you are not doing anything but watching TV or so because you might need longer time depending on the thickness of usage and the weather. After the mask dried up, it looks like a plastic on my skin. Shiny. I then need to tear it from bottom to top but the painful part is to start the peeling on the ends of the mask. I need to use my nails but sometimes I just roll the ends until the ends started to peel. Peeling might take awhile but I assure you it is painless. I often get slight tingly feeling (slight itchiness that stays for hours) on my nose after using biore pore pack but I don't get it for this one.

Before step 3, I rinsed my face with water to remove residues from step 2. I will then apply step 3 on the areas I focused previously and pat it until it is fully absorbed.

---------------------------------------WARNING: Gross part is coming. Click on images to enlarge-----------------------------------

Effects

If you entered this section of the post, you are brave enough. I don't even dare to put up these photos but I have to disclose everything. LOL. And now for the creepy part, the results! Tadaaa. Let pictures tell everything.

Nose area (I have to darken this picture a bit because the actual picture is too bright due to the reflection)

Close up (wanna puke now?)

I must say, I am very impressed. Those pictures are of my own experience. On my chin and forehead, there are not much of it came out but I think blackheads often accumulated on the nose area anyways. On the first usage, I did it on my brother actually. He applied it all over his face but not too thick that he had trouble peeling it. So I really do suggest you put on a thick layer as I mentioned earlier. But the shocking part is, on his chin area, something came out quite long black thingy (which I thought it was his hair but it is not) and it grossed me out! Euw right? He said for the first time in his life his skin felt like breathing again. Yeay! After usage, my skin felt so soft and my pores seems invisible (which I do have enlarged pores to start with). I am serious. It felt too good that I kept on touching my nose. I can't say all blackheads pulled out but the visible ones are. After a week, my nose started to feel bumpy (due to the presence of blackheads/whiteheads) so that is when I apply it again. But a week without blackheads should be good enough for me. I have been using it 4 times and the amount is still half full with the fact that I put a thick layer of it and on 60% of my face.

My ratings:

Effectiveness: ★★★★★ (definitely!)

Packaging: ★★★★☆ (its cute, hygienic and easy to use but nothing catchy to me as I don't fond pink)

Price: ★★★★☆ (it is rather expensive but it does what it claims though there are other brands with same concept plus a cheaper price)

Long term effect: ★★★★★ (I love it that I am blackhead/whitehead free for a week to compare with biore pore pack)

Overall, I do highly recommend this to anyone out there who concern on their blackheads/whiteheads. Aren't we all? Some other reviewers said that it is not working for them but do take note that the warm cloth is very crucial in the routine. If you are too lazy to use cloth, you can just take hot water in a big bowl and steam up you face for a few minutes. Or just simply use steamer. The first time I tried it on my skin, I forgot to use the warm cloth. I found out that there are not much came out and later on the second usage, I used the warm cloth and the results are the pictures shown. I hope this review helps!

Regards