Review ★ Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner

Hello everyone!

Today, I will be reviewing the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner! I don't have many skincare products that I rave about since I'm pretty particular about them, especially when it comes to products that advertise that they minimize pores but are not that effective throughout the day or even in the long run. But I have finally found a product that does what it claims to do effectively!

Description
(Taken from the Etude House ebay listing/Etude House website)
The Wonder Pore Freshner is a total solution for pore troubles. It is an astringent toner with antiseptic properties that removes oil, dirt, germs, and residues for clear, healthy skin.

It claims to do 7 of the following:
★ Deep cleanse pores
★ Control sebum
★ Keep the ideal pH balance (4.5 ± 1)
★ Tighten pores
★ Brighten skin tone
★ Prevent enlarging of pores
★ Prevent skin troubles

It is 6 free, so it doesn't include: parabens, mineral oil, artificial fragrance, artificial pigments, talc and animal ingredients.

It contains their anti pore-dex complex (Korean pasque flower, dandelion, chrysanthemum, and hinoki cypress extracts) Those ingredients are used to treat acne and inflammation, soothe the skin, and cleanse the skin more thoroughly than the general ingredients in soaps and cleansers. It also contains astringentlex (rose geranium, lotus flower, great burnet, gambier, and cinnamon extracts), which is supposed to suppress the production of excess sebum by tightening the pores. Those ingredients enhance firmness and elasticity of the skin.

As many of you may know, there's a full line of Wonder Pore products. There's a freshner/toner (also comes as a mist), foam wash, mask, etc. I bought this toner because I really wanted something that was lightweight and worked well (previously, I was using a Caudalie toner but it didn't really do anything). The product comes in 250ml and 500ml bottles, so you can opt for a smaller, more convenient size if you'd like! If you have the bigger bottle, you can pour it into a mist bottle and use it as such, instead of actually buying the mist.

It comes in a cute box that lists all the benefits and whatnot. Most of it is in Korean, so I didn't include the other information on the box (which basically is about the benefits/usage/etc.). Instead of the typical pump, it has a dispenser that is like the ones on the bottles used in nail salons, or the make-up remover/alcohol bottles at the Sephora make-up applicator stations. It's a lot easier to control how much product comes out unlike the kind of pump that most liquid foundations and toners have. I find that those kinds of pumps usually squirt out too much product onto the cotton pad, especially if the toner has the consistency of water :<.

I have only been using this toner for around 3 weeks now, and there's a visible difference in the pores on my face. After a few weeks, the pores on my nose were visibly smaller and more refined, so my skin looks and feels a lot smoother. I hope the larger pores will shrink with time too OTL. It doesn't feel drying, and it doesn't give me that 'tight' feeling either. There's a slight cooling sensation after putting it on my face ^^, which feels nice~  My face looks a little brighter after using it too! I feel like it does control sebum since my face doesn't get as oily throughout the day (but it's still unavoidable if it's boiling outside), and I don't have as many bumps around my nose/forehead now.

There isn't any sticky residue after it is absorbed... I don't know if it's just me, but some toners leave a sticky residue or film on my face that makes me feel really greasy afterwards >_<.

The one thing I kind of dislike about it is the scent. It smells like alcohol, although it's not a strong scent, it can be off-putting to some. It's less bothersome after multiple uses since you get used to the scent. But I think the results trump the mediocre scent anyways.

I think this would be a great product for those with combination or oily skin or those with pore troubles. Although I don't feel like it strips my skin of moisture, it is still highly recommended to apply moisturizer afterwards, especially if you have dry skin. But keep in mind that what may work for me, may not work for you, since skin tends to vary from person to person! Generally, other reviews for this product are very favourable though.

Pros
+ Pores are visibly smaller after daily usage
+ Does what it claims to do for the most part (I don't know about the pH thing LOL)
+ Hygienic packaging
+ Gentle
+ Cooling sensation without the 'tight' feeling
+ Comes in multiple sizes
+ No sticky residue
+ Skin feels clean and smooth after it's absorbed

Cons
- Scent

Rating: ★★★★★

Where to buy? I bought it from for worldmarket201010 $20 CAD (link). That seller also sells 25ml sample bottles. You can find it in most online stores if they stock a large range of Etude House products ^^, or on ebay. The 250ml bottle is around $13-15.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. In my opinion, it's a great product for it's price, since it does a lot more than any other toner I've used so far. It's a little more expensive than drugstore toners, but it isn't as expensive as high end toners. But I haven't been using it for a long time yet, so I don't know if it'll continue to yield results after longer usage. But I would buy it again if it effective until I finish the bottle!

Have you tried any of Etude House's Wonder Pore products? 

What is your current/current favourite toner?

I won't be posting for a few weeks, since I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I have classes the day after. So I will do my August haul, and maybe a giveaway after I get back, since I have a lot of samples and unopened stuff (like fake eyelashes, masks, and some others).