PinkSeoul is a monthly Korean beauty subscription box curated to your skin type. They focus on customized, full-sized, and curated products that are designed to guide you in your K-beauty journey of discovery. You can also shop their online store for more K-beauty goodies!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
PinkSeoul offers 3 subscription types. The PinkSeoul Box is $39.95 every two months with retail value over $60. The PinkSeoul Plus Box is recommended for subscribers age 35+, $49.95 every two months with retail value over $80. These two boxes are shipped bi-monthly and each box contains at least 4 full-sized items plus an accessory item. The PinkSeoul Mask Box is $29.95 every month with 10 customized mask products and an accessory item.
This review is of the PinkSeoul Plus Box for Oily skin types.
The Subscription Box: PinkSeoul Plus Box
The Cost: $49.95 bi-monthly + free US shipping
COUPON: Save 10% off your first box with code MSA10!
The Products: at least 4 full-sized K-beauty products customized to your skin type and an accessory item
Ships to: USA (free shipping), Canada ($8.95 shipping), and other countries listed here ($15.95 shipping)
Good to know: PinkSeoul and PinkSeoul Plus boxes are delivered every two months depending on which month you signed up. For example, if you signed up in May, your next box will be in June; if you sign up in June your next box will be in July. The boxes are the same for the May/June period, just shipped out at different times.
Check out all of our PinkSeoul reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add PinkSeoul to your subscription list or wishlist!
Prior to purchasing a subscription, PinkSeoul will ask you several customization questions. Items appropriate for your skin type will be included so be sure to figure out what your skin type is!
The May/June info card gives tips on how to incorporate new skincare products into your routine. It also lists the included products along with tips and instructions.
The Face Shop Rice Water Light Oil Cleanser - $17 (on sale at YesStyle for $14.16)
Oily skin type subscribers will receive this oil cleanser as part of the double cleansing process. Oil cleansers are great for breaking up oil-based cosmetics and can actually be great for oily skin (something about "like dissolves like"). What's especially great about Korean oil cleansers I've tried is that they emulsify into a milky liquid upon meeting water. No oily feeling after you wash it off. Not all oil cleansers emulsify, though, so I do my research before purchasing.
When you first pump it out, the oil cleanser feels like water. It has a light floral fragrance. Upon application it will turn into an oily consistency. When I add water the oil turns a little milky and washes off easily with the water. It does leave a remnant oiliness behind, but since I use the double cleansing method and continue with a water-based cleanser, this isn't a problem.
A'Pieu Pure Block Sun Gel - $14.95
This is a lightweight SPF 50 sunscreen that is perfect for my face! The info card muses that "individuals with oily skin seem to dislike the heavy feeling of sun protection" and I definitely agree with that. Not only does this sunscreen absorb easily, it doesn't feel greasy on my face and stays well under makeup. I also don't notice any increase in oiliness throughout the day. This one's a keeper.
Re:Cipe Slowganic Cleanser (Lemon) - $24 (on sale for $21)
I received a sample of this cleanser in a Memebox kit before and liked it. It's made with lemon extract, green tea leaf water, 17 different herbal oils, and contains 95% natural ingredients. Lemon is known for antibacterial, brightening, and exfoliating properties, which is just what I need for my skin. Also, it's low pH. The texture is like marshmallow putty-- you have to scoop it out with the included spatula and warm it up with fingers before it breaks down into a cleanser. It doesn't really foam up. I love the luxurious packaging and unique texture, but it takes more effort to use this than, say, a gel cleanser in a flip-cap tube. If I wasn't so lazy, though, I would totally feel pampered when using this fancy cleanser.
Closeups of the amazing Slowganic Cleanser packaging.
Secret Key Starting Treatment Mask - $5 (on sale for $3.95)
This mask appeared in the April PinkSeoul Mask Box and I really liked the plentiful essence but didn't like how sticky it was. The featured ingredients are galactomyces ferment filtrate and aloe, which help improve skin tone, hydrate, brighten skin, and increase elasticity. The mask fit was average but the watery essence felt soothing. I didn't really detect a scent.
5ildongan Bio Cellulose Mask (Ginseng) - $10
There was a 5ildongan mask in the May PinkSeoul Mask Box as well and I really liked trying out this new fancy bio cellulose mask material. The sheet mask is very wide and would probably fit the largest of faces. I detect the smell of alcohol mixed in with the floral fragrance, so I don't really like that. The fit was very nice and the gel-like material clings to my face comfortably. My face did feel a little sticky afterwards.
I received this mask in the April PinkSeoul Mask Box as well. I've said this multiple times now but I love this line of SNP masks. They fit really well, the essence feels great, and my face doesn't feel sticky afterwards. The fragrance is a little strong so sensitive noses should be aware. This diamond one has sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide, and diamond for hydrating and whitening properties.
FYI, whitening in K-beauty terms typically means brightening or improving your skin tone or lightening dark spots. However, there are some cases in which the skincare product cosmetically whitens your skin. From my experience, it just kinda looks like you have a white cast from using sunscreen or finishing powder, or like you're using foundation two shades too light. The effects are temporary.
Skinfood Bird's Nest Sheet Mask - $2
I received this same mask in PinkSeoul's April Mask Box. Bird's nest extract is supposed to provide skin with deep hydration. The creamy essence was definitely hydrating and the fit felt ok. My face was a bit tacky afterwards, though.
Berrisom Lip Tint Pack in Sexy Red - $15
I received this lip tint pack in a different color in the regular PinkSeoul March/April box! At that time I was very excited to try it out as I had been eyeing the product for months. Now that I've tried two colors, my findings remain the same. The product stings the lips if you have any sort of cracks or dried patches. It doesn't taste good. It's gooey and a little difficult to apply out of the tube, so you must have patience and a steady hand. Once the product dries and you peel it off, though, your lips are left with a vibrant stain that lasts for hours and hours. This lip tint has the highest longevity out of all the ones I own.
Before and after swatches of the Berrisom Lip Tint Pack in Sexy Red. The vampy red goop reveals a lighter reddish pink when peeled.
Skinfood Black Bean Eye Liner - $5
I do not like this eyeliner. It is pigmented but smudges very easily. It's great for sensitive eyes and doesn't bother my contacts, but oh boy does it migrate around my lids like a Slip N' Slide. The liner wears off after a couple of hours too. I need heavy-duty, smudgeproof, budgeproof, waterproof, contactproof, everything proof eyeliner. Unfortunately this isn't it.
The Face Shop Gold Nail Stickers - $5
These are gold nail stickers shaped as zigzags and lines. Summer is sandal season so it's perfect for bedazzling some toenails.
Holika Holika Cuticle Oil - $5
This is a nice little bottle of cuticle oil for all your nail care needs.
Heimish All Clean Balm deluxe sample - $2
This is a "first" or oil cleanser from Heimish (which is a new brand for me!). The cleanser comes as a solid white balm. Once you scoop some out and warm it up with fingers, the balm melts into an oil. When you add water the oil turns into a milky liquid and washes off easily with no greasy residue. It removes makeup very well and has a pleasing fragrance too!
Nature Republic Collagen BB Cream samples
These are BB creams from Nature Republic. They contain SPF 25. I think there is only one available shade.
Verdict: This was such a fantastic box! The product variety is amazing and I loved trying out all the items (except for the Skinfood eyeliner; that one wasn't for me). My favorite is the Re:Cipe Slowganic Cleanser and its unusual texture and jar packaging! Total value adds up to $104, which is more than twice the cost of subscription. I think a $50 subscription can be risky if you're unsure what products work for you. However, this is a top-notch box so far and I'd recommend it if you're interested in incorporating full-size K-beauty products into your routine.
What do you think of PinkSeoul Plus?
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