Etude House Wonder Pore: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

You’ll Have to Pry These Products Out of My Cold, Dead Hands

By Raima

Part Two aka a cursory reading of a Buzzfeed list changes life of online shopper

I’d been reading rave reviews of Korean skincare products on almost all blogs from here to Timbuktu and I was eager to jump on the bandwagon myself, but what to buy? Which brand? Then came an article on Buzzfeed list and I read about the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener and thought, “Hmmmm… Sounds interesting...” Two days later, I placed my order on Jolse. My skin has thanked me ever since. 

Pictures cannot express my love for you  Pic Courtesy: Raima

Product Details: 

• Price: USD 14.48 for 250 ml. 
• Shelf life: Again, not available, though I hope it is long since I only ever need just a tiny little bit. 
• Ingredients: Water, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, Seawater, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus medica Limonum, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Oryza sativa, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Leaf Oil, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Taraxacum officinale, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol

The product is available in two sizes, 250 ml and 500 ml and the bottles for both are different, in the sense that the 250 ml bottle is lacking the pump available for the 500 ml bottle. 

Wonder Pore Swatch   Pic Courtesy: Raima

It is colourless with the consistency of water and smells a little like alcohol, I guess. It is a pleasant smell though and doesn't linger around for hours. The usage instructions are: after cleansing, use an appropriate amount on cotton pad and wipe gently, let the leftover toner fully absorb into skin with gentle patting. May be transferred into another container to use as mist. 

Before and After results of using Wonderpore  Pic Courtesy: Raima

Now for the actual review. 

The Good along with product claims: 

• Maintains ph 4.5 to within 1 ph: I have no means of measuring this but yes, my skin does feel healthier 
• Refines the skin tones: A BIG YES!! My skin looks brighter as a result of my smaller pores and even my mom said my skin looks better, and honestly, that is all I need to repurchase. 
• Keeps the elasticity of pores: Again, no means of measuring 
• Deep cleanses pores: Yup, applying this feels like a game of “Did you think your skin was clean? Nope!” The amount of gunk it pulls out is mind boggling, I've had make-up residue pulled out of my squeaky clean skin 
• Minimize appearance of pores: YES! YES! YES! It works, my pores are smaller, instead of them being the first thing I notice about my face, I actually have to look very close to find them, as a result, my skin looks brighter 
• Control a large amount of the sebum (oil control): This is where it is a little meh. The days I've skipped my moisturizer and used only my toner, I find my skin rather oily, not as oily as before, but oily. 
• Moisturize inside and outside of skin: Skin feels hydrated and plump due to the hyaluronic acid present in the product. 
• It is 6 Free: No parabens, mineral oil, fragrances, artificial pigment, talc, animal ingredients 

The Bad: 

• Again, none, though the oil control could be better. 

The Ugly: 

• It contains alcohol so use it if you have no issues with alcohol in your toner, it doesn't sting or irritate the skin like an alcohol toner though. 

My rating: /5

So that is my review, what is yours? Have you used it? Liked it? Hated it? Hated me?  Let me know in the comments.