The innisfree secret
Not all of us are blessed with naturally good complexion. If your collection of skincare and beauty products far outnumber those of your peers, and acne scars still haunt you in your sleep; welcome to the problematic skin club. As part of the less fortunate majority, the never ending pursuit of perfect skin over the years unfortunately left my self-esteem dashed and my wallet devoured.
innisfree has long been my go-to product for all my complexion woes. And being both affordable and diverse in range, I was glad I no longer had to dedicate a chunk of my monthly pay to trying the latest skin serums and beauty treatments to fix my troubled skin.
In conjunction with their new launch, I was flown to the land of innisfree to find out the secret of their latest product.
Jeju’s gift to mankind
Some say that Jeju Island is the new Santorini, and we agree. Way before it was crowned one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the founder of AmorePacific Corporation, Mr Suh Sung-hwan had already recognised the purity and beauty Jeju had to offer. But beyond beauty, many locals swear by the healing properties of the island and its minerals.
Selected for its unique vegetation, and abundance of pure natural resources, most of the brand’s products contains unique elements of Jeju in it, and serves a different purpose. Here’s what we found about the brand and its products!
The innisfree Jeju House is more than a store
If you ever find yourself on a trip to Jeju, you have to drop by the innisfree Jeju House (이니스프리 제주 하우스). Jeju House is basically that all-rounded friend that has it all. He is good-looking, stores yummy snacks deep in his pockets 24/7, and is ridiculously well-informed about the best skincare products. Everyone wants to hang out with him. And hang out with him we did!
Officially opened back in 2013, you’ll find a lot more than skincare and beauty products at this innisfree heaven.
Sharing its grounds with an in-house cafe and the O’Sulloc Tea Museum, the flagship is the perfect one stop shop for all things innisfree. Fill your basket with all your favourite beauty must-haves, contemplate your haul over a cup of green tea, then educate yourself on Korean tea history and traditions in the museum next door.
The organic green cafe by innisfree uses healthy ingredients found on the pure Jeju island.
We were drawn to the ice blended shakes made with fresh local fruits like Hallabong – a fruit unique to Jeju Island. Hallabongs are said to be super rich in Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and C. That was all it took for us to finish every last drop of that magical shake. For beauty. *cue dramatic orchestra music*
We learnt more about green tea plantations and how innisfree cultivates and extracts their ingredients here in Jeju as well. The innisfree representative took us through the innisfree journey and how the brand was birthed in Jeju.
The store also has a Natural Soap Making Zone where visitors are invited to create their own soaps with the main ingredients seen in innisfree’s signature range of products like volcanic clay, green tea and tangerine.
The DIY area in the Natural Soap Making Zone
Address: 425 Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening Hours: 9.00am – 6.00pm, Daily (Business hours may vary according to season)
innisfree has its very own Green Tea Plantations
Lalang fields are passé. Frolick in green tea plantations!
Glance out the window of the innisfree Jeju House and your gaze will be met with a sea of green, spanning as far as the eye can see. You’re looking at the green tea fields of innisfree! The farm houses a wide variety of green tea species, and is entirely chemical and pesticide free. The volcanic soil of the island makes the tea particularly rich in minerals.
The same green tea leaves that go into making innisfree’s signature Green Tea skincare line which strengthens your skin to beat the ticking of the clock.
The island has amazing healing properties
The island of Jeju doesn’t only look magical, every bit of nature you see on the island bears healing effects – it’s almost magic itself. From its plants to its soil and sea, every plant and mineral is specially harvested for its unique properties.
Popular amongst both locals and tourists, the island of Jeju is made entirely of volcanic rock. The natural mineral is so abundant that you will even see some locals building fences out of these rocks, or decorating their gardens with them.
I’ve always known of innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Line, but never did I expect to see the volcanic rocks in the flesh. Now I actually know what I’m putting on my face. Made from scoria and minerals released during sporadic volcanic explosions, products infused with the volcanic ash are said to have deep cleansing and purifying properties that absorb sebum and other impurities from the skin.
We took a long coastal drive up Songaksan Mountain and enjoyed the breathtaking view at its peak. Amazing company? Check. Perfect weather? Check. We couldn’t ask for more. You can see nearby islands such as Marado, Gapado and Hyeongjeseom, Hallasan Mountain and the Pacific Ocean here!
These islands are super photogenic and totally #InstagramGoals. You get a workout and fill up your feed with kickass visuals. Quite a deal if you ask me!
High up above on Songaksan Mountain, or down below at Hyeopjae Beach, you’ll find innisfree makes the most of what the island has to offer by infusing all that natural goodness into their products.
The brand wears their green philosophy proudly and promises to protect nature and give back to the earth. We even partook in a little eco slipper-making class.
Provided with only recycled materials, we set off making our very own pair of green slippers.
Discovering the Korean secret to youthfulness
Apart from living out your favourite Descendants Of The Sun scenes, innisfree has found one more island miracle for them to harness – their Jeju Lava Seawater. And the best thing – you can now buy it in a bottle!
Unlike volcanic bedrock water and deep seawater, what sets Jeju islands’ Lava seawater apart is the fact that it’s filled with natural rare lava minerals. Harnessing the intensive hydration and anti-aging functions of vital minerals found in the Jeju Lava Seawater, their latest innovation effectively hydrates and firms tired, dehydrated skin – giving it a new lease of life.
It works by reinforcing the skin’s cells to help it stay hydrated by creates a strong moisture barrier by reinforcing the 3 moisture factors: Filaggrin, Caspase-14 and AQP3.
We were given a tour around the Lava Seawater Complex where we were educated on the benefits of the product and an innisfree product researcher even made the essence for us on the spot. Made from a combination of essential and rare minerals, the products in this line work to boost moisture and reinforce the skin’s firming properties.
Centre: Jeju Lava Seawater Lotion ($35) – improves oil/water balance of the skin and forms a moisture barrier
The new Jeju Lava Seawater line has a total of 8 products ($28 – $46) and will be available at all innisfree stores from 1 October. Your skin care routine is about to undergo a simple but massive change.
Find out more about their Jeju Lava Seawater range here!
innisfree is located at Takashimaya S. C., Plaza Singapura, Bugis Junction, Jem, Tampines Mall, VivoCity, Jurong Point, Nex & Tiong Bahru Plaza.
This post was brought to you by innisfree.
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