Author:

***This review is not sponsored. Everything written is my own opinion, and if you are to use this product remember YMMV.

Product:

(Bottle says, “It helps remove waste matter from pores and exfoliate dead skin cells due to containing of refreshing lemon water and rich carbonated water, so your skin will become bright and healthy.”)

I picked up the Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel from Memebox a few months ago when I was first trying out their website. This product had mainly 5 star reviews from other shoppers and it was only about $10, so I thought I would give it a try. For those of you who are unfamiliar with peeling gels in general, peeling gels are physical exfoliators that are gentler on the skin, then say, sugar scrubs. They are meant to clear out dirt and oil from pores, as well as get rid of any dry skin you may have.

I started looking for a peeling gel, because I needed a gentle exfoliant since my skin had been more sensitive than usually and I was breaking out. Then, I came across this one on Memebox and I couldn’t resist such a great deal. The Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel claims to clear out dead skin from pores and to help brighten skin, which to me sounds like something I can get behind. I have been using it once every 1-2 weeks for the past 3 months or so and I have rather great experience with it so far.

Ingredients:

Front of packaging: shows product description in English Back of packaging: shows ingredient list and instructions in Korean

(Click on pictures to zoom in and read captions)

Here are the magical ingredients:

Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract- works as a skin conditioner.

Pulsatilla Koreana Extract-works as a skin conditioner.

Lemon- works as an astringent.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract- works as a skin conditioner and emollient.

Centella Asiatica Extract- works to smooth and soothe the skin, has anti-inflammatory properties.

Althaea Rosea Flower Extract-works as a skin conditioner.

Here are the cursed ingredients:

Carbomer- irritant rating of 1.

For the full list of ingredients and analysis, click this link.

How to use:

When first dispensed Wen first gently massaged Gently massaged for about 2 minutes; beginning of pilling Gently massaged for about 5 minutes; end of pilling

What Secret Key says to do:

**Taken from Memebox.com because there are no English instructions on the bottle

Use this peeling gel on dry skin.

Before washing your face, dispense an ample amount of the peeling gel and gently massage it all over the face until residues form.

Keep doing it for 5 minutes then rinse off with lukewarm water.

What I do:

I use this in between my oil cleanser and my water-based cleanser. So, I first use my oil cleanser to take off my makeup, rinse my face, then pat it dry.

I then dispense about a quarter size of product and dab it onto my cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin.

Then I gently massage it over my face until the product starts to pill.

I keep massaging until it has all pilled, then I rinse it off and continue with my water-based cleanser and the rest of my routine.

How it worked for me:

I really enjoy using this peeling gel. It is a messy, but fun and satisfying experience. I enjoy getting to massage my face and it’s also nice to see how much dirt the product picks up from my skin. It works wonderfully as a gentle exfoliator, especially in between my deeper exoliating sessions, in which I usually use a sugar scrub about every 2 weeks. Immediately after using it my skin feels much smoother and softer. My face also has a brighter appearance to it for a day or so after use. So far, I haven’t had any adverse reactions to it and feel it is safe for all skin types. It is perfect for people that may tend to overly exfoliate or for people whose skin is too sensitive for rougher exfoliators.

Pros:

Fresh, lemony scent that isn’t overpowering

Easy to use

Gently exfoliates, without over-stripping

Once wash off, leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed

Simple packaging

Travel-friendly

Affordable

Cons:

Can get messy when product starts to pill

Packaging could be considered unsanitary, because when you squeeze the bottle to dispense the product, some product could end up going back into the bottle

Final Rating:

Rating Scale

1-Bad, had a reaction, would not buy again

2-Did not work

3-Worked, but nothing special

4-Great product, but has the potential to be replaced

5-Holy Grail, it’s the cat’s meow!



This is a fun product that gets the job done, and works perfectly as a gentle exfoliator. I’ll definitely be using up the rest of the bottle!

Where you can purchase it:

Memebox for $10.00

Jolse for $8.80

BeautyNetKorea for $8.68

Amazon for $9.30 (available with prime if you have it)

**Be sure to check out our coupon code page for discounts on some of the sites listed above!