Su:m37 has gorgeous packaging of course, but they also make excellent (if expensive) products.

Heh.

Heh...

Low pH foaming cleanser (click here to read about why the pH of your cleanser is actually a big deal )

) Is cosmetically elegant, delicately wrapping your skin in a luxurious froth of fermented rose

Has a novel packaging/application method that is travel-friendly

In this post:

Methods of use and length of use

Ingredients Analysis

Where to purchase it

Alternatives/Dupes

Final thoughts

Full product name

Purpose

pH Level

Scent

Quantity

Availability

Rating

Repurchase

Empty tube vs new tube fully extended; there is a fair bit

of product that can be scraped out of the tube as well

(click image for large size)

Rub the stick directly on your wet face, like a giant chapstick, and then lather it into foam with your hands (this is the method in the directions)

Rub the stick directly onto wet hands, and then lather it into foam between your hands

Rub the stick onto a wet foaming net like the one in the picture below

Rub the stick onto a wet facial brush, either a manual one or an electronic one, like the Clarisonic

Rub the stick onto a wet, expanded konjac sponge, squishing the sponge a bit until it works up a lather

Foaming net + high pH cleanser

L-R: Moistened Konjac Sponge,

Clarisonic, dry Konjac, Foaming Net.

Ingredients Analysis





Be warned, the MRCS causes breakouts for many people, so before you rush off with wallet in hand, check to make sure there's nothing in it that you tend to react to:





Per sokoglam.com , the ingredients are:

Glycerol, Water, Orange Peel Oil, Lime Peel Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Green Tea Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Basil Oil, Ylang Ylang Flower Oil, Marjoram Oil, Fermented Damask Rose Extract, Apricot Seed Oil, Olive OIl, Sunflower Oil, Betaine, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Camellia Oil, Tocopherol, Rose Flower Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauryl Betaine





Yes, I really have purchased this many. Two empty, one full; not pictured: the tube I sent to my mother in Canada There are actually quite a few potential triggers in this product, per the There are actually quite a few potential triggers in this product, per the Cosdna ingredients list

Coconut Oil - Acne trigger: 4/5, Irritant 1/5 . Coconut oil is comedogenic for many people.

. Coconut oil is comedogenic for many people. Olive Oil - Acne trigger: 2/5 . Like coconut oil, Olive oil can also be comedogenic.

. Like coconut oil, Olive oil can also be comedogenic. Stearic Acid - Acne trigger: 2/5 , and Lauric Acid - Acne trigger: 4/5, Irritant 1/5. Stearic Acid and Lauric Acid are both fatty acids, specifically surfactants. This is a cleansing product, after all. Lauryl Betaine is also a surfactant, but doesn't pull up any flags. **Edit: Cosmetic Chemist Stephen Alain clarified that the fatty acids are more likely working to solidify the product, the actual cleansing mechanism would be provided by the Potassium Hydroxide. Thanks Stephen! You can drop by anytime! ;)

, and Stearic Acid and Lauric Acid are both fatty acids, specifically surfactants. This is a product, after all. is also a surfactant, but doesn't pull up any flags. Tocopherol Acne trigger: 2/5. Vitamin E!

The plant oils and extracts include anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, moisturizers, and emollients. This is a very gentle cleanser, but has some very common acne culprits so it's best to do your research before you plunk down $40 on a cleanser when Olive oil makes your skin break out.







Where to purchase it





I prefer not to buy from eBay is that there is a high risk of getting 'old stock' (I'll talk more about that later) and this is a natural soap product, which means that it can go bad, change texture, the botanicals can lose potency, etc. I have heard many sad stories of eBay MRCSs that didn't foam up, barely smelled like roses, or were otherwise different than usual, so freshness does matter! That being said, if you have an eBay gift card or balance that you are trying to unload, you can get them on



TesterKorea (although they don't stock it normally) and KoreaDepart for about $29+$9 shipping, so $38 in total. You can also purchase them from Korean resellers like(although they don't stock it normally) andfor about $29+$9 shipping, so $38 in total.

$35-$50 including shipping . Amazon Prime has totally changed this game; like I said you can get them on Amazon for $20-$25. Generally speaking, you'll find that the MRCS will be around. Amazon Prime has totally changed this game; like I said you can get them on The reasonis that there is a high risk of getting 'old stock' (I'll talk more about that later) and thisa natural soap product, which means that it can go bad, change texture, the botanicals can lose potency, etc. I have heard many sad stories of eBay MRCSs that didn't foam up, barely smelled like roses, or were otherwise different than usual, so freshness does matter! That being said, if you have an eBay gift card or balance that you are trying to unload, youget them on eBay for $25







Alternatives/Dupes









So right now, there are no dupes.





That doesn't mean you don't have alternatives! If you are looking for a low-pH foaming cleanser, there are many Western ones available, and a few Asian ones as well, such as the Missha Super Aqua Oxygen Micro Visible Deep Cleanser and the Hada Labo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Foaming Wash.







Final thoughts





Do I like this product? Yes. I have 2 empties to prove it. Do I think that it's an HG (Holy Grail)? No. I have tried the Missha Super Long Name Bubble Stuff (seriously Missha, what is it with you and your crazy long names?!) and I found it quite drying/stripping compared to the MRCS. The MRCS is nice, but it's not mind-blowing for me.





Su:m37 has such stellar packaging; the embossed

floral pattern on the cap is such a nice touch

(click image for large size) Also, part of the frenzy around the MRCS is that it is hard to find. It went out of stock for a very, very long time (supposedly due to limitations of raw materials for the ~fancy rose~ ingredients) and even now that it's back in production, it's still scarce.



Friends in Korea report that it's not even sold openly in the stores; you can get it, but they keep it under the counter and bring it out if you ask. Also, part of the frenzy around the MRCS is that it is hard to find. It went out of stock for a very, very long time (supposedly due to limitations of raw materials for the ~fancy rose~ ingredients) and even now that it's back in production, it's still scarce.Friends in Korea report that it's not even sold openly in the stores; you can get it, but they keep it under the counter and bring it out if you ask.





Yes, it has a low pH (I have tested it myself each tube, and it has been pH 5.5), yes it is gentle, yes it smells like fermented rose gorgeousness. Yes is very travel friendly, yes it has a cult status, but let's be blunt here- this is soap. A nice, low-pH, luxurious facial soap. This isn't going to magically make your skin look 10 years younger and leave your skin hydrated and plumped with health.





Also, the coconut and olive oil is a definite problem for many people, so I am grateful that my skin doesn't react to either. I plan to continue to test out other, cheaper, low-pH Asian cleansers and if I find one I like better, I'll happily switch- but until then, I'll keep purchasing the MRCS as a faithful standby.





And it smells pretty. Mmm. So pretty.

-Cat





** Disclaimer: All products reviewed/mentioned in my blog, are 100% purchased with my own money, with a single exception of a press sample I tested & reviewed in 2015 which swore me off of them forever. This blog contains both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and clicking the former before you shop means that this blog may receive a small commission to assist in this blog supporting itself. Please see my Contact Info & Disclaimer policy for more information.

Today I'll be reviewing the much-buzzed-about, hard-to-find, ever-elusive. I just finished off my 2nd tube and I am about to crack into a brand-new pristine one, so I figured now was a good time to review it while the new tube is still untouched and pretty.Nonetheless, it is what'sthe packaging that counts, right?If you are at all interested in Asian cosmetics, you have probably heard of the mythical MRCS; it's rarely stocked, sells out immediately, and is usually offered at exorbitant prices when available. It causes buying frenzies, backups purchased before the first has arrived, and other questionable shopping practices (not that any of these apply to me.) It's almost like a Korean Beauty goal:So you might be asking, what is the fuss about? The primary benefits of the MRCS, in my opinion, are as follows:And that's it. You might be looking at that list and thinking "this thing is so hyped I was expecting it to pay my mortgage and take me on fabulous vacations to Spain" and I do think that people get a bit too caught up in the buzz, but I have also purchased 4 of them and only have one left. Clearly it's got something goin' on for it.LG Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing StickA foaming cleanser, which is either used as a sole cleanser or as a 2nd cleanser to clean off dirty oil cleanser as part of Double Cleansing, which requires your foaming cleanser to be both effective but ultra, ultra gentle. To learn more about Double Cleansing, click here Consistently 5.5 using multi indicator pH strips, which are more accurate than the solid-colour type.One of the main attractions of this product, it has an intense rose scent, due to the infusion of rose oil, rose petals, and fermented rose ingredients.80g, which is a substantial amount- read on to see how long it lasts with 2x daily use.It does tend to go out of stock regularly from all vendors, but I'll list a few places I've purchased/see it regularly available below.4/5. It's not an HG for me, but it's the best low-pH foaming cleanser from Asia that I have tried so far.Already have, repeatedly. I have purchased 4 in total; I repurchased 2 for myself and one as a Christmas gift for my mother, who has mature, dry skin. (Aka completely opposite of me.)As I mentioned, I've gone through two of these, using a variety of application methods so I'm pretty confident about how long it will last you.A single tube, used twice daily,, depending on the cleansing method I use with it. (MRCSs can be pretty expensive, but considering that it is a 'luxury' product from a 'prestige' brand, $30-50 is reasonable for a product that is going to last you 400+ uses.I've tried many methods of cleansing with the MRCS, and it worked fine with all of them although I have found some worked better for my skin than others.I have used the following methods:This is the 'official' method in the directions, but I find that it uses way more product that I need, and I don't like that it requires me to work the product into a lather using my face as the foaming platform.I think it agitates the face more than necessary, and it can also be a bit stripping, so if you don't want to get fancy with tools, I recommend that you go with:Wet your hands, rub the stick onto a palm/fingers, and then work the product between your hands until it forms a nice amount of foam, then apply it to your also wet face.The benefit of doing it this way is that you can put next to no stress on your face, since all the agitation required for foam will be done before it gets near your skin.This method works really well for most cleansers, and I've used it with great success on my old high-pH cleansers like the Shiseido Perfect Whip (I still miss you, you glorious skin-barrier-weakening beast; we had a good run) as it lets you take otherwise stubborn cleansers and whip up huge piles of pillowy, dense foam.But it's terrible in combination with the MRCS, which doesn't produce the same high-volume lather that people expect unless you useof your precious, expensive cleanser. You can use a small amount and still get decent lather, but I'd use the hands-only method over this.Clarisonics are not for everyone, as they so easily overwork your skin. I do use mine semi-regularly, such as when I notice that my chemical exfoliants are not taking care of the gunk trying to congeal/oxidize in my pores.I do so very cautiously, however, because I don't find that the MRCS has a robust enough lather to cushion my face from the bristles (and I have a very light touch when I use this) whereas my old high-PH cleansers formed a dense barrier of foam between skin and brush.I also find that the bristles tear through the product, thus using more than the other methods, but don't produce a lot of foam for the quantity of product used.This is my preferred method, because it uses very little product but still produces a generous enough amount of foam to cleanse my whole face. I soak the sponge under running water (or a bowl of water) until it's rehydrated, give it a squish to squeeze out some of the water, rub the stick on the surface of the sponge, and then give it a few stressball-style squeezes to work up the lather. Then I gently rub the soft, foamy sponge over my face in small circles, rinse, and done. Fast, easy, uses the least product, and Konjacs are less than $3.I purchased my first MRCS from(unboxing), purchased one from(I do not recommend this) and then purchased from a seller who isn't stocking them anymore, but you can find them on Amazon for $20-$25 The reason I prefer Amazon Prime over eBay is that Amazon is pretty hardcore about counterfeit goods from its Prime sellers, and well ... Prime. 'Nuff said. I haul products from Korea directly all the time (you can see my latest Avecko haul) but if you're feeling intimidated at the prospect of shopping overseas, you can stick to US sellers if you're willing to pay for the buyer protection and fast shipping.