This product was sent to me for review purposes.
If you have been following my reviews, here or on Instagram, you will remember that I previously tried out some products from Soroci and had a really great experience with them – in fact, their toner mist is still my absolute favourite and I need to get another bottle.
I have recently been trying out a new release product from their brand and I have to say that they are definitely living up to expectations – a beautifully gentle, effective and easy to use product that is designed for daily use!
These are their Fucoidan Peeling & Soothing Pads, which come in a set of two. They are recommended for morning and evening use respectively but, of course, they can use them how ever works best for your skin. These pads are hypoallergenic, hence also suitable for sensitive skin. They both have different ingredients and functions too so I will go more into below.
So, let’s kick into this review!
What is Fucoidan?
I can’t find a straightforward product description for this (since the official Soroci website chooses to describe these two products individually) but these pads are essentially a set of say and night skincare pads. Although they have different formulations, both of them use Fucoidan – which is actually a very new ingredient to me.
According to scientific research, “Fucoidans occur naturally in the cell walls of brown seaweeds. They function to protect the plant from water-borne pathogens and other environmental challenges” (source). It’s actually a very widely used ingredient in Japan, being an essential part of the Okinawa diet, and is known for being the ‘secret’ to a longer lifespan.
In the past, this is definitely an ingredient that was mostly researched for dietary purposes so information about it as a skincare product are relatively sparse. However, I did come across from findings about the benefits of Fucoidan-use on skin – you can read the full article here (which is pretty interesting) but here’s a summary:
- Speeds up skin recovery
- Slows down signs of aging
- Helps the regeneration of skin cells
- Can also help minimize skin pigmentation (sun spots – not bleaching)
In the Soroci Fucoidan Peeling & Soothing Pads, this ingredient is used in conjunction with either PHA (for the removal of dead skin cells and sebum control) or Propolise Extract (to help soothe and calm irritated skin).
Packaging
So the packing of these Soroci pads are really cute and, to be honest, I expected this from them. The brand has a very modern approach to their design aesthetic and they have always really spoken to my personal tastes. The packaging of this did differ from the previous Morning Drizzle Collection that I reviewed, but maintained the style that I liked.
This product comes in a pink and blue box with a slightly glossy, textured finish. The design is very bold with the large numbers, clearly listing that there are two different tubs in this set. Please note that these tubs are not sold separately, so they really are designed to be used together (or consecutively). This will become an issue if you prefer one over the other, so I hope that Soroci does release the two types individually in the future.
Opening it up, you get the two plastic tubs – these have a matte finish with the number, text and logo printed in a gloss, which is subtle but gives the impression that the quality of the packaging is nicer. I actually like the plastic used for these tubs though – they are relatively lightweight and sufficiently sturdy. They also have a a softer lid inside to keep the product fresh (which can be made airtight by pushing down the center) and the actual tub also closes smoothly too. Since both tubs are quite small – containing 35 pads each – I think that these would also be good for travel.
In addition, it also comes with a pair of semi-opaque plastic tweezers to help pick up the pads easily.
Ingredients – Fucoidan Peeling Pad
The first ‘step’ in this duo is the Fucoidan Peeling Pad which, as I previously mentioned, contains both the Fucoidan compnent and PHA to exfoliate dead skin and also control sebum. This would be especially good for people with combination skin (like myself) who want something quick and simple in the mornings. Here are the ingredients:
Water, Algae Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Collagen Extract, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Extract, Morus Alba bark Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Propolis Extract, Lycium Chinensis Fruit Extract, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
Personal Experience
These peeling pads are really saturated – almost a little bit too much. The embossing on the pads are quite fine so, when combined with how much product is in them, I find that there is very little to no physical exfoliation component. It does have a chemical exfoliation component though, which is both effective and gentle enough on skin for daily use. It also have a very refreshing citrus scent that dissipates on use – I personally love it, though others might be sensitive to it.
To use these pads, you basically swipe over skin with the embossed side for exfoliation and then swipe the softer side again to pick up remaining debris. I find that the different between the two are actually quite minor so I’m hesitant to say if they make too much of a difference.
Overall, I don’t mind these. I think that they’re good to use in the morning and – if anything – I actually like the hydration benefits from it more. By keeping my skin refreshed and supple, it also helps with my oil production during the day though doesn’t completely control it (though might if I use it for longer). It also helps to lift any minor dead skin from the previous night and give me a smooth base to do my make up over. It hasn’t changed my life but it’s a nice product and would be especially good for sensitive skin types.
SO WHAT IS IT?
An exfoliation pad with Fucoidan and PHA – recommended for day time use
RATINGS (Price point taken out because it’s sold out on the website)
- PACKAGING | 5/5
- SCENT | 5/5
- APPLICATION/USE | 3/5
- EXFOLIATION | 3/5
- SEBUM CONTROL | 3/5
- HYDRATION | 4/5
OVERALL RATING? 7.7/10
THOUGHTS? These are okay – they have some benefits for my skin and work really well in my morning routine so I will continue to use them in the morning. However, the effects that I’ve seen have not been dramatic enough to really blow me away. This is probably be better suited to someone with less stubborn skin and who likes more gentle formulas.
Ingredients – Fucoidan Soothing Pad
The second step of this product – which is recommended to use at the end of the day – is the Fucoidan Soothing Pad. It uses Fucoidan and Propolis Extract to help soothe and calm irritated skin – effectively letting it take a break after a full day of environmental irritants and what ever other abuse we put it through (for me, that would be a full face of make up). This one can be used either wiped over skin for quick application or as a mask to help the product full soak in. Here are the ingredients:
Water, Propolis Extract, Algae Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Extract, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycerin, Panthenol, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Morus Alba bark Extract, Propolis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
Personal Experience
The pads are very nicely saturated and give an instant cooling sensation when applied, most likely due to the cool material of the pads as these do not contain alcohol. They also have the same citrus scent as the others and, once applied, the scent is still there but becomes a lot gentler – I actually find it quite relaxing. I liked to use these soothing pads as a mask over my cheeks, which tend to have some issues with redness when it is especially dry so this method helps the product to fully soak in.
That being said though, the actual pads are a lot thicker than what I’m used to so I find that they don’t adhere to my cheeks the best. They are made of a tightly woven sort of cotton (?) so the pads don’t dry out easily (meaning you can use them as a ‘mask’ for quite a while) but are easier to use just swiped over. Although I like to use them as a mask functionality wise, I just know that I can’t move around much with them.
Overall, I think that these are the pads that I get more consistent use out of because I love the soothing benefits and how it makes my skin feel afterwards. My only complaint would be the thickness of the actual pads but, aside from that, I like these and think a lot of people would enjoy them too.
SO WHAT IS IT?
A thick cotton pad to help soothe skin, using Fucoidan and Propolis extract
RATINGS
- PACKAGING | 5/5
- SCENT | 5/5
- APPLICATION/USE | 3/5
- SOOTHING | 5/5
- HYDRATION | 5/5
OVERALL RATING? 9.2/10
THOUGHTS? This one is a clear winner out of the two. Aside from the cotton pad thickness issue, the actual formula and effectiveness of these pads are really good and I never forget to use them at night because of this. I actually hope that Soroci will release these individually in the future because I am going through this tub at lightning speed.
I would be recommending for people to try this, especially those who suffer from redness or dry skin. These are a great way to end the night.
And those are my thoughts on these pads! The Fucoidan ingredient is so new to me and I was really interested to be doing more research into it. My opinions above are pretty solid but, as I slowly work my way through the rest of these tubs (and it won’t take long), I want to see if the Fucoidan ingredient has more long term benefits. I will definitely keep people updated in my instagram.
Have you guys checked out Soroci yet? They are a relatively new kbeauty bramd but I definitely think that they’re on the right track. Jump on their website to check out these Fucoidan Peeling & Soothing Pads or – even better – check out their Morning Drizzle Bucket (review here) because that is my favourite forever!
