March 20, 2013

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish Review & Swatches

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish 6

I’m kinda obsessed with Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish at the moment. If you’re enjoying the Etude House Baby Choux Bases that released with the Etude House Sweet Recipe Collection I urge you to check this base out as it is a similiar product idea.

Take a peek!

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish 1

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish is a multi-use base, cream, and sun screen all in one. It comes housed in a tiny screw top jar decorated in butterflies. Most all of Holika Holika’s products have a potion style of packaging and this kinda resembles a romantic potion of some sort you’d find in a good fairy’s closet.

The turn off of the product, and this is where I suggest going with Etude House’s version if you don’t mind the lack of an SPF, is the scent. This falls victim to Korean’s typical skincare scent…it’s kinda a Charmin Toilet Paper scent. The scent is a fresh floral but it’s kinda an overwhelming fresh floral that I’m not particularly fond of. Literally it smells like toilet paper. Once applied the scent does diminish but during application I kinda curl my nose up until it goes away.

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish 2

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish 4

So what is this stuff?

It’s a multitasking cream base of sorts which whitens, brightens, has an SPF 25, and hydrates skin. I typically use it to prep with prior to foundation but don’t use it as a moisturizer. This type of product is a common primer amongst Asian brands and most brands have some sort of variation of it. It might sound odd but it relies on the sunscreen to give skin a pasty white appearance which eases dullness and creates a brighter appearance when foundation is worn over it.

This is thicker and offers a good deal of moisture when applied. It’s a pale white almost soft lilac shade if you look at it closely. It absorbs easily into skin and leaves it whiter after use. I realize whiter sounds weird but once you apply foundation or BB Cream on top it doesn’t have as pasty a finish and merely brightens while easing dullness. You can use it alone as a makeup of sorts but you’ll want to do so on a more forgiving skin tone that it’ll adjust too accordingly and that would be a paler one than medium or darker. I consider myself a medium fair and this does indeed make me look pasty if I don’t wear BB Cream on top of it.

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish Swatches 1

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish Swatches

However, I personally like the way it blurs my skin and gives it a soft focused, brighter, perfected look. I think it looks very GOOD under a BB Cream and gives your foundation product of choice a little boast and amp up!

I got mine directly from Korea but I searched on Evil-bay and quite a few shops have it available at a reasonable price!

Anyone try it?

Do share!

I purchased this item.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  • Ella

    I’ve been looking at that for a while and I’ve been a bit iffy on buying it. It looked to me in the promos that it might have a pearly finish, I can’t tell from your photos if it does or not though?

    • the Muse

      no pearl thankfully, I can’t do pearl well, would make my rounder face look awful! It’s just a brightening/whitening effecting sans any shimmer/sparkle.

  • kiwikiwidragon

    OMG, i think i might have to seek this out. i have been looking for something just like this, i just didnt know it until i saw it, does that sound crazy?

  • Jane

    oooo i’ve been wanting to try one of these korean bb cream primers, i think this is the one!! i’ve really been needing something with extra moisture this winter x.x, if i may ask which seller from ebay did you buy from??

  • Spooki

    I see this says for normal and dry skin, do they make one for oily skin? This product sounds nice. I have been looking for something to help ease my dull winter skin.

  • Alanna

    Etude’s baby choux base does indeed have SPF 25!! ^_^ I’d still love to give this a try, but maybe as a sample if I can find it. I’m loving my mint baby choux way too much *_* it’s the best thing ever <3___<3

    • the Muse

      you’re right reading the box now ha ;-D I love the berry and peach ;D

      • Alanna

        I think I want the berry too, the peach is tempting but sounds a little dark for me. 🙂 are you gonna review soon? even when I already own things I’m always curious to see your take lol!

        • the Muse

          I am indeed, believe it is scheduled to go live tonight actually alanna (or could be tomorrow don’t quote me). Berry and Peach are quite similiar shades imho! but both are well worth picking up ;-D should work great for fairer/medium tones.

  • Jes

    Application question for you Muse. I have the Etude House Choux base, but the application is kind of weird. I’m afraid of going too heavy handed, because it’s smeary, then blotchy, when it comes to blending. Wondering if this product is similar, and how you handle it. Thanks!!!

    • the Muse

      confused jen, I didn’t get an applicator with the base. I only got a spatula. What sort of applicator did you get with yours?!

      • Jes

        Oh! No applicator, just spatula. I meant application method. Sorry for not being clear. LOL

        • the Muse

          jes that was me not you, I read applicator. I’m having one of those weeks where I dunno where my head is. forgive me. what’s your skin like? I’m drier and I didn’t have the same issue. I typically take a small amount and place it on the inner corners of my nose (up high) and take my two point fingers, press them to my nose and smooth down and outwards, making almost a half moon on my face (hope this makes sense). I keep my fingers against the areas of my nose I applied so it warms up slightly before I blend it out. Hope this made sense 🙂 as you blend you can incoporate your middle finger so you’re covering more area, also don’t apply on your forehead.

  • Jes

    I’m combo. Drier in the winter, and frankly, drier as I get older. I used to wish I was drier side of the fence, but both sides suck! >_<

    Anyway. Thanks soooooo much for this! I was applying to my forehead, and having most issues there. I'll just try to keep this and all primer application to the center of my face from now on.

    I hear you on crap weeks. Things are so freaking hectic with work, and I'm am so over winter. High of 30 here in Pittsburgh. NOT OKAY. Hope things look better for you as you get closer to the weekend 🙂

    • the Muse

      I agree, either side sucks 😀 Typically drier in the winter for me, more combo in the Spring, bit oily in the Summer, I’m all over the map. Unless you’re a normal skin type (does that really even exist?) anything sucks lol! We all have our issues. My pleasure. I wouldn’t apply on your forehead because it looks a little odd, the whitening kinda has an odd mirror effect on the forehead and it reflects back unnaturally, or it does in my opinion ;-D a friend of mine also felt the same. Have you tried applying primer before this? I realize it is a base product but a little primer before helps it to absorb quicker 😀 I’m about the same my dear so I can totally relate. Work is nuts the past two months, having hard time keeping up with everything 😀 and very cold here too more snow predicted? WHAT?! I can’t WAIT for the weekend 🙂 <3! Hang in there, this too shall pass 😀

      • Jes

        No, I haven’t tried primer beforehand. Maybe I’ll try a tiny bit. I think part of the reason I want to love the etude choux base is that it, and the whole line smell amazing.

        I’ve decided that I hate snow. Let’s start a petition to ban snow for all months outside of December 😉

        Thanks again!

        • the Muse

          try a little revlon photoready if you have it handy, it creates a nice smooth base for this to adhere to 😀 gosh I must be the only person alive that wasn’t smelling anything great?! they smell ok, but it’s really subtle…and almost plastic like!? What am I missing!? GRRR! my nose is broke! LOL! 😀 AGREED or at least on snow days it’s a law we stay home, veg, and watch tv. ;-D my pleasure. keep me updated? I’d like to see how you make out! I admit I purchased both because I’m kinda obsessed with whitening/brightening bases.

          • Jes

            I don’t have the Photoready. I may pick it up since you think it’s awesome. Color correcting or perfecting? Do you think it’s better than Dior Capture Totale or Laura M Radiance? Primers are weird for me. HG Veil is too dry in the winter. Missha BB Boomer is decent. Seems like everything but those make my skin really unhappy. I think my skin is just getting old and crotchety.

            I will definitely keep you updated!

          • the Muse

            it really is nice stuff jess ;-D either one is a good formula color correcting or regular. They are kinda different products so can’t really compare them tbh! I’d try the Photoready, it’s a lightweight silicone that’s very breathable! I’d be interested to see what you think ;-D HAPPY WEEKEND btw!

  • Elaine

    Hello Muse!! (:

    I’ve read both your reviews on the Baby Choux Base and Real Skin Miracle Base, but I can’t decide which to get? Lol, wish I could justify getting both. I don’t live near any Asian beauty marts so trying out samples isn’t an option :/

    If you help point me in the direction of whichever brand that would much appreciated!

    p.s. I love the dewy skin look and am always looking at ways to be fairer (not pasty white though!), I’ve read that baby choux feels powdery after rubbing into the face, not sure if this translate to a powdery visual as well? I’m at NC 25!

    Thanks so much, and have a lovely day!

    • the Muse

      hi elaine I haven’t reviewed the baby choux yet. I prefer the Etude House one as I’m not keen on the scent of the Holika Holika one :-/ I didn’t get the powdery effect to be honest, it has a soft finish but not really pwoder finish. I’d def go with the Etude House ones versus the Miracle Real Skin 🙂

      • Elaine

        Thank you for your reply! ordering the baby choux right now (:
        a soft finish sounds amazing, can’t wait to read your review on it, I’m an avid follower of all of your posts (: thanks once again x

  • Jessica

    i think i like etude one better. The packaging is prettier, made of glass and the color isn’t as white as this one, plus there’s spf. But holika won in launching it, it had it before etude

  • Christi

    I ordered this and the étude baby choux in peach and berry…I couldn’t decide which so I got both…lol

  • Kat

    Ahh the infamous TP scent. Hihi, I have this in the oily/combi variant and still found it too oily for my skin after an hour. I found a new use for it though, I use it on my legs and arms 😀 It’s no substitute for a real moisturizing lotion, but it brightens my arms and legs and leaves a nice sheen to it.

    • MaryMary

      I am over 50(try not to laugh,girls!)and I discovered the miracle skin product about 2 years ago-I find it is wonderful on my neck and arms and legs…I wouldn’t dream of using it on my face as it is very heavy in the “moisturizing” aspect…(I still have a bit of something called adult acne and I have to be ever so careful with anything heavy on my face)
      What I am discovering is that it really works on lightening freckles and improving skin tone, not as a cover up,but as a therapeutic cream…I have to admit,I have given this stuff to a couple of friends.One is in her early 80’s and suffering from age marks on her legs.She used about half of the jar and so many of the marks simply faded,or healed…it was remarkable….Hope they keep making this product for the next 30 years while I am alive!

  • Christi

    You’re right, It was def worth getting both baby chouxs, I love each one! Except with the scents, my experience was the opposite of yours-the peach one def smells peachy, and it’s the berry one that just smells like playdoh lol. Ioh and I’m so pale, they both match my skin perfectly, especially the peach, and they brighten it up so nicely! I don’t even need bb cream overtop if I don’t want, I just use a lil concealer & I’m good to go. I still haven’t gotten this Holika one yet tho, so I can’t wait to compare the two. Btw, are u gonna review the It Cosmetics CC Cream soon? I just got it and the Smashbox one, and I haven’t worn the Smashbox yet because I’m enjoying the It one so much! My new obsession is CC Creams lol. The Western brands are doing much better with CC’s than bb’s IMO.

    • the Muse

      hey christi sorry delayed reply! I get the playdoh a little too lol! 😀 I think these are better than the HH one. I did already eep! that’s how delayed I am replying apologies 😀

  • chocolate

    Hello !
    What is the difference between this cream and BB cream ?

  • Issabelle

    Will this look odd on tan skin? I use to be very pale when I was younger but since I’ve moved to Arizona I’m a little tanned.

    • MaryMary

      Nope! I use it on my neck and décolleté (which gets way to red in the summer) and it evens out the skin tone wonderfully.It’s really worth trying out,I feel, from my own experience using it.

  • Melanie

    I own this in purple and I alternate with the Baby Choux from Etude House in mint. This gives me such a ethereal look.