Innisfree Jeju Bija Anti-Trouble Cleansing Gel Review

G'day!

Before getting started on this review, a small disclosure. This product was purchased with my own money and I have not, in any way, been paid to advertise any of the links in this post - they are all based on my own judgement and personal experiences.

For my first review I'll be looking at Innisfree's Jeju Bija Anti-Trouble Cleansing Gel (hereafter referred to as "this product" because that name is way too long for me to type out repeatedly). I've been using this product for the last 4 months and it has become one of my absolute favourites.

Appearance

*angelic choir*

There's nothing particularly amazing or noteworthy in terms of the packaging design, although it's handy that the bottle is see through so it's easy to get an idea of just how much (or how little, in my case!) is left. One feature that I love is the pump for dispensing product which means no messing around with squeezy bottles trying to get an appropriate amount out. The top of the pump also has a handy "twist to lock" feature making it easier to travel with as it's not going to suddenly spill everywhere.

While handy, this feature doesn't make for a particularly exciting image

The gel is transparent without a typical gel texture. The consistency is closer to being watery than a true, sticky gel.

Excuse the glare from my incredibly pale hand

You can see in the above picture how runny it is. Just turning my hand to get the right light to take a picture caused it to dribble off!

Ingredients

The transparency of the bottle can make reading ingredients a tad difficult

As far as acne-causing and potential irritants go there is only one red flag on cosdna (full analysis can be seen here) for tocopherol, with a rating of 2 (the highest being 5). If you have any sensitivity to tocopherol or vitamin E products, make sure you patch test thoroughly before trying this product or consider something more suitable to your needs. It also contains salicylic acid (a chemical exfoliant and active ingredient in many BHA’s). Note that this doesn’t make the product an exfoliator as cleansers don’t spend enough time on your skin for it to actually have an exfoliating effect.

Full list of ingredients from cosdna. Click to make big.

Aside from these, there are a range of natural ingredients in the form of flowers, oils and plant extracts. The “bija” part of the gel is advertised by Innisfree as having “hardy properties [to] gently smooth skin and enhance the skin's natural defense system”. I can’t attest to having noticed any significant changes in that respect (particularly when compared to all the other things I’m putting on my face on a regular basis!), but maybe it’s doing some background janitorial work or something.

Apparently this is what bija looks like *shrug* (picture: Innisfreeworld)

Performance

Being a gel cleanser, it's very easy to apply evenly and without any resistance or snagging of the skin. I find that 1 pump is usually sufficient to get enough coverage, with 2 pumps if my face is feeling particularly in need of a good, thorough clean.

One area where this product falls down is its ability to remove heavier makeup and sunscreens in one go. As a morning cleanser, it’s perfect. But one of the sacrifices made in order to keep it gentle on the skin is a loss of cleansing ability for heavier products. I use a cleansing oil to gently melt and remove any products from my skin and follow up with this gel to wash off any of the oily residue to leave my face fresh, clean and ready for some actives! It makes an excellent second cleanser as a part of the double cleansing process.

pH

Since the great pH revelation of 2014 (see Snow Whiteand the Asian Pear and Skin & Tonic’s posts for an explanation on why the pH of your cleanser matters) a low pH has become one of the most desirable aspects of a cleanser leading to the development of whole products being developed around this concept. The neutral pH of water is 7, but this can vary depending on where you live and whether or not you utilise a rainwater tank for your fresh water needs. On average, tap water will fall within the 6.5-8.5 pH range. If you’re interested in determining the pH of your water (and don’t have easy access to test strips or a pH meter) try looking at your local water supplier’s website or any scientific studies conducted in your area.

Why is this important? One of the things that isn’t as often discussed in regard to cleanser pH is the effect the water in your area will have. Most cleansers advise wetting your face and hands before applying the product and by doing this you’re actually altering the pH of your cleanser.

Innisfree Jeju Bija Anti-Trouble Cleansing gel sits at a low, low pH of 3. I haven’t tested this myself, as I don’t have any method of doing so, but AB blogger Pico Prince has done so here, and his is an analysis that I consider trustworthy. While this might seem low for a cleanser (and it kind of is!) when mixed with the pH of your water the pH jumps up to somewhere between 4 and 5. This is ideal for applying your active ingredients immediately afterwards and reducing the need for a pH adjusting toner. Which means more money to spend on masks, serums, essences, actives and other fun things!

Did someone say "masks"?

Scent

In terms of scent, the gel is an inoffensive, fresh smell. That said, I have read some reviews where people mentioned it was a bit strong and chemically. In the name of science (and fair reviewing) I gave my bottle a big whiff to re-evaluate it and I can definitely see where those comments are coming from. It’s sort of a tree-like scent (something similar to pine or tea tree), but leans a little to the unnatural side. Personally I find no issue with it – it doesn’t stick around on the skin afterwards – but if you’re sensitive to smells it might be a factor to consider before purchasing.

 Summary

 My bottle has lasted 4 months with twice daily use since I bought it in September and it’s only just getting close to running out now. So it’s pretty safe to say that you’re getting good value for money!

I'm about to run out! *sob*

In fact, the only reason that I haven’t replaced my bottle yet is because I have the new CosRX Morning Gel waiting to be tested. If that doesn’t end up working, I’ll definitely be coming back to this one!

  

Pros

• Gentle enough for sensitive skin
• Spreads easily and evenly – really glides on with no resistance
• Leaves skin feeling fresh and clean (without being squeaky or shiny!)
• Fairly priced
• pH balanced
• Pump dispenser

Cons

• Scent may not suit everyone
• Not ideal for removing heavier makeup/sunscreens
• Non foaming

Okay, I know that last con is a little unfair. It’s in no way marketed as a foaming cleanser, but foam is my personal preference. I’ve actually found that my skin isn’t a huge fan of foam as it tends to create dry spots in the susceptible areas around my mouth (one of the joys of combination skin!), but there’s something just so satisfying about turning your face into a cloud of bubbles. Maybe it’s a psychological thing? It’s as if seeing some evidence of the wash coming off reassures you that it was actually doing something in the first place, even if that’s not the case.

Anyway, as far as cleansers go, this is my absolute favourite. Of all the types I’ve tried nothing has come close to knocking it off its HG pedestal (although the CosRX low pH cleanser that I’m testing next month could potentially be a rival!). It’s not flashy or overly fancy; it just works.

Final Rating

I'm very satisfied with this as a secondary cleanser. It ticks so many of my boxes with only a couple of things that could be improved upon, giving it a solid...

4.5

Ratings Key
1- *hiss*

2- Keep at a safe distance from your face

3- A resounding "meh"

4- Decent product, would repurchase

5- Holy grail worthy

+5- Snail Jesus in product form

Where to buy

I purchased my bottle from a physical Innisfree store in Korea, but it’s also available through a range of online retailers.

Jolse $17.88 (plus discounts it’s usually down at around $15)

Testerkorea 10,560won

Innisfreeworld $14

(prices in USD unless otherwise stated)