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Matcha is my go-to beverage choice for fall, but when it comes to skin care, I haven’t explored all that it has to offer. Turns out, matcha water is known for improving pore elasticity. As the enlarged pores on my cheeks continue to bother me, I figured this was a good time to check out SOME BY MI’s Super Matcha line. The Super Matcha Pore Care Starter Kit features trial-sized versions of four of the Korean beauty brand’s bestselling pore treatment products, including the Super Matcha Pore Clean Cleansing Gel, Pore Clean Clay Mask, Pore Tightening Toner and Pore Tightening Serum.
This pore refiner kit leaves skin feeling refreshed without any stickiness or oiliness. In addition to matcha water, the products are enhanced with naturally derived BHA to remove dead skin cells, as well as melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf water, salix alba (willow) bark extract, centella asiatica extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, houttuynia cordata extract, melia azadirachta leaf extract, sodium hyaluronic acid, madecassic acid, citric acid and lactobionic acid. If you’re looking to reduce pores or extract blackheads, whiteheads and sebum through deep cleansing, this kit is a matcha made in heaven for you!
Super Matcha Pore Clean Cleansing Gel
Formulated with 62% matcha water and konjac granules to provide a mild scrub, this cleansing gel removes sebum and impurities in pores with micro micellar bubbles. To use, lather up and massage over face. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
Out of all four products, the cleanser has the strongest scent. Although the fragrance is quite sweet, it smells slightly artificial. When dispensing the cleanser, its viscous and stringy texture tends to drip out of the squeeze tube and get rather messy. However, it fared well on skin. The cleansing gel was gentle yet effective, softly stripping away impurities and leaving my skin feeling cleansed and renewed.
Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask
Boasting strong absorptive power, this clay mask not only contains naturally sourced scrubbing agents and 102,000ppm of matcha water, it’s also enhanced with 120,000ppm of clay to cleanse pores, as well as sparkling water and glacier water to moisturize and soothe skin. After cleansing and drying your face, apply this mask evenly while avoiding eye and lip areas. Rinse off with lukewarm water after 10-20 minutes, or when the mask is completely dry.
Housed in a squeeze tube, the clay mask contains small gray particles that thankfully don’t feel abrasive on skin. It has a fresh, natural scent reminiscent of tea leaves. Other clay masks I’ve tried were usually quite thick, so I was surprised by how lightweight this mask was. Moreover, it didn’t dry too quickly, making it highly spreadable on skin. After use, my skin felt smoother and more hydrated.
Super Matcha Pore Tightening Toner
Formulated with 83% of matcha water, as well as sparkling water and glacier water to offer moisturizing and soothing care to pores, this toner absorbs excess sebum with Sebum Controlling Powder™. To use, dispense an appropriate amount of toner on a cotton pad and wipe over skin, patting lightly until fully absorbed.
The toner comes in a watery texture, and it has a subtle scent that’s slightly sour. I initially poured it directly onto my palm, but toner spilled everywhere due to the bottle’s big hole. I learned to stick with using a cotton pad, which will better catch the product. I was most impressed with its moisturizing yet non-sticky finish. Many toners claim to offer a barely-there finish, but very few truly live up to that promise!
Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum
This serum tightens pores and promotes elasticity for smooth, baby-like skin. It’s enriched with 93% matcha water, 0.5% Anti Sebum P™ and 1% SKINPORE CONTROLLER™ to control sebum production, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to provide moisture, and natural calming agents to soothe irritation. Use the serum after toner, applying evenly across the entire face and patting for better absorption.
Coming in a dropper bottle, the serum has a subtle fragrance and watery consistency similar to the toner. In contrast to the serum’s tangy notes, the serum’s faint scent contains hints of bitterness. Its texture was much less viscous than other serums I’ve used, but still coated skin well. It created a slight tingling sensation, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and rejuvenated.
Overall
Although I have not yet witnessed drastic differences in the size or elasticity of my pores, I did enjoy all four products in SOME BY MI’s Super Matcha Pore Care Starter Kit. None of them caused any irritation or breakouts, and they all left my skin feeling clean and clear.
I appreciate that the consistency of the products is much thinner than other similar products I’ve trialed, as I don’t like products that feel heavy on skin. I have already seamlessly incorporated the gentle Pore Clean Cleansing Gel into my morning routine. The Pore Clean Clay Mask’s mild scrub leaves skin texture feeling more refined, and I adore its fuss-free application and wash-off process. I’m also truly impressed with the Pore Tightening Toner’s non-sticky finish and the Pore Tightening Serum’s lightweight consistency. All in all, this starter kit makes for a great skin care regimen that’s sweet and simple.