The K-Beauty scene is really exploding here in the States right now. I’ve been sort of dipping my toe into it over the last year by picking up the occasional sheet mask or essence and sporadically dabbling with a 10 step Korean style skincare routine. But not until this past summer did I really dive in and start picking up on all the cool shit that is out there!

I by no means know even the tip of the iceberg (and it’s a big iceberg) but I’ve been steadily educating myself on some of the most beloved products and trends at the moment. One product in-particular that kept popping out at me was the much hyped, cult status face wash: SU:M 37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick

WHAT IS IT?

The Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick has a bit of a craze around it. In part because of it’s low PH, which is great to have in cleanser, but also due to its incredible packaging and excellent ingredients. It’s formulated without parabens, artificial colors or synthetic preservatives, in fact it contains 90% natural ingredients.

Now the brand SU:M 37 is on the higher end of Korean beauty lines with the core of the brand revolving around fermented ingredients. Fermentation is supposed to increase the potency of an ingredient, as well as increase the efficiency of the ingredients absorption. (That’s a pretty simplified version of something much more complicated) In fact the name SU:M 37 translate to su:m = “taking a break & breathing” and the 37 representing the ideal temperature for fermentation.

WHATS IN IT?

The Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick (or MRCS) uses Fermented Rose Damask Extract as it’s star ingredient (although not at the top of list). Rose is such a lovely, hydrating, calming and antiseptic ingredient. It’s one of my favorite ingredients to look for in cleansers, and I’m super intrigued by the idea of it having increase potency since its fermented. (also check out Gothamista’s video on Fermented skincare! Very helpful!)

The MRCS also includes a hefty amount of Glycerin (it is the first ingredient), although a cheaper ingredient it is a great humectant moisturizer (meaning it helps draws moisture into the skin). Other moisturizing ingredients on the list are Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, and Apricot Kernel Oil. Which all have additional benefits, like anti oxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamins.

I love seeing Camilla Oil and Green Tea on the list! Both are two of my favorite ingredients to look for in my skin care lately due to their high concentration of anti-oxidants. It does contain a few essential oil that some might find irritating like Lemon and Orange Peel. But I’ve actually found them beneficial to my skin since they are effective antiseptics on me.

Ingredients list From SokoGlam:

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

The soap also includes small bits of rose petals, which might be just for show, but I find a pleasant aesthetic touch. The stick I’ve been using has very small petal particles, but I have read those with larger chunk were bothersome to other users. Couldn’t care less! It’s so damn pretty!

WHY I LOVE IT and HOW I USE IT

Let’s get the superficial reasons for why I love it out of the way first. The Packaging. It’s so convenient, yet stylish. The light pink casing and gold lettering are so elegant and sophisticated. And for around $24 this long lasting cleanser seems extremely worth it’s hype.(Supposedly this cleanser was pretty hard to get your hands on a few months back. Luckily I snagged this during a good, replenished time and through a reasonably priced seller. I read of some people shelling out nearly $50 bucks for this thing. Fuck no. This thing is great but not that great.)

Now for the practical… I really adore this as a second cleanse at night or in the shower as my morning cleanse. I would not recommend this as a makeup remover/first cleanse. It’s beautiful, skin beneficial ingredients would be wasted as one anyways! It does an excellent job of gently cleansing my skin without leaving it feeling stripped. And it’s lovely rose scent is a wonderful bonus.

I apply it directly to a damp face, lather it up, and rinse off. I don’t like chancing any mildew growing on it since it is 90% natural ingredients, so I rinse off the top part of the soap after each use, and let it dry completely before replacing the cap. It’s super travel friendly like everyone mentions. It was excellent for tossing into my overnight bag for a recent staycation at The Line Hotel for my 30th birthday!

SU:M 37 MRCS is at total cult status now. It might not have been the first soap in stick form, but it defiantly created the hype that many retailers are following! It’s low PH has made it hard for people to dupe but lots of similar style cleansers are hitting the market! I’ve recently spotted a charcoal one from Boscia, an exfoliating one from Tarte, and a chamomile one from Belif that I am super anxious to try next!

You can find SU:M 37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick at a number of online retailers (SokoGlam!, MEMEBOX, and Amazon to name a few) But I’ve heard bad experiences of purchasing this item off of Ebay with people receiving expired versions! So be warned!