Manyo Factory: An Overview of my Favorite Skincare Brand

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Today I want to overload your eyes and brain with this brand that's really done marvelous things for my skin.

It's taken me months to write this post, many revisions. I didn't want to sound like an absolute nutter who was obsessed with a toner (spoiler: I totally am) and this brand. I kept on buying full sized bottles of the Manyo Factory products that I sampled and had to retake pictures. In the end I decided to write an overview of some core products, and separate posts for items like sleeping packs, eye gel, etc.

Galactomyces Niacin Special Treatment Essence ($26) and Bifida Lacto Complex ($30)

I've used 2x of each 23ml size, which is roughly the same amount as a full sized bottle and I quite like them. The Galactomyces Niacin STE features niacinamide to brighten the complexion over time. It's very watery, has a slight oily slip feel to it but absorbs easily.

Edited 5/16: There's currently a great deal (54 left in stock) of 50mL Galactomyces Niacin Special Treatment Essence at SweetCorea for under $16.

Ingredients (as per ManyoFactory website):

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate

Bifida Lacto Complex (left) and Special Treatment Essence (right).

The Bifida Lacto Complex feels more like serum in consistency. It feels moisturizing and my face always feels supple after application. These are two products where you see the results over time, give at least a month of use to reveal skin with lightened dark spots, smoothness and more even texture.

These products are both fantastic in their own way. I just think that my Missha Time Revolution Purple Ampoule does very similar things for my skin in a single step. Ingredients wise I would argue that the Special Treatment Essence and the Bifida Lacto Complex combo should be a tad bit better, as they forgo water in favor of Galactomyces ferment filtrate.

Bifidalacto Complex:

Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycerin, Physalis Alkekengi Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Hydrolyzed Algin, Red Ginseng Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Epigallocatechin Gallate.

Galactomyces Special Treatment Essence Cream ($45) and Cream Rich

They both smell a little like roses and a little like something slightly funky, that would be the fermented ingredients. I find that the smell dissipates really fast and what is left behind is super super and moist.

Regular:

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate Glycerin, Squalane Niacinamide, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate Sorbitan Olivate Isoamyl Laurate Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Coco-Caprylate, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus (Eleuthero) Root Extract, Copper T ripeptide- 1, Lactobacillus/Leuconostoc/Saccharomyces Abalone Ferment Extract Filtrate, Adenosine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ceramide 3, Tannic Acid, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract.

There's an easy way to tell if you need the Cream Rich version in your life: if you have to wonder at all, you probably don't need it. Only the most serious of peely skin would appreciate how intense the cream is. While I like what it does for the dry regions of my face, I have to admit that it's overkill. I have a few 40mL tubes, and just one tube will see me through the year because I need so little. Once I'm through, I'll be switching entirely to the regular cream, as it much lighter and less emollient. Both sink quite quickly into the skin, but the Rich version will not be doing oily skin any favors.

Cream Rich:

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Laurate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa FlowerFerment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) LeafExtract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) FlowerExtract, Tocopherol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Acanthopanax Senticosus (Eleuthero) Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Rose Flower Oil, Trehalose, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Adenosine.

Deep Pore Cleansing Soda Foam

I'm on my second deluxe sized tube. Not a bad cleanser at all, it is quite up to the task of removing quite a bit of oil and a decent amount of makeup. However it has a higher pH than many people like in their skincare routines. It foams up really well and has bits of organic matter in it, tea leaves, if I'm not mistaken. I probably won't repurchase not because it is not a good product, but because I'm currently enjoying the cleansing combo of cleansing oil + a foamless cleanser.

Ingredients:

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lauric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Diatomaceous Earth, Kaolin, Isoamyl Laurate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Sodium PCA, Glycol Distearate, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Morus Alba Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Powder, Red Ginseng Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder, Lactuca Scariola Sativa (Lettuce) Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Dioscorea Opposita (Wild Yam) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil.

Pure Cleansing Oil ($26)

Excellent at breaking down makeup, this oil smells slightly sweet & herbal. It rinses pretty cleanly and doesn't leave the skin stripped. Some cleansing oils take away too much from my face, some leave a film, but this is Goldilock's perfect porridge of a cleansing oil. Just right.

Left to right: Jordana FabuLiner, Colourpop Bae, Makeon Bronze Spectrum Waterproof Gel Liner in Glam Copper, Mehron iNtense Purple Heat.

Almost everything is removed, there's a tiny bit of Colourpop Bae left.

It doesn't get perfect marks, because it is not fantastic at removing sebaceous filaments like "drier" feel cleansing oils like my pre-2016 reformulation Kose Softymo Speedy or Muji Sensitive Cleansing Oil, but it is almost flawless. I enjoy enough that I've purchased two full sized bottles, after finishing two small deluxe sizes. This is the cleansing oil I use most of the time.

Galactomy Clearskin Toner ($26)

I feel like it's just not right to love a toner as much as I love the Galactomy Clearskin Toner. I started out with a couple deluxe bottles (one of which I promptly lost in Vienna. Womp womp.) but quickly found myself buying and stocking up on full sized bottles. I'm on my third bottle and I need to repurchase this ASAP.

I like that it comes in a spray, because liquid products that require me to use my palms or cotton to apply them experience like a 50% loss. The smell is slightly herbal, it fades really quickly (kinda like citronella?). I was originally in the camp of people who feel "meh" about toners, mists and essences but this completely changes my mind.

It skins super quickly into the skin and has this interesting property where it seemingly takes anything that was sitting on top of the skin with it. For example, the Missha Time Revolution Borabit Ampoule (reviewed here) sits kind of oily and sticky on top of my skin for a while, but if I spray the Clearskin Toner before and after, skin is satiny within a couple of minutes. Not only is this fantastic for shortening routines, but it makes heavy products that I deigned NIGHTTIME ONLY! usable during the daytime.

Ingredients:

Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Lactic Acid, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract , Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Sea Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract

Since I've been using this toner, my skin has never been so clear! My skin stays blemish free most of the time (other than that TOTM) which makes it easy to pinpoint when a new product is causing me grief. Actually another thing I wanted to mention: I've tried over a dozen Manyo Factory products and I'm beyond thrilled that not a single one of them has caused any sort of reaction. It feels like winning the skincare lottery! I'd estimate that almost 75% of products cause some sort of reaction, so it's an absolute dream to try this many skincare products in a row without rashes, burning, and redness popping up.

My favorite US stockist of Manyo Factory products is Melody Cosme (sign up for the newsletter for a 15% off code) while KoreaDepart and eBay are great if you don't mind the wait. There's also a Manyo Factory website that offers free shipping over $100.

Is there a skincare brand that you're feeling pretty loyal to at the moment?

Products featured were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.