MENOKIN

MENOKIN is a face-care brand sold as K-beauty. Its name is printed in capital letters on every tube and bottle, with a large "30" at the centre of the packaging. At Ma Petite Coree, the selection revolves around two areas: sun protection and face cleansing.

According to the brand's Korean site, MENOKIN presents itself as minimalist skincare that saves time. That is the only source we have: the brand's history, founders, parent group and launch date are not confirmed by independent sources, so we would rather not state anything about them. This page therefore stays sober and sticks to what the product titles, photos and labels show.

The MENOKIN product names fall into two families. They come from the titles, not from a classification announced by the brand.

• Glow & Clear: Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen Bright, Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen Tone-Up and Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen Moist. These are SPF50+ gel sunscreens in a 50 ml size, offered in three versions, each with its own product page.
• Bubble Cleanser: the Pore Clear Bubble Cleanser, in a 150 ml pump bottle.

For sun protection, start by comparing the three Glow & Clear pages. The version name (Bright, Tone-Up or Moist) is the only difference visible in the titles: read each page's description, ingredient list and directions, then pick the one that fits what you are looking for. If your skin is sensitive or reactive, read the ingredient list carefully before buying.

Sunscreen goes on as the last step of the morning routine, in a generous layer over the face and neck, and is reapplied after long exposure, swimming or heavy sweating. SPF indicates protection against UVB and PA against UVA; the more "+" signs, the higher the stated UVA protection.

For cleansing, the Pore Clear foam is used like any cleanser: a small amount of foam on damp skin, a light massage, then a rinse. It can be your first step in the morning or the evening. If you wear water-resistant sunscreen or makeup, think of a makeup remover first, because a foaming cleanser alone does not always remove everything. Cosmetic advice, not medical advice.

Before you order, open the product page: it gives the size, ingredients and directions, which remain the best reference for using each product properly.

Each MENOKIN page details the size and product information: take two minutes to read it before ordering.

The first landmark is the "30" printed on the packaging, which echoes the "30 Seconds" name of the line. The sunscreen tubes and the cleanser bottle share the same typography, which makes the selection easy to recognise on a bathroom shelf.

The sunscreen tubes read "Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen" and "SPF 50+ PA++++". The cleanser bottle reads "Pore Clear" and "30 Seconds Bubble Cleanser", with a pump that, going by the photos, delivers ready-to-use foam.

Here is each MENOKIN product in the selection, described from its title and photos, without promising anything more.

• Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen Bright: a 50 ml SPF50+ gel sunscreen, Bright version.
• Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen Tone-Up: a 50 ml SPF50+ gel sunscreen from the same line, Tone-Up version.
• Glow & Clear Gel Sunscreen Moist: a 50 ml SPF50+ gel sunscreen from the same line, Moist version.
• Pore Clear Bubble Cleanser: a 150 ml foaming cleanser in a pump bottle; according to the brand's Korean site, this version targets blackheads and sebum.