Truthful Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm 2023 Review

This post is a review about the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm.

I'm a big fan of Korean skin care and I had always come across the Tony Moly brand but never tried any of their products; until recently. 

One of my local stores was selling a few Tony Moly products and the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm happened to be one of them, so I purchased it.

Keep reading if you want to know whether you should buy the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm or not.

About Tony Moly

Tony Moly, founded in 2006, is a cosmetic brand from South Korea.

They offer a variety of skin care products, targeted to any skincare issue you might have.

The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm

The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm is a sulfate-free, phthalate-free and paraben-free balm that by self-heating opens clogged pores, extracts excess sebum and removes dirt, oil and dead skin cells

It contains charcoal to eliminate blackheads and whiteheads, removes toxins and purifies pores, egg yolk to maximizes moisture on the skin and sea salt to purify residues.

First Impression

The packaging is made from environment-friendly materials which means the production of environmental waste is reduced.

The packaging was very cute and funny, the balm comes in a smooth egg-shaped container.

You'd think is filled with a lot of product but only the small bottom half of the container is filled.

The balm has a very strong lemon fragrance, I'd rather use products that are fragrance-free but since the balm is not for external use I kept using it because the formula was gentle on my skin.

It's up to personal preference what skin care ingredients you mind or don't mind using.

The exfoliating balm has soft beads that gently exfoliated my skin without causing irritation or skin tears.

The Benefits

This balm contains ingredients that provide the skin with so many benefits (the following ingredients are the ones provided by the Tony Moly brand):

Glycerin

• Cleanses the skin by washing dirt and grease without overdrying the skin. 
• Hydrates and moisturizes the skin.

Butylene Glycol

• Provides the skin with a smooth and moisturizing texture.

Niacinamide

• Builds keratin.
• Improves skin barrier.
• Regulates sebum.
• Minimizes the appearance of pores.
• Moisturizes the skin.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Protects against UV damage.
• Treats hyperpigmentation.
• Protects against oxidative stress. 

Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract

• Fights free radicals to prevent DNA damage and skin cell death.
• Speeds up cell and tissue regeneration.
• Tightens the pores.
• Reduces redness and blemishes.
• Relives skin irritation.
• Soothes the skin.
• Has anti-inflammatory properties.

Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

• Fights free radicals to prevent DNA damage and skin cell death.
• Cleanses the skin.

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

• Fights free radicals to prevent DNA damage and skin cell death.
• Brightens skin tone.
• Reduces skin damage caused by UV.
• Inhibits tyrosinase.
• Prevents melanin synthesis.
• Relieve facial redness by shrinking skin capillaries.
• Relieves inflamed and itchy skin.
• Has anti-allergic, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation properties.

Hydrolyzed Collagen

• Increases blood flow to the skin.
• Improves skin elasticity.

Tocopheryl Acetate

• Prevents UV damage to the skin.

Sodium Citrate

• Balances pH levels in the skin.

Allantoin

• Exfoliates dead skin cells.
• Promotes cell turnover, collagen synthesis and healing.
• Prevents transepidermal water loss allowing skin cells to retain water.
• Moisturizes the skin.
• Soothes injured skin.
• Has calming effects on the skin.

Panthenol

• Hydrates and moisturizes the skin.
• Promotes wound healing.
• Restores skin barrier function.
• Soothes the skin.
• Has anti-inflammatory properties.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

• Evens out skin tone.
• Preserves hyaluronic acid content in the skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate

• Restores and maintains a healthy skin barrier by preventing transepidermal water loss.
• Hydrates and moisturizes the skin.
• Provides the skin with structure and volume

Also, it's sulfate, phthalate and paraben free which I personally am a supported off. These ingredients are harmful, not only to the skin but overall health, because:

• Sulfate, which acts as a "degreaser" removing oil from hair and skin, irritates the skin. Also, two of the main ingredients found in sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Ether Sulfate (SLES), are linked to acne and eczema.
• Phthalate, a chemical that is used to soften plastic, damages the liver kidneys, lungs and reproductive system.
• Parabens, which are the preservatives used in products to last longer, have been linked to breast cancer, it disturbs the hormonal balance in the body and it's the leading cause of premature skin aging.

My Experience With Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm

The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm self-heats which opens up pores and within minutes helps remove dirt and oil.

I have always struggled badly with blackheads and whiteheads over the years.

As a result, I have tried countless products and have gotten professional facials but it has made little to no difference.

The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm claims to target blackheads, so I was very excited to try this balm out and see if it worked on my skin.

My first impression after using the balm was disappointment because I thought it would help clean my pores; even after many uses, I still saw no improvement. 

However, its formula is so gentle and smooth that sensitive skin types (who don't mind fragrance) would like it. 

Remember to patch test when trying new skin care products to make sure it's safe to use and won't cause an allergic reaction.

As an exfoliator and blackhead product, it's definitely not my favorite and it didn't make the cut, I have tried much better products that have helped unclog my pores completely.

The Disadvantages 

Just like the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm has beneficial ingredients for the skin, it has a few concerning ones. 

For instance, it's clearly stated on behalf of the brand that the balm is free of parabens, however, methylparaben is listed as part of the ingredients list. 

Parabens have been a controversial ingredient since 2004, when the University of Reading published a research  piece where scientists found parabens inside breast tumors.

However, the study has been criticized and disregarded due to insufficient data.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and U.S. Food and Drug Administration assure that parabens are safe for use in cosmetics.

It's still up for debate whether parabens are safe or not, some consider it safe and some harmful.

It has Butelyne Glycol which is considered a very safe ingredient, however, it's classified as a skin irritant.

It has Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor oil which is also considered a safe ingredient but it can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which causes cancer and skin irritation.

It has Tocopheryl Acetate, also considered a safe ingredient, that's classified as a skin irritant and can be contaminated with hydroquinone which causes skin irritation and sensitization.

Alcohol is another concerning ingredient because depending on the type of alcohol used, it can be beneficial or harmful. Since it's not specified, there's no way to know whether the alcohol used is beneficial or harmful.

Last but not least, it also has fragrance, an ingredient that imparts scent through volatile organic compounds which cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, difficulty when breathing, nausea and damage of the central nervous system, kidney and liver and cancer.

I personally don't like using skin care products that have fragrance on them but since the balm is not for external use,  I didn't mind incorporating it as part of my skin care routine until I finished it.

It's up to you whether you'd prefer your skin care products to be free of certain ingredients or not. 

The key ingredients are charcoal, egg yolk and sea salt, however, those ingredients are missing from the ingredients list posted by the brand. 

I checked other sites who seemed to have the correct list of ingredients which was not only confusing but shady, makes me wonder if they are hiding other ingredients. 

Like I mentioned previously, only the bottom half of the smooth egg-shaped container is filled with product which is a waste of useful space, impractical and not travel-friendly.

If you're someone who uses skin care products daily, it's likely this product won't last long.

Why Should You Use The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm?

You should use the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm because it gently exfoliates the skin without causing any irritation or skin tears. 

When Should You Use The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm?

You should use the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm when your skin is congested to remove dead skin cells for a brighter and healthier complexion. 

How Should You Use The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm?

After cleansing, with a skin care spatula to avoid contamination, apply a reasonable amount of the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm on the T-zone or areas of concern you want to treat.

Massage the balm gently, wait for 3 to 5 minutes until it starts to heat up.

This balm is very condensed and sticky, however, when mixed with water it becomes gel so it's smooth to slide across the skin when cleaning.

After the transparent oil gel combines with sebum and changes color from clear to opaque white, wash it off with lukewarm water.

Precautions Before Using The Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm

Precautions to take into consideration before using the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm are:

• Avoid contact with eyes.
• Avoid using on irritated or inflamed skin.
• Patch testing is recommended.
• If signs of irritation or allergies appear discontinue use.
  

Final Thought

I was disappointed that the balm didn't deliver its main promise, getting rid of blackheads.

There are better skin care products that are formulated to target and get rid of blackheads.

I wouldn't use this as a pore focused product but if you are looking to gently exfoliate your skin, the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm is a good skin care product!

Has there been a product you are excited to try but ended up being disappointed? Let me know in the comments below!

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