REVIEW: Minus 417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, Aromatic Body Peeling & Aromatic Body Butter


Hey guys!

The -417 products that will be reviewed in this post

-417 products

Choosing the right face wash is an integral part of my skincare regime. However, it’s not easy finding a suitable one because of the sensitive nature of my skin. To top it off, I’ve also been battling serious acne since my adolescence although it’s a billion times better now. My self-esteem and self-confidence took a nosedive during my secondary school years because I often got taunted and humiliated due to my facial flaw, especially during petty arguments where the other party would resort to using personal insults and name-calling to get their point across. Jokingly or not, those words definitely stung and made me even more self-conscious. And that kinda sparked my obsession with facial products.

In a bid to improve my complexion, I started spending a wallop of money on products that promised results. I have probably tried almost every product sold at pharmacies, mostly recommended by sales reps. But none of them managed to keep my awful pimples at bay. Instead, some of them actually aggravated my skin condition (extreme dryness, skin inflammation and whatnot) and caused multiple scarring on my face because my pimples just couldn’t heal properly. It was devastating and demoralising!

But after many years of trial and error, I finally found the face wash that best suits my skin type. Prior to that, I had used The Body Shop‘s Aloe Gentle Facial Wash faithfully every day and night. However I felt that my skin kinda got immune to the effects after a couple of years and my face became a minefield for acne once again. Boyfriend noticed the severity of my condition and got me -417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel as part of my birthday present last year (after doing his research) and I’ve been using it as my daytime facial wash ever since!

What is -417?

-417 is the developer of an exclusive and unique line of natural skincare products based on natural active components and minerals from the lowest place in the world – the Dead Sea.

Founded in 2003, -417 has been committed to keeping the value that has established itself as a trendsetter in the beauty industry. Through meticulous research and development, scientific advances, professional expertise and the understanding of a customer’s well-being, -417 is continuing to change the world of beauty. With global distributors in more than 15 countries including France, Switzerland, Russia, Denmark and Argentina, -417 products are sold through international distribution channels such as at department stores, chain retailers and pharmacies, perfumeries, chain cosmetic stores and at leading spas & hotels.

(read more)

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel (S$120)

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, 200g / 6.8oz

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel (pardon the dirtiness ‘coz it has sat in my bathroom for quite some time)

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

Yup, it’s recommended to be used only in the day because it contains micro natural luffa beads that help to dislodge impurities and dead skin cell. Therefore, it may be too harsh on the skin if applied too many times in a day. According to -417, the foaming gel itself is based on the Vitamin-Mineral Complex – a combination of natural active ingredients, including moisture-balancing minerals from the Dead-Sea together with nourishing plant extracts and active vitamins (A, B, E, F and H) – as well as jojoba oil, olive oil and grape oil, that leaves the skin clean, soft fresh and glowing. It aids in reducing the appearance of dark spots while speeding up the skin’s micro-circulation and providing a deep cleansing. Impressive, eh?

And the crazy part?

It costs a whopping S$120* at retail.

*gasps* No wonder boyfriend refused to disclose the amount he paid regardless of how much I bugged him about it because he knew I’d definitely lambaste the hell outta him for spending that kind of money! It’s like what, the cost of two premium ribeye steaks at an extravagant restaurant combined?!

With the price that ridiculous, this product has got to work. And very fortunately, it does to a pretty large extent as visible improvements were seen as early as one week. I had my qualms about the exfoliating function of this product initially as I had read somewhere about face scrubs being harmful to the skin.  As it turned out eventually, my worries were for naught.

Before and After

Before and After (the seemingly sharper and fairer complexion could be due to the use of other products)

My face, once clogged with filth and oil, now appears cleaner and more radiant. It had also eliminated most of my greasy sheen and stubborn zits. Of course, these results are also dependent on my lifestyle and diet. Still, although staying away from fried food and having enough rest help to subdue my acne eruption, they can’t purify and unclog my pores. I would need a facial product like this to do the job.

Furthermore, if you’re eagle-eyed enough, you’d have realised the great difference in the timestamp of my before and after shots – they were taken almost a year apart! Believe it or not, I’m still on my first tube despite using it every single day! And I’m probably only halfway through. That’s because a teeny weeny layer of it is enough to make a lather for the entire face.

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

Just a thin layer like this will do

Just a thin layer like this will do (actually, I squeezed out way too much product – it’s more than enough!)

As this is advisable to be used only in the day, there’s another product that is designed for night use. The Whitening Cleansing Soap helps to lighten hyperpigmentation while removing eye and face makeup together. Like the Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, the price is likely to burn a hole in your pocket and I was almost tempted into buying it when I was at their nex booth to redeem a gift for my boyfriend’s birthday a few months ago.

And that’s the thing about their sales reps – they are highly convincing and persuasive in their sales pitch to the point that it may seem a little pushy.  Apart from offering a special rate, they would also do a live demo of the products on you and chances are, you would be wowed by the instant results and enticed into getting it. While waiting for them to retrieve my gift, one of the sales reps took the opportunity to introduce me to some of their bestsellers and managed to win me over with just a simple demonstration. This was despite the fact that I’m usually very strong willed and firm against unrelenting pressure sales tactics. Well, I guess it becomes a different story altogether if the results are proven before my eyes.

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender (450g, RP: S$140 but you can get it a lot cheaper. Scroll down for more info!)

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

As a mild sufferer of Ichthyosis Vulgaris (a common form of inherited skin disorder), I am always on a lookout for effective moisturising cream to relieve the dry and scaly skin covering most parts of my lower legs. The Aromatic Body Peeling is a fantastic addition to my skincare stash as it contains microscopic grains of the Dead Sea salt that helps to gently exfoliate dead and dry skin cells. On top of that, it also encourages skin rejuvenation and reduces signs of aging. The lavender fragrance smells reeeeally good too!

It comes in 3 other scents – Kiwi & Mango, Mik & Honey and Ocean.

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender - application

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender – application

Packaged in a rather large tub that can probably last users for months, this only needs to be applied on the skin once a week during bath. It can be used on any part of the body except for the face and hair (because there are separate products for them). Most of the time I use it on my legs, arms and neck.

Application-wise, it was a breeze. The coarse texture of the salt evens out smoothly like a regular body wash and it leaves a silky, buttery and a minuscule tacky finish on the surface upon washing it off. Indeed, the skin doesn’t feel dehydrated and rough but I didn’t like the greasy feeling. That’s why boyfriend also got me the Aromatic Body Butter to tone it down a bit.

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender (250ml / 8.5oz, RP: $120 but you can get it a lot cheaper. Scroll down for more info!)

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender (250ml / 8.5oz, RP: S$120 but you can get it a lot cheaper. Scroll down for more info!)

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender

Enriched with Shea butter than nourishes and relaxes the skin, it also shields it from UV radiation and prevents skin aging. It contains sweet almonds oil, avocado oil and mango extract to provide a feeling of moisture, nourishment and silk. That said, I was advised to use it just once a week after shower (the same day I apply the Aromatic Body Peeling) but I’m probably going to increase my usage due to my abnormal skin condition. No matter how much of a quantity of the butter I massage on my body, the tubs seems to have an endless pit 😯

Moreover, I absolutely love the sweet aroma of the Lavender fragrance. It’s light enough not to irritate my sensitive nose and the smell actually lingers on for quite some time. Like the Aromatic Body Peeling, this also comes in 3 other similar scents.

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender - application

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender – application

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender - apply until it is fully absorbed into the skin

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender – apply until it is fully absorbed into the skin

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender - application

End result. Also, proof that I do have scaly skin :\ It’s better now with maintenance because it used to be a lot scarier and uglier than this.

The butter has a thick and consistent texture which spreads out nicely over a large area with just a dab. The absorption didn’t take very long too, probably in a few seconds. My skin definitely feels a lot smoother and softer after application, and less sticky as well.

*For best deals, purchase -417 products over the counter. Sales reps are usually very eager to close deals hence they would very often offer you the lowest prices possible (e.g. staff discounts, bundle prices at 30% off).

Remember, stand firm and don’t be afraid to say “no”!

All in all, -417 products are generally a costly investment (prices range between S$50 for a soap bar and S$600 for a facial mask, on average above S$100 per item) but the contents are mostly packaged in such large quantities that they can actually last you for months, thus helping you to save a lot of money in the long run. However, if you’re apprehensive about splurging on a product you’re unsure that would work, I’d highly recommend that you share it with a few people in your household.

And that’s about it!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

For more information on -417 and their products, click here.

15 thoughts on “REVIEW: Minus 417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, Aromatic Body Peeling & Aromatic Body Butter

  1. Is it worth it if they give me a discount of buy 1 get 1 free? They were planning on selling the body peeling to me at it’s original price and gifting me the body butter for free!

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  2. I was at ION when they suddenly grabbed me and tried to sell me products… and I fell for their hard marketing. It seems like they mark up the prices like crazy and then discounts them. And they persuade you to buy things little by little so that you won’t realize that you have spent a big amount. For me, the sales marketer first promoted the body peeling and body butter, and after i made payment, she offered the facial wash and cleansing gel, and after i made payment, she offered the cinderella lifting mask, and after i made payment, the vitamin moisturiser and mud beauty mask. The sales marketer I was talking to seems very nice, saying that she is selling it to me without taking any commission at all. Afterwards, I went to qoo10 to check, and to my horror, the prices are much cheaper there. Here are the list of things I bought, compared with the qoo10 cheapest price. Same size, same product.

    Product Price bought Cheapest price at qoo10, all free delivery
    Aromatic Body Peeling 70(1 for 1 with the lotion) 62.97
    Body Butter 70 60
    Luffa facial wash 60(1 for 1 with cleansing gel) 60
    (the green bottle in the review)
    Cleansing gel 60 48.86
    Cinderella Lifting Mask 168 64 (This pains my heart so much)
    Vitamin Moisturizer 40 70.10
    Mud Beauty Mask 42.50 56.02
    Total 510.5 421.95

    The reason I’m writing this – to say it nicely, so that others will not be fooled by their hard marketing. Check the prices in qoo10 first then shove it in the sales marketer’s face. To say it badly, i’m super pissed and I want to slap them in their face.

    My advice is, if you guys felt their product is really good for your skin, go ahead and buy it, but be smart about the price so you won’t be cheated.

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  3. Hmm, I put it in a table so that it’ll be easier to see. Also I forgot. After I finished purchasing all this, I was offered this Miracle Wrinkle Filler thing. They said that it is a full treatment to replenish the collagen in your face, so you have to buy 4 boxes of Miracle Wrinkle Filler for $480 and the two boxes of Serum for $300 smth for 1 year supply. So the total should be 2600 smth, but I have no idea how she calculate everything, in the end she said i can get all that for $1400, then she threw in another Cinderella Lifting Mask that cost $280, Body Butter $120, and VIP Facial for $180. Seems like a good deal isn’t it? She was sooooooooo persistent, but luckily i quickly escaped. And when I checked the price at qoo10, wheeeewwww. The Miracle Wrinkle Filler was only sold for $114. Seriously, what the f?! So yeah, guys, please BEWARE OF -417 HARD MARKETING!!!!

    This is the table form:

    Product Name
    Price bought
    Cheapest Price at qoo10

    Aromatic Body Peeling
    70(1 for 1 with the lotion)
    62.97

    Aromatic Body Butter
    70
    60

    Luffa facial wash (the green bottle in the review)
    60(1 for 1 with cleansing gel)
    60

    Cleansing gel
    60
    48.86

    Cinderella Lifting Mask
    168
    64 (This pains my heart so much)

    Vitamin Moisturizer
    40
    70.10

    Mud Beauty Mask
    42.50
    56.02

    Total
    510.5
    421.95

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  4. Fiona, sorry for spamming your site. I can’t edit my comments…

    table, th, td {
    border: 1px solid black;
    }

    Product Name
    Price bought
    Cheapest Price at qoo10

    Aromatic Body Peeling
    70(1 for 1 with the lotion)
    62.97

    Aromatic Body Butter
    70
    60

    Luffa facial wash (the green bottle in the review)
    60(1 for 1 with cleansing gel)
    60

    Cleansing gel
    60
    48.86

    Cinderella Lifting Mask
    168
    64 (This pains my heart so much)

    Vitamin Moisturizer
    40
    70.10

    Mud Beauty Mask
    42.50
    56.02

    Total
    510.5
    421.95

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  5. Hello! Thanks for sharing your experience as well as the prices 🙂 I’m sure with your input my readers will be able to make more informed choices about purchasing from -417. And yes, I do agree that their sales can be very aggressive and annoying at times (worse before news reports about similar sales tactics by Premier Dead Sea surfaced) and I’ve found a new way to annoy them. That is, to take the sample they “give out” (forcefully, because believe it or not – they do that so that they can grab your hand and pull you into the shop) and go without listening to their sales pitch. I tell ya, that will annoy the hell outta them and they will sometimes chase after you to get the sample back. Heehee.

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  6. Hello, we visited Singapore last week. while at Ion we were unfortunately lured into their demos. long story short, we ended up buying the same facial wash as yours (day and night), day and night moisturizer and the nail care it. i thought we’d struck a good deal as they offered the facial washes and moisturizer on a 1 for 1 deal (eid promotion) we paid $160 dollars for the facial washes, $56 for the nail care and $140 for the moisturizers. Accidentally today, i happened to check the website to check their other products and to my surprised!, the price was cheaper! they offered the products at a 1 for 1 price when in fact they are actually giving it on individual price (80 for each item) and a lot higher than if you will order on their website. So just when i thought i got a good buy 1 get 1 deal, i actually did payfor each item (and more).

    here are the prices (SGD) on the website vs their shop at Ion:

    Luffah facial wash
    $40 vs 160

    whitening cleanser
    $51 vs 80

    day and night moisturizer
    $70 vs 80

    lavander body peeling and butter
    $53 vs 160

    the product is awesome though. i bought exactly the same product as yours.

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  7. Yeah I know what you mean. Lesson learnt, never buy anything without first checking the price online. Especially since we are in the digital age and everything can be googled readily with our phone. Oh well!

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  8. Hi, Guys. I had same experience with Rizalina in Vietnam . I paid VND1,400,000(87.92sgd) for one Aromatic body butter, and I check the website it was so cheaper…. I phoned the company wanting to return the product, they told me “Sorry we cannot give refunds, you can only exchange the product.”

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  9. Fionaaaa
    I wanna cry 😭
    Just bought that 200ml, and I can’t bring it bcz airport regulation 😭
    How poor I am.
    I lost that in second 😭
    And yes, I forgot it when the saler always talk to me without space.
    Ah I wanna cry 😭 its expensive for me.

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  10. Hi all,
    It seems that their marketing style the same in Vietnam. My friend and I also fell into their marketing trap. I tried to look up online and couldn’t find it in google at the moment. We test the same products as yours but It wasn’t impressed me much until I tested their ” Agile purifying mud mask” and saw the damn instant affection 😢 so we did purchase as I couldn’t check its price on my phone. Originally it’s about VND 3.000.000 (US$150) then it’s only vnd 2.000.000 (US $85) after “special discount” and we were offered their facial treatment combo. Still very expensive but look at the instant result it’s quite convincing so we bought it. My friend also wanted to purchase the body peeling product and they tried to sell me the facial wash but I said no cause I knew we fell to the trap. I finally went home and checked it probably on Amazon. Dang! I could have purchase 4 of it with same product. Their products seem good but WHY HAVE THEY HAD TO DO THAT TO US?!! So please check the price before you buy it even how it gives a good damn affection lol lesson learnt!

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  11. Tsk tsk tsk! Their products are ok but I really detest them hard selling! Another thing to note for those who have bought from them (and have been included in their mailing list) is that they will have a special promo + free gift for you on your birthday. DO NOT FALL FOR IT! Yes the free gift is real but they will take the chance to sell you more things. So only go for it when you’re sure you won’t fall into their hard sell tactics (don’t bring any cards/cash!)

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