Archive for November 2022

if you read my other post, then you might know that i finally could go to singapore again after 2,5 years. i didn't have any plans to buy anything from sephora, i'll just wing it and buy whatever interest me. anyway, there are several kits from drunk elephant, but the other one was quite bulky. it will take more space in my baggage, plus there are some stuff in that kit that i've tried before so i didn't buy it. then i saw this one and immediately snatched it because i haven't tried the cleanser, TLC and the F electrolyte. the only one that i've tried is the retinol, but it was in the old packaging. i don't know whether they've reformulated it as well or just changed the packaging. anyway, this is the first item that i tried from the kit, let's see how it goes.

the box

this is the description from sephora singapore's website: a skincare box set featuring a cleanser, retinol cream, mask and exfoliator for hydrated, smooth skin. this skincare box feature 4 products to help keep your skin hydrated and smooth looking. beste no.9 is a unique blend of mild surfactants and makeup dissolving emollients designed to rinse away impurities and leave your skin feeling clean and soft.

what's inside the set:

- beste no.9 jelly cleanser 60 ml

- a passioni 10 ml

- f-balm 15 ml

- tlc framboos 15 ml

description of everything inside

ingredients list: water, glycerin, cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium methyl oleoyl taurate, propanediol, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, glycolipids, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lauryl glucoside, cucumis melo cantalupensis fruit extract, sclerocarya birrea seed oil, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, tocopherol, citric acid, phenoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, polylysine.

all the products inside

the packaging: since i bought this in a set, it comes in a hard box, with purple, orange and neon green dominated the color palette. you can see the picture of all the products inside at the back and then the list of everything and ingredients list at the back and on the sides in various languages. for the cleanser itself, it looks exactly like the full size one. it comes in white plastic squeeze tube with pattern on the sides and an orange screw cap. the opening is quite small compared to other cleanser that i've tried. they seal the inner opening to make sure that it's safe until being used. the cleanser is 60 ml so it's quite generous for a mini size.

the tube

the scent: this is unscented, but if i sniff real close, i can smell synthetic smell coming from it. probably because of the ingredients. and honestly, i'm not quite fond with it. i don't have problem with fragrance, so if the ingredients cause the foul scent, i think it's better to mask it with fragrance to give better experience.

description at the back

the product: it's a transparent gel type cleanser and it's quite thick. with bare hands, it gives minimal foam. but with my foreo, it's bubbling like crazy. it's really different. that's why i only use a tiny bit with my fore, and a little bit more if i used my bare hands.

see how small the opening is?

the seal

the result: it's completely washed off after i rinse it and it doesn't leave like a layer of moisture on top of my skin, unlike other cleanser that claimed to be gentle or pH balanced. and afterward, i don't feel any tightening or dry skin. so in conclusion, i can say that it works well.

how it looks like on my foreo

the amount of bubble produced with foreo

this is my first time trying drunk elephant cleanser, and although i have no problem with it, i don't enjoy it much because of the foul scent. i don't think i'll repurchase it. i think it works okay for all skin types, so if you want to splurge, than this is a good option, especially if you're looking for unscented cleanser.

right now, there are a lot of new local brands, most of them are still growing and only have several products in their lineup. or even only one of two. i've seen several interesting brands that i wanted to try, so i'll try buying them one by one and try them. thanks to pretty dates sales, i'm able to buy them in reasonable price. anyway, let's try first. by the beau. there are only two products in their lineup, one is babchi (the purple one) and the lipid serum (the green one). babchi is targeted to treat acne and contains mild exfoliating ingredients, while lipid one is targeted to repair skin barrier. since i'm planning to try more acid and retinol, i'm trying the lipid one first.

this is the description from their official marketplace site: the soothing, calming, hydrating and firming lipid barrier refining serum. #skinbodyguard. this concentrated yet lightweight texture wraps your skin in a healing layer of actives to restore skin to its natural, healthy state.

benefits: calms and soothes redness/ inflammation, repairs the skin barrier function, nourishes and moisturizes the skin, protects against pollution, firms and plumps the skin.

star ingredients: 5% argireline peptide, 2% inoceramide, 4 types of hyaluronic acid, avocado + kale, panthenol, PHA.

Ingredients list: Aqua, Methyl Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, LACTOBACILLUS/ COLLAGEN/ MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CRYSTALLINUM LEAF EXTRACT FERMENT LYSATE, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Panthenol, centella asiatica leaf extract, persea gratissima fruit extract, brassica oleracea italica extract, Allantoin, Bisabolol, lactobionic acid, polyglutamic acid, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, deoxyphytantriyl palmitamide mea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Sodium hyaluronate, anthemis nobilis flower extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, brassica oleracea acephala leaf extract, acetyl hexapeptide-8, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronate, sodium acetylated hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-hexanediol, Maltodextrin, caprylyl glycol, methyl diisopropyl propionamide, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane carboxamide, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isopropyl palmitate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

the packaging: it comes in green/white box with description at the back in english and indonesian as well as the ingredients list. the serum itself comes in block glass bottle with dropper to dispense the serum. it's quite heavy so be careful not to grab it by the dropper only. they only print the star ingredients on the label so the bottle is very simple and gives pretty clean look. the dropper works well so i have no complaint regarding the dropper. the serum comes in 30 ml which is the usual normal size for a serum but for a local brand, it's quite unusual since they usually only produce small size serum, like 15 or 20 ml one.

the scent: this one is unscented, but if you sniff real close, you can smell subtle scent like avocado or something, which is probably the natural scent of the ingredients.

the product: it's a light green serum, almost like lotion in consistency. a bit thick but still runny so the dropper can pick the serum up easily. i usually use one to one and a half dropper for my whole face and neck. i was quite surprised when i see the ingredients list as there are so many ingredients. it contains a bunch of moisturizing, hydrating and soothing agents. it's like they throw a bunch of good stuff in it. i can see some famous ingredients like cica, hyaluronic acid, brassica, and several peptides in it. somehow i'm a bit sceptic when i saw a long ingredients list like this one.

the result: well, this one is definitely moisturizing which is no surprise since it's a bit viscous. i can see that it helps encounter the dryness effect of acid pretty well. i don't suffer any dryness even though i use a medium strength retinol. but other than that, i can't say anything else.

well, this does what it's supposed to do, so i'm quite happy with it. however, as i've said before, i'm a bit skeptical about the long ingredients list, but other than that, i have no problem with this one. since this brand is still pretty new, you can buy them straight from their official marketplace. the price is quite affordable as well and they often hold sales, so wait for the sale if you want. anyway, even though this works well, this one doesn't wow me much, so i probably won't repurchase it. i'm still interested in their babchi serum, so i'l let you know which one is my favorite among them. i think this serum is suitable for all skin type so go try it if you're curious about this one. psst: ain't the color pretty?

if you've read my other post, then you'd know that i went to singapore couple months ago. i didn't expect anything from this trip as it wasn't around holiday season, but luckily i managed to spot several set that i was interested in and it was in good price, so i bought them. one of them is from sunday riley. i never try any sunday riley products before, so obviously i'm interested in trying them, especially since i notice this set contains several of their best sellers. anyway, i've tried the tidal cream before, and now it's the pink drink time. i notice that this is one of their new products so i'm excited to try it.

this is the description from their website: peptides help firm the skin, while fermented honey and botanical extracts balance the skin's natural microbiome and resurface the skin. a power drink for your skin, this peptide-infused essence resurfaces, balances, and firms the look of your skin (while drenching it in advanced green tea, antioxidant support). fermented honey, pink yeast filtrate, chlorella and kelp act as prebiotics to support and balance the skin's natural microbiome. two skin-firming peptides, acetyl tetrapeptide-9 and acetyl tetrapeptide-11 work synergistically to create a firmer-looking, younger-looking skin surface. vitamin-rich apricot and cucumber extracts refresh the skin, while EGCG (a super-powered antioxidant from green tea) fights future signs of skin aging. finally, ceramides nurture the natural moisture barrier, so your skin is left renewed and soft.

the box and description at the back

key ingredients:

- firming peptides : acetyl tetrapeptide-9 and acetyl tetrapeptide-11 work synergistically to gently resurface and increase the look of skin firmness.

- ceramides : to support the skin's natural moisture barrier.

- fermented honey : a hydrating prebiotic which supports the skin's natural microbiome.

- chlorella, kelp, and sea water: a prebiotic blend designed to fight the look of surface redness by supporting the skin's natural microbiome.

- pink yeast filtrate : rich in minerals, amino acids, and vitamins to nourish the skin.

- EGCG : a powerful antioxidant from green tea that fights the visible aging effects from pollution and oxidative stress.

the box under the sleeve

what's inside the set:

- ceramic slip clay cleanser

- pink drink firming resurfacing essence

- A+ high dose retinoid serum

- luna sleeping night oil

- good genes lactic acid treatment

- tidal brightening enzyme water cream

everything in the set

the packaging: since this comes in a set, it comes in white hardbox that has magnetic closure on the set. but it has a sleeve with a picture of all the products inside at front and a bit description at the back as well as ingredients list on the side. all the products are placed on a plastic tray so everything is secured inside. the essence itself comes in transparent glass bottle with a head spray covered with transparent cap. since the bottle is transparent, you can see the pink essence from the outside. there's another description at the back of the bottle in english. the size is 25 ml which is half the full size one so it's a pretty decent sample.

the bottle

the scent: i don't think this is scented, and i don't think it has any foul scent neither.

description at the back of the bottle

the product: like i said, the essence is pink, which looks really pretty. it's a watery type essence that's why they use spray head to dispense the product. you can either spray it straight to your face or to your palm and then pat it to your face. me personally, i spray it to my palms before patting it to my face. i use around 8-9 sprays for my whole face and neck.

the spray head

the result: as i've said, i use around 8-9 sprays which is quite a lot. i use that much because it's very lightweight. it does feel hydrating, but it needs a lot to give the hydration that my skin need. especially since i use actives like bakuchiol or BHA so this doesn't feel much to help boosting the hydration. at first, i feel my skin tightened after using this essence and a bit warm as well. i was worried that i might have allergy to one of the ingredients, but after using it for several days, i don't experience the same problem anymore.

how it looks like on my hand

after patted it on

as i've predicted, this one finish quicker than i thought. it's sad though. i have such high expectation of this essence, with the pretty pink color and all, but this one only hydrates my skin. plus it takes a lot to give the hydration that my skin needs. oh well. if you only need hydration and you want to splurge, then you can buy this one. this is suitable for all skin type, but i think dry skin won't get any benefit from this essence. as for me, definitely not buying the full size nor repurchasing this one.

ever since i tried true to skin bakuchiol serum in combination with retinol serum at night, my skin condition gets better. sufficient to say that i'm hooked. then i go hunting other bakuchiol serum in the market, and end up buying this one from elsheskin. i have good experience with their retinol serum as well as their vitamin c serum, so i have high hopes for this one as well. let's see how it goes.

this is the description translated from their website: for uneven skintone, skin with wrinkles and fine lines, damaged skin barrier and sensitive skin. benefit: 5% revitalized bakuchiol, your best retinol alternative. star ingredients: bakuchiol 5%, oat kernel extract, plukenetia volubilis seed oil, niacinamide, multi-peptide (acetyl hexapeptide-8, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate), ceramide, ethyl ascorbic acid

the box

the packaging: it comes in purple prism box with big transparent plastic window at front so you can see the bottle from the outside. there's description as well as ingredients list at the back in indonesian and english. the serum itself comes in opaque white glass bottle with purple dropper. i don't have any problem with the dropper as it manages to suck almost everything until i almost finish it. anyway, almost all elsheskin serum comes in 2 sizes, 30 ml and 15 ml. this one is 15 ml.

description and ingredients list

the scent: okay.. i don't know why but it seems like all bakuchiol serum has weird scent. the true to skin one doesn't but this one and the azarine one does. this one smells acidic and it keeps that way until i finish it.

the bottle (i believe they changed it into all purple now)

the product: the serum is a milky white liquid type serum. it's runny so it's easy to spread around and absorbed easily. after being absorbed, it feels dry but not completely matte. this is actually a weird combination as it contains bakuchiol, niacinamide, multi-peptide and also ceramide and EAA. quite a weird combination. i don't know if the concentration of EAA is enough, but maybe not since they put it at the end of ingredients list. no wonder it stays the same even though i don't store it in the refrigerator.

how the serum looks like in the dropper

the result: i use this every other day, when i don't use retinol at night. then alternating with vitamin c serum in the morning as well. at first, i try to use it every morning, since i have no problem with true to skin bakuchiol. but.. this one seems a bit drying if i use it too often, that's why i dial back to use alternating with vitamin c in the morning. so when i use it at night, i don't use it in the morning as well. anyway, this does help a bit with acne, but i don't see great result unlike true to skin one.

how it looks like on my hand

after blending it

yeah, i'm a bit disappointed that this doesn't work as well as true to skin one, but i'm okay with it. but, i can't stand the scent. anyway, if you're looking for an alternative of retinol that can be used for all skin type, then you can try this one. however, if you have dry skin, be careful since this tends to be a bit drying. as for me, i won't repurchase this as it doesn't wow me. availability wise, this is easily to get from basically anywhere, so make sure to snatch it while on sale.

i've seen this product around my instagram and being a curious person, i wanted to try it. they have 3 types of this dual serum, and i was torn to decide which one to buy. but at the end, i bought the youthful one, which is targeted for anti aging. the concept of a dual serum is actually not quite new, but for local brand, it's something new. i rarely see this type of product around. anyway, this is actually 2 serums in 1 packaging and not 2 cartridges with different ingredients pumping to one end. anyway, let's see how it goes.

the box

this is translated from their official marketplace page: intensive firming and anti aging serum for all skin type. day (firming) & night (anti aging). this is a double formula serum in one packaging so it's more practical and can be used day and night. formulated specifically to give longer moisture to the skin, prevents early aging signs, fades acne scars and dark spots, as well as turns back skin elasticity to its early state. dual serum youthful acts intensively on mature problematic skin with aging signs with ingredients like sepitonic M3, adenosine apple extract, and hyaluronic acid that's formulated by experience RnD from Korea. dual serum gives comfort in your daily skincare routine because now you can shorten your skincare steps so it's more practical but still gives optimal result.

description and ingredients list on the side and back of the box

day serum (firming): for rough skin texture, dullness and fine lines. goal: plump skin, firm skin, improve skin texture and smooth skin.

key ingredients: collagen booster, vitamin e, hyaluronic acid, ginseng extract, apple extract, adenosine.

night serum (anti aging): for fine lines, dark spot and lack of skin elasticity. goal: tighten skin, hydrates, brighter skin, improve skin elasticity.

key ingredients: peptide, snail, babchi extract, date palm extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide 3%

the bottle

the packaging: it comes in a light yellow box with color band at front to indicate the type. for youthful, it's purple. there's description at the back as well as ingredients printed on each side for day and night serum. the serum itself comes in a plastic bottle with two light yellow cartridges inside. you can't see through the cartridges so you can't see the remaining product from the outside. each cartridges end up with a separate pump head, which face opposite side. you only need to see the label at the back of the bottle to see which one is the day one and which one is the night one. the pump head is covered by a transparent plastic cap. the cap is easy to come off so it drops the bottle when i try to grab it by the head. after several times, i know better than to grab it by the body, and not the cap. i have a feeling that the cap will come loose after a few time. anyway, each cartridge comes in 15 ml, which is half the usual serum size.

description at the back of the bottle

the scent: this is unscented and doesn't have foul scent either.

separate pump head

the product: both serums are transparent gel type with the day one is slightly runnier, but just a tiny bit. the difference is fairly thin. for day serum, it's quite thick so if i'm using a quite moisturizing sunscreen, i ditch the moisturizer. for the night serum, it's not thick enough that i'm a bit worried that it won't be enough to counteract my retinol serum. anyway, i use around one a half or two pumps for day serum and three pumps for night serum. for day serum, it contains moisturizing and hydrating stuff while for night serum, aside from peptide and hyaluronic acid, it also contain niacinamide and babchi (which is slightly exfoliating). since i use the night serum more, i end up finishing the night serum pretty fast. faster than the day one.

see.. both of them are quite thick

the result: for day time, it's quite moisturizing so i agree that if being used regularly, it will give you plump skin. however, for night serum, i do believe that it will help with dark spot as it contains babchi and niacinamide, but i'm doubtful about the elasticity. my previous mamonde red serum is slightly more moisturizing than this one.

how it looks like after blending it

anyway, i quite like the idea of having 2 serums in 1 packaging. it will be great for traveling since you don't need to bring lots of serum with you, but the packaging is quite bulky. as for the formula, even though this is targeted for anti aging, i think all skin type can use this. for the day one, you can skip the moisturizer if you have combination to oily skin. but for the night serum, i think dry skin will need something else especially if you're using acid like BHA or retinol. as for me, i don't think i'll repurchase this one because i go through it pretty quickly. the night one doesn't seem to last for two weeks. as for the other type, so far i don't feel like trying it, so i might not buy them. anyway, if you're looking for a dual type serum targeted for moisturizing and anti aging, then you should try this one. on sale, it's quite affordable.

i always want to try kerastase products, but they're expensive as hell, so i was reluctant to buy something from them. but then, i spotted a set for hair fall in sephora singapore, so i was hooked and i bought it. and then, as i lined up to pay, i spotted their mini hair oil. the price is reasonable so i bought it as well. thankfully, when i got home, my hair products were nearing their ends so i was quite excited to try them.

the box

this is the description from their website: iconic nourishing hair oil for all hair types infused with a blend of argan hair oil, camellia oil, and marula hair oil. multi-use hair oil comprised of a blend of precious hair oils for all hair types. a hydrating hair oil serum that delivers optimal hair nourishment and revives the hair's strength. creates frizz-free, super shiny hair with a subtle fragrance without oil buildup or a greasy finish.

key ingredients:

- marula hair oil: high in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and amino acids. it's effective at keeping hair soft, supple and moisturized.

- camellia hair oil: an excellent emollient for keeping hair moist and supple, it absorbs very quickly leaving incredibly shiny hair.

- argan hair oil: with high contents of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E, to naturally increase elasticity, hydrate, soften and restore shiny hair.

description at the back

the packaging: it comes in gold box with short descriptions in multiple languages at the back of the box as well as the sides. i think they wrapped it with plastic sealing, but i'm not sure since i've forgotten about it. the hair oil itself comes in a miniature size of the full size one. it comes in gold see-through glass bottle with gold plastic pump head. you can twist the head so it will open and close so it's quite secure. there's another label at the back of bottle as well. the mini size is just 30 ml, but i don't mind.

the bottle

the scent: all kerastase products are fragranced, so if you don't like scented products, then skip it. because the fragrance is quite noticeable. for the hair oil, it's straight floral and quite fragrant. for me personally, i don't mind with the scent, but it's not my favorite (i like the genesis series scent better)

pump head as well as the lock/open indicator

the product: the hair oil is a clear runny type oil that i can lather to my hair easily. they say i only need two pumps but it's ridiculous. at first, i haven't cut my hair, so i use a lot. but then, i cut my hair and it's quite thin so i end up using too much and it makes my hair clumpy and oily the next day. i ended up washing my hair all over the next day and re do everything. for now, my hair is shoulder-length and i use two pumps per part (4 pumps in total).

how it looks like

the result: at first, i hate it because it doesn't seem to make a difference. my hair is still slightly frizzy and then it's not super smooth soft like the result that i get from using loreal one. but... as i keep using it, i start to like it as it makes my hair soft. still a bit frizzy but i can deal the problem with my hair straightener.

so far, i'm liking it. i just hope that it has the same fragrance as the genesis set and i'll be happy. but.. this one is one of their best-sellers, so i don't think they'll change it anytime soon. anyway, i don't think you can get the mini size here, but if you happen to find it, then you should get it. the mini is still expensive but it won't bleed your wallet. as for me, i don't think i'll repurchase this as i don't quite like the scent, but never say never!

there was a time where somethinc launched a bunch of new moisturizers with ceramic roller attached on the tip. yeah. i was excited to get my hand on one of it, but at that time, i still had some moisturizers in my stash so i have to finish them all first before buying it. then my moisturizer only one left so i decided to try this one first as the other moisturizer that i wanted to try contain retinol and i still have one similar like that one, so yeah.. it has to wait. anyway, let's see whether it worths the hype or not.

this is the description from their website: skin reincarnation day moisturizer - youthful and glow skin recharge. a 100% vegan anti-aging day cream with a combination of 4 natural super plants: bakuchiol, deep sea water, gardenia jasminoides and lemon water to reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as maintaining youthful skin. contains rich electrolytes obtained from noirmoutier deep sea water to brighten and minimize the appearance of pores, as well as 74% organic lemon water which is rich in antioxidants and nutrients. it has "digital stress protector" technology that can protect the skin from premature aging due to daily exposure to blue light.

left: the tube
right: description and ingredients list at the back

key ingredients:

- bakuchiol : work as anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant so that it becomes natural alternative for retinol. bakuchiol triggers skin cell regeneration thereby helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation without causing skin inflammation.

- noirmoutier deep sea water : deep sea water has a remarkable mineral purity quality which functions to remineralize, detoxify and protect skin from free radicals so that it looks healthier and glowing.

- organic lemon fruit water : water that comes from lemons, which are certified organic and ECOCERT. antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin. in addition, it is able to hydrate the skin and maintain skin elasticity.

- gardenia jasminoides : derived from gardenia jasminoides fruit extract, which contains melatonin-like molecules, namely crocin and crocetin to protect skin from digital stress that causes premature aging.

- trehalose : natural trehalose protects the plant when it is dehydrated, so it "revives" when the plant comes into contact with water. it replaces water in skin tissue to prevent dehydration and skin tissue damage.

on/off indicator

ingredients list: citrus limon (lemon) fruit water extract, cetearyl alcohol, aqua, butylene glycol, cetyl alcohol, isohexadecane, glycerin, maris aqua, phenoxyethanol, polyacrylamide, betaine, bakuchiol, ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, c13-14 isoparaffin, laureth-7, ethylhexylglycerin, t-butyl alcohol, gardenia jasminoides fruit extract, maltodextrin

can you see the moisturizer coming out from under the roller?

the packaging: even though this is one of newly released, this one doesn't come in a box. they only wrapped it with plastic sealing. the new moisturizers all have several sizes and different size comes in different packaging. the smallest one and the smaller size (which i think is 25 gr) comes in a tube, but for the bigger size which is 50 gr, it still comes in plastic squeeze tube, but this time, it has a mini ceramic roller attached on the tip. the color of the body is different according to the type of the moisturizer, for this one is green greyish but it has purple tip covered with purple plastic cap. there's description and ingredients list printed at the back of the tube, but it's printed in tiny font, so i don't even bother to try reading it. the mini ceramic roller is a new breakthrough which i thought at first was cool. anyway, you can twist the tip, it has on/off indicator. the moisturizer can only come out if it's switched to on indicator. it will come out in front of and the back of the roller and then you can spread it around with the roller as well as massaging your face. you can pull out the roller and wash it for hygienic reason. anyway.. i thought it was cool since you can massage your face and the ceramic will feel cool on your skin. but.. later i found out that it's not so much cooler when i find that i can use the roller around my nose area since my nose is crooked. yeah sure i can try to use it around the tip of my nose, but not around the bridge of my nose area. so after spreading the moisturizer around, and massage it as much as i can, i still have to use my finger to spread it around, to make sure it reaches all crooks and nooks of my face. so yeah.. not so much cooler anymore.

how it looks like on my hand

the scent: it's unscented, and it doesn't have any foul scent at all.

after blending it

the product: it's a ivory white-ish gel cream. the consistency is slightly runnier than the ceramic one or avoskin yellow one. it sinks into my skin after a minute or two. okay, let's talk a little about the ingredients. i know it sounds a lot when you read about the key ingredients. the one that attracts me the first time is bakuchiol because last time when i use bakuchiol in combination with retinoid serum, my skin improves a lot. that's why i decided to try more bakuchiol products. i don't get the electrolyte hype (which drunk elephand and RADC also use) so i don't care much about it. anyway, aside from the key ingredients, it still has the good old moisturizing stuff like BG, glycerin and betaine. if you're asking me, i don't care about the fancy ingredients, as long as it works for me.

the result: that being said, this one works well for me. it moisturizes my skin well without being too heavy especially in the morning when i still need to use sunscreen on top of my moisturizer. it works well with other skincare products and doesn't spill under sunscreen. it also helps with fighting acne as i don't experience bad breakouts during my period. but i still have bumps due to mask wearing especially if i have to wear mask all day.

definitely love this moisturizer and i think it's suitable for all skin type. if you can't use retinol, then you should try this one as it contains bakuchiol. anyway, i personally doesn't believe that bakuchiol can replace retinol but at least better than nothing, right? if you want to try the roller then get the big size, but if you don't want to fuss with massaging, then buy the smaller size. as for me, if i ever repurchase this one, i'll just buy the smaller size as i don't quite see the difference in using the roller. it's too small to make any impact, but i do like how it feels slightly cooling on my skin whenever it's too hot. price wise, it's still affordable and it's widely available everywhere.

i bought this one before i went to singapore, and i actually i was hesitant before putting this in my cart. i've tried the old formula of their encapsulated retinol, and now they've changed the formula but somehow i don't have the desire to try the new formula. i've tried the retinol with squalane in mini size which is stronger than the encapsulated one, but i don't like it, so i don't have any plan to buy the full size one. they have another one, the granactive snow which is the gentlest among all. that's why i'm quite hesitant since my skin has been used to retinol by now. but at that time, i don't have any other product to try so i bought it at last. let's see how it goes.

this is the description from their website: best choices retinol for first time use. beginner-friendly soothing retinol contains the most gentle and less-irritating retinol derivative, hence granactive retinoid is a fungal-acne friendly serum that is suitable for sensitive skin. granactive retinois is clinically proven to reduce wrinkles/ fine lines, tighten and improve skin texture as well as preventing signs of premature aging. it is formulated with snow mushroom which provides a cooling effect on inflamed skin and natural alpha bisabolol which acts as an antimicrobial that helps prevent hyperpigmentation. use it at night, always use sunscreen in the morning.

powered with:

- granactive retinoid: the newest generation of an organic compound of the "royal family of skincare" aka the retinoid group, which does not need to be oxidized, does not cause skin irritation and dry skin because it is a very mild retinol. it is able to reduce wrinkles after 14 days, smooth out skin, brighten and fade uv spots.

- snow mushroom: is a fermentation result of albatrellus ovinus fungus which is rich in grifolin, a compound that able to lower skin temperature, thus preventing skin aging, and preventing skin cells damage.

- natural alpha bisabolol: has anti-irritant and calming effect due its anti-microbial properties. candeia-based bisabolol is one of the most important natural ingredients used in sensitive skin formulations.

- tocopherol: vitamin e is a fat-soluble vitamin that contains antioxidants. vitamin e can easily absorb into the skin and help reduce skin damage caused by uv rays.

- squalane: it is a lightweight and non comedogenic oil that does not clog pores. functions as natural moisturizing factors (NMF) to maintain skin moisture and does not strip the skin. squalane also functions as an antioxidant that can prevent skin damage when exposed to UV rays, it helps to keep the skin supple, youthful and hydrate.

- betaine: the chemical structure of betaine resembles amino acid glycine with three additional methyl group (called trimethylglycine). the benefits of betaine in skin care include hydrating, soothing, as an anti-inflammatory and anti-aging to skin.

- sodium hyaluronate: is a salt form of hyaluronic acid that acts as a humectant (attracts moisture). sodium hyaluronate can make lips feel softer, "full", smoother and more hydrated.

ingredients list: Water, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Dimethyl Isosorbide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Albatrellus Confluens (Mushroom) Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid

the bottle

the packaging: even though at this point they have changed the packaging and placed several serums in a box, somehow this one still didn't come in a box. the serum came in opaque light purple glass bottle with white plastic pump head. there's description as well as ingredients list on the back of the bottle with the font is very tiny, so better not exert my eyes trying to read it. the size is 20 ml just like other serums from somethinc. since it's opaque, i can't see the remaining product inside. luckily, i've already had other retinol serum in my stash for backup, so yeah..

description at the back and ingredients list

the scent: this one is scentless and doesn't have other funny scent due to the ingredients. but if i sniff really closely, i can pick up some subtle scent like cake scent? anyway, it's not noticeable if i don't sniff it real close, so don't worry about it.

pump head

the product: the serum is runny milky white lotion-like serum. that's why it spreads around easily. it's also absorbed quickly too. i use one pump for my whole neck and face, and a bit more. anyway, since this one contains the weakest retinoid derivative, i use it every night right from the start because i've experienced enough with retinoid. judging by the ingredients, you don't need to worry about dryness since it also contains squalane, tocopherol, betaine and soothing agent like allantoin.

how it looks like on my hand

the result: even though i used this daily, and i also used a moisturizer that contains retinyl palmitate, somehow this serum doesn't dry out my skin. even when i use this in combination with runa beauty sleeping mask. however, i don't use it in combination with the sleeping mask that often really. i guess this might be really subtle for a beginner since i experience no dryness at all even though i've paired it with other products that contains retinol derivative as well. however, since it's really subtle, i can't say that i can see the difference after using this one. it doesn't help much with acne as well even though i also use BHA in the morning.

after blending it

i have to say that you should really get this one is you're just starting to use retinol. it's really subtle so you don't have to worry about dryness effect. as for you who had used retinol before, i suggest you try the encapsulated one or the stronger one as this one won't give you satisfying result. price wise, it's affordable and easy to get and something often holds sales as well. as for me, i won't repurchase this one. maybe i'll try the new formulation once i've finished with the retinol in my stash.

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