as i've said in my other posts, i bought some products from underrated local brands mainly because i'm a curious person. i'm a firm believer that sometimes cheaper products work well too. this time, i'm trying adara. honestly, i never heard anything about them before, but they have a wide range of products. they have several range, so i bought some from their yogurt line and their PMS series line. i've tried some and it's a hit and miss for me so far. anyway, after trying the aubree ceramide moisturizer, i wanted to try adara PMS moisturizer which use ceramide as its main ingredient as well. since i've just use the aubree one before this, i'll also compare this one with the aubree.

this is the translated description from their website: PMS ceramide pudding moisturizer. around period time when there's hormonal changes in your body, your skin need specific care. PMS series is designed for you who have oily or acne-prone skin. PMS moisturizer can help to keep skin moist and healthy with lightweight texture.

benefit:

- moist the skin

- soothe acne

- maintain healthy skin structure

succinic acid to lift dead skin cells, gentler than salicylic acid. ceramide to strengthen skin barrier. safe for teen and sensitive skin.

key ingredients: panthenol, mugwort extract, pseudo, ceramide, ceramide-3, succinic acid.

the packaging: it comes in a pink box which you can open and there's additional info on the inside but i didn't take a picture of it. the box has a bit of description and ingredients list printed at the back. they seal the upper lid with sticker. the moisturizer itself comes in a pink plastic tub which is super light! makes me wonder whether it really contains 30 gram as it's stated. inside, there's another white plastic lid that covers the inside so the moisturizer doesn't come in contact directly with the air. they also provide a tiny, tiny spatula which surprisingly works well and so needed due to the moisturizer consistency.

the scent: this one is unscented and since i don't bother sniffing it up close, i don't know whether it has subtle awful scent that most unscented products have or not. 

the product: it's a white gel type moisturizer that's solid at first like pudding. it's truly like pudding because i've tried to scoop it with my finger and let's say that it's not successful. so i have to use the spatula to scoop a bit and then put it on my face before spreading it around. surprisingly, even though it's solid like pudding inside the tub, it melts once you spread it around with your finger. but it's not the watery melting type. anyway, this moisturizer appears to be the "changing back" type. i notice that every time i use it in the morning and let the shape changed because of the spatula and leave it overnight, the next morning, the surface will be flat like new again. 

the result: it's moisturizing alright, but not too much. perfect for morning when i don't need heavy moisturizer. i can't say that it's lightweight since it does have a bit punch in it, but not too much. i can still layer my sunscreen on top of this moisturizer without feeling heavy. perhaps it's because my skin is changing toward the dry side so i appreaciate this kind of moisturizer more.

anyway, compared to the aubree, i prefer the aubree one mainly because of the consistency. this one, even though it's solid like pudding, i feel like it's less moisturizing compared to the aubree that has runnier consistency. however, i still think this is suitable for all skin types since it's lightweight and who doesnt love ceramide nowadays? price wise, it's more affordable than the aubree one, but i finish this one quicker soo.. you'd better do math better. anyway, since this is a local brand, you can get it mostly online. i never see this in stores. so yeah, either from local marketplace or their own website. as for me, i don't think i'll repurchase this one. if i have to pick between this and the aubree, my pick would be the aubree one.

this is probably the last skincare items that i bought from the US that i haven't tried yet. i know i still haven't written anything about naturium moisturizer, or that sunscreen from elf, but i have a lot of night creams in my stash, so i'd better hurry and finish this one. actually, i wanted to try their ceramide serum, but it was sold out, so i decided to try the moisturizer instead. at that time, i didn't have that much in my stash.. but somehow it got out of hand because i purchased some moisturizers that i thought would be okay for daytime but turned out it was too thick to be daytime moisturizer. anyway, let's see how this one goes.

this is the description from their website: this rich cream instantly restores skin's moisture levels and provides increased plumpness. a dreamy cushion-like texture hugs the skin while improving radiance, supporting the skin's natural collagen and helping reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. perfect for dry skin types or those looking for deep hydration seasonally.

ingredients:

- plant-based polypeptide complex : this signal peptide supports the skin's natural collagen which improves skin integrity, firmness and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

- resurrection plant extract: helps restore hydration and teaches skin how to stay resilient and protect itself from damage caused by dehydration

- squalane: helps support the skin barrier while preventing moisture loss, sustainably sourced from sugar cane

- watermelon seed oil: high in natural antioxidants which help protect skin from the signs of aging

benefits: 

- instantly restores moisture levels

- helps improve firmness and elasticity

- helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles

- helps protect from trans-epidermal water loss

the packaging: this comes in a purple box with description on the sides and back of the box as well as the complete ingredients list. i think the box is recyclable. the moisturizer itself comes in a purple glass jar with white plastic screw cap. the jar is quite heavy when it's still full, so i have to be careful not to drop it. there's a bit description on the body as well. there's a foil to seal the jar so the content doesn't come in contact with the air directly. there's no spatula provided. it comes in 30 g so i do hope that i can finish it soon.

the scent: okay, it's fragrance free. but i just hope sometimes they will mask the unpleasant smell from the ingredients so it will more bearable to use the product. as this one, it doesn't smell awful, but it's not pleasant either. it makes me want to slap it and forget it. certainly not enjoyable.

the product: i have to say that the moisturizer has a weird consistency. it looks runny, but when i dip into it, it feels like gel? or like a swamp since i feel like being pulled into it when i dip my finger in it. like it feels like a bit stringy. at first, i thought it might gone bad already since it's bee awhile since i purchased it. but i checked that it's not expired yet. and then i browsed to find out the consistency and it's the same! so i think it's weird just like that.

the result: even though this is runny in the jar, it feels heavy and it leaves streaks on my face if i don't spread it around evenly until being absorbed. like those white cast that you'll get when you put on physical sunscreen on your face.. that's what it looks like if i don't spread it around and massage it until it's absorbed. i've said that it's heavy, and it leaves my skin glowing, so it's definitely moisturizing. quite occlusive since i can feel the remnant of it when i wash my face in the morning. like there's a layer covering my whole face. that ticks two of their promises. as for improving firmness and reducing fine lines and wrinkles, it can only be proven when you use it regularly. 

i think it's a solid moisturizer if you're looking for a moisturizer for your dry skin or something occlusive enough. however, you might not like the consistency, so it might affect the usage. i think this will suit people with dry skin or aging skin more. if you have normal to oily skin, i suggest you to at least try to find tester to see whether you can withstand the consistency or not. price wise, it's supposed to be affordable since it's sold in drugstores, but it isn't available here, so unless you bought it straight from the US, it might not be that affordable anymore if you buy it through preorder shop. as for me, i won't repurchase this moisturizer since it's too heavy for my preference. even for night time. 

when i went to korea, i had this long list of products that i wanted to buy and try. one of them is the famous goodal vita c serum. i don't know why, but it's so popular there. i think it's the most popular vit c serum. even when i went to oliveyoung, it was in their best-sellers rack. anyway, i don't have any hope since i know some of the most hyped products turn out ordinary, so i keep my hope in check when i bought this one.

this is the description from their website: target dark spots and post-acne hyperpigmentation. our vitamin c dark spot serum is packed with a powerful blend of 70% fresh green tangerine extract, 4% niacinamide, and arbutin. green tangerines are potent in antioxidants and have 10x more vitamin c than lemons. powered by this fruit, our formula improves dark spots and post-acne hyperpigmentation while tackling the formation of new ones that have yet to surface. mindfully harvested organic tangerines. our organic green tangerins are nourished with fermented soybeans (natural fertilizer) to produce the healthiest ingredients for your skin. they are hand-picked during a small window in july (4 weeks out of the entire year) when levels of vitamin c are the highest. only the freshest tangerines are infused into our formula to create the perfect skin-boosting fruit water serum! skin-boosting fruit water serum for sensitive skin - this is a safe and gentle vitamin c serum that will hydrate and nourish your skin to reveal a fresh and glowing complexion. it visibly revitalizes skin while avoiding irritation commonly associated with harsh vitamin c serums. calm and soothe skin barrier - infused with calming ingredients like centella asiatica (tiger grass), this restorative serum soothes skin, inhibits inflammation, and improves your skin barrier hydration. stable, non oxidizing formula - our serum is a stable formula that can be used both AM and PM. it's UV coated bottle and airless pump protect the formula and prevent oxidation.

the packaging: i bought this as a set so it comes in a box with the picture of the products inside. there are descriptions and ingredients list at the back and sides. this is a set of a full size serum and a travel size one. the full size one comes in a see-through yellow glass bottle with light green pump head that's protected by a light green plastic cap. the bottle is quite heavy and it comes in 50 ml so it's quite a big size. the travel size usually a miniature of the full size one, but not this one. it comes in an entirely different packaging. the travel size comes in a see-through squeeze tube but still in the same color combination. the travel size is 31 ml, which could be a full size serum in a local brand. it has spout to dispense the product. i have tried both of them, and i have to say that i like the spout better to dispense the product than the pump. i can spread it directly onto my face with the spout and it's very easy. and it can get most of the product out of the tube. i do like how they use longer straw for the pump head. so up until i almost finish the whole bottle, i can still use the pump to dispense the product.

the scent: it has this acidic scent, which kind of remind me of lemon, but i'm sure it's not lemon. but it reminds me of citrusy fruits. it's very subtle so unless i sniff it up close, i can't smell it. 

the product: it is a transparent gel type serum. or almost transparent? i thought it looks a bit yellowish, but sometimes it looks transparent. anyway, even though it's gel type, it spreads around easily. i don't think it contains derivative of vitamin c but extracts from fruit that might mimic vitamin c derivative. it also contains niacinamide and arbutin that has brightening properties.

the result: the serum is definitely a bit moisturizing. but it's still lightweight, so it's perfect since i usually use my vitamin c serum in the morning. it works well with my other skincare products. however, this is supposed to target dark spots and post-acne hyperpigmentation, but i don't see it. i've been using this serum for awhile now (i always use the travel size whenever i was traveling, but it was mostly 2 weeks top), but i don't see any difference in my post-acne hyperpigmentation nor my dark spot. i do agree that this is gentle since i don't feel any tingling nor experience any irritation because of it. 

i honestly can't see why this serum is getting a lot of hype. maybe because it's gentle and non irritative? but if you ask me, i won't recommend this as i don't see any significant result. i was hoping since it's so popular, it will work like magic, but apparently it's not. i do think it's suitable for all skin types. anyway, if you're looking for a brightening serum that's gentle and not irritative, then you might want to try it, especially since it will be affordable if there's sales going on. as for me, i won't repurchase this.

i realized that i ran out of vitamin c serum too late. i don't have anything that i want to try in my mind. i thought i saw something interesting from a local brand, but i couldn't find it. so i decided to just browse in sociolla website and bought anything that grabbed my attention. i decided to try beauty of joseon. i know most of people that had tried them either praised it highly or told everyone to just forget it. BOJ got a lot of hype several years back but i didn't seem to understand the hype. since i'm running out of option, i guess it won't hurt to try. and i know it's not a vitamin c serum, but i don't mind since i usually use a brightening serum in the morning and it doesn't have to be vitamin c.

this is the description from their website: this serum is designed for individuals dealing with pigmentation issues and uneven skin complexion. infused with 68% rice bran water and 2% alpha arbutin, it works diligently to illuminate and boost the health of your skin.

key ingredients:

- rice bran water 68%: rice has played a very important role as a staple food and skin care ingredient in korean history. in the joseon dynasty, rice bran water was used like the toner of today, and was called beauty water, used for beautiful skin. rice bran is rich in amino acids and minerals, helping to moisturize dry skin.

- alpha arbutin 2%: alpha arbutin works by inhibiting the tyrosinase activity that limits the melanin production in your skin. it is also known to have a 10 times greater effect than regular beta arbutin.

the packaging: it comes in a pale beige/white box. there's description at the back in korean. but since i bought it here, they stamped a sticker label with indonesian description on it. they seal the box with sticker. the bottle looks like it made of glass, but it's just plastic. it's see through so you can see the remaining product inside. they use dropper to dispense the product. the serum comes in 30 ml, however, since the bottle is short and small, it seems like it is less than 30 ml. i have no problem with the dropper and it works perfectly fine until i almost finish it. 

the scent: i don't think it's scented, but i might be mistaken.

the product: it's a transparent runny serum, like liquid. i have to drop it on my face real quick before it drips down all over my face. i usually use a drop for each area, so around 4-5 drops for my whole face and neck. 

the result: it's a bit hydrating but not too much. it works well with my other skincare products. however, i don't buy this one for a hydrating serum. this serum contains rice bran water and alpha arbutin for brightening. and i use this day and night. however, i don't see any difference in my skin. sometimes, some serum works slow. but this serum doesn't feel like it's working at all. either it's working too slow or it just doesn't work.

that being said, even though i don't like this serum, someone else might. this one is lightweight and for those who can't use vitamin c, this might be a good option if you're looking for a brightening serum. since it's lightweight and it doesn't contain vitamin c, obviously it will be safer for those with sensitive skin. but if you're looking for an effective brightening serum, i doubt that it would be a good option. anyway, the price is quite affordable so if you're looking for a non vitamin c brightening serum, then you can try it. otherwise, skip it.