blithe pressed serum - gold apricot

this is the description from cnfstore website: a serum that deeply hydrates and brightens with 31 percent apricot to give skin a flawless glow. this unique balm melts into skin, sealing in hydration to create a glass skin effect of dewy, poreless, and translucent. apricot extract brightens skin, while the natural oils nourish it. antioxidant-rich berry extracts and turmeric soothe and protect skin creating a perfectly primed canvas for makeup.

key ingredients: 

apricot extract - help to brightens skin.

turmeric - brightens and soothes skin.

love fruit oil - nourishes and hydrates skin.

ingredients list: prunus armeniaca (apricot) fruit extract, glycerin, dipropylene glycol, cyclopentasiloxane, undecane, tridecane, 1,2- hexanediol, cetyl alcohol, niacinamide, dimethicone, PEG-100 stearate, cetearyl olivate, dipentaerythrityl hexahydroxystearate/hexastearate/ hexarosinate, betaine, butylene glycol, sorbitan olivate, panthenol, vaccinium angustifolium (blueberry) fruit extract, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, rubus fruticosus (blackberry) fruit extract, fragaria chiloensis (strawberry) fruit extract, euterpe oleracea fruit extract, c14-22 alcohols, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) peel oil, palmitic acid, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer, stearic acid, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, xanthan gum, citrus limon (lemon) peel oil, melia azadirachta leaf extract, melia azadirachta flower extract, curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract, PEG-150 distearate, disodium EDTA, ocimum sanctum leaf extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, corallina officinalis extract, myristic acid, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, dimethiconol, water, tocopherol, candida bombicola/glucose/methyl rapeseedate ferment, argania spinosa kernel oil.

the packaging: i bought this in a set. it comes in a colorful cardboard box. the box is very informative since it has descriptions at the back in english for all four pressed serums as well as the ingredients list of all four. there's a picture of all four pressed serum at front and when you open the box, you'll see four windows. each one has one pressed serum. there's a card with short description in english and korean. the deluxe sample looks exactly like the full size version. for gold apricot, it comes in see through frosted plastic tub which is slightly greyish and has a dark grey plastic screw cap. since it's see-through, you can see the remaining product from the outside. inside, the pressed serum is covered with plastic, so it doesn't come in contact with the air when it's opened. each deluxe sample comes in 20 ml each.

the scent: it has a bit citrusy smell, but just like the other pressed serum, the scent is really subtle. i don't mind with the scent as it's not overwhelming at all. 

the tub

the product: i have to say the description from the website is really spot on. it's yellowish balmy pressed serum. it's quite thick. but it's easy to spread around. like once you spread it and warm it with your finger, it melts into your skin. it gives a nice slip and doesn't feel too tacky afterward. 

the result: as moisturizer, of course it seals well all the products underneath. it gives me glowy finish before i went to bed. and the next morning when i wash my face, i can feel a layer of moisture left behind before being washed off by foam. since i've been experiencing breakouts up until now, i've been using my ufo regularly. and i don't need to use mask since this balm pressed serum is quite slippery so the ufo can glide all over my face nicely. afterward, the ufo helps the product sinks in to my skin. better than just massaging it with my hands. however, since i also use several products that contains brightening ingredients, i can't say for sure about the brightening effect. but i can say that all that products must work since i can see my skin clearer as time goes by even though there's breakouts here and there.  

this is the third pressed serum that i try. and if i have to rank it from my favorite to my least favorite, this would be my least favorite. not because it's bad, but because it's balmy texture. it's quite thick. for now, it's still okay since i use acne spot treatment and retinol that might drying to my skin so the balm pressed serum counter the drying effect. however, if i'm not using actives and i use heavier serum, this might be too much for my skin. a little update: my skin has been acting up lately. even though i've used acne treatment, somehow new acne keeps popping up here and there. so i decided to drop this pressed serum. i'm guessing now that i'm off retinol, it is too rich for me. after a few days, i notice i don't get cystic acne as fast as i used to, and the old ones are recovering as well. i would say if you have super dry skin or live in winter area, then this balm texture would be perfect for you. but if you have combination to oily skin and live in tropical or hot humid countries, this balm texture could be too much and too rich for you. this is why i like a deluxe sample. you get enough amount to test whether you like the product or not before deciding which one to buy in full size. as for me, i won't repurchase the full size, but maybe other variants. for now, blithe is sold at cnfstore and they often has sales. you can also find this on other online shops. price wise, full size is pretty expensive, and if it's on sale, make sure to check the expiry date. mine is close enough. it would expire at the end of this year, that's why i have to hurry and use them up. now it's only the crystal iceplant to use.