SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule Review K-Beauty Time!

Hello and welcome to my blog. I'm gonna review a product from SCINIC, it's called Honey All In One Ampoule, a South Korea skincare product. I've finished the whole thing and decided to give everyone a fair review. This product retails around $17-22, pretty affordable and can be purchased from eBay or Amazon. Let's get on with the review now shall we?

This is the actual package of the product. It's a light, sturdy plastic bottle.

Taken from the package itself.

Product description:

SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule makes your skin moist and soft with honey extract.

Ingredients as stated in the package:

 Honey Extract (90%), Glycerin, Water, Niacinamide, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Caramel, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol

Package description breakdown: 

The bottle contains 250ml of ampoule! For an ampoule/serum, that's super inexpensive. Usually ampoule/serum comes with 30ml, and 250ml is the best deal! The description claims to have  90% of concentrated honey and will deliver moisture and softness to the skin. So the rest of 10% contains either preservations and additional ingredients for different purposes like humectants and emulsify agents. I see a lot of natural extractions as well, and also no alcohol! Yay!

Additional breakdown:

From what I gathered, SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule can be used as a 3-in-1 step, basically it's  a toner, an essence, and a serum, all combined in one product. This is very handy, especially to those of us who are just too lazy to go through lots of step, this product is a quick fix. Of course you can still use it as an ampoule/serum by itself. I'm just glad this ampoule can be versatile, so I won't feel guilty whenever I skip my toner or essence.

Detail breakdown:

The bottle is made of plastic with a screw cap. When I first got the product, it looked very unsecured, there wasn't a seal tape initially to cover the mouth of the bottle at all, just a screw cap. Imagine if the screw cap got loose, the whole thing would be spilt. And trust me the screw goes off pretty easy, just a few twists and it's off. But gladly it didn't happen. The product also comes with a small spatula to scoop out the ampoule, and I'm very thankful for the spatula. Dipping my finger in every use, that's very unhygienic.

Here are some swatches....

The ampoule has this yellow tint to it, and very thick in consistency. Once spread out, it gives off a super wet, glossy finish. The ampoule takes quite long to be absorbed, I'd say around 15-20 minutes. The 3rd screenshot is when the ampoule has been absorbed, it still gives off the dewy look, but not as wet as initial application. The ampoule also gives off a very mild sweet honey scent, it's not too bothersome if you don't like fragrance.

Ways to use it:

1. As a 3-in-1 quick step: For those of us who couldn't get anymore lazier, just apply this on and follow by a favorite cream, *chop chop* done! No toner, not essence, just one quick step.

2. As a serum itself: As simple as it can get. Remember, a little goes a long way. It's 250ml. Most ampoules/serums come with 30ml, but this one can last for a while.

3. As a wash off mask: Use this ampoule as a base and mix your own favorite ingredients that suit your skin the best, OR you can just apply a super thick layer on and wait around 20-30 minutes and wash it off.

4. As a moisturizer under makeup: If you're as dry as a desert, this would be best under BB cream/foundation. Since it's quite thick, apply super thin layer, on the areas that get dry very easily and wait until it's absorbed. You don't wanna apply a thick layer and have your BB cream/foundation clump together, that won't be a pleasant look. Also, it takes 15-20 minutes to be absorbed, most of us just want our makeup to be done fast so we can go about our days, apply it thin so it can absorb faster would be a wise idea.

The result and my opinion:

I really enjoyed this product! I've finished the whole bottle and only had one scoop left for this review. I think it's quite innovative to have 3 steps in 1. I did notice a change in my skin softness and moisture balance. The texture and the surface of my skin is pretty smooth right now, all thanks to this product! Honey overall is a great ingredient wise, because it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and nourishment.

Who should use this?:

Normal/dry/extreme dry/acne-prone/rough texture/large pores. Those that are cursed with dry skin, and pimples, this would be a best deal!.

Who should avoid this?: 

If you have oily skin or allergic to honey, this product might not be suited for you. However, don't let that deter you. As we tend to say, just because one has oily skin, that doesn't mean one shouldn't hydrate and moisturize well. As for the allergic part, you should avoid this product altogether.

The rating:

I'd give it 4.5/5.
I wish the package is more secure on the first delivery as thing could go bad and also, absorb a little bit faster would be nice. Will I repurchase? Yes, if I find something better, I probably won't repurchase.

Pros:

1. Plenty of product and can last a while
2. Very nourishing and moisturizing
3. Affordable
4. Versatile
5. Provide a spatula for sanitary purpose
6. Long term benefit if use everyday

Cons:

1. Unsecured package, can be spilt if not carefully deliver
2. Takes a while to be absorbed
3. Not travel friendly
4. Not available for purchase in person in the US, online only

That's all! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this review. If you have questions or want me to review a certain product, feel free to let me know.

Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel Review K-Beauty Time!

Hello and welcome to my blog. I'm going to review a product that's called Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel, a South Korea skincare product. This product retails around $10-12, pretty inexpensive and can be purchased from eBay or Amazon. Let's get on with the review now shall we?

Taken from the package itself.

Product description:

A soothing gel containing 99% aloe vera leaf juice from Jeju that calms the reddened and sensitive face and body.

Taken from the official Holika Holika website.

https://holikaholika.ca/aloe-99-soothing-gel

1. 99 % fermented aloe vera leaf juice is contained.
   • Fermented contents maximize the effect of activating components like aloesin. So it helps your skin to be clear & healthy.
2. Moist feeling without stickiness.
   • It is absorbed fast & freshly without stickiness. plus it soothes the stimulated skin by hot sunlight & makes your skin moist & sleek.
3. 7 free system for skin health
   • No Paraben, No Benzophenone, No Propylene Glycol , No BHT, No Animal ingredient, No artificial coloring, No mineral oil. "Actually there's one more, no Alcohol! Let's make it 8 free system. Yay!"

Size:    250ml

How to Use:   Spread it on the sensitive & dry face & body frequently. Then make it absorbed.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice,  Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract,  Centella Asiatica Extract,  Bambusa Vulgaris Extract,  Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract,  Zea Mays (Corn) Leaf Extract,  Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract,  Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract,  PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil,  Sodium Polyacrylate,  Carbomer,  Triethanolamine,  Fragrance,  Phenoxyethanol

Package description breakdown: 

It has 250ml and can last quite a while. The description stated the gel has 99% of real aloe vera extraction. Base on the ingredients, it's possible to have the rest of the ingredients squeezed in 1%. Holika Holika also has another version of this product which contains 92% aloe vera extraction and with extra ingredients for additional benefit, hence why the aloe concentration is reduced to 92%.

Website description breakdown: 

1. Nothing is better than organic and natural. Taken from Jeju island with fertile soil. This is pretty much similar to the "Package description breakdown."

2. Aloe vera has always known for its benefits, which are soothing, calming, and hydrating. This product will definitely soothe your sunburn and inflammation from acne/pimple/insect bites. Once a week I would extract black/whiteheads around my nose. After the extraction, my skin was inflamed from all the pressures. I immediately toned my skin and applied this product on, within 10 minutes it soothed the inflamed areas. When I applied the gel on my skin, it felt so cooling and relaxing! It does have a smell, but it's quite nice, and didn't bother me much.

3. This product has 7 free system! Actually let's make it 8 free system, because there's no alcohol! That means it's good for even the most sensitive skin out there. It's 99.70% natural. I spotted 4 chemicals, they are the preservations of course. Alcohol is a questionable ingredient. Some people don't like the dry feeling that caused by alcohol, like the Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Gel, which is another popular aloe gel out there that got everyone raved about. I've used that brand but to compare Holika Holika one with Nature Republic one, Holika won a spot in my heart. I just don't like the feeling of dryness on my skin after the application from NR. Not to mention if I re-apply/layer too much of NR's gel, I got this weird feeling on my skin, It's like a burning sensation, sometimes it's a little bit itchy, which is very uncomfortable. Alcohol is pretty much a neutral ingredient that does nothing but to add an illusion of light-feeling-when-apply-on to a product. Still, I really don't like products that contain high alcohol concentration. Luckily, Holika's aloe gel doesn't contain alcohol!

Additional breakdown:

The consistency of the gel is pretty runny. When I spread the gel onto my skin, it has a slimy texture to it, pretty similar to raw aloe vera, and it's very easy to spread out. A little goes a long way. Even though it's a gel, but as long as it's spread onto the skin, it becomes kind of runny and slimy. I always like to spread the gel all around my face and then pat the gel with my 4 fingers stick together. Within less than 5 minutes it's absorbed! No greasy feeling. Nice!

Ways to use it:

This product is very versatile, you can use it in many ways. Here are some examples.

1. As a wash off mask: Squeeze out a best amount of the gel, mix the gel with honey, smashed avocado or all of them together (be creative and choose what's best for you!) Apply the mixture onto your skin for 20-30 minutes. Wash off and feel the softness!

2. As a base/moisturizer for makeup: Apply this onto your skin, wait until it's absorbed/dry then apply BB cream/foundation. This will ensure your skin is well hydrated/soothed throughout the day. DO NOT mix BB cream/foundation with the gel, it will create a weird texture that's very hard to apply. Some products can be emulsified together but no in this case for Holika's aloe gel.

3. As a hair treatment: Apply on dry hair, especially the frizzy/dry parts. The gel will be absorbed into the hair and leave no sticky feeling. The gel isn't meant for styling, so it won't work for that purpose.

4. As finger/toe nails treatment: Apply on thin nails and nails that have dry cuticles. Recommend to use at night before sleep time. You don't wanna apply it on then go to the bathroom and wash your hands eh?

5. As a body lotion: Of course for you body as well! Especially after a sun tan, for soothing purpose.

6. As eye masks: Have eye bags and dark circles? Cut a napkin paper to fit under your eyes. Put the gel onto one side, apply the side that has the gel on. Relax!

Basically you can use it with many things! Just don't eat it, it tasted pretty weird.

The result:

After a week of using this product, I can honestly say that my skin condition has improved a lot. My natural redness has decreased and toned down. My skin is much plump and soft. When I used the sample, I didn't expect that I would love this product. Now I wanna share it to you all who is curious about this product. I say, give it a try! I'm sure you will like it, or maybe love it!

Who should use this:

Everyone! This product is good for all skins out there. Oily, dry, combo, acne prone, ya da ya da!

The rating:

I'd give this 5/5 stars! I love it! Will I repurchase? YES!

Pros:

Lightweight feeling

Absorb quickly

Soothe/calm skin

Versatile

Affordable

Sanitary package (Unlike the Nature Republic round tub, have to use finger to scoop)

Can last a while

Can be long term benefit if use everyday

Cons:

I wish it contains 300 ml of product like NR one
Though the package is neat, but it won't be travel-friendly
Not available for purchase in person in the US, online only
That's it!

Thanks a lot everyone! I will review more goodies. If you guys have any request on a particular product and want me to review it, do let me know.