South Korean skincare products are touted as among the best in the world. The rave about their products has been loud and clear in the beauty industry for years. What sets Korean skincare apart from the rest is its use of proprietary ingredients that make it one-of-a-kind.
When I got the chance to live in Korea for a few months (I know, right!), I took advantage of exploring the beauty industry the best way I could. To my surprise, it was an actual paradise of beauty products, with hundreds of items and brands to choose from. As a first-timer with Korean products, I was drowned with options and didn’t know where to get a head start from. Every alley has shops that sell K-beauty products – imagine that! I was told to be extra cautions when purchasing products from random shops, because many of them sell counterfeit products. Yeap, that was very helpful advice, for sure. Now, in addition to sourcing what products to buy, I need to know where I can buy genuine ones. Double work!
So after much researching and asking around, I ended up trusting brands that I have heard of and that can be purchased easily here in Malaysia too. innisfree, The Face Shop and Sulwhasoo were my go-to brands because they are easily available at any mall here, and have been sitting at the top of the K-beauty skincare chart for a long time now. As a first-time user, it’s always best to go with renowned and popular brands that many swear by.
I will write a review for the others brands another time, but today, I’d like to specifically boast about this amazing serum which has been making my skin look younger and healthier. Enter, Yehwadam Heaven Grade Ginseng from The Face Shop.
Firstly, my skincare routine is pretty basic and simple – I cleanse, moisturize and powder. After being introduced to a myriad of products, I incorporated serum into my routine. Personally, I like a minimum number of products sitting on my face, because I feel we do more damage than repair when we slather multiple products on our skin which claim to have profound benefits.
Nonetheless, when I started using serum in my beauty regimen, I noticed that my skin looked healthier and plumper. As you know, Korean skincare involves a minimum 10-step routine if you’re looking to achieve a glass-skin finish. For me, it is about keeping it simple, with minimum products, while maximizing the benefits of the ingredients.
When I got my hands on the Yehwadam serum, it was a game-changer. I even ditched my moisturizer because the moisture content was sufficient for my normal skin type. A quick summary of my skin to know how it benefited me: I had occasional tiny oil bumps and dry skin for much of the rest of my face. I never had massive acne breakouts or suffered from oily skin. So when I used this serum as a boost to lock in all the moisture and reap the benefits ginseng has to offer, the results were truly satisfying.
The verdict: My skin was looking healthier, firmer; the appearance of lines were diminished; my skin tone was looking more even; and my skin appeared less oily.
The formulation of this serum is to be thanked for all the benefits I reaped. The star ingredient is none other than ginseng. The main ingredients of this serum are HGG and Natural Pine Mushroom extracts. The highly concentrated texture helps to keep in all the moisturizing effects for a long time. My skin was looking way more firm and pore size was reduced, because this serum meticulously replenishes any gaps in the skin structure to normalize skin functions. Hydrogenated Lecithin is also found in this serum, which essentially restores your skin and boosts up moisture (while locking-in natural moisture).
Texture wise, the serum is very light-weight and beige-translucent in colour. They didn’t go too heavy with the fragrance, keeping it fresh, with a natural Korean herbal scent.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this serum, or similar ones, for those who are looking for an anti-ageing solution, and while repairing skin from within. If you have uneven skin tone or large pores, this serum will do wonders in reshaping your skin’s look and feel in no time. Cost-wise, it is a little on the pricey side, but since you only need one tiny pump, which is enough to cover your whole face and neck, it is sure to last you a long time.
More on skincare? Read this:
Skin-tillating: How To Make Your Own Serum To Rejuvenate Your Skin!