Kypris Clearing Serum

How to I use it: I use it in the morning after washing my face and apply toner. I will top it off with face mask then moisturizer.
Price: Rp. 1.100.000 for 30 ml
Ingredient:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Chenopodlum Qulnoa Seed Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Betalne, Zinc PCA, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Syrlnga Vulgaris (Lilac) Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Cerasus (Bitter Cherry) Flower Extract, Asiatlcoslde, Larrea Divaricata (Chaparral) Leaf Extract. Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Ceramlde NP, Cltrus limon (lemon) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Allantoln, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkll (Shea) Butter, Capryllc/Caprlc Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Palmltate, Maltodextrln, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Montmorillonite, Phospholiplds, Phytosterols, Pyros Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract, Sarcoslne, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Anisate, Sodlum Levulinate, Squalane, Tocopherol, Linalool
Why I love it:
The best serum I tried so far to combat acne. I have been using this for 2 years now. Kypris Clearing Serum is a savior on my period week when imbalance hormone causing acne on my face. This serum helps to soothe my skin and calm my breakout. It is also even out my skin complexion. The product is easily absorbed and has a slight herbal scent. What I do not like about this serum is the shelf life is only six months. This is such a waste since I only use this during that time of the months for 1-2 weeks; I always end up only using a half bottle of the product after 6 months. For the price, I feel like my money is half wasted. Still, I continue to repurchase this product, LOL. I really love this serum; it is so hard to find the dupe for it.
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum (NIOD CAIS)

How to I use it :
I use it in the morning after washing my face, toner, then NIOD CAIS, after that just moisturizer and sunscreen.

Price: Rp. 1.050.000 for 15 ml
Rp. 2.160.000 for 30 ml
Ingredient:
NIOD CAIS always come in 2 bottles, one is the activator and another one is the copper concentrate, you should only mix these two when you are about to use it. once mixed, you must use it immediately then store it in the fridge. However, I heard that the new NIOD CAIS is more stable and does not need to be refrigerated.
ACTIVATOR
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Tripeptide-29, Tripeptide-1, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycogen, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Dextran, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Isoceteth-20, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
COPPER CONCENTRATE
Aqua (Water), Copper Gluconate, Isoceteth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
Why I love it:
I was so intrigued by the ingredient list which has Copper Gluconate and peptide. This serum is non-sticky, very watery and quickly absorb to my skin. Too fast that I do not want to put the serum on my skin then apply it, instead, I just use the pipette drop the serum directly on my face then even it out with my fingers.
The serum color is blue, it is so pretty. It claims that “it helps your skin to repair itself which in-turns help it ‘act’ younger by producing more collagen at its lowest depths”, which I do feel my skin is healthier when using this serum, my pores were kind of blurry and I look slightly youthful, LOL.
I purchase this serum twice and stop after that due to its expensive price. I love it that it has watery texture, but because of that I need to apply 3 pumps on every use and I run out the product within 3 weeks or so. I cannot continue purchasing a 2 million-ish product that can only last for a month.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

How to I use it:
I use two pumps of Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum in the morning after washing my face, before toner, after that just moisturizer and sunscreen.
At night is also right after my double cleansing, before my other skincare routine. And if I am using actives, I will use Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum 20 minutes after using actives.
Price: Rp. 960.000 for 60 ml
Ingredient:
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Adenophora Stricta Root Extract, Lycium Chinense Root Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract, Honey, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Natto Gum, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Peg/Ppg-17/6 Copolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Potassium Carbomer, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dextrin, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Phenyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance
This is my Holy Grail product. I just cannot be without this it. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum is not a serum; it is a first essence or booster for the skin. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum has a herbal ginseng kind of smell, it is a good smell, not an annoying one. The packaging is sturdy and luxurious. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum helps to prepare my skin for the next skincare to absorb better. It added a layer of moisture to the skin without feeling sticky and it also good for acne-prone skin. I can notice the difference in my skin when I skip using it. I will always purchase this product over and over again. The good news is, Sulwhasoo every now and then make a Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum special edition which contains 120 ml of product with a good deal price. So you can have more product at a good price.
Use two pumps or more to maximize the effect of Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, do not use less than that or you won’t be able to see any benefit from this product.
Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
How to I use it:
I only use Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment once a week, if more than that my skin will be too dry. I just use a pea-size amount for the entire face. I use it in serum slot, just before moisturizer.
Price: Rp. 850.000 for 60 ml
Ingredient:
Water (Aqua), Dimethicone (skin-softening), Glycerin (skin-replenishing), Butylene Glycol (hydrating), Isononyl Isononanoate (emollient), Castor Isostearate Succinate (skin-softening ), Glyceryl Stearate (texture enhancer), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (emollient), Dimethicone Crosspolymer (texture enhancer), PEG-33 (stabilizer), Polysorbate 20 (texture enhancer), Behenyl Alcohol (texture enhancer), PEG-100 Stearate (texture enhancer), Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate (stabilizer), Polymethylsilsesquioxane (texture enhancer), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (vitamin C/antioxidant), Retinol (skin-restoring), Ceramide NG (skin-replenishing) , Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (skin-restoring), Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 (skin-restoring), Sodium Hyaluronate (skin-replenishing ), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (antioxidant plant extracts/skin-soothing), Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract (licorice extract/antioxidant/skin-soothing), Avena Sativa Kernel Extract (oat extract/antioxidant/skin-soothing), Arctium Lappa Root Extract (burdock extract/antioxidant/skin-soothing), Salix Alba Bark Extract (willow bark extract/antioxidant/skin-soothing), Glycine Soja Sterols (antioxidant/skin-softening ), Lecithin (skin-restoring), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (antioxidant/skin-softening), Sorbitan Laurate (texture enhancer), Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester (skin-soothing), Disodium EDTA (stabilizer), Hydroxyethylcellulose (texture enhancer), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (skin-restoring), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Tribehenin (emollient), Caprylyl Glycol (skin-softening), Ethylhexylglycerin (skin-softening), Pentylene Glycol (hydrating), PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides (emollient), PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer (stabilizer), PEG-10 Phytosterol (fatty acid-based emollient), PEG-8 Dimethicone (skin-softening), PEG-14 (texture enhancer), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (texture enhancer), Arachidyl Glucoside (texture enhancer), Arachidyl Alcohol (texture enhancer), Sclerotium Gum (texture enhancer), Carbomer (gel-based texture enhancer), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Benzoic Acid (preservative).
Why I love it:
This is the only retinol product that suits my skin so far. The texture is creamy and smooth, the cream color is yellowish. Retinol is a pretty strong ingredient. If you never tried retinol before, you should try it slowly then build up as need it. I like this product because it helps to smooth my skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. I use this only at night time. If I use too much of t Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment, my skin will feel itchy and slightly red. That is why it is very important for me to hydrate my skin after I use this retinol with moisturizer and sleeping mask, I use the combination of blossom jeju moisturizer and sulwhasoo sleeping mask. The next morning after I use it in the night before, my skin will look refresh and plump. I have tried retinol product from the ordinary but it balls up on my skin and does not absorb very well.
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum

How to I use it :
I use it in the morning after washing my face, without using toner, just straight to vitamin C serum, after that just moisturizer and sunscreen.
Price: Rp. 1.030.000 for 29 ml, you can find it in Sephora
Why I love it:
My first ever vitamin C serum and I love it until now. I have tried a few vitamin C serum from a different brand, such as The Banish oil vitamin C serum, melano CC serum and timeless skincare 20% vitamin c+e+ferulic acid serum, but the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum suits me the best. Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum safe my skin whenever it looks dull. It helps brighten my complexion and refresh my tired-looking skin.
Having a vitamin C serum in my routine is a must because it also has an anti-aging benefit and it helps to get rid of acne scar faster. It comes in a green pipette bottle with a clear serum. I always keep my Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum in the fridge to prevent it from oxidation and turn to yellowish color. That being said, if for example, I forget to leave it outside the fridge until night time, the serum will not turn yellowish. Just do not leave it in the direct sun, because it can ruin the formula.
Odacite Ro +Y Rosehip Ylang-Ylang Serum Concentrate

How to I use it :
I use it only at night after toner and before sheet masking. The order is double cleansing-Sulwhasoo FCAS-Toner- Odacite Ro +Y Rosehip Ylang-Ylang Serum Concentrate-sheet mask-moisturizer.
Price: $48 or around Rp 700.000 for 5 ml
Ingredient:
Highest-grade cold-pressed certified organic winterized Rosehip (Rosa rubiginosa) oil, Certified organic Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) oil, Certified GMO-free Vitamin E (Tocopherols) oil.
Why I love it:
I really really love this face oil. The aroma of this face oil is sooo good, it is like putting aromatherapy on your face. It has a short and sweet ingredient list. What I hate it the size of this product is super tiny but super pricey. This is probably the most expensive 5 ml skincare product I ever purchase. I only use two tiny drops of oil and mix it with my blossom jeju serum. Odacite Ro +Y Rosehip Ylang-Ylang Serum Concentrate hydrate, plump and nourished my skin. After a couple of use, I see my skin is glowing and my fine lines are reduced.
Just like NIOD CAIS, I purchase it twice and then stop. I know I cannot afford it but I never regret purchasing this awesome face oil. I wish they come in a bigger bottle so I could convince myself to buy it again someday, LOL.
I do really love all of these expensive skincare products, there are some that I will always repurchase no matter what and some is just too pricey, so I need to find other affordable product to replace it. I always repurchase the Sulwhasoo FCAS, Mario Badescu vitamin C serum since it does wonders for my skin. As for the others, I try to replace Kypris with Yuripibu Bifida ampoule, although the two of these products are not the same. but, Yuripibu Bifida ampoule helps to balance my skin condition, therefore, help to reduce my acne. I have not used other retinol. I do love NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum, there is nothing like this product I found so far, but I just cannot justify its price into my budget. As for the Odacite Ro +Y Rosehip Ylang-Ylang Serum Concentrate, it is a great product with a visible result on my skin. Luckily, there are tons of great face oil that can give my skin a similar impact with cheaper price.
Your skin care product does not have to be steep; there are a lot of choices in the market with an affordable price tag. However, some expensive skincare does have superiority compare to others and actually deserves its price tag.
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