SecretKey – Starting Treatment Essence

3 Reviews

1. 

   contentCake4

   Reply

   The product never fully absorbed into my skin. I did not see noticeable effects though I was not expecting much to start with .was even not soothing to the skin unlike aloe vera water . I tried it on my legs and made them itchy . Steering clear of this .

2. 

   chicTeal5

   Reply

   I am not prone to reviews without using most, if not all, of the product because it usually takes that long to have any discernible effect on my skin. Not this stuff. Even I was amazed how quickly I could see the difference – one week of once a day use. I am now 1/3 of the way through this bottle, and I have started using it twice daily.
   I have dry skin and mild rosacea, which makes my skin sensitive during the winter. Due to this, I try to use organic and skincare for sensitive/dry/anti-aging/brightening (I don’t have wrinkles and I intend to keep it that way). This stuff fits all those categories. I bought it as an added layer of hydration and to help tone my skin, which was starting to look dull from the intense dry heat in my apartment. In the morning, I wash my face with lukewarm water, pat dry, then splash this on. The bottle has a small hole at top and you are meant to pour some out on your palm and pat it on. I found that I drip onto my counter, so I decanted some into a spritzer. I think the packaging can be improved for the delivery method, as it is awkward to cup with one hand and try to apply by blotting with the other without dripping through finger cracks. I apply until my skin is moist but not sopping, dripping wet. The texture of this is similar to water – it’s a little cloudy white, like when you wash rice. It has no discernible smell or color.
   After I apply this essence, I spray on Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir for another layer of moisturizer/toning. This is not necessary, but I want to use up my bottle of BE and I found that without the SecretKey essence, the BE makes my face drier. I let this dry and then I apply a day cream, finish getting dressed, then come back and apply my SPF. Ever since I started this regimen, my skintone has evened out significantly (I noticed within first 7 days of continued use), and my skin finally feels hydrated and supple. At night sometimes when the heat is extra strong in my apartment, I apply the essence when I get ready for bed by splashing a little water on my face, patting dry gently, then SecretKey followed by a night serum and night moisturizer. My skin is so dry that by the time I wake up in the morning, all of this has been absorbed!

3. 

   betrayedCheese1

   Reply

   I picked this up as it’s supposed to be a dupe for the MISSHA Time Revolution for about half the price. I didn’t see any zit-triggering ingredients and the Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate was third on the list (after water and glycerin) sooooo why not? For reference I have oily, acne-prone skin with large pores. My skincare aims are usually controlling oil/acne, fading dark spots, and texture refinement.

   This comes in a tall & heavy frosted glass bottle; it’s a clear, watery liquid and I’ve been using it LIBERALLY for a few weeks and barely see a dip in the product level, which is awesome. First things first: I have had zero negative reactions to this – also awesome. And full disclosure, I started a whole new routine that this essence was only a part of, but I’m pretty confident I can pick out what it has done for my skin on its own.

   At first I used this both morning and night, but I found it’s not the best under makeup so I only use it at night now. I splash a good amount in my hand, then I just slap my hands to my face and soak my skin in it (like I said, liberal is just my style, but if I’m totally honest a little really goes a long way). It’s pretty hydrating, which is not surprising since you’re splashing water and glycerin on your face, haha. And over the course of about a month and a half I have noticed overall brightening, the lightening of some persistent post-acne hyperpigmentation (AKA the bane of my existence), and my skin is a lot less thirsty. I definitely recommend. I might try the MISSHA after this is finished, just to see if there’s a difference.

   – inexpensive, seems to last a long while, good ingredients, sturdy packaging
   – hydrating, brightening, no adverse reactions
   – no miraculous results but I have seen real improvement

   Just as an aside, I started a lengthy Korean routine about two months ago and have seen really nice results. However, I had neglected a lot of my former products and the progress slowed. So I figured out that a combo of my previous routine, which focused heavily on chemical exfoliation, and the benefits of the Korean one was WHERE IT’S AT. I hope this helps anyone with skin similar to mine!

   If you’re curious, I use a Cosrx cleanser, Benton aloe/bha toner, this essence, Benton snail essence, Benton aloe/propolis moisturizing gel, rosehip oil. I alternate nights of MUAC mandelic acid peel, retinol, Nip+Fab glycolic pads, Stridex pads (I know, but my skin loooves constant exfoliation!). I would take a bullet for any of these products. Only slightly joking.

   Ingredients per Memebox:
   Water, Glycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Arbutin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, rh-OIigopeptide—1, Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Physalis Alkekengi Fruit Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus (Eleuthero) Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Panax Ginseng Root, Velvet Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA