Roses. Check. Hydration. Check. Lovely viscous liquid texture. Check. Okay, some of my favourite aspects of skincare are in this product, and I was keen to see how it worked out for me- let’s go.
Ulzzang UK
I received this product courtesy Ulzzang UK, who are a company which provide access to Korean skincare products from their base in London, UK. They strictly adhere to curating only products which pass the EU regulations, and have a small but high quality collection.
Purpose of the Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum
As per the Ulzzang website:
“Enriched with Bulgarian rose oil and organic herbal extracts, Aromatica’s multipurpose product (think toner-meets-serum) helps to brighten and smooth your skin while adding a deep layer of moisture. Thanks to a new formula fortified with niacinamide, this serum has been geared to fight against the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and other signs of ageing.
With 96% natural formula and 79% USDA certified organic aloe vera leaf extract. Recommended for dry skin.”
Product Details and Ingredients
How to use (as per Ulzzang): “Apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck morning and evening, after or in place of a toner. Smooth using upward and outward strokes and pat for absorption.”
Amount: 130ml
Time to use after opening: 12 months
Ingredients:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Niacinamide, Rosa Damascena Bud Extract, Polyglyceryt-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Carbomer, Panthenol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Water, Glyceryl Caprylate, Allantoin, Sambucusnigra Fruit Extract, Phyllanthusemblica Fruit extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Rubusidaeus Leaf Extract, Adenosine.
The ingredients list is pretty short, which always seems good to me! The aloe extract should provide soothing and moisturizing benefits as the first ingredient. There are also a high number of other anti-inflammatory and moisturizing elements and extracts. I would attribute any brightening or lightening to the niacinamide, as this has worked well for me for brightening in the past.
When I immediately checked out the list, I was pretty excited about all the seemingly great ingredients, and I also love that Aromatica uses all organic ingredients. They’re a great ethical, cruelty-free choice.
So yeah, I wanted to see if the glory of this list played out in my testing and results!
Packaging
The packaging is gorgeously luxe- a heavy-weight, frosted glass bottle with a simple design.
The dispenser itself I was initially dubious about. I expected it to be hard to control the amount of product dispensed, but it actually allows the serum to flow slowly, and is totally controllable.
The bottle is of course not suitable for travelling, but that’s what cute decanting bottles are for!
Texture and Scent
First this scent. GIRL. Amazing. A beautiful, fragrant rose scent that adds such a dose of luxury to my routine. Rose is a super popular theme in Korean skincare.
Because it’s a ‘first’ product, but also includes the word ‘serum’, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the texture. It’s actually a fairly thick, weighty liquid texture, neither as thin as a classic first essence, nor as syrupy or sticky as a classic serum. It spreads easily, and feels very smooth on skin.
Performance
In terms of application, during my testing period, I used the serum every morning and night, right after toner, and before any other products. You can replace your toner with this product, shortening your routine if you wish.
Like I said, it spreads easily, and after an initial sticky feeling, settles down nicely and absorbs well. When I first began testing, I was using too much product, and it was taking a longer time than I like to absorb, and felt quite heavy. However using a smaller amount works well- of course it depends on your skin type/preferences. The product is described as best for dry skin, however it hasn’t been giving my normal/combination skin any issues.
On a basic level, the serum deeply hydrates my skin, and I can feel a big difference in my skin before and afterwards. The plumping and moisturizing effects are instant, and I love products that are quick and easy to achieve these effects. It’s also wonderful for soothing, and feels very gentle and nourishing.
In terms of longer lasting results, I’ve noticed subtle brightening. I had some PIH from a breakout that I was really struggling to even out and fade. With concentrated application on the PIH area by my mouth, the hyperpigmentation faded so much quicker than usual, and this really impressed me. As I’ve mentioned in my last few posts, with a recent change in BC pills, I’m breaking out more frequently, which means I’m really keen to keep products that address all the issues that come with breakouts! PIH is a pain in the ass, so I’m really happy that this helps me fade the marks quicker.
Overall
I’ll definitely be keeping this in my rotation. It’s a gorgeous product that feels lovely, hydrates and plumps my skin, and has some great PIH fading results for me. During summer I can see it become more of a night time product, due to the slightly heavier weight than my usual summer morning products (think INTENSE humidity and sweatiness here in Korea for summer). But overall the serum totally lived up to expectations- beautiful!
Ulzzang UK sell this product for £27 and ship across Europe. I think the price is so good for such a luxurious, high quality product, particularly when I see how slowly my bottle is emptying, despite consistent use.
Have you tried this serum? Or any other Aromatica suggestions?!
