May Openeds Reviews

It’s hard to get a good feel for a product within the first weeks, but I always try to anyway. After all, some products are nearly instant hits, and others not so much. This month? Definitely already some hits, definitely some “well it’s usable”. As always, products are listed in the order opened (though photographed in roughly the order they should be used in a routine).

Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream

I have to admit, I can’t get excited for eye creams. I had this on hand from a Biossance order last year, and it took me so long to go through the last eye cream that I also got in that order that I’m only just now opening it. This is one that would probably be great under makeup, if you wear it. For my part, I like applying it all over my eye area and lips before applying retinol in the evening. This lets me still apply the retinol liberally, while not worrying about sensitizing areas.
Price: $54 USD / 15 mL for the full size; shown in a sample size

Rohto Mentholatum Water Lip Color Balm SPF 20 PA++

It’s nearly summer, so I’m out and about more and wearing more suncreen. That means I also needed more spf lip balm! Other ones I’ve tried have either tasted awful (Aquaphor) or left a white cast (Vanicream), so I wanted to try something else. This one leaves no cast and has no taste, all while coming in a nice little chapstick tube. I’ve already purchased another one, lest I lose this one!
Price: $6 USD / 4.5 g

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence

I’ve really become a believer in first essences, and since this one is sometimes considered a dupe for the Missha First Treatment Essence, which I love, I was eager to try it. This one also has bifida ferment lysate and saccharomyces ferment filtrate, as well as niacinamide and adenosine. Otherwise it generally has a significantly longer ingredient list. My redness has reduced again by virtue of using so many fermented ingredients, but so far it doesn’t feel as hydrating as the Missha.
Price: $38 USD / 150 mL

Beekman 1802 Milk Drops Probiotic Ceramide Serum

I picked this up when it was half off at Ulta, because I basically can’t not have a ceramide serum in my routine. This one looked particularly fun, since in addition to ceramides and niacinamide it also has some natural AHAs and BHAs, a bunch of plant extracts and, of course, goat milk and probiotics. Texture-wise, it’s a bit more liquidy and spreadable than a more typical ceramide serum, but is usable AM and PM. The bottle is super cute and looks almost like a small baby bottle, but volumetrically this definitely seems to be half glass, which is an unfortunate use of packaging.
Price: $45 USD / 30 mL

Good Skin Days C’s The Day Serum

This is my third bottle, and I’m still loving it! Vitamin c, niacinamide, licorice root, ginseng and mushroom for the win!
Price: $26 USD / 30 mL

Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum

I’m always interested in trying gentle retinols, so when I learned about this one and how it might be akin to the Versed Press Restart which I love so much. This has encapsulated retinol, bakuchiol, and matrixyl. So far it seems to be similarly gentle, though a slightly thicker texture. My one irritation with it is not facial irritation so much as packaging irritation — it’s a pump and stores head-down, but after the first two pumps it’s a struggle to get more out each time (I use three for face, neck and chest).
Price: $20 USD / 30 mL

OMI Verdio UV Moisture Essence

Since Krave Beauty Beet Shield has been discontinued, I’m on the hunt for my family’s next holy grail, and hoping to find a dupe for it. I may have lucked out on my first attempt. This uses the same UVA filters as Beet Shield (though not the same UVB, it appears), as well as a variety of plant extracts (though no beet extract). The texture and color are even similar. And I actually prefer the packaging in this, as it’s much easier to dispense. That said, this seems to simultaneously feel greasier and go on less dewy, and it doesn’t seem to have the same redness reduction but hey, I can deal with that. The husband likes it, too! I’ve already repurchased another tube.
Price: $9 USD / 50 g

I’m From Rice Toner

I wrote about the I’m From Rice Toner in my recent Face Off post, comparing & contrasting it with Laneige Cream Skin Refiner, so I won’t go too into detail here beyond to say that I only opened it about two weeks ago and I’m already halfway through it, so very much enjoying! I’ll almost certainly repurchase the full-size at some point.
Price: $28 USD / 150 mL; shown in the $8 USD / 30 mL size

Derma E Advanced Peptides And Collagen Moisturizer

This moisturizer technically came to me already opened, but this month was my first time using it. I had originally purchased it for my mom, because she was interested in a cheaper peptide moisturizer than the one she had been using, and because I didn’t hate the inci list. That said, she didn’t like it (she’s hard to please with skincare). To be fair, I’m not loving it either. It leaves my skin feeling very smooth but also weirdly tight for how heavy of a cream it is. I find that unless I put a sleeping mask or facial oil on after (I use it in the PM), I don’t like it very much. But hey, it’s open, and the inci list nearly looks like k-beauty: matrixyl & argireline for the peptides, plus ascorbyl palmitate (derivative of vitamin c), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) and tocopheroyl acetate (vitamin E), panthenol (vitamin B5), pinus pilaster bark extract (aka pycnogenol, an anti-oxidant), plus some nice oils. It does smell strongly of lavender, but it fades quickly.
Price: $21 USD / 60 mL