February went by quickly, as it is wont to do. My face largely returned to normal, after January’s upset, but an eczema/psoriasis/I’m-secretly-allergic-to-my-dogs patch on the back of my neck caused problems. My empties tend to come in waves, with some months being all about serums, others about toners — this is a serum one. Here’s what I emptied last month:

Serums

🌊 Pacifica Sea & C Love Vitamin Serum

I bought the Pacifica Sea & C Love Vitamin Serum on the recommendation of a friend, and then it sat forever in my stash, and then I finally opened it late December and forgot to include it in those reviews. Sigh. Sometimes the timing just hits wrong with these, I suppose. This is an interesting vitamin C serum, in that it does indeed have a vitamin C derivative (3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid) but it’s mostly a hydration party, with glycerin, aloe juice, sea kelp extract, black tea ferment, algae extract and the obligatory hyaluronic acid. To amplify the antioxidant benefits of the vitamin C, it also has green tea extract, turmeric extract and cranberry extract. This makes it an incredibly easy serum to fit into any routine, though the brightening benefits might be more subdued. It’s worth noting that this does include a fragrance blend, which is fairly standard for Pacifica.
Opened: December per my spreadsheet, but it seems I failed to include it in those reviews
Price: $18 USD / 29 mL
Rating: 8/10

🍓 Volition Strawberry-C Brightening Serum

I normally wouldn’t try Volition due to the price point, but since I got the Volition Strawberry-C Brightening Serum through a Gift With Purchase (GWP) sampler from Ulta, well, here we are. This is another hydrating vitamin C serum with 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, though the brand leans more into strawberry seed and fruit extracts for its vitamin C claims.Interestingly, this also includes kakadu plum extract, an increasingly popular source of vitamin c. Similar to the Pacifica, it also includes glycerin, hyaluronic acid (in its salt form) and a nod to the sea — sea water, in this case. One might almost consider these to be dupes, in which case I have to say, if only for price, Pacifica comes out on top.
Opened: this month
Price: $44 USD / 30 mL; shown in a sample size
Rating: 7/10

🌱 Dermafirm Bio Correction Ampoule Collagen R4

While I don’t get excited about collagen as an ingredient, I do get excited about free serums, which is why I even have the Dermafirm Bio Correction Ampoule Collagen R4 (thanks, YesStyle gift with purchase!). As we know, collagen, even hydrolyzed, is too large to penetrate the skin barrier, so it instead serves as a humectant — as does the glycerin, aloe powder, hyaluronic acid and beta glucan in this formula. In addition to the hydrolyzed collagen, this includes the specific peptides copper tripeptyde-1, palmitoyl oligopeptide, tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. This was a bit drying, unfortunately, but I imagine with continued use it might be repairing — though at too high a price compared to other great k-beauty serums, in my opinion.
Opened: January
Price: $29 USD / 15 mL
Rating: 5/10

💚 By Wishtrend Cera-barrier Soothing Ampoule

The By Wishtrend Cera-barrier Soothing Ampoule was fairly hyped a few months ago — skin barrier-supporting serums are definitely popular lately, as all of us recover from the over-exfoliation and retinization that the recent years have induced in many of us. This is a lightweight yet creamy serum, with one ceramide and six peptides for barrier repair, centella asiatica extract and panthenol for calming, and squalane and sunflower seed oil for some extra skin-type-agnostic fatty acid love. This serum will definitely soothe your skin barrier, but I’d recommend it for daily upkeep more than emergency repair. I suspect that oilier skin types prone to acne or over-exfoliation might love this.
Opened: November
Price: $28 USD / 30 mL
Rating: 9/10

Everything Else

🫐 Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser

I received the Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser from a friend who loved it. Well. I can see why. This is ostensibly a gel cleanser, but when you put it on dry skin (which is the way it directs) it breaks down and spreads easily, almost like an oil — most likely due to Biossance’s much-loved squalane. It rinses clean but leaves the skin feeling unstripped, to the point that I can finally do some other chores between cleansing and the rest of my routine without my face hurting. I love the aesthetic of it (bubbly and purple? Yes please). This cleanser is part of why I’ve been double cleansing less, as it works well for light eye makeup, as well as sunscreen, though I can’t speak to how well it works for a full face. It seems out of stock most places, and I’ll be wildly disappointed if so — this is definitely worth a rebuy, as the price and the experience make it hard to beat.
Opened: July
Price: $28 USD / 150 mL
Rating: 10/10

3️⃣ Son Reve Tri Bio Treatment Essence

Color me influenced: I bought the Son Reve Tri-Bio Treatment Essence when it was on sale because Kelly Driscoll, one of my favorite skincare Youtubers, recommended it. I love a first treatment essence, usually full of fermented ingredients, for their incredible lightweight hydration, as well as pore control. This does indeed have 90% fermented ingredients: galactomyces ferment filtrate, bifida ferment lysate and three rice ferment filtrates (aspergillus, lactobacillus and sacccharomyces), with the other 10% including sea buckthorn extract and niacinamide. This is not as lightweight as the first treatment essences I usually go for, though in fairness it doesn’t bill itself as a “first” treatment essence. While I don’t think I’ll rebuy, it would be a good pick for someone hoping to explore ferments in a more minimal routine.
Opened: November
Price: $43 USD / 150 mL
Rating: 8/10

🗓 Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner

I had been waiting to try the Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner basically since I first got into skincare. After all, who can say no to a supposed miracle in 30 days, or an exfoliant that includes all the different types? (Plenty of people, that’s who — if this weren’t such a gentle exfoliant, you would definitely not want to use it daily.) This was indeed gentle enough to use daily, for me, but the peppermint oil in it really put me off. I ended up actually “upgrading it” to my scalp, which enjoyed it significantly more than my face. In fairness, I do love salicylic acid, tea tree leaf water and witch hazel for my scalp, so I guess that would do it.
Opened: January
Price: $22 USD / 150 mL; shown in a 30 mL travel size
Rating: 5/10

🌻 Aromatica Comforting Calendula Decoction Juicy Cream

I received the Aromatica Comforting Calendula Decoction Juicy Cream through the YesStyel Influencer Program in exchange for a review — that review has long since come and gone, since this took me so long to finish. Aromatica recommends this cream for face or body, and I did indeed end up downgrading it to body care. This has 48% calendula extract for skin soothing, as well as aloe extract, shea butter, coconut oil and ceramide NP. It’s not a thick cream, and spreads easily, but it can feel quite heavy and greasy. I found I liked it best on damp skin, right out of the shower or tub.
Opened: August
Price: $37 USD / 150 mL
Rating: 4/10