I have a bit of a confession. I don’t actually like blogging about something when the hype is still in the air. You know that moment when everyone’s going on about that latest product/colour/style? Which does make me a bit of a PR nightmare because I don’t play by the rules a lot, unless I’m really excited about something. Maybe pay me and we’ll talk deadlines LOL! But when it comes to skincare, I have a strict rule. Don’t bug me till I’ve had a good go at the product. Just don’t.
Which explains why I’ve been sitting on this for about 4 months now. I stumbled on the Melvita Pulpe de Rose Plumping Radiance Duo while browsing online and I was generously sent a bottle to try to see if I’d like it. It became available back in June or July along with a few other products that I haven’t seen but having had about 2 months to incorporate it into my routine, I figured, it’s time to tell you about this product and yes, I like it 🙂
Melvita is, as I’m sure you’re aware, a certified organic brand of skincare from France (and you can read more about it in this intro post) The Pulpe de Rose is a new range in the Melvita stable, and as the name implies, their key ingredients are harvested from the fruits of the Wild Rose with its rich Vitamin C content, and Wild Rose petals. Its primary function is to fight the early signs of aging and loss of radiance. There are 3 products in this range, which includes this Plumping Radiance Duo, a cream and a serum, the latter two of which I haven’t yet seen.
But this one product is one that I think is worth trying, and if you are new to using a facial oil or just don’t like using facial oils but want to derive some of their benefits, then this one will knock your socks off because it’s just SO. EASY! 😀
What makes this product unique, is that it contains floral water and the regenerative rosehip oil in one handy bottle. When you first get the bottle, you will notice that it has a bi-phase solution. Oil at the top, water at the bottom. Familiar with bi-phase makeup remover? You’ll be familiar with this 🙂
Part of the reason I held off so long before talking about this is because my skin reacts a little to high concentrations of rosehip oil. It seems to clog my pores if I use it neat so I wanted to see if this too, would clog my pores. Happily, it doesn’t. I don’t know if it’s because it isn’t as concentrated, or if its because it’s mixed with the floral water, but it doesn’t break me out or clog my pores and it makes me happy.
The Plumping Radiance Duo comes in a glass bottle with a spray pump (I love glass bottles!) and to use it, you have to shake it up so the solution mixes. What you then get is a rather cloudy liquid (and a lot of bubbles) like so.
Using the spray pump, pump 1-2 pumps into the palm of your hand where it’ll pump out a slightly milky, cloudy looking runny liquid. You will also get the unmistakeable scent of rosehip oil and a touch of fresh roses. Not unpleasant, but very natural.
I actually use just 1 pump each time, spread it between the palms of my hands and press it into my skin instead of just wiping it on. I find that pressing it into skin helps it absorb more easily and if you prefer, spritz on some floral water beforehand.
I find when I use 2 pumps, it feels a bit more oily and takes longer to absorb into my skin. With 1 pump, the texture is more liquid and it settles nicely into my skin, leaving it feeling noticeably hydrated, plumped and importantly, not oily. If you hate the feeling of oil on your skin, you might like this. In fact, you could just as easily mist your skin with a floral water, then pat in facial oils. It helps them absorb more quickly into your skin and feels nicer. Or you could get something like this 🙂
I also only use this in the evenings because despite it absorbing well into my skin, I do notice that it does leave a very thin film on my skin, that doesn’t sit well in the day especially when I layer on sunscreen and makeup. So I use all my facial oils in the evening and a lighter range of skincare in the daytime.
With regular use, I do notice that my skin feels nicer, plumper and more hydrated especially in the evenings and you will notice these things when you sleep in air-conditioned rooms. I use this after toner/floral water, and I treat it as a serum step, so I always follow up with a moisturiser as well to seal all the goodness in. I didn’t particularly notice any increase in radiance of my skintone, but I did notice that my skin looked more soothed.
I’m actually happy keeping this in my routine. I’ve stopped using it regularly for a while (hazards of the ‘job’) but I keep it on my table and every now and again, I reach for it when it feels like I want a plumping treat (or I’m lazy and just want something quick in the evenings). I do think it’s worthwhile trying especially when you may be in the early stages of trying a facial oil 🙂
IN A NUTSHELL
The Plumping Radiance Duo is a new item in the Melvita Pulpe de Rose skincare range which is targeted at treating early signs of aging and to add radiance into skin. It has a bi-phase solution of rosehip oil and rose water in a glass bottle with a spray top. Shake up the bottle and spritz it into your palm and then press it into your skin. I find that 1 pump is quite sufficient if you use a moisturiser over. It absorbs fairly quickly into skin without leaving an oily residue and leaves my skin feeling plumped and hydrated and soothed. I think it’s a good introduction to using facial oils and is more comfortable than slathering on oil which is not something many people will enjoy.
PROS: Easy to use, Absorbs easily into skin, No greasy or oily residue on skin, Skin feels plumped and hydrated with regular use, A little goes a long way
CONS: Nothing in particular unless you find it pricey
Who will like this: Anyone who is new to using facial oils, Anyone who wants a quick treat for plumping and hydrating skin
Here is the ingredient list for the product for your references.
The rose water does temper the distinctive smell of rosehip oil somewhat, so it makes for a more pleasant experience.
Have you tried this Plumping Radiance Duo? Do you use facial oils?
I can’t say I’ve been regularly impressed by Melvita’s products, but this one does deserve a rave. I’m no stranger to using facial oils so I don’t mind slathering on oil on my skin, but it’s also nice to be able to derive some benefit without working too hard 😀
Paris B
Melvita Pulpe de Rose Plumping Radiance Duo Price: RM122/50ml Availability: Melvita stores or the Melvita online store
Tried this, but disliked the scent so much..I cant comment on its efficacy since I tried it once and left it sitting on my dresser table ever since…Luckily mine was a gift or I wouldve smacked myself for buying a product that I couldnt stand the smell of.
Aww, I do agree the scent does take some getting used to but I didn’t find it as offensive as some stronger rosehip oil scents. Pity it didn’t work for you then but thank goodness it was a gift! 🙂
Good grief, that bottle balancing precariously on your balcony rail gives me the heebie-jeebies. I stopped using facial oils as frequently because they sometimes feel a little heavy.
Hahaha I say a little prayer every time 😛 I stopped for a while, but I’ve restarted again because I’ve found they help keep my skin better hydrated. Try spritzing on some toner before or after applying facial oils. It helps them feel a little lighter 🙂
I’m using HABA’s squalane oil in a very similar way, emulsifying it with their toner as the brand recommends. I find it gives a nice glow and feels very lightweight. It’s unscented too. But I can’t put this on the more clog prone areas of my face.
I think you’d be wise to skip this in the mornings as the components of the fragrance can be photosensitizing. I don’t like the fact that it is fragranced too, potentially allergenic!
Thanks for the info Firn. Wasn’t sure why they felt the need to include fragrance, even if it’s supposed to be natural but as another reader pointed out, she couldn’t stand the scent even then! I’ve heard a lot about HABA but never tried their products. I’m not sure we get it here even, to be honest though I used to see it a lot in Singapore when I visit.
There’s a HABA counter at Isetan Pavillion. Prices are similar to Singapore’s.
Hmm, Parkson I think coz there’s no Isetan at Pavilion 🙂 I don’t go there often which might explain why I never noticed! I’ll take a look next time I’m there, thanks! 🙂
how is this compared to Melvita’s Argan Oil and Antipodes Divine Face Oil? Is this lighter than their Argan Oil? So far, these 2 oils doesn’t break me out but hehe .. u are tempting me to try new stuff.
Yes, very much lighter than both the oils you mention. The thing is that this one is mixed, so the texture feels very light as it isn’t a straight oil the way the Argan Oil or the Antipodes oil is. It’s like applying liquid, but with a touch of emmolient slip to it to the skin. The next time you’re at Melvita, just give it a spritz and be sure to sniff it to see if you like the scent, because reader Shasha hated it! 🙂
Ohh how I love Melvita and their oils 🙂 I am using Nigella oil and Castor oil at the moment, but when I go back to France I’m gonna buy more! They are the only oils that doesn’t break me and help my oiliness in check..
Yay for oils! 🙂 It’s so good to know that you love them and that they help your skin stay under control – it’s always so nice to find products that do right? Hope you’re keeping well, Casey 🙂
This sounds like a lovely product and I would spray it all over my face now if I could….but why is this mixture of water, rose water, rose hip oil and sunflower oil more expensive than their pure rosehip oil?! I mean it’s not like the ingredients are even mixed together, you have to do that hard work yourself.
I’d never seen a bi-phase oil-essence like this before and was initially impressed with the innovation….less so when comparing the prices!
Interesting question which I am unfortunately unable to answer 🙁 For me, perhaps the lighter texture and less rosehip oil in there helps me be able to use it since my skin does get clogged otherwise, and I do like it. Maybe it’s how it’s combined? I can’t say, except to say that you have a good point 🙂 That said, as a friend noted to me, you could quite easily just simulate this by spritzing on a floral water and then patting on oil direct on skin 🙂
This sounds good! I quite like facial oils, my favorite being the Clarins Lotus Treatment Oil – its fabulous for oily, breakout prone skin!
Ooh yes, I like the Clarins oil too! When I feel like I need my skin to rebalance, I go back to it and it rarely disappoints 😀
This is SO off the subject, but I’m really liking the different backgrounds of your new photos. It must be your new apartment. I’m so curious about the view. Can you give us a peak of the view outside your window?
Thank you for noticing, Zaag! 😀 Yes, I’m experimenting with some new backgrounds which are, as you’ve noticed in my new place. Not sure I’m up to sharing a peek coz I’d like to keep things on the low down, but there might be glimpses here and there, sometimes on Instagram where I can oblige 🙂
Being supremely adept at producing my own face oils (er, that might be more than you want to know lol), I still haven\’t really warmed to the idea of using a facial oil but I do keep getting samples and gifts of face oils…all rarely used.As for your need to sit on a skincare product for months before a review? Why, that\’s why we love and trust you, dear Ms. P!I will find myself a Melvita and explore this for myself. That this is a product that comes with your seal speaks volumes.
You know what? Oily skin can actually benefit from using facial oils too. I’ve read of many instances where people with oily skins find that using a facial oil balances off their skin so they actually produce less oil. I think a lot of it has to do with the type of oil in question and the reason for the oily skin. Often, dehydrated skin below the surface can also result in extra oil production. This one’s a good introduction to using facial oils primarily because it’s “pre-mixed” so it feels less oily but as others have noted, the scent can be off putting so take a big healthy sniff and even if this one’s not for you, give oils a go. You might be surprised 😉
hello Paris! I’m back! 🙂 I need some advise from you. Do you apply sunscreen on top of facial oil or under? I saw this site that mentions this order: moisturizer—> sunscreen —> facial oil —> makeup.
Maybe that’s intended for the winter season… I don’t know.
Thank you.
Hi Ting! 🙂 I never apply anything else over my sunscreen other than makeup, so for me it would be facial oil under sunscreen. That’s because for me, my sunscreen is my final protection. I do use only a drop or two of facial oil in the day sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly dry. And I make very sure to massage it in properly, or it’ll really screw up makeup! 🙂 But that’s how I’d do it. Was there a logic to their approach?