This post is kindly sponsored by The Face Shop Malaysia
If there’s one skincare product that’s taking the world by storm, almost quietly but surely, it’s the pre-essence serum. We’re seeing quite a few popping up aren’t we? Korean brand, The Face Shop has now introduced theirs – The Face Shop The Therapy First Serum. Blended with micro crystal particles, essential oils and French Thalassotherapy essential water, this lightweight watery serum-essence offers triple benefits of anti-aging, anti-dryness and high moisture.
To boost the anti-aging benefits with the use of 3 types of natural essential oils in the form of sandalwood, avocado and palmarosa, the essential oils are blended with natural polysaccharide to form micro crystal particles, that help with absorption and penetration into the skin.
I took the Therapy First Serum and The Therapy Moisture Blending Cream for a spin recently, courtesy of The Face Shop, and I have some brief thoughts on them below :)
The Face Shop Therapy First Serum – RM148.29 for 130ml
The principal benefits of The Therapy First Serum are to restore skin balance, while helping your other products absorb more quickly and effectively into the skin. Naturally therefore, this is the first product you will apply on skin immediately after cleansing. I think the name is a bit of a dead give away! :D
Not content with just boosting the efficacy of your skincare and the moisture level of your skin, The Therapy First Serum can also act as an exfoliator, so you can use this to gently exfoliate your skin as well. Exfoliation of skin, as most of us will know, will help remove the dead skin cells sitting on the top of your skin, blocking the absorption of products. These dead skin cells also dull the skin, so removing them helps your skin look clearer and brighter.
HOW TO USE
There are 2 ways you can use the Therapy First Serum, depending on what you feel your skin needs.
- Use your hands to pat on skin. This is my favourite way to use this serum so it doesn’t go to waste. After cleansing, just pump out 1-2 pumps of serum into your palms (be careful as it’s very liquid!), spread and gently pat it on your skin. The clear liquid is light and you can feel a little oily feel on hands, but you will find that it absorbs quite easily and readily into clean skin without any residue. Skincare that goes on thereafter seem to absorb a little more easily as well.
- Use with a cotton pad for gentle exfoliation. As this serum also has exfoliating benefits, you can pump 1-2 pumps onto a cotton pad to saturate it, and wipe it gently over your skin. No need to rub! I tried it a few times this way, and it does make the skin feel very refreshed, and similarly, products I use thereafter seem to sink in a little more quickly. If you don’t use an exfoliator often, this might be a good alternative, as it doesn’t only exfoliate, it also adds moisture to skin.
Over the time I was using this day and night, I did feel that my skin felt a wee bit softer and perhaps with a bump in hydration. The most significant thing I noticed was the absorption of subsequent serums and creams. I do use similar products, so it’s nice to know that there is an affordable option for those who would like to try a first step pre-serum essence.
The Face Shop The Therapy Moisture Blending Formula Cream – RM185.48 for 50ml
Paired with this new serum is the new Therapy Moisture Blending Formula Cream, a cream that comes in a two-layered formula. Before using, you have to use the included spatula to stir the cream to mix the clear moisture oil gel layer with the rich moisture cream at the bottom. Aren’t you glad I told you about this? I didn’t realise the first time! LOL! :D
You would use this cream after the Therapy First Serum, or if you use other serums thereafter, right at the end to seal in the goodness of your serums. The cream feels like a lotion-cream blend and is comfortable to use, although I do feel that it would best suit someone with combination skin with light dryness.
Have you tried these products or something similar?
I like how we now have more options for pre-serums and essences. I do feel that it makes a difference to the skin with prolonged use and this offers a good introduction to the use of pre-serum essences and oils for the face to give skin that anti-aging and moisture boost :)
Paris B
After talking to you yesterday, I took the box out and start searching for the spatula. Found it underneath the pouch, which I did not touch at all. Ai yai yai.
HAHHAHAHHA Oh dear. It was a pretty good spatula, if I’m to be honest! But definitely could have been better packaged eh? ;) Good to know you like this range. Definitely tailored at younger ones like you lah ;)
I’m so confused… Is this the same as a first essence (e.g. Missha Time Revolution first essence)? I love toners, but it seems like there is just a push for more and more layers of toners nowadays lol
I haven’t tried the Missha one but I’ll stick my neck out and say it’s similar. It’d a lotion/essence you apply before anything else to facilitate the absorption of other products. I do agree that we seem to be seeing more and more products these days. Some skin love it some may not. Work with what your skin likes ;)
so can i use both missha time revolution first essence and this first serum?
I haven’t used the Missha one so I cannot comment but I looked it up and it looks like it serves the same or similar purpose. If so, use either product or use one in the morning and one in the evening. Using both won’t do much more for your skin.