One of the perks of me getting older is that my skin seems to be behaving itself better and settling down. Yes, I get the dryness and the inevitable lines that comes with age, but for the most part *touchwood* my skin has decided that I’ve suffered enough acne through my teens and 20’s, and is now sparing me the spots and pimples. Now, the few spots I get are often self-inflicted. Masochist, I know!
So, when I recently sprouted a few spots on my skin (which I’m attributing to new skincare I was trying out) I got into a bit of a tizz. Having gotten rid of everything relating to pimples in my skincare cupboard, how was I going to treat my spots?
But rummaging around in my stash produced the Mamonde AC Balance Spot Serum, which I’d been sent a little while ago. I’d put it aside, as I was celebrating my clearer skin, but it was a good time to put it to the test now.
Mamonde is a very affordable Korean skincare brand under the Amore-Pacific cosmetics umbrella. Mamonde’s brand story is that they derive their products from flowers. I’ve tested one or two of their products, and for the most part find them alright. They are basic, in a way that may suit someone who is younger, or who is just starting out with a skincare routine. For someone like me, I feel it to be insufficient in hydration or intensity. Prices are very affordable however, and that allows for a routine that is easy to maintain.
But today, it is about this Mamonde AC Balance Spot Serum, which is a BHA based serum that is supposed to control skin sebum and soothe skin. But more interestingly, what did it do for my spots?
Happily, I noticed that it seems to help reduce my spots fairly quickly! I had an angry red pimple on my chin that was quite painful. But after 3 days, it is almost gone. A little bump remains, but it has diminished significantly in size, and it stopped hurting the day after I applied this serum.
I have to say that I like the clear tube that delivers the serum. It looks like glass, but is plastic. A very clear plastic. The serum, as you can see, has a yellowish tint to it.
I find it easy to dispense the serum (you only need a little, if you’re just dotting on your spots, as I was) but air pockets do build up inside the tube when it is stored, and I find that it tends to dispense product in a bit of an explosion. So, I often find I have more on hand than I need.
What I like best is that this Mamonde AC Balance Spot Serum isn’t drying. Most pimple creams leave you with dry, flaky patches of skin on your face where you dot the product. This did not. I also found it effective, in that I noticed that the redness of the pimple was reduced by the next morning, and in 3 days, most of the spot is gone. Only the big ones still have a residual bump. But the smaller spots have all but evened themselves out and disappeared. Well, colour me impressed!
I have to point out that I had also stopped using the products that I felt was irritating my skin during this time, so it could be a combination of factors that is helping. I do not know if it will help if you have serious spots, but if anything, it seems to reduce redness and help heal, without causing other side effects. For that, I am appreciative.
I must note however, that on the box, it simply calls for you to apply a thin layer of the serum on the affected area of your skin. I came across information online that calls for this to only be used at night. Not knowing this, I had been using this both day and night. Oh well 😛
IN A NUTSHELL
The Mamonde AC Balance Spot Serum is a serum intended to treat spots. The texture is light, like a lotion-gel, and it does not leave any residue. I find that it does help to reduce redness of pimples and also to reduce any swelling. In just a few days, my spots have mostly gone, without dryness or flaky skin. Personally, I’m happy with this, because it feels both gentle and effective.
PROS: Does not dry out skin nor make it flaky, Feels gentle on skin, Reduces redness and swelling of spots and pimples, Does not mark the skin
CONS: Tube tends to have a lot of air pockets which makes product dispensation a little excessive
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants to treat pimples without dryness or flakiness
PRICE: RM49 for 15ml
WHERE TO BUY: Mamonde counters or also online at their official stores at Lazada MY or 11Street MY (Personally, I do not appreciate brands who use Lazada or 11Street at their official selling platform. I feel it to be lazy and I personally have distrust for both these platforms, due to the abundance of counterfeit or misleading products sold on it. For this reason, I will not personally shop for cosmetics at either of those sites. If you do, make sure it is the official site. But how many people will check eh? 😛 )
For those interested, this is the ingredients list for the Mamonde AC Balance Spot Serum.
Have you tried this spot serum before? Do you have an effective spot serum to recommend?
Do share if you know of other effective spot treatments for the occasional spots. Never know when it comes in handy! 🙂
Paris B
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