We’ve seen a spate of local (Malaysian) skincare brands popping up in recent years, which I think is great. We seem to be slowly moving away from dodgy brands with dubious ingredients, to brands with actual, proper ingredients, which is positive growth.
I was recently offered the opportunity to try the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum, and it took me a while to dig into the brand before I decided to have a go.
I do that with brands I’m unfamiliar with. I dig into the website, the ingredients, the products they have, and I like to see what impression it leaves me with.
Hollaface left me with quite a positive impression, I must say. The brand itself is quite simple, with a small selection of products available. The focus seems to be on quality, with their products being simple yet packed with effective ingredients, with the buzzwords of today – hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, alpha arbutin etc.
As I said, it’s nice to see a home-grown brand that is focused on proper ingredients 🙂
Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum
As the name of the product suggests, the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum is a serum that boosts hydration, and plumps up skin. If you have well hydrated and plump skin, you’re already halfway to your goal of looking younger!
Their key ingredients are 1.5% hyaluronic acid of 4 varying molecular weights to deliver hydration to every layer of your skin, snow mushroom extract to deeply hydrate and plump up skin, 5% niacinamide and zinc to replenish and repair the skin barrier and boost skin radiance, and wild chrysenthemum flower to soothe and revitalize skin.
While I’m no expert, the combination of these 4 key ingredients seemed like a good way to deliver intense hydration while strengthening the skin to retain all that moisture. This wasn’t your run of the mill hyaluronic acid serum. It gave you just that little bit more, so it works a little better.
In a way, it did.
Hydrating and plumping but not sticky
The problem with many hyaluronic acid based serums is that they tend to be sticky. This is due to the hyaluronic acid, which has a sticky texture, and binds to moisture, to retain moisture in the skin. The Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum isn’t as sticky.
However, as it is a hyaluronic acid based product, I would apply it over damp skin, so you get the maximum benefit. Read my previous post to understand why I say this, but you can thank me later 😉
Like all products with significant contents of hyaluronic acid, it can feel like there’s a little residue, but all you have to do is pat it a little, and it absorbs quickly.
While it might be tempting for some to think this is enough to hydrate your skin, and that you won’t need a moisturiser after that, I wouldn’t recommend skipping moisturiser. It helps to seal in all that goodness, and keeps your skin feeling more plumped, as the hyaluronic acid gets to work. Just a little thin layer will do if you’re uncomfortable.
Like all serums rich in hyaluronic acid, the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum plumps up skin almost immediately, leaving it looking and feeling hydrated and plumped.
Keeps skin hydrated for hours
I use a hydrating serum primarily in the day, alongside my Vitamin C serums. The reason is because I’m often outside in the day, and my skin is exposed to the elements. Using a hydrating serum helps my skin not dry out as much.
I liked that the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum is a very simple serum. It goes to work almost immediately, and my skin feels hydrated for hours after that.
I also like that they include a high percentage of 5% niacinamide in the ingredients, to boost collagen production, ceramides and to strengthen the skin barrier. The stronger your skin barrier, the less moisture and water you lose, and the younger you’ll look. It’s pretty much just that 😉
I cannot say that the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum has magically made me look 10 years younger (botox might 😛 ) but if you’ve never used products with hyaluronic acid or niacinamide before, you may notice quite significant results. Just identify some fine lines, and observe them.
For someone like me, who is used to the concept of a hydrating serum, this fits nicely into my morning skincare routine.
A little goes a long way, but don’t skimp
The texture of the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum is very light and watery. It has little to no discernible scent to me, which I like. It has a clear watery texture, that sinks into the skin.
You will be tempted to just use a few drops, but I don’t 😛 I use about a pump each time, spread all over my face, neck and decolletage. It seems like a lot, but it isn’t, because I realised that the dropper is a little ‘weak’, so it doesn’t pick up a full pump of product.
The rubber end is quite soft, so what I get with each pump is about half a dropper of product. I was initially irked by this, as I like my product packaging to be built in a sturdy manner. But after a while, I forgave it, because it meant I could easily just pick up about half a dropper of product, which I found sufficient for my use.
The thing about using any skincare product is not to skimp on its use. If you have excess product, spread it to your neck and chest area (which are often neglected anyway!) so you benefit properly from using it. In fact, it’s good practice to!
I wouldn’t consider the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum a life-changing product for me, but as far a hydrating serums go, it is one of the better ones I’ve tried, that isn’t too heavy on the wallet. It does what it sets out to do, and it is comfortable to use daily. The combination of ingredients is also very beneficial to the skin especially when used over time. You could do worse, really! 🙂
IN A NUTSHELL
The Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum is a hydrating serum that has 4 key ingredients: 4 types of hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom extract, niacinamide and zinc PCA and wild chrysenthemum extract. At its core however, it is a serum that will boost and help retain skin hydration. It goes to work almost immediately to hydrate and plump skin, and will remain hydrated for hours. If you have a weak skin barrier, which usually shows up as dehydrated skin, this can help in the long run to repair the skin barrier. It does feel like it will be enough on its own for those with oily skin, but I’d recommend a thin layer of moisturiser over to seal in all the goodness. All in all, a good solid offering from a local Malaysian brand.
PROS:
Lightweight and absorbs easily into the skin
Very hydrating
A little product goes a long way
AffordableCONS:
The rubber dropper feels a little too soft and weakWHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a good, solid hydrating serum that’s pretty affordable
PRICE: RM98.90 for 30ml
WHERE TO BUY: Hollaface website
Here’s the ingredients list for the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum for those interested.
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Zinc PCA, Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid
Have you tried the Hollaface Hydra Concentrate Youth Serum or anything else from Hollaface?
I have a couple more products to share if anyone’s interested! I can say that their packaging is top notch which is very nice to see in a local brand 🙂
Paris B
Disclosure: Featured service was a media trial by the brand for consideration. Our commitment is to honesty and fairness. For review guidelines please read the disclaimer.
ruth owens says
i love how through you are