The Best of AMOREPACIFIC Skincare – Top 4 Splurge-Worthy Favorites to Try
This post was a long time coming! It’s been roughly 6 or 7 years since I first discovered AMOREPACIFIC, but I feel like I needed to explore more of their products to define which of them I can confidently call my favorites. At the time of writing this post, I would have tried about 80% of their entire range, so I feel pretty confident that my list truly reflects the best of the best.
ABOUT THE BRAND:
Some of my friends describe AMOREPACIFIC as “that bougie Asian brand from Sephora”, but there’s so much more to it! Despite being a fairly recognizable name in the West these days, AMOREPACIFIC still caters to more of an “if you know, you know” crowd. However, in Korea where the brand is originally from, they are a well-known, highly respected beauty conglomerate with its own research labs and ingredient gardens – think L’Oreal of Asia kind of scale. AMOREPACIFIC Research & Development center is among the largest in the world and was the first of its kind in Korea when it opened in 1954. AP R&D focuses on researching the health & beauty properties of three main Asian botanicals: EGCG/Green Tea, Bamboo Sap, and Red Ginseng – you will find this trio in the majority of the brand’s patented proprietary complexes. By combining science and nature, AMOREPACIFIC aims to unleash the full potential of each ingredient and deliver maximum benefits in highly sophisticated, cutting-edge formulations.
- EGCG is a unique polyphenol found only in Green Tea that is considered to be one of the most potent antioxidants on earth. Skin studies done by AP R&D show that it has the potential to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles and increase skin hydration.
- Bamboo sap is a nutrient-packed liquid, rich in minerals, sugars, and amino acids, and it was thought to be impossible to stabilize for use in skincare products until AMOREPACIFIC found a way to do so. Extracted only during the months of May, June, and July, this precious ingredient is used for its intensely hydrating properties.
- Red Ginseng is the cornerstone of traditional Asian medicine and has been used for many generations for its health and beauty benefits. In AMOREPACIFIC formulations, this ingredient serves to help improve the skin’s energy and vitality.
AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence has a beautiful dark amber color like freshly brewed tea.
While I loved most of my AMOREPACIFIC products, if I was told to condense everything I tried down to just a handful of must-haves, this would be the list [in no particular order].
1 // AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence ($95) – This toner has a cult following for many reasons, but mainly because of how easy it is to incorporate into any routine and reap the benefits without disrupting anything. It can be used by people with all skin types, including sensitive, and skin tones, and may even complement a regimen that includes prescription-strength products. The ingredient list is intentionally pared down to a bare minimum to avoid potential skin irritants – I was able to use it even when my face was inflamed with painful bumps from a peel gone wrong.
The main star of this toner is the green tea extract, obtained by fermenting handpicked green tea leaves for 100 days to maximize the leaf’s benefits. While AMOREPACIFIC research suggests this essence can help visibly improve skin’s clarity, texture, and elasticity, I mainly use it for its excellent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are so underrated in Western skincare, but in my opinion, they play a vital role in lessening the effects of air pollution and neutralizing free radicals that contribute to causing cell mutations and depleting collagen in the skin.
AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Eye Reserve Creme has a thick, creamy consistency that becomes silky and lotiony upon application.
2 // AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Eye Reserve Creme ($260) – I didn’t get this eye cream at first, I thought it was just okay during the first 3-4 weeks of daily use. But the more I used it, the clearer I could see the benefits – it made the skin around my eyes look visibly firmer and brighter, smoothed out some fine lines, reduced tightness, and greatly improved hydration. I usually take good care of my skin so it can be hard to spot subtle improvements when testing new products, but it made the eye area look so much better that it was hard to miss.
This formula taps into the benefits of red ginseng and green tea in its various preparations – from using brewed green tea instead of water as a base, to green tea seed oil and leaf extract – making it an antioxidant and anti-aging powerhouse.
AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Intensive Renewal Ampoule looks like a lightweight serum and quickly absorbs into the skin.
3 // AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Intensive Renewal Ampoule ($575) is a pretty unique product because it celebrates all three botanicals AMOREPACIFIC is famous for, in their most concentrated form. The set comes with four disassembled ampoules and each one contains about a week’s worth of serum that you mix with EGCG powder to “activate” the formula. AMOREPACIFIC calls their new ampoule instant facial because it addresses the look of skin aging and improves skin resilience in just 4 weeks, leaving the skin visibly firmer, smoother, more hydrated, and even-toned. When I use it, my face instantly feels tighter and firmer like I just got a facelift, but unlike many skin tightening products, this formula doesn’t cause any dryness. Instead, the skin radiates a healthy, dewy glow while enjoying a massive dose of antioxidants that leave no chance to free radicals and pollution.
The serum part of the ampoule contains a cocktail of green tea extract plus green tea water, adenosine, caffeine, bamboo sap, red ginseng, licorice root, and magnolia bark extract. The powder part contains a highly concentrated mix of dry Vitamin C, EGCG, and adenosine granules. When mixed with the serum, the granules dissolve and release their active ingredients over the following week so you always have a fresh dose every time you use your ampoule.
While it is undeniably luxurious, the shiny metallic packaging of AMOREPACIFIC products constantly attracts fingerprints and outlines of water droplets.
AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Vintage Wash Off Masque has little bits of fermented green tea leaves mixed in that add to the fun experience.
4 // AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Vintage Wash Off Masque ($170) – Just when I thought that all hydrating masks are pretty much the same, this one came along and swept me off my feet. Vintage Wash Off Masque is like an upgraded version of gel masks that feel so nice and cooling! It goes a few steps further by helping visibly brighten the skin, tightening the contours, and even soothing active breakouts. Green tea is actually widely used in products designed for troubled skin, and I had good luck using other skincare with green tea to address acne in the past.
This highly concentrated mask contains no less than five!! different types of green tea plus EGCG and bacillus ferment, an enzyme that promotes chemical exfoliation and increases cell turnover more gently than AHAs or BHAs.
Note: This mask is currently sold out almost everywhere except few select retailers. If you want to try it, here’s a direct link.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about AMOREPACIFIC! Now it’s your turn to share: have you tried anything from this brand?
