Jeju Island is like USA’s Hawaii, it’s the destination for having an exotic vacation without leaving Korea. It’s also a place with a very unique ecosystem, filled with many plants and animals not found anywhere else on the planet. Due to Jeju’s isolated location, the island is not contaminated by industrial pollution, so all of its plants, fruits, and flowers are unusually potent. This unparalleled effectiveness makes products based on those oils and extracts top of the line, premium goods that are highly sought after by Korean celebrities and skincare lovers alike.
The Lotus products are created by using lotus extract from plants that grow only at Buphwa temple, a pristine mountain temple on Jeju Island. Combined with skin-brightening niacinimide and natural oils, this highly concentrated essence brightens the skin and smooths rough texture. I recently incorporated The Lotus Essence with Lotus Leaf into my routine, and tested it for a month before writing this review. Generally, one month is enough time to start observing first positive changes, for me anyway. What about you, ladies, how long does it take you to see results from skincare on average?
Why choose Lotus?
Lotus is an aquatic perennial rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals and has restorative soothing and anti-aging properties. This botanical is also known for its vitality – some lotus seeds have been known to germinate after being dormant for centuries.
To learn more about the benefits and the history of lotus plant in Korean skincare, check out this informative article on Glow Recipe blog.
First things first – the packaging. The outer box looks simple on the outside, but the pattern inside is bright and colorful. It was fun to discover this hidden gem! The essence is packaged in a tall matted plastic bottle with a pump dispenser, which works well to protect it from oxidation. After all, the formulation is boasting some amazing botanicals and it would be a waste to have them lose their potency after constantly coming in contact with oxygen in the air.
The consistency can be described as watery, although it’s not really liquid like a toner, but rather more like a runny lotion. The Lotus Essence with Lotus Leaf is ivory in color, and has a strong herbal fragrance to it. I’m assuming that’s what a lotus smells like. I actually thought it would be sweet or flowery or maybe fruity [because, you know, Koreans love to spruce up their skincare experience with fun scents], but that first bitter grassy whiff was a total surprise! I’ll be honest and admit that first time I smelled it I thought it was unpleasant, but this fragrance grew on me over time and now I don’t even notice it anymore.
If you are not familiar with the idea of essences, the name might confuse you. Fret not, this is basically a serum! However, in Korea it’s popular to have a multi-step skincare routine that’s based on layering products, so further categorizing cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and serums into sub-categories often helps determine the order in which to apply. Essences are usually the thinnest among the serum class, and should be applied right after the toner and prior to thicker serums.
Ingredients: Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf (Lotus) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated C6-14 Olefin Polymers, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Styrene/ACrylates Copolymer, Adenosine, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Octyldodecanol, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Phytosterol, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide 3, Lecithin, Squalane, Soy Isoflavone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Pyridoxine HCL, Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract, Shea Butter, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cardiospermum Falicacabum Extract, Tocopherol, Zinc PCA, Azelaic Acid, Opuntia occinellifera Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Orchid Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, SH-Oligopeptide-1, RH-Polypeptide-1, RH-Oligopeptide-2
COSDNA ingredient analysis reveals three potential acne triggers – Tocopherol [aka Vitamin E], Soybean Oil, and Squalane. I know that none of them are my personal triggers, but it’s worth mentioning them here in case inquiring minds want to know. The rest of the formula is marked as generally safe and non-irritating, but again, sensitivities and allergies are always YMMV, that’s why it’s always best to patch test any beauty product on your wrist.
Thanks to a decade of daily SPF diligence regardless of the season, and my constant poker face, the wrinkle-fighting properties were lost on me. However, I clearly saw improvements to my skin’s overall tone after one month of using The Lotus Essence with Lotus Leaf. My old and new acne scars [those brownish-red discolorations] have faded considerably, and I didn’t even use Vitamin C products in my routine! I normally use them daily, but didn’t want to overload my skin with actives. Considering that Vitamin C is a powerful brightening agent, this would totally ruin the experiment and I wouldn’t know if the brightening is from the essence or the Vit C.
Overall I am happy with this essence. At the time of this review I still have about half the bottle left that I’m saving for Summer. It should work well as a lightweight base for my sunscreens without clogging up the pores. Will I repurchase when my bottle runs out? Probably not, because while I think it’s a nice product, I believe there are cheaper alternatives out there that can deliver similar results.
WHERE TO BUY: $52 USD for 4.2 oz. I originally got this from Glow Recipe to try, but right now they don’t seem to have it in stock. That’s what happens when I get overly diligent and test products for an extended amount of time, haha! Keep your eyes peeled for the restock here.
COUPON: Use this link to get $5 off your first purchase. No minimum.
Have you ever used products with lotus in them? Do you have any Korean skincare in your beauty stash? Did you have a chance to try an essence yet? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post features products received for editorial consideration and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
