elmt Skin Activating Solution

Review: elmt Skin Activating Solution essence

B+
5 '
Intro

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At a glance

I introduce you to the Skin Activating Solution essence from the new Korean skincare brand elmt, and I give you my thoughts!

You often blame me for making you spend too much money and for tempting you too much with my reviews! Well, for once, I’m going to tell you about a product that I found “meh-OK”, meaning not bad but not incredible either. Yeah, I know, they’re not the most exciting reviews to read (or to write for that matter 😅) but I guess, sometimes we need some! Today, I want to introduce you to the Skin Activating Solution essence from the new Korean skincare brand elmt!

I mentioned it at the top of the page but I’ll say it again here, this is a product that was sent to me by the brand.

In this case, it wouldn’t have made a difference, as I probably would have purchased it myself. This new brand “elmt” (which is a kind of abbreviation for the word “element” and is actually pronounced that way) intrigued me.

I struggled to grasp the concept behind the brand at first, probably because I couldn’t see how it was truly unique…

elmt was created by the Wishcompany, the company behind the wishtrend.com website, which is not only an e-commerce site but also a true skincare brand creation hub. They’re the ones behind the eponymous brand By Wishtrend, and also the beloved Klairs. So elmt is their latest skincare project!

In two words: the concept behind elmt is to create “unframed skincare“.

The goal of the brand is to highlight the key ingredients of their formulas, to emphasize them in a way, but also to focus on the effectiveness and the final texture of the product.

See, maybe I’m being cynical, but I still have a hard time seeing how this concept is new and groundbreaking…😅

Because minimalist skincare brands, that focus on the ingredients used on the packaging and in their communication, and that aim above all for efficiency, err… Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems pretty common lately! 😆

But hey, I’m never against testing a new essence in my routine, especially if it contains green tea which I really like. So I decided to keep an open mind and give elmt, and their Skin Activating Solution, a shot. Here is my review!

Review: Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract Essence Skincare Review: Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract Essence This review is long overdue, I know! I tried this essence for the first time almost 4 years ago, so it’s not really a genuine discovery anymore. I’ve even repurchased it several times since then. It’s quite a unique product, with its own unique story and I think I owed it a dedicated article. So here is my review of the Vintage Single Extract Essence from the Korean premium skincare brand Amorepacific! Read more

elmt Skin Activating Solution essence, product presentation:

I briefly described the concept of the brand elmt in my introduction, but let me go back to it for a minute.

At the moment, elmt only has four essences, which they call “solutions“, because they are products that target fairly specific needs.

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So in the range, there are:
– the Skin Activating Solution essence, which I’m discussing today,
– the Skin Illuminating Solution, a brightening essence the brand also sent me and that I’ m currently using in the evening (I might have the opportunity to talk about it later 😉 ),
– the Advanced Calming Solution, a soothing essence I purchased and will be trying soon,
– the Gentle Exfoliating Solution, an exfoliating essence I don’t intend to try (right now, exfoliating toners are not really my friends).

The essence Skin Activating Solution is supposed to help reduce skin inflammation and irritation for an overall healthier, more resilient complexion.

To do this, the formula combines the powerful antioxidant properties of Chinese skullcap extract (concentrated here at 14.7%) with the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea extract (which makes up 58% of the formula).

Note:
These are plant extracts, which means they are diluted in water, so while the numbers given above seem very high, it’s important to remember that the extracts are not “dry” ingredients but already diluted. This doesn’t mean that they are just basically water and that they are not efficient, not at all! A plant extract is still an active ingredient in a cosmetic formula 🙂
But I just wanted to give you all the cards to decipher these percentages 😉

The brand also highlights the concept of “activating synergy“:
« Through research and development, and customer feedback gathered over the past decade, we’ve seen empirical evidence of the efficacy of cosmetic ingredients known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions.Of these ingredients, we chose Chinese skullcap root extract and green tea extract as the main ingredients when formulating our Skin Activating Solution. In doing so, there is increased synergy between both ingredients for stronger anti-inflammatory and antioxidant care than when formulating the solution with only one of the two ingredients. » (source)

So, errr… Here again, I have a hard time seeing what is new and innovative, because if I’m not mistaken, this concept is what I would call “cosmetic formulation“, because a cosmetic formula is precisely the idea of combining ingredients to enhance their effects but maybe I’m wrong, I don’t know… (I have a a feeling this brand will never send me anything again, don’t know why 😂)

But OK, if I skip all these shenanigans, the formula is still pretty nice!

It’s quite short, and features the two main ingredients, as mentioned above:
green tea with green tea extract and green tea water, which are antioxidant, purifying and soothing ingredients,
– and Chinese skullcap extract, a soothing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and humectant ingredient.

But the rest of the formula doesn’t fall short! There are also:
– moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and a humectant sugar (trehalose),
– soothing panthenol (vitamin B5),
– but also a lot of fermented ingredients that have an effect on the radiance of the complexion and a soothing function.

So let’s see how it did on my skin…

elmt Skin Activating Solution essence, my experience:

I used the Skin Activating Solution essence for about 2 months, every morning, right after I finished a bottle of my beloved Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract green tea essence…

And, if I’m being honest, it’s probably because of the Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract that it’s such a tough comparison with the elmt Skin Activating Solution…

Because clearly, the idea for me was to continue to get the effects of green tea with a product that was 8-10 times cheaper. But it’s probably unfair to compare these two products, I must say!

So, if trying to keep my expectations a little more realistic, with this elmt Skin Activating Solution essence, I was expecting a result on hydration, a calming effect and a more radiant complexion.

But in reality, I mostly enjoyed the refreshing and hydrating effect of this essence, but I didn’t find it to be extremely soothing.

Maybe I need to keep using it to feel the effects, but I admit I’m not completely sold on this product. It’s not bad… but it could do be better, I guess!

Now, I know its antioxidant effect will probably be noticeable in the long run so that also motivates me to continue using it 😉

In conclusion:

In short, I will finish the elmt Skin Activating Solution but probably not repurchase…

As you can see, this new elmt brand has not (yet?) won me over completely! I have a hard time completely understanding the concept, but maybe their next releases will convince me more, who knows?

elmt might not have played all its cards yet? We’ll see!

To be continued, and if I change my mind, I will come back here to talk about the other products from the brand, I promise!

The elmt Skin Activating Solution essence retails for $20 for 150ml.

Product Review in detail

Summary

elmt Skin Activating Solution essence

"Perfect for those looking to uncover the full potential of their skin, the Skin Activating Solution is a fast-absorbing, watery solution that reduces inflammation and irritation for an overall healthier, stronger complexion. This solution combines the powerful antioxidant properties of 14.70% Chinese skullcap extract and the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of 58% of green tea extract for an elevated skin-improving experience."

product image

Recommendation

B+

It's fine.

Price

$20

Details

Packaging
Texture
Scent
Feeling on the skin
Formula/ Ingredients
Efficiency/ Result
Value For Money
Availability

+ Pros

- the packaging is simple and elegant,
- the packaging is also eco-friendly (it's easy to recycle),
- the simple formula, which revolves around two key ingredients, green tea and Chinese skullcap extract,
- the liquid and fresh texture, very skin-quenching,
- its long-term antioxidant action,
- the light soothing effect,
- the pleasant hydrating effect,
- the affordable price.

- Cons

- the brand is not easy to find (it's exclusive to the Wishtrend website),
- the results are not flagrant, even after several weeks of use.

product name

Skin Activating Solution

brand name

elmt

size

150ml

made in

South Korea

packaging

A dark green glass bottle, very simple and chic; and it's also eco-friendly 👍

fragrance

Fragrance-free (it has a very slight botanic scent, but it's super subtle).

texture

Liquid as water

For Who

All skin types, all ages.

Concerns

– skin that shows signs of aging,
– uneven skin texture, visible pores,
– loss of firmness and elasticity,
– sensitive or sensitized skin.

Method

I use the elmt Skin Activating Solution every morning, directly after I have cleansed and dried my skin, before my other treatments and moisturizer.
I apply it to my face, including my eye contour and neck.
I pour the essence directly into the palm of my hand. I sprinkle it about four times, in order to have enough product in my palm. You can also use a cotton pad to apply it, but I find that you lose far too much product with that method.
I then apply it directly onto my skin, with a light pressure, using the palms of my hands until the essence is absorbed.
I finish by dabbing my skin lightly to ensure a complete penetration.

I usually then use my LED mask, as I heard of a study that said green tea optimizes the result of the LED light. I’m not sure what to make of that, but I figure it couldn’t hurt to try 🙂

Key Ingredients

The formula is quite short, and features two key ingredients:
green tea with green tea extract and green tea water, which are antioxidant, purifying and soothing ingredients,
– and Chinese skullcap extract, a soothing, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and humectant ingredient.
But the rest of the formula is pretty damn nice too! There is also:
– moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and a humectant sugar (trehalose),
– soothing panthenol (vitamin B5)
– but also a lot of fermented ingredients that influence the radiance of the skin and a soothing function.

Ingredients

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Lactobacillus/ Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/ Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/ Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/ Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Panthenol.

Ingredients not included

– alcohol,
– mineral oil,
– silicone,
– fragrance, essential oils,
– dyes.

Shop for this product

elmt Skin Activating Solution $20

elmt Skin Activating Solution

Comments (2)

  1. Bonnie, I agree with you on your comments. This brand (name, concept, products) seems unnecessarily convoluted. I guess that is why I still don’t buy anything from Niod, I just avoid over-complication like the plague.

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