The only down side is that its on the pricier side.

This hydrating and brightening toner is made up mainly of Yeoju rice extract. Rice is well-known for its skin brightening ability, and I believe in that because I've seen great results with rice products. 

The texture is a very light watery milk. I put it in my palms and pat it on, although you can also put it on a cotton pad. On the skin, it absorbs very quickly, but leaves a comforting layer of moisture. It plumps up the skin nicely with hydration but does not leave any tackiness at all. 

As for brightening, the effect, while subtle, is apparent almost right away. With continued use, skin is more even-toned and looks more "awake". I am definitely happy with this result because I don't get a lot of sleep. 

I find this especially useful on hot humid days when I don't want to put a lot of things on my face but still want it to stay hydrated and moisturised. 

This is not the cheapest toner on the market, but it is not a basic toner as well. I do think it's worth it's price, considering it's skin-pampering benefits. 

It doesn’t really brighten overall complexion.

exture-wise, this Goodal serum is a light gel that spreads easily and absorbs quickly - no sticky residue after drying. 

When I first started using it (before breaking out), I was kind of disappointed because I felt that it wasn't doing much, in terms of brightening / radiance. .

However, it began to really shine when I needed something to fade the annoying PIH I was getting. I noticed that the dark spots fade really quickly and can be more or less unnoticeable in the matter of days (for smaller / lighter pigmentation). .

After the Cosrx snail mucin and Klairs midnight blue cream healed a scabbed wound I had, this serum worked hard on the patch of darkened skin the scab left behind. 

That dark spot is still very visible - I have no expectation that it'll disappear so soon - but it looks pleasingly light, considering that it has been just a week since it was an open wound. 

If you are looking for a vitamin c serum to brighten your skin and give it a glow, I don't think this is the product for you. However, if you want something to help you get rid of dark spots, especially PIH, I can't recommend this highly enough. 

On the other hand, I do think that it will work better on fresh pigmentation as opposed to old marks - but that only makes sense, so I won't mark it down for that. .

It is relatively expensive - but it is a big bottle and last a long time!

The Lotus is a luxe Korean brand that uses white lotus leaf extract (from the pond of an ancient temple on Jeju Island) as its main ingredient. .

White lotus extract serves as an anti-oxidant that has healing and anti-aging effects. This essence is also multi-tasking, acting as a both toner and essence. Personally, I use it more as a serum. 

It has a rather runny texture - when spread on the face, it turns almost watery and is absorbed immediately. The skin feels instantly hydrated and looks bright, fresh and dewy. I prefer using it in the morning (although it is also great at night) to wake my skin up and make me look more alive. 

This is one of those products that I always want to have at hand for keeping my skin looking healthy. It doesn't have a dramatic face-peel kind of effect, but when you use it, you know that your skin is balanced, nourished and happy. 

Not everyone would like the scent, and it may be too much for oiler skin types. 

I actually looked forward to putting this on because I really enjoy its smell and texture. It says "for very dry skin" on the box, but it works very well for my normal / combo skin too. 

What really impressed me about this cream is that while it is not heavy, it is truly moisturising. My skin can get a little dehydrated through the day (I blame the air-conditioning) - but with this, my skin still feels moisturised at the end of the day. This forms a really effective moisture shield to prevent water loss. 

Personally, the packaging is the cherry on the top of the cake. A squeeze tube (that comes with a matching yellow clip to help you get every last bit out of it) is hardly revolutionary, but I'm a convert. I used to love jars (actually still do when the jar in question is particularly pretty), but now wonder why not all creams come in tube form. It's hygienic, travel-friendly and drop-proof. 

I think this is an absolute star for skin barrier protection and repair. 

Nothing at all. Its just a fantastic soothing product. 

I used to spritz this on flights, but I realised that it may actually be making my face drier. I repurposed it as a mid-day refresher - I always dab away the moisture a few seconds after I spray this on to prevent loss of hydration through evaporation. It mists very finely, and is really pleasant to use. 

On a normal day, this would just be a nice cool mist that doesn't seem to be actually doing anything for my skin. However, on days when I'm experiencing irritation (usually itchy blotches), this really calms it down and reduces the discomfort almost immediately. 

I'm really not sure what is in this that has that soothing effect. I just know that it works. I wasn't going to repurchase after I used up this last bottle I have, thinking that it's just fancy water. But now, I will always have a bottle in my stash in case my skin goes off rail. 

I’ve sprayed this onto cotton pads and used it as a sheet mask of sorts — and it really really hells to bring down redness and itching. 

DottieTan