Remember the times when skincare was so much simpler.. when we would discuss products we liked and disliked purely based on the product itself? There was no politics, scandals, cancel culture etc. I miss those times ~ 

About the SPF scandal, unpopular opinion but I feel so bad for brands that have suffered from depressed sales and reputation because of the formulation labs doing them wrong 😪 

About skincare politics, inclusivity, transparency... As consumers, we have so much choice now in this saturated skincare market that it has made us very PICKY, very vocal, and dare I say very entitled (with so many skinfluencers having a voice on social media). We are very quick to criticise, to jump on the hot topic to stay relevant, and be keyboard warriors. 

I really dislike what has become of the skincare space. There’s a lack of forgiveness and kindness nowadays. And there’s too much of finding out who’s on your side sharing the same views as you, and who isn’t (for you to cancel on them). Since when did we care about the company’s ethos and practices that much anyways?

when skincare was simpler...

❗️Not hydrating, oily-tacky finish
❗️Stings the skin if it's sensitive at the moment
❗️Seems loaded with botanical ingredients and nothing else significany besides the licorice
❗️"cleansing toner" requires content pad, which is the traditional concept of toners being second cleansers, instead of hydrating/prepping 
❗️can leave the skin feeling raw with the use of toner pads

Nothing... except maybe the flip cap making it convenient 

- not sure about depuffing claim
- has extra slit at cheek for better fit, but makes unfolding and application more tedious

- cooling, refreshing masking experience
- essence is hydrating and lightweight, and doesn’t feel too much on your skin post-mask
- very hydrating, soaked in essence, that it lasted >40min of masking 

〰️ Claims⁠
Meant to be calming, but i think it was marketed that way because of the tea tree's cooling sensation, not because it was actually a soothing product. Also, vitamin E is highlighted in the name, but there's only 100ppm of tocopherol, which is 0.01%.... whot... ⁠
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Overall, an ok product that I wouldn't go out of the way to recommend to others 😶 I feel like there are other products of this category that can do more for the skin (more hydrating, more repairative) while being less strong in scent, which is my preference.

〰️ Texture⁠
light green clear gel serum texture that feels waterful and cooling upon application. Swipe for some short dropper, texture and application footage! 
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〰️ Effects⁠
I would say this is mainly antibacterial, somewhat hydrating, skin-strengthening, and potentially slightly brightening⁠
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〰️ Key Ingredients⁠
72% tea tree leaf extract, glycerin, purslane extract, allantoin, arginine, tea tree oil, chinaberry flower extract, japanese pine extract, yuzu extract, artemesia annua extract, madecassoside⁠

- theres a learning curve, as with most physical sunscreens
- takes patience and caution to blend for an even/flattering finish 

- easy to blend for a physical spf
- no pilling as long as you experiement with your routine prior to applying spf
- rather hydrating, and settles to powdery-velvet finish to the touch, although skin looks moisturised/glowy 

x has alcohol (low down in the list) 
x "hyalu-cica" is in the name, but the concentration of cica and HAs looks realllllly lowhyalu-cica sleeping pack

- chemical filters, spf50 PA++++
- the most watery thin spf I've tried, hydrating & wet
- pump suits this texture, and makes it convenient/mess free! I use 3-4 pumps.
- blends fast, with no whitecast
- natural glowy finish (that makes skin look juicy, not greasy :O), which settles to a satin finish with a very subtle emollience left on the skin
- spreadability, texture & finish feels similar to roundlab birch juice moisturising spf & beplain clean ocean moisture spf! In fact, the ingredient list compared to roundlab's is more similar than different, and all the beplain's ingredients (except 1) is found in this skin1004's! 
- fragrance & essential oil free