Meeting the Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water

The first time I came across the Beauty of Joseon ginseng essence water was on Titktok. A Nigerian skincare influencer was using it in her morning routine while her husband did the voiceover. Asides from the fact that it was cute, the way he described it as looking like iced tea caught my attention and it was hilarious.

I made a mental note to try the essence water someday and being a k-beauty product was another plus. Fast forward to June. I saw this product while restocking my skincare products and decided to try it.

The Beauty of Joseon (BOJ) is an astounding k-beauty brand and they’re well known for their Dynasty cream and infusion of hanbang (traditional and herbal) beauty methods. Was their essence water a hit or miss? Let’s find out!

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through a link, at no cost to you.This supports me and keeps my blog running.

Texture & Appearance

The beauty of Joseon ginseng essence water comes in a transparent slender plastic bottle which is very simple. It has a consistency that is between a serum and toner- lighter than a serum, but a little thicker than a toner. 

It is fragrance-free and the ginseng smell s very subtle. According to Soko glam, it is acidic with a pH of 5.84.

One thing about this essence is that it was formulated without artificial colors, alcohol, and artificial fragrances so sensitive skin can enjoy it as well.  It also comes in 2 sizes- 40 ml and 150 ml. I got the 40 ml and now I’m pained it’s exhausted already.

The bottle has a pinhole applicator which makes pouring the content easy to do.

PS- An essence is the “love child” of a toner and serum like beautywithin put it. It usually has a watery consistency and is lightweight. It’s best for extra hydration.

Ingredients and claims

This essence water contains mostly cultivated ginseng root water (80%) and niacinamide (2%).

When researching for this post, I found out that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea (MFDS) fined BOJ over the claims of their ginseng quality. They use cultivated ginseng which is less expensive and subsequently has fewer benefits.

Does that mean it has no benefits? Nope! This info is to make you see all the aspects of the product so you know what you’re getting.

Other than that controversy, the BOJ essence water packs up a lot of great ingredients that make it worth anyone’s shot!

Here are some of them and their functions:

1. Ginseng– is anti-inflammatory, and stimulates collagen production which improves the appearance of wrinkles.
2. Niacinamide- this is one of my favorite ingredients. It helps the skin barrier, improves skin texture, and is great for oil control.
3. Glycerin- helps in moisturizing.
4. Hyaluronic acid– for hydrating
5. Adenosine- anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle properties. It also makes the skin look plump.
6. Licorice– this helps reduce redness and soothes the skin. 

That’s how packed this product is! The rest of the ingredients as seen on Soko glam are:

Panax ginseng root water, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Propandeiol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Heaxanediol, water, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl glucoside, Panthenol, Xanthan gum, Allantoin, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Panax ginseng callus culture extract, Dextrin, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) extract, Disodium EDTA, Glucose, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Lactobacillus/ Panax Ginseng root ferment filtrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium hyaluronate

My experience

This product was a game changer in my routine and it was love at first touch!  I applied it immediately after my cleanser and before applying serum in my morning routine. 

I love that it absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel tacky or heavy. Anytime I would apply it, it would give instant plumpness and hydration to my skin. I loved the smell because it felt like I was having a mini spa session. It also helped with an instant glow and was soothing to use. The instant glow of skin after use was something I always looked forward to!

Like I always say, consistency is another skincare ingredient. While this product gives an instant hydration and plumpness due to its ingredients, the best benefits are gotten with a consistent use.

How to use 

• After cleansing your face,
• Apply a few drops to your palms and gently pat them on your face.
• I usually would use my serum after this, but feel free to continue the rest of your routine after.

READ ALSO- Your Best 5- Minute Daily Skin Routine

Shop 

I got mine from Beautybydaz for #3500 but it’s currently out of stock. You can check any of these beauty stores I’ve reviewed if you live in Nigeria or shop on amazon.

Who needs it

One thing I love about this essence water is that it is suitable for all skin types. It’s particularly good if you want to target inflammation, help with your skin barrier, and have deeper hydration.

Pros

1. Lightweight
2. Easy to apply
3. Travel friendly
4. Can make your routine minimal 
5. Can be used all year round due to its texture

Cons

1. Not suitable for those sensitive to ginseng extract

Verdict

The Beauty of Joseon essence water is definitely worth your buy despite the controversies about the quality of their ginseng root. I would give it a 10 /10 because it was that good for my skin and is suitable for all skin types. I would repurchase.

Have you tried this product before? Would you like to try it?

Let me know in the comments.

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As someone with oily acne-prone skin, getting a gentle yet effective cleanser is always on the top of my list. The Cerave foaming cleanser was the second cleanser I tried from Cerave after their smoothing cleanser and it was part of my July skincare empties. Considering the reviews I read about it, it didn’t leave me disappointed one bit!

I wanted a separate post to really break it all down for you so here goes:

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through a link, at no cost to you.This supports me and keeps my blog running.

Meeting The Cerave Foaming Cleanser

This cleanser, just like most of Cerave’s products comes in a simple and practical bottle. It has 2 variants- the 236ml and 473ml sizes. Mine was 236 ml. The bottle has a dispenser which makes it easy to use. It doesn’t have the most aesthetic appearance but it’s the classic representation of don’t judge a book by its cover.

Ps- A cleanser is usually the first step in your skincare routine

Texture 

It has a gel-like consistency and texture that lathers well but doesn’t dry your skin. The gel texture has a balanced feel as it is neither too thick nor too watery.

Ingredients & Claims

In order to get the most updated ingredients Cerave recommends you refer to the ingredient list on the product itself, but I got a list from their site for an overview.

Aqua / Water / Eau, Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Niacinamide, PEG-6 Caprylic/ Capric glycerides, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Propylene glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Sodium chloride, Sodium lauroyl, Lactylate, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Citric acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan gum.

Like most of their products, this cleanser is alcohol, fragrance, and essential oil free. In other words, it’s great for sensitive skin.

According to Cerave; the cerave foaming facial cleanser contains hyaluronic acid (a great humectant), niacinamide(anti-inflammatory, soothing), and ceramides which help maintain the skin’s barrier and seal in moisture. It also removes excess sebum and deeply cleanses the skin without compromising your skin barrier. 

It also contains surfactants which are the ingredients that enable water and oil to mix so dirt on the skin can be washed off easily.

I also found out that sodium cocoyl glycinate and coco-betaine cause the lather of this product and in effect don’t dry out the skin. These highlighted ingredients, according to a dermatologist, distinguishes it from most cleansers.

My experience

I couldn’t get used to the gentle feel of the cleanser on my face. It was my sole cleanser for over 5 weeks and I liked how it didn’t have a squeaky feeling after use.

I used both day and night as well and I loved how refreshed my face always felt after cleaning.

Shop

Who needs it

If you have normal to oily skin then this cleanser is a good choice. It also works well for sensitive skin. Dry-skinned beauties can give it a shot as Ebun a lifestyle blogger did and you just might love it too! 

Pros

1. You only need a dime-sized amount 
2. Lasts for a long time and is affordable
3. Easily available as most beauty stores stock it
4. Protects the skin barrier due to its ingredients
5. Doesn’t strip the skin as it is hydrating
6. Can be used both in the morning and at night as it is gentle enough

Cons 

It’s hard to find any cons for this product because it is worth the hype. Other than that:

1. If you’re sensitive to niacinamide, then it may not be a great fit.
2. It’s also not travel-friendly because of its size, but it can be worked around.

Verdict

It’s safe to say you know where I stand with this cleanser. My skin loved it and I think it’s worth trying. I’ll give it a 9/10!

Have you tried this product? Let me know in the comments.