As someone who constantly deals with
dehydrated skin, I'm always on the lookout for good hydrating serums to add to
my routine, especially ones that aren't going to break the bank (seriously, a
very basic hyaluronic serum is at least $20/oz Cad). This is probably why I
started to get into Asian cosmetics when I was 18 – everything was more
reasonably priced, and they just seemed to work better.
The Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 Ampoule is a no
frills serum. It only claims to provide lightweight, yet lasting hydration, and
it performs quite well at that. Because of how sensitive my skin was at the
time I purchased it (acne, over-exfoliation, rashy and eczema patches), I was
looking for some key ingredients including ceramides (healing) and hyaluronic
acid (hydrating).
Notable
Ingredients
Hyaluronic Acid: This atttracts and
maintains water in the skin. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water,
making it a great ingredient for dehydrated and dry skin.
Copper Tripeptide-1: Increases collagen and
elastin production and promotes skin regeneration
Cholesteral: Helps to restore and maintain
the skin's barrier, maintaining normal skin function.
Ceramide 3: Helps to restore and maintain
the skin's barrier.
Beta Glucan: Has anti-oxidant, wound
healing and moisturizing properties.
Adenosine: An anti-aging ingredient that
promotes collagen and elastin production, as well as having anti-inflammatory
properties.
Full ingredients list here.
Performance
I bought this to provide extra hydration
for my poor dehydrated skin around the same time as the Hada Labo Perfect Gel
(it came in the mail about a week later). It too has hyaluronic acid and
ceramides to help with my dehydrated skin, as well as anti-aging and healing
properties to help with my acne and acne scarring. Mizon is known for providing
quality products that are full of plant extracts (these often provide
anti-inflammatory, brightening, and antioxidant properties), for a cheap price.
I've actually used a few other products from them that I never got around to
reviewing (namely their snail lines).
This particular serum is just a basic
hydrating serum. It doesn't make any other claims, and for that, it performs
its job well. Combined with the Hada Labo Perfect Gel, I almost had enough hydration to last a
full day (assuming I was at home and not dealing with air conditioning). It's
very lightweight and silky, absorbing easily. Seriously, my skin just drank
this up and sighed happily, like it just had a sip of a well-made cup of tea. Like
the Perfect Gel, I feel like this helped my skin to better retain
moisture so that I wouldn't get that uncomfortable tight feeling, or overly oily
(both signs of dehydrated skin) quite so soon in the day.
This isn't the best at "long lasting
hydration" like it claims (okay it doesn't claim to be the best, but I've used better). Mind you, for half the price, I can't really complain either. It lasted about two months with twice a day usage (three quarters of a dropper each time).
For the price, I don't think you can get a
better hydrating serum, especially if you're not in Korea. Feel free to correct
me if I'm wrong, I'm always looking to try something new.
Pros
Does what it claims
Not only hydrates, but as anti-aging
ingredients as well (long-term benefits as well as short term!)
Cons
You'll need to wait in the mail for it (if
you want it immediately, it's available at select Urban Outfitters stores for a
very marked up price)
