Skin type: normal to oily, sensitive and acne-prone
Packaging: beautiful look for both products, but the serum packaging is sturdy plastic and with an airless pump (which works wonderfully, there was only one application left when it stopped pumping) while the emulsion is in much heavier glass and with a regular pump.
Texture and scent: the serum has a thicker cream consistency, although not balmy. The emulsion is much more lightweight. Both blend onto the skin and sink in without issue, although the serum takes a little longer to sink in. They have the same kind of old-fashioned floral scent, but it is much stronger in the serum. It does not linger, but I’ll admit it bothers me during application. I haven’t tried many hanbang serums yet, but I can say this is definitely more scented than Sooryehan’s the Black and Chogongjin’s Sosaeng.
Finish: for the serum – satin to the touch and gently glowy. For the emulsion – a natural satin in both look and feel.
Performance – the serum provides good hydration and moisturization, the emulsion provides only light hydration but with my tendentially oily skin and now going into summer it works well enough as my only moisturizer step. Both products never aggravated my skin even when it was irritated / inflamed due to other reasons and I rather felt they actually supported its healing. They also did not cause any breakouts or closed comedones. I have now emptied the serum (in about two and a half months of twice daily use) and I can’t say I have noticed any difference in my fine lines, but I imagine the anti-aging results would take longer to shoe. Out of the two, the serum feels much more luxurious and “special” due to the texture and finish. Considering they are around the same price, I would recommend grabbing the serum if you are curious about this line.
by alkemicalgold