Unboxing Beauty

I received a lovely PR package from LeeGeeHaam (LGH) back in early November ~ For those who are not familiar with LeeGeeHaam, you might have known them as LeeJiHaam (LJH), infamous for their Tea Tree Essence and Propolis Ampoule.  Alas, I didn’t find that their Tea Tree Essence did much for my blemishes ~ they just made them more moist, which was not the look I was going for!  I did love their Propolis Ampoule and when I saw that they came out with a new line about hydration, Grow Hyal B5, I was very interested. After chatting with the lovely and knowledgeable folks at LGH, telling them about my oily skin that gets dehydrated in the winter, they said they knew the perfect skincare items to send me.

Skin Type/Concerns: oily, blemish prone, aging concerns, pores, fine lines/wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation

And wow, did they send me a lot!!  Not only did I receive two products from their latest Grow Hyal B5 line, but one that I have never heard before  ~ Hope 5α Control.  This review is focusing on the Hope line and I will have another review on the Grow items soon.

Why is it called Hope 5α Control?  LGH has a Hope category, containing advanced solutions of specific, targeted skincare concerns and are based on clinical experiences and scientific proof.  The 5α Control  line is for oily skin and 5α stands for 5α-reductase.  This line will help inhibits 5α-reductase, which causes blemishes and skin imbalance.

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Ingredients

All three of these products contain the following ingredients: Nordihydroguaiaretic acid is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory that combined with olenolic acid, creates a compound called AC Net™.  AC Net helps prevent adult acne, while reducing excess sebum and inflammation. Sepicontrol A5™ compound consists of capryloyl glycine, amino acid sarcosine and cinnamon bark, and will help purify your skin while providing astringent benefits. It helps restore skin balance by controlling excess oil and shine, reduce and treat blemishes and inflammation. These 3 products also include soothing and astringent witch hazel. 

5α Control Emulsion and Cream have an additional polyphenol-rich moisturizing compound called REGU-SEB™, made with saw palmetto, sesame and argan oils along with vitamin E and phytosterol beta-sitosterol, which helps regulate sebum production as it inhibits 5α-reductase.

The packaging on this line is very simple ~ they all come in white containers ~ Skin and Emulsion are in tall tube bottles with pump applicators.  The Cream is in a nice squat jar with a recessed lid ~ similar to how skincare brand belif with their Moisture/Aqua Bomb series ~ looks like a hat on the jar. There is a peach stripe and the lettering is in peach and black.   The bottles and jars are made of plastic ~ they are very sturdy, but not heavy either.  

Skin Toner: This is a lovely watery toner than instantly absorbs into my skin, leaving a matte/satin finish to my skin. It also helps reduce the appearance of my pores while reducing redness and swelling from blemishes. This product does contain alcohol in it, but for those with oily skin, this is not normally a huge issue ~ most of our skincare products seem to have a bit of alcohol in it as it is.  The Skin Toner does have some moisturizing antioxidant ingredients in here  which will help balance out the alcohol ingredient: wheat germ, fermented soybean and brewer’s yeast (cerevisiae) and panathenol.  This normalized my oily skin with an equal increase of 21% in moisture and oil levels. This has a low pH level of 5, so it will help restore the balance in your skin.  

Ingredients: Water, Alcohol, Betaine, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Capryloyl Glycine, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sarcosine, Allantoin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Pantolactone, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Panthenol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PVP, Sodium Metabisulfite, Fragrance  cosDNA analysis

Emulsion: Wait ~ isn’t the Skin bottle?  haha ~ yes, these two are so similar that I do mix them up when I am reaching for them.  There is one difference ~ the caps are not interchangeable. I love my emulsions!  Most emulsions are similar to a lotion, so if you have oily skin and want to use a moisturizer, see if the line carries an emulsion. Chances are, an emulsion will be more than enough as a final moisturizing step in your skincare routine.  This is a very lightweight lotion ~  as it spreads, it turns in a watery product and absorbs quickly into my skin.

This is very hydrating and also leaves a nice supple feel to my skin. It leaves no sticky residue and leaves a matte finish.  This is the perfect topper over all of my previous skin care steps, as any dewy shine I might have is absorbed completely.  This is very important to me as I do use facial oils from time to time and my skin will be quite “moist” looking.   Moisture/Oil: This was the most hydrating product of the trio and it also turned my oily skin into a balanced normal skin type, with an increase of moisture of 28% and an increase of oil of 27%

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Capryloyl Glycine, Sucrose Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum ParkII (Shea) Butter Extract, Polysorbate 60, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Bisabolol, Sarcosine, Sucrose Cocoate, Fragrance, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carbomer, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Spent Grain Wax, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Sitosterol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, PVP, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Tocopherol, Pantolactone, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract  cosDNA analysis

Cream: As I mentioned before, I usually can stop with an emulsion for a daytime routine, as that is more than sufficient for my needs.  However, I do like to use a bit heavier moisturizer at night time and I mainly used this cream at night, with the occasionally day time use if it was bitterly cold outside or my skin was sunburned, chapped or raw. 

This is a lovely peach colored gel-cream ~ lightweight, but I can feel the occlusive ingredients in here. This is much thicker in texture than the emulsion and almost feels oily when I apply it to my skin. However, it dries down to a matte finish, really moisturizing my skin. My skin is very soft and smooth with this cream, very supple, but I still find it heavy on my skin, as it does leave a protective barrier on my skin. I would use this during the day time if my skin is really dehydrated or the air is really dry, as this is a powerhouse moisturizer for oily skin types. This moisturizing cream increased my moisture and oil levels by 20% and provided balance to my skin.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Oleanolic Acid, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Bisabolol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glucose, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

Final Thoughts

The one thing I didn’t care for with this line is the scent. I was surprised with this AC line, with all of its herbal ingredients, that the scent was a faint powdery floral smell. It was not appealing at all to me and reminded me of grandma’s perfume ~  sorry grandmas!! ~ it was just such an “old” scent. I wish it was more herbal or even unscented as this line is amazing. The smell does linger for a few minutes and then slowly disappears.  That said, the Hope 5α Control really delivers on its promise of controlling oil, providing a more matte/satin finish to my skin, while helping calm and soothe blemishes and it does provide moisturize to my skin. This line doesn’t really do much in preventing blemishes, I fear, but it really stands out as an oil controlling and mattifying line.  The emulsion is the standout item for me and I will purchase that once I finish this bottle!  I can use it over anything and my skin will be a nice matte finish to it.  Yes, after a few hours, my natural oils do break through, but due to the 5α Control formula, my skin doesn’t look greasy or gross ~ just naturally glowing.

Hope 5α Control line has been around for more than 15 years and I hope it will catch on here! Everyone is familiar with the Tea Tree line, which was not good for me, as it was not oil controlling, but this line is amazing for oily skinned types who really want to reduce the shine on their skin.  I would like to add that I hope they make a sunscreen in this line 😍 Too many times, sunscreens leave a dewy finish and I would love a matte finish version. Many thanks to LGH for sending me these items!

A Quick Word About Oils on Oily Skin: I use oils on my oily skin in the wintertime, as my skin does get quite dehydrated ~ dehydrated skin for me means dull skin, very greasy skin that is congested with clogged pores. This type of grease is different from the normal oil my face will produce ~ it is thicker and causes a ton of blemishes.  Using properly formulated oils for my skin type does help keep my skin extra moisturized but it does leave a dewy finish, which I do not like.  The Hope 5α Control Emulsion has been a huge lifesaver for me, because after I apply the oil on my face, I then add this emulsion, which tones down the skin and mattifies my skin.

Where to Purchase

The following USD prices may vary ~ Hope 5α Control Skin/Toner  $34.00 for 120 mL bottle; Hope 5α Control Emulsion around $36.00 for 100 mL bottle; Hope 5α Control Cream $45.00 for 50 gram jar.

• Glow Recipe They currently offer the Emulsion (totally recommend) and Cream.  No word yet on the Skin/Toner.
  • Hope 5α Control Emulsion 100 mL RV $32.00
  • Hope  5α Control Cream 50 gram RV $34.00

They are still referring to the brand as LeeJiHaam (LJH), which was their old name.  You can save 15% off your first purchase at Glow Recipe with my referral link (click here)

• eBay (click here) will also carry the Hope 5α Control line ~ it isn’t complete, but they do have some of the items.
  
• Amazon USA (click here) also carries some of the line ~ but just like eBay, the lovely emulsion is not one of the items.
  
• Korea Depart (click here) carries the 5α Control line under the old packaging and name ~ the formula is the same, but LGH revamped the packaging from the peach bottles to the white ones when they changed their name.  They do have the emulsion there.
  

If you cannot find it or those stores do not ship to your country, you can order it via the Korean LGH website (click here) via a shipping service.  I use Korean Buddy and have been very happy with their service.  You just send them the link for the product you want  and they will invoice you for the product.  Pay and they will order.  Once they get the order in, they weigh it and invoice you for shipping ~ you can use standard, airmail or EMS.  If you use my blog url  (https://beautyfindsforme.wordpress.com) as a referral, you can save 50% off your first purchase handling fee.

[ disclaimer: products received complementary for honest review purposes ]

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