Unboxing Beauty

Update:  A.By BOM The Wisley Garden skincare line has been replaced by the Ultra Botanic line.  The packaging has been updated and the formula on the Serum Lotion has changed slightly.  The  Skin Water has not changed in its formula at all.  I was fortunate enough to receive the updated products from Bemused Korea. 

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

I received these products complementary to review and was not paid.  All reviews are my own honest opinion and  I never have been asked to write copy for a brand.  This blog post might contain promo codes, affiliate and referral links, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you.

Key Ingredients

The core botanical ingredients for the Skin Water and Serum Lotion didn’t change.  Aloe vera is a powerful moisturizer that doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily or greasy. It soothes, treats inflammation, helps speed up skin healing and also has a plethora of antioxidants ~ beta-carotene, vitaminsC and E ~ which help improve your skin’s firmness and keeps your skin moist and hydrated.   Cereus grandiflorus flower  ~ also known as  night blooming cereus, is a hardy cactus ~ is full of anti-aging antioxidants,has astringent benefits and aids in skin cell renewal, leaving your skin looking fresh.  Opuntia coccinellifera is prickly pear and you find this in a lot of skin care products nowadays, as it helps moisturize, soften, soothes and protect your skin against dryness and irritates caused by pollution.  Prickly pear also has gentle exfoliating benefits, removing  dead skin cells, revealing brighter, clearer skin.

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Anastatica hierochuntica, aka Rose of Jericho, The Resurrection Plant ~ is known for its intense enhancement of moisture capabilities.  It actually is a tumbleweed, despite its descriptive names!  This extract will protect your skin and prevent oxidation.  Adansonia digitata, aka baobab, is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant benefits as well as a rich source of flavonoids.  It has more antioxidants in its pulp than orange, which contain brightening and exfoliating acids ~ ascorbic, malic, citric and succinic (source)  Baobab helps hydrate and prevent moisture loss.

image credit abybomcos.com

A. by BOM Ultra Botanic Skin Water ~ As there was no change in the formula, my original review still holds true.  I will recap that review here and you can read the full original review below.  It is watery, scentless and contains the seven plant ingredients that are known for their extremely hydrating capabilities, it also contains betaine, which is amino acid that is a humectant and anti-irritant, providing silky smooth skin, while soothing and calming your skin.  Sugarcane is also in here ~ this is an anti-septic and it also is an AHA, so it helps gently exfoliate your skin resulting in smoother and brighter skin tones.  This skin/toner is free from artificial fragrance, dyes and alcohol.  The pH level is still 6.5 to 7 and is hydrating.  Great for layering toners on your skin! 

The packaging has changed ~ It is now in a 160mL tall clear bottle, with rose gold lettering and a rose gold cap.  The lettering does fade off the bottle after a month or so.  It still has a pin hole applicator, which is acceptable for a watery toner.  You do get less now, as the original Skin Water was 235 mL at $27.00 and this is $34.00 for 160 mL.  I guess that cost went into the packaging!

Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract  cosDNA

A. by BOM Ultra Botanic Serum Lotion Now, this formula did change and the packaging changed as well ~ and the applicator for the worst.  This bottle has the same 160mL tall shape as the Skin Toner, but it is in a cream colored bottle, with the rose gold cap.  The applicator went from a nice pump applicator to a pin hole applicator.  This is ridiculous ~ I spend more time trying to shake the product out than applying it to my face ~ you should only have a pin hole applicator when the product is of a water texture, which this isn’t.   When a skincare product has a fussy applicator, you don’t reach for it as much either, which is a shame as this is a great product!  I hope A. by BOM will redesign this one more time and put a pump on it instead ~ like they did with their new Ultra Time Return Eye Cream. 

Reviewing the formula, I noticed that they removed several ingredients ~ Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract and Corallina Officinalis Extract ~  and added in coloring.  The old formula didn’t need added dyes as it got its yellow shade naturally from turmeric.   I was initially upset about the removal of neem and turmeric, as those are great for oily and blemish prone skin, but as I used the new formula, I found that it worked well on my skin and didn’t cause any blemishes.  

Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Octyldodeceth-16, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Red 4 (CI 14700)  cosDNA

The Serum Lotion is still a hybrid between a watery serum and a very watery lotion and it is described as a “unique serum + lotion emulsion with concentrated nutritional power of serum, and hydrating and protective power of lotion“, which I do agree with .. up to a point.  I think that this Serum Lotion is perfect in the warmer months as a moisturizer for oily and oily/combo skin, but I can see that drier skin types might need an additional layer of moisturizer and also for me, in the cooler months.   This texture has not changed with the reformulation.  What has changed is the fragrance ~ the old formula had a stronger scent, similar to A. by BOM Cool Leaf Facial Sheet Masks ~ a fresh yet potent scent ~ I like that scent, but it was quite strong.  This formula still has the same fragrance, but it is not as heavy.   It is still very a thick watery texture and when I did the pH test, it still ranged between a 5 and 5.5.  

This is very hydrating and a waterbomb on my skin, but there is no greasy or sticky residue.  My skin feels soft and supple, with a soft satin finish after applying it. This is not a mattifying product, but it doesn’t add any additional shine.   It increased my moisture levels by 65% and decreased my oil levels by 30%, so the moisture levels is an improvement over the old formula for sure!   

I just wanted to show the textures between the original formula and the new formula ~ they are very similar and I would be hard pressed to tell the difference if I didn’t know the order in which I swatched it. 

Final Thoughts

image credit abybomcos.com

I was originally sad to see that the neem and turmeric were removed from the Serum Lotion, but the performance of the reformulated Serum Lotion was not affected by this.   I do love the Skin Toner and Serum Lotion, and I think all skin types will appreciate the Skin Toner ~ and it being scentless is a plus for many people!  The Serum Lotion is a lovely hydrating,lightweight lotion that will work best for oily and oily/combination skin, imho.  If you have dry skin, you might enjoy this during the hot humid months ~ otherwise, I would recommend layering another moisturizer over this, as it may not be enough for drier skin types.  For me, the Serum Lotion was very handy this summer and now as it transitions from summer to fall months.  I also was pleased that they dialed down the fragrance a bit on the Serum Lotion. 

The packaging is a huge improvement and I guess the price point is more because of that ~ that is okay, the aesthetics of the rose gold packaging is just stunning ~ A. by BOM didn’t go overboard with this ~ they knew when to stop with the metallic bling!  My only complaint is the applicator on the Serum Lotion ~ it needs to be a pump as it is very inconvenient with a pin hole applicator ~ the product is too thick to dispense easily with a pin hole. 

All in all, if you love A. by BOM products, you will love these, especially if you have oily  to oily/combo skin.  If you live in hot and humid areas, these are lovely lightweight skincare products that have a hydrating punch to them! 

Where to Purchase 

Currently, the best place to get these products is at Bemused Korea and they are an authorized retailer for A. by BOM which ships internationally.  Bemused Korea will ship free with purchases $60.00 or more.   Use COLEBIANCARD15 to save 15% off all A. by BOM products, except for sheet mask sets.  This promo is good until December 18, 2018 and I make no commission off of it.

• A. by BOM Ultra Botanic Skin Water  160mL  $34.00
  
• A. by BOM Ultra Botanic Serum Lotion 160 mL  $34.00
• A. by BOM Ultra Botanic Set (both Skin Water & Serum Lotion) $62.00

Bemused Korea also carries my favorite A. by BOM products ~ the 3 floral leaf masks ~ A. by BOM needs to make the sleeping pack mask into a full size tub ~ and the watery cleansing balm.  I will also be blogging about all of their recent mask releases, which should be live in another week.  Check out Lisa’s store ~ and if your country is not on her list, drop her a message.  I read online that a customer asked her to add in her country and she did!

Bemused Korea has a current deal with all of the A. by BOM sheet masks!  This is a great deal ~ you get: Ultra Royal Glow Queen Mask,  Ultra Water Leaf Mask(love this one!!), Ultra Serum Leaf Mask,  2 Step Ultra Royal Leaf Mask , 2 Step Ultra Night Leaf Mask  (love the sleep pack in this one), 2 Step Ultra Floral Leaf Mask (so springtime and fresh!), 2 Step Ultra Cool Leaf Mask (The Wisley Garden Serum Lotion smells like this one ~ this is very refreshing) and 3 Step Ultra Moisture Mask (contains eye serum, cream and mask).  I totally recommend getting this sheet mask set if you have never tried A. by BOM products before.   Like Bemused Korea’s Facebook page from their store and you will get a 10% off coupon with your purchase.

Original Blog Post Review February 25, 2018

Once again, I have the great privilege and opportunity to review the latest items from A. by BOM ~ A. by BOM was founded in their luxury beauty salon in Seoul’s Cheongdam, Gangnam district and they showcase ingredients from natural vegetables and botanicals  ~ such as using autumn grains which will help nourish and revive dull, tired skin; floral extracts that will create firm, toned skin that is elastic and soft and seed oils, giving nourishment to make your skin glowing and radiant.  A. by BOM believes that the beauty of Korea is the world’s best, constantly looks to improve and bring better, unique products to their customers and listens to their customers needs.  I have reviewed all of their products so far ~ click here to read.   They recently released two products that are part of their Wisley Gardens line and Bemused Korea sent them to me for review purposes.

I received these products complementary to review and was not paid.  All reviews are my own honest opinion and  I never have been asked to write copy for a brand.  This blog post might contain affiliate and referral links and promo codes, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you.

Skin Type and Concerns:  Oily, blemish prone, pores, aging concerns of fine lines/wrinkles and hyper pigmentation.

To help tell the difference between a fake and a real A. by BOM product, A. by BOM has put instructions and a security code on each of their products.  Download the M-Check app on your mobile device and then scan the security bar on your package to verify.   If will ask for a security code, which is that area on the box where it states “Security Code”.  Use your finger nail or a coin, and scratch off that area, as if you are playing a lottery ticket and your security code will appear.  Enter that into the app and it will verify if this is genuine or fake.

The Wisley Garden skincare line is named after the famous gardens in the UK and has a lot of botanical ingredients in them.  A. by BOM found the Glasshouse (greenhouse) in the UK Royal Horticultural Society’s globally renowned garden to be the one of most interest to them.  The plants in the Glasshouse have hydrating benefits as in their normal habitat, those plants have to survive in  extreme environments.

Common Ingredients

image credit abybom

 

image credit abybom

Opuntia coccinellifera, otherwise known as prickly pear cactus, will help moisturize, soften, calm and prevent dryness and irritation.  It is full of flavonols, tocopherols, and carotenoids, vitamins A, C and E, and it has good for sensitive skin. Coconut is rich in minerals and it supplies immediate moisture to skin to prevent skin moisture loss. It will also strengthen the skin’s immunity.  Lactobacillus ferments are highly moisturizing and have antibacterial properties as well.

When I first saw the name ~ Skin Water ~ I thought that this might be a cleansing water but it isn’t ~ it is a toner. Skin Water comes in a clear plastic 235 mL bottle with a pin hole applicator.  This is a very watery toner ~ in fact it feels like water on the skin.  This is one of the rare A. by BOM items that does not have a scent, which surprised me very much.  This not only has the seven plant ingredients that are known for their extremely hydrating capabilities, it also contains betaine, which is amino acid that is a humectant and anti-irritant, providing silky smooth skin, while soothing and calming your skin.  Sugarcane is also in here ~ this is an anti-septic and it also is an AHA, so it helps gently exfoliate your skin resulting in smoother and brighter skin tones.  This skin/toner is free from artificial fragrance, dyes and alcohol.

This toner absorbs quickly without any sticky or greasy residue and it has a pH level of about a 6.5 – 7.  This is highly moisturizing and hydrating on my skin and it is a perfect toner for the 3 or 7 (or how many you want!) layering.  This is also very refreshing if you store it in the refrigerator as well.  It increases my moisture level by 31% and decreases oil by 38%.

image credit abybom

Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract  cosDNA analysis

Serum Lotion is a hybrid between a watery serum and a very watery lotion and comes in a 120 mL plastic bottle with a pump applicator.  According to the description, this product has the ‘concentrated nutritional powers of serum, and hydrating and protective powers of lotion‘.   For me, during the cooler months, I still need to add another layer of moisturizer despite having oily skin, but I can see this being fantastic as a lotion in the warmer months, when I do not need as much moisturizer.  

This has additional ingredients which make this serum lotion a great friend to oily and blemish prone skin ~ Melia azadirachta, also known as neem, is an antibacterial which helps prevent acne as it focuses on blemish bacteria and it is antiseptic too, so it helps disinfect.   Turmeric is probably the reason why Wisley Garden Serum Lotion is a bright yellow color ~ but don’t worry, this applies on clear and doesn’t stain my skin.  Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory that can help calm your skin, reduce the appearance of your pores and prevent and heal blemishes, while reducing and fading acne scarring.

This has a fragrance that is just like the A. by BOM Cool Leaf Facial Sheet Masks ~ it is very fresh and a bit stronger.  I happen to like that scent, so it doesn’t bother me, but I wanted to point out that unlike the Skin, this does have added fragrance.   This pumps out as a thicker serum ~ A. by BOM calls it a water gel ~  but as you can see, it is quite watery as I spread it out on my hand. 

Once it dries down and it does take about a minute as it a waterbomb of a product, it leaves no greasy or sticky residue and it feels cool and fresh on my skin.  My skin is also very soft and supple after applying this hydrating Serum Lotion.  This is so watery that I did do a pH test and it is about a 5.5

This increased by moisture levels on average by 41% and decreased my oils by 34%.  I find that this Serum Lotion is going to be fantastic for the hot summery months, as it is so refreshing on my skin and is very lightweight.  For drier skin types or colder weather, this is a great step for layering as it does moisturize and hydrate nicely!

image credit abybom cosmetics

Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Octyldodeceth-16, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance  cosDNA analysis

Final Thoughts

Both of these products are a great addition to the A. by BOM family!  I wonder if they are going to continue on with The Wisley Garden series line?  I can see a cleansing water and a sleeping pack ~ they have a sleep pack, but it is only part of a 2-Step Mask system.  The Skin Water is a very refreshing and non-irritating toner and for those who have wanted to try A. by BOM but were looking for a non-scented product, this one is for you!  I was very happy to see that A. by BOM is starting to release non-fragranced items ~ perhaps this will be a trend in the future.  The Serum Lotion is a fast favorite of mine ~ I do like the scent, but as I mentioned, it is heavy.  However, the lightweight watery texture of this gel-lotion is amazing for my oily skin and I am going to save the rest of this for the hot muggy summer months!  This Serum Lotion will work in the cooler months as a layering product and dry skin types will enjoy it as well for layering.  Both of these products are great for oily and blemish prone skin ~ I did not experience any breakouts due to their usage and I found that the Serum Lotion provided some mild brightening effects as well. I highly recommend the Serum Lotion if you enjoyed the scent of the Leaf masks.  What are your favorite A. by BOM products if you have tried them?  Thank you so much, Lisa at Bemused Korea, for sending these fine products to me for review!

 

[ disclaimer: some products received for an honest & unbiased review  ]

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