PurpleTale Product Review: Setting the Scene Treatment Essence & Ode to Hydration Facial Cream


Sometimes, if I'm being truly honest with myself, I know in my heart that I have too many products. Serums, essences, creams...I have tons. And I'm not always able to finish them all before they expire. But I don't care. I want more. *Queue the Little Mermaid holding up a fork- er, dinglehopper in the distance)*

Hence, when I was contacted by the lovely Youngi-Ji of Korean beauty brand PurpleTale to try out some products for review, I was excited. Not only because I'm on a no-buy (that I definitely haven't broken yet, shh), but also because these products truly intrigued me, both because of their super cute packaging, and effective ingredients lists.


PurpleTale is based in South Korea and ships internationally via UPS or FedEx. I was first drawn to this brand when I saw it pop up on my various social media platforms, and my first thought was "How cute!" Purple Tale has such a whimsical, fairy tale vibe, and much of what they sell are all in one type products, meaning that one product can replace multiple steps in your routine. Score.

From their website: "We believe that when you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you can't help but share the goodness with the world around you. That's why we only use wholesomeenriching ingredients that nourish your skin and make it easy to feel beautiful from the inside out. Our products are simple and easy to use, making your regimen feel less like a process and more like pampering."


One thing that I really love is the message that PurpleTale sends to their customers. You can read up on Young-Ji's story here, but the gist of it is this: wholesome, nourishing products that make you feel beautiful in a world that's constantly telling you that you aren't. I can sympathize with not feeling conventionally beautiful in a society that celebrates cookie-cutter appearances, so I really feel good using products that promote seeing yourself as beautiful already, because no product will change what you were born with. But speaking from experience, your skincare regimen can help you change the way you feel about yourself.

PurpleTale currently has a small selection of products in stock (as they are still quite new), including a 5-step facial treatment product, a first treatment essence, a moisturizer, a neck cream, a restorative cream, and a bb cream. They also stock men's products as well, including a bb cream and an all-in-one cream.




Setting the Scene Treatment Essence ($34.99) - This is an essence that can either be used in the very beginning of your routine as an FTE, or implemented as a regular essence before your moisturizer. This is the first product that caught my eye, as it contains tons of good-for-your-skin ingredients such as ginseng, peptide complexes, adenosine, and niacinamide.

"This lightweight essence starts you off with a hydrating base that instantly perks up your skin, leaving you glowing from the inside out. Is it just us, or is this story off to a great start? Loaded with ginseng, peptide complexes, adenosine, and niacinamide, this lightweight treatment essence will set the right tone for your day. It helps hydrate, brighten, and smooth fine lines for that oh-so-coveted glow. Perfect for all skin types With daily use, this essence will improve skin's overall texture and contribute to a more beautiful, balanced and glowing complexion."



This essence has a ton of ingredients that really made me say "get on my face"; I know many skincare aficionados don't use an FTE because it seems like a waste of time/money or just another tedious step to add to an already lengthy routine, but I find that FTEs normally give my skin an extra boost of hydration that really helps the rest of my products sink in. Hence, I used this as a first treatment essence twice a day for the past 30 days, after cleansing/acids and before applying any toner/essences/serums.

To use: Set the scene twice a day by applying an appropriate amount of our treatment essence to your fingertips, then gently pat onto cleansed face and neck.





The bottle I received was manufactured 8/28/2015 and expires 8/27/2018 (It's difficult to tell from the photo, but it was easier to read on the bottle itself). Since I only need about 4-5 drops for my whole face, I predict this bottle is going to last me quite awhile.



Noted Ingredients:

Ginseng Saponin: Contains nourishing and antioxidant properties to help restore and preserve youthful skin.

Peptide Complexes: Antiaging; prompts natural collagen production to reverse signs of aging.

Adenosine: Potent yeast-derived ingredient that penetrates deeply into the skin to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while supporting healthy cell function.

Niacinamide: Brightens, treats uneven skin tone, and soothes redness.

Ingredients: 
Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanadiol, Diglycerin, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract, Ginsenosides, Fragrance. 

As for how this has worked out for my 23 year old, combination/dry skin, it's incredibly hydrating and brightening! The slightly viscous liquid has a bit of slip to it, but it sinks in very quickly and adds a nice, light layer of hydration in preparation for my other products. It has a bit of a floral scent to it, but it dissipates quickly as the product is absorbed into the skin. I've found that my skin texture has been a bit smoother overall, and it definitely has helped soothe the redness that plagues my cheeks. I'm very pleased with it as a first treatment essence, and the beauty of it all is that if I'm rushed in the morning, I can just throw this on, and it'll act as an FTE, toner, and essence all in one. I think that $35 for 130ml is quite the deal, considering the brightening, smoothing, and soothing effects this has had on my skin. I would definitely repurchase another bottle in the future!


 Ode to Hydration Facial Cream ($29.99) - This has to be one of my favorite facial creams! This cream is formulated with a ton of great ingredients, and is a wonderful, buttery consistency that works wonders for my dry cheeks.

"Our love for happy and healthy skin has us feeling so poetic that we were inspired to compose an ode...to hydration! Formulated with carefully chosen ingredients such as ginseng, peptide complexes, adenosine, and niacinamide, our Ode to Hydration will repair a wide variety of skin concerns including dull complexion, fine lines, dark spots, and blemishes. Basically, it's like serenading your skin with its very own love song. Not only that, it's perfect for all skin types, and that's fact, not fiction."

To use: Gently apply all over cleansed and toned face and neck. Lightly tap to aid absorption.






Noted Ingredients: The Ode to Hydration Facial cream contains the same star ingredients as their FTE, including Ginseng saponin, peptide complexes, and adenosine for anti-aging and healthy cell function, and niacinamide for brightening and redness reduction. Sweet.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Betaine, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alcohol Denat., Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Ginsenosides, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.



Performance wise? This cream is another win for me, but under certain conditions. It has the same pleasant, slightly floral scent as the essence, and although the cream itself is super thick, it applies so smoothly and sinks in quickly. It gives my skin the same slip that the essence does, but in addition to that, my skin is silky, velvety smooth after applying, and has a subtle, beautiful glow. The condition is that this is best for nighttime application when it comes to my combination/dry skin; when I wear it during the daytime, it tends to not sink in completely (that could be the result of layering 2-3 essences/serums underneath it, though). However, when applied at night, I wake up with plumped, brightened, glowing skin. I think this would definitely be well-suited to drier skin types, as the rich, buttery texture really locks in a layer of moisture to the skin. I haven't yet tried this out in the winter time, but I suspect it will work a bit better for me when the weather becomes colder/drier. Overall, I'm very pleased with the results, and while $30 for 50ml could be considered pretty steep in price, it's definitely worth shelling out a bit more for brighter, buttery soft skin that glows from the inside out. 

If you'd like to shop the rest of the PurpleTale line, you can do so here. PT also carries some super cute and useful products for men; check them out here and buy your babe somethin' nice!

Have you tried any products from PurpleTale? What do you think about all-in-one products? 

Disclosure: These products were sent to me by PurpleTale in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

No comments

Cute Polka Dotted Red Bow Tie Ribbon