BriAA Skincare Review


This post is long overdue, but one that I'm very excited about! I was recently sent some products from BriAA Skincare for review, and although it took me quite awhile to patch test/type up this review (this is the second time I've had to write this post, since the first time Blogger spazzed and I lost everything. Sob), I'm pretty wowed by my experience.

BriAA Skincare merges cutting edge science with the simplicity of nature to create products that provide gentle, natural rejuvenation. As much as I love Korean beauty products, I do incorporate a ton of natural products into both my skincare routine and my life in general, so I adore the fact that BriAA Skincare adopts an all-natural approach.

"BriAA initiates the natural renewal of skin systems and initializes the body into accelerated reconstruction and restoration. The result is a significant rejuvenation effect and reduction of severity of wrinkles. The unique complex provides powerful protection for young skin, and significantly postpones the signs of aging. There is no dispute about the importance of nourishing and restoring mature skin, but only recently has it become clear to all that it is actually of crucial importance to keep a nurturing preventive routine long before the appearance of the first furrow."

Here's what I received:


Genesis Pure Hydration Cleansing Gel ($30) - I'm always on the lookout for a good cleanser, so I was pretty excited at the prospect of incorporating a plant-based, all-natural one into my routine. This cleanser promises to soften and nourish the skin, and help skin feel more awake and refreshed. BriAA claims that daily use of this cleanser will accelerate the natural cycle of cell regeneration. The rich gel formula contains BriAA's soon to be patented Holy Land Phyto Active Signature Complex, also known as their HL-PAS Complex, which penetrates deep down into the tissues of the skin to nourish from within, using active plant-based ingredients to generate restoration and healing mechanisms that rejuvenate the skin, leaving it supple and energized. Aww yeah, science.  

Description: Designed to maintain cleansed and hydrated complexion, BriAA’s Cleansing Gel acts as the starting point of your basic skin care routine. The gel softens and nourishes the skin, providing an awakening and refreshing sensation.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile ) Flower Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Coco Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract, Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C 10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crossp, Acacia Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Cellulose Gum, Sea Salt (Maris Sal/Dead Sea Salt), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officianarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance.
To Use: Wet your face with lukewarm water, then take a small amount of the cleansing gel using your fingers, and begin coating your face whilst massaging in circular motions until creation of gentle foam. Rinse well with lukewarm water. Recommended twice a day or more when necessary. Follow with the Deep Revitalizing Polishing Mask for extensive treatment or the Duet Force Creams for moisture locking. 


This cleanser was very pleasant to use, and was incredibly gentle on my skin, cleaning away dirt, oil, and buildup without being drying. I was very impressed to discover that the pH falls right around 5.5, which is in the "perfectly acceptable" range for those in the low pH camp. I fully expected this cleanser to have a disastrously high pH (do I have trust issues when it comes to cleansers? Maybe.), but this is probably one of the gentlest, most hydrating cleansers I've ever used, which is saying a lot, as I'm a cleanser whore and have used many. My only gripe when it comes to this is the scent - it has a somewhat heavy, chemical scent, almost like hair dye. I coaxed my fiance into having a sniff, and he confirmed it does indeed smell faintly of box dye. Strange, but not overwhelming - although if you're at all "scentsitive" (ha), you may want to pass this one up.


Deep Revitalizing Polishing Mask ($50) - This polishing mask is like a scrub and mask combined, and is step one in BriAA's Ready, Set, Rejuvenate line. It provides an extensive cleansing treatment to deeply nourish and invigorate skin. It also contains BriAA's signature HL-PAS complex, to penetrate inner connective tissue in an effort to stimulate cell renewal. It also works to clear skin and purge pores of excess dirt, sebum, and makeup residue to help skin glow naturally.

Description: An awakening boost of energy and freshness coupled with deep cleansing spheres for essential skin purification. BriAA’s Polishing Mask works in dual phases to ensure ultimate skin clarity while commencing a magnified regeneration process.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile ) Flower Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyle Myristate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Hydrated Silica, Acacia Gum, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officianarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, (Squalane) Olive, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavander) Oil, Sea Salt (Maris Sal/Dead Sea Salt), Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Fragrance.
To Use: Take a small amount of the polishing mask using your fingers and evenly coat your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Do not scrub. Allow 5-10 minutes for dynamic penetration, then massage in circular motions with wet fingers for 30 seconds. Rinse well with lukewarm water or wipe away with cleansing wipes. Tap dry your skin. Continue to the second phase of the Triple Action Rejuvenation System. Recommended twice a week. Suitable for all skin types.

Dynamic penetration, heh. Sounds serious. This little red tube is probably my favorite product in the Ready, Set, Rejuvenate line. It contains a bunch of good-for-your-skin ingredients such as chamomile extract, grape seed, olive, and jojoba oils, squalene, lavender extract, and lactic acid. As far as exfoliating masks go, this one takes the cake when it comes to gentle, nourishing exfoliation. A lot of exfoliating scrubs are far too harsh for the delicate skin on my face, but this one is creamy, easy to massage into skin, and the small, sand-like exfoliating grains don't scrape or cut my skin in any way. I love that this mask provides both chemical and physical exfoliation, and after rinsing it off, my skin felt cleansed, nourished, and baby butt-soft.


The cleansing gel and polishing mask were sent to me full sized, but I got to try out the rest of the line from foil packets.


Regenerating Preparatory Thermal Mask ($60) - The second step in the Ready, Set, Rejuvenate line, this self-heating thermal mask relaxes the skin and pores to prepare the skin and promote better absorption of subsequent products, namely the Invigorating Lifting Mask. Once the Lifting Mask is applied in the next step, the Thermal Mask is activated, generating an intense heating sensation that magnifies the reviving and energizing effect that reconstructs the skin from within. The warmth fades away in a few moments, leaving the skin optimally ready for the accelerated youthful healing process. The mask has a unique velvety texture that feels warm and tingly as soon as it's applied to the skin, but the sensation isn't overwhelming. 

Description: BriAA's Thermal Mask is a professional skin refining tool that achieves unparalleled results. It promotes skin's profound absorption capability, thereby amplifying the active invigorating ingredients' effect on the renewal of the skin.

Ingredients: 
Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond), Kaolin, Beeswax, Polysorbate-80, Polysorbate 20, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract,Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance.
To Use: Take a small amount of BriAA’s thermal mask using your fingers and evenly coat your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Do not rinse or massage. Continue directly to the third phase of the triple action system. Recommended twice a week. Suitable for all skin types. 

As someone who has very sensitive/reactive skin when it comes to self-heating masks, I internally groaned and fully expected this mask treatment to burn/irritate my skin (I normally avoid thermal masks for this very reason). Fortunately, this first step felt pleasantly warm, but not overwhelmingly so.


Rejuvenating Intensive Lifting Mask ($80)The third step in the Ready, Set, Rejuvenate line, this mask is the second part of the self-heating thermal mask treatment. The Lifting Mask is designed to stimulate the dermal tissue, thereby generating accelerated renewal and restoration of the skin. This mask claims to induce the skin to recreate itself as if it were healing from an injury, thereby speeding up cell regeneration, resulting in a smooth, toned complexion. 

Description: A high performance replenishing formulation that restores the skin from within. BriAA’s intensive Lifting Mask fortifies the skin with the unique HL-PAS Complex of superb nutrients that stimulate dynamic strengthening of skin's elasticity and resilience resulting in a magnified firming and tightening effect.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Beeswax, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Methylpropanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile ) Flower Ex, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, (Squalane )Olive, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acacia Gum, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond), Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Sea Salt (Maris Sal/Dead Sea Salt), Fragrance, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid.
To Use: Take a small amount of BriAA's lifting mask using your fingers and evenly coat your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Massage gently in circular motions to activate the Thermal Mask. You will feel a warm sensation for a few moments. Allow 10-15 minutes for full absorption then rinse well with lukewarm waters or remove gently using dump cotton balls or cleansing wipes. Follow with the Duet Force Creams. Recommended twice a week. Suitable for all skin types. 

I applied this mask on top of the Regenerating Preparatory Thermal Mask as per BriAA's instructions, and the warming sensation was definitely intense; I was not expecting such a fervent reaction! It definitely wasn't painful, and unlike many thermal masks that I've tried, the warming sensation wasn't fiery hot and irritating - it was very soothing and actually felt pretty incredible! For someone who's skin usually hates thermal masks, I'm very impressed that this mask was gentle enough not to irritate my face (and relieved that I didn't have hot, angry red skin after). 


Age Defying Day Cream for Protecting & Smoothing and Age Defying Night Cream for Fortifying & Stimulating ($100ea) - BriAA's Day Cream claims to neutralize and dramatically delay the appearance and formation of aging symptoms by strengthening and thickening the skin, as well as hydrating and smoothing skin for well protected, glowing, youthful vitality. BriAA's Night Cream promises to awaken skin by utilizing the natural restoration and reconstruction process which takes place at night, and intensifying its effect, providing the skin with a glamorous, silky softness. I didn't notice a huge difference between these creams, but I did find that they were both not as moisturizing as I would like, as I had to layer another moisturizer/sleeping pack on top. For the hefty $100 price tag, I expected much more, and these just fell flat for me. 

Day Cream Ingredients: 
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Methylpropanediol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond), Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile ) Flower Ex, Benzophenone-3, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), (Squalane )Olive, Octocrylene, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Beeswax, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Acacia Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Corn Starch Modufied, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officianarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Sea Salt (Maris Sal/Dead Sea Salt), Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance.
 Night Cream Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Methylpropanediol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond), Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile ) Flower Ex, (Squalane )Olive, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Beeswax, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Acacia Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officianarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract , Salicylic Acid, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sea Salt (Maris Sal/Dead Sea Salt), Fragrance.
To Use: Take a small amount of the Day Cream/Night Cream and evenly coat your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Massage gently in circular motions for full absorption.


Expression Instant Refine Lifting Serum ($120) - This pricey serum contains active plant-based nutrients, and induces skin's elastin and collagen fibers to reaffirm their matrix connections and create a strong and dense net of fibers, capable of providing intense support to the overlying exposed skin layer. The reinforced matrix pushes up the skin, forcefully stretching and tightening it in as little as 4 minutes after application. 

Description: A technological breakthrough coupled with ancient wisdom and tradition comes before you in BriAA's magnificent state of the art Lifting Serum. Remarkably, it only takes the serum as little as 4 minutes to initiate noticeable change in skin's elasticity and tone resulting in a significant stretch effect that diminishes and reduces wrinkles.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Whitc Hazel) Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Silicate, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Methylpropanediol, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile ) Flower Ex, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sea Salt (Maris Sal/Dead Sea Salt), Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum.
To Use: Take a generous amount of BriAA's Lifting Serum using the tips of your fingers and spread gently onto areas that suffer from aging symptoms such as around and under the eyes, near the mouth, across the cheeks, the forehead and the neck. The areas require to be fully coated for best results, however, applying too much serum may leave a thin white layer, in such case, easily remove by tapping the area with your wet finger. For effective and powerful effect avoid exercising the facial muscles and try to maintain a constant expression for a few minutes. Allow full absorption before applying makeup. A tightening sensation is noticeable in the first few minutes when the skin is dynamically lifted. Best results appear within 4-15 minutes after application. 

Unfortunately, this product was also a dud for me. It definitely did tighten my skin, but it dried it out so badly it felt as if I couldn't move my face, and after finishing up my routine, I didn't notice much of a difference in the fine lines around my eyes, nose, and mouth, and the dry feeling persisted even after applying a moisturizer afterward. I couldn't justify paying $120 for something that dries out my face that badly, even if it did somehow miraculously get rid of my fine lines after a few uses.

Overall, I'm very happy that I was given the chance to try out the products in this line, and while I didn't enjoy some of them, a lot of them made my skin look and feel pretty incredible. BriAA uses clean, natural ingredients and most of their products are very gentle; unfortunately, the prices are incredibly high and unfortunately out of my price range when it comes to skincare. Another thing that sort of irked me about BriAA Skincare was all the buzz words used in the descriptions of the products - it was pretty exhausting to scan through an entire page worth of text just to find the one sentence that describes what the product actually does, and honestly, most of the products are great, so I don't really understand the need for flowery language! I prefer a more simple/straightforward marketing approach. Negatives aside, I'm happy that I got to try skincare from an Israeli company (most of my products come from Korea, Japan, France, or the US), and I did find a few favorites (the cleanser and polishing mask, for instance). Have you tried any BriAA Skincare products before? What did you think?

If you'd like to shop the rest of the BriAA Skincare line, you can do so here.

This product was sent to me by BriAA Skincare free for review purposes, all opinions are my own. If you're curious about my press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclosure policies.

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