Amabie Beauty / Purlisse Product Reviews


I'm back with another review, this time for some products I received courtesy of Amabie Beauty. I'd been dying to try out some Purlisse products for ages, so of course I accepted an opportunity to review some for free - because what's better than free? Something is, probably, but I can't think of it right now so I'm going to go with nothing, that's what.

I've had my eye on Purlisse as a brand for awhile now - ever since I got my hands on a tube of their Lip Nourisher through Ipsy (which, surprise, I'll be reviewing today!), I've been interested in trying more of the line. I really love their philosophy, the packaging is super cute and sophisticated, and I mean, come on. Lotus. In my skincare. On my face. I need. Anyway, if you'd rather just skip straight to the reviews, keep on scrolling!

"Purlisse" translates to "pure" and "smooth" in French, and is a marriage of both Asian and French skin technology. Purlisse holds the belief that the ingredients that they exclude from their products are just as important as the ones they include, and therefore all of their products are free from parabens, mineral oil. propylene glycol, phthalates, GMOs, and sulfates. Their products are also cruelty-free and they do not test on animals or use animal byproducts, something I both respect and admire in a brand. Plus, Purlisse was created by actress Jennifer Yen, who used to be a Power Ranger. How cool is that?! Their products also contain a few core ingredients that also make them even more interesting:

  • Blue Lotus Flower - Antioxidant-rich blue lotus calms the skin and boosts radiance while detoxifying.
  • Soy beans - Packed with macronutrients, they are a superior anti-inflammatory that boosts skin's ability to retain moisture.
  • Seaweed - A true skin superfood, seaweed acts like armor for skin; protecting against damage. 
  • White tea - Antioxidant compound that defends skin from stress, cellular damage, and other impurities that can lead to signs of aging. 
  • Lupine Peptides - No, nothing to do with wolves; this nourishing and revitalizing extract complex brings skin back to life, leaving results of smoother skin with a radiant glow. 

As much as I tout sunscreen to be the number one anti-aging product anyone can use, I definitely can acknowledge the awesome anti-aging ingredients that Purlisse uses in their products. In this post I'll be reviewing the Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Cleansing Milk, Essential Daily Moisturizer, Daily Lip Nourisher, and Blue Lotus + White Tea Treatment Sheet Mask. 

A bit about Amabie Beauty, before we get started: Amabie is a review website, with a goal of helping you find reviews easily when searching for beauty products in and from Asia, and of helping you connect with those who share your interest and passion for beauty.

When shopping for beauty products in Asia, or searching globally for Asian beauty products, the selection process can be overwhelming due to the endless options and new beauty innovations. Our goal is to help you find opinions and reviews on these beauty products in a personalized and speedy manner. Amabie.com includes reviews on skincare, makeup, hair, etc. as well as advice and suggestions from your peers and the beauty community.
  • What are the best beauty products for you according to your preferences?
  • What is the best skincare for your skin needs or best hair care for your hair needs?
  • What will help you get rid of your acne, eye dark circles, eye bags, wrinkles, or imperfections in general?
  • What is the best makeup (mascara, eyeliner, blush, etc.) that will enhance your natural features? What are the most long-lasting waterproof products?

Essentially, Amabie is an aggregated review site (much like Influenster) that helps you find reviews on your favorite products, and rewards you for being an active member. There are two tiers - the A-list and the Sweethearts - and depending on how active you are in the community, Amabie will send packages with Asian skincare/cosmetic products regularly for testing and review purposes. Pretty sweet deal, in my opinion! (Psst, if you'd like to connect on Amabie, my username is skincaremochi!)

Anyway, onto the reviews! For reference, my skin type is combination/dry skin (oily t-zone, dry cheeks). Skin concerns include enlarged pores, redness, hyperpigmentation/scarring, and prevention of fine lines and wrinkles.


Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Cleansing Milk ($36, 150ml) - The first product I was sent is one I desperately needed - a new cleanser! I've gotten bored with my usual cleansers, and the term "cleansing milk" really intrigued me. This cleanser is infused with soy milk, whole oat, and white tea, and promises to wash away dirt, impurities, and makeup in one gentle step. It also claims to be suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, since it's sulfate and soap-free. It's chock full of blue lotus extract, which is an antioxidant powerhouse with anti-inflammatory benefits to combat free radical damage, as well as white tea to rejuvenate the skin. Also thrown in to the mix is soy milk extracts rich in amino acids that help maintain skin elasticity, and whole oat, which calms and soothes sensitive skin.



The cleanser comes in a 150ml tube with a plastic cap. It has a milky, emulsion-like consistency that's very creamy. It doesn't foam up like normal cleansers, so it necessary to take extra care to rinse it off properly after use, since it can be a bit difficult to wash away due to the lack of soap/sulfates. I find that I have to rinse two or three times to really get everything off, especially if I use an oil cleanser before hand (which I prefer to do due to sunscreen/makeup use). I really don't find that this cleanser does a great job of removing my makeup on its own, so using an oil cleanser first is imperative. 


Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tridecyl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 80, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein Octenylsuccinate, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Butylene Glycol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Laureth-4, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil, Michelia Alba Flower Oil. 

 Literally no lather. Strangest cleanser ever.

How it worked for me: As far as performance, I really enjoyed the milky, lather-less weirdness that was this cleanser; I've been trying my darnedest to avoid harsh cleansers lately (due to a recent excursion with a way-too-harsh retinoid serum), and I often opt to just cleanse with micellar water or just plain water in place of a foaming cleanser. I found this cleanser to be quite gentle - it did a good job of cleansing my face and getting rid of daily dirt/grime buildup (including sunscreen), but on makeup days, I definitely needed an oil cleanser to break up the bulk of my foundation/eyeliner/mascara in order to get my face truly clean. 

The super-gentle formula worked well with my red, irritated skin, and I didn't experience any breakouts during the past month of using this cleanser. I can say that it definitely cleansed well without leaving my skin feeling overly tight or dry, in fact my skin feels incredibly soothed and soft after use. One issue I do have with this cleanser is that it still does leave my face a bit tight if I don't immediately follow up with an FTE or a toner, but as I stated previously, it isn't overwhelmingly drying. As far as soothing redness and irritation, i would say it does a fair job, but nothing miraculous. Overall, this is a really solid, middle-of-the-road cleanser; it works without any crazy bells and whistles. Unfortunately, I already have a few favorite cleansers (of which the Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash, the SRB Rice Bran Enzyme Powder Wash, and the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser make that list) that are much cheaper and offer similar benefits, so originally I was going to say that I wouldn't repurchase this one, but I was pretty impressed with the gentle formula and the fact that it's soap and sulfate free, so I might purchase this one again myself. Maybe. Maybe not. I'm on the fence. 


Purlisse Blue Lotus Essential Daily Moisturizer ($55, 50ml) - While I'm always happy to receive a new moisturizer (especially since the internet hype for this one is real), I'm pretty overwhelmed with moisturizers at the moment, so I really needed this one to impress me (especially considering that $55 price tag - ouch). The Blue Lotus Essential Daily Moisturizer contains white tea, soy proteins, and algae extracts and is broad spectrum SPF30, claiming to offer superior sun protection without an annoying white cast. The lightweight, nourishing formula promises to protect against premature aging and promote healthy, smooth, and soft skin. 



Active Ingredients:
  • Avobenzone (2.0%)
  • Homosalate (8.0%) 
  • Octinoxate (7.5%) 
  • Octisalate (5.0%) 
  • Oxybenzone (5.0%) 
Inactive Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopherol Acetate, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein Octenylsuccinate, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Geraniol, Limonene, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil, Michelia Alba Flower Oil. 

Aside from the assortment of UVA/UVB filters, this moisturizer does have some notable ingredients, including vitamin E (tocopherol acetate), Lupine Protein extracts, an assortment of plant extracts and fragrant oils, and more soy protein to help smooth, soften, and maintain skin bouncy-ness. The scent is very "Banana Boat", if you catch my drift - it smells exactly like those sunscreens your parents used to slather on you at the beach when you were a kid. It's very, very strong, and it lingers. Boy, does it linger. For hours. Scentsitive peeps, you might not like this one - I'm not at all sensitive to fragrances in my skincare, and even I get a headache after wearing this for a few hours. Blech.


 Nice, creamy texture. Feels more like a sunscreen than moisturizer, IMO.

How it worked for me: As far as hybrid sunscreens/moisturizers go, I don't normally use them. Especially not ones that are less than SPF50, because ya girl is vampirically pale and I need all the UV protection I can get. I did manage to try this one out on a few cloudier/rainy days, and it's...just okay. The texture is nice and smooth, but I find that it does leave a bit of a greasy film behind that I wasn't a fan of, although it did sink in after about 10 minutes. It's quite hydrating and leaves a matte finish, but I found that my skin (particularly my t-zone) got a bit oilier faster than it normally does while wearing this, and somewhere in the middle of the day I realized most of my makeup just sort of...rubbed off. I've heard that this moisturizer/sunscreen can be used as a primer, but to be honest it makes a piss poor primer and I feel lied to (would someone really do that? Just go on the internet and tell lies?!). Just kidding, it's not that bad, but I'd be lying to you if I said it helped keep my makeup in place. I think the Essential Daily Moisturizer would be good for someone who doesn't always wear makeup and just wants a moisturizer and sunscreen in one to speed up their morning routine, since, for most skin types, I think this would be moisturizing enough on its own. The product does what it claims and has a very elegant formula that is comfortable to wear, but it isn't a high enough SPF for my personal comfort, and the scent combined with the $55 price tag is going to make me have to pass on this one. In the words of Simon Cowell: "It's a no from me". 


Purlisse Daily Lip Nourisher with Mango & Shea Butter ($16, 0.38oz) - Also included in Amabie's Purlisse review package was the Daily Lip Nourisher lip treatment, one that's already a favorite of mine! This advanced lip nourisher is enriched with mango and shea butters, jojoba and rice bran oils, and vitamin E to richly hydrate and seal in moisture. The formula is petroleum-free, which according to Purlisse helps keep lips hydrated for longer in comparison to petroleum-based lip balms. Mango seed butter contains vitamins A, C, and E and is highly nourishing and healing, and shea butter is highly moisturizing (and is one of my favorite moisturizers, especially for overnight treatments/sleep packs!). Jojoba oil provides anti-inflammatory benefits and soothes chapped lips, and rice bran oil hydrates while protecting lips from harmful UV rays. Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E) again makes an appearance to help condition lips and leave them feeling soft and supple. Overall, this seems like a nice, hydrating lip product chock full of emollients and soothing, protective ingredients. But how did it perform?



Ingredients:
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Synthetic Beeswax, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Candelillate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic Stearic Triglyceride, Squalane, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Hydrolyzed Lupin Protein Octenylsuccinate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Hydrolyzed Algae (Seasilk) Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Jojoba Esters, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower (Blue Lotus) Extract, Glycerin, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil. 

How it worked for me: This Daily Lip Nourisher is probably one of my favorite products to help keep chapped lips at bay - I have extremely dry lips that always require chapstick, lip treatments...something to keep them from cracking, and I normally reach for my trusty Burt's Bee's or Blistex favorites. Both of those options have been replaced by this miraculous little white tube. The balm is a light yellow, opaque gel with a smooth, buttery texture that glides onto the lips easily. It doesn't sit on top of your lips, but sinks in effortlessly and makes them soft, supple, and healthy looking. It has a tapered tip for an applicator, which makes application a breeze (no fingers in jars!). Whenever I use this, my lips feel so nourished and hydrated, even in winter when my skin is at its driest. The only downside I have to mention is the price point: $16 for 0.38 ounces of product is pretty steep. However, if money is no object (or you just really want to have smooth, soft lips like I do), this lip treatment is a solid option that I would highly recommend.


Purlisse Blue Lotus + White Tea Treatment Sheet Mask ($8 ea.) - The last product I received from Amabie was a pack of 6 Blue Lotus + White Tea sheet masks. These natural fiber masks are infused with Blue Lotus, White Tea, and restorative Asian botanicals to deliver antioxidants and minerals to your skin. This powerful blend fights free radicals and improves skin texture while White Mulberry brightens and Anise helps firm skin, leaving you with a healthy, beautiful, and youthful-looking complexion.


This mask has a fairly short list of ingredients, including soothing and healing Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, and interestingly, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (also known as Witch Hazel). Witch Hazel is a great antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. Sadly, Blue Lotus doesn't appear until the very end of the ingredients list (third from last), but this mask has a ton of hydrating and soothing ingredients, so I had pretty high hopes that it would perform well.



Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Betaine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Morus Alba bark Extract, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Fragrance. 

This mask is a thicker, yet still soft and flexible, cotton with slits near the chin for a better fit. It's soaked with a moderate amount of thin, clear essence with a delicate scent that's slightly milky and floral. I absolutely love the smell, it's soothing and not overwhelming in the slightest (unlike the moisturizer/sunscreen, ha!). At first I was a bit nervous, since boy, did this mask tingle; it felt very cooling and tingly for about 5 minutes after I first put it on, making me think that maybe it was going to be too harsh for my skin. I'm glad I stuck it out though, because it subsided soon and just felt very soothing/relaxing for the rest of the time I had it on. I kept it on for about 20 minutes or so, and the mask was still pretty damp, so I probably could have gotten another 20 minutes of wear time out of it at least.

How it worked for me: As far as results go, I have to give this one two big thumbs up! This mask made my skin look and feel incredible - very soft, bouncy, and firm, and my skin stayed hydrated and very chok chok for the rest of the day. I love to use these in the morning, since they leave behind a matte but healthy glow, and perfectly prep my skin for makeup. Although they're a bit pricey at $8 a piece, I would definitely consider purchasing more in the future.

Final thoughts: Overall, I'm pretty happy with my experiences when it comes to Purlisse; while some of the products didn't wow me, I did find a couple favorites, and even though I wasn't so keen on some of the products (like the cleanser, or most specifically the moisturizer), I think they were good products objectively, just not ones that fit my particular skin needs. I know for sure I'll be repurchasing the Lip Nourisher, and I'll gladly restock some of the sheet masks if I find them on sale (or come into more skincare spending money!). Have you tried any Purlisse products? What was your experience like?

These products were sent to me courtesy of Amabie Beauty 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. Click photos for link/source. 

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