A week ago, I reviewed the [easyazon_link identifier=”B075JTZ9B2″ locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]Glow Studio K-Beauty Hydrated Beauty Kit[/easyazon_link], for dry skin. Well, this week, I’ve decided to review its counterpart for oily and/or acne-prone skin, the Whamisa by Glow® Recipe Oil Be Gone K-Beauty Routine Kit. Like the other kit, there are four products included: the Whamisa by Glow Recipe Green Tea Cleansing Gel, Serum Toner, Moisturizer, and Clay Mask.
Here’s my honest assessment:
Green Tea Cleansing Gel and Serum Toner
Again, if this Green Tea Cleansing Gel and Green Tea Serum Toner only contained green tea leaf water, I would scoff and turn away. But both of these products green tea leaf water, green tea leaf filtrate, and green tea leaf extract. With this much concentrated green tea, you’re very likely to get relevant levels of the active component of green tea, EGCG.
Green tea contains the polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has been shown to have remarkable preventive effects against photocarcinogenesisand phototoxicity in mouse models. While EGCG comprises only 50% of “green tea extract” found in skin care and cosmeceuticals (Mukhtar), there is still enough EGCG to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties in most skin care and cosmeceuticals.
In a 2001 study in the journal Carcinogenesis, topical application of EGCG to human skin resulted in decreased oxidative stress and an increase in antioxidant enzymes after UV irradiation. Specifically, catalase and glutathione activity were increased due to the application of EGCG. A further 2003 study in Molecular Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention found that the polyphenols in green tea prevent UVB-induced oxidation of lipids and proteins and prevents against the depletion in antioxidant enzymes experienced after UVB exposure in mouse skin.
Overall, using products like Green Tea Cleansing Gel and Green Tea Serum Toner daily may help prevent UVA/UVB damage and help to soothe inflammation in aging skin. One caveat: with the Green Tea Cleansing Gel, make sure you use it for at least a full minute before rinsing. Otherwise, you might not get effects.
Ingredients in Green Tea Cleansing Gel
Ingredients in Green Tea Cleansing Gel: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Palm Kernel/Coco Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Diglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Sodium Chloride, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
Ingredients in Green Tea Serum Toner
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Diglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Algin, Lactobacillus/ Camellia Sinensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Powder, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Alcohol, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
Green Tea Moisturizer: Pass
So, you know how I said above I would be against the Green Tea Cleanser and Toner if they contained only green tea water, and not green tea water, extract, and powder? Well, the Whamisa Green Tea Moisturizer unfortunately only contains green tea water and filtrate. While water is the main ingredient, you might as well just put tea on your face — seriously.
The other ingredients in Whamisa Green Tea Moisturizer would mostly be better on a salad than on your face, with high concentrations of broccoli, spinach, celery, and rosemary. Not my thing. None of these ingredients have ever been proven to do anything (to the best of my knowledge, anyway) when topically applied. Big “no thanks” from me!
Ingredients in Green Tea Moisturizer
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Water, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Algin, Beeswax, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Powder, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract
Green Tea Clay Mask
Of all the products in this kit, this is the only one that I think has real potential specifically for acne and oily-prone skin. Again, here you’re dealing with multiple forms of anti-inflammatory green tea: Leaf water, powder, oil, extract, and filtrate.
You’re also getting a very high concentration of kaolin, which is great for oily and acne-prone skin. Kaolin is a very effective oil absorber made up of a hydrated silicate of aluminum (Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics). And while it’s well known for its dirt-pulling properties, it’s considered gentle enough for sensitive skin, and has been shown in studies to be non-irritating (European Kaolin and Plastic Clays Association).
Most masks made for oily skin will include only ingredients like kaolin clay. While that’s great for absorbing oil, it can also leave skin parched, and hence trigger more oil production. That’s where Whamisa Green Tea Clay Mask is clever: it contains enough hydrators, including green tea seed oil, cetyl alcohol (a hydrating alcohol), glycerin, beeswax, and bergamot/rosemary oils. This keeps skin from triggering reflexive oil production (i.e., why your skin is sometimes worse after using anti-acne skin care than before).
Overall, this is a solid product for use 1-3 times per week for those with oily and acne-prone skin.
Ingredients in Green Tea Clay Mask
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Kaolin, Camellia Sinensis Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Stearic Acid, Clay, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Beeswax, Lactobacillus/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
How to Use:
Step 1: Foam a dime-sized amount of the Green Tea Cleansing Gel between wet palms. Gently massage into skin in a circular motion, then rinse with lukewarm water. Use AM and PM.
Step 2: Dispense the Green Tea Serum Toner into palms and gently pat onto face. Repeat as needed for extra hydration. Use AM and PM.
Step 3: Warm a dime-sized amount of the Green Tea Moisturizer between palms and press into skin. Continue patting to ensure absorption and lock in hydration. Use AM and PM.
Extra Credit: Spread a thin layer of the Green Tea Clay Mask over cleansed, dry skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10~15 minutes. Wash off gently with warm water and follow with toner, serum and moisturizer. Use AM or PM, 2~3 times a week.
Bottom Line
I give most of the products in the Glow Studio K-Beauty Oil Be Gone Beauty Kit an “OK” grade, with maybe a “B” for the Cleanser/Toner, a “D” for the Moisturizer, and an “A” for the Green Tea Mask. Overall, it’s a decent kit, but I wouldn’t expect miracles from it for your acne or oily-prone skin.