Will I buy these? Maybe, yes, yes, and no

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PINEAPPLE EXFOLIATING POWDER — PHOTO FROM BEAUTYMNL.COM

NIACINAMIDE SERUM — PHOTO FROM BEAUTYMNL.COM

HYALURONIC ACID SERUM — PHOTO FROM BEAUTYMNL.COM

CAFFEINE ENERGIZING HYDROGEL EYE PATCHES — PHOTO FROM BEAUTYMNL.COM

By Zsarlene B. Chua

Skin Care
Product Review

Good Molecules’
Pineapple Exfoliating Powder

Good Molecules’
Niacinamide Serum

Good Molecules’
Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Good Molecules’
Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches

I’M sure at this point everyone is feeling the searing heat that is the Philippine summer. If you are like this writer, the heat and humidity is absolutely wrecking my skin (also, allergies) and it’s usually this time of year when I make adjustments to my skincare routine — favoring lighter, easily absorbed products to keep my skin taken care of without being too heavy and sticky.

In the last two months, I have been using products from the San Francisco-based skincare brand Good Molecules, which prides itself for having skincare that works at a fair price because “the world has enough products that don’t work and cost too much,” according to the brand’s website. And its products fit my summer routine because they are lightweight.

The brand is distributed locally by Painted Ladies Cosmetics.

I was given four Good Molecules products for review but before I give the low-down of what I thought about them, I would like to remind you, dear reader, that skincare is very personal: what may work for me, may not work for you and what my skin needs may not be the same for you. And before you use any product, please do a patch test first on the inside of your arm to see if the product may cause allergic reactions. And please always use sunscreen (even indoors).

(I currently have normal-dry skin.)

Reminders done, here’s my review:

PINEAPPLE EXFOLIATING POWDER
(P1,000/60g BeautyMNL)

https://beautymnl.com/products/56955-pineapple-exfoliating-powder

The Pineapple Exfoliating Powder is a water-activated exfoliant that is said to gently buff away dead skin cells and dullness thanks to its pineapple, papaya, and kiwi extracts.

Okay, first off, this product got me excited when I got it because it was novel and I’ve never used a powder exfoliant before. The packaging is cute, with the plastic amber bottle and the top fastened well enough to ensure that even if you leave the product in the bathroom, water will not enter.

Using it though, took a bit of trial and error because the directions say to pour a teaspoon of the powder on to one’s palm and add a few drops of water and turn it into paste before lightly putting it on the skin, then wash it off. It took me several tries to find a method which makes me spill the powder less and I realized it was better (for me) to put the powder on wet palms first, then add water.

Note that I used this after cleansing my face with a gentle hydrating face wash from Hada Labo (P385 for 100 g). Upon application, the paste was a bit rough — not St. Ives-rub-your-skin-raw rough, but it has texture. It didn’t irritate my skin and I didn’t leave it on long either as I still suffer from trauma over a bad peeling gel ripping my skin off.

After washing it off, I was thankful it didn’t feel like it dried out my skin so that’s already a point in my book.

I kept using this powder twice a week (please don’t use exfoliants every day) and, honestly, this was an average product for me. It comes down to preferences though as I prefer having my exfoliants in serum form like my Beaublends AHA Serum (P250 for 30 ml) because I waste less water by not having to keep washing my face.

Do note that it has 3-0 ethyl ascorbic acid which means this may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so a sunscreen is a must (but really, sunscreen is a must every day).

Will I buy this? I’m not sure because it is more expensive than the exfoliating serum I currently use.

GOOD MOLECULES NIACINAMIDE SERUM
(P375/30 ml BeautyMNL)

https://beautymnl.com/products/56951-niacinamide-serum

I have been into niacinamide serums lately, as are many skincare brands, because it improves uneven skin tone and large pores, and reduces moisture loss, resulting in a better hydrated skin. And while I have been loving my Miju Glow Niacinamide serum (P190/30ml), I am still open to other options and this Good Molecules Niacinamide serum is a good one. And the price is also quite affordable.

First off, the Good Molecules packaging is great and for serums, they went for a frosted plastic bottle with a tight enough stopper to prevent spills and a long enough dropper to get all the goodness out. I love that their products are clumsy person-proof because I have, on occasion, wasted good products on my floor.

But enough about my lack of motor and coordination skills, this niacinamide serum is great! It has no fragrance and the texture is light and is absorbed really well and quickly into the skin making it perfect for these hot summer months.

I have been using it for two months every night and I am enjoying it. Combined with the powder exfoliant, I am seeing a bit of glow to my skin and my skin dullness has lessened.

Will I buy this? Yes.

HYALURONIC ACID SERUM
(P375/30ml BeautyMNL

https://beautymnl.com/products/68455-hyaluronic-acid-serum

Much like the Niacinamide serum, the Hyaluronic Acid serum is also a reasonably priced, attractively packaged product. As a person with normal to dry skin, hyaluronic acid is a lifesaver because it keeps the skin hydrated (it is a humectant so it draws moisture from the environment into the skin) and not feeling tight.

The thing I learned about hyaluronic acid is that it only works after using toner or while the skin is reasonably damp because if applied on dry skin, the acid just sucks the moisture from your skin and dries it out, something nobody wants.

Like the Niacinamide serum, the Hyaluronic acid has no fragrance which is perfect for people sensitive or who may be allergic to essential oils and other fragrance oil. It has a thick-but-not-to-thick texture such that it doesn’t feel like you’re applying water to your face, making for a better experience.

I use this in the morning before my Vitamin C Serum from Ellana Minerals (P995/50ml) and the combination really works for me. Vitamin C is for brightening which is what I’m all about right now: hydration and glow.

Will I be buying this? Yes, together with the Niacinamide serum.

CAFFEINE ENERGIZING HYDROGEL EYE PATCHES
(P1,125/60 patches BeautyMNL)

https://beautymnl.com/products/68450-caffeine-energizing-hydrogel-eye-patches

The last Good Molecules product I have been trying out is the Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches.

The patches come in a cute plastic jar protected by a cover and a seal to prevent the patches from drying out. The seal has a spatula to scoop the patches out for sanitation purposes. Each patch is immersed in a serum that has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and caffeine (for brightness) and they are stacked on top of each other in two piles.

First off, despite having a spatula, taking the patches out is still a chore as they do tend to stick together. Instructions also say that the patches should be applied on dry under the eyes, but since it contains hyaluronic acid, I still opted to use toner first before the eye gel. Then waited 10 minutes for it to work its magic.

I have never been a fan of eye patches because it takes too much time in the morning when you need to de-puff your eyes after a bad sleep. I mostly just opt to use my AHC The Pure Real Eye Cream for Face (P995/30ml) to hydrate under my eyes.

But when I do use it at night twice a week, I kind of enjoy the experience because it’s like putting on a face mask. My mother also enjoys the experience. The patches are gel so it’s cooling and relaxing.

I also use the patches on my forehead and around my nose — kind of like an actual face mask because these are the parts of my face that I think need a little bit more TLC.

It does hydrate and does soften the dryness and dark circles, but these are also things I get from my usual eye cream. And getting the patches separated is annoying.

In all, this is a cute product but I don’t think it really fits my routine like the Pineapple exfoliant — though I think many people will love this product if only for the experience. It’s like spa day.

I can’t really complain about the price since I buy a P1,000 eye cream, but I do think I get more mileage from eye creams than eye patches.

Will I buy this? I don’t think so, but I’ll enjoy it until the jar is empty.

Good Molecules is available on BeautyMNL, and other e-commerce websites.