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Spa Sciences Aero Advanced Skincare Infusion System

12/2/2020

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by Rosy Day Blog

Science-Based & Dermatologist Recommended

I’ve never heard of Spa Sciences prior to this review, however, I’m very glad that I have. I’ve always been interested in more beauty gadgets and tools. Unfortunately many of them are just too expensive for me right now, and the more affordable ones have just been “cheap knockoffs”. Spa Sciences, an American-based innovator and distributor, believes that everyone should have the opportunity to have healthy and radiant skin without necessarily spending hundreds of dollars.

Spa Sciences is a team of skincare experts including scientists, engineers, designers, and beauticians - all working to provide effective (yet safe) and affordable beauty devices for home use. They hope that with their advanced technology of beauty devices, they can “bring the spa home with you”.

In my opinion, the Aero is a bit “ridiculously cheap” in pricing considering what it does. For privacy reasons I won’t reveal the exact nature of my job, but I do work in the design & manufacturing industry (not related to beauty or skincare), so I do understand how extensive research, testing, and then the care put forth in the design and construction of one product, can all be reflected in the final pricing. I’m seriously impressed how they made this all possible. Read on to learn more about this gadget and my experience with it.

Disclosure:

I received this product from Spa Sciences in exchange for my honest review. However, it was my decision to specifically review the Aero out of Spa Sciences’ selection of beauty devices. I was not given anything in exchange for this review. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. I do not work for Spa Sciences or any of their listed retailers.

Table of Contents

- Product Description, Claims, & How-To
- Product Review & Results
- Final Thoughts & Shop This Post

Triple Clinical Infusion™ Technology

Product Description:

You might have seen some similar beauty devices around social media...Aero is an infusion device designed to maximize the performance of any skincare product for both better absorption and faster results. What makes Aero unique is that is has sonic, ionic, AND thermal infusion technology all in one.

From Spa Sciences:
  • Ionic infusion - “pushes and pulls ingredients through an ion magnetic process that drives them deeper into the epidermis so they can maximize anti-aging results.”

  • Thermal warming - “the treatment head warms to 107°F, the optimal temperature to temporarily create thermal-pore-dilation...Dilated pores can utilize treatment serums and creams better and faster than non-dilated pores.”

  • Sonic movements - “30,000 movements per minute provides superior absorption of skin care actives while stimulating collagen production. Taps at a higher frequency than could ever be achieved by hand for superior penetration.”

Product Claims:

According to the Spa Sciences website, “Aero is clinically proven, and dermatologist approved to be 7 times more effective than applying products with fingers alone to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin hydration, skin tone, skin brightness and other signs of premature aging.”

Below are the clinical test results from an independent study:
  • Over 60% increase in hydration
  • Over 390% increase in tone
  • Over 350% increase in firmness
  • Over 500% increase in brightness
  • 500% decrease in signs of visual aging
  • Over 60% decrease in the appearance of wrinkles

Judging by the photos and info on the product box, I’m going to assume the independent study took at least 2 weeks, since the product box does show some promising results after 2 weeks of use.

How to Use:

Just as you might choose to use some or all of your skincare products once or twice a day, Aero can also be used as often as you’d like, and during whichever steps of your skincare routine (after cleansing) that you choose to. The official directions are to apply a small amount of serum, cream, or moisturizer to the treatment head and it will automatically turn on as it makes contact with your skin. You are basically massaging in the product with Aero versus your bare hands. My personal preference is to apply most of the product to my face (some things like serums are too slippery to apply directly to Aero), but don’t pat it in all the way so my face is still moist with product. Then I would go in with Aero to massage the product in until absorption, focusing on areas of concern such as my eye area and laugh lines. After you’re done, wipe the treatment head with a towel or cloth to remove any excess product/residue.

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Reduce Visible Signs of Aging

Because skincare infusion devices like Aero stimulate collagen production, this often results in the reduced appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and pigmentation. It can also help to lift sagging skin for more healthy and plump-looking skin.

There are definitely some spas/dermatology offices out there that provide some kind of skin infusion service that probably last like ~20 minutes and is of course “professional” quality. However, these treatments can be costly. At least with an infusion device like Aero, you can get a similar experience at an affordable price. You might not be using it like 20 minutes in one sitting, but with the convenience of the Aero, you can give yourself a skin infusion treatment anytime and for as long as you want.

Routine & Usage:

My skincare routine for the ~2 weeks that I used Aero are as follows below.

Morning:
  • Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
  • Son & Park Beauty Water
  • AZN Labs Afterglow Ampoule
  • Bliss Glow & Hydrate Serum
  • Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream (not the 2019 reformulation)
  • Peach & Lily Cold Brew Eye Recovery Stick

Night:
  • Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
  • Son & Park Beauty Water
  • AZN Labs Afterglow Ampoule or AHC Aqualuronic Serum
  • Bliss Renew & Smooth Serum or Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Mask
  • Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream (not the 2019 reformulation)
  • Algenist Complete Eye Balm or Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask
  • Peach & Lily Cold Brew Eye Recovery Stick

I did get in at least 2 uses of the Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Mask in-between my testing of Aero. However I’m still trying to figure out how this product fits into my routine, so I don’t consider it to have too much of an impact on my skin results. Plus, it’s not like I’ve never used a retinol product before so I won’t just “suddenly get smooth skin” (often associated with first time/”virgin” retinol use). There was also 1 or 2 days I got super lazy at night. In that case, I only applied the Peach & Lily Overnight Star Sleeping Mask (so nourishing you can probably skip all steps of your routine).

Like I mentioned before, how I like to use Aero is to apply most of the product to my face (some things like serums are too slippery to apply directly to Aero), but don’t pat it in all the way so my face is still moist with product. Then I would go in with Aero to massage the product in until absorption, focusing on areas of concern such as my eye area and laugh lines. I tend to use Aero during the serum and eye cream steps of my routine, however sometimes I would also use it during the moisturizer step if I feel like my face could use more nourishment pushed in. I keep Aero moving around my eye area and laugh lines the most (as they are my concern) and just quickly go over the rest of my face as they’re less of a concern.

I do use Aero both day and night. If you’re in a rush to get ready for work or school during the day, that might not work for you. In that case, at least use Aero at night with your acne/brightening/anti-aging products. Spa Sciences recommends using Aero on your desired area for 1-2 minutes. Now, I don’t necessarily have the time or patience for this. However since I do use Aero multiple times a day, if I add up all the seconds I spend using this device on my areas of concern (eyes and smile lines), it does add up to like 1 minute. Since the product does get super hot (and I don’t want to damage my already sensitive skin), it’s kind of hard to just keep Aero moving on a single spot for at least 1 minute (just something to consider).

Performance:

I’ve often heard how you should warm up a product in your hand or between your fingers before applying...This takes it to another level - like you’re ironing the wrinkles off your face...

Aero is one of the very few skin care infusion devices I’ve come across that heats up in addition to the ionic and sonic technologies. I wasn’t sure what to expect with a product that heated up, but upon first use, it felt quite nice and maybe even a bit relaxing.

Left is the before (taken in September 2019), the right is after (taken the other day). I normally keep my eyes closed but I didn't realize how nice my skin turned out so I took the after with my eyes open, LOL. Keep in mind that it was still kind of summer-ish in the before so I might look more tanned. However, believe it or not the before photo actually had better natural lighting. I had worse natural lighting to work with in the after but somehow I still looked brighter despite how many photos I took.
Side by side comparison. Again the left/before was taken in September 2019, and the right/after, just the other day. Ok, so it's not like I had terrible skin to begin with, but I feel like Aero really amplified the brightening effects of my Bliss Glow & Hydrate serum (my claim to the current biggest difference in my skin the past 1-2 months).
In my opinion, I felt like my skin was less red, more even, and better balanced, despite me pretty much using the same products within these last 1-2 months. You can definitely argue that my results were probably because the effects of my skincare products "finally kicked in". That could be true but I also feel like Aero did help push it along. Even my Azn Labs After Glow Ampoule that I'm struggling to finish off (which I reviewed and thought it didn't do much for its high price), started to show some promise after I started using it with Aero. Now, I still have some slight sunken eyes and mouth lines if I really look for it, however I think this is pretty good progress for the ~2 weeks that I used Aero.

Ionic Infusion: I truly think this technology pushes skincare products deeper into your skin and provides better absorption. Even some of the skincare products that I thought were kind of “meh”, started to show a bit of promise to me. To conserve power, I don’t necessarily use Aero to 100% absorb the products onto my skin, but I do at least try to massage the majority of the product in. I kind of pat most of the product onto my face and then finish off the absorption with Aero.

Thermal Warming: I can’t tell if the heat from the device really “dilates” my pores, but it does feel nice and helps to kind of “melt” the product down deep into your skin. Now, this device does get pretty hot. The key is to keep moving Aero and to try and not keep it over one area of your face for too long. If you have any kind of wounds or open areas on your face, I would avoid using Aero over them.

Sonic Movements: I think that this is how the magic truly happens. I do believe in facial massages, even more if it’s something that claims to have sonic movements. For the longest time I was using my Clarisonic Mia to not only thoroughly clean my face, but as a way to massage it as well. I often focused around my mouth area where smile lines were prone to form, and also my cheeks to help prevent any sagging. I believed at the time that this was what was helping to delay my aging. The only reason I stopped using my Clarisonic Mia is that is has become a bit rough for me to use on my face now, and let’s face it - it’s just annoying having to buy replacement brush heads for it. I think it was around this time that I started to see some aging on my skin (yes around the time I happened to stop using anything with sonic movements on my face). Long story short, sonic movements was doing something for me, so I’m glad to be able to re-introduce it with Aero.

I don’t know if there’s any truth to stimulating collagen production...But we exercise our bodies to keep it firm and young, why not our face?

I see the 30,000 sonic movements per minute not just as a relaxing massage, but as a workout for my face as well. With that many movements per minute, it better be considered a facial exercise!

Pros:

  • On my box, Aero is listed as having an MSRP of $39 USD. However on the Spa Sciences website and some other retailers like Target, you can get it as low as $29 USD. There is no excuse not to get this. This is a very affordable device considering the technology behind it.
  • Can be found at your local Target, Walmart, or Kohl’s.
  • Helps skin “drink up” your skincare products, making them seem more effective (yes, even the mediocre products show a bit of promise with this device).
  • Depending how long you use this in one sitting and how often, this device can easily last you up to 1 week on a single charge.
  • Very portable. It is sleek, lightweight, and can be re-charged by plugging its charger into any USB input for charging (you can just plug it into your USB phone charger).
  • It’s very easy to use right out of the box. There are no confusing buttons or indicators that you need to learn how to use.

Cons:

  • Takes about 8 hours to recharge. This means that you pretty much have to recharge it overnight. Not a deal breaker for me, but it might be a tad annoying if you were planning on using Aero that some night and can’t wait for it to charge that long.
  • Like most additions to your beauty routine, this is still no miracle worker and does require some time and patience to see results. This pretty much just helps speed things up and makes your products work better than before, just keep at it. It also helps to keep fine-tuning your skincare routine and making sure you’re using the right products for your skin type and concerns. Aero does help, but you still need good skincare products - these 2 things will work hand-in-hand in producing some results.
  • You need to make time for it. Personally I try to use this device both morning and night, especially since I don’t always have the time to spend an entire minute on each area of concern. Breaking it up between morning and night for me, works out better.
  • If you have eye concerns, the Aero isn’t quite designed for that area as it is kind of too big to properly move around, especially if like me you need help stimulating collagen around your tear duct area. Hint: Spa Sciences, make a smaller infusion device just for the delicate eye area.
  • Can get pretty hot, making it difficult for prolonged use on a single area of concern. It also doesn’t have an “off” button for the heat, which might be something Spa Sciences would want to look into for a future Aero 2.0. I also saw someone online suggest a "cold" function to compliment the "hot" one. I think they're onto something here...
  • It doesn’t have any timing functionality. For example my Clarisonic Mia would pulsate after every minute to let you know when time’s up and so you can move onto the next area of your face. Maybe I’m asking for too much, but that might be a nice feature to include, especially when you actually want to know when you’ve spent at least 1 minute on your area of concern.
  • Doesn’t incorporate LED light technology. I don’t know if it’s even possible to add a 4th technology to this already amazing device. However, LED light technology has gotten popular over the last year or so in skincare. This is something that I hope to try out before the end of the year. Even if it’s a separate device, it would be kind of cool if Spa Sciences tried dipping their toes in an LED light skincare device. LED light devices are still super expensive. Spa Sciences would be one of the first to bring a more affordable version to the masses...

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Elevate The Way You Do Skincare

Final Impressions:

I’m not sure what else I can say that hasn’t already been covered. If it isn’t obvious, I really do enjoy using Aero and adding it to my routine.

I have a massage tool and will probably still use it to help firm and sculpt my cheekbones...But I much prefer Aero for general facial massages with the bonus of skincare absorption.

I find Aero more fun to use (and more effective) than a plain old jade roller (sorry, not sorry).


Even my bf loves Aero and he’s not exactly one who’s super into skincare. He’ll still need a reminder to use it, LOL. But once he knows, he’ll go off and use it on his own for a good 1-2 minutes. While he hasn’t been using it every single day, I have still seen an improvement on his textural issues. So in conclusion, anyone can use Aero. You do not need to be like “highly experienced” in your skincare journey. You can be someone that’s as basic and novice as my bf, and still see some results with regular use. Spa Sciences, if you read my previous suggestions above, I can’t wait to see what you’d come up with for an Aero 2.0.

Final Rating = 4/5

Any questions about this product and/or my experience, please let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Shop the Aero - Advanced Skincare
Infusion System


Photo Credit: Spa Sciences

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AZN Labs Afterglow Ampoule

12/2/2020

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by Rosy Day Blog

Beauty Tap + AZN Labs Partner Up

AZN Labs is basically the brand of Korean beauty store Beauty Tap (they have both a website and a physical U.S. store in Costa Mesa, CA). AZN Labs is a luxury skincare brand that marries Japanese ingredients with Korean emulsion technology, set out with the challenge to restore skin vitality and radiance without damaging active ingredients or the hassle of a multiple-step routine. Their first flagship product, the Afterglow Ampoule was born.

Disclosure:

I bought this with my own money from AZN Labs. I was not given anything in exchange for this review. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. I do not work for AZN Labs or BeautyTap.

Table of Contents

- Product Description, Claims, & How-To
- The Ingredients
- Packaging, Scent & Texture
- Product Review & Final Impressions
- Similar Products & Shop This Post

If Anti-Aging is on Your Checklist...

Product Description & Claims:

The AZN Labs Afterglow Ampoule claims to reverse signs of aging such as age-related dryness, dark spots, dullness, and loss of elasticity, as well as help prevent future damage without spending as much time and effort on skincare. Think of a more simplified, streamlined routine instead of having 10+ steps. The product also claims to be anti-pollution (protect from harmful radicals and fine dust, etc.) while achieving a more warm, dewy glow (hence the name “Afterglow”).

After the first use, skin should look and feel softer, more supple and nourished, along with a dewy glow. After one week, a vibrant rosy glow should return to your cheeks for a natural “lit from within” type of look. Over time, collagen production should increase, therefore reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lastly, the antioxidants in the product, while protecting against UV and free radical damage, should allow the skin to be able to repair previous damage and help regain its original youthful look.

How To Use:

The directions for this are very simple. Just apply to your face after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer. A little goes a long way with this product as it’s actually quite hydrating. I personally use 2 drops all over my face initially, and if I have any areas of concern where I feel I need more nourishment, I take another drop to those areas (usually the eye and mouth areas). Finally, if I don’t have enough to go down to my neck, I may take another drop as well (for a max total of 4 drops depending on my mood and needs).

Yes, I take this all the way down to my neck. Not many people pay attention to their neck, and the next thing they know, they have severe neck lines and skin starting to sag that seem to come from out of nowhere. This ampoule has lots of anti-aging stuff and since a little goes a long way anyway, it just seems wasted to only put it on your face. I do only use this ampoule at night though as it is a bit much (and slightly sticky/tacky) for me to use during the day. However, I have used it during the day many times initially, and didn’t have any major problems with it other than the fact my combo skin just needed to breathe more during the day (my own personal preference). You can also make this product last longer if you only use it once a day. I didn’t notice any difference from using it once a day versus twice a day.

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Astaxanthin: The Powerhouse You’ve Never Heard Of

Astaxanthin is a vibrant red keto-carotenoid (antioxidants with organic pigment usually from plants/algae/bacteria/fungi) that is created naturally in rainwater microalgae. It is basically a byproduct from stressful conditions such as excess heat, excess UV exposure, and lack of nutrients. It gives salmon and shrimp their characteristic red and pink color. However this ampoule isn’t here to turn us red or pink. Fuji Chemical Industry (yes the same ones that do the Fujifilm cameras, etc.), did a study that suggested that astaxanthin could significantly reduce wrinkles as well as age spots, rough skin texture, and age-related dryness. As the star ingredient of the Afterglow Ampoule, astaxanthin has 550 times more antioxidant activity than vitamin E, 1,000 times more than CoQ10 - even 6,000 times more antioxidant activity than vitamin C which is typically considered one of the most powerful antioxidants out there by many.

While antioxidants are more preventative in my opinion (rather than fixing/reversing any issues you might have), I do believe in the powers of anything related to algae and vitamin C. I have been using some other products with algae and plankton in my skincare routine, and they have slowly but surely helped with smoothing out some of my textural issues (more specifically some old acne scars that I have). Of course my scars were more on the minor side to begin with, but inspecting them nearly everyday, I have definitely seen them smooth out from these algae products. Vitamin C on the other hand is great for overall brightening, especially for dark spots. While I can’t say that the Afterglow Ampoule brightened my face better than other brightening/vitamin C type products I’ve tried out there, the ability to brighten/even out skin tone is always a welcomed attribute. Besides the astaxanthin, here I’ll break down other ingredients in this product to see what other types of things might help with anti-aging and restoring that natural glow.

Notable Ingredients:

  • Camellia Japonica Flower Extract - An antioxidant that helps suppress the decline of skin collagen from fine dust/pollution.
  • Rhizophora Mangle Callus Culture Extract - From the bark of the red mangrove plant, this is antimicrobial and an anti-inflammatory. A powerful antioxidant, it also helps boost collagen production.An antioxidant that helps inhibit bacteria growth. It also soothes and moisturizes skin.
  • Ubiquinone/Q10 - Q10 actually naturally occurs in our bodies, however like many thing, it does decrease significantly after the age of 20. However, it can help replenish our decreased supply when applied topically. Q10 is an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals that can cause aging.
  • Ferulic Acid - Found in plants, this also fights free radicals and enhances the efficacy of the astaxanthin.
  • Arbutin - From the bearberry plant, it is a natural alternative to hydroquinone. This inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase which is present in the formation of dark spots.

Full Ingredients List:

Water, Rhizophora Mangle Callus Culture Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Arbutin, Betaine, Astaxanthin, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Ubiquinone, Ferulic Acid, Caffeic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Glutathione, Xanthophylls, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium, Ascorbyl Phosphate, Galloyl Pentapeptide-33, sh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Oligopeptide-2, sh-Polypeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-10, Superoxide Dismutase, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Viscum, Album (Mistletoe) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Hericium Erinaceum (Mushroom) Extract, Cudrania Tricuspidata Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract, Caffeine, Allantoin, Adenosine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycosyl Trehalose, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Propylene Carbonate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-240/HDI Copolymer, Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Polysorbate 60, Decyltetradeceth-25, Octyldodeceth-16, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cholesterol, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lysolecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Lecithin, Fragrance

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Packaging, Scent & Texture

Packaging:

The product comes in a white dropper bottle. The dropper cap itself is a beautiful rose gold color (appropriate for the Afterglow Ampoule). The bottle itself isn’t transparent so you can’t see how much product you have left, but with such potent anti-aging ingredients inside, you do not want them to oxidate from being exposed sunlight. It does look pretty luxe as the product also comes in a rose gold trimmed box.

Scent & Texture:

Honestly, to me it’s not exactly a pleasant scent. It’s not super off putting but really, this is not necessarily the type of product you go around sniffing either, lol. Like do you go around sniffing your vitamin C serums, retinol, or glycolic acid products? No, I don’t think so. Not unless that product specifically advertises that it smells like oranges or whatever...This product does smell alcoholic to me, but that’s probably because alcohol is the 5th ingredient on the list. I also think AZN Labs couldn’t be bothered adding fragrance to the ampoule for various reasons. So for those of you that don’t like perfumes/artificial fragrances in your products, you can at least rejoice about that part.

The ampoule itself is (not surprisingly) kind of a rose gold color as well. It really is a serum texture, not at all watery like some other serums/essences/ampoules might be. You do still have to quickly apply to your face as sometimes liquid just easily escapes from the dropper without you necessarily needing to squeeze it out. As for the actual texture, the ampoule is slightly sticky/tacky as you’re patting it on. To me it’s similar to something like the Missha Time Revolution ampoule. The tackiness does eventually subside and your skin just feels nice and hydrated. Anyone can use this ampoule really, but those with more oily skin may not like the slight tackiness, but I think that’s more of a personal preference. The formulation itself shouldn’t make you breakout unless you’re like allergic to any of the ingredients for example.

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Youthful Glowing Formula

Performance:


Why is it called "Afterglow" you say? Because true to its name, this does give you a lovely hydrated glow right AFTER use...

If you are pressed for time or you haven’t quite found the right routine for that coveted “glass skin” look just yet, this will instantly give you that appearance and then some (powerful antioxidants for the win).

Firming/Elasticity: I don’t really have any serious issues with firming and elasticity, though I could use some firming around my eye area as I do have one eye that depending on the angle, does look more sunken in than the other. Because of this, I do tend to use my eye area as a benchmark for how good something is anti-aging wise. While I do think the overall ingredients are good for firming and elasticity, I feel like it would mainly be the hydration you get from this product that might help. Other than that, I personally did not see any improvements in firming and elasticity with my eye area. This ampoule would be good for prevention though.

Fine Lines & Wrinkles: I do have a few fine lines under my eyes. While some reviews I’ve seen for this ampoule claim to have their fine lines vanished, that did not happen for me here. Of course, considering I’ve had these fine lines since I was in my early 20’s and I’m now 34 - they certainly haven’t gotten worse so I guess I’m doing something right routine-wise. I guess just don’t expect much with your fine lines. If they do fade - great, but if not, just accept that the ampoule is probably more maintenance and prevention if anything.

Brightening & Dark Spots: I don’t have any major issues with dullness and dark spots, but I did stop using actives while I was using this ampoule. I also eventually developed dark spots (not related to this product). Overtime, my dark spots were definitely fading and I wasn’t using any other brightening product or even a vitamin C. It was all due to this ampoule.

Dryness: Whether you have age-related dryness or just plain dryness, this will definitely hydrate your skin. Of course if you’re very dry, you should definitely top this ampoule off with an appropriate hydrating moisturizer. As someone with combo skin, this hydrated my skin without making me breakout. Though now that the weather is slowly getting warmer, it is my preference to only wear this ampoule at night. You might think that hydration isn’t such a big deal, but when your skin is well hydrated, it looks more youthful and can plump up skin and minimize fine lines.

When your skin is plump and well hydrated...It will look healthy and naturally glowy (with or without the ampoule).

The actual “glow” from this ampoule might be more on the temporary side, but long term use of this ampoule will keep your skin “lit from within”.



Pros:

  • If you’re into anti-aging/prevention, this is extremely high in antioxidants. It gently exfoliates to a certain extent (it still has asorbic acid/vitamin C and lactic acid).
  • Refines your skin giving it an overall clearer appearance. You get softer/smoother skin and the ingredients in this ampoule might even help with some minor scaring/textural issues (I know anything algae/plankton-related has done this for my skin).
  • Brightens and evens out your skin tone - this definitely helps with dark spots. I know this works because I currently have dark spots while and I haven’t used any actives (vitamin c, retinol, etc.) just this ampoule. It will still take some time of course but my dark spots are nearly gone now.
  • Can help your skin retain moisture better and is instantly hydrating upon application. This is not drying at all.
  • Skin appears more healthy and naturally glowy/supple over time.
  • I did not notice this, but there are some that claim that this has firmed up their skin and minimized some fine lines/wrinkles.

Cons:

  • Contains alcohol. I’m personally not too bothered by this, but some people are and might even be sensitive to it.
  • The long ingredients list might concern those with sensitive skin (though this did not negatively affect my own sensitive skin).
  • At ~$120 USD it is one of the most expensive K-beauty ampoules I’ve seen. However with that said, this has already lasted me almost 3 months now.
  • Might not please everyone with regards to more immediate, visible results. Just like with me, you might have to accept that this product is probably more preventative than anything.
  • Only available through the AZN Labs and Beauty Tap websites. Beauty Tap might have it in stores at their Costa Mesa, CA location, but as I don’t go down there as often, I can’t really confirm this. This is not a product that you can just pick up at your local Target or Sephora.

Not Just a Warm Glow

Final Impressions:


This is a very expensive ampoule. However when you consider all the research & technology put forth, this is actually a steal...especially when used as a part of skip-care. For some, this can replace multiple products/steps in your routine.

This ampoule provides anti-aging care (for skin elasticity & fine lines), as well as being extremely high in antioxidants for more preventative measures (protects against UV damage and pollution). The ampoule brightens dark spots and evens out skin tone overall, plus it provides a nice hydrating glow.

With that said, if you’re like me and you like to have a little bit of everything (multiple products to explore with) in your routine, then yes it’s not necessarily cheaper as you will just be adding an additional $120 USD product to your existing routine. But if you can find a use for this ampoule to cut out several products/steps from your routine (which is what I’ve heard some people use it for), then more power to you. If this ampoule at least did something for my eye area, this definitely could have replaced some products for me.

So while I did not experience the same “miracles” that other reviewers of the Afterglow Ampoule did, if you take the time to read a bit of background on how this product was made, I can appreciate all the work that was put into its creation and release. This ampoule is far from holy grail status for me and considering its price and the lack of physical anti-aging results I saw, I can’t quite justify consistently re-purchasing this product. However, as I mentioned earlier, I do believe in the power of algae/plankton-related products, so I may keep this in rotation when I’m not using my EGF serum (that happens to be cheaper than this ampoule). Overall, I do look forward to any future products AZN Labs might release. They still did a good job with this ampoule and I do like the way it feels on my skin.

Final Rating = 3/5

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Other Products For an Anti-Aging/Antioxidant-Heavy Skincare Routine

Products of Interest:

I totally understand that not everyone has the budget for a $120 USD product, or anything over $100 USD really. Even spending over $50 USD sometimes just seems too much. Here I’ll suggest to you some other anti-aging/multi-tasking products at different price points that you might want to slowly incorporate into an anti-aging specific routine - whether you decide to use these products alongside the Afterglow Ampoule or something similar.
  • Jullai Super 12 Bounce Cleansing Oil - This cleansing oil is loaded with not just 1, but 12 different kinds of antioxidants! $38 USD is pricey for cleansing oil, but considering you only use it once a day at night (or just on the days you wear makeup), you won't go through it fast - plus again, look at the antioxidants, LOL.
  • HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner - You might think $37 USD is kind of on the expensive side for a toner, but this thing is 10.1 fluid ounces. Most toners are about half that amount while costing around the same amount (even more for some luxury brands). This toner contains superstar ingredients for anti-aging such as fermented black rice, hyaluronic acid, beta glucan and red ginseng.
  • Peach & Lily Wild Dew Essence - This is very lightweight and liquidy like water, yet you can feel its hydration properties immediately on the skin. This helps balance and retain moisture in your skin. Overtime, this has smoothed and softened my skin, almost like a beauty filter. It's kind of subtle, but enough for me to notice it. At $39 USD, it's one of the cheapest first treatment essences you will ever see.
  • Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum - If you are looking for a great multi-tasking serum that will even out, plump, and make your skin smooth (glass skin effect), look no further than the appropriately named Glass Skin Refining Serum. It's only $39 USD and works even better together withthe Peach & Lily Wild Dew Essence. [Read My Review]
  • Estee Lauder DayWear (there are many variations depending on your skin type) - This is kind of a pricey moisturizer but it does have antioxidants and Estee Lauder is kind enough to have multiple versions, so take your pick whether you want something lighter for the day, more nourishing for night, or even a mattifying formula, etc. This moisturizer starts at about ~$52 USD.
  • Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm - I feel like my eye area gets drier with age, thus making my fine lines more pronounced than they really are. This eye cream is hydrating and nourishing without being overly greasy or giving me millia. It is $68 USD but a little goes a long way.
  • Laneige Time Freeze Sleeping Mask - A sort of anti-aging variation of their popular sleeping mask, this has Dynamic Collagen to help firm up your skin. This is $39 USD but a little goes a long way and since this is a sleeping mask, you only really have to use this a couple times a week.


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AZN Labs Afterglow Ampoule


Photo Credit: BeautyTap

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