Months ago, COSRX Malaysia announced the #AcneChallenge where they offer a trial kit of the AC Collection to people to combat their acne problems. And guess who didn't know about it?
Yes, me. I missed it.
I had to buy the trial kit instead of getting it for RM0.10 on their official Shopee store. But that doesn't hinder my desire to try this collection hehe.
💖 To-know before you read my skincare reviews 💖
- I live in Malaysia (tropical, humid and hot af climate)
- I have dry to very dry skin
- My main issues with skin revolves around closed comedones and fungal acne
First Impressions
Here's a photo of the trial kit that I purchased. The one that I got was the 'Mild' set, which is meant for combination skin. Do also note that my skin is dry-very dry, but they only have two choices available, which is oily/combination skin.
I've always loved COSRX's simple and sleek packaging. And this time it wasn't an exception. It also has a Kim Soo Hyun card inside that encourages you to join the #AcneChallenge.
Inside the dainty box was a set of the AC Collection's big four -
Here are my thoughts on them after two weeks of use
Step 1 - Calming Foam Cleanser (6/10)
This is a foaming cleanser meant for combination skin. It's like a milder version of OXY's Deep Cleansing Wash that was also meant for acne-prone skin. It has the squeaky clean feeling after use that indicates that it's rather stripping for my dry skin.
Note that this product has Lavandula Hybrida Oil, not sure if it's an essential oil but I'm sure it acts as a light fragrance because you'll definitely smell it when you use it. I find this rather surprising because normally COSRX products are fragrance free.
Overall, I think if you have combination/oily skin, this cleanser should work for you (as it is meant to be haha). Personally for me, my dry skin can tolerate it, but I still chose to go with my usual gel-based, non-foaming cleansers after using it a few times.
*This also contains stearic acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid that may not be suitable for sensitive skin.
Step 2 - Calming Liquid Mild (7/10)
This toner's scent is from it's Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, which is an ingredient that has been found to be affective against acne. It also contains BHA and PHA, so do use a sunscreen at the end of your routine when using this toner.
This toner worked pretty well for me, leaving me with a cool, refreshing feeling on the skin after use. Definitely recommended since it's pretty versatile and can fit all skin types.
Step 3 - Ultimate Spot Cream (9/10)
Aw man, of all the products, I was most excited to try this one, and it definitely didn't let me down. A product true to COSRX's brand philosophy, it was simple and effective with no traces of fragrance. I'm a big fan of their pimple patches because I simply can't keep my hands off my face when I have pimples, I always pop them because they heal faster when I do (please don't be like me).
A little goes a long way for this product and it blends easily into the skin. It tends to calm down the acne spot and I saw visible effects on acne spots after around 3-5 days of use, very recommended!
Step 4 - Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer (8/10)
I was anxious about trying a new moisturizer because so many didn't work for me haha. But this one worked fairly well for my skin! It gives moisture and softness that should suffice even for the dry skin babes out there.
This is my second favorite product out of the line - lightweight and my skin absorbs it easily. Though I often find my sibeh dry skin thirsting for more moisture before long.
I had some pimples when I was trying this line, which was rather convenient to see if it was effective or not. You can see the before and after below of the pimple that grew at the best seat in town, in the middle of my face.
TL;DR - Something for dry skin as well, please?
Here's my personal ratings for the experience!
(7.5/10)
💖 Ultimate Spot Cream - My favorite product out of the line that has visible effects after consistent use. But as a fan of COSRX's pimple patches, I'd still opt for the pimple patches.
💖 Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer - This lightweight moisturizer was really good and moisturizing! I didn't have high expectations for it in the beginning, but it really blew me away!
💖 Calming Liquid Mild - It does its job, but I think there are better alternative COSRX toners that work better.
😶 Calming Foam Cleanser - Unfortunately it wasn't suitable with my dry skin. But do note that this cleanser is meant for combination skin, so it's normal that I find it unsuitable!
I have a few COSRX holy grails that I'm intending to share in the near future! Trying this new collection was refreshing and I'm glad I got the chance to try these products from their AC Collection line. And of course, I hope to try others in the future!
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Disclaimer: Please note that my articles are written according to my own personal experience. All opinions stated are my own and I tend to keep things as honest as possible for my readers. There will always be varying experiences and opinions from others, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. As a consumer, the choice is ultimately yours to make. Feel free to go ahead and test products at your nearest outlet before making a purchasing decision.