What I love about the beauty industry is nature, chemistry and art combined in one and South Korean brands can't stop surprising me. The Pure Lotus didn't disappoint me because this brand mixed everything I enjoy in skincare products. The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream is a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly sunscreen inspired by nature. What's the main star ingredient of this sunscreen? The answer is hiding in the brand's name - lotus!
About The Pure Lotus
The Pure Lotus is a new brand available at Bemused Korea. I knew about this brand before only because the packaging of the products is a pure masterpiece. The brand comes from Jeju, an island which is an inspiration and source of ingredients for many companies. And it's not only about skincare! The Pure Lotus has a Cosmetic Cert Jeju certification which tells you that the products made by the brand are from Jeju. The main star of the products is the White Lotus Leaf.
Why is sunscreen important in your routine?
Since I was a child, I didn't like sitting for hours in the sun. It's nothing strange since even my physiotherapy lecturer classified my skin tone as 'almost albino, phototype I/II'. My skin burns in the sun, and I believe that my survival instinct was quite high when I was a child. Sun is positive for our lives. It helps with Vitamin D synthesis and deficiency of this vitamin might cause osteoporosis. On the other hand, the sun can be bad for us. The sun is a source of UVA & UVB. Sadly, this duo can speed up the ageing process, cause pigmentation, but even harm your sight and skin or in the worst-case scenario exposure to them can lead to melanoma (skin cancer).
What do SPF and PA mean?
SPF is a standard which you can see all around the world on sunscreens, while PA is common only for Japan and Korea (I'm not sure how about other Asian countries). Sun Protection Factor, aka SPF, tells us only about UVB. SPF tells us how much time we can spend in the sun after the use of sunscreen, it's not always accurate since when we go swimming or do some activity - water and sweat can remove the sunscreen from the skin. To figure out how long the sunscreen will protect you, you need to know your MED - Minimal Erythema Dose, I don't know if any doctors are running such tests for other than research/therapy purpose and please don't do them on your own. We use UV lamps and special patches, each place gets different amount of UV - one fragment of the hand gets 1 minute while other 10 seconds - time depends on skin type then we just wait 24 hours to see the result, and the first fragment of the skin before fragments that are red/brown is nothing else than MED. So if you see tan on your skin after 5 minutes and you want to use SPF 10 all we need to do is to simply calculation - SPF x time (MED) = time which you can spend without reapplying sunscreen. So 10 x 5 = 50 minutes but if you use SPF 50 then it's 50 x 50 = 2500 minutes, still it's better to reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours.
PA and PPD are two systems which producers use to let you know how good their product is in UVA protection. PPD stands for Persistent Pigment Darkening while PA is nothing else than Protection Grade of UVA. I barely ever see brands using PPD system but also the PA system is mostly used by Asian brands. If you're a European please check your sunscreen - if you're living in any other place check them as well, for example in Europe Avene and La Roche Posay have information UVB + UVA - UVA is in the circle, so what does that mean? I know that La Roche Posay promotes its products as a sunscreen with high UVA protection but check BASF website and you'll find a graphic there which shows, that UVA sign in a circle is equivalent of PA+++ and PA++++, while PA++++ is an equivalent of PPD 16 and over and PA+++ stands for 8-16 PPD. I'm a fan of the PA system because it's easier to use.
The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream
Since the ingredients are going to be similar between products let me just focus on the most important ones. I'll try to tell you as much as I can about them.
Water, Homosalate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, C14-22 Alcohols, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Tromethamine, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyurethane-1, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Mallotus Japonicus Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Glucose, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Let's start with UV protection.
Homosalate protects you from UVB. We all know that UVB protection is not enough. Hopefully, we got another ingredient here. Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is known as Tinosorb S and it protects from both - UVB and UVA. It's one of my favourite ingredients even if it's not allowed to be used as a sun-protecting ingredient in the US. Octocrylene protects only from UVB. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is nothing else than green tea, an antioxidant with soothing properties. Niacinamide - Vitamin B3, can change your skin. Niacinamide has many benefits for the skin - from brightening the skin and lightening the pigmentation to helping with acne and inflammation but also making your skin barrier stronger and young - not exactly young but it can boost collagen which we need to have elastic skin.
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract is the key ingredient since Lotus hides even in the brand name! Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract also known as Sacred Lotus is a strong moisturizer but also an ingredient with anti-bacterial properties. It's soothing but it also speeds up the healing process. Another ingredient which I want to introduce to you is Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract. It's a Satsuma Mandarin - an antioxidant with brightening properties. Mixing antioxidants with sunscreen is a clever move since antioxidants repair our skin - especially after UV damage it's good to use them. Adenosine is an ingredient which I like a lot. It speeds up the wound healing process. There's a huge number of oils - if you have sensitive skin, please patch test the product before you use it.
Finding an ideal sunscreen is like a never-ending story. I've been testing The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream for over a month and it can't stop surprising me. I love the packaging - pretty box that reminds me of painting and inside - a slim tube with sun cream. I'm happy that brand decided to go for Tinosorb S since it's a stable, broad-spectrum sunscreen (it protects from both - UVB and UVA). My skin is very pale so sunscreen is a must for me, I even take it with me when I go out. The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream fits my bag well, I can carry it in my bag when I go for a trip or if I go to work/school. It doesn't leave a white cast - it doesn't matter for me, but I'm aware that for some people it's the most important thing about sunscreen. The formula isn't heavy, but I can't say it's lightweight. Some cushions and foundations have problems with it. The scent reminds me of ginger and that's the only weakness of this cream - scent, it's quite heavy. I appreciate that the brand decided to add Niacinamide and Adenosine to the ingredient. I didn't have allergic reactions to this product, it didn't clog me, but each skin is different - mine reacted to it quite well, but yours might have different reactions.
The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser
Be Mused sent me a sample of The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser. The tube was big enough to share with you my opinion on this product. Sadly, I had no pH tests near me so I can't share with you the pH level of the product and I'm aware that some of you - just like me - need a cleanser with balanced pH. According to BemusedKorea, this cleanser has pH around pH 6-6.5
Water, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Decyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lauryl-Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coco-Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sea Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitol, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Trehalose, Panthenol, Benzoic Acid, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Every cleanser needs surfactants. What we can find in The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser? Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl-Glucoside, Coco-Betaine and Coco-Glucoside. They are all mild for your skin. Allantoin reminds me a lot of the time when I was a child since Allantoin treatments were popular back in the days. The popularity of it wasn't an accident, Allantoin is a soothing ingredient, ideal for sensitive skin. It boosts the wound healing process. Next, to Allantoin, Panthenol is another ingredient I remember from my childhood. Sunburn? Panthenol spray was a solution. Panthenol is known as provitamin B5. It's a good moisturizer and soothing ingredient. It's common to use it on sunburns and wounds because it speeds up the healing process and it's good for sensitive skin.
I tried this foam in a sample form - it's hard to give you a full review just by the sample, but my first impression is positive. I couldn't measure pH, but the scent feels mild on the skin. I had no problems after the use - usually, cleansing foams break me off ASAP. This one didn't so that's a good sign. The scent is delicate, almost neutral. There's a delicate foam - don't expect to see lots of bubbles. I feel like I might try a full-size version one day.
The Pure Lotus Lotus Leaf Mask Soothing & Brightening (Blue)
STEP01: Water, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Mallotus Japonicus Bark Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Arginine, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil
STEP02: Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Mallotus Japonicus Bark Extract, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-13 Pareth-23, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, C12-13 Pareth-3, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Copaifera Officinalis (Balsam Copaiba) Resin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Inositol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol
What we can find in The Pure Lotus Lotus Leaf Mask Soothing & Brightening (Blue)? Step 1 is a pad that prepares the skin for the mask. It's not a surprise for me that Lactic Acid - a chemical exfoliant (AHA) can be found in this step. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is an ingredient which you might like, I'm not a fan of Licorice, the taste of it is one of the worst things I've tried as a kid just right next to Kvass but Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is one of the ingredients people with oily and acne-prone skin should look up to. Under the name, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate aka SAP hides Vitamin C. Vitamin C likes to hide in different forms like MAP, SAP, etc. What's different between SAP and Ascorbic Acid? SAP is more stable than Ascorbic Acid. Still, it's a good brightening ingredient and in general, I encourage you to add Vitamin C to your routine.
The Pure Lotus Lotus Leaf Mask Wrinkle Treatment (Pink)
STEP01: Water, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Mallotus Japonicus Bark Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Arginine, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil
STEP02: Water, Glycerin, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Mallotus Japonicus Bark Extract, Glycereth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Sucrose Cocoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutathione, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Blue and Pink masks are similar but different. The biggest difference is in the ingredients. The pink mask contains a popular ingredient - Centella Asiatica. Gotu Kola is an ingredient widely used in traditional medicine, culinary and beauty industry. The magic of Centella is in triterpenoid saponins like Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid and Asiatic Acid. Gotu Kola itself is an antioxidant with enormous meaning for the skin. This delicate plant can speed up the healing process of the skin. It also helps with inflammation, so it's a win-win situation for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32 and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 are peptides. Peptides are improving the skin and help with wrinkles, scars or even pigmentation.
Using The Pure Lotus Lotus Leaf Mask Wrinkle Treatment (Pink) was a fun experience! I didn't suspect this mask to be so ideal. Sunscreen has a strong scent, but Pink Sheet Mask doesn't have any! The sheet mask is literally pink, the silk rayon has a pink colour. Maybe The Pure Lotus wants to target women with the sheet mask colour, but if any man is reading this post - don't be scared of pink shade, because this mask has a texture which other masks can envy. Some cheaper masks usually break a bit when you open them or they are hard to apply on the skin. Application of this mask takes a minute and it's a piece of cake to put the mask on the skin. Opening the packaging is harder! I needed to use scissors while usually, I don't need to.
The mask is made out of 2 steps. The first step is a pad with a delicate side and second, rough side. I used the rough side first and then delicate one. It's a prep-step since even in cosmetology we use scrubs to remove dead skin cells and prepare the skin for treatment. We want to make the treatment more effective. The prep-step is not my thing, but the mask - it's not 10/10 but 100/10!
The blue mask is almost the same, I'm not going to write a separate review for it because there's no sense to copy the same review! All I can say - the blue mask is really soothing and it helps with redness.
Natural pink sheet + 100% silk rayon
Both masks have an adorable pink colour and they are made of silk rayon in 100%. This mask feels like it's a better sister of a cotton mask. It's strong and it won't tear easily as some cheap masks do. The fit of the masks is ideal for me, maybe it's a bit too long but it sticks to my face well and some masks have problems with it.
The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream - Price
The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream is available at Bemused Korea for $28 (50ml). The full version of The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser costs $32 (150ml). You can get The Pure Lotus products for -15% off (of the regular price) with code KHE15
Overall, The Pure Lotus was a great experience for me, but it also taught me something new. I didn't know before about Cosmetic Cert Jeju.
Have you ever tried The Pure Lotus? Which product would you like to try the most?
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*** This post was made in collaboration with Bemused Korea, even though it still shows my personal opinion on the topic and product**
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