Gentle Hour is an Indonesian skincare brand that you probably never heard of. Me neither, but thanks to Picky, I was able to meet the brand and share with you my opinion about it. Can Indonesian beauty be a new trend? Is Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner better than other toners with Niacinamide?
About Gentle Hour
I have to admit that I couldn't find much information about Gentle Hour besides the fact that Gentle Hour is an Indonesian brand focused on healthy skin. In this post, I'll share not only the review of Dew It Again Toner, but I'll also try to introduce you to the other products from Gentle Hour. I also have to admit that I keep making mistakes. In the beginning, I kept calling this brand like a hype Korean glass brand - Gentle Monster.
Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner - Packaging
The bottle of Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner comes in a paper box. You have to tear it to get to the turquoise bottle. I enjoy the colour of the product. The brand keeps minimalistic, pastel tones in the entire aesthetic.
Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner - Scent & Texture
I can't tell what this scent reminds me of, but it does have a scent. Sadly, even in ingredients, you can find "parfum" part. The scent is not annoying for me, but every nose is different - just like the skin. The texture is liquid, a bit oily and rich. It feels hydrating, but it won't make your skin oily.
Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner - Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Fragrance (Parfum), Tocopherol
Water is an ingredient that you can find in almost every product. Its purpose in products is easy - it's a solvent. Glycerin is one of the most popular humectants in skincare. There's a large number of myths around glycerin like it can clog your skin. It doesn't clog your pores, but too much glycerin can make a sticky layer on the epidermis and even make your skin dryer than before due to TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss). Still, it's an ingredient that we want to see in formulas. Dipropylene Glycol is a solvent. Niacinamide is a miracle ingredient. It does lots of great work. Do you have problems with dark spots? Try Niacinamide! Acne? Niacinamide will be an ideal pick for you too! Maybe you've got issues with the skin barrier? Solve it with Niacinamide! Wrinkles? You might want to try Niacinamide as well. Sensitive skin might find Niacinamide a bit problematic when it's mixed with Vitamin C or used in the same routine as Vitamin C. I can't deny Niacinamide is a skincare treasure! Butylene Glycol is a moisturizer and solvent, but it's also alcohol. You see, not every alcohol in skincare is terrible. Some of them have positive effects on your skin - just like Butylene Glycol, which is a popular substance even in eco/green cosmetic products. Pentylene Glycol is a humectant with antimicrobial properties. It feels like 1,2-Hexanediol is everywhere, and it's not a surprise. Even if it's a solvent, it's also a moisturizer. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that we shouldn't be afraid of. There are strict norms for this substance in our beauty products. Caprylyl Glycol is a moisturizer and an oily emollient. It leaves a delicate, protective film on your skin. But that's not all, Caprylyl Glycol is useful when you want to keep your product free from unfriendly stuff like microbes. PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil derivates from castor oil. It's a surfactant and solubilizer. Octyldodeceth-16 is an emulsifier. Hydroxyethylcellulose is a thickener. Ethylhexylglycerin is a preservative. It keeps products fresh. Adenosine is another elegant ingredient. It speeds up the healing process and repairs the skin barrier. It's ideal for inflamed skin, and it might have a positive effect on skin elasticity. Fragrance (Parfum) is a scent composition. Tocopherol or Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It's a water-soluble ingredient. Some people think it's a natural preservative, but Tocopherol itself in formulas is not the best to preserve the product. It boosts UVB protection, and if you add Vitamin C - you'll get better effects of both vitamins.
How does Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner work?
According to Gentle Hour, Dew It Again Toner has a balanced pH around 5.3 and 6.3 which I'm not a fan of since my skin prefers a lower pH. It's free from alcohol, it's based on natural extracts. According to Picky, this product is free from fragrance, sulfates and can be safely used during pregnancy. I would argue with the fragrance part since you can see that scent ingredients are listed as a fragrance in Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner. Just to mention all lists of ingredients comes from the Gentle Hour official website. The packaging gives me a trendy vibe, it feels like the brand wants to get to a young audience - Gen Z & Millenials (although I hate using both these terms) due to the pastel packaging. The brand itself has a nice marketing strategy on Instagram which actually focus on visuals but also educating clients and potential customers of the brand about skincare & Gentle Hour's products. I got stickers with the toner, and I have to admit - I love when brands add stickers to the products so you can stick them on the packaging the way you want. It is recommended to use this toner with a cotton pad. Normally, I use toners without cotton pads but this time I've decided to do it differently and follow the instruction. I do not imagine applying this toner without a cotton pad, since it's quite liquid and it feels a bit oily. The toner needs about a minute to be absorbed by the skin, it might leave a bit oily residue, but I followed this toner with Hyaluronic Acid serum, moisturizer, sunscreen and I normally put my cushion - it didn't roll any of the products. I was a bit worried since my skin has mixed reactions to Niacinamide. I expected to see redness in a short amount of time, I got this product on July 8th, and normally I would test it for over 30 days, but since I got a deadline, I tested this toner for almost 2 weeks (10 days) before writing this review. I do not see any redness, but as you can see in the photos, my skin has mixed feelings towards products with a pH around 6 - it prefers cleansers and toners with a pH around 5,5 or even acid products with lower pH (acids need right pH to work). The effects are not surprising. The toner itself is nice, but it's not a revolutionary product. It won't surpass my favourite toners like Klairs or Aqulabo, but I think that there might be people who will enjoy it.
Ps. the moisture data which I got from skin analyzer can be less accurate since it's not a corneometer which estheticians usually use but a cheap BIA (Bioelectric Impedance Analysis) analyzer. I would advise to listen to your skin first, then look at skin analyzers since the data might be different.
Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner - Price & Where to find it?
Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner costs IDR 185,000 (about $13) per 150 ml. According to the Picky, Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner costs $14.50 which is still quite a good price for 150 ml toner. You can order Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner and other Gentle Hour products from Gentle Hour's website.
OTHER GENTLE HOUR PRODUCTS
I'll only slightly mention other products created by Gentle Hour since this brand is quite tiny and it has only 4 products in sale.
Gentle Hour Call It A Day Cleansing Balm
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, PEG-10 Stearate, Polyethylene, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Oil, Castor (Ricinus Communis) Oil, Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil, Soybean (Glycine Soja) Oil, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Ubiquinone, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Curcuma Xanthorrhiza Root Extract, Bisabolol, CI 61565
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate is a synthetic emollient. It protects your skin from TEWL by leaving a delicate film on the skin. PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate is an emollient and emulsifier. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient. It's a combination of coconut oil and glycerin that makes mild, gentle and delicate emollients. It thickens the formula, but it also makes skin feel smooth in touch. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a synthetic emollient with antimicrobial properties. It's a liquid oil with no smell, that helps with the application of the product. Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Oil - a source of oleic, palmitic and linoleic acid, Vitamin A, D, and Vitamin E. It's great for skin, hair and nails. Castor (Ricinus Communis) Oil or Ricinus Communis Seed Oil is an emollient, this oil is full of fatty acids. Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil is an emollient, and a source of oleic acid - not the best news for acne-prone skin, but it's one of two of my favourite hair oils. Soybean (Glycine Soja) Oil is an emollient. Soybean Oil is full of oleic and linoleic acid, this oil will work better for dry skin than acne-prone skin. Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract or Japanese Cherry Flower Extract is a source of flavonoids. Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract or Orange Flower Absolute, also known as Bitter Orange. Usually, you can see this ingredient as an antioxidant or antimicrobial ingredient. Rosa Damascena Flower Oil or Damask Rose Flower Oil is one of my favourite oils, it's an oil with antibacterial properties, but it's related to some irritating substances like geraniol so it's good to patch test products with this ingredient first (even if patch testing should be a standard procedure). Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil is an oil that you know from your kitchen. It's an emollient and a source of Vitamin E, linoleic acid and oleic acid. Even acne-prone skin can use it. Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil or Rose Geranium Flower Essential Oil is an essential oil, which means it might be sensitizing for your skin. Pelargonium graveolens is a flower typical for South Africa. You can usually find it in perfumes, aromatherapy or skincare, as a scent ingredient. Turmeric in products for acne skin is not a surprise for me, but what does Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract do in other products? Turmeric has wide use in traditional medicine - not only Ayurveda but Chinese Traditional Medicine. It's an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, that's why it works so good on acne. It might help with pigmentation, but if you have post-acne inflammation, then using soothing ingredients and substances that speed up wound healing helps with the redness left after acne.
I know that some people on Picky also tested this cleansing balm. I'm surprised by the choice of oils used in this composition. Similar to Dew It Again, Gentle Hour Call It A Day Cleansing Balm is free from alcohol and is rich in antioxidants.
Gentle Hour Clean Start Hydrating Jelly Cleanser
Aqua, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium PCA, Opuntia Ficus Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl 4 Caprate, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates /C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Triethylene Glycol
Aqua is an ingredient that you can find in almost every product. Its purpose in products is easy - it's a solvent. Glycerin is one of the most popular humectants in skincare. There's a large number of myths around glycerin like it can clog your skin. It doesn't clog your pores, but too much glycerin can make a sticky layer on the epidermis and even make your skin dryer than before due to TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss). Still, it's an ingredient that we want to see in formulas. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine are surfactants. Sodium PCA stands for Sodium Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid, and it's a humectant. It leaves a hydrating film on your skin that prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Sodium PCA naturally occurs in the skin. Sodium Hyaluronate is a salt form of a popular Natural Moisturizing Factor - Hyaluronic Acid. Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract is an antioxidant with enormous popularity and use. You can use it as a moisturizer for both dry and oily skin or as an acne treatment due to its antibacterial properties. Maybe you fight with wrinkles, and you need support? It's an antioxidant, and it can repair your skin after the damage made by UV light (since UVA is helping your skin in aging) and free radicals. Even sensitive skin is a fan of this soothing humectant. Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria Flower Extract is an extract form of german chamomile. This plant is popular in herbal medicine and we treat it as a soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredient. It's a source of α-bisabolol (antibacterial and soothing properties) and chamazulene (can influence histamine synthesis, it has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, it gives a blue colour to the formula). I like Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate more in skincare than as food since this ingredient is related to your least favourite candy, but a very soothing plant - Licorice! It works as an anti-inflammatory ingredient, but it has a positive meaning for acne-prone skin. In general, Licorice can brighten your skin and help with acne. I wouldn't expect a lot from Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, but I think that adding it to this formula was a great move. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a classic moisturizer with soothing properties. Some people might be allergic to aloe. My problem with aloe is that if you prepare aloe in a "wrong" way, it can sensitize the skin. Panthenol is nothing else than Pro-vitamin B5, a soothing moisturizer with positive meaning to the skin barrier. It speeds up the healing process. Butylene Glycol is a moisturizer and solvent, but it's also alcohol. You see, not every alcohol in skincare is terrible. Some of them have positive effects on your skin - just like Butylene Glycol, which is a popular substance even in eco/green cosmetic products. Disodium EDTA is a synthetic stabilizer and preservative. It helps with the viscosity of the product. Acrylates /C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a carbomer's distant family. It works as a stabilizer and thickener. Sodium Chloride is a regular salt that you know from the kitchen. What does it do? It's a thickener, but it's also an exfoliant. Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid and Sodium Benzoate are preservatives. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) - a chemical exfoliant. It's derived from fruits like lemon. It's a weak acid and usually weaker AHA acids act like moisturizers. In this case, Citric Acid helps with the pH level of the formula. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that we shouldn't be afraid of. There are strict norms for this substance in our beauty products.
Gentle Hour Clean Start Hydrating Jelly Cleanser is a cleanser with pH around 5,0 and 6,0 - it's a good result, we want our cleansers to stick between 5,0 to 5,5. This product is supposed to be free from fragrance, alcohol and it is supposed to have anti-pollutant properties.
Gentle Hour Brighter Days Exfoliating Toner
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Octyldodeceth-16, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Glycolic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Panthenol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Allantoin, Caffeine, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract
Water is an ingredient that you can find in almost every product. Its purpose in products is easy - it's a solvent. Butylene Glycol is a moisturizer and solvent, but it's also alcohol. You see, not every alcohol in skincare is terrible. Some of them have positive effects on your skin - just like Butylene Glycol, which is a popular substance even in eco/green cosmetic products. Niacinamide is a miracle ingredient. It does lots of great work. Do you have problems with dark spots? Try Niacinamide! Acne? Niacinamide will be an ideal pick for you too! Maybe you've got issues with the skin barrier? Solve it with Niacinamide! Wrinkles? You might want to try Niacinamide as well. Sensitive skin might find Niacinamide a bit problematic when it's mixed with Vitamin C or used in the same routine as Vitamin C. I can't deny Niacinamide is a skincare treasure! It feels like 1,2-Hexanediol is everywhere, and it's not a surprise. Even if it's a solvent, it's also a moisturizer. Glycerin is one of the most popular humectants in skincare. There's a large number of myths around glycerin like it can clog your skin. It doesn't clog your pores, but too much glycerin can make a sticky layer on the epidermis and even make your skin dryer than before due to TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss). Still, it's an ingredient that we want to see in formulas. Dipropylene Glycol is a solvent. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that we shouldn't be afraid of. There are strict norms for this substance in our beauty products. Betaine derives from sugar beets. It's an amino acid that keeps your skin moist, and you might want to use it in your haircare routine. Octyldodeceth-16 is an emulsifier. PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil derivates from castor oil. It's a surfactant and solubilizer. Sodium Citrate regulates pH, we call substances like this a buffer. Glycolic Acid is probably the most intense chemical exfoliator from the AHA group because it's a lightweight acid. What does that mean? It can penetrate your skin effortlessly than other AHA acids. Brands obtain it from sugar cane, sugar beets or cantaloupe. It's a water-soluble acid, but alcohol is exceptional too. Depends on concentration, Glycolic Acid can be a weak peel and a good moisturizer or a heavy peel. It increases the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans - they keep your skin hydrated. Glycolic Acid removes the dead cells from your skin to keep it fresh, bright and soft. It removes dark spots and helps with wrinkles because it can boost collagen production. It can even make your skin thicker and improve blood circulation in the skin. It works better at a low pH, and not every person will like it. Sensitive skin might have problems with Glycolic Acid - usually Glycolic Acid hurts my skin even in low concentrations. It's an active ingredient that might cause purging - it's like a breakout after using a new product, after a few days of using Glycolic Acid - purging should end. Sensitive skin might prefer AHA cousin - PHA. We shouldn't use Glycolic Acid during the summer and if you do Glycolic Acid treatments - sunscreen is a must! Unless you want to see more dark spots on your skin since your skin after a chemical peel doesn't contain a layer of dead skin, so it's more vulnerable to damage from the environment like UVB & UVA. Lactobionic Acid is a PHA acid, it's a delicate cousin of AHA acids that can be used on sensitive skin types. Salicylic Acid is known as BHA, an exfoliant that helps with pore care. A small amount of Salicylic Acid cleans the pores which translate to fewer acne problems. It is recommended for acne-prone skin and young teenage skin due to these properties. Don't expect that it'll change your skin like Glycolic Acid (the most effective AHA), Salicylic Acid is mild, but its power is focused on pores. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water is a hydrosol distilled from Aloe Vera leaves. It is used to calm the skin. Sodium PCA stands for Sodium Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid, and it's a humectant. It leaves a hydrating film on your skin that prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Sodium PCA naturally occurs in the skin. Caprylyl Glycol is a moisturizer and an oily emollient. It leaves a delicate, protective film on your skin. But that's not all, Caprylyl Glycol is useful when you want to keep your product free from unfriendly stuff like microbes. Ethylhexylglycerin is a preservative. It keeps products fresh. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) - a chemical exfoliant. It's derived from fruits like lemon. It's a weak acid and usually weaker AHA acids act like moisturizers. In this case, Citric Acid helps with the pH level of the formula. Adenosine is another elegant ingredient. It speeds up the healing process and repairs the skin barrier. It's ideal for inflamed skin, and it might have a positive effect on skin elasticity. Panthenol is nothing else than Pro-vitamin B5, a soothing moisturizer with positive meaning to the skin barrier. It speeds up the healing process. Portulaca Oleracea is a succulent, and plant used in Korean traditional medicine. It's a source of vitamin A, C and E, omega-3 acids and calcium. Portulaca Oleracea Extract is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can help speed up the wound healing that's why people with acne-prone skin, sensitive skin and PIE should look up to this ingredient in products. Allantoin is a powerful ingredient in skincare, and I think we have all know it since the early days. My family didn't imagine my childhood without this cream. Allantoin derives from comfrey, and it has soothing properties, but it also speeds up the healing process, which makes it ideal for acne-prone skin and sensitive skin. Who doesn't like coffee? Caffeine is an ingredient that we all assign with coffee, but even tea contains some amounts of caffeine. Caffeine is an ingredient that lots of eye care products contain, but is it as effective as everyone thinks? It improves blood circulation and might be helpful with cellulite, but don't expect miracles. It's a good antioxidant, and it's great to have it. Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil - EO's are controversial because they are not as safe as people think. Essential oils are similar to Alcohol, some are positive and some are negative because they can cause allergic reactions and be phototoxic or photosensitive. Tea Tree Oil is a good guy, it's super helpful in curing acne. It shouldn't be used straight on your skin, it needs to be diluted. It has antibacterial and antiseptic properties just like an extract from. Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract is an astringent with antibacterial properties. This ingredient is great for acne-prone skin.
Gentle Hour Brighter Days Exfoliating Toner is another product tested by Picky users. This product is supposed to have a pH around 4,0-5,0, so I expect it to be quite mild. I do not know what's the percentage of acids in this product, but I assume is an exfoliating toner for everyday use since Glycolic Acid is the strongest AHA, but AHAs in concentration below 10% are more moisturizing than exfoliating. This product is free from alcohol, and I believe it can be a really good product for acne-prone skin.
What's Picky?
As I mentioned before, I got Gentle Hour Dew It Again Toner for the test from Picky. Picky is an app where you can find reviews of skincare products, but also blog topics created by Picky experts and a forum for users where you can ask about skincare or help others. Picky also has time-limited events - giveaways that allow you to test new products and share reviews with other Picky users.
You can use my invitation code: 91A81847
The picky app works on both - Android & iOS. Picky also has a website, but many functions are not available on the web yet. Picky is an international community, that's why you can find there forums for users from Indonesia, the USA, Malaysia, Spain and the Philippines.
Overall, I got quite positive feelings about this brand, and I wish Gentle Hour to gain huge success not only in Indonesia but also outside - it would be great to see brands from countries all around the world getting popular globally.
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