Skin with an ineffable glow is hard to define. It seems to come from eight hours of sleep, a well-balanced diet, and inner peace. Unfortunately for me, I’ve yet to have those three boxes checked. This is why you’ll notice my dark eye circles, uneven skin tone, and rough skin texture upon meeting me.
However, Korean beauty brand innisfree has good news for those of us who need a little extra help in the complexion department. Its new Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule targets every saboteur standing between your skin and that elusive lit-from-within glow, and actively works to repair your skin while you sleep.
To see if it helps to brighten our complexions and lift our skin, Daily Vanity also invited 10 readers to try the innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule for one week. You’ll be pleased to know that its average verdict was a 4.3-star rating out of 5.
Read on to get acquainted with the product and check out our in-depth reviews!
About innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule
Great for those who face internal and external stressors, this intensive night ampoule quickly restores tired skin to create an otherworldly glow when you wake. As you catch up on some Zs, the black tea ferment in its Night Defense Formula™ resets your skin with an abundance of anti-ageing antioxidants.
The ampoule creates a protective barrier on top of your skin to lock in the moisture and prevent water loss that can occur during the night. Infused with a potent Reset Concentrate™, extracted from black tea in mineral water at 80°C for 12 hours, the ampoule helps your skin to recover quickly to diminish visible signs of fatigue.
To use, simply apply two to three drops on your face and neck, and lightly tap the ampoule around your eyes. Finish by pressing the ampoule on your skin with your palms.
First impressions
Though it’s housed in a brown bottle, the ampoule itself is a translucent, milky white. The mild black tea scent calmed my senses and it wasn’t too overpowering, which is how I prefer my skincare formulas. Its lightweight texture feels almost like runny honey, and my skin drank it up within seconds. My skin felt instantly hydrated without being suffocated by a greasy or tacky layer – something plenty of ampoules tend to do, it seems.
As someone with rather sensitive skin, products can sometimes cause instant irritation and redness. With this ampoule, however, it seemed to soothe my temperamental skin, which boded well for the rest of my trial. I couldn’t wait to see the results after seven days!
After 1 week
After a week, my skin felt much smoother and softer. I found it hard to stop touching my face, but I eventually did for the sake of minimising the spread of bacteria. My skin tone looked a little more even and my complexion had taken on an unexpected glow – and I’m not talking about the greasy mess I’m so used to seeing.
The innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule had been nothing but kind to my skin with its gentle formula, yet it worked well to brighten my complexion and banish most signs of fatigue. On top of that, my skin feels a tad firmer and bouncier too. Though it couldn’t get rid of my RBF, I was still happy with the results I saw.
innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule retails for S$51 at innisfree’s online store and its official Lazada store. The ampoule will be available at all innisfree Singapore physical stores from 1 January 2021.
innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule: 10 readers give their honest opinions
innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule
Summary
Most reviewers found that the innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule absorbed quickly into their skin, and they all agreed it had a mild, pleasant scent. Some of them said they noticed a brightening effect after seven days of use, which gave them a healthy glow, while others loved the ampoule for its hydrating properties.
Since plenty of our reviewers are working women who don’t get enough sleep daily, they were surprised to see how quickly the ampoule worked to bump up their skin’s radiance, despite getting an insufficient amount of rest. Some of the reviewers said they would purchase a full-sized bottle after they’ve used up their current ampoule!
Jerlyn, 25
Skin type: Combination-dry skin
Skin concerns: Dull, dehydrated skin
I suffer from insomnia, so I usually only go to bed at 3am or sometimes even at 7 or 8am, which can wreak havoc on my skin. The innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule felt very light on my skin and it had a very pleasant scent. My skin felt softer and more supple after the first use too.
When I checked in on the seventh day, my skin felt more moisturised than it did before the trial. My face looked brighter and more radiant as well, which gave me a well-rested look. I’m glad I didn’t experience any irritation from this ampoule. In fact, it has worked really well for my skin!
Joey, 26
Skin type: Dry, sensitive skin
Skin concerns: Textured, dehydrated skin with blemishes and blackheads/whiteheads
I have been working from home ever since March and I’ve realised that I am working longer hours as compared to when I was in the office. The lines between work and leisure have been blurred, so I’ve been getting an average of five to six hours a night. In the day, I do have to rush to meet certain deadlines, which would cause me to feel anxious as well.
The innisfree ampoule has a thicker consistency than most serums I’ve tried. While it took a little longer to absorb into my skin, I did like the finish of it. It feels comfortable and doesn’t leave a tacky feel on my skin. Plus, it has a pleasant fragrance too. On days when I felt my skin was drier, I followed the instructions to layer it on again.
I could feel the skin on my cheeks (I consider them my problem area) getting more elastic and hydrated. The blemishes have reduced slightly and the bumps also went down. Typically I don’t drink much water when I’m busy working, which is a bad habit, and I’ve been told that it causes the skin to appear uneven in tone.
However, the product has helped to hydrate and boost my skin health and appearance even with the hectic week that I went through. Overall, I enjoyed this product and may consider it as an option when my current product finishes. I liked that it was thicker than most, which is good for my dry skin and suitable for night use only.
I could visibly see and feel the difference in my skin – the blemishes had gone down, the redness had subsided, and my skin is more bouncy. So far, this ampoule has lived up to its claims!
Tammie, 26
Skin type: Combination-oily, sensitive skin
Skin concerns: Dull, textured skin with uneven skin tone, blemishes, and blackheads/whiteheads
I don’t get enough sleep as I have to juggle between work and motherhood, which is why plenty of skin concerns started to arise. I was not satisfied with the products I tried in the past as I didn’t see any results, even after a month of use. Some made my skin break out and caused reactions too.
When I used the innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule for the first time, it sank into my skin quickly and had a non-sticky finish. My skin felt hydrated and soft to the touch after too. I was looking forward to using the product again after the very first time.
After seven days, my skin felt more moisturised but not greasy. My skin tone looked brighter and more even than it did before too, making me appear more well-rested. In the mornings, my skin doesn’t feel as dry. Instead, it has a soft glow to it. It seemed to help control sebum production around my T-zone area as well.
Renel, 27
Skin type: Combination-oily, acne-prone skin
Skin concerns: Dull, textured skin with uneven skin tone, blemishes, and blackheads/whiteheads
My job requires me to manage many clients, and most of the time it can really stress me out. I usually feel tired even though I’ve slept for more than eight hours, which is why I’ve tried anti-ageing serums and ampoules to combat the physical effects. However, most of them felt oily, thick, and heavy, as if I had just applied a sleeping mask.
The innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule smelled nice and it was pretty lightweight in texture. I wasn’t sure if it would be too mild for my skin, as I didn’t see much difference from the first use apart from a bump in hydration. When I applied my foundation the next day, I did notice that my makeup was not as patchy.
After seven days, my skin felt softer and more supple. The overall texture was smoother and more refined too, and my skin was more moisturised, which gave me a well-rested glow. This ampoule would make a great addition to your skincare routine if you’re just starting out on anti-ageing products!
Shuning, 28
Skin type: Combination-oily skin
Skin concerns: Dull, textured skin with visible pores and blackheads/whiteheads
With my new job, it can get pretty stressful at work. I don’t get sufficient sleep at times too, which is why I was curious to see what the innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule could do for my skin.
When I used it for the first time, I noticed its natural scent and how quickly it was absorbed into my skin to brighten my uneven skin tone. Plus, it didn’t leave a sticky residue on my face. After one night, I woke up with bouncier, brighter skin that looked a little more energised.
After seven days, my skin texture was smoother and more refined. It definitely felt more moisturised and my skin looked glowier in the mornings. Despite a lack of sleep, my complexion was much brighter and more radiant than it looked before the trial. Its effective formula and affordable price point are definitely huge plusses for me.
I love the product and will definitely consider purchasing another full-sized bottle once I’ve used mine up!
Sin Yee, 29
Skin type: Combination-dry, sensitive skin
Skin concerns: Dull, dehydrated, textured skin with uneven skin tone, visible pores, and blackheads/whiteheads
My job requires me to liaise with colleagues from the US, UK, and Europe. There are times when I need to have conference calls with them at late night, sometimes even at midnight! The hectic and restless lifestyle starts to reflect on my skin, so not only do I have serious dark eye circles, my skin looks tired and dehydrated too.
The ampoule is way more lightweight than I thought it would be. It’s not greasy at all and it does not have a strong scent. Instead, it has a light and natural fragrance that does not linger on the skin after application. The most significant change to my skin is that it looked more plump and supple after using the ampoule for the first time. My skin also felt softer and smoother on touch. Overall, the hydration levels of my skin have greatly improved after the first day.
My skin looked more radiant and my complexion looked healthier after three days of using the ampoule. In fact, my skin was glowing on the seventh day – it’s really amazing! My skin looked brighter and it’s no longer dry, dull and tired. My healthier and more radiant skin gave me a more energetic look. I also reduced the amount of concealer used when I put on makeup (I used to pack on concealer to brighten up my skin).
What makes Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule really different is that I can see an improvement in my skin condition after using it for seven days. The results are instant and promising!
Fiona, 30
Skin type: Combination-dry skin
Skin concerns: Dull, dehydrated, textured skin with uneven skin tone, visible pores, blemishes, and blackheads/whiteheads
Since I like to stay up late and indulge in greasy foods, alcohol, and smoking, my skin doesn’t look its best.
The innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule has a lovely scent that not overwhelming, and the lightweight formula absorbs in seconds without leaving any residue on my skin. My skin felt softer and more supple after the first use.
After a week, my skin texture was a lot smoother and more refined. My skin looked brighter and more radiant too, and I looked more well-rested overall. I look glowier in the mornings and my skin doesn’t feel as dry when I wake up. This product has worked better for me than other serums and ampoules that I have used previously.
I would purchase the ampoule because it gave my skin a dewy glow and diminished visible signs of tiredness!
Tiffany, 35
Skin type: Combination-dry skin
Skin concerns: Dull, dehydrated skin with uneven skin tone, visible pores, and blackheads/whiteheads
I work long hours each day and sometimes through the night in an air-conditioned environment, so my skin tends to feel dried out after. I liked the watery, scentless ampoule as it was able to absorb in seconds without leaving a residue on my skin. The ampoule is lightweight and my skin felt refreshed after the first application.
After trying it out for a week, my skin felt soft, supple, and more moisturised. It didn’t irritate my sensitive eye area or clog my pores too, which is great. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. I liked how hydrating and easy it was to use. I don’t wake up with parched skin anymore as well.
Mei Jun, 36
Skin type: Combination-dry skin
Skin concerns: Dull, dehydrated, textured skin with uneven skin tone and blackheads/whiteheads
Between long hours of facing the laptop and taking care of my kids, I often can’t catch up on sufficient sleep. I had used an anti-ageing serum in the past to address my skin concerns, but it was too expensive to keep repurchasing.
When I used the innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule for the first time, I noticed that it absorbed fast into the skin and it hydrated my skin. My overall skin condition seemed to improve after the first use, so I was excited to keep using it.
After one week, my skin was softer and more hydrated. I even saw an increase in skin radiance after three or four uses. Overall, this ampoule worked very well for my skin type, and I did not experience any irritation during the trial. It was pleasant to use, easy to apply, and it didn’t stain my pillowcase.
Diana, 38
Skin type: Combination-dry skin
Skin concerns: Dull, dehydrated skin with uneven skin tone, and pigmentation
Late nights, sun exposure, and being cooped up in an air-conditioned environment left my skin dry and speckled with pigmentation. I’ve tried vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums to help with dehydration and pigmentation, but they have had little to no effect on my skin.
The innisfree Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule is lightweight and non-sticky. It absorbed quickly and was pleasant to use. Immediately after I used it, my skin felt refreshed and hydrated without feeling greasy.
After a week, I noticed that my skin doesn’t feel as dry in the mornings. My skin is visibly more hydrated, and I feel that the ampoule has worked slightly better than other serums and ampoules I’ve tried in the past.
Brought to you by innisfree.
