Most of us are familiar with toners and moisturisers, but a good majority are clueless about facial essences. In essence (no pun intended!), essences are lightweight, hydrating liquids that prime the skin to better absorb serums and creams.
Personally, I love using facial essences after applying toner – some have been very effective in evening out my skin tone. However, good facial essences can be really expensive, and I was not keen on parting with a huge sum regularly. Hence, I’ve stopped using facial essences since I emptied my last bottle, and am looking for a more wallet-friendly option.
New L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence review: first impressions
Leading drugstore brand L’Oréal Paris has recently launched a new facial essence – the Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence – that not only aims to hydrate, but also reveal crystal clear skin. It is powered by brightening actives (Hepes, Salicylic Acid) and Centella, which are well-known for accelerating skin renewal and giving a bright, clear complexion. Powered by micronised technology, the essence penetrates deep into skin layers to deeply repair and instantly hydrate the skin.
I was initially worried that this facial essence from L’Oréal Paris would not smell great. I am very sensitive to scents in my beauty products, and some facial essences with Centella Asiatica’s scent weren’t to my liking, but this one actually has a very pleasant fragrance.
It is easy to pour out a little amount of essence.
This micro-essence feels slightly thicker than toner (as it should), but is actually more lightweight than serums. It spreads easily on skin and gets absorbed very quickly due to its watery texture, which is great for those with oily or combination-oily skin, especially under Singapore’s hot and humid weather. My skin doesn’t feel sticky either!
The essence has a lightweight, watery texture.
Having formed such good first impressions already, I was even more curious to find out if the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence would really be as effective as the claims say.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence review: results
Although this facial essence claims to deliver many benefits beyond just hydration, it is still important to check its hydrating properties, as moisturisation is the key to clear and supple skin.
I tested the oil and moisture levels of my skin first, before proceeding to apply the essence on my face. I waited for about two hours before running the tests again, and compared the results:
It is obvious from the results that the facial essence has boosted my skin’s hydration levels and kept it moisturised for a period of time, all while keeping my oil levels in check. Great!
Now, the most important test is to see whether the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence can really give me crystal-clear skin over time, so I used this product twice a day (once in the morning and another time at night) for one week. I took photos before and after the testing period in the same spot under the same lighting so that results are portrayed as accurately as possible.
To start off, I have rather sensitive skin, and my skin complexion is rather uneven and dull, of which the T-zone tends to be oily. Given this sensitive and oily combination, my search for the right moisturising essence or lotion has never been easy.
After using the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence for one week, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my skin tone looks more even now, and my overall complexion is certainly brighter and more radiant than before. I’ve received a few compliments about my bare skin after just a few days of using this essence, with some even mistaking the improvement in my skin as the result of an expensive facial! The brightening of my complexion can be attributed to the Hepes and Salicylic Acid in the essence, which helps to exfoliate dead skin cells and accelerate skin renewal so that healthier, clearer skin is revealed over time. Thanks to the repairing and soothing properties of Centella Asiatica in the essence, my blemishes AND red patches have been reduced by quite a fair bit too. It seems that “crystal clear skin” is not as impossible to attain as I thought it would be!
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence: final thoughts
Considering that I have only been using this for only a short period of one week, I am very impressed by the results that I have seen so far – I have not seen my skin looking so clear in a long, long time! My skin looks “clear” in the sense that it is now brighter, more radiant, more even and smoother. I used to be very hesitant about going out without applying foundation because of my bad skin complexion, but these days I go out bare-faced, naked skin without makeup, confidently. On some days, I have opted to use only tinted moisturiser instead of foundation when I go to work!
I am certain that I will be able to see even better results with continued usage of this facial essence, including the reduction of fine lines and possibly even dewy skin over time.
Personally, I feel that L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence is absolutely value-for-money: it comes at a very affordable price tag for a huge volume. Another plus point: the facial essence is available at so many retail points that it is extremely convenient to purchase (and repurchase!) this.
I strongly recommend this product to everyone, whether you are buying a facial essence for the first time, or looking for a cheaper alternative to your holy grail product.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence is available at major retailers such as Watsons, Guardian, Fairprice, selected departmental stores (Metro, OG, Robinsons, BHG) as well as on Lazada and Shopee. It retails at SGD35.90 for 130ml, and SGD22.90 for 65ml.
