In my current skin care journey to strive for even skin tone dan minimize the appearance and visibility of my acne scars, I’m constantly on the lookout for skin care products specifically formulated for whitening / brightening purposes.
After trying out Naruko Raw Job’s Tears previously, which I find a tad too gentle (hence the not so obvious effects), I was eager to try the Apple Seed & Tranexamic Acid specifically formulated to tackle dark spots.
Product Claims:
“Precise brightening with anti-aging and repairing properties. 3% Transexamic Acid (TA) the highest percentage of concentrated TA for the most effective brightening (Approved by Taiwan FDA)”
Normally I stay far far away from anti aging products as I tend to break out from them, as anti-aging products are usually formulated for mature, dry skin – hence will be too heavy for my combi-oily acne prone skin.
But this line is recommeded for usage as whitening care for those with oily & acne-prone skin types according to Naruko’s skin type classification. Plus, it seems that this line is ‘stronger’ in whitening / brightening so I decided to purchase this line (which is only available online, not retailing at Watson’s)
I bought 3 items from the line: toner, milky lotion and serum.
Left-Right: Apple Seed & T-Acid Essence (Toner), Milky Lotion, Serum
1. First the essence (toner).
Texture: runny like water.
Smell: fruity citrusy, much stronger scent than the Raw Job’s Tears but tolerable.
Verdict: LOVE! I pat this with my fingertips instead of using cotton pad. Lasted me 4-5months. Leaves my skin matte yet glowing and very soft to touch. My cheeks felt a bit tight upon application but I like it as it is formulated for acne skin so I expect this to be lightweight and sebum-controlling instead of intensely hydrating / mositurizing. Would repurchase!
2. Second, the milky lotion.
Texture: white liquid that is thicker than water, that’s the best way I can describe it.
Smell: citrusy smell but lighter than the toner.
Verdict: I like applying this after the essence (toner) as it hydrates the skin. Sometimes when I felt that my skin is oilier than usual, I skip my serum & moisturizer, I only applied the toner and this milky lotion (and sunscreen in the morning) and my face looks hydrated for the whole day.
However this is an extra step that I felt a bit unneccessary. Also this does not interact well with my moisturizer (both gel and cream) as I find white skin flakes like eraser bits fell off my skin as I rub / massage in my moisturizer. Maybe this milky lotion exfoliates or just does not penetrate well into the skin hence it is very unlikely that I would repurchase this item.
Other reviews by Yvette: Toner & Milk and Purple Snowflake
3. Finally, the serum.
Texture: white & creamy but sinks right into the skin, hydrates very well yet I felt that it is lightweight on my skin.
Smell: like the milky lotion.
Verdict: LOVE! I have finished my first bottle in about 2 months with day & night usage, my second bottle in 3 and a 1/2 months using it only at night. Takes more time to sink into the skin than the Raw Job’s Tears Serum but I prefer this especially at night. I also use less amount of the Apple Seed & T-Acid Serum than the RJT Serum as this is creamier and maybe also because the milky lotion provides sufficient hydration before I apply the serum.
Other reviews by Jamie, Pammie, and Shorthairlady
Overall:
After using the line until I’m almost finished with the items (I’ve almost used up the toner and milky lotion and on my second bottle of the serum), I can attest that the products of Naruko’s Apple Seed & T-Acid line are effective in brightening my skin, but most importantly I did not break out from using the products.
In addition to my fondness in applying the toner and serum daily – (lightweight hydration perfect in humid tropics!), I’ve noticed that my old acne scars seems to be less and less visible as time goes by. The scars are not completely gone, but have faded from brown spots to pinkish spots – thus less noticeable.
On the rare occasions that I do have a few tiny zits (lack of sleep or too much stress), the newly formed acne scars are not permanent, they are hardly noticeable in 1-2weeks, whereas pre my whitening/brightening regimen, would take months to fade away.
I used the Apple Seed & T-Acid Toner, Milky Lotion and Serum in conjunction to my current skincare: Avene Cleanance Gel (cleanser, day & night), B.Liv “Off With Those Heads” Gel (only applied on my nose day & night), Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free Cream Gel (day moisturizer), Kiehl’s Derm Solutions Ultra Light Daily UV Defense (suncreen in the morning) and Naruko Raw Job’s Tears Brightening Cream (night moisturizer).
Morning Skin Care: after cleansing – toner, milky lotion, eye cream, serum, nose gel, gel moisturizer / sunscreen
Night Skin Care: after cleansing – toner, milky lotion, night eye gelly, serum, nose gel, cream moisturizer
In Conclusion:
However, now that I am back in my hometown (Jakarta, Indonesia) where purchasing the toner & serum is proven a bit difficult (only available online in Singapore), unfortunately once I have finished the line, I would have to find an alternative due to the lack of accessibility.
BUT if I were staying in Singapore, I would definitely keep on repurchasing the Apple Seed & T-Acid Essence (Toner) and Serum primarily for the following reasons: major points for effectiveness of the products and affordability (budget wise)!
Until my next review!
Always Happening 