InnisFree Balancing Emulsion Review

Price: $17

Where to buy: product is not available on amazon, but can be found on other skincare beauty sites (online and in person) 

Size: 200 mL (0.6 lbs)

Vegan/Cruelty free: Not vegan; not cruelty free 

Available for Purchase here: https://us.innisfree.com/products/balancing-emulsion-with-green-tea

Purpose: This product is a lightweight serum that works as a moisturizer specializing in balancing the skin’s oil-water balance and moisturization; use this to combat dryness, dullness, and uneven textures

Pros: product is light and easily absorbed, usable on a variety of skin types, compatible with oily skin, good for sensitive skin

Cons: benefits to skin take a while to soak in, not great for normal or combination skin types, doesn’t significantly improve skin texture

Product Ingredients (watch out for allergies!): Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (86.17%), Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Fragrance / Parfum, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA

Product Details: This product contains no sulfate SLS and SLES, parabens,formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban and comes in recyclable packaging. 

How to Use: Use this product in the morning or at night or both after cleansing. You can use this product in order of other skincare steps and products, or just use this product on its own. After cleansing my face, I apply one pump of this product to my face by first warming it up in my palms and then patting it into my face. For days where I need extra moisture, I follow up this product with moisturizer or face cream. 

Scent and Texture

This product has a fragrant smell— almost smelling like perfume. While it does smell good and boost the experience of applying the product, any esthetician will recommend to avoid the use of products with a strong artificial scent. However, since this product worked well as a daily light moisturiser for me, I certainly didn’t mind the smell. One of the reasons why I use this product every night is because of its texture. This is a really lightweight product with a gel-like consistency, making it comfortable and easy to pat on to your face. This product feels light and cool to the touch, and quickly absorbed into my skin. I like using it before I sleep as opposed to heavy, creamier products that make my skin feel oily when I sleep. This on the other hand, feels moisturizing but also very light as opposed to dense. 

Effects after Use

The effects of this product are subtle because it is a lightweight moisturizing toner. However, for me, I saw an improvement in my skin tone and hydration. Right after application, my skin feels a refreshed feeling and in the morning, my skin feels a boost in moisture. Over the course of a few days, the effects start to diminish but it results in improved hydration nonetheless. If I used this product in the evening, I would usually experience glowing and noticeably smooth skin the next morning. 

How the Ingredients Work 

In this part of the review, I will address and break down the uses of the most significant ingredients in this product.

Jeju fresh Green Tea Extract: The most notable ingredient in this product is called “Beauty Green Tea” which is an ingredient from Jeju island. This ingredient was found to be the best for hydration after conducting over 2,400 studies with other green tea samples. This ingredient contains high quantities of amino acids, making it excellent for moisture and hydration. This ingredient is extracted using a double squeeze method, extracting a concentrate from fresh green tea leaves. The result is a solution that is 3.5 more enriched than normal green tea water, with 16 different kinds of amino acids that benefit the skin. 

Jeju Green Tea Seed Oil: This ingredient nurtures and boosts the skin’s moisture retention by creating a moisture barrier that not only restores moisture, but also relieves the tightness of dry skin. This ingredient contains 2% panthenol which protects the skin's natural barrier that protects the skin from external irritants. 

It’s Worth for the Price 

Because the effectiveness of the product is subtle, this is a more expensive price for the effects that you may see. This product is definitely not considered expensive when it comes to skincare, but it’s also not the cheapest option for simple moisturizer. Therefore, this product is only worth it if you like it for its other properties and if it has nice effects on your skin. Personally, because I like the feeling of this product on my skin and because it improves my skin's moisturizer for months on end, I think a price of $18 is very worth it. 

Things to look Out For

In some cases, this product has caused side effects of red spots, swelling, itching or irritation. For some, side effects will occur only if the product or the application area has been exposed to sunlight. In any case, check the ingredients for any allergies before using and stop use of the product immediately if any negative or unknown effects arise. Be sure not to use this product on areas with skin conditions or injuries. Keep the bottle capped and stored in a cool or room temperature area. 

Similar Product Alternatives: 

1. Green Tea Seed Intensive Hydrating Serum ($27): this product is the best seller of innis free and is a lightweight serum that improves hydration and complexion (https://us.innisfree.com/collections/green-tea/products/intensive-hydrating-serum-with-green-tea-seed)

2. Balancing Toner with Green Tea ($17): this product is a water- gel toner that provides lightweight hydration (https://us.innisfree.com/collections/green-tea/products/balancing-toner-with-green-tea)

3. Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed ($19): a moisturizing toner that has intense hydration (https://us.innisfree.com/collections/green-tea/products/intensive-hydrating-toner-with-green-tea-seed)

What the negative reviews say: 

• Slow or minimal results

• “Just fragrant water”; doesn’t do much for your skin

• Not worth it for the price 

• Can cause breakouts and redness on certain types of skin   

What the Positive reviews say: 

• Lightweight and comfortable; perfect for daily use

• Easily absorbed and accepted by the skin

• Compatible with oily skin types 

• Fairly priced for the quantity; product can last a long and does not expire quickly

• Amino acids produce softness and glow on complexion 

• Provides boost of hydration without an oily or heavy feeling upon application

• Non greasy feeling 

Video Reviews: 

1. InnisFree’s video about the story of their famous ingredient: http://www.innisfree.com/hk/en///product/productView.do?prdSeq=11001

2. In this video, a popular beauty YouTuber gives her honest review of the product line: //www.youtube.com/embed/j01c2r4cSTk?wmode=transparent