Review: Zymogen Greenapple AHA Skin Care Series

In view of the Zymogen's launch in Singapore, CotDe Co., Ltd. specially sent a whole range of their best seller skin care products all the way from Korea to Singapore for my review. It is such an honour to receive their full set of Zymogen Greenapple AHA skin care products that I felt kind of nervous when opening the parcel.(^_^" haha~)

Zymogen products are manufactured in Korea by the company CotDe Co., Ltd. 

CotDe Co., Ltd. manages four big cosmetics brands which are: Zymogen, Ciracle, O'sum and Skin Vegetarian. Each of the brands has their own characteristics and concepts (Organic, Fermentation, Vegetation, Cosmeceutical)

Products out of its boxes, line up not in sequence as the above.

Steps in using Zymogen Greenapple AHA
There isn't a write-up on what to use before and after hence I shall write my own skincare routine.
As Zymogen doesn't have Moisturizer, they only have Toner/ Emulsion and Cream, therefore I assume their Emulsion is either a moisturizer or a pre-serum.
Cream is already a moisturizer in cream form (usually use at night), so it's kind of natural to think that Emulsion is a lotion type of moisturizer that is to be used in the morning.

But in Korea, Emulsions are recommended to be used before Essence/Serum.

After much debating, I feel that it is best not to neglect any of the products so I came out with:
Wash Foam ▶ Toner ▶ AHA 10 Essence ▶ Emulsion ▶ Cream
OR switching the Emulsion & Essence like so:
Wash Foam ▶ Toner ▶ Emulsion▶ AHA 10 Essence▶ Cream

At times I wish to skip the Cream, I will do this:
Wash Foam ▶ Toner ▶ AHA 10 Essence ▶ Emulsion

All of the product expiry date are printed at the bottom of the boxes. Incase the boxes are thrown away, expiry date can also be found printed on the bottom of all the bottles.

Product
250ml of the wash foam is stored in this pump plastic bottle. The outlet of the dispenser is made at a good size where it provides the right amount of product per pump.
The wash foam colour is translucent yellow.

Swatch
Below image shows 1 pump of product and then 2 pumps of product.

2 pumps of wash foam product add with a little bit of water, lather up and it will look like below. A thick and pretty creamy white lather without bubbles.
When I add in more water, the lather turns pretty foamy and bubbly like so in the 2nd image.

Packaging
Note that most of the Greenapple AHA products can be kept for 12 months after opening.
Toner contains 0.4% of AHA, higher than the Foam Wash.

Product
Toner comes in a pretty heavy glass pump bottle. Glass is non-porous and will not deteriorate so it helps ensure freshness and the product inside retains its strength.
The plastic cap is light and is easy to remove and attach back. The cap fits perfectly and will not drop out when I tilt the bottle.

Swatch
The toner is a transparent clear liquid, look just like water. Below image shows 1 pump of toner.

Face Swatch
I will alternate between cotton pad and hands. When using cotton pad, I will pump more than 4 times to make it damp enough. Otherwise, 2-3 pumps of toner on my palm is enough for my face and neck.
Sometimes I will use both, by cleaning the skin surface with cotton pad first and then pat on more toner using my palms.
Skin appears slightly dewy after applying the toner.

♦ Keep skin clear of new troubles
Gentle Apple Fragrance
Stability to Skin
Gently cleans and soothes the skin with apple fragrance of citrus type

♦ Sebum Care
Skin Tone Care
Care for Transparent Skin like Bright Apple Blossom
Patent ingredients extracted from apple flower care bright and clean skin for fresh skin texture

♦ Purifying Skin
Pore Care
Fresh and Bouncy Elasticity of Apple's Bare Skin
Apple and licorice root extracts help pore controls of oily and combination skin for clean skin

♦ Exfoliating Control
Rough Skin Care
Smooth and Soft Skin Texture like the skin of an Apple
Organic acids from fermented  Korean famous ‘Yesan Apple’ Extracts recover your skin texture soft and smooth through eliminating old skin cells and rough skin texture.

How to Use
1.    After washing your face at night, apply to face or neck anywhere you want. (If you feel dryness, you may use moisturizing products)
2.    Avoid area of eyes.
3.    Use 2-3times on a week for sensitive skin type.

Notice
Product contain over 10% of AHA, have to use after patch test.
Test method: Please drop one or two drops on the back of ears or arm and check redness or itching after about 30 min.

Ingredients
정제수(Purified Water), 글라이콜릭애씨드(Glycolic Acid), 부틸렌글라이콜(Butylene Glycol), 말릭애씨드(Malic Acid), 소듐하이드록사이드(Sodium Hydroxide), 비스-피이지-18메칠에텔디메칠실란(Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane), 하이드록시에칠셀룰로오스(Hydroxyethylcellulose), 피이지-60하이드로제네이티드캐스터오일(PEG-60Hydrogenated Castor Oil), 판테놀(Panthenol), 알란토인(Allantoin), 나한백가지추출물(Thujopsis Dolabrata BRANCH Extract), 화이트윌로우껍질추출물(Salix Alba Bark Extract), 효모/사과/슈크로오스발효여과물(Saccharomyces/Apple/Sucrose Ferment Filtrate), 사과나무꽃추출물(Pyrus Malus Flower Extract), 프로폴리스추출물(Propolis Extract), 목련나무껍질추출물(Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract), 왕귤추출물(Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract), 캐모마일꽃/잎추출물(Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract), 녹차추출물(Green Tea Extract), 페녹시에탄올(Phenoxyethanol), 향료(Fragrance)

Recommend skin
1. Rough and lack smoothness skin texture
2. Having a bad make-up and feeling tiredness of skin
3. Dull and Dark skin
4. Dry flaky skin.
5. Concerning with exfoliating control

The essence has AHA of 10% therefore the name AHA 10 Essence. Same like the other products, this essence also has a life span of 12 months.
From the ingredient list, I spotted Glycolic Acid and Malic Acid (both an AHA) are high in content as they're listed right on top of the ingredient list. With high percent of AHA, it is able to exfoliate skin cells by breaking down substance in skin that holds skin together.
AHAs are generally safe when used on the skin as a cosmetic agent using the recommended dosage. The most common side-effects are mild skin irritations, redness and flaking. The severity usually depends on the pH and the concentration of the acid used. Chemical peels tend to have more severe side-effects including blistering, burning and skin discoloration, although they are usually mild and go away a day or two after treatment. (Ref: HERE)

Product
The Essence is stored in a glass bottle with dropper and is plastic wrapped for double protection to prevent contamination as well as leakage.
I noticed that the plastic insert within the bottle rim is an extended insert (pointed out with arrows in image below). This reduces the chances of the glass dropper from hitting against the bottle and breaking it (I had experience breaking the dropper before).

Swatch
The essence is clear water-like liquid. In my palm is 4-5 drops of essences, it's the usual amount I apply on my face.

Face Swatch
As the essence has a high percentage of AHA, so I only pump 1 drop on my face to show in my face swatch. If too many pumps at one area, it might be too strong for my skin to take it.

Review
- sweet green apple fragrance, not a slight odour to it
- lightweight, water-like consistency but slightly thickened
- 4 to 5 drops for whole face application and up to 8 drops for face & neck
- I spread the essence on my palms and lightly pat on to my skin (easier & faster than spreading them)
- absorbs very quickly into skin (that is why I use patting)
- will not cause any irritation to normal skin
- will cause irritation to any open wounds be it very small (sensitive skin pls take note of How to Use)
- skin around wounds will feel prickly (sometimes stings but not burn) upon application and subsides immediately within seconds
- I will avoid using it over open wounds caused by acne/pimples etc, unless it is healed and the wound has closed
- non-greasy, non-shiny finish
- I use essence mostly once every night (sometimes both day & night depending on skin condition)
- will not oxidize my makeup even if I use it on day
- the next morning right after I washed up, skin looks so much clearer and translucent
- skin feels hydrated
- skin feels very smooth, supple and clear of white/black heads
- my skin tone become more translucent and clear than ever especially the white heads along my jaw and nose
- it helps to soften all white & black heads and makes it easier to be extracted
- removes my most stubborn and huge white & black heads and prevent it coming back
- eliminate skin problems my oil spots, once-a-while pop-up acnes and softens my dry flaky scars
- it cleans my skin a lot, however it doesn't really whiten it
- my dark spots/scars are still visible probably because whitening is not its main function
- it assists in softening skin surface and enhancing regeneration of new skin cells as I can feel skin texture feeling smoother & silkier as days goes by
- skin doesn't feel greasy or dry after use
- controls sebum on T-zone and cheeks area
- may crash with other products
- recommended to avoid using essence if skin has a lot of acne with open wounds
It is my first time seeing my face look so clear and translucent (note the word translucent). Usually my face will appear fairer when using other products but this essence with a high content of AHA is able to make my skin looks translucent! My skin may not look fairer than before but I'm still happy to see translucent skin. Basically I feel that my skin looks a little bit greenish (like very, very pale apple green) and the surface of my skin looks semi-translucent (not literally, but it does look like so to me). The pores look cleaner with less gunk in them too. Ask me if my skin looks radiant, I guess I'll say just a little. But I don't look pale, like what I often get when I use whitening products.
It's pretty much a special experience for me to get such kind of results but I'm totally liking it. ^_^

Solution for Greasy Trouble Skin, Oily Skin and Combination of Dry and Oily Skin Types!!!
For Soft Skin Texture and Clean Pore with Removing Slick on Your Skin
Patent: Yesan Apple Blossoms Extracts (특허: 예산사과꽃잎추출물)

♦ Exfoliating Control
Rough Skin Care
Smooth and Soft Skin Texture like the skin of an Apple
Organic acids from fermented  Korean famous ‘Yesan Apple’ Extracts recover your skin texture soft and smooth through eliminating old skin cells and rough skin texture.

♦ Purifying Skin
Pore Care
Fresh and Bouncy Elasticity of Apple's Bare Skin
Apple and licorice root extracts help pore controls of oily and combination skin for clean skin

♦ Sebum Care
Skin Tone Care
Care for Transparent Skin like Bright Apple Blossom
Patent ingredients extracted from apple flower care bright and clean skin for fresh skin texture

♦ Keep skin clear of new troubles
Gentle Apple Fragrance
Stability to Skin
Gently cleans and soothes the skin with apple fragrance of citrus type

How to Use
1. Apply to cleansed and toned facial skin day and night avoiding immediate eye area.
2. Apply suitable amount to a cotton pad. Gently brush the cotton pad onto face from down to up.
3.Use it on dull and greasy skin for refreshing and softness.

Ingredients
정제수(Purified Water), 에탄올(Ethanol), 부틸렌글라이콜(Butylene Glycol), 호호바씨오일(Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil), 베타-글루칸(ß-glucan), 펜틸렌글라이콜(Pentylene Glycol), 소듐아크릴레이트/소듐아크릴로일디메칠타우레이트코폴리머(Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer), 폴리소르베이트80(Polysorbate 80), 이소헥사데칸(Isohexadecane), 라우레스-4(Laureth-4), 라우레스-23 (Laureth-23), 디메치콘크로스폴리머(Dimethicone Crosspolymer), 디메치콘(Mimethicone), 사이클로펜타실록산(Cyclopentasiloxane), 소듐락테이트(Sodium Lactate), 알지닌(Arginine), 카보머(Carbomer), 하이드록시에칠셀룰로오스(Hydroxyethylcellulose), 디포타슘글리시리제이트(Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate), 알란토인(Allantoin), 효모/사과/슈크로오스발효여과물(Saccharomyces/Apple/Sucrose Ferment Filtrate), 락틱애씨드(Lactic Acid), 글라이콜애씨드(Glycol Acid), 징크피씨에이(Zinc PCA), 사과나무꽃추출물(Pyrus Malus Flower Extract), 말릭애씨드(Malic Acid), 페녹시에탄올(Phenoxyethanol), 메칠파라벤(Methylparaben), 향료(Fragrance)

Recommend skin
1. Oily, trouble, pore skin type
2. A person concerned for big pores
3. A person concerned for greasy and slack skin in T-Zone Area
4. A person concerned for sebum due to oily skin 

Packaging

12 month life span as stated on the box and it has AHA of 0.3%, lower than the Toner AHA percentage.

Product
Its pump bottle is exactly the same as the Toner. Sometimes I will take the wrong bottle since they are also of the same size.

Swatch
The emulsion is a translucent watery milky lotion.

This emulsion feels alot like the Toner but alittle towards the milky lotion type. On back of my hand is only 1 pump of emulsion. For face and neck application, 3 full pumps is more than enough.

As can see from the picture, the milky white content is wrapped within a clear watery liquid. It means that the emulsion is really watery. In the 3rd pic my face looks slightly glossy after application.

Review
- light weight, feels like slightly thickened water
- its sweet green apple scent is stronger than the others
- non-greasy
- feels like Toner but a little bit like lotion
- turns into watery liquid when spread out
- has tiny bit sticky after-touch or sometimes none
- absorbs very quickly
- feels & smells very refreshing after its been absorbed
- sometimes I use cotton pad to apply (need more than 3 pumps), and sometimes I use my palms (3 palms) for both face & neck
- light weight and spreads like water, therefore I can apply it to other parts of my body too without feeling greasy all over
- pretty hydrating
- doesn't irritate my skin
Works very good as either a pre-serum or a light moisturizer. I almost can't feel anything when I apply the emulsion on my face & body and yet, I can feel that it's hydrating my skin both on the surface and beneath it. I can also use this emulsion to combine with other types of toners and essences without any problems. I feel that this emulsion does help clear the troubled areas a little, but concentrats more on the hydrating factor maybe because of the high content of Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil also known as Jojoba Oil.

Patent: Yesan Apple Blossoms Extracts
Rapid absorption and good for people with oily skin
Try to change your skin to be moisturised and bright more

♦ Exfoliating Control
Rough Skin Care
Smooth and Soft Skin Texture like the skin of an Apple
Organic acids from fermented  Korean famous ‘Yesan Apple’ Extracts recover your skin texture soft and smooth through eliminating old skin cells and rough skin texture.

♦ Purifying Skin
Pore Care
Fresh and Bouncy Elasticity of Apple's Bare Skin
Apple and licorice root extracts help pore controls of oily and combination skin for clean skin

♦ Sebum Care
Skin Tone Care
Care for Transparent Skin like Bright Apple Blossom
Patent ingredients extracted from apple flower care bright and clean skin for fresh skin texture

♦ Keep skin clear of new troubles
Gentle Apple Fragrance
Stability to Skin
Gently cleans and soothes the skin with apple fragrance of citrus type

How to Use
1. Apply suitable amount to a cotton pad. Gently brush the cotton pad onto face from down to up.
2. Apply on both morning & night.
3. Use it on dull and greasy skin for refreshing and softness.

Ingredients
정제수(Purified Water), 에탄올(Ethanol), 부틸렌글라이콜(Butylene Glycol), 호호바씨오일(Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil), 베타-글루칸(ß-glucan), 펜틸렌글라이콜(Pentylene Glycol), 소듐아크릴레이트/소듐아크릴로일디메칠타우레이트코폴리머(Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer), 폴리소르베이트80(Polysorbate 80), 이소헥사데칸(Isohexadecane), 라우레스-4(Laureth-4), 라우레스-23 (Laureth-23), 디메치콘크로스폴리머(Dimethicone Crosspolymer), 디메치콘(Mimethicone), 사이클로펜타실록산(Cyclopentasiloxane), 소듐락테이트(Sodium Lactate), 알지닌(Arginine), 카보머(Carbomer), 하이드록시에칠셀룰로오스(Hydroxyethylcellulose), 디포타슘글리시리제이트(Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate), 알란토인(Allantoin), 효모/사과/슈크로오스발효여과물(Saccharomyces/Apple/Sucrose Ferment Filtrate), 락틱애씨드(Lactic Acid), 글라이콜애씨드(Glycol Acid), 징크피씨에이(Zinc PCA), 사과나무꽃추출물(Pyrus Malus Flower Extract), 말릭애씨드(Malic Acid), 페녹시에탄올(Phenoxyethanol), 메칠파라벤(Methylparaben), 향료(Fragrance)

Recommend skin
1.Oily, Acne, pore skin type
2.A person concerned for big pores
3.A person concerned for greasy and slack skin in T-Zone Area
4.A person concerned for sebum due to oily skin

Packaging

AHA 0.1% same percentage as the Wash Foam.

Product
The cream, moisturizer of the Greenapple AHA series is packed in a glass jar with an extra white plastic lid inside to prevent contamination.
Sadly this product doesn't come with a spatula so I need to use my own.

Swatch
The cream looks like a thick cream-cream but actually it is of a gel-cream consistency. One scoop of this cream is just nice for my face.

Face Swatch
This was taken when I use it during a pretty humid and hot day where my skin will automatically turn glossy after I apply any types of cream.

Review
- sweet green apple scent with a bit of spice to it
- a little buttery, medium thick kind of gel-cream
- it doesn't feel like it contains any water or oil in it as it feels like rather 'dry' when spread out
- feels a bit cooling when applied
- has tiny bit of greasiness and a little sticky after-touch
- after application, face look only a little bit shiny or sometimes none
- skin feels quite hydrated and moisturized
- face looks a little greasy after sometime, but less oily than other kinds of face cream
- I use it for both day and night
- when I use it before my makeup, I tend to get some oil spots (with slight inflammation) on my face therefore I switch to only using it when I am not putting on makeup
- I also refrain from applying too much cream on my neck as that area is prone to oil spots as well
- it doesn't clog pores or give me any inflammation if I use it everyday at night only
- it feels a little bit like silicone with moisturizing factor
- after washing it off on next day, skin feels translucent, clear and not oily
Creams usually have thicker consistency and sometimes feel greasy, however this Cream doesn't feel like the conventional greasy cream type of cream! (I hope I'm not confusing you all! lolx~)
I think because of its 'dry' texture, it doesn't make my face look like oil slick on the next day after I used it overnight. When used in an air-con room, my skin don't appear greasy or shiny at all. Otherwise on a normal day, my face will look shiny after applying skincare.



Overall Review
Zymogen Greenapple AHA has helped address my concerns with my troubled skin such as the very stubborn white & black heads, the not so stubborn ones too, dull skin, lots of dead skin cells that cause rough skin and oxidation.
Every morning after I washed my face, my skin feels so smooth, bright and translucent! I am liking what I see in the mirror everyday.
I will not use AHA 10 Essence everyday as I find that it may be too strong for my skin to take it so I use it when necessary or on alternate days. Mostly use it when my skin starts to feel rough or bumpy upon touch or when it oxidizes.
So far I do not experience any break outs except when I have my makeup over it, that I found a few oil spots on my face and neck. I feel that it is the cream that I cannot use during the day if I'm wearing makeup hence I switched to using it at night only. Thereafter, I do not have such problems anymore.
Zymogen Greenapple AHA is great for troubled skin and for both combination & oily skin. For people who have skin like mine, sometimes troubled sometimes not and experience very dull unhealthy skin, I recommend you to use these products especially the Wash Foam, Emulsion and AHA 10 Essence.


Price
Zymogen Greenapple AHA Wash Foam (250ml) SGD$25
Zymogen Greenapple AHA Toner (105ml) SGD$34
Zymogen Greenapple AHA Emulsion (105ml) SGD$34
Zymogen Greenapple AHA AHA 10 Essence (30ml) SGD$39
Zymogen Greenapple AHA Cream (50ml) SGD$35

Where to buy?
QOO10 IKOREAMALL (Available to overseas buyers too)

Websites
ZymogenAsia
ZymogenAsia Facebook
Zymogen Korea
CotDe Co,. Ltd

Till then! Cheers! (●♡●)

Products name written and coloured in turquoise are sponsored by CotDe Co,. Ltd to me for trial & review. I am not affiliated to the company. All photos are taken by me unless stated. All photos are true.