This post contains affiliate links. Product won in a giveaway.
I’m not new to kbeauty or skincare in general, but have only been experimenting with vitamin C for the last year or so, because of my love-hate relationship with this ingredient. Some products are stable but ineffective, others work well but oxidize fast. And yet I’m not giving up, because the benefits in terms of hyperpigmentation and even boosting the SPF effects are worth it.
My most recent vitamin C adventure was Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Spot Facial Serum (they really couldn’t make the name any longer, could they?). I got a smaller size of the serum as part of a trial kit from Picky (I recommend you join that app with my invitation code 982961C6 and enter some of the giveaways). The line of Goodal Green Tangerine products is available on YesStyle (save with reward code KBHOBBIT), Amazon, Olive Young, Jolse, Stylevana, StyleKorean, iHerb (save with code CWN6107), and eBay.
The kit included the serum, toner pads, and two sets of eye patches. The star of the whole thing is definitely the serum. It promises to improve the appearance of post-acne marks, dark spots, and freckles after just two weeks of use. The serum contains vitamin C from tangerine, along with centella asiatica, niacinamide, and various plant oils. While the marketing materials call it hypoallergenic, I would like to remind the readers that it is an unregulated term, and the serum has things like bergamot and lemon peel oil, so may not be sensitive skin friendly. More on the marketing later.
How to use:
Apply to the face after cleansing
Follow with the rest of your routine
This is a clear gel with a wonderful texture. It’s easy to spread, not sticky, and smells like delicious fresh citrus with a hint of bitterness. I use mine in the morning after a toner pad, and then follow with SPF. It’s very light and pleasant. And since I keep mine in the fridge to prolong its life, I also get a nice cooling refreshing sensation when applying.
The bottle is glass, even in the trial size, with a convenient pump.
The toner pads promise to moisturize the skin and act as a booster for the rest of the steps. Made with natural fruit acids to offer mild exfoliation (I used them daily until I was out and I can say the exfoliation is super mild - I would still use a separate exfoliator 1-2 times a week). The pads have differently textured sides - a smoother side for the whole face and an embossed one for the t-zone.
The eye patches share some of the same ingredients as the pads and the serum. They promise to revitalize the eye area in just five minutes and are embossed to provide better adherence. The full size version of them comes in a jar.
My impressions
I enjoyed the toner pads and the eye patches. The fully saturated (actually dripping) pads were a refreshing start to my morning. There’s nothing earth shattering about them, and I probably wouldn’t run out to get the full size, but they weren’t bad either.
The eye patches adhered really well and I could actually move around with them on if I wanted to. Since I only had two packs, I can’t speak about any long-term effects. But they were refreshing and plumping. Those I wouldn’t mind using again.
I was most curious about the serum. Despite being a trial size, it was actually a really good amount. I received mine in mid-April and have been using it almost daily since then. I’m still not out of it (and it hasn’t changed colors / oxidized). I have noticed a more even skin tone and my freckles are looking paler. Of course, it’s so warm and sunny now that I don’t expect to get huge results - I just want to avoid sprouting hundreds of new freckles. And daily SPF is a must for me all year round. Check out this video to learn about my favorite sunscreens.
I love the texture and the scent. This is definitely one of my favorite vitamin C serums ever. That doesn’t mean I won’t touch on the problematic marketing.
If you’ve been reading my blog, then you won’t be surprised that I have an issue with the advertisement of these products. Marketed as free of “20 harmful ingredients”, the serum is heavily promoted as safe, hypoallergenic, and overall “green”. I think it’s fine that brands follow consumer preferences for ingredients, and if someone wants to avoid parabens, it’s nice to have clear labeling as “free of parabens” (I don’t want to get into whether parabens are OK or not, I am not a scientist, I simply think if paraben free is what people want, it’s nice that brands deliver that). What I have an issue with is the whole hypoallergenic thing. Orange peel oil, lemon peel oil, bergamot oil, limonene, linalool, and even lavender oil are all known potential irritants to sensitive skin. I do not react poorly to them, and I actually really like this serum. I just think the marketing needs to be tweaked a little. Not everyone is going to even know that essential oils may be irritating, not to mention comb through ingredients like I do.
So, kudos to the formulators, a little slap on the wrist to the marketing department. At the end of the day, I adore this serum and I would absolutely get a full size of it. It’s great for my combination skin.
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Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Spot Facial Serum ingredients: Tangerine Extract (70%), 1,3-Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Purified Water, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Arbutin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyl-Dimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Panthenol, Choleth-24, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Ascorbyl Glucoside (100ppm), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool
Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Toner Pad ingredients: Purified Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Propanediol, Citrus Tangerina Extract(1,000ppm), Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Choleth-24, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Alantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Ethyl Ascorbyl Ether (100ppm), Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool
Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Eye Gel Patch ingredients: Purified Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Carrageenan, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Citrus Tangerina Extract (150ppm), Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Guar Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glucomannan, Calcium Chloride, Alantoin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Sucrose, Calcium Lactate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbyl Glucoside (100ppm), Potassium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arbutin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Linalool