I always have at least a few soothing / calming products in my arsenal, because I never know when redness or a breakout may strike.
I recently won Make p:rem Tamanu Calming Serum from CrediThink. It’s available from their* Amazon store. If you aren’t familiar with CrediThink, they started out as an Amazon merchant, and then became a curator for lesser-known, indie Korean beauty brands. My first experiences with brands like make p:rem, Whamisa, Isntree, and Urang were through their shop. Everything is authentic, and you can even enjoy Amazon prime shipping (hello, instant gratification).
Make p:rem Tamanu Calming Serum is marketed toward people with sensitive, irritated skin. It contains hyaluronic acid with different molecular weights, an array of plant extracts, and niacinamide. But the star ingredient is tamanu oil.
Tamanu oil is derived from the fruit of the Puraha tree native to Madagascar, and is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The fruits are only harvested twice a year; the oil is extracted using a cold press method.
In addition to a 25% decrease in redness, make p:rem Tamanu Calming Serum promises to increase moisture levels by 60% and help with acne scars without clogging pores.
How to use:
Apply at the serum step (after toner/essence, before moisturizer)
Can also be used as a sleeping pack by applying 2-3 layers
The directions to layer this serum, turning it into a sleeping pack, may sound confusing. But the make p:rem Tamanu Calming Serum is unlike any other serum I have tried - it is creamy, almost like an emulsion / lotion, so I can definitely see how a couple of layers could serve as moisturizer. I, however, use only one layer, and then finish off with a different moisturizer.
My impressions
I have a lot of thoughts about this serum, so bear with me.
First of all, for my combination skin that’s not too sensitive, it works really well. The texture is very pleasant, creamy and not greasy. I use this make p:rem serum in the evenings and wake up with a glowy (not oily) face. For mornings, I think it would be a bit too nourishing for me. Someone with dry skin may enjoy it in the mornings.
The one drawback is the scent. The culprit here is tamanu oil, and this serum has a whooping 10% of it. The smell is earthy, herbal, and very potent. I mentioned that I use this before bed, and the next morning my shirts smell like it (even the next afternoon - I noticed that when putting my jammies in the wash). That’s not a deal breaker for me, especially since the smell comes from a natural source and not from a poorly formulated artificial fragrance, but if you are someone easily bothered by herbal aromas - this isn’t for you.
Another thing I would like to point out is the brand’s claim that the formula is hypoallergenic. One look at the ingredients (listed at the end of this review) reveals a variety of plant extracts, including lavender, peppermint, and bergamot oils. I am surprised to see potentially irritating essential oils in a formulation for troubled skin, and then have it called hypoallergenic. I am not a cosmetic formulator or a dermatologist, but it’s something that caught my eye. If I had very sensitive or reactive skin, I would avoid all fragrance, including essential oils (and not just artificial fragrance). For sensitive, acne prone skin, I prefer short and simple ingredient lists with a low chance of causing further issues.
At the end of the day, I’m liking the serum and have been reaching for it every night. It works for my skin, and I’m pretty used to the scent by now. But I think some of the claims (especially the one about repairing eczema), are a little ambitious, to put it nicely.
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*Affiliate link
This product was sent to me for free. This is not a sponsored review.
Make P:rem Tamanu Calming Serum ingredients: Water, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Candelilla Wax Esters, Sorbitan Stearate, Simethicone, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate , Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil , Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Copaifera Officinalis (Balsam Copaiba) Resin, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Sprout Extract, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil