This is a sponsored post with affiliate links. Product provided by BeMused Korea.
The more I use Korean skincare, the more I appreciate a good essence. It might even be my favorite skincare step. One of the essences I’ve been testing is T’else Kombucha Teatox Essence, available on Be Mused Korea (save 15% on any full priced items with my code LUCY15).
The Teatox Essence is 74% kombucha, which is made by fermenting black tea and offers a plethora of skincare benefits. It promises to provide lasting moisture, improve the appearance of pores and overall skin texture, and give the user radiant skin. Other beneficial ingredients include niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and probiotics (not surprising in a fermented product). A full list is provided at the end of the review.
How to use
Apply after cleansing using a cotton pad or hands
Gently pat in
Follow with the rest of your routine
This product can also be used for a quick DIY sheet mask by soaking cotton pads and applying them to areas in need of extra care for 5-10 minutes.
T’else Kombucha Essence comes in a glass bottle with a twist off lid. I personally love glass packaging, because it adds a certain aura of luxury to my skincare routine. The texture is thicker than water but still very easy to pour into palms - no excess shaking required. I do not notice a scent even when specifically trying to hold the product close to my nose. The formula is vegan.
My impressions
I have combination skin that likes to keep me on my toes - the t-zone can be oily and shiny, while the rest might be normal or so dry that I see flakes. It’s definitely never boring. My morning steps are mostly minimalist - a toner pad, vitamin C serum, and sunscreen (or just sunscreen if I’m very unmotivated). But the evening routine is when I relax, unwind, and take some much needed time to myself.
T’else Kombucha Teatox Essence is my first ever product from this brand, and it didn’t disappoint. I love the thicker texture of the essence and the fact that it has no noticeable scent. My skin is typically resilient, but I still get occasional irritation and redness. T’else seems to soothe and hydrate my skin every time, even when the barrier isn’t at its best, so I reach for it pretty much every evening. The most sensitive skin may not love bergamot and citrus oils in the ingredients, but those do not bother me.
As a side note, this is why I love smaller kbeauty shops so much - I get to discover amazing brands that aren’t available from huge platforms. This isn’t the first time Be Mused Korea introduces me to an instant favorite (Phykology comes to mind, reviews here).
I love the sensory experience of applying this essence - the hands glide over the skin so effortlessly (I use my bare palms) that I end up taking a few extra moments to gently massage my skin, letting the underlying musculature relax from the day full of stress and tension. I finish the process with serum and cream (T’else makes great ones - stay tuned for those reviews). I notice softer, most supple skin and a visible reduction in the look of forehead lines, most likely due to extra plumping and hydration. I can’t comment too much on the texture improvement claims, because my skin texture was mostly fine even before this product.
Overall, this was an instant win for me. I have to think hard to find any negatives; the only small criticism I have is that the clear label on the glass bottle tends to get a little wrinkly / slide a bit, but that could be due to the moisture in my bathroom. It’s not a deal breaker by any means. Plus, the transparent label is biodegradable and that’s awesome.
I’m definitely impressed with the brand and would love to see what else they make.
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T'else Kombucha Teatox Essence ingredients: CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES FERMENT FILTRATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, METHYL GLUCETH-20, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, NIACINAMIDE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM ACETYLATED HYALURONATE, BIFIDA FERMENT FILTRATE, LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT, LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT LYSATE, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT, POLYGLYCERYL-10 LAURATE, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ADENOSINE, WATER/AQUA, CITRIC ACID, ARGININE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CITRUS AURANTIUM BERGAMIA (BERGAMOT) FRUIT OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL, SALVIA SCLAREA (CLARY) OIL, CITRUS RETICULATA(TANGERINE) PEEL EXTRACT, CYMBOPOGON MARTINI OIL