*purchased by me*
Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence (STE) is one of most popular Galactomyces essence in the market. The first thing i noticed is how similar the box and the bottle with the one from SK II. Yes, it was meant to be a substitute for SK II's FTE (which is about 10 times more expensive). I haven't tried FTE, doesn't even put some interest for it, but if STE really as good as FTE and in such an affordable price tag, why not?
Now i've been using STE on and off for 6 months. Please read the whole story, or at least go scroll down to my conclusion before you decided to get it or not.
Back in December 2013, my acne was getting worse.
I always and always got acne, but since i'm doing OCD (Obsessive Corbuzier Diet) from September to early December, i rarely got breakout. Well, many reviewers said that STE would help to optimalizing skincare, and somehow also help to reduce acne. I ate the words and use STE in 2 ways :
[1] Basic korean skincare method : cleansing foam - STE - toner - emulsion - so on.
[2] Compress my acne specifically on the exact spot using cotton bud soaked with STE.
this method purposed to makes acne grew faster, so i can easly push-out the zit.. err yes, i did plush them out.
I should say both method are work so well in first few weeks. The i got bored and decided to do Chizu Saeki Method (please google for more information) and mask my face with STE. I did this about 2-3 times and yes my acne getting worse and worse.
In this point, both method doesn't work anymore. My skin start to hate STE, so i stopped.
I should say, since February to May, i almost doesn't use my STE at all. Sometimes, i use it for 2-3 days and stop again. My skin still hate it.
This month, i am back to STE. I think even if i got breakout (purging or any other reason), at least my face's texture will getting better. Yes, it's getting better but then i realize the reason why STE is not working so well for me.
There i got it.
Back to the story. I do looking for some other product with galactomyces to help my condition and i realize that even STE is really low in acne trigger ingredients and irritant, it doesn't have any clue to help to rid them out.
If you're having acne for a long long time, you'd be familiar with some active ingredient to combat acne i.e : salycylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, sulfur, and Alpha hydroxy acids. STE doesn't have any of it.
So if you think that STE alone would help to combat acne, no it wouldn't. It also wouldn't help to reduce redness.
As much as i could understand is that SK STE is supposed to help optimalizing skincare, moisturizing and due to moisture effect, also help reduce wrinkle and improve skin textures.
My skincare regime with STE is usually :
cleansing foam - toner / STE (if i am using toner with cotton pad, toner first. if not, STE first) - tea tree oil - spray with distilled water - snail based moisturizer.
so you can see that i am not hoping to STE to work alone (TTO to combat acne, snail for redness) but it just doesn't suit me.
My conclusion is, you need to purchase it if :
and DON'T purchase it if :
Nowadays, there's so many galactomyces based essence out there, from various korean brand and using various names. Do google and decide which one suit you best.. Don't forget to check the ingredient list! :)
.. and yes i have to admit, SK's STE is the most affordable one.
and on instagram @taniaasvs
and @primafacie_corner
thank you for reading, hope that helps ^____^
Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence (STE) is one of most popular Galactomyces essence in the market. The first thing i noticed is how similar the box and the bottle with the one from SK II. Yes, it was meant to be a substitute for SK II's FTE (which is about 10 times more expensive). I haven't tried FTE, doesn't even put some interest for it, but if STE really as good as FTE and in such an affordable price tag, why not?
Now i've been using STE on and off for 6 months. Please read the whole story, or at least go scroll down to my conclusion before you decided to get it or not.
Back in December 2013, my acne was getting worse.
I always and always got acne, but since i'm doing OCD (Obsessive Corbuzier Diet) from September to early December, i rarely got breakout. Well, many reviewers said that STE would help to optimalizing skincare, and somehow also help to reduce acne. I ate the words and use STE in 2 ways :
[1] Basic korean skincare method : cleansing foam - STE - toner - emulsion - so on.
[2] Compress my acne specifically on the exact spot using cotton bud soaked with STE.
this method purposed to makes acne grew faster, so i can easly push-out the zit.. err yes, i did plush them out.
I should say both method are work so well in first few weeks. The i got bored and decided to do Chizu Saeki Method (please google for more information) and mask my face with STE. I did this about 2-3 times and yes my acne getting worse and worse.
In this point, both method doesn't work anymore. My skin start to hate STE, so i stopped.
I should say, since February to May, i almost doesn't use my STE at all. Sometimes, i use it for 2-3 days and stop again. My skin still hate it.
This month, i am back to STE. I think even if i got breakout (purging or any other reason), at least my face's texture will getting better. Yes, it's getting better but then i realize the reason why STE is not working so well for me.
this is how much i've been used my STE.
The bottle is made from thick glass and the closure is from stainless steel.
It does give the luxurious feeling. Sorry i've thrown the box, but it does alike with SKII FTE.
Fermented product is better to be packaged in glass bottle. Plastic will lessen product's efficiency, so even if you need to depot the product, do depot in mini glass bottle. I personally like to use my used Tea Tree Oil bottle from The Body Shop (reviewed here) ^____^
Secret Key contains about 90% galactomyces
The texture is water like and easy to absorb. The scent is kinda strong, but it just linger for a while.
Be careful with this hole please.. It's too easy letting the product out.
Ingredient List according to Cosdna.com :
Water, Glycerin, Galactomyces ferment filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Arbutin, aloe vera gel, Human Oligopeptide-1, Dimethicone, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
Back to the story. I do looking for some other product with galactomyces to help my condition and i realize that even STE is really low in acne trigger ingredients and irritant, it doesn't have any clue to help to rid them out.
If you're having acne for a long long time, you'd be familiar with some active ingredient to combat acne i.e : salycylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, sulfur, and Alpha hydroxy acids. STE doesn't have any of it.
So if you think that STE alone would help to combat acne, no it wouldn't. It also wouldn't help to reduce redness.
As much as i could understand is that SK STE is supposed to help optimalizing skincare, moisturizing and due to moisture effect, also help reduce wrinkle and improve skin textures.
My skincare regime with STE is usually :
cleansing foam - toner / STE (if i am using toner with cotton pad, toner first. if not, STE first) - tea tree oil - spray with distilled water - snail based moisturizer.
so you can see that i am not hoping to STE to work alone (TTO to combat acne, snail for redness) but it just doesn't suit me.
***
My conclusion is, you need to purchase it if :
- you're looking for an affordable galactomyces based product
- you doesn't have serious problem with acne and redness
- you want to improve your skin texture
- you're willing to use at least 4 steps skincare regime (cleansing foam - toner - essence - moisturizer) everyday
- you need something to refresh in mid day
and DON'T purchase it if :
- you want something that works wonders
- you want to getting rid your acne and redness
- you want a single-use product
Nowadays, there's so many galactomyces based essence out there, from various korean brand and using various names. Do google and decide which one suit you best.. Don't forget to check the ingredient list! :)
.. and yes i have to admit, SK's STE is the most affordable one.
and on instagram @taniaasvs
and @primafacie_corner
thank you for reading, hope that helps ^____^
Thanks for review xx
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome ^______________^
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