What are amuples (ampoules)? Do we really need an ampule?? How are they different from an essence or serum?
These are the most frequently asked questions i get when i used to work in a beauty shop. Honestly? I am really glad they asked because the use of an ampoule can really up your skin care game!
I, for one, always had an impression that ampoules are extremely expensive and only professionals (e.g. facialist, dermatologist) can get their hands on and are generally out of reach for people who do not necessary want to visit these professionals to obtain one for home use.
Thankfully, Korean beauty brands quickly caught on to the concept of ampoules and immediately develop theirs and started pushing it onto the market, making it very accessible and convenient for you and I to purchase and use it at the comfort of our own homes.
From time to time, i do have customers coming up to me, asking me all sorts of questions pertaining to ampoules and its usage. So now, i would like to share with you guys some of the questions i get and how i answered them.
Q. What are ampoules?
A. Ampoules are like little souped-up version of treatment essence/serum that one may use to address a varied of skin care concerns. Ampoules comes in little packaging as they are generally very concentrated and only requires a tiny amount for use each time. They are available in a myriad of functions depending on the user’s need at the moment. They can be for intense hydration, acne fighting, skin brightening and lightening to even anti-aging. You name it (search around a bit) and you got it.
Q. Do we really need an ampoule?
A. Yes and no. Yes if you are facing some superficial skin concerns and you’d like to get an extra booster to help. No if you have an okay skin and all your skin care products are working perfecting in sync for you. However, having said that, even if you have an okay skin, you can always use an ampoule that boosts your skin. Like hydration! Always discuss with the brand’s representative/ambassador/adviser to see which ampoules are available and suited for you.
Q. How are they different from an essence or serum?
A. Like i mentioned earlier, ampoules are just like little souped-up version of regular essence/serum for targeted treatment. They are designed to be used within a short period of time to achieve the maximum results. Think of ampoules like a….medicine; it is necessary to help combat a condition like flu, and when the flu is gone, there is no need to take the flu medicines anymore. You just go back to eating healthy and staying fit. In skin care terms, you go back to your essence/serum to keep your skin healthy and stay healthy.
So recently, i had a bad case of acne breakout and i was feeling pretty lousy about it. My face was red, the acnes were raised and painful, it was just the worse. My usual acne fighting products did their best at bringing down the severeness of it but my skin still looked red and spotty. That was when i knew i needed an ampoule to help. With the announcement of korean derma brand – CNP Cosmetics, setting up shops in Singapore, i thought i’d give it a try. After all, the brand has their own derma clinics where they perform various facial treatments in Seoul, what can go wrong?
Having looked through their product list and other blogger’s review, i eventually narrowed it down to one Mugener Ampoule.
Before we go on to my roaring review for the ampoule, let’s take a look at CNP Cosmetics’s backstory shall we?
Now let’s see the official blurb on the ampoule:
Here is my experience with this ampoule:
Some of the ingredients in the recipe that stands out for me are:
- Glycosaminoglycans
Promoting metabolism of cells to maintain and encourage collagen and elastin within our skin cells to retain moisture, improves elasticity and contributes to the general well-being of the skin (source).
- Sodium Hyaluronate
Smaller sized version of Hyaluronic Acid that gives it a better skin penetrative effect. Sodium Hyaluronate can then reach deeper into the skin layers to hydrate and retain moisture, aiding in microcirculation to restore smoother and plumper skin and appearance (source).
- Beta-Glucan
Provides skin with antioxidant, stimulates collagen production, soothing, moisturizing and promote wound healing (source).
- Panthenol
Also known as a Pro Vitamin B5. Has the innate ability to hydrate, reduce inflammation and promote wound healing. Panthenol is also beneficial to acne treatment because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (source).
- Madecassoside
A bioactive compound found in the extract of Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola). Research suggests that Madecassoside has an exceptional ability to promote wound healing, collagen synthesis and provides antioxidant to the skin (source).
- Allantoin
Derived from the extract of Comfrey plant; Allantoin provides skin with soothing, healing, exfoliating and skin softening effects (source).
- St. Paulswort
Extract of St. Paulswort (Siegesbeckia orientalis) has been used for thousand of years to soothe, reduce inflammation, promote wound healing and keeps skin hydrated (source 1, source 2).
- Ice Grass
Similar to the extract of Siegesbeckia orientalis, Ice Grass (Rabdosia Rubescens) has the ability to soothe, reduce inflammation and promote wound healing (source 1, source 2).
Roaring view for [CNP Laboratory Mugener Ampule]:
| Product’s packaging | : | Heavy frosted glass bottle with a dropper dispenser |
| Product’s texture | : | Thick, clear water gel-like consistency. Looks thick when dispensed but glides like a water-rich gel |
| Product’s scent | : | Subtle to no scent (you can’t really detect any!) |
| Price point | : | SGD$40.90 |
| Available at selected Guardian Pharmacy stores and CNP Laboratory Singapore website (here; a complete list of participating Guardian Pharmacy stores can also be found on the website under “Where to buy”) | ||
| Try-out period | : | 2 weeks (Twice a day; applied after my COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner) |
| Personal take | : | The first night i applied, there weren’t any sensation or anything. I just dot it, spread it and pat it till it absorbs. But be warned, even after the ampule gets absorbed (or so you think), it can still feel a little tacky. I do not mind this ‘feel’ because i would like to believe that a barrier is now formed over my skin for protection and of course doing what it’s supposed to. This tacky ‘feel’ does not affect the absorption of my night moisturizer at all.
2 days later, my skin looked a lot less red and those tiny red and brown spots gradually went away within the week or so. However, this ampule does not prevent more pimples but it does aid to accelerate the healing of any pimples or acne you may have. When i use the ampule with my pimple/spot treatment item, i feel that it halves the time it normally takes for it to subside. I guess in that sense, this ampule lives up to its claim to relieve redness, calms blemished skin and soothes sensitive skin effectively. |
| Will i recommend it? | : | Undecided. I mean, it does help in calming and relieving skin redness and even helped in the healing of existing pimples. However, it not kept my combination skin hydrated enough and i had to use another hydrating essence over the ampule.
Therefore, if you need something for the pimples and redness then YES, i recommend this. If you do not want to apply a follow-up hydrating product like i did, or perhaps applying a slightly thicker moisturizer, then NO, i will not recommend this. |
To this, Buddy says:
I hope my little review today perhaps give you a better insight into this product. 🙂 Do stay tuned to my blog as i will be reviewing several more skin care products soon-ish.
Products i will be posting a blog review soon are:
- COSRX Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser
- COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
- D’Ran Wonder Tea Tree Oil
- Rosehip Plus Nourishing Night Cream
- Nature Republic Lemon Foot & Nature Peeling Foot Mask
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Ryanraroar 