Review – April Skin: Cleansing Balm, Gel Cream, Collagen Serum + Moisturiser – Hits + Misses

Hello all! I wanted discuss Aprilskin, a popular K-beauty brand created in 2014, most notable for being Cruelty-Free and for their famous Cleansing Balm. In this review; I tried out and tested 4 of the brand’s products: Their Collagen Peptide Plumping Serum, Collagen Peptide Line Smoothing Cream, Artemesia and Squalane Hydrating Gel Cream, and their Carotene Hydromelt Cleansing Balm.

I provide dupes and alternatives, which products I would recommend and whether I would recommend the brand overall from these impressions.

Is the Brand Vegan / Cruelty-Free?: The brand is Cruelty-Free. Some of the products are vegan (which will be indicated below).

Note: Available to purchase at Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

Content List:

1. Carrotene IPMP Hydromelt – Cleansing Balm
2. Collagen Peptide Plumping – Serum
3. 50% Collagen Peptide – Line Smoothing Cream
4. Artemisia Squalane Hydra – Gel Cream
5. Conclusion

Carrotene IPMP Hydromelt – Cleansing Balm

Price: $69 / £56

Volume: ~30ml

What is it + What makes it different?: A fragranced, wax-based (described as a sorbet-texture) Cleansing Balm that melts into a thick oil when massaging into the skin (contains 79% Coconut Oil). Carrotene IPMP™ is included which is anti-inflammatory. This aims to remove makeup and keep the skin moisturised post-wash.

Recommended Skin Types: All Skin Types (if you are sensitive to multiple essential oils/fragrance or coconut oil then you may want to avoid this)

Directions: Use the spatula supplied to scoop a dime-sized amount onto dry skin. Massage with dry skin and focus on heavy-makeup areas. Then apply a little water to emulsify the product and then keep massaging before finally rinsing off.

Vegan?: Yes

Cruelty-Free?: Yes

Malessezia suitable?: No

Eu-Allergen-free?; No

Key Ingredients: Carrot Root Extract (Antioxidant i.e. soothing + Emollient)

Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Synthetic Wax, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Linalool, Sucrose Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Beta-Carotene, o-Cymen-5-ol, Tocopherol, Water(Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil

Fragrance Free?: No. This contains No, contains Grapefruit Peel Oil. Bergamot Fruit Oil, Limonene, Linalool (So it’s quite a citrus-y scent).

Packaging: Plastic tub with a hygiene tab and a spatula – I like the packaging, it is sturdy and the inclusion of the tab means I can store the spatula in the product, so this is easy to travel with (See swatch video below to see the packaging).

Texture: This contains Synthetic Wax, which you can tell when scraping and rubbing the formula onto the skin. This doesn’t melt thinly i.e. you get quite a thick residue (see swatch below), like a layer on top of the skin.

Is this sticky?: No.

Does this turn milky when water is applied?: Yes. And it is easy to wash off.

Does this sting the eyes?: No

Video Swatch:

As you can see, this has a waxy texture that melts into the skin. It doesn’t feel as whipped or softly sorbet-like the Wishful or Versed cleansing balms, but more like the Beauty of Joseon Cleansing balm.

Makeup Removal Test:

Does this remove makeup well?: It is decent. I wouldn’t say it’s the best makeup cleansing balm I’ve ever used (please see my Favourites Post HERE), however, it works better in conjunction with a second cleanser for makeup and waterproof makeup removal.

Pros:

• Cruelty-free
• Didn’t sting or irritate my skin
• Didn’t sting the eyes
• Great packaging (sturdy and travel-friendly, comes with a spatula which can be stored within the product)

Cons:

• Quite thick and waxy (doesn’t melt completely into a thin oil but a thicker oil, like melted candle wax)
• Heavily scented
• Not amazing for makeup removal but decent

My Review + Experience: Overall, this Cleansing Balm has been fine to use i.e. it didn’t sting or worsen my skin’s condition and it’s easy to wash off. I’m not the biggest fan of the waxy texture and that it doesn’t completely turn into an oil, and that its makeup-removing power is good but not amazing (for me).

Dupes: The Wishful Skin – Clean Genie Cleansing Balm. This is a real ”Sorbet” texture and feels like it does a good job at melting makeup (very soft). Swatches + Review HERE.

Available at: Cult Beauty: LINK / Adore Beauty: LINK / Selfridges: LINK

Cleansing Balm Review – Includes the Wishful Skin Clean Genie Cleansing Balm

Another Dupe: The Round Lab – 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Balm has very similar ingredients (Over half are the same).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

Another Dupe: The Versed – Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm is more sorbet-like and soft. This is Vegan + Cruelty-Free but is scented.

Available at Versed: LINK / Cult Beauty: LINK / Target: LINK

Collagen Peptide Plumping – Serum

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

Price: £27

Volume: 35ml

What it is + What does it do: A hydrating, skin-plumping serum containing 40% vegan collagen. The company claims that this tightens the skin however the product seems to intensely hydrate the skin and thereby reducing the look of fine lines and a dull complexion. It’s also claimed that this serum is not sticky and is lightweight.

Vegan?: Yes

Cruelty-Free?: Yes

Malassezia Suitable?: No

EU Allergen-Free?: Yes

Directions: Use 2x a day after cleansing, toning and exfoliating. Use 2-3 pumps for the face (use any remaining product on the neck).

Recommended Skin Types: All Skin Types including Sensitised Skins

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide (Brightening + Anti-blemish) / Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolysed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolysed Hyaluronic acid (Hydrating + Antioxidant) / Squalane (Skin-identical).

Full Ingredients: Soluble Collagen, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, C12-14 Pareth-12, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglycerin-3, Methyl Gluceth-10, Tromethamine, Butyl Acrylate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine , Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Contains Fragrance?: No, this is Fragrance + EO Free

Texture: This is a lightweight gel serum. It is slightly viscous and also slightly tacky once dried down with a small potential to ball up. This is not greasy.

The packaging: Really nice bottle (plastic) with a cap and a pump-mechanism. Very easy to dispense product and easy to travel with.

As you can see,

Swatch Video:

Pros:

• Fragrance + EO Free
• Cruelty-free
• Hydrating
• Lightweight
• Great, sturdy packaging (easy to travel with and use)

Cons:

• Slightly sticky
• Not a fan of the scent (plastic)
• Potential to ball up

My Review and Experience: Collagen + Numerous Hyaluronic Acid forms means this is a very hydrating product that I would recommend to dehydrated and even sensitive skins (as this is fragrance + eo free). It does help plump up the skin and feels cooling when applied. My issue is the slight tackiness and therefore potential for this product to ball up.

Dupe: The Mary & May 6-Peptide Complex Serum contain multiple peptides that help stimulate collagen and thereby restoring skin elasticity. See the review video below to know more.

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The Ordinary’s ”Buffet” + Copper Peptides 1% (Swatches + Review HERE) contains good skin-beneficial, collagen stimulating and fine line reducing ingredients.

Available at: The Ordinary: LINK / Look Fantastic: LINK / Sephora: LINK

50% Collagen Peptide – Line Smoothing Cream

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

Price: £25.60 / $32.48

Volume: 60ml

What is it and what does it do?: An Antioxidative, Vegan moisturiser containing 50% collagen to hydrate and plump the skin. The brand states collagen helps fight the signs of ageing, but the inclusion of collagen-stimulating ingredients like Retinal and Syn-Coll (peptide) helps (don’t know the % of these however). This is meant to be a fast absorbing oil-free gel cream.

Directions: Apply after toning, on the face (under-eye area, neck and chin).

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide (Anti-blemish + Brightening + Antioxidant) / Allantoin + Calmosensine (Soothing) / Hydrolysed Hyaluronic acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (also an antioxidant), Hydrolysed Sodium Hyaluronate (Hydrating) / Adenosine + Retinal (Reduce Skin Texture + Blemishes + Increase Skin Collagen) / Syn-Coll (Helps stimulate collagen production).

Ingredients: Soluble Collagen, Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Betaine, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Squalane, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Hyaluronic Acid, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Cholesterol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tromethamine, Silica, Retinal, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1.

Vegan?: Uses Vegan Collagen

Malessezia Suitable? No

EU Allergen-Free?: Yes

Contains Fragrance?: No, this is Fragrance + EO Free. This smells like plastic to me.

Packaging: Plastic Tube with Flip-top cap (easy to squeeze-out product).

Texture:

Texture: This feels instantly cooling (like a menthol-effect) on the skin when applying. It is creamy but not too heavy for my oily-combination skin. However, once this absorbs and settles on the skin; this feels stickier than the serum (my face sticks to my pillow).

You can see this cream has a purple tint to it

Good For: Combination, Normal + Dry Skins + Sensitive Skins.

Video Swatch:

Pros:

• Moisturising
• Feels instantly soothing when applying
• Didn’t irritate / aggravate my skin
• Softens the skin
• Fragrance + EO Free
• Cruelty-Free

Cons:

• Sticky finish (my face kept sticking to my pillow)
• Not a fan of the smell (plastic)

My Experience / Review: It is hard to find a dupe of this cream i.e. that has the same combination of peptides + retinol that also isn’t Fragrance + EO free; so this cream is quite unique! It is definitely moisturising and feels cooling when applying on the skin. However I’m not a fan of the scent (plastic) and this is sticky for me once dried down (my face sticks to the pillow) which isn’t pleasant.

Dupes: As stated above, it’s quite difficult to find an exact dupe of this, however I can recommend some other peptide creams:

• The Klavuu Real Vegan Collagen Cream contains Collagen, is Vegan and is also Fragrance + EO Free

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• In terms of a dupe with the same texture (but without the stickiness); the Numbuzin 1 Deep Purple Cream See Swatches + Review in the video below! It contains numerous skin-beneficial and regenerating ingredients.

Available at Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

Artemisia Squalane Hydra – Gel Cream

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

Price: £22.41 / $28.44

Volume: 50ml

What is it and what does it do?: A vegan watery gel cream containing 80% Artemisia (Mugwort) extract and 3% Squalane to moisturise and soothe, dry and itchy skin.

Directions: Apply the cream onto the face, under the eye area, neck and under the chin.

Key Ingredients: 3% Squalane (Skin-identical Emollient) / Niacinamide (Antioxidant + Brightening) / Liquorice + Allantoin (Soothing) / Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylate Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sugarcane Extract, Saccharide Hydrolysate (Hydrating) / Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine (Emollient) / Sugarchane Extract, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Fructooligosaccharides, Trehalose (Hydrating / Moisturising).

Ingredients: Artemisia Vulgaris Extract(80%), Water(Aqua), Squalane(3%), Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Cetearyl Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Niacinamide, Sorbitan Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa(Rice) Bran Extract, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Pullulan, Saccharum Officinarum(Sugarcane) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Indigofera Tinctoria Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Myosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorophylls

Contains Fragrance?: Unscented.

Vegan?: Yes.

Packaging: Plastic Tub which came with a spatula. Very sturdy packaging.

Malassezia suitable?: No

EU allergen-free?: Yes

Texture: (Video Swatch)

This is a luscious cream which feels more moisturising than it is hydrating. It’s emollient and would feel excellent for Dry Skins, particularly in the Winter.

Recommended Skin Type: Sensitive, Normal, Combination and Dry Skin Types.

Pros:

• Moisturising
• Came with a hygiene tab
• Doesn’t ball up
• Not sticky
• Fragrance + EO Free
• Cruelty-Free

Cons:

• Too thick for my Oily-combo skin

My Experience / Review: This is genuinely a nice, moisturising cream containing a lot of skin-softening and conditioning ingredients. My only issue with it is that it is too thick for my skin. Therefore I cannot personally use it, but dry skins could really enjoy this.

Dupe: The Beauty of Joseon – Dynasty Cream (very similar ingredients). This is also just as thick, so more geared towards Normal-Dry Skins.

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The CeraVe – Moisturizing Cream also is very similar in terms of texture and is also loaded with emollients and natural moisturising factors, softening the skin.

Available at: Cult Beauty LINK / Target LINK / Beauty Bay LINK / Dermstore LINK

• The Be plain – Cicaterol Moisturiser is similar in both ingredients and texture and is suitable for Normal-Dry Skins.

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask (Swatches + Review HERE) is soothing (with the use of Cica) is slightly thicker than the AprilSkin cream (if you have very dry skin).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Sephora: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

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My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.