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LAGOM Cellus Sun Gel SPF 50 PA+++ Review

Wanting to try out new sunscreens is one of my favourite things when buying skincare, and Korean skincare is unmatched when it comes to sunscreens. Their advanced screening technology with new ingredients makes them, in my opinion, way ahead of the western market. So as I was browsing Skinsider, one of my favourite K-beauty stores, I came across this sun gel. I took one at the glowing reviews and added it to my basket immediately. 

On the Skinsider website, this sunscreen is described as:

Providing “maximum UVB and UVA protection.”

Being “great for oily and combination skin types.”

“The incredibly lightweight texture provides matte finish and is very easy to apply. Your skin will absorb it immediately.” 

“In addition, normal and dry skin types will enjoy it because Lagom Cellus Sun Gel SPF50 PA+++ nourishes skin with its natural herbal extracts and oils plus hydrating Aqualicia formula. The sun gel soothes and protects the skin. It prevents the ingredients from evaporation and destruction. Hence, moisture and active ingredients can be absorbed deep into the skin.”

Okay, let’s get into this!

The texture isn’t like a ‘typical’ sunscreen, it feels more like a lightweight, somewhat thin daytime moisturiser which is perfect for those with oily/combination skin types. There is a slightly strong citrus type scent to it due to it containing essential oils, but I’ll get to that soon.

My thoughts:

I’ve tried a lot of sunscreens and I always seem to come back to my trusty COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++, but this LAGOM sun gel doesn’t have me reaching for my usual one anymore which is a nice surprise! The consistency feels more like a milky essence which I love because when I reapply it throughout the day, it doesn’t feel like it starts pilling up like it does when I reapply other sunscreens I use. This absorbs into my skin effortlessly, it does not leave a white cast and gives me a lovely glow with a satin-like finish, as opposed to the matte finish the description says it gives. It also gives me a really nice base for when I want to apply makeup over the top. However, after applying SPF I like to wait around 5 minutes before applying makeup to just ensure that the SPF has created an effective protective ‘shield’ over the places I’ve applied it to.

NOTE: SPF 50 PA+++ is the highest protection rating a sunscreen can have. As someone who suffers from hyperpigmentation, I don’t use sunscreens with anything lower than this as I want to protect my skin the best I can and get rid of my dark marks faster. Also, I apply (and reapply) quite a lot to keep up its effectiveness against UVA and UVB rays. I follow Jude Chao’s technique (IG: fiddysnails) of ‘measuring’ it on your 3 middle fingers (shown below) and then applying it across the face, neck and chest. 

In her video she uses a cream puff to blend it into her skin which is a really good technique, and I have tried this technique a few times with sunscreens that are on the thicker side. However, for the majority of the sunscreens I use, including the LAGOM sun gel, I find that it’s light enough to blend in without the need for a puff. 

This sunscreen has found its permanent place on my vanity table and will definitely be purchasing more than one when my current one runs out (which I’m sure will be fairly soon!). However, my only caveat with it is that it contains essential oils and alcohol, which may be a concern to those with sensitive skin. I would say that I also have quite reactive skin so I usually tend to stay away from products that contain alcohol and fragrance/essential oils, but I was pleasantly surprised! I did a patch test (always remember to patch test a product behind your ear when trying something new!!) and I had no adverse reaction to it and my skin has been okay with it since I started using it regularly.

EDIT: there have been studies conducted that demonstrate that denatured alcohol (ethanol) in skincare products doesn't actually damage your skin as previously thought. This is due to the small percentage that is used within skincare products and has been demonstrated that at least 97% of the ethanol in the product evaporates upon application. If you want to know more, Lab muffin did a really informative video and blog post about this!

So for now, this sunscreen is a 9/10 in my eyes but if LAGOM decided to reformulate it to have the same feel but without the essential oils, I wouldn’t hesitate to give it 10/10! 

If you’ve tried this or have any thoughts about this, let me know!

INGREDIENTS: Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Propanediol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Polysorbate 80, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Styrax Benzoin Gum, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Urea, Indole Acetic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin

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By Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum Review

The description on the Wishtrend website: 

“This high concentration vitamin ampoule is made with 70% Vitamin Tree Water and 21.5% Pure Vitamin C to deliver the concentrated effects of vitamin C to the skin. The serum removes dead skin cells to even out the skin tone and brighten the complexion.”

Other benefits of vitamin C include the brightening and firming of the skin, reducing hyperpigmentation, and minimising sun damage.

The texture is water-like with a very slight oily feel when applied. There is an ever so slight scent to it but it’s nothing too overpowering.

My thoughts:

Before purchasing this, I used the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop (5% vitamin C) for a few years and as much as I loved it, I felt that it had started to lose its effectiveness after a while so I thought it was time to graduate and move onto a product with a higher vitamin C percentage, and here we are! 

IMPORTANT: This product has a high concentration of L-ascorbic acid, meaning that the formulation is potent and unstable, so it is vital for it to be stored in a fridge and to be used within 6 months of breaking the seal. Also, vitamin C increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays so always remember to apply SPF everyday and keep reapplying throughout the day every few hours!! (This is something we should ALL be doing anyway but this is especially important to do when you’re using actives in your routine).

During the first week, I slowly introduced it into my routine by using it twice that week (only during my morning routine) by dispensing half of the liquid in the dropper into my hand and gently pressing it into my skin. I then started to increase my usage over the following 4 weeks and now I use it every morning after cleansing and I leave it on for 15 minutes before applying toner.

I use the COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid at night which helped to brighten my hyperpigmentation slightly but since using the vitamin C serum for the past 5 weeks in my morning routine with the AHA serum at night, there has been a noticeable difference in my skin. I found that it has lightened my hyperpigmentation on my upper lip and acne scarring across my face considerably as seen below. (First and third are before pictures and the second and fourth are after 5 weeks).

My only slight concern with this serum is that because of the high concentration of ascorbic acid, it tends to oxidise quickly and small crystals start to form on the top of the dropper but it’s still okay to use as long as you use the serum within the recommended time frame. 

I have almost finished the vitamin C serum so it’s definitely on my repurchase list. Let me know your experiences with this serum! 

Ingredients: Hippophae rhamnoides water, ascorbic acid, sodium lactate, 1,2-hexanediol, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, cassia obtusifolia seed extract, allantoin, xanthan gum, ethyl hexanedio

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COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (100ml)

The COSRX website says that this product claims to:

Prevent acne and blackheads

The BHA helps to clear clogged pores and gently exfoliates dead skin cells, giving the skin its “natural” glow

Contains natural BHA from willow bark water, instead of plain mineral water, to maximize exfoliating and clearing benefits without irritation.

The texture is quite watery, very light and hydrating. There's a very faint chemical-like smell when dispensed but fades after a few seconds.

My thoughts:

As someone who suffers from fungal acne (also referred to as Malassezia) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, I wanted to find a good BHA product to help clear my skin. I had done my research and decided to try everyone’s cult favourite, the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I had expected it to work miracles from the way so many people rave about it, but I was left upset and disappointed. It had actually exacerbated my fungal acne sensitivities to the point where it had also destroyed my moisture barrier and acid mantle, leaving my skin an irritated and blotchy mess. I immediately chucked it away and became wary of BHA products altogether. 

HOWEVER, that was until I came across the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid! I saw many positive reviews from people who also suffer from fungal acne so I decided to take the plunge and try it out. I started by cutting out other exfoliating toners that I use and solely used this for 6 weeks to see results that were not influenced by any other exfoliating products. I slowly introduced it into my routine by using it twice a week (only during my evening routine) by dispensing 2-3 pumps into my hand and gently pressing it onto my skin. As my skin didn’t throw any tantrums when using it on that first week, I slowly increased my usage over the next few weeks to 4 times a week. 

Safe to say, I was absolutely gobsmacked at the results. After about a month of consistent usage, most of those pesky, under the skin bumps on my forehead had gone! The closed comedones on my jaw and chin had disappeared, and my hyperpigmentation and acne scarring had lightened significantly, and my skin didn’t even purge whilst using this! 

This very quickly became a holy grail product of mine! Despite the main ingredient being a variant of salicylic acid, my skin does not feel dry or tight at all once applied. Surprisingly, it actually makes my skin feel smooth and slightly plump when applied (most likely due to it being infused with hyaluronic acid). Everytime I can feel my skin get irritated, I like to use this at night and my skin feels and looks so much better the next morning. Those who suffer from fungal acne, you won’t regret this purchase! 

Now that my acne is (thankfully) under control, I’ve dialled my usage down to once a week so I can focus on other areas of concern but this is something I will definitely repurchase! 

Ingredients: Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Niacinamide 1, 2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol.