With the amount of time spent outdoors, a good after sun product is a holiday essential that usually comes only as an afterthought but this award-winning facial serum from The Pure Lotus is about to change all that.

We don’t have to tell you the importance of wearing sunscreen. Regardless of whether you’re on that beach holiday in Bora Bora,  ski holiday in the French Alps or just walking from the subway to the office, sun protection is an absolute essential step to your daily facial skincare routine

But even if you do manage to make it through our humid, tropical heat without getting a sunburn, you may still find your skin irritated and heated. Those unlucky enough to have 

photosensitive skin might develop rosacea or even, in extreme cases, blisters and lesions!

Enter the Lotus Leaf and Aloe Calming Serum from The Pure Lotus - a luxury Korean skincare brand from Jeju Island. Combining the protective power of the antioxidant rich White Lotus and the calming and soothing properties of Aloe Vera, this unique serum was purpose-formulated to treat and fortify your skin.

 

The serum comes in a squeeze tube with a soft touch finish and a solid cap that stands on his head like a sunscreen. This makes it easy to dispense even when the tube is reaching its end and helps preserve its efficacy over time by minimising exposure of the serum to the environment.

This all comes wrapped in a gorgeous packaging that was designed by the Founder’s mother who is an accomplished artist in Jeju. In fact, all the packaging in The Pure Lotus skincare line come wrapped in reprints of the artwork painted by Kang Myeongsun (강명순). You can read more about it here.

First Serum

The Pure Lotus terms the Lotus Leaf and Aloe Calming serum a “first serum” and it is meant to be applied immediately after the cleansing stage during your basic skincare routine. Formulated to work in tandem with other serums or essences in a skincare layering regimen, the idea is to layer your skincare treatments on gradually.

This lightweight serum is a milky white liquid that is soothing and cool to the touch the moment it hits your skin due to its high content of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, more commonly known as Aloe Vera. While it was already cooling to touch, I actually kept this serum in my little bar fridge for the added relief and soothing effect when I applied it.

Despite its thicker consistency, the serum was easy to spread and absorbed quickly and the coolness of the serum brought immediate relief to my skin. It had a mild scent that was fresh, natural and not overpowering. 

This isn’t a heavy, rich serum and was relatively lightweight (for a serum) and did not leave a thick film over the skin. This serum would be ideal for oily or combination skin types but if you have dry skin and/or are looking for a moisturising serum, you might want to pair this with a rich moisturising cream like the Jeju Lotus Leaf Revitalizing Cream from The Pure Lotus.

(Note: The Pure Lotus’ exclusive skincare line does not have a traditional toner. Instead, they recommend that you use either the Lotus Leaf and Aloe Calming Serum or the Jeju Lotus Leaf Essence as the second step of your skincare routine in place of a toner.)

Heroes Come In Pairs

As you’ve probably deduced from the name of this serum, the two hero ingredients in this serum are the Aloe Vera and White Lotus Extract that is the signature to all the products from The Pure Lotus. The White Lotus is to The Pure Lotus what Pitera is to SK-II.

Unlike the more common and decorative red lotus, the White Lotus has been used in medicinal tea and preparations for over a millenia. Rich in Iron, Vitamin C (a brightening agent), Kalium, Tannin and many other nutrients, the White Lotus is rich in antioxidants that have many positive health benefits and are just amazing when used in skincare products.

The list of benefits of the White Lotus is a long one. A natural antibacterial agent, the Lotus Leaf and Aloe Calming Serum can also help prevent acne, brighten your skin, prevent signs of premature ageing, nourish and fortify skin cells and more.

Too Much Of A Good Thing...

Aloe Vera is also an ingredient that hardly requires any introduction. All the rage in the world of health and beauty, Aloe Vera possesses many well documented medicinal properties to help soothe and calm sensitive skin.

While there is no denying the medicinal benefits of Aloe Vera, Aloe Vera actually contains latex that many people might be allergic to. Aloe Vera Extract in high concentrations may also cause undesired side effects that you should be aware of and that is why you should never use those 95% Aloe Vera gels meant for our bodies in your facial skincare routine.

This all makes the Lotus Leaf and Aloe Calming Serum all the more unique since it was purpose-formulated, dermatologically tested and perfectly balanced for use as a facial serum. The fact that it is purpose-formulated for my face is probably what sets this serum apart from other Aloe Vera products.

Final Thoughts

Aloe Vera and White Lotus combine together to form a unique serum that focuses on after sun care and fortifies your skin against sun irritation. They are joined by other skincare goodness such as Shea Butter, Camellia Sinensis, Eucalyptus and many more to make this a well rounded serum that you can use daily.

Having incorporated this serum into my basic skincare routine for a month, I found that this serum did improve my skin’s resilience to sun irritation but where this serum really comes into its own is right after sun exposure. The soothing and moisturising effect of this serum brought a welcomed respite on days when I had spent hours under the sun.

I would recommend this as an easy to use daily serum that most of us will be able to incorporate into our daily skincare routine. If you have photosensitive skin or are looking for a soothing treatment after prolonged sun exposure, then this is a very good product.

However, if you have particularly dry skin or more targeted skin concerns using this serum alone might not be enough to help you achieve your long term skincare goals. Due to its versatility,  lightweight and non-sticky nature - I actually use this on my arms and hands with very positive results - you might need to pair this with a richer moisturiser or with other skin treatments to help you achieve your long term skincare goals.

Having said that, at $49 for a 70ml tube, the Lotus Leaf and Aloe Calming Serum is a must try for those with sun sensitive skin. For those looking for a no-fuss serum to supplement their daily skincare routines, then this is a versatile and affordable after sun serum that would not burn a hole in your wallet.

From sunscreens to eye creams, shop the best Korean skincare products Korea has to offer at Asian beauty X to feed your skin with the nutrients it needs.