Oshen Skin is a new player in the Kbeauty world ~ this online shop focuses on brands that are eco-friendly, cruelty free and vegan and carry brands such as Mary & May, iUnik, Vegreen, cosRX and Dr. Ceuracle and Hamel.   The founder of the company graciously sent me a package of products: Vegreen Skin Barrier Reishi Serum, Mary & May CICA Houttuynia Tea Tree Calming Mask and two sunscreens from Hamel.  Hamel is another newbie  to me ~ coming out of South Korea, this brand formulates 100% vegan skincare products, using high quality materials and plant processing technology.  They ensure that their products will be safe for sensitive, combo and blemish prone skin, and they are also an eco-friendly brand.  Hamel reduces their waste footprint by creating packaging designs that will minimize the trash left after the product is all used up.  You can save 15% with my affiliate code of colebiancardi15 on any purchase at Oshen Skin. 

“Skincare is not about achieving perfection but rather, it is a personal journey to embrace your age, who you are and your own unique beauty. It is about being mindful at being present for yourself daily because there is no better love than the love you give yourself.” Kaining, co-founder of Oshen Skin

 Skin Type/Concerns: oily, blemish prone, aging concerns, pores, fine lines/wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation

I received these products complementary to review and was not paid.  All reviews are my own honest opinion and  I never have been asked to write copy for a brand.  This blog post might contain promo codes, affiliate and referral links, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you.

Hamel Vegan Aqua Glow Sun Serum  I love chemical sunscreens and I received two of them ~ first up the Aqua Glow Sun Serum.  This contains five chemical UV filters: Uvinul T 150 (UVB), Mexoryl SX (UVA/UVB), Uvinul A Plus (UVA), Parsol SLX  (UVB) and Tinosorb S (UVA/UVB). This has a rating of SPF 50+ PA++++.  This also contains patented Aquaxyl, a hydrating compound made from ingredients derived from vegetable origin sugars ~ xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol, xylitol and glucose. Aquaxyl will also reinforce your skin barrier function, limiting water loss in your skin and preventing skin dehydration on a cellular level. Just for good measure, this does have hydrating humectant sodium hyaluronate, helping to attract and bind moisture to your skin.

Antioxidant niacinamide helps reduce free radical damage, while providing skin brightening and pore care, and there is a slew of skin conditioning botanicals:  healing, soothing centella, hydrating powerhouse antioxidant snow fungus, containing the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D and it can help lighten  hyper-pigmentation spots.  Moringa extract has purifying and have antiseptic benefits, with anti-inflammatory properties ~ so it helps with blemish care

Camellia japonica is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, phytosqualene and Omega-6 fatty acids. These ingredients can provide skin-enhancing benefits such as antioxidant protection and moisturizing properties. White ginger lily is fantastic for sensitive skin, as it calms and soothes irritated, inflamed skin.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone (Uvinul T 150), Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (Mexoryl SX), Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (Uvinul A Plus), Polysilicone-15 (Parsol SLX), Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (Tinosorb S), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/ VP Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Methylpropanediol, Polyether-1, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glucose cosDNA 

The packaging is so adorable ~ it is egg shaped with a pointy tip applicator.  Just a gentle squeeze and the sun serum comes out nicely and the texture is liquid-y and almost a translucent pink coming out of the bottle ~ that pink hue is naturally derived from  the red camellia extract.  It is so nice and watery, feels refreshing on the skin, absorbs really fast with no sticky, tacky residue.  This doesn’t have any fragrance to it and it dries down nicely, leaving a soft subtle glow to the skin, without any dewy or greasy residue. I didn’t see any white cast with this and I didn’t expect to as it doesn’t contain any mineral UV filters or pigments. 

This formula took two years to make in collaboration with K-Beauty formulator KOLMAR and I can see why.  This is a great sunscreen for all skin types and even oily skin like myself ~ it leaves my skin feeling soft and supple and it does play well under makeup.  

Hamel Vegan Relief Water Essence Sun Cream is my favorite of the two ~ if I HAD TO CHOOSE.  I don’t really want to choose though ~ hahaha.   This one is perfect for oily or blemish prone skin as it contains anti-bacterial ingredients for blemishes.  This contains four chemical UV filters:Uvinul A Plus  (UVA),  Uvinul T 150 (UVB), Tinosorb M (UVA/UVB) and Uvasorb HEB  (UVA/UVB) and  has a rating of SPF 50+ PA++++

Camellia sinensis, or green tea,  contains polyphenol antioxidants: catechins, tannins, flavonoids ~ which are anti-bacterial agents as well as acting as an astringent, retains skin moisture and hydration.  Centella asiatica is a common herbal ingredient that is used medicinally to help speed up wound healing, such as blemishes and skin rashes. It also helps minimize the appearance of pores.  Houttuynia cordata is a medicinal herb that is found in a lot in Asian skin care products. It is an antibiotic, which helps with preventing infection from skin problems, such as blemishes.  It is also an astringent and anti-inflammatory. 

Melaleuca alternifolia,  or tea tree, is one of the best things you can apply on blemish prone skin. We know that this plant has an extraordinary antiseptic effect: bactericidal, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral. Other benefits include healing, soothing, anti-inflammatory and deodorizing properties. It is used in acne treatments and relieves burns and insect bites.  Eucalyptus leaf helps moisturize and protect the skin barrier by boosting ceramide production, as it contains macrocarpal A, a ceramide stimulating compound (source NIH National Library of Medicine)

Yeast derived, amino acid adenosine became popular after it was found to help improve the reduction of wrinkles, smoothing your skin and anti-inflammatory. Adenosine is safe to use day and night, unlike vitamin C and retinol. Glycerin helps with healing of wounds, is an humectant, sealing in moisture, maintains the skin’s water balance on an intercellular level, which makes the skin look healthy, moist (not dry and scaly), soft to touch, and is also an emollient, leaving your skin looking radiant and supple.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydorxybenzyol Hexyl Benzoate (Uvinul A Plus), Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone (Uvinul T 150), Niacinamide, Methylene bis-benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone (Uvasorb HEB), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, T-butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol cosDNA

Same cute egg packaging and the texture is a lightweight lotion that has a bright white look to it ~ however, I don’t see any pigments in the ingredients list.    It is so nice and watery, feels refreshing on the skin, absorbs really fast with no sticky, tacky residue.  It takes a few seconds, but the final dry down is almost matte but it doesn’t make my skin look or feel dry.  I didn’t see any white cast and I don’t know what would cause a white cast looking at the ingredients list, but Oshen Skin does state this contains hybrid filters, but this doesn’t contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.  I am a bit confused here.  The only thing that might cause a white cast is polymethylsilsesquioxane, which is a texturizing powder that used to help blur and provide a soft focus, filling in wrinkles temporarily.  

That said, I looked really hard and long at this product and didn’t see a white cast.  Why do I love this one?  The ingredients list ~ I feel good that I am not only protecting my skin from the sun, but I am not clogging up my pores.  I am thrilled with all of the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory botanicals.    This also has no fragrance to it and I think this might be the closest I have found to my beloved (and discontinued) Naruko Refresh Cooling Sunscreen 

Where to Purchase

I highly recommend both of these sunscreens, especially if you have oily/oily combo skin ~ these are not heavy at all and provide high SPF protection without any greasy, sticky feel on the skin.  You can purchase these at Oshen Skin and  I haven’t seen this brand anywhere else, so it is fairly new.  Oshen Skin ships worldwide with some restrictions (read their FAQ), and offer free standard shipping with purchases over $99.00 and free express shipping for purchases over $199.00.  You can use my affiliate code of colebiancardi15 on any purchase and save 15% as well.  All prices in USD

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