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This review contains PR samples° and affiliate links* Today’s K-beauty review stars a very unique texture and the satisfying feeling of softly dissolving golden anti ageing beads – meet the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita!
When UK-based Asian beauty shop Skinlibrary offered to send me a selection of products from Korean skincare brand ABIB, I was only vaguely familiar with the name – I had heard of the ABIB Gummy Sheet Masks,* especially the very popular Madecassoside Sticker version*, but knew little about their other products.
When I received the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita, I was startled to see little yellow beads suspended in the liquid of the serum, and of course this unusual texture instantly intrigued me. Add to that the use of the word “luminous” – an attribute I am always chasing after when it comes to my skin’s appearance, and I knew this was a product worth trying out. And, well, worth telling you more about, especially since I don’t think many reviewers and bloggers have, as of yet, written about this anti aging serum.
ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita – Antioxidants Galore!
The ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita is marketed as a brightening and glow-enhancing “vitamin” serum. Now, “vitamin” can mean a whole lot of different things in Korean beauty, while here in the West we usually expect it to be some form of vitamin C serum. Anything containing fruit extracts, for instance, especially derived from citrus fruits, can potentially be marketed as a “vitamin” product.
In this case, the “vitamin” part seems to mostly be associated with the high concentration of super potent antioxidants in this serum. The main antioxidant and star ingredient in the ABIB Luminous Serum is coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone, an enzyme that naturally occurs in the body and has been used in anti aging products for many years now. Coenzyme Q10 is effective in improving skin texture through boosting collagen levels and fighting free radicals, thus combatting the effects of premature aging especially through sun damage.
Here is a full list of ingredients for the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita:
“Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Polyglycerin-3, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Mentha Viridis(Spearmint) Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Melissa Officinalis Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Propolis Extract, Allium Sativum (Garlic) Bulb Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Wine Extract, Methylpropanediol, Mannitol, Cellulose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol (125 ppm), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ubiquinone, Carnosine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Iron Oxides (CI 77492).”
Apart from the coenzyme Q10, the serum also contains a number of glow-enhancing ingredients, notably propolis extract, though I am not sure how high the concentration is. Salmon egg extract makes this serum decisively not vegan, sorry to my vegan readers – it is supposed to be an ingredient rich in collagen and omega 3s, thus potentially enhancing both skin glow and firmness. Edelweiss extract is the other big star ingredient highlighted by ABIB’s marketing. Apart from its antioxidant properties, this plant extract contains “leontopodic acid”, which is supposed to strengthen the skin barrier and enhance its pollutant-fighting abilities, which is why brands often use it in anti-pollution skincare.
As for other antioxidant-containing extracts in the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita, there are almost too many different ones to name here, and most of them are of fruit or vegetable origin: tomato, broccoli, spinach, blueberry, garlic, wine/grape are the main ones I can make out. Seabuckthorn extract is rich in vitamin C and, again, antioxidants, and is also known to be a skin-soother (German organic beauty brands love to use it in their anti-aging ranges).
Some of the plant extracts may be aggravating to skin, the spearmint extract in particular, but otherwise there is no added fragrance or alcohol from what I can tell going through this long list of ingredients.
ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita – That Darned Drop Applicator!
There is no doubt that the texture of the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita is…unique. I must confess that at first, I felt a bit iffy about those yellow ubiquinone beads and considered them gimmicky. Part of me still finds them a bit superfluous, but another part of me really enjoys how pretty the overall look of the serum is.
Let’s start with the slightly annoying realities of this product: the drop applicator is a bit of a pain when it comes to getting the serum out of the bottle. Basically, you have to make sure the applicator is devoid of product first, then shake the serum to disperse the beads, which are quite dense and thus tend to rapidly sink to the bottom, and then very quickly scoop up some of the serum. If you do not act quickly, the beads will already have sunk to the bottom of the bottle again and you only scoop up serum fluid without any beads.
Furthermore, even when you do manage to get a good amount of the beads, they often get stuck in the dropper and you have to squirt out the serum with force to get them unstuck. Not ideal.
But ah, once the serum is out of the dropper, there is something rather satisfying about seeing those golden-yellow pearls melt into the serum liquid. I always rub the beads in first and then apply the serum to my face, as this seems to be the best way to ensure equal distribution. You only need a very small amount of the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita per use, as it spreads very well indeed.
This is a very special, “watery oil” formula, which really amazed me the first time I tried the serum. I hadn’t ever tried an oil-like product that didn’t feel oily at all, and of course this is just perfect for my combo skin. Dry skin types will probably still like this a lot, since it does provide a good amount of moisture and helps keep skin smooth and supple. This does not leave my skin feeling sticky or greasy, it really sinks in completely, pretty much like a water-based serum would, which I absolutely love.
It actually took a while until I saw any other effects from the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita than merely the fact that it provided hydration and moisture. I would say after about 6ish weeks of using the serum mainly at night, I started to notice how my skin developed this lovely “lit from within” glow, subtle but noticeable. Even though I am always careful about making such claims, I would say this also seems to make my skin feel more “bouncy” and firm, something I very much approve of at my age!
The application may not be the most convenient one out there, but I still love using this serum regularly, and I am impressed by how long it is lasting and how little is needed per use – good to know I will be able to have this in my routine for a while, as my skin is very happy with it, and I am very happy with the results its given me.
ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita – the Bottom Line
I very much enjoy this serum, despite the inconvenient application method – the “watery oil” texture is just so unique and pleasant, lacking the greasiness that can make face oils difficult to deal with for oilier skin types. This actually reminds me of the Wonjin Effect Vita Moist Ampoule, though I find the texture of the serum even more pleasant than the Wonjin ampoule. The best thing about the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita is its high antioxidant count, with a wide variety of fruit, vegetable and plant extracts rich in these free radical fighting anti ageing heroes.
Coenzyme Q10 is having a bit of a comeback recently, and I’m personally all here for it. Ubiquinone (and its lesser-known sibling, idebenone – also currently quite popular in K-beauty products) is a great skincare ingredient to add to your anti aging routine, as it is known to be a very effective and rather well-researched antioxidant with potential anti-wrinkle and collagen-enhancing properties.
This serum is great for any skin type, I would say, as it feels light but still moisturises like a facial oil. It plays well with other textures, and I love layering it in-between my toner and one other gel serum or ampoule, as this seems to really lock in hydration and create a beautifully silky feeling on the skin. If you are just getting serious about anti ageing, this is a good starter product, as long as the slightly fiddly application process doesn’t put you off too much.
If you are interested in purchasing the ABIB Luminous Serum Melting Vita, you can find it at Yesstyle* for currently only around 29$ for the 50ml bottle, though the price may increase, as this seems to be a sale price. For those of you based in the UK, you can also buy this at Skinlibrary for 50£ – a little goes a long way with this serum, so it lasts a few months even with daily use!
Let me know in the comments: What’s your take on this unique texture? Do you use coenzyme Q10 in your skincare routine?
Take care guys, and stay safe!
Sugarpeaches
°PR Sample, kindly provided by a brand or shop – I am not obligated to write this blog article, was not paid for the article, and my opinions are entirely my own.
*Affiliate Links, meaning I earn a small commission if you decide to use the link to purchase an item. This does not raise the purchase price for you, and it helps me and my blog to grow – so, thank you for supporting me in this way!
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