Review: Skinfood Platinum Grape Cell Essence

Anti-aging is one of my concerns as I'm in my mid-20's and I need to start adding it into my skincare regimen. I'm already starting to see fine lines on my forehead. Whitening has always been a concern for my skin because I get tanned very easily and my skin color is always very dull and "dark," not the tanned healthy dark but the stressed out lack of sleep malnutrition kind of dark (even though I may not be stressed and I'm eating enough). The Platinum Grape Cell line from Skinfood is advertised for both anti-aging and skin-brightening effects--sounds perfect for my needs!

Description (taken from eng.theskinfood.com):

• A premium anti-aging essence containing grape cells and platinum particles that brighten and firm aging skin from the inside out.
• Bourgogne is one of the three best wine producers in France-Bordeaux, Bourgogne, and Cotes du Rohone for the Gamay grapes. Extracted from the Gamay grapes, our grape cells help regenerate skin cells, firming skin from the inside out.
• Platinum is one of the purest and rarest metals in the world. With excellent antioxidant effects, Platinum is used for Food, Medical, Cosmetics and etc.
• After toner application, dispense an ample amount into the palm and apply onto the face in gentle upward and outward motions. Using both palms, pat and press gently onto the face for faster absorption.

My impression:

It's the weekend so I'm trying out some samples once again. I like to try samples only on weekends because if anything happens and my face breaks out like crazy, I can always stay at home and hide from the world. This sample came in such a small size. If I didn't know better I'd think it was an eye cream sample. 

I used this right after applying my Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner toner. I didn't use any other creams except this essence. I usually put the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Sleeping Mask right before I sleep but I did not this time. That sleeping mask makes my skin look quite nice the morning after so I wanted to see what this Platinum Grape Cell Essence can do compared to the sleeping mask.

It's pretty oily upon application, which is expected since this is an essence and it's anti-aging. I found it oilier and thicker in consistency than the Skinfood Gold Caviar Collagen Serum that's also for anti-aging. As a result, I had some trouble trying to spread it throughout my face. I felt like I had to, and I was, pushing the essence upwards on my face to get it to go around my face. As a result of that not-so-gentle application and the oiliness of the essence, the pimple that I got from my break out using Skinfood Omija Whitening Serum and Cream last week suddenly elevated, became redder and I could visibly see that the pores around the pimple get larger. I often apply my Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Sleeping Mask and Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream on top of my pimples and they don't agitate my pimples but actually calm them down and make them smaller and less red. Not this one though. Freaked me out big time so I immediately used those acne pads and wiped the essence off that pimple.

It didn't finish absorbing after 3 hours right before I went to sleep and when I woke up this morning (8 hours later), I could still feel it on my face.

Fortunately, other than the initial agitation to my pimple, I did not break out or get new pimples from this essence. In fact, my face looked pretty good! Because this was just a one-time use, I can't say much about its long-term anti-wrinkle and brightening effects. There was no overnight effect on the fine lines on my forehead. My face did look a bit brighter and the redness had calmed down, perhaps even more than with the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Sleeping Mask and Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream. Usually after washing my face in the morning with my Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam, some of the redness from the acne scars underneath my cheeks comes back, but I thought that today the redness came out less.

I quite like this sample. I may purchase this after I'm done using my Skinfood Gold Caviar Collagen Serum because so far the gold caviar hasn't had much of an effect on the fine lines on my forehead. The only thing I don't like about this essence is that it takes more than 11 hours to absorb completely and if I have a ot of pimples around my face it will agitate and worsen them FOR SURE.

[Edit Jan 20 2013]: After a few months of trying out other anti-aging creams, I've realized there are definitely products out there that can perform the same effects BUT do not worsen my pimples, do not enlarge my pores, are less suffocating and are fully absorbed the next day! Like the Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream. So I won't be buying this one out. 

Summary:

Did not break me out
Very oily and agitates my pimples (elevated and made it redder, enlarged the pores around it)
Takes forever to absorb (>11 hours)
$31 for 45 ml on eBay

Grade: 4/5 3/5 because it worsened my pimple and enlarged my pores and takes forever to absorb.. I don't want to have to be worried about my face breaking out every time I put this on!

Value: 3.5/5 because it's pretty expensive for 45ml

Repurchase? I might try it out further after I'm done my bottle of Skinfood Gold Caviar Collagen Serum Nope! Read my edit above