Hello everyone!

It may have been more than a decade since K-beauty came on our radar but the trend is still going strong with a roll-out of a variety of innovative skincare products that tap into consumers’ growing demand for all-things natural and/or organic lately by industry leaders and startups, like Aperire.

A subsidiary of SOOA Natural founded in 2013 that specialises in cosmetics research and development, Aperire 아페리레 (pronounced ah-peh-RI-reh, Latin for “uncover” or “open”) is a South Korean beauty brand comprising a range of skincare products for whitening (Vitality Shine) and elasticity (Super Origin) apart from makeup. Despite their brief history, Aperire has already built up quite a standing in the indie Korean beauty scene and generated a fair bit of coverage in the media. Following their recent expansion into Singapore, I was honoured to receive first dibs on the brand’s Vitality Shine and Super Origin series – all of which (with the exception of an ampoule) would be explored in this post.

Housed in deluxe see-through brown containers made of solid glass, the packaging feels nothing short of quality even before submerging my fingers into the product. To protect them from breakage, they are sold in sturdy boxes with clear English description at the front. However, what really impressed me was the level of comprehensiveness in explaining the functions (e.g. anti-aging, whitening) of the products on the packaging, as well as the appropriate time of the day to use them, which is extremely helpful to those who are new to the whole Korean beauty world.

Even so, you probably need tried-and-tested reviews of the products to decide if they are for you. Fret not – that’s what this post is for! And as an added bonus, there’s also a quick video of me demonstrating their uses at the end of this post, so be sure to check it out! ☺

*All prices stated do not include delivery charges and have been rounded up to the nearest dollar. Prices online may differ from physical store.

VITALITY SHINE (Whitening)

An untiring advocate of natural ingredients, Aperire believes that multivitamins are the best way to provide vitality and energy to the skin which is an essential step in improving skin radiance and combating aging. Therefore, they have included real multivitamins (such as A, B, C, E, H and K) in their Vitality Shine series to enhance the whitening and moisturising effects while boosting the vitality and elasticity of the skin. The skin also becomes brighter and lighter with extracts of lemon, grapefruit, rose hip, Kakadu plum (all of which are rich in Vitamin C) and white willow bark (which has exfoliating properties).

Most importantly, as the key highlight of this series of 3 products (Water-Ful Vitamin Cream, Good Night Vitamin Whitening Mask and Vitamin C-30 Real Ampoule – not covered here), it contains extracts of seaberry fruit (or sea buckthorn) which is a rich source of vitamins C, E and P as well as malic and citric acids to help keep skin smooth and healthy.

WATER-FULL Vitamin Cream

Infused with notes of citrus, this lightweight vitamin cream instantly brings vitality to tired and dehydrated skin by supplying an abundance of moisture without the oily residue with seaberry fruit extract (that also accounts for 75% of the ingredients) along with the aid of Glycacid Eco (a biotechnologic derivate from vegetable matters, labelled Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans in the ingredients) which helps to improve intradermic penetration and water retention. This in turn ensures that the skin is kept moist for a longer period of time, thus lessening the necessity for frequent reapplication.

Ideal for sensitive skin, it also contains extracts of centella asiatica (for its skin rejuvenation properties), ganoderma lucidum (or lingzhi mushroom, which helps reduce skin inflammation, puffiness, wrinkles and free radical damage, while promoting cell regeneration) and acerola (for its wrinkle-fighting properties) on top of those mentioned above.

Suitable for use in the day and at night, the cream can be layered on top of the ampoule (not reviewed) in the same series to seal in all its goodness and maximise its absorption.

GOOD NIGHT Vitamin Whitening Mask

An all-in-one whitening and lifting gloss formula, the sleeping mask functions as an essence and night cream to help the skin receive its necessary nutrients as the mind falls into deep slumber, making certain that you wake up to glistening, well-rested skin in the morning. It has a slight zingy ginger scent which my boyfriend argued was more of a mix of lavender and vanilla.

Infused with seaberry fruit extract (70%) and 9 types of multivitamins (10% “Multi-Vita9” includes Vitamin A, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin F [linolenic acid], Vitamin K3, Vitamin E, Vitamin H [biotin]), the cream is composed of minuscule double-layer vitamin C capsules which dissolves into the skin when the product is being worked around. The primary coating helps the vitamin absorb and moisturise deeply while the secondary acts as a sealant to ensure the freshness of the vitamin within the capsule.

And that’s not all – slathering the mask on your face essentially also means reaping the benefits of ingredients – in addition to those listed above – such as adenosine (a soothing and skin-restoring agent), extracts of acerola and macadamia seed (a hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic type of carrier oil known for its moisturising, regenerating and softening properties), argan tree kernel (which has a rich blend of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E) and avocado (for its hydrating and softening properties) oils.

After using the Root Essence (discussed below), apply Good Night Vitamin Whitening Mask to the forehead, cheek and chin and massage gently into the face and to allow better penetration of the capsules.

Unlike sheet masks which eat into 15 to 20 minutes of your bedtime (because it has to be removed by the stipulated time), the whitening mask requires just 10 seconds to apply and can be left on the face overnight. Since it penetrates into the skin well enough and does not have much of a sticky texture, it won’t transfer to your pillowcase when you sleep too!

Skin repair during sleep:
Super Origin Miracle Day Root Essence → Vitality Shine Water-full Vitamin Cream

SUPER ORIGIN (Elasticity)

Taking cue from the idea of getting to the root of problems with roots, the Super Origin series boasts the use of Root Complex (or Rootcureplex™, a term proudly coined by Aperire) – a combination of nutrients from five kinds of root extracts namely lotus root (to improve skin elasticity and brighten skin tone), yam root (which contains a large amount of phytomucin and amino acids to strengthen weakened skin barrier to retain moisture and promote skin elasticity), dandelion root (to suppress the production of melanin for a whiter skin and for invigorating purposes), saururus chinensis root (for a smoother and firmer skin) and taro root (a rich botanical mucin component that brightens, and strengthens skin elasticity) to combat aging and restore the skin’s elasticity from within.

Roots are said to provide more concentrated nutrients than ingredients derived from the fruits of plants simply because they, being buried in the depths of the Earth, have better potential to attract and retain minerals that are unattainable by parts of the plant above the soil. And there’s no better way to experience the immense benefits of roots than to use the two (only!) products in this series – the Miracle Day Root Essence and Bouncing Root Cream!

MIRACLE DAY Root Essence

The most sought-after product from Aperire, the root essence effectively helps treat sagging and dull skin by restoring its natural elasticity, evenness and youthful appearance with Root Complex (which makes up a whopping 81% of the ingredients). Furthermore, it has sugar and fruit acids to enhance the moisturising effect of the product, giving the skin a smoother complexion.

Scentless, clear and lightweight like water, most of it absorb into the skin as soon as it is applied without leaving a sticky finish, thanks to the lactobacillus (to improve skin barrier) and fermented soybean extract (for its antioxidative and whitening activities) in the ingredients that are obtained from a rigorous fermentation process, giving rise to their diminutive texture and ability to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin.

Upon cleansing the face in the day or at night, soak a cotton pad with the root essence before wiping the skin with it. Towards the end of this step, press the pad lightly against the skin for it to absorb the remaining essence. Then, follow with the rest of your products in your beauty regimen.

BOUNCING Root Cream

A triple-function root cream that whitens and boosts skin elasticity and moisture, it permeates the skin with 58% Root Complex to enhance the skin’s overall vitality while making up for any deficiency of ceramide. Enriched with strong moisturising power, the cream forms a protective barrier that plumps the skin and protect the skin from dryness for a long time, giving it a healthy, glass-like appearance. Imbued with a faint earthy smell, it has a slightly heavy consistency but does not leave an oily finish upon application.

The root cream is recommended for use after applying the root essence. Taking an appropriate amount of the product, massage it to the face and areas that feel dry to maximise its absorption rate.

Combined daily skincare routine:
Super Origin Miracle Day Root Essence → Vitality Shine Vitamin C-30 Real Ampoule → Vitality Shine Water-full Vitamin Cream → Super Origin Bouncing Root Cream → Vitality Shine Good Night Vitamin Whitening Mask

The products, although generally served me okay, had apparent packaging flaws. I, for one, do not like how overly condensed the ingredient list is crafted on the box (only showing the core ingredients) and the lack of effort in translating the information printed on other parts of the box and container to English. As a result, I had to keep Googling for them and make my own assumptions (which, if I had to state them here, would have been backed by scientific studies).

Moreover, despite the fact that most of the Aperire products are lightweight in texture, they may get uncomfortably heavy when they are piled atop one another on the skin. Hence, a suggestion would be to allow time for each product to settle completely into the skin for five minutes before layering it with the next.

If you’re interested to watch the products in action, check out the video below! Please pardon my pimply face – that’s the result of snacking on too much Chinese New Year goodies 😣

What are your thoughts about Aperire products? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or simply take quick poll! 😊

Thanks for reading!

Aperire is now available on Qoo10 and I’M STARTICE. For more information, please visit Aperire website or like them on Facebook.

This post is brought to you by Aperire.

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