Disclaimer: This product was provided by Benton for review purposes however this does not affect my opinion of the item.
Sometimes I think Benton is stalking my skincare stock count journal since the last two times I was about to buy a product from a particular skincare category, Benton announced they were giving away those products. Coincidentally, the same day I finished my Klairs serum, Benton's Cacao Moist and Mild Serum arrived just in time to maintain my facial hydration levels :')
Claims
Benton Cacao Moist and Mild Serum is a hydrating & nourishing serum that is smoothly absorbed into the skin. The serum is suitable for dry skin and skin with a poor oil-water balance because hyaluronic acid hydrates and minerals from high cacao content nourish skin. The serum helps to keep skin revitalized and glossy. Free of colorant, fragrance, alcohol, and PEGs.
Recommended for
- Dull skin lacking nourishment
- Skin with a poor water-oil balance
- Skin that wants a clear skin tone with a mild hydrating product
- Dehydrated and tight skin
- Skin sensitive to harmful chemicals and external stressors
- Skin that needs a light product
Packaging
30 mL of product is housed in a clear, plastic container with a pink label and dropper dispenser. There are very few shades of pink that I can appreciate and unsurprisingly, this isn't one of them XD The dropper is a little hard to squeeze and often I'll find that I haven't picked up any product because of this. As I spin the dropper back into place, some product seeps outwards and it can cause a sticky mess.
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| If you look closely at the rim of the dropper and the bottle, you can see some of the product there |
Ingredients
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aqua (Water), Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Betaine, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine
Here's the CosDNA rundown:
As expected from their track record, Benton has made yet another product with a super clean ingredients list. Theobrama/cacao extract is touted to be rich in antioxidants and minerals, which help to moisturise and condition the skin. The next 6 ingredients are the usual suspects that commonly pop up in skincare ingredients for their basic hydration and conditioning functions. Sodium hyaluronate clocks in at number 8 and is well known for its talent in attracting water from the environment and binding it to your skin, if it is comparatively drier. The rest of the ingredients is a cocktail of plant extracts and anti-inflammatory tidbits.
Texture & Scent
The serum is a clear gel consistency that is slightly gooey and viscous. It absorbs very quickly onto clean skin, although this is somewhat hindered if you've already beefed your skin up with multiple other layers of hydration. There is no added fragrance, but it smells exactly the same as their Cacao Moist and Mild Cream - like plastic. Fortunately the scent disappears very quickly; just don't go sticking your nose near the bottle and taking a good whiff not that you would think to do that in the first place XD
Experience
I received the serum in early April. It may be Autumn in Australia but the weather hasn't been terribly cold and I can still get away with a relatively lightweight skincare routine. Here's what I looked like pre-serum testing. My main concerns are my deepening smile lines which is somewhat managed by adequate layers of hydration. My cheeks become red very easily, whether from touching my face too must or just generally moving about in the environment. Since this product is designed to be light rather than intensive, I expected my skin at the end of the testing period to look more or less the same in terms of my smile lines, especially since it was replacing another serum I had just finished. I hoped that just like Benton's Snailbee Essence, it would help with reducing redness, but that was probably wishful thinking given it's a claim many companies would definitely make if their product functioned that way.
Before the serum
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| I took this shot immediately after waking up at 1pm in the arvo. For some reason, my cheeks were particularly flushed. |
For testing purposes, I started using the serum on the left side of my face and neck only. As expected, I didn't much change in the hydration levels of my skin and as such, the depth of my smile lines remained about the same. On day 8 my skin had been irritated by what I later found out to be my
bed linen. There were rough patches along the back of my neck, and even
the texture of my chin was starting to become bumpy. The rest of my face
was clear.
Seeing as I was applying the serum on both my face and neck however, I guessed the reaction wasn't due to the serum. Nonetheless I started using the serum on both sides of my face to see whether the reaction would replicate itself on the right half of face. The following morning there was no apparent change to the right half of my face and there was the barest improvement in the texture of my neck.
Despite the product being a standard 30 mL, I burned through the bottle
very quickly and after almost 3 weeks, I have 1/4 of the bottle left. Seeing as the bottle should be used within 6 months of opening, I don't think I'll have any troubles adhering to that.
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| Post-serum selfie. Same jumper because it's the only warm PJs I have hahaha |
Pros
- Provides hydration to the skin and prevents that dry, tight feeling
- Does not feel heavy
- Absorbs almost instantly
- No tacky finish
- Good for lighter weather
Cons
- Product is finished very quickly
- May need a heavier hydrating product for colder weather
- Will not provide enough hydration to plump up persistent fine lines unless layered
- Packaging could be better (see above for more details)
If you need a heavier product that can treat other skin concerns, you may wish to look elsewhere. But if it's a light, no-frills hydrating serum you need, you could consider giving this one a go.
Until next time,
Vivien || IG @vistillhere
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