Claims:
Introduction:
I know a few people asked for a review of this AHA, so here we go! I bought this product on a whim from Wishtrend for ~$17, since my Mizon 8% AHA Serum is nearing its final days. Actives are probably my favorite type of product and I naturally gravitated towards this upon seeing it initially. I have to admit that the fact that it was in a gel consistency was definitely a big plus, since that meant that my oily skin wouldn’t resist too much if I were to use it. I’ve been using it for roughly two weeks, five days out of the week, and have nothing but good words for it.
According to Wishtrend, Papa Recipe stands for “The Cosmetics Made by Papa.” You’re probably thinking it’s a funny name for a company, but the owner of the brand, Kim Han-Kyun, created this brand after learning that his daughter had severely dry skin and congential fever upon birth. He felt the need to make products that would be comfortable for his daughter’s dry and sensitive skin, which is why the brand’s motto is “With a drop of Papa’s love.” A bit of a tangent, but I thought it was touching to read since we usually don’t get to hear about the background associated with a lot of brands we purchase products from.
Ingredients:
”Water, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chamomile Extract, Glyceryl caprylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Water, Freesia Refracta Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract”
Contains glycolic acid and lactic acid for AHA exfoliation magic, along with other interesting ingredients, such as centella asiatica extract, aloe, chamomile extract, which make it great for sensitive skin. This product is also heavy in flower/plant extracts, duly noted as the “7-white-flower complex,” which seem to enhance the overall product. It has what it needs to properly exfoliate (AHAs + suitable pH) along with other soothing ingredients to complement the overall product. Here is the summary of the 7-white-flower complex, taken from here
Overall Thoughts:
I have to say that after using this for two weeks, I really like it. Really like it. It works well with my sensitive skin and I think the emphasis on the gentle factor here with the various plant extracts would make it a suitable introductory AHA for newcomers. I would be okay switching this up for the Mizon AHA and the COSRX AHA at this point. The pump bottle makes it a suitable way to measure and dispense product without using too much, thus saving you more in the long run. The scent is a chemical one, as most actives tend to be. Texture is viscous, but still slippery enough to lose in an instant if you tilt your hand.
The big points to take home from this product are the fact that it is gentle and hydrating while doing its exfoliating job properly. I use this at night post-cleansing and just use a little bit because it spreads across my skin like butter. I wish I was exaggerating. I can definitely notice that my skin is a little brighter and less dull the morning after using, which is what I was going for with this. This is a great product if you’re just getting into actives and want to try a gentle AHA, or if you’re a veteran who just wants to get away from the smelly smell of the COSRX AHA.