While dry skin moisturizers can truly revitalize the situation, sometimes all your skin needs is that dewy hydration without any greasy after-feeling. This is especially true during the hot summer months when pores tend to get clogged with oil, sweat, and city dust.  Today, I want to talk about Elizavecca's Hwa Yu Hong Flower Essence Lotion, which might be your new skincare bestie. This lightweight, hybrid essence-lotion packs a punch of moisture and brightening power, all formulated with the magic of purple botanicals. Want to find out more? About Elizavecca Hwa Yu Hong Flower Essence Lotion Flower Essence Lotion* boasts a unique formula that combines the power of purple botanicals with intense hydration. This essence-type lotion promises to address a variety of dry skin concerns, leaving you with a radiant, revitalized complexion. Its "purple energy" is delivered by borage, cornflower, hyacinth,  lavender, salvia, and eggplant (aka aubergine) extracts. Later, we will take a closer look at this purple bouquet. What is Essence Lotion? An essence-lotion is a hybrid skincare product that combines the characteristics of both essences and lotions.  Essence: Typically a lightweight, watery formula packed with concentrated active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, or botanical extracts. Think viscous liquid with stringy, or gelly-like texture. Essences are designed to penetrate deeply and prep the skin for subsequent skincare steps.  Lotion: In comparison with essences, lotions have generally thicker textures. The water content is usually also higher than that of creams. Think cream diluted with water, forming a smooth fluid. Lotion offers basic hydration and sometimes contains additional ingredients for specific concerns like oil control or brightening. So, how does Elizavecca essence-lotion combine these two? An essence-lotion aims to be a bit more substantial than a pure essence, offering a bit more hydration and sometimes additional benefits. It's still designed to be lightweight and absorb quickly but with a touch of the creamier texture and potential benefits of a lotion. Packaging: Packaging drastically differs from any other Elizavecca product. First of all, the design is absolutely different – instead of a well-known piggy mascot that loves to try out various skincare products, we get an illustration of a beautiful young woman in traditional Korean clothing.  The plastic bottle is simple and convenient. Elizavecca's fruit acid toner comes in the same bottle, so the packaging feels familiar. For the price, you'll get 200 ml / 6.7 oz of the product, which is quite a good amount! Texture and scent: The texture is surprisingly delightful – light and slightly thicker than a typical essence, yet still incredibly spreadable. It slides on the skin like a creamy fluid, instantly absorbing into the surface. I love how pleasant it feels! The texture has an almost unnoticeable lavender hint to it, as a reminder of the “purple energy” this flower essence holds. The scent is soft and sweet, not overwhelming. It reminds me of my favorite Elizavecca Peptide Bubble Cream with Centella Asiatica or the Memory Cream. I always apply my creams and moisturizers on damp skin. Elizavecca's Flower Essence Lotion, however, eliminates this extra step – you don't need to dampen your skin beforehand. Still, old skincare habits die hard, and I find myself doing it from time to time. But the most important quality for a quality lotion or moisturizer is the non-sticky, non-heavy finish on the skin. We'll leave the stickiness to retinol, collagen, and hyaluronic acid! Hwa Yu Hong Flower Essence Lotion doesn't leave your skin with a sticky residue. In fact, it is so lightweight that in a few minutes, you'll forget you ever applied anything to your face, but your skin will feel hydrated, revitalized, and ready for the day. Ingredients: Beauty enthusiasts certainly shop for effective skincare ingredients, not for an appealing bottle to put on their shelves (though,  I'm not quite sure about this...) So, it's time to check what waits for us in the Hwa Yu Hong Flower Essence Lotion formula.  One of the first components here is the Coco-caprylate/caprate an emollient that gives the skin a non-greasy, velvety feeling. Niacinamide is another great ingredient in the formula that caught my attention. Best known as Vitamin B, this potent wrinkle-battling warrior helps with natural collagen production and cell renewal process. Pure shea butter aka Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is yet another hydration component that is worth our attention. Natural, hypoallergic, nourishing, and soothing – the ultimate ingredient for everyone with dry skin. Essence/lotion formula only promotes the penetration of shea butter into the skin. Together with this powerful nourisher, you'll get Panthenol and Allantoin. I believe those don't need any special introduction! These legendary skin helpers heal the skin, restoring the natural barrier and increasing the water content in the skin. The secret of the “purple energy”... Elizavecca touts the concept of “purple energy”, which is said to be harnessed through a blend of six purple botanical extracts to enhance the lightweight yet hydrating formula of this lotion.  ‣ Borage (Borago officinalis) extract: nourishes and repair dry skin; ‣ Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) extract: closes pores and regulates sebum production; ‣ Hyacinth (Hyacinthus) extract: softens the skin; ‣ Lavender (Lavandula) extract: calms and heals; ‣ Salvia (Salvia officinalis) extract: prevents acne and antiseptic; ‣ Eggplant (Solanum melongena) extract: a powerful antioxidant. Lotion Vs. Cream: What Formula Is Better for Dry Skin? Lotions are certainly masters of skin hydration. They deliver a refreshing surge of moisture without feeling greasy. However, their lighter nature means they may not be optimal for the lasting skin barrier protection needed for super dry skin types. I like to use essences and lotions on a hot humid summer day when your makeup seems to melt off of your skin. That's when a lightweight texture comes to the rescue. On the other hand, creams can be handy with a richer, thicker consistency. Packed with a higher oil content, creams create a protective layer that traps moisture deep within the skin. This makes them perfect for dry and very dry skin, particularly during harsh winter months. Creams also provide a more luxurious, pampering feel and offer a long-lasting cure for dryness, flakiness, and irritation. However, their heavier texture might feel greasy, and create residue or clog pores on those with oily or acne-prone skin.   How I Use Elizavecca Hwa Yu Hong Flower Essence Lotion? The Elizavecca Hwa Yu Hong Flower Essence Lotion has become a cherished part of my skincare routine. Especially on those lazy days, when I don't feel like wearing anything heavy on my skin. I love layering it underneath my BB cream or foundation, and here is how I do it: Clean skin: I begin by cleansing my face with my usual cleanser, ensuring all grease and impurities are removed. Sometimes, I'll follow up with a vitamin C or Centella Asiatica toner to further balance my skin's pH and get that glowing glass skin look. Lightweight hydration: Now, for the star of the show! I apply a few drops of the Hwa Yu Hong lotion onto my fingertips. I gently pat the lotion onto my face, focusing on areas prone to dryness like my cheeks and forehead. This patting motion encourages absorption without any tugging or irritation. If I feel like I need more moisture, I'll add a few more drops. Final Verdict... The essence/lotion texture makes this product a perfect in-between step in a classic skincare routine. Something that goes after the toner, but before a heavier moisturizer. Alternatively, it can be used on its own as an option for a hot summer day or oily skin. As much as I liked using the cream, I'm not a fan of the packaging. Although it is simple and convenient, I would love to have this essence lotion in a dispenser bottle with an airless pump, or something similar. Well, maybe I'll re-nest my lotion somewhere more comfortable for me. Everything else seems to be on top, especially the ingredients! I'm so happy Elizavecca included Niacinamide in the formula. With regular usage, it should definitely help with skin redness, and I'm looking forward to it.

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