Name: LICORICE FIRST ESSENCE
Brand: HYAAH
Rating: 4.61 (18 reviews)

Rich and earthy shades like mustard yellow, olive green, and chocolate brown look great on you

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Bright and fresh shades like coral, warm pinks, and fresh greens look great on you

Soft and muted shades like pastel blues, dusty pinks, and soft lavenders look great on you

High-contrast and bold shades like pure white, black, icy blues, and deep reds look great on you

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This is a Health Functional Food certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of Korea, designed to help maintain and improve your health.

This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions.

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Each ingredient is selected for its specific purpose, such as improving skin hydration or brightening. However, the inclusion of these ingredients does not guarantee the overall effectiveness of the final product. Simply using these ingredients does not ensure the product will deliver the claimed benefits.

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Tell us about what you liked - texture, results, skin type, etc

Tell us what didn’t work - texture, skin reaction, or why you wouldn’t recommend it

히야

LICORICE FIRST ESSENCE

Causes Itching

Feels Harsh on Skin

Not Easily Absorbed

Leaves a Sticky Residue

Soothing

Not Irritating

Feels Comfortable

Moisturizing

Effective for Inner Dryness

Removes Sebum

Slippery

Layering it multiple times is incredibly effective for combating deep dryness!

Well, it's not exactly cheap, haha... But aside from that, I absolutely love it!

Texture: It has a runny consistency, slightly thicker than water but still fluid. It glides smoothly on the face when applied.

Application: The absorbs exceptionally well, and seems to effectively combat deep dryness. After application, the skin feels silky smooth, and I haven't experienced any blemishes from using it! Layering it multiple times works wonders!

Plus, it makes my skin texture incredibly soft! I've been using it consistently without any irritation - it's fantastic!

Packaging: I love that it's not a dropper or a flat-top bottle with a hole. The narrow, pointed opening makes it easy to control the amount and convenient to use!

Scent: There's a mild, herbal aroma, but it's not overpowering, which I find quite pleasant.

감초 퍼스트 에센스

Using cotton pads was good, but using my hands to pat it in worked even better.

To be honest, I didn't find it as impressive as I had hoped. I follow the CEO Hiya on Instagram and admire her work ethic, which made me think I could trust cosmetics made by someone like her. I've suffered from contact dermatitis before, which left my skin thinner and prone to flare-ups every few months. I bought this after hearing recommendations that it's good for dermatitis and sensitive skin. But to be frank, I didn't really see any effects. It was also supposed to help with redness, but I'm not sure about that either.

It's incredibly gentle. Sometimes when I apply ampoules or toners on irritated skin, it can sting or itch, but this feels as soothing as applying water! It's more comfortable than other toners, making it a go-to item I reach for often.

It works well when mixed with other skincare products

There's nothing to complain about. At first, I thought it was expensive, but compared to other 30ml ampoules and essences, this has 5-7 times the volume, which is amazing.

The skin-soothing effect is incredible... It completely calms redness and makes my skin feel so comfortable

There weren't any particular downsides, and it seems to be even more effective when you layer it!

This is fantastic for when you have blemishes or super sensitive skin! I switched to another product for a while after using Hiya, but when I came back to Hiya, I really felt how great their cosmetics are! Highly recommended for those with sensitive skin.

I can't even imagine how much money I've spent on cosmetics before finding this... Sigh. It would be great if they came out with a licorice cream too.

I had been struggling with worsening redness, increasing dryness, and sensitivity no matter what I used. But finally, I've found the solution! From the very first application, I felt my skin becoming more hydrated and noticed a temporary reduction in redness. These days, I'm generously applying it without hesitation.

There's nothing particularly bad, except maybe the price isn't exactly cheap? Still, it lasts quite a while, so it's worth it.

After using it for about a week, my skin feels wonderfully soft and smooth.

The website suggests various ways to use it, but I found simply patting it on with my hands works best for me.

Expensive price point
Limited availability

Costing over 30,000 won per bottle, it's a bit pricey. However, it does last quite a while. I just pour some in my hands and pat it on my face, and it still lasts a long time. But I feel it would run out too quickly if I used it before makeup too, so I use a different toner then. If you only use it at night, layering it 2-3 times, it lasts quite a while.
Make sure to buy it when it's on sale!

It's a bit inconvenient that you can only purchase it from the Hiya website, but the product quality makes up for it!

Also, while it's fine at first, I noticed some blemishes appearing towards the end of the bottle. The product might get contaminated near the end of its use.

After trying various options, I've ultimately come back to this toner
It really helps cool down my skin

When it comes to reducing skin temperature, I don't think anything beats this product. At first, I was skeptical about its effectiveness due to the high price and switched to other toners. But I eventually came back to it. It really works wonders! I highly recommend it if you tend to have warm skin. As long as licorice agrees with your skin, this will cool it down without any irritation.

When I soak the pads I bought from Hwahae with this and use it as a mask, my complexion is noticeably brighter the next day.

The downside? It's a bit too runny! I'm using it generously, but it's a shame to see some of it dripping away.

First off, it's lightweight and has a water-based formula, making it perfect for hot summer use without feeling heavy. It's also great for toning when applied with a cotton pad.

There's nothing particularly bad, but if I had to pick something, it's a bit pricey. It's a shame it runs out so quickly.

The soothing effect is excellent. I highly recommend it for skin prone to redness.

It's just better overall. You can apply it generously, mix it with other products, and it's truly a versatile item.

There's nothing particularly bad about it, but the price is the most disappointing aspect... Unfortunately, the price here is quite steep.

You can spray it liberally without it feeling excessive or causing blemishes, so I don't worry each time I apply it. I plan to keep using this for a long time...! When I soaked a thin cotton pad and placed it on my face, I noticed a significant calming effect!

The smell, oh no! When I first sniffed it, I was like 'Ugh!' But once it's on your skin, you can't smell it at all. When I first applied it, I felt a bit of itchiness, so I wondered if it didn't suit me. Also, it didn't get rid of the cluster of blemishes on my chin (though that's not because of this product - my digestive system is currently out of whack, and I had a bad reaction to another product I used before). Something I'm still testing - while it's not drying at all, I've noticed very slight white flakes on my face. This is a first for me, so I was a bit surprised. I've been using this exclusively for testing, so I'll keep an eye on it for now.

It's fantastic for calming skin after popping pimples! No irritation or swelling, and the next day you can't even tell. It feels like it smooths out the skin texture, giving a refined appearance. The soothing effect is great! (Though it doesn't tackle dead skin cells)
---------Update
Wow, I think this is really effective for sebum control. Since I started using it, my blackhead-prone nose area has become completely smooth!!! I'm thrilled. Maybe using it together with the cleanser created a synergistic effect~
--
Additional update: That smooth nose review I wrote earlier? Turns out it was actually due to the cleanser~

Korean Reviews

LICORICE FIRST ESSENCE

1 Reviews