I feel very lucky to be able to bring you this One Brand Overview post of Leaders Cosmetics today. First, I was lucky enough to have connected with one Ms. Helen at Leaders Cosmetics's USA branch of the brand. Her kindness and willingness to work with me in selecting products were instrumental in enabling me to write this review. We've been emailing back and forth for weeks on end to track down ingredient lists, and find products that could be considered some of the best of the brand for today's post. Second, some of the products in this post I won through participating in Leaders's most recent giveaway on Instagram.
DO NAMES PREDICT DESTINY?
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| Does Leaders in fact lead? (source: 2ne1 "I am the best") |
Leaders IS a leading Korean skincare brand in South Korea. In just the past year, they've collected a crazy amount of accolades. Just little things like...
>> Having one of the best-selling sheet masks (PERIOD!) in the Chinese marketplace. Leaders sheet masks are the third best-selling sheet masks in China, behind only a local Chinese brand, and Mediheal [source]
>> Being awarded the Best Brand at the 2015 Global Luxury Awards in June of this year [source]
Leaders themselves have a theory on why they are so successful, and it has nothing to do with their choosing a name with a self-affirming nature to it.
Taken from their website
We believe that our high performing products, made with innovative technology and the finest natural ingredients, will help women and men achieve flawless skin with exquisite results, time after time. Every formula is developed by our experienced and devoted dermatologists. Through meticulous clinical testing, we ensure that you receive a product that is ready to powerfully transform your complexion.
With a passion for perfection, our mission is to inspire the natural beauty that lies within in order to reveal a new confidence through healthy, glowing skin.
They are now a global brand, with operations in Asia, North America, and Europe.
THE DIFFERENT LEADERS LINES
>> INSOLUTION "Safe, Effective and Correct daily skin care regimen for the health of you’re skin. Insulation, the compound name formed from the words “in” and “solution” is the brand focusing on regenerating the skin from the inside out. Insulation line is designed to care for under-skin problems by offering a personalized cosmetic formula made with natural ingredients according to skin type."
>> MEDIU "Medicine for U. Delivers the most ideal texture and functions to the skin through a daily system."
>> LIFESOURCE "Leaders Life Source Science is our innovative anti-aging line containing the stem cell protein developed as a result of our long-time effort to deliver rejuvenating effect to the skin. AAPE, patented by Leaders, the protein extract from stem cells, promises to give you younger-looking and glowing skin."
>> AAPE "Exhibiting the finest rejuvenating effect for the skin. AAPE (Advanced Adipose-derived stem cell Protein Extract), the ingredient acquired through the process of extractive protein from the stem cell, helps to regenerate your skin by supplying the energy of the stem cell culture fluid."
So let's get into the products that I thought were especially noteworthy.
LEADERS STEPSOLUTION UV PERFECT AQUA SUN BLOCK*
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| No other sunscreen makes me glow like this one does. It's straight glossy. |
This moisturizing and brightening sunscreen (pictured up top, at top right) is my favorite item out of everything featured in today's post. It not only meets, but exceeds my my must-have criteria for sunscreen.
What this means is that it offers full spectrum protection against UVA1, UVA2, and UVB rays, has a high protection factor (SPF 50 and PA+++ to be exact), and contains stable UV filters.
The product knocks it out of the park when it comes to how perfectly suited it is for my current season, skin type, and environment. If you've been reading or following my beauty diary for even one week, you probably already know that my skin is PARCHED. It's dry in the summer, it's dry in the spring, it's dry in the fall, and in the winter - left on its own, it's sandpaper. I find that this particular sunscreen is the most moisturizing sunscreen I have ever used. It comes out of the sunny, bright yellow bottle a light beige-ecru lotion consistency, without any tackiness and without a hint of resistance as I spread it over my face, neck, ears, and hands. It spreads smoothly and evenly. The slight tint to the product does not translate to the skin. After about 5-10 seconds, the momentary white cast dries down to a clear, and positively GLOSSY finish. This is the sunscreen I turn to when I know I have to cover my face in potentially drying makeup (see my Etude House Precious Mineral Any Cushion review). I have previously called some sunscreens moisturizing. I take it back. This is moisturizing. The product is also cost-effective at the current sale price of $14 for 50 ml.
Now let's talk about something that I think might turn some of you off. I actually love these sorts of scents, but it took me a while to acquire this taste. Consider yourself warned. ;) This thing smells STRONGLY of pine trees, roots, and if you've been a Korean beauty aficionado for awhile: hanbang. It hanbangs you as soon as you wake up in the morning. And if you could even believe it, the scent is stronger than that of the Skylake sunscreen. Skylake as a brand are not known for their subtle scents.
FIND IT HERE $14.00 for 50 ml at Leaders Cosmetics USA
LEADERS INSOLUTION COCONUT GEL MASKS
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| It's balls cold and completely covered in snow in the Midwest, I have a newfound appreciation for these coconut gel masks. |
While Leaders's cotton sheet masks are outstanding, they also have two other lines of masks that are made of fermented coconut gel. The first is the SuperFood collection which is made up of Blueberry, Broccoli, Orange, and Tomato flavors. Next, the Bio-medicuring collection. It also has 4 different types of masks, this time centered around function. There are the Balancing Recovery, Brightening Recovery, Lifting Recovery, and Moisturizing Recovery masks. Pictured at top, in the bottom left hand corner.
I've actually reviewed a SuperFood mask before. It was this past September, in the dog days of summer, when the temps were still vacillating between the 80's and 90's. I didn't like it.
Leaders then ran a coconut gel giveaway on their Instagram @leadersusa (follow them for giveaways and sales alerts) which I and a handful of others won, and I've been coconutting it up fairly regularly for the past few weeks. Here are my updated thoughts.
The SuperFoods line (beige packaging) is still not a favorite, but they've grown on me. These are one-piece fermented coconut gels. They're thicker and juicier than the sister Bio-medicuring (white packaging) line. They contain so much essence that I find that they don't adhere as well as the other line. The scents are also fairly strong. To Leaders's credit, the scents don't offend me. Another merit to this line is that the masks can be worn for well over an hour. Hence, why these masks have grown on me. They're a pretty nice winter mask.
The Bio-medicuring line is a thinner fermented coconut hydrogel. These masks adhere to the face well. Each of them smells faintly of alcohol. There is none in any of the masks, so I excuse the scent. These also wear for an hour. I much prefer them to the SuperFoods line.
These masks overall lend themselves to a long ass pamper session, and add much needed moisture back to my skin. I will most likely repurchase some Bio-medicuring masks at some point.
A quick note - each mask comes sandwiched between two 'pearl paper' mask backings. If your mask doesn't feel gooey and coconutty, you may be wearing the backing.
A quick note - each mask comes sandwiched between two 'pearl paper' mask backings. If your mask doesn't feel gooey and coconutty, you may be wearing the backing.
FIND THEM HERE Leaders is currently sold out of these masks, but once restocked, the SuperFoods will be available here, and the Bio-medicuring line here.
LEADERS INSOLUTION SHEET MASKS*
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| These are the masks that are Leader's claim to fame. photo source: a past review |
Leaders cotton sheet masks are the product that attracted me to the brand in the first place. They consistently win awards for being excellent, especially for the price. I've used them on many occasions, and find I haven't really been disappointed with any of the flavors. I prefer the Aquaringer (blue) and the Vita-Brightening (formerly peach, now pink) the most, but find that there isn't too much of a difference when comparing the after effects of the cotton sheet masks. For reference, I've (giddily) wrapped my face in the Aloe, the Collagen Boosting, the Anti-Aging, the Aquaringer, and the Vita-Brightening masks before. They all hydrate my skin, plump my fine lines and wrinkles, and offer mild brightening effects. The masks are very soft and thin, clingy, and boast a generous fit. They cover everything - the far-reaching edges of my cheeks, my tall forehead, and extend underneath the chin.
FIND IT HERE 8 mask varieties in all, between 2 lines. The Skin Treatment line is here, and the Skin Renewal line is here. On sale for $1.99.
LEADERS STEPSOLUTION DEEP AQUA ACAI BERRY SOOTHING GEL*
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| This gel is quick-drying and theoretically one of the most nutrient-rich. |
The acai gel I've been using over the past month as a body moisturizer. In the summer, I discovered that I love how quickly and easily gels absorb into my skin. I've relied on aloe vera gel to provide quick flash-in-the-pan nourishment to the skin on my body before, so I wanted to try out this acai gel to see if it was a suitable replacement. Especially since this product contains SO MANY SUPER FOOD EXTRACTS. The tiny acai berries, pomegranate seeds, blueberries, and bilberries that are contained in this gel are among the who's who of antioxidants.
They say timing in life is everything and this is true of my experience with this product.
The gel is contained in a clear plastic bottle about the height of a water bottle. It contains 300 ml of a wonderful clear gel speckled with little beads of (encapsulated moisture?) something. Typical of most gel products, it dries extremely quickly, even quicker than aloe vera gel. Signs point to the alcohol in the formula, which may have thinned it out.
Back to the timing issue - in the late fall and winter, the skin on my body is much more in need of heavy occlusives and emollient ingredients. I usually veer more towards straight shea butter. I find that when I use this product in the mornings, it provides a very COLD but soothing burst of watery moisture, softening my skin temporarily. Guess how long that comfortable hydrated feeling lasts for? Until mid-afternoon tops. This isn't intensively moisturizing. I find this product more suitable for summertime, and for those with normal to oily skin.
A few final thoughts about this product - I find the scent to be similar to that of a berry hand sanitizer. Each use transports me back to the 90's aka, making me think of my old Bath and Body throw-and-go handbag products. It's not offensive, but neither is it pleasant. I find it to be neutral. Also, for the price, the packaging is sufficient. It's not fancy, but the pump doesn't stick, and it squirts out a dime size of product consistently.
FIND IT HERE $15.00 for 300 ml at Leaders USA
Of the products I tried, I will most likely repurchase the sunscreen, the coconut gel masks in the white packaging, and the sheet masks.
The Leaders USA site is currently running a 50% off promotion site-wide. So if any of these products appealed to you, I would go have a look-see asap.
Have you tried Leaders Cosmetics?
How did you like their products?
Please do share!
How did you like their products?
Please do share!
Disclosure: Some of the products are press samples, kindly sent from Leaders Cosmetics USA. They are marked with an asterisk. I am not compensated for my views. There are no affiliate links in this post. If you are curious about my policy on press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclaimer and policies.
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