I'm finally ready to tell you about this gem from VENN Skincare. First I want to tell you a little behind the brand.
"VENN is grounded on over 20 years of skincare research in ingredients and formulas. Through its proprietary R&D lab in South Korea and guided by Scientific Advisory Board, VENN actively researches and develops new, innovative ingredients and formulas to pioneer a more effective, efficient and safe approach to skincare."
Their products are cruelty-free and free of fragrance, sulfates, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan and triclocarban. The idea behind the brand was to make everything simple. Use one product to replace a time consuming multiple step skincare routine.
VENN's mission is to set a new standard of integrity for the skincare industry. By bringing together over 20 years of skincare research with clean, high-performance ingredients, VENN develops skincare products that are effective, efficient and safe. VENN streamlines skincare routines by replacing unnecessary steps and complications with modern, scientifically sound products that deliver multiple benefits with minimal effort.
VENN’s hero product, Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate, is the first way that VENN is changing the skincare industry. This "all-in-one" concentrate is scientifically formulated with VENN’s proprietary Concentric Technology™ using naturally-derived antioxidants and high-performance peptides to streamline daily skincare routines. It is revolutionary in both effect and ease, establishing the category standard for multifunctional skincare.
Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate is an intensely luxurious, multi-correctional formula, scientifically formulated with VENN’s proprietary Concentric Technology™ using potent concentrations of naturally-derived antioxidants and high-performance peptides to deeply hydrate and dramatically improve the skin’s complexion in a single step. 89.7% of this supercharged, all-in-one formula are energizing bioactives, including Compound K, the main anti-aging bioactive component of Panax ginseng.
Benefits
+ Hydrate skin for up to 24 hours
+ Reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles
+ Improve skin's elasticity and firmness
+ Brighten skin's appearance and minimize discoloration
+ Smooth and soften skin
Directions Apply generously and evenly to entire cleansed face and neck, morning and evening. Use the all-in-one concentrate to streamline your skincare routine, or as a super-powered serum in your existing skincare regimen.
So if you've been following me for any length of time you know the idea of a minimal skincare routine is hard for me. I did try to cut some things out to try to make this the main focus of my night routine while I used it. This has a nice light creamy texture. Like a cream to gel cream kind of product. It's more hydrating than a typical gel cream but lighter than a regular cream. I found it wasn't hydrating enough to use as an all in one treatment, I had to use a cream over it. This would work as a cream for oily to oily combo skin. If you're close to normal this might be good for days alone but for night you might need something extra still. I love the airless pump it comes in. It has a practical plastic bottle with a my favorite minimalist type of aesthetic.
I will say this product boasts a lot of claims. VENN uses Concentric Technology which is three patent pending technologies-The delivery system, solubilization (fully dissolves Compound K with low solubility for easy absorption) & hydration technology (surface and inside stratum corneum). This All-In-One Concentrate combines 15 powerful antioxidants and peptides for 'brighter, firmer, and younger looking skin.' I love that VENN does it's research & development in Korea. Korean skincare has such an innovative approach to ingredients and skincare.
Compound K is one of the main bioactive components of ginseng. It's obtained through the fermentation process. Compound K fights free radicals and is a powerful antioxidant. The brand lists Compound K as difficult to use in cosmetics due to it's low solubility and hydrophobic properties. VENN Skincare states that for the first time they have water solubilized Compound K which allows it to be effective as a key ingredient. Compound K also promotes collagen synthesis & improves skin elasticity & firmness.
Compound K is an interesting ingredient that actually has some research on it as well. Compound K is a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1 from Panax ginseng. Panax (red) ginseng is a powerful antioxidant. Most of the research shows it's an antioxidant and it has anti-aging effects. Some of the articles I read are HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE. This article HERE is nice as it shows a lot of natural compounds and what they do.
Green tea leaf water helps balance the skin. Grifola Frondosa Extract (maitake mushroom) improves elasticity & firmness. Houttuynia Cordata Extract balances & soothes. Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract (maritime pine) is an antioxidant. Glycosaminoglycans are a fundamental part of the skins tissue and they help restore collagen. Glutathione is an antioxidant and it brightens the skintone. Palmitoyl Tripeptide‐1 & Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide‐7 reduce wrinkles, improve collagen synthesis and helps improve skins elasticity & firmness. sh‐Polypeptide‐64 is a growth factor to help reduce wrinkles and hydrate.
Quercetin is a flavenoid that's an antioxidant and it's soothing. Camellia Sinensis Catechins are the main polyphenol compound in green tea. There are four types of catechins. ECEG is the most popular one seen. These catechins fight free radical damage, brighten the skintone & helps regulate the sebum balance. Acetyl Hexapeptide‐8 (argireline) reduces wrinkles & improves firmness. Copper Tripeptide‐1 improves elasticity & collagen production plus it promotes wound healing. Nicotinoyl Dipeptide‐22 helps brighten the skintone.
I used this every night until it was gone. I used two pumps on my face and two on my neck. At first beyond hydration I didn't notice much. Even towards the end of the bottle I was skeptical how much this was doing for my skin. It wasn't until three weeks after this product was finished that I really saw what it had done for me. I really like using a product to the end then stopping it for 2-4 weeks to see what happens. It's always when I stop it that I notice the changes in my skin. So after not using this VENN All-In-One Concentrate for three weeks (after finishing one bottle) I noticed the firmness and elasticity of my skin has decreased. My fine lines on my forehead also became more apparent. Basically VENN gave my skin that supple glow. That plumped up hydrated skin look. So in conclusion I can say this product gave my skin a noticeable increase in radiance, elasticity, firmness, hydration and that general plumped up feel. I didn't get a huge amount of brightening but that didn't matter to me. I'll use my acids for that.
I did pair it with my own retinol as this does not contain any retinol. You also need to use your own acid product in the side. I like that they didn't include these two so you can customize it based on your needs. I think we all change our daily acid use based on needs and I don't like all in one products that contain acid and retinol because then I can't personalize and it limits the way I can use a product. VENN just came out with a mask which I now need to try ASAP. I also will be needing to grab a bottle of the concentrate again. I know it's pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for. VENN uses a high amount of active ingredients and it works.
Ingredients
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Grifola Frondosa Extract, Cocoglycerides, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Shea Butter Glycerides, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Nylon‐12, Cetearyl Glucoside, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, C14-28 Alkyl Acid, Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Glycosaminoglycans, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Glutathione, Carnosine, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide‐1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide‐7, sh‐Polypeptide‐64, Quercetin, Camellia Sinensis Catechins, Tetradecyl, Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric, Urea Trifluoroacetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide‐8, Copper Tripeptide‐1, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide‐22, Dipotassium, Glycyrrhizate, Ginsenosides (Compound K), Magnesium Chloride, L‐Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA
*Product gifted but all thoughts are my own