Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence Review (Benton Review Series #2)

Bbbeeenntttooon!! And so begins the second part of this review series. Given that the Benton line has achieved something of a cult status amongst certain beauty communities, I think most of you know how this review will go. Regardless, I still want to post my thoughts on it, even if I'm half a year late. :)

This review is part of the 6 part Benton review series! 

1. Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner

2. Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence

3. Benton Snail Bee High Content Lotion

4. Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

5. Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream

6. Benton Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack

I'll be adding links to the series at the introduction of each review, look out for them over the next few weeks! 

Where to buy:

roseroseshop.com - $12 (you can also buy samples here)

testerkorea.com - $22 (roughly)
w2beauty.com - $19
jolse.com - $19.98

Here is their GMarket Shop

Description: Benton's Snail Bee High Content Essence is for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone. Instead of water, this essence uses snail secretion filtrate, bee venom, and EGF to purify your rough and damaged skin, protecting it from stress and pollution. In addition to the acne-care, the essence is moisturizing and evens your skin-tone. Containing arbutin and adenosine, it can help you whiten your skin and prevent aging.

Claims
Anti-acne
Whitening
Anti-aging
Moisturizing
No Parabens
No Alcohol
No Artificial fragrances or Coloring

Ingredients:Snail Secretion Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Arbutin, Human Ogliopeptide-1, Bee Venom, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminana Digita Extract, Dios Pyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Bacilus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Cross Polymer, Adenosine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Arginine

As others have commented before, this ingredients list is amazing. Instead of using water, the essence uses snail mucin and aloe juice. All of their 'star' ingredients are at the top of the ingredients list, and I really don't see any 'filler' or potentially clogging ingredients at all. Basically perfect.

Scent: This product has no artificial fragrances- hurray! However, I've found there to be a very mild scent. It's pleasant and unobtrusive, and I can't imagine it bothering anyone.

Packaging: Not especially fancy, but practical, hygienic, and suitable for the image they've tried to create. The cap on top of the pump comes off very easily (which means I've lost it about 20 times...), but it's no big deal. The pump itself is nice and easy to use. I don't really have any complaints or comments beyond that, haha.

Swatch: The essence itself is a watery gel that's quick to absorb and (very) lightly hydrating. I need about a pump and a half to cover my face, two if I want to cover my neck as well.

Fully absorbed. 

Results: I'd like to preface this by remind everyone that I have dry skin and live in cold countries.

Getting to the point- this really just the most effective essence I've tried. It's not luxurious or special, but it's affordable and works well. I haven't had legitimate acne in about a year (roughly since this blog was created! yay), but I still get the occasional pimple. When I used this, both with and without the Aloe BHA toner, my pimples cleared up quickly. I still get hyperpigmentation regardless of what I do, but the anti-acne claims of this essence are spot on.

I wouldn't feel right commenting on the long-term whitening properties of it, though, since I used 55% lactic acid peels weekly at the same time as using this. Considering how high arbutin is on the ingredients, though, I am willing to bet that this helped. However, I will say that the essence definitely did help reduce the over-all appearance of redness! I assume that's from the calming properties of the aloe, though it could have also been due in part to the arbutin.

My only real complaint is that this essence wasn't very hydrating. In fact, as mentioned previously, the whole line wasn't moisturizing enough for me. I think it's perfect for the summer, or used in conjunction with more hydrating products... but not enough on its own. That's acceptable though, because it works so well in every other regard. :)

The bottom line is- when I used this essence my skin looked nice. Pimples cleared up faster, my skin was calm and more even-toned, and I was a happy camper. It's also cheap compared to a lot of other (less effective) serums/essences.

Conclusion: Final Score: 5/5

Pros:

• very effective (reduces pimples, calms redness, etc)
• affordable
• amazing ingredients list
• hygienic packaging
• almost perfect??

Cons:

• not especially hydrating (for me)