COMPARISON REVIEW: GALLINÉE FACE VINEGAR & HERITAGE STORE ROSEWATER VINEGAR

First thing first, why vinegar? If you’re a BTS army, you’d probably knew that one of their member, Jungkook apparently cleared his acne by using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar). Yes, ACV is good for acne, because it helps to get rid of bad bacterias and lower the skin’s pH (FYI, acne sufferers tend to have a higher pH). I used to drink them on daily basis, but couldn’t bear the scent. So, when ACV finally made it as skincare ingredients, I can’t help but to try them. 

Let’s dig deeper to each of these two ACV based toner, shall we?

Both are fungal acne safe, by the way.

Made in USA
Claim: Oil-absorbing toner, leaves skin clearer and smoother
Plus Points: 

  • Affordable
  • Only contains three ingredients. 
  • Can be use as clarifying hair product
  • It comes in a spray bottle

Price: IDR 200K for 237ml
My thoughts: 

  • It still contains Damask Rose Oil, so if your skin is sensitive to oil, I do not recommend this. 
  • The scent is more vinegary than rosy if you know what I mean. This smells stronger and linger longer than Gallinée ones. 

Made in France
Claim: Soothe & reduce redness in sensitive skins, purify & exfoliate oily skin.
Plus Points: 

  • Contains prebiotics to support the skin microbiome
  • Oil-Free 
  • Using ACV infused with Hibiscus (I guess this also help to reduce the smell). 

Price: IDR 451K for 200ml
My thoughts: 

  • Yes, it smells like vinegar, but not as strong and lingering as Heritage Store.
  • I dislike the flip-top cap, though, it might get messy and sticky on the top with longer uses.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA
SCREENSHOTS FROM INCIDECODER

REVIEW: GALLINÉE FACE VINEGAR

This exfoliating toner had me at their Prebiotics & Probiotics claims, to support the skin microbiome. And my first ever purchase from this French made brand.

Price IDR 451K for 200ml (at Sephora Indonesia)

Just a glimpse of this microbiome thing, our skin is home to millions of bacteria, fungi and viruses, invisible life-forms known as the skin microbiome. In order to make our skin healthy, a balanced microbiome is crucial. We need to keep those good bacterias, and banish the unhealthy ones. 

Enter Gallinée Face Vinegar. Acts like a toner, it claims to cleansed away those unhealthy bacterias and eliminates dead skin cells, allowing better absorption of good bacteria and other ingredients in the rest of our skincare routine. 

Yes it is safe for Fungal-Acne

Their first active ingredient is called Actibiome, a novel prebiotic that works to calm stressed skin and prevent it from further irritations alongside gentle postbiotic acids that allow the skin’s beneficial bacteria to flourish. The second actives is hibiscus-infused Apple Cider Vinegar, but no worries, it didn’t smell as sour as the real ACV. 

Some said, this is a dupe for Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion. I’ve tried it before and I found Gallinée ones is more light (in terms of the formula and scent). I remember I have to dilute P50 with water so it won’t sting my skin, but I apply this face vinegar directly without no stinging at all. I do recommend this if you have sensitive skin like me. 

So how do incorporate this exfo toner in my skincare routine? You’d probably know that I don’t use toner everyday since my #skinimalism journey. But I do use Adapalene on daily basis, and it doesn’t exfoliate. A lot of misconception that retinol exfoliates your skin, well….it does not. I apply this exfo toner with cotton pad twice a week (Monday and Thursday), at night time when I don’t use Adapalene. If you are using Retinol like me, I suggest you skip your retinol while using this, because Apple Cider Vinegar is actually a gentle form of AHA. Avoid applying Retinol and AHA together at the same time as it can cause serious irritation. Instead, if you are using this toner, apply hydrating serum afterwards.

Check out that gunk

Unlike some of the exfo toners that I’ve tried before, this is the only one that didn’t make my skin looks red afterwards. However, don’t expect this toner to act as water (even with the watery texture), it didn’t absorb as fast and it did left a bit tackiness on skin. But, still on comfortable level, and I found that my hydrating serum and moisturizer sit very well after using this toner. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

JULY 2021 SKINCARE HAUL

July is a month of another reset, as the city I live in (Jakarta, Indonesia) was on its’ worst cases of Covid-19. It was like going back to square one when the global pandemic hits, so this month is definitely a #stayathome month for me (again). I just realized, maybe due to stress, this month’s purchase were like due to curiosity rather than what my skin actually needs. Oh well, I’m only human after all. FYI, by the time I wrote this, I’m into SKINIMALISM (more on that on later posts, so stay tune!), so I don’t know what to do with my earlier purchases.

Anyway, here’s my skincare haul this month.

NIVEA SOOTHING CLEANSING OIL

Mmmm…. after I bought this in early July, I became to wonder, do I really need to double cleanse with oil since I’m not wearing any makeup? I guess I bought this just because I want to try cleansing oil with Grape Seed Oil, known to have high Linoleic Acid (which is supposedly great for oily skin). Might keep this for later if I start using makeup again (but when is that going to happen?)
Price IDR 92K for 150ml

GALLINÉE FACE VINEGAR

Definitely splurge of the month, and yet another products purchased due to curiosity. I used to drink Apple Cider Vinegar/ACV, but my family couldn’t stand the smell, so I quit (LOL). I guess it had me because it contains hibiscus-infused ACV and prebiotics to support the skin microbiome. 
Price IDR 451K for 200ml. 

KEEP COOL SOOTHE BAMBOO TONER

Another toner in my basket this month, and I was thinking to skip toners for my new SKINIMALISM routine. Just great! Maybe I use this for CSM later on, because of its’ soothing purpose. This hydrating toner contains 85% bamboo extract which supposedly helps skin retain moisture and freshness. 
Price IDR 280K for 160ml.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA