Founded in 2014, April Skin is a K-beauty brand that initially hit the market with just one product: April Skin Magic Stone soap. Soon, April Skin grew into a full line of natural skin care products and cosmetics. The name of this K-beauty brand comes from the month of April, which represents the beginning of spring and a time when new life is born.
OUR TOP SKINCARE PICKS
| Rank | Brand | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrot & Stick | Review | |||||
| 2 | Formulyst | Review | |||||
| 3 | Skinceuticals | Review | |||||
| - | April Skin |
In this April Skin review, we’ll discuss the top 10 best April Skin products, the key ingredients in these products, the pros and cons of this brand, and more. We’ll also share April Skin reviews so that you can get a better idea of what customers really think of these products.What Are The Top 10 Best April Skin Products?
April Skin offers a variety of skin care products, including cleansers, masks, peels, serums, body care, and more. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 best April Skin products.
April Skin Carrot Blemish Serum
- A clinically tested non-comedogenic serum that is said to stop the acne cycle and speed up skin cell renewal in order to help heal your current irritated skin while also preventing future breakouts
- Recommended for those struggling with blemishes and whiteheads, and for those who desire a smoother, brighter complexion
- Key ingredients include glycerin, niacinamide, carrot seed oil, carrot root water, and sodium hyaluronate
- Contains fragrant essential oils
ALTERNATIVES: Carrot & Stick The Acne Spot Treatment. A potent, yet gentle treatment serum targets blemishes. This topical treatment serum will reduce the appearance of redness and inflammation while it gently exfoliates the area, whisking away dirt and bacteria.
April Skin Calendula Peel Off Mask
- A peel off face mask that is designed to remove blackheads, dead skin, oil, dirt, and other debris from pores. With impurities cleared away, nutrients and moisture are able to absorb better
- Recommended for those with dry rough skin, shiny skin from excess oil, dull skin, and sensitive skin
- Key ingredients include polyvinyl alcohol, alcohol, calendula extract, orange peel oil, and lavender oil
- Contains fragrant essential oils
April Skin Calendula 10% PHA + AHA Resurfacing Serum
- A leave-on exfoliating serum that is said to minimize the look of pores by dissolving crystalized sebum plugs in the skin that cause congestion and enlargement of pores, resulting in visibly clearer, smoother skin with a subtle glow
- Recommended for those with oily shiny skin with enlarged pores, dry skin with patches, and dull and tired skin
- Key ingredients include calendula extract, gluconolactone, glycerin, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid
- Contains fragrant essential oils
April Skin Calendula PHA Hyaluronic Peeling Gel
- A 30-second exfoliating system that rolls away dead skin cells and is said to promote “baby soft” skin
- Key ingredients include glycerin, cotton powder, gluconolactone (PHA), and calendula extract
- Fragrance free
April Skin Calendula Low pH Gel Cleanser
- A low pH (5.5) hydrating face wash that is said to clean daily impurities without any after-cleanse tightness
- Key ingredients include calendula flower water, surfactants, glycerin, panthenol, and chamomile flower extract
- Contains fragrant essential oils
April Skin Calendula PHA Peel Pads
- Dual-textured, alcohol-free toner pads that are said to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and dirt to reveal brighter, polished skin without stripping your skin of moisture
- Recommended for those with dry skin, oily skin, enlarged pores, dull and tired skin, and sensitive/irritated skin
- Key ingredients include calendula flower water and extract, humectants (glycerin, butylene glycol, etc.), citric acid, and purslane extract
- Contains fragrant essential oils
ALTERNATIVES: Carrot & Stick The Brightening Pads. A concentrated blend of salicylic, lactic, and mandelic acids sweeps away the build-up of dead skin cells, gently exfoliating to promote clarity, refine texture, and rid pores of impurities.
April Skin Calendula Deep Essence Mask
- A lightweight and smooth sheet mask made out of cellulose from eucalyptus tree
- Recommended for those with dry rough skin or skin with dry patches, flaky skin, sensitive/irritated skin due to transitional weather, and dull, tired skin that needs revitalization
- Key ingredients include calendula flower water and extract, gotu kola extract, aloe vera extract, hibiscus extract, turmeric root extract, sodium hyaluronate, and many more botanical extracts
- Contains fragrant essential oils
April Skin 40% Collagen Peptide Plumping Serum
- An anti-aging facial serum that is said to address multiple signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, pores and dull complexion
- Key ingredients include 40% vegan collagen, humectants, niacinamide, and peptides
- Fragrance free
ALTERNATIVES: Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 peptides for smoother, firmer looking skin.
April Skin Magic Snow Cream
- A quick-absorbing, lightweight facial cream that is said to instantly and naturally brighten the skin, boost luminosity, refine skin tone, and moisturize the skin
- This cream can also be applied on elbows, knees, and armpits to lighten dull skin
- Key ingredients include 70% glacier water, niacinamide, titanium dioxide, cranberry fruit extract, and burdock root extract
April Skin Artemisia Rice Toner
- A hydrating, low pH (5.5) vegan moisturizer that is said to promote calm, bouncy, healthy skin
- Recommended for those with dry skin, dehydrated skin, dull skin, and sensitive/irritated skin
- Contains 80% artemisia water, 10,000 ppm rice bran water, and 4 types of hyaluronic acids
- Fragrance free
What Are The Key Ingredients in April Skin Products?
While this K-beauty brand uses a variety of ingredients to formulate their products, you could probably tell from the last section that the April Skin Calendula products are the most popular.
The brand uses Calendula officinalis — also known as pot marigold — extracts to formulate the April Skin products. Calendula has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
According to a publication in the Pharmacy and Pharmacology International Journal, Calendula officinalis possesses various biological active constituents such as carotenoids, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, phenolic acids, lipids, and more.
The flavonoids found in Calendula officinalis flower extract are antioxidants that help the skin combat free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. And the carotenoids in this extract help to brighten the complexion.
Another beneficial ingredient that you’ll find in April Skin products is carrot seed oil, which is the key ingredient in the popular April Skin Carrot Serum. Carrot seed oil is rich in antioxidants, such as beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
While this brand does use beneficial key ingredients in most of their products, there are a few April Skin products that contain problematic ingredients.
For example, the April Skin Calendula Peel Off Mask formula is rather disappointing because the third highest concentration ingredient is alcohol (ethanol). A high concentration of alcohol is problematic for all skin types because this type of alcohol is well known to cause skin dryness, irritation, and even disruption of the skin barrier, especially when used in high concentrations.
So instead of soothing and moisturizing your skin, the April Skin Calendula Peel Off Mask has the potential to cause excessive dryness, damage, and make signs of aging look even worse over time!
In addition, many April Skin products contain fragrant essential oils, such as bergamot oil, orange peel oil, and more. While these ingredients give the product a pleasant scent, it’s important to note that these fragrance ingredients have the potential to cause sensitivity and irritation.
In fact, according to a 2016 publication in the scholarly journal Dermatitis, nearly 80 essential oils have caused contact allergy. Even if you don’t have a full blown reaction to the ingredient, the damage may still be occurring every day. This is something to keep in mind before purchasing April Skin products, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Where to Buy April Skin Products?
April Skin products are sold on the brand’s website, as well as third party ecommerce websites like Amazon, eBay, YesStyle, and more. You can also find April Skin products in physical retail locations, such as Sephora and Walmart.
What is The April Skin Return Policy?
The April Skin return policy states that they cannot exchange products or accept returns. However, if your order arrives damaged or defective, they can assist with a refund or replacement. Only products purchased on aprilskin.us may be eligible for a refund or replacement.
Is April Skin Cruelty Free?
April Skin claims to be cruelty free, however, April Skin products are sold in mainland China (where animal testing is required by law). Therefore, April Skin is not cruelty free.
Our Verdict
Overall, we think that most of the April Skin products are formulated well, but we’d recommend avoiding the products with high concentrations of alcohol and fragrant essential oils.
Pros
- Most products contain high concentrations of beneficial key ingredients
- Many positive April Skin reviews
Cons
- Some April Skin products contain fragrant essential oils
- April Skin is not cruelty free
What Are Some Alternatives to April Skin Products?
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that’s effective and safe.
If you’re looking for effective skincare products that skip harmful toxins, one brand we recommend is Carrot & Stick.
Carrot & Stick is committed to creating plant-derived formulas that deliver extraordinary results without relying on toxic chemicals or standard preservatives.
References:
AshwlayanVD, Kumar A, Verma M, et al. Therapeutic Potential of Calendula officinalis. Pharm Pharmacol Int J. 2018;6(2):149-155.
de Groot AC, Schmidt E. Essential Oils, Part IV: Contact Allergy. Dermatitis. 2016;27(4):170-175. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000197
