Guerisson 9 Complex Essence [Review]

Do you ever find yourself feeling drawn to a product just because it stars an out-of-the-ordinary ingredient? I mean, I jumped into Asian beauty almost two years ago because of snail slime. Seriously. From snails I jumped around a bit and lately have been pretty hung up on donkey milk. But when I saw horse oil pop up on my radar, my curiosity was peaked. Horse oil is of very similar composition to the same oil we humans produce (ie. sebum) so it makes sense that it would work with our skin, right? Well, that's what I was hoping for anyway!

Guerisson 9 Complex Essence : Manufactured by Claire's Korea
130mL, Made in Korea

Purpose: [from Memebox] A rich skincare essence infused with galactomyces, ceramide, betaine and 9 herbal extracts that give full rejuvenation to the skin. This essence effectively delivers proper nutrients to enhance the skin’s texture and complexion. It also balances the skin’s proper moisture levels to prevent the skin from being too oily nor too dry. It keeps the skin soft and radiant by gently eliminating dead skin cells that cause dullness and roughness. This is specially formulated to suit people with sensitive skin.

To Use: After cleansing and toning, pour a proper amount into a clean cotton pad and gently sweep the damp cotton pad all over the face and neck. Pat gently to allow full absorption.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Mineral Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Betaine, Polyglutamic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Arginine, Glyceryl Stearate, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia (Apple Mint) Leaf Extract, Sage Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma (Bergamot) Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Horsefat, Theanine, Milk Lipids (?), Glutathione, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Dipotassium Glycyrrizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Astaxanthin, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide 3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

Cosdna Analysis: The [Cosdna] Analysis is very clean for this product. Butylene Glycol rates a 1/5 on the potential comedogenic scale, and Carbomer rates a 1/5 as a potential irritant. Neither of these are a cause for concern to me. (and thank you vanityrex for inputting these into Cosdna!)

Description: The Guerisson 9 Complex Essence comes in a vertically ribbed plastic bottle with a gold metal cap. There is a cream-colored label wrapping around the center of the bottle. This bottle features a euro dropper spout for dispensing.
The essence is thick and a bit oily feeling. It has a bit of a citrus smell to it - I personally think of grapefruit when I smell it, and it does disappear quite quickly when you are working with it.

My Skin: I have 29 year old, oily, acne prone, dehydrated, sensitive skin. I experience hormonal acne due to PCOS as well as cystic acne. I am currently using a Curology prescription that includes Tretinoin.

Perfomance: The directions say to apply this to a cotton pad and wipe on face, but because of it's thickness I personally pour a few drops into my hands and pat it into my face.

One drop

I notice when I apply too much my face takes forever to absorb it - or maybe closer to 5-10 minutes. When I apply the perfect amount (2-3 drops) my skin drinks this stuff up in a minute or less. Sometimes I do apply too much on purpose just because I like how plump it makes my skin feel, and how hydrated - omg...

One drop patted into the back of my hand.

I've been using this for about a month, not every single night, but let me tell you, the difference of my skin in the morning after I do use it is enough for me to try to work this in every evening. 

My skin is less oily, it appears to be brighter, it's softer/smoother, and my complexion looks clearer. Yes - I do feel like this is helping my acne!

Why Does It Work So Well? Horse oil is actually high in linoleic acid (source) which, according to Minimalist Beauty, is what is lacking in acne-prone skin. I'll let you read her post for details - but the gist of what I gathered is most acne-free skin produces linoleic acid while most acneic skin produces oleic acid (source used by Minimalist Beauty). Because of this, I believe is why it works so well for my acne-prone skin.

Rating: 5/5

Available at: Memebox USA and Amazon (affiliate links)

Have you tried any horse oil products? How did they work for you?

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Disclaimer: This blog purchased the product(s) mentioned in this post for the purpose of review and evaluation. No monetary compensation was received for this post. This blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This blog contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.