Why NACIFIC is the K-Beauty brand to add to your skincare routine
Product photography by Perkin Gotohio
This story is brought to you by NACIFIC
Have you heard about NACIFIC? It’s a K-beauty brand that’s been quietly getting a strong following recently. It stands for Naturalistic, Affordable, Clean, Innovative, Fresh, Iconic, and Caring. Their approach is a trendy minimalist aesthetic coupled with formulations that spotlight nature-derived healthy ingredients to relax the skin. It is an inclusive brand, because each product line targets specific skin concerns. There’s the Fresh Cica Plus (acne care/anti-inflammatory), Pink AHA/BHA (exfoliating), and Blackhead All Kill (pore refining) to name a few. But their all-time bestsellers are still the OG Fresh Herb Origin line and their brightening Phyto Niacin line!
For general pore-tightening and age care, the NACIFIC Fresh Herb Origin collection is an 3-step routine that lightly hydrates. It starts with the Fresh Herb Origin Toner (P1,000 for 150ml) that contains three forms of calendula in the ingredients list (calendula flower water, calendula flower extract, and calendula extract). It can be applied directly to the skin or mixed with a little bit of water as a post-cleansing rinse to get a head start on your moisturizing. There’s this mild citrusy sweet tea scent that I find refreshing. The finish is satiny and has a softening effect on the skin.
Next is the brand’s star product, the NACIFIC Fresh Herb Origin Serum (P1,200 for 50ml, P1,700 for 100ml). This is Nacific’s take on the bi-phase serum trend. At the top is the oil layer, while a moisturizing liquid resides at the bottom of the bottle. Typically, you shake the serum bottle to get an emulsion. But the layers can be used separately: Oil top layer when feeling extra dry, moisture layer alone for skin that’s already feeling oily.
Surprisingly, the emulsion doesn’t come across as slick or oily, and it is fully absorbed by the skin as opposed to just sitting on top like a facial oil would. The finish is slightly dewy, looking like I put on a light moisturizer. Out of six Nacific products I got to try, this one also has the most pronounced scent. I’m getting a very zesty lemon, not unlike lemon soda, but it doesn’t linger on the skin once applied.
The final step is the NACIFIC Fresh Herb Origin Cream (P1,300 for 50ml), which is on the rich side but still highly spreadable. This is more like your traditional moisturizer with a dewy finish. It’s one that I would recommend for dry skin types. There’s also a faint candied orange scent from the jar that I can’t really pick up once I start to put it on my face.
To those who swear by the brightening prowess of Niacin, you’ll want to check out the fragrance-free and allergen-free NACIFIC Phyto Niacin line. Each of the three products here contain 5% Niacinamide. Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, is well-known for helping to brighten spots and even out overall skin tone and texture. It also helps with redness!
The Phyto Niacin line is best for improving skin glow as opposed to the Fresh Herb Origin, which is more for nourishing skin. Let’s look through each product!
The Phyto Niacin Toner (P1,000 for 150ml) has a watery consistency and and has a smooth softener/lotion feel without altering the natural finish of the skin. Try this if you’re looking for a hydrating toner that doesn’t sting!
Instead of water, the main ingredient of the Phyto Niacin Essence (P1,200 for 50ml) is brightening and moisturizing Bambusa Vulgaris Extract. Its consistency is that of a runny gel and spreads across the skin like a toner. There is a tacky feel as it dries, but also doesn’t affect skin finish.
And then there’s the Phyto Niacin Sleeping Mask (P1,100 for 50g) which starts off feeling rich from the jar, but applies and dries more like a gel moisturizer. Meaning, I wouldn’t mind using it as a daytime moisturizer. It feels comfy enough that I could layer sunscreen over it. There’s also a smoothing effect on the skin.
Both product lines have formulas that are lightweight and non-greasy, so day and night use for either collection is fine. The products have the right texture that you can use them for most skin types, and they will slide in easily with your current skincare routine.
Top: Phyto Niacin Sleeping Mask; bottom: Fresh Herb Origin Cream
BTW, did you know that Nacific has recently tapped K-pop group, Stray Kids to be their global brand ambassador? They’re currently giving away photocards with the purchase of select products, so stay tuned for more promotions and content featuring the band!
Nacific is officially available in the Philippines via the brand’s LazMall store.
What are your thoughts on minimalist Korean skincare brands like Nacific? Let us know in the comments.
