Some of you may know that Genabelle Labs was started by Dr. Cowen Park, a famous dermatologist in Gangnam, Korea. If you’re not familiar with Gangnam, it’s the Beverly Hills of Korea. It’s the place to go for; shopping, restaurants, nightclubs, plastic surgery, and most definitely dermatology. Dr. Cowen is so confident in his treatment of patients that he started an online review app for beauty clinics called UNNI similar to Yelp in the United States. So, when Genabelle puts out a product you know it’s well-tested and worth a look.

I decided to give the mask a try and I applied it to my freshly cleansed face. The fragrance was strong but not unbearable. I was able to keep it on my face for the recommended 20 minutes. It did sting a little at first, but not to an intolerable level. I could easily ignore the sensation and smell. In addition, the packet has plenty of extra ampoule that you can apply to your neck or hands. When I removed the mask, I was surprised by the result. It really works! 

My skin brightened significantly. For several days after the mask, my skin looked as good naturally as it normally does after applying bb cream. I would highly recommend this mask to anyone trying to reduce hyperpigmentation. This is not a spa experience to relax and enjoy pampering, but a treatment to correct your skin. You can purchase a box of five masks from Amazon or Genabelle’s website for about $20, so it’s a good value for the money.

What exactly is the rotten egg facial? It’s a paper mask with an extremely high amount of an ingredient called glutathione. Glutathione is a substance made from several amino acids naturally produced by the liver that are involved in building and repairing tissue. In skincare, it’s known to help lighten dark spots and reduce hyperpigmentation. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can protect against free radical damage, help reduce wrinkles and fine lines, and improve skin elasticity because it protects skin from oxidative stress. Glutathione smells like sulfur, aka rotten eggs. This is unusual for a product that you would put on your face, thus it made me wonder, why are people going crazy for it? They say it’s so effective that they love the product and the results speak for themselves. 

Consequently, I gave it a try. They aren’t wrong. This product isn’t for the weak of heart, the smell was atrocious! The package says that the product is unscented, but it has a really strong sulfur smell. So, I posed the question: why does it say unscented if it smells so strong? The response is that each face mask has 1 ampoule of the Glutathione Brightening Essence that contains 5,000 ppm of glutathione. Genabelle doesn’t add any fragrances to hide the naturally occurring odor and since it has such a high quantity of the active ingredient, the aroma is present. It’s also really important to store these products properly. As they get older or if they are stored in a hot environment, the compounds can become unstable and affect the quality of the ingredients. 

However, if you have sensitive skin, this may not be for you and you may want to try Genabelle’s Vegan line called Phytology. It consists of plant-based ingredients that deliver a wealth of vitamins to hydrate sensitive skin. What’s important is the high amounts of the key ingredients used in each product. The Cabbage Calming Cream has 730,000 ppm of cabbage extract so you will get the highest hydration benefit from the vitamin K and about 8-fold hyaluronic acid. It has a beautiful green color with a traditional cream feel and a refreshing floral fragrance. The Kale Toner Pads hydrate and prevent undue melanin production because of all the antioxidants and vitamin C. They are a great way to exfoliate without the use of microplastics or other harmful ingredients. The final product in this line is the Squalane 53 Deep Moisture Serum derived from sugarcane with double hyaluronic acid and other natural ingredients that help moisture absorption like yam root extract and pine tree exosomes that boost collagen production, rejuvenate skin, and reduce inflammation. Each of these products runs about $30. I find this really reasonable for the quality of the skincare. To put it in perspective, the SkinCeuticals brand cream I purchased from my dermatologist in the USA was $78.

The results from the Genabelle products that I’ve tried motivated me to take a look at the entire line and that brought me to the Aquabarrier products. They are designed with aquaporins that are paramount in transporting water in and out of skin cells. If you have really dry skin, I recommend that you start with their Intense Cream Toner. It helps open, moisturize and prep your pores. It left my face feeling cool and refreshed. The toner contains five different types of ceramides which are lipids that make up about half of the outer portion of your skin that naturally help moisturize and replenish your skin barrier. The Crystal Drop Hydra Booster Ampoule is just plain fun. It comes in a clear glass bottle with a floating blue layer of Jojoba oil, so when you shake it the layer breaks up into little blue bubbles reminiscent of a lava lamp. Initially it feels a bit oily, but because of the balance of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, it gets absorbed quickly. The final step is the Aquabarrier Ceramide Capsule Cream. It is supposed to have a fragrance but, I can’t discern much of one, it’s extremely light and pleasant. The cream has a fun spongy texture with an occasional little capsule that dissolves on contact. This line is really nice all year-round, but it’s a must-have for everyone during the cold dry months here in Korea. Again all the products in this line range from $25-$35.

I think my favorite Genabelle product is the Edelweiss lifting Serum. For any of you who have lived in Europe you know Edelweiss is the national flower of Switzerland. It grows high up in the Alps and only blooms in August and September, yet it has a remarkable ability to survive the elements like frost without losing its luster. It has an excellent ability to protect itself from harmful ultraviolet radiation. The flower extract contains antimicrobial properties but don't you dare pick it in the wild as it is on the endangered plant list. Scientists have been using this flower to treat everything from tuberculosis to whooping cough for decades so it’s no wonder they made the jump to skin care. Edelweiss is useful in protecting your skin against infections, stimulating cell regeneration, protecting skin against environmental pollutants, aiding skin elasticity, minimizing fine lines, preventing premature aging, and moisturizing skin. So, if that isn’t enough to convince you, trying it will.  It is immediately absorbed into the skin after application, so it doesn’t feel greasy or sticky. A few minutes after you apply it, you can feel your skin tightening. Not in a drying way, but absolutely like it’s lifting and tightening. I just want to call it a facelift in a bottle! The amazing fact is that it retails for about $43. I’ve purchased other products that are supposed to reduce fine lines, and they retail for around $150.  To me, this is a steal and the perfect gift to send mom from Korea.

I hope this article was informative and that you will give Genabelle skin care products a try.  These products shouldn’t replace a visit to the dermatologist or professional treatments, but I feel like the fundamental ingredients in all of their products are very strong and their exclusive formula makes them effective. I am impressed with the quality of the products and value for the money. Follow me on Instagram @AlisonRockUSA or YouTube/@AlisonRockUSA for a deeper dive into each of the products mentioned above. In addition, I plan to give away some free products on October 31 to one lucky subscriber. Stay tuned to United on the RoK as I look forward to sharing a new line with you again next month. 

Resources

Link to the UNNI App: https://unni.global/

Gennebelle Labs: https://genabelle.com/

Olive Young: https://m.oliveyoung.co.kr/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/

About the Author

Alison Rock is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She lives in Korea with her husband and teenage sons. She enjoys cooking, painting, and jewelry design and recently started a YouTube channel reviewing K-beauty products. 

Channel: www.youtube.com/@AlisonRockUSA