This product was sent to me by StyleKorean for review purposes. I was not paid for this post but please note that affiliate links are used on my blog. These go towards supporting Oh My Stellar and future content.
Whitening creams, or tone up creams if you’re after the proper product name, are a pretty popular item in kbeauty. Not to be confused with bleaching or skin lightening products, which are highly dangerous and should be avoided, tone up creams generally have a more cosmetic effect. Depending on the exact product, they may have skin recovery, SPF or whitening (reducing pigmentation) benefits. The product generally also has a white colour to it so, when applied, will give the skin an immediately brightened effect. This is especially well suited for people who are naturally quite pale but have some unevenness in skin tone. Of course, being a cosmetic whitening product, it does come with some controversy but I’m not here to discuss that.
In the past, I have used the 3CE White Milk Cream, which I liked at the time. I’ve been using the left over (which is now expired) mixed in with a lotion on the rest of my body so I haven’t tried any new whitening cream on my face for quite a while. When I found out that the 3CE white milk range had been expanded though, I was interested. Of course, the fact that this lotion is so insanely excessively packaged definitely helped!
They now carry a handful of skincare products under the White Milk collection, as well as a White Milk Lotion – which I assumed would be a similar tone up cream to the original, but in a lighter formula. I wasn’t exactly right, but I wasn’t wrong either. I received this product to review from StyleKorean and, while it is currently out of stock, they still carrying a range of the White Milk products (like my favourite cushion) and also the similar White Milquidro range.
So, if you’re keen to read more about this product (and see this ridiculous packaging), read on!
Packaging
In an Instagram Story worth moment, this product comes packaged in a full size blue paint tin – it is actually a little ridiculous because this is something that would be difficult to post due to the size, though it does make a really interesting impression and I suppose it keeps the product safe during transit. The tin is blue (and also has a lid that I didn’t photograph) and matches the appearance of the bottle. There is some inconsistency between this and the rest of the range, so I don’t really get what they were aiming for from a design perspective. It is excessive, but I’ll be keeping the tin as storage.
Opening it up, the bottle is smaller and looks really cute!The aesthetic of it looks almost like a vintage toy, like the sort you would get in those baby doll sets, so I do think it looks nice. It’s made of a blue matte plastic and (somehow) actually still feels rather substantial. This is something that I wouldn’t worry about breaking. It’s also something unique and fun that I would also be happy to gift.
The bottle has a sturdy cap that clicks in place and his dispensed by squeezing the body. It’s simple but effective and, if I were to take this travelling (though it is a big enough bottle that I would rather decant), I wouldn’t worry about any spills or leaks.
Product Description
According to the StyleKorean website, “The milky white formula helps cultivate a flawless complexion by softly adhering to the skin. This not only brightens your skin tone right away, but also helps you to achieve younger look as an anti-wrinkle function.” The product claims to have cosmetic whitening effect, as well as both anti-wrinkle and moisturising benefits. It can be applied to any part of the body (such as neck, arms or knees) where you may want to brighten – I especially like to apply this on my neck and chest, as my face is paler than the rest of my body.
This product has three main selling points:
- A brightening effect for a milky and bright skin tone: 3CE White Milk Lotion instantly brightens up a dull complexion while giving intensive care to potential blemishes for a flawless look every day
- An instant moisturising effect upon application: The milky formula helps cultivate dewy and soft skin by smoothly adhering to the skin and instantly moisturising it
- A lightweight white formula that effortlessly absorbs into the skin: The non-sticky cream formula feels so soft on your skin and leaves it well moisturised overnight
The hero ingredients are below:
- Ceramide: To keep the skin moisturized for a dewy complexion
- Vitamin E: Protects the skin with an antioxidant effect
- Milk Protein Extract: Removes dead skin cells and replenishes moisture
- Cacao Seed Butter: Forms a protective barrier to make your skin soft and dewy
Also, although they mention using it overnight, I personally prefer to use tone up creams during the day (when the cosmetic effect can actually come into play) – this is also because the white pigment tends to apply patchy if you layer too much skincare beneath it. That being said, this is a product that can work in both your night and daytime routine, depending on your preference.
According to the website, the lotion also contains spherical powders that even out skin and elastomer gels to help you achieve a naturally radiant skin tone. Although I can definitely see this result, the claims are a little too complex for me so I can’t vouch for it either way.
Formula & Personal Experiences
The first thing that I noted for this product, and was something that I also loved from the Cushion, is the scent! It has a very delectable milk candy sort of scent that is just very calming and pleasant – it does fade as your apply it but it is a bit strong at first, so you may have to reconsider this product if you don’t like milky scents.
The product is a lot thicker and creamier than I originally assumed it would be. It directly reflects what is shown in the promotional photos but, considering that it is a ‘lotion’, I actually expected something thinner. It also has a lot of white pigment in it so you only need to use it sparingly or you will end up with an excessive white cast. Generally, I would use a pea size for my entire face and a little more than that for my neck and chest.
The product feels super moisturising and rich when you first apply it. I love that the white pigmentation doesn’t cling to dry spots and, as you’re blending it out, the overall effect of it is very natural. The product absorbs well into the skin with no streakiness nor a heavy feeling on the face. It’s a really good product to use under your make up if you want something very intensely hydrating that won’t negatively affect your make up. If your skin is rather blemish free, I can also see people using this product alone with a little bit of concealer. The finish is very natural and radiant.
That being said, while I didn’t get any break outs from this product, I also didn’t see any additional skin benefits outside of hydration. This, and most other tone up creams to be honest, is something that I would rather use as a cosmetic product (with some skin benefits) rather than as a full on skincare product as I don’t think it gives you as much nourishment as other more targeted products.
Overall, I do like this and I am continuing to use it every day. I feel like it is as good as the 3CE White Milk Cream, albeit a bit thicker and creamier. You definitely don’t need both in your life though, so I would recommend going for either of them if you’re after an effective (and yummy) tone up cream!
So, here’s the verdict!
SO WHAT IS IT?
A tone up cream/lotion that gives immediate brightening effects and moisturises skin
THE GOOD
- Really different and fun packaging concept – suitable for gifting
- Sturdy and good quality packaging too
- Easy to dispense and control product
- Smells amazing
- Can be used sparingly
- Gives your skin an immediate boost of moisture without feeling heavy
- Brightens and evens out skin tone
THE BAD
- The paint can packaging is excessive
- No substantial skincare or long term benefit
- White shade is only suitable for pale skintones
RATINGS
- PACKAGING | 4/5
- PRICE POINT | ? (currently out of stock)
- SCENT | 4/5
- HYDRATION | 5/5
- COSMETIC WHITENING | 5/5
- SKINCARE | 2/5
OVERALL RATING? 8/10
WOULD I RECOMMEND?
If you are after a good tone up cream and not a full skincare product then this is something that I would recommend. However, a product like this (being pure white) will only work for people like myself – fair or pale. On medium or deep skin tones, it will make the complexion look ashy and you would get a much better effect using a CC cream or a tinted moisturiser underneath.
If tone up creams are wanting to expand (because outside of Asia, I can’t imagine anyone using a white cream much), they could benefit from releasing a yellow or peach tinted one to suit other skin tones.
WHERE TO GET IT FROM
Although the 3CE White Milk Lotion is currently out of stock (though I am linking it for when it does come back), StyleKorean also stocks other products from the brand – and to be honest, I don’t feel like you need everything. If you want something super lightweight, check out the White Milk Cushion, or if you are more after a cream then there is the G9Skin White in Whipping Cream too, which is very similar but without the scent.
