Wet ‘n’ Mild: Erborian Eau Ginseng, Yuzu Double Lotion, & Ginseng Milk Reviews

Korean-French brand Erborian has several “multibenefit lotions” in its lineup.  Sometimes “lotion” refers to a hydrating toner (this is the case for Japanese brands), but in this case, “lotion” seems to refer to products–from watery to milky to creamy consistencies–that are applied between cleansing and moisturizing the skin.

Last year, I bought a $25 “lotion discovery kit” that came with three 1-oz. minis of its most popular and hydrating ones: Eau Ginseng, Yuzu Double Lotion, and Ginseng Milk.  Sadly, I don’t see the kit any more on either Erborian’s or Sephora’s site.  On Erborian’s site, you can buy most of the minis individually for $10 each.

I’ll review each one in order of lightest to heaviest consistency, but spoiler alert: Yuzu is my fave for my dry skin and the one I think about buying the full size of.  Just keep in mind that all three are heavily fragranced, which can be a dealbreaker.

Erborian Eau Ginseng Review

Eau Ginseng ($39 for 6.4 oz.) is a clear, watery toner.  Verdict: MEH.  It’s a perfectly fine hydrating toner actually.  It’s just…ordinary.  Aside from being strongly perfumed (it and Ginseng Milk share the same generic NON-GINSENG perfume scent), it’s unremarkable and I didn’t notice improvements with continued use.  And while I’m neutral on the scent, it just doesn’t add any joy.

Ingredients (pasted from Sephora):

Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Equisetum Giganteum Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Extract, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium Edta, Parfum/Fragrance, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Erborian Yuzu Double Lotion Review

Yuzu Double Lotion ($36 for 6.4 oz.) is distinctive for being dual phase (I’m trying to stop saying “bi-phase” for obvious reasons keke).  So before each use, shake well to mix the oily and watery phases together.  The result: a thin milky liquid.

I apply this as a toner, and when I’m feeling extra dry and want extra nourishment, I pat another layer directly on with my hands.

Some reviews on Sephora seem to think this is an actual lotion in the Western sense (i.e., moisturizer).  However, this isn’t heavy enough to serve as a moisturizer (unless you’re super oily, I guess) and I always follow up with a normal moisturizer, consistent with Erborian’s directions.

Yuzu’s my favorite of the three because not only is it richer than a typical hydrating toner, it also has a delicious yuzu scent that caresses my nostrils like Roxy caressing her catnip mouse.  So even though its effects boil down to just moisturizing well, it’s got that joy factor that makes me entertain the idea of buying the full size.

Ingredients (pasted from Sephora):

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernel Extract, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ceteareth-20, Panthenol, Glycerin, Biosaccharidegum-1, Sodiumhyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Fragrance, Linalool, Limonene, Ci19140/Yellow5

Erborian Ginseng Milk Review

Ginseng Milk ($39 for 6.4 oz.) is one lotion that actually is similar to a Western lotion.  In K-beauty terms, it’s like an emulsion–and that’s exactly how I use it.

After toning as usual, I smooth this over my face with my fingertips.  Although the consistency is runny and thin, it feels quite rich.  True to its “smoothing effect” claim, skin feels plump and smooth once the lotion dries down.  Not “silicone primer” smooth, but noticeably smoother than after other toners and emulsions.

Of course, this immediate gratification is cosmetic.  Although Erborian claims that skin looks softer and smoother over time, I didn’t use it continuously for long enough to notice whether it made the skin itself smoother.

Depending on the condition of my skin, I followed up with either a “real” moisturizer or with just a moisturizing sunscreen.

Renee (with combo skin) likes Ginseng Milk, too.  And interestingly, Bella Noir Beauty (with oily skin) also likes it even though I would have thought it was too heavy for oily skin.  I guess that smoooooove feeling is universally appealing.

Ingredients (pasted from Sephora):

Water, Propylene Glycol, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclomethicone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Equisetum Giganteum Extract, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Silica, Carbomer, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Limonene, Ci19140/Yellow 5

On a side note, I noticed that Erborian now makes a Camellia Milk.  Yeah, I drooled a little on my keyboard, too.

Bottom line: If strong scents don’t bother you, these lotions are quite nice.  For the price, I liked Yuzu Double Lotion the most for being a rich hydrating toner, and Ginseng Milk the second most for smoothing and moisturizing skin well.  I would skip Eau Ginseng unless the scent really called to you.