Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop, Will You Revolutionize My Sun Protection Game?

My long-awaited package from Abib, which contains the latest release from their sun care collection, the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop, has finally arrived.

⁣ So did it revolutionize my sun protection game?

Where to Buy the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop?

The Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop comes in a 1.69 fl. oz. / 50 ml compact bottle and retails for $28. For all you lucky people in the US who can get Prime delivery, you can buy the sun essence from Abib’s official store on Amazon*.

You can also shop for Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop on trusted Asian international shops, such as YesStyle* and StyleKorean*.

The Abib Brand

Abib, the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponds to April. It is translated from Hebrew as “the season of beginning barley crop” because the grains ripen at that time of year. Likewise, Abib’s cosmetics start from the first step of the beauty cycle.

Although the skin’s healing processes continually regenerate cells, the skin of modern people has lost some of its properties due to external factors. The brand aims to help the skin cycle back to its prime, natural complexion.

Abib’s slogan is “The only way to perfection is endless experiments.” and Abib Laboratory focuses on the following:

• Increasing the self-generating power of the skin
• Protect the skin from toxic ingredients
• Slow the aging process
• Removal of dead skin cells
• Increase skin’s defensive power against external stimulus.

Abib’s packaging prioritizes the product’s stability, eliminating unnecessary elements and using minimum colors.

“The perfection will be completed when there’s nothing to take out without the necessity of adding something.”

Abib Promises to:

• Pursue the natural beauty of the skin;
• Use raw materials with certified reliability;
• Products developed by the best experts;
• Only provide the products with the best quality and efficacy.

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop Claims

A powerful drop to protect your skin.

Skincare and sun protection in one bottle!

Experience a daily suncare that is light and comfortable.

Abib

The Abib sun essence contains 50.000 ppm of Heartleaf Extract from Jiri Mountain. The sun essence, fortified with heartleaf, smoothly absorbs onto the skin. It not only calms your skin but also provides sun protection. The light and moist texture quickly absorbs into the skin, providing a soft and featherlight finish.

*Affiliate links below.

Who Is this Sunscreen For?

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop is recommended for all skin types, but it’s more for combo and oily skin types.

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop Ingredients

Sunscreen filters

Uvinul A Plus (Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate) is a new-generation chemical sunscreen with high UVA protection and high photostability. It is not approved by the FDA.

Tinosorb S (Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine) is a broad spectrum photo stable chemical filter not yet FDA approved.

Parsol SLX (Polysilicone-15) is a silicone-based chemical sunscreen that protects from UVB rays. This is also not approved by the FDA. Silicone is not my favorite ingredient. It can trigger acne and cause “pilling” under makeup. It can have benefits for dry skin since it helps prevent water loss.

Tinosorb M (Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol) is a hybrid new-generation UV filter with broad spectrum protection and high photostability. This is also not approved by the FDA.

Uvinul T 150 (Ethylhexyl Triazone) is a new-generation chemical sunscreen with high photo-stable UVB protection.

Iscotrizinol (Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone) is a chemical sunscreen agent that protects in the UVB and the UVA range and is photostable.

As you can see, like with the Goodal Heartleaf Calming Moisture Sun Cream reviewed here by a fellow muse, this sunscreen contains new-generation filters not yet approved by the FDA. That does not mean it is not safe or effective. The European Union has approved it.

Manufacturer: Cosmax, INC.

Key Ingredients

Heartleaf

This chemical sunscreen focuses on heartleaf, or houttuynia cordata extract, which has been shown to decrease damage from UVB rays. Heartleaf probably draws its benefits from polyphenols, plant-derived compounds with potent antioxidant and prooxidant effects, keeping the skin young and healthy.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has been making a splash in the Western market over the last few years and has been splashing in Asian skincare for decades. This beauty powerhouse is the topical form of vitamin B3.

Several well-documented studies show that when used topically, niacinamide can:

• Strengthens the skin barrier by increasing ceramides and lipids and decreasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL);
• Improves the surface structure and smoothes out wrinkles;
• Boost hydration;
• Controls sebum production;
• Reduces acne;
• Calms redness and evens out red blotchiness;
• Improves skin texture;
• Lessens hyperpigmentation;
• Brightens sallowness of the skin;

Long story short, niacinamide does everything, and the good news is that it is well-tolerated by most skin types. To learn more, please read our Complete Guide on Niacinamide and How to Reduce Hyperpigmentation with Niacinamide.

Alcohol

Alcohol provides a lightweight, fast-drying experience, but this is the one irritant in this product. It can cause skin dryness and damage the skin barrier in high enough doses. Unfortunately, it is high on the list. In sunscreens, the alcohol is less damaging to the skin if used as a last step with a barrier of moisture.

The Lauric Acid & Alcohol Theory:  I do not typically have an issue with ethanol, but there is an interesting ingredient in this product called Hexyl Laurate. This specific ingredient is a mixture of alcohol & lauric acid, which is an anti-bacterial. I don’t have enough experience with this Hexyl Laurate to definitively say this is drying to my skin type, but there is at least some justification that this ingredient could be the causation of my extra dry skin.

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop is cruelty-free and does not include hyaluronic acid, fragrance, or essential oils.

Packaging

The sun essence comes in a very eco-friendly protective box. It is filled with 100% natural cornstarch balls, with no plastic or bubble rapper in the box.

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop comes in a compact oblong bottle with a twist-off cap that looks into place. There is a flow-reducing tip for seamless dispensing of the watery liquid. This sun essence used to come in a glass bottle with a dropper. I am pleased they changed it because I hate dropper bottles.

Scent

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop has a subtle floral scent that doesn’t linger for too long. It seems to be a mix of fresh lilac and some smokey notes. It’s very complex. I think this might come from the Triticum Aestivum (Wheat) Seed Extract. I can’t detect the alcohol in this when I apply it.

Texture

The consistency is very milky and watery. When I put it on my face, it is sticky, but after 2-3 minutes, the sticky feeling disappears, which means my face absorbs the product.

My Experience with the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop

At first, I was tricked by the texture. Looking at it, I thought it would be heavy for my skin, but I was wrong. It’s light, spreads easily, and absorbs quickly into my skin. The white milky moist texture has a watery consistency.

Even though this is a chemical sunscreen, there’s a slight white cast upon application. The white cast soon disappears and feels more like a primer type of white cast.

I find it can pill when I do my longer morning routines, so I particularly like this for days when I’m keeping things simple. I can’t speak to how well it holds up with sweat, but it does seem to have a skin-softening effect. It leaves a soft, silky finish with a slight tone-up effect. I have glowy, and healthy skin looks afterward.⁣

For reference, I have dry, dehydrated skin, and it is winter time. I found this sun essence a little dry for my skin. I should probably test it during summer.
By no means do I think this is bad. The finish of it feels great. This might work better for me during summer, but it’s a no for my sensitive, dehydrated skin. People with oily skin will appreciate this more since it has a light essence feel.

Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop plays well with others for makeup and reapplication. I like to top up with a sun stick and this works great with the Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick Mugwort.

INCIDecoder lists the formula as having low to insufficient preservatives. The bottle is so small, I doubt anyone will have theirs long enough for it to go bad. Still, it’s a good idea to watch your dates.

When this sunscreen slips into my eyes, usually by the end of the day, it stings like crazy.

Because the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop is a very liquid essence, it’s hard to tell how much of it is appropriate to get complete UV protection. The UV index is very low right now (1), so I’m not too concerned, but if I lived somewhere with a high UV index, I would be way too paranoid about its effectiveness.

How to Use the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop?

In the AM, at the end of your skincare routine, shake the glass bottle to mix the essence;

1. Cleanse, or a splash of water
2. Vitamin C;
3. SCINIC First Treatment Essence (optional);
4. Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum;
5. Moisturizer (optional);
6. Requires a good shake-up before use;
7. Because it’s so runny, it’s hard to use the two-finger method of measurement;
8. Reapply throughout the day as needed / every two hours, especially during prolonged sun exposure.

Pros

• liquidy
• lightweight
• fully absorbs
• good sun protection
• soft and natural finish
• recommended for all skin types
• hypoallergenic
• fragrance-free

Cons

• initial sticky feeling
• slight white cast
• pricy
• has to be shaken up before every use
• hard to measure how much you apply

Verdict

As always, our skin is subjective. What didn’t work for me may work great for others 🙂 Although I was initially very excited by this new concept and the superb silky finish of this Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop, I was soon let down that it stung my sensitive eyes and dried my skin. This could work great for someone with oily skin and not-so-sensitive eyes.

I will not repurchase, and I am still seeking my HG!

Rating 3.5/5

Shop for Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop

Lastly, I was not paid for this review or received it as a gift.

As always, you do you; be kind to your skin and yourself! Remember that every person’s skin and skin type is different, so what might work for me might not work for you, and vice versa. So, before adding a new product to your skincare routine, it pays to do a little research first.

Before adding the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop to your skincare regimen, ensure you are not allergic to it or its ingredients. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical conditions or medications that may interact with the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop. Always do a patch test before applying the Abib Heartleaf Sun Essence Calming Drop on your skin to avoid adverse reactions.

I am not a dermatologist or licensed aesthetician, but I have sufficient experience and knowledge I gained by testing multiple products and self-exploration. Unsure? Best to consult your dermatologist.

Happy shopping, and don’t forget the sunscreen! Here’s to great skin in 2023!

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