Do you think that gold in skincare is a thing of the past? I remember the time when gold-infused face masks and creams were all over Instagram feeds. People seemed to really love those products, as they were pleasant to the eye. Nowadays, it looks like everyone has forgotten the trend. But not me! Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the Elizavecca Gold Essence – face serum for those who like it sparkly! Let's take a close look at this k-beauty gem and find out if it's worth trying.
About Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hell-Pore Gold Essence
This is your good old skincare ampoule (aka serum) with a golden twist. Filled with beneficial skincare ingredients like niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, and herbal extracts, Elizavecca Gold Essence nourishes the skin with this powerful cocktail.
This product isn't a standalone item; it is part of Elizavecca's comprehensive gold-based skincare collection. Along with the gold-infused serum, you can also explore the 24K Gold Water Dual Snail Mask, the Hyaluronic Acid Eye Patches, the Gold Peel-Off Mask, and the Gold CF-Nest Eye Cream.
- Where to buy?
You can get the Elizavecca Gold Essence* ampoule on the official website or find it via Amazon. For 50 ml (1.68 oz) of the product, you'll need to pay around $24.
Packaging:
Nothing surprising here, just your old and trustworthy dropper bottle for an easy and hygienic application. All comes packed in a simple cardboard box with a very pretty white and gold design with an industrial vibe.
Texture and Scent:
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hell-Pore Gold Essence is a clear, transparent serum with a slight viscosity. Generously infused with nanoparticles of gold (100 ppm), the serum shines beautifully on the skin, boosting the mood, but I'm not sure if it has an actual effect on the skin's health. The scent also pleasantly surprised with its fine herbal scent. It is a little bit bitter, like medicine, but also fresh – a nice deviation from sweetness and confectionery aromas.
Ingredients:
But, nobody shops for a new skin serum chasing the packaging and nice scent, we love them because of their reviving and hydrating ingredients, am I right? So, I propose that we take a closer look at some of the most interesting and effective ingredients in the formula.
- Niacinamide: A form of Vitamin B3 that is a true "all-rounder." It helps visibly improve enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, and dullness while strengthening the skin’s natural barrier.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Think of Sodium Hyaluronate as the "mini" version of Hyaluronic Acid. Because its molecules are much smaller, they can dive deeper into your skin rather than just sitting on top.
- Gold (100 ppm): Beyond looking luxurious, gold particles help stimulate blood circulation and provide antioxidant benefits, helping to give the complexion a radiant, lit-from-within glow.
Soothing & Skin Repairing Extract From Plants
- Allantoin: Extracted from the comfrey plant, this is an incredibly soothing ingredient that helps heal minor irritations and promotes skin cell regeneration.
- Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract: Derived from German Chamomile, these are famous for their anti-inflammatory properties, making them perfect for calming redness and stressed skin.
- Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract: Known for more than just its scent, lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that help balance the skin's oil production and soothe the surface.
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract: Provides a mild cooling sensation and helps wake up tired-looking skin.
- Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract: Packed with antioxidants that protect the skin from environmental stressors (like pollution) and help maintain elasticity.
Is Gold Really Effective in Skincare?
While gold-fused serums and masks certainly win points for "shelfie" appeal, their efficacy in skincare is a subject of ongoing dermatological debate. Proponents suggest that colloidal gold can act as a carrier for other active ingredients or offer anti-inflammatory benefits, potentially soothing redness. However, many experts argue that gold is chemically inert, meaning it doesn't easily react with or penetrate the skin barrier. Looking at the size of these golden particles, I can know for sure that they cannot be absorbed into the skin to actually have an effect.
There is interesting research on the benefits of nanogold and silver and their anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, but we can't be sure that the Elizavecca Gold Essence uses this type of gold in the serum.
How to Use Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hell-Pore Gold Essence
There are many ways to incorporate your favorite face serums into your skincare routine. Here are my three favorite ways to maximize its hydrating and skin-evening benefits: consider these three application methods:
- 1. With Water or Toner: For a lightweight, refreshing start, apply the essence to slightly damp skin. The water helps the hyaluronic acid and gold particles distribute evenly and quickly without any stickiness.
- 2. With Face Cream: If your skin is feeling particularly parched, mix a few drops of the essence directly into your favorite moisturizer. This creates a DIY "super-cream" that boosts the emollient properties of your lotion, locking in hydration for a dewy, glass-skin finish.
- 3. Under a Sheet Mask: This is probably my favorite one! Just apply a few drops of the serum onto the skin and neck before putting on a sheet mask. The physical barrier of the mask acts as an occlusive, forcing the essence’s active ingredients deeper into the dermis for an intense glow and maximum absorption.
My Experience With Elizavecca Gold Essence
Spreading this essence feels incredibly soothing and cooling – the perfect follow-up to cleansing and toning. I prefer applying it to damp skin so the formula spreads effortlessly and locks in hydration. Regarding the 'viral' gold particles: they mostly sit on the surface and eventually fall off once the serum has fully absorbed into the skin.
The next morning, after the first evening's usage, I woke up with a natural glow. There was a bit of extra oiliness on the bridge of my nose and around the nostrils, but the overall feeling of plumpness and hydration was guaranteed. In the future, I will definitely pair it with a more potent moisturizer.
Final Verdict…
Hydration: 👍👍👍👎(9/10)
Texture: 👍👍👍👎(7/10)
Overall: 👍👍👍👎 (8/10)
Like most hyaluronic-based skin serums, Milky Piggy Hell-Pore Gold Essence delivers a very potent and instant boost of hydration to the skin. You can actually feel the smoothness and plumpness of your skin, with that glass-like glow in the morning. Featuring skin-uniforming Niacinamide and soothing Allantoin at the top of the ingredient list is a thoughtful and welcome addition. Your skincare routine can never have enough of these effective actives.
What would I change? I would definitely ask Elizavecca to reduce the size of the gold flakes. If it were possible to hydrolyse golden particles, they would be able to penetrate the skin. The description says that ingredients include Gold (100 ppm), which is a very common marketing technique to draw attention to the product, but I can't really understand if this refers to the visible golden particles, or the essence is infused with the additional nano-particles of gold.
However, the overall consistency and effectiveness can't be disputed – the serum does its job fantastically. In my opinion, it is even better than the legendary Hyluronic Acid Serum by Elizavecca. If you are choosing between these two, the gold one is definitely more soothing and plumping.
