Effortlessly flawless skin? A first look at INSTYTUTUM skincare
Written By Jenny Wu on
As much as I love having options, I’m also easily overwhelmed. So when I see a skincare brand with 20 different lines and 15 products in each line, my brain just shuts down from the options overload (is this how men feel about a woman’s ability to multitask?).
Even though I agree that our skin is unique and has different needs, overwhelming the consumer with a billion products is not the way to address these needs! In today’s beauty industry where lots of brands are screaming “MOAR!“, Instytutum stands out with their single range of just 10 products.
Made with love in Switzerland by Natalia Derkach, M.D, Instytum aims to create effective + innovative products using their pure 5-times filtered water as the base.
While I’m not sure how filtering the water 5 times benefits the skin, everything else about them sounds quite appealing: no animal testing, no parabens, no sulfates, and no mineral oils, just great scientifically proven ingredients. Who needs quantity when you’ve got quality? Anyways, on to the reviews!
Instytutum Triple Effect Peel
- Key ingredients
- salicylic acid, papaya enzyme, chamomile extract, allantoin – full ingredients here
- Available at
- Instytutum (free US shipping & returns) – $79 for 120ml
Peels sound intense and slightly painful, but you needn’t worry about that with this baby. I mentioned this in my recent exfoliating products roundup, and it’s one of the few physical scrubs I still use.
Well, it’s not entirely physical as it also contain salicylic acid and papaya enzyme to promote cell turnover. If your skin is on the sensitive side, you can actually use this as a mask – just leave on for no more than 5 minutes, and rinse off without massaging in the beads.
In addition to the physical and chemical exfoliants, this also contains a buttload of soothing products like chamomile extract, allantoin, and a “second skin marigel” (which I assume is a combination of the various gums) that helps lock in hydration and delivers actives to the skin.
Definitely one of the most gentle yet effective physical scrubs I’ve used, and despite its high price point, a little bit goes a long way. I use mine about once a week, and I can definitely see this lasting me a year. It also helps that the results are instant: smoother & softer skin, the perfect canvas for some serious sheet masking, which brings me to…
Instytutum Flawless Face Mask
- Key ingredients
- hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid, peptides, chamomile extract, licorice root extract – full ingredients here
- Buy from
- Instytutum (free US shipping & returns) – $69 for 5 sheets
I always cringe when I see expensive sheet masks, especially since I’m all about them $2 ones. So for that astronomical price, these masks better blow my mind.
It does contain some great hydrating + brightening + anti-aging ingredients, most of which are at the top of the list, so that was reassuring. It’s also a 2 piece mask made of hydrolyzed collagen to achieve better ingredient penetration and of course, better fit.
It actually feels a lot like cellulose masks, which believe it or not, I’m not a fan of. For some reason they always feel semi-dry going on the skin, and they actually slip around more. In the case of Instytutum’s Flawless Face Mask, I could feel it slipping down my face if I was upright, so I ended up lying down while I masked, which wasn’t the worst thing in the world, unless you’re trying to multitask.
Upon removing the mask, I was underwhelmed – no instant brightening or really any noticeable results. My skin did feel a bit plumper and hydrated, but that’s about it. Sad.
Fast forward to the next morning, I woke up with chok chok skin that looked like I had been sheet masking all night. This is what the #wokeuplikethis hashtag was made for y’all.
Honestly I still think the $69 price point is a bit high, but at least I can see why. Maybe if they ever go on sale, I’ll treat myself to another box because otherwise I’d be broke :(
Instytutum Eye Cream
- Key ingredients
- shea butter, oat extract, hyaluronic acid, bisabolol, peptides, caffeine, retinol – full ingredients here
- Buy from
- Instytutum (free US shipping & returns) – 15ml for $89
I first learned about this product (and really the brand) from the lovely Anne at Linda Libra Loca, so I was very excited when I got the chance to try this myself. While I really liked the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, it wasn’t quite enough for my almost-30 eyes (the idea that I’m in the last few months of my 20’s still terrifies me).
Luckily this eye cream contains a crap-ton of proven anti-aging ingredients like peptides and retinol while still moisturizing the area with hyaluronic acid and shea butter. The best part? It actually works to minimize the appearance of fine lines without giving me friggin milia.
Between this and the Activist Skincare Precious Oils Serum, I’ve seen a huge improvement in hydration and smoothness around my eye area. The only thing it hasn’t done is get rid of dark circles, but I’m starting to think mine are a result of poor blood circulation rather than actual hyperpigmentation.
I plan on doing a full review on this eye cream soon, even though I’ve barely made a dent in the product despite using it liberally twice a day and even applying some on my smile lines, which I swear are less noticeable now.
Yes, it’s quite pricey, but it works, and that’s good enough reason for me. At this point this is a definite winner and repurchase for me!
Overall I’m really impressed by the Instytutum skincare products I’ve tried so far, and it’s definitely a brand I would love to explore more of. They are on the pricier side, but from my experience so far, I can understand why they’re priced at this level. If I had to pick a favorite of the 3, it would be the eye cream. Everyone can benefit from using an anti-aging eye cream, and this one will work for all skin types!
Hope you guys enjoyed this brand review, and let me know if you’ve tried any of their products before, or which one appeals to you the most!
**Sorry if I sound a bit scatterbrained in this post, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and it’s taking a toll on me mentally and emotionally. I’ll try my best to catch up on your blog posts & comments soon!
Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.
Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨
Comments & Questions
Camilla
Thanks for the review, Jenny! This brand has crossed my radar a few times and it's nice to know they make good quality products! The peel sounds lovely. I never thought I'd get into physical scrubs but there seem to be a lot of lovely gentle ones around now!
INSTYTUTUM
Hi, Camilla! The Triple Peel is a FAN favorite, it's gentle yet powerful and as you can see, yields great results! Please feel free to reach back out to us and let us know if you have any questions, we'd love to find the right INSTYTUTUM products for you!
Jenny Wu
Physical scrubs were one of the first skincare products I started using, so I'll always have a soft spot for them :) I agree, it's nice that we now have gentler options available!
LindaLibraLoca
I haven´t tried the mask yet, but I will soon after reading your review. Other than that I can highly recommend the Serum, would probably skip the cleanser and like the Toner, though I don´t think it is worth the price tag. The eye cream (just finished writing my review, but have no clue when I will publish it - so little time!) is among my favorites as well and a repurchase product.
Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
INSTYTUTUM
Thank you for the kind words, Anne! Our multi-tasking Brightening Serum is one-of-a-kind and is great for all skin types, glad to hear you are loving it and the Eye Cream! Let us know if you have any questions, we'd love for you to try the mask and share your thoughts!
Jenny Wu
Aww I was actually curious about the cleanser and toner, especially since those are 2 product categories I love shopping for, but good to know! The serum is on my wishlist now after hearing you rave about it! <3
Demilade
Thanks for this review, this is my first time hearing about the brand. Your skin looks so AMAZING in the picture you shared. Did the mask give you that result? If it did, I would love to try it . But God knows when that'll be as it's SO expensive. xx
Coco Bella Blog
INSTYTUTUM
We agree, Jenny looks flawless! We totally understand your concern with pricing, but we like to think our products are worth it ;) as they produce amazing results! Would love for you to give us a try sometime. Let us know if you have any questions.
Jenny Wu
Aww thank you so much lovely! Yes, that was all from the mask, which is why I'm torn as the price is ridiculously high. I know they occasionally have sales, so definitely wait for those!
becky
Same with the sheet masks! though, I do mask around 2-3 times a week and I bump that up to 3-5 times a week in the winter so I wonder if the cost ends up about the same.
Eye cream doesn't do a lot for me - or maybe it's because I don't use it as often as I should because I'm always forgetting. I've heard that eye cream is almost like glorified, more expensive eye cream, though my mom uses it religously.
becky @ star violet
INSTYTUTUM
Using masks more often during dry weather seasons is a great idea! We may be biased, but we love our Eye Cream ;) it can be hard to get into a routine, but we recommend using it day and night to reduce puffiness, brighten, and firm. Let us know if you have any questions!
Jenny Wu
I probably sheet mask at about the same frequency, and you're right, the cost definitely adds up, so expensive varieties like this are only saved for when my skin really needs it. As for eye creams, I used to feel similarly until I've found products that actually work. My eye area is drier than the rest of my skin and it's also the area that's showing hints of fine lines, so I need the extra boost eye creams provide!
Alyssa
I haven't heard of this brand before but they sound interesting especially that sheet mask because I haven't use a transparent sheet mask before. Too bad it's underwhelming.
xx Alyssa // STYLE VANITY
Jenny Wu
The sheet mask is underwhelming if you want immediate results, which most sheet masks tend to give. But the thing with most sheet masks is that those results are temporary, whereas this one provides more long term results!
Rowena @ rolala loves
Ever since I went on a skincare routine with just two products, I've been quite interested in minimal skincare ranges. I really believe there is something to this approach as long as a brand uses quality and effective ingredients. The way you've described the eye cream has definitely piqued my interest. It's really cool that it works for all skin types. I'm not a big fan of cellulose masks for the same reason as you and the two piece ones never seem to stay on my face properly. It's nice that you woke up to chok chok skin but whew is that mask pricey.
Jenny Wu
Totally agree Rowena! For me it's definitely about quality over quantity, and my skin has improved drastically since minimizing my routine. A lot of people rave about cellulose masks about how they stay moist for hours, but mine always seem to dry out faster than the regular cotton sheet masks, and then there's the fit issue. I give this one a pass because it actually gives long term results :P
Cat L.
Jenny, I am loving the sound of this brand and their products. I cannot agree more, the vast array of products available on the market right now is overwhelming. I have been trying to streamline my routine and go back to basic by using a minimalist approach. The peel and eye cream sound like products I would enjoy as well. I've added them to my list! Thank you for such a detailed review. Your photos are always so dreamy!
~ Cat L.
www.CatsDailyLiving.com
Jenny Wu
Thank you so much Cat! My skin has seen such a huge improvement and I no longer breakout after I've minimized my routine, so I'm really trying to stick to brands that follow this principle as well. I plan on adding more of their products to my routine once I finish some of my current products!
A Very Sweet Blog
Both products sound wonderful! I was reading another bloggers review, and she liked their products as well. I'm putting them on my beauty radar.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
Jenny Wu
They're definitely a brand worth checking out, and I'm probably going to try some of their other products myself :D
Samantha
I'm super interested in the face masks, but WOO boy, they are not cheap haha. I guess the long term results justify that price though, imagine how bomb your skin would look using those on the regular (or at least, semi-regular)! Ahh, it's so conflicting when you say the eye cream is the standout product, because it's really hard for me to jump on that train! I have one from belif which isn't doing much, so I'm always a bit skeptical of eye creams.
Sam / My Beauty Cloud
Jenny Wu
Haha, I know right? I'd also be broke if I were to get them at the full-price ^^;; I was sort of hesitant about eye creams as well since many of them did absolutely nothing for my eye area. I think once you find one you love, you'll jump on the train in no time! :)
Mica
Oooh! While I'm not a sheet mask person (no time for masks of any kind with two toddlers!) I do need a good eye cream so it's wonderful you spoke so highly of this. I think we have this brand here in Australia, I am sure I've heard of it before, so I'll have to check it out! :) Thanks for sharing your review.
Hope you are having a lovely week :)
Away From The Blue Blog
Jenny Wu
Thank you Mica! As great as the results were for this sheet mask it's definitely not made for multi-tasking, though I do find other masks to work well since they adhere better to the skin :) Hope you'll get the same great results with the eye cream if you do try it out!
An Dang, TheBeauParlour
Thanks for the great review and cute selfie when wearing the sheetmaks, those are my face shots heheh <3 Like you I did scream a little bit from inside when I saw the pricetag of the sheetmasks BUT when looking at your pic an reading your experience I can really tell its worth it. The eyecream sounds great especially everyone can use some peptides. I'm looking forward to hear what it does to your eyes!
Loves, An | http://thebeauparlour.com/
Jenny Wu
Aww thanks An! It's always a bit painful when you find a product that works well but it's super expensive. However I've found that it's still better in the long run for your skin and wallet to invest in something that actually works :)
Georgiana
The peel and eye cream sound really good. I`m getting close to my 30s as well and I`m dreading the moment when I have to go for an anti-wrinkle cream. I mean, I haven`t found one that completely hydrates my dry eyes yet, so the prospect of finding something that stops time is terrifying.
Georgiana / Beauty Nerd
Jenny Wu
I totally get what you mean Georgiana! If you need extra moisture around the eye area, you can always layer a hydrating serum first and then add an eye cream to seal it in :)
Jennifer | Mrs Q Beauty
When it comes to skincare, I have a lot to learn. I get very overwhelmed with all the different types of products. I would like to experiment a bit more with skincare though. http://www.mrsqbeauty.com
Jenny Wu
I felt the same way when I first started getting into skincare, the options out there are overwhelming! I've found that sticking to brands with fewer products definitely made things easier for me :)
Mili
Wowza those sheet masks are pricey! But at least you saw good results in the morning :D Eye creams are so finicky! After getting milia from a few, I'm always paranoid to try a new one. Glad to hear this one works well for you!
Mili | sharmtoaster
Jenny Wu
Yes, unlike the SK-II ones which are pricey af and did absolutely nothing for my skin (even though the essence does wonders)! I feel like a lot of brands just think "the richer the better" with eye creams which might work for super dry crepey skin, but of for those of us that actually want to start our anti-aging routine early, those products are a total fail!
Shireen L. Platt
The sheet masks are pricey AF but damn girl, your skin the next morning is what dreams are made of! And the eye cream sounds like something that I would appreciate too so I'll hop over and check out the brand.
Jenny Wu
Haha, thank you Shireen! I do wish the sheet masks are a bit more affordable, but if you were gonna drop $$$$$ on sheet masks, this would definitely be one of them! I do have a coupon code JENNY20 for 20% off that you can use if you'd like (fyi I don't get any commission from it), but if you follow them on Facebook sometimes they'll have a 40% off sale!
Lavanya
I actually reviewed their Triple Effect peel & mask and they are so gentle and effective. The mask is really hydrating and it instantly made my skin look so much fresher.
Lavanya | Elle Files
Jenny Wu
That's so interesting that you saw instant results with the mask! I agree, both are great products! :)
FASHION TALES
I was raised on raw Shea butter and my family swears by it, so that eye cream sounds interesting, although as it is now I spend too much money on eye creams and at that price it really needs to come with a gilded spatula, haha. I really want to try this and love that you had good results, your skin looks amazing. <3 /Madison
FASHION TALES
Jenny Wu
Thank you Madison! Shea butter is one of the ingredients I love as well, as I find it to be moisturizing without being heavy. I do agree that eye creams in general are overpriced, but I'll give this one a free pass since it actually works :)
heather noire
Wow your skin looks so glowing with a healthy look. Such a great review and these products look so promising. :) http://www.bauchlefashion.com/2017/09/the-10-fall-fashion-commandments.html
Jenny Wu
Thank you so much Heather! It's always exciting to see products deliver the results they promise :)
Anne
The mask sounds interesting but I do hope it stays on up better. I love using sheet masks while watching the tv. Great review!
annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com
Jenny Wu
Thank you Anne! I'm the same way, love binging on my dramas or catching up on Youtube videos while sheet masking :P
Almari
Very detailed post! Would like to try out the sheet mask! :)
Almari Writes. ❤
Jenny Wu
Thank you Almari! I do have a code for 20% off - JENNY20 - if you're interested!
Tsukiakari
Amazing post!
Can you follow me? I follow you. ;)
Have a lovely weekend!
Tsukiakari from murasakiiroanu.blogspot.com
Sabiha
I know what you mean about becoming overwhelmed with choice! these two look like fab choices though. I love their simple and chic pacakaging and it's great that they work wonders too x
www.franklyflawless.com
Jenny Wu
I know packaging shouldn't be the most important thing when it comes to skincare, but I definitely love a product more when it has an aesthetically pleasing packaging!
Katya
The result is amazing on you! I am still thinking if I should get it because of the price. But I want to give it a try!
StyleSprinter Blog by Katya Bychkova
Jenny Wu
Thank you Katya! I do have a code for 20% off (I don't receive any commission from this), but if you follow them on Facebook sometimes they'll have codes for 40% off as well!
Tales of Two
That eye cream sounds great but unfortunately I Just bought one around 2 days ago! Let's see how that one goes, if it doesn't work i better try this one! I need to do something about my laugh lines too!
www.talesoftwoblog.blogspot.com
Jenny Wu
I've found that eye creams are a great spot treatment for any areas prone to fine lines!
The Gluten Free Guide to Everything
The products sound great! I should definitely try this!
Jenny Wu
Hope you'll get the same great results I did!
Shivangi
How do you always find such amazing products!! I have so much to learn from you when it comes to skincare products!! <3 Loved reading your post! Hope you are having a great day! :)
Lots of Love,
Shivangi
Jenny Wu
Aww thank you so much Shivangi, I'm so glad to hear that! I've been very fortunate to be able to work with various brands and discover new products along the way :)
Gin
Hey I hope you feel better now! SUPERHUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGG!
Love,
Gin
Jenny
Aww thank you so much Gin! I’m feeling better now :)