So I got this “Natural Firm & Glow Skincare Set” from Eva Naturals on Amazon a couple months back, and honestly? I wish I hadn’t. It came with three serums—Vitamin C, Peptide Complex, and Niacinamide—and the concept sounded great. I was looking for a budget-friendly intro to actives that would help with dullness, texture, and some fine lines creeping in from all the stress (I’m in grad school, enough said). And hey, the reviews on Amazon were glowing—like suspiciously glowing—but I took a chance.

The first red flag? The dropper bottles. They looked nice in pictures, but the actual packaging was so inconsistent. One of the bottles leaked slightly when I opened the box. And the texture of the serums? Weird. The Vitamin C one was thin and sticky, the Niacinamide felt like water, and the Peptide Complex had this slightly gummy texture that never really sank into my skin. I kept thinking maybe it was just me, but I’ve used a lot of other serums (K-beauty especially) that never gave me that issue.

Let’s start with the Vitamin C. Supposedly 20% L-ascorbic acid, but honestly? I doubt it. No brightening effect, no glow, nothing. It just sat on my face and left it feeling sticky for like 10–15 minutes. Plus, the smell? Not it. I don’t need a serum to smell like citrus, but this smelled like rusty pennies. I don’t know if it was oxidized or what, but I didn’t want to keep using it past two weeks. I had a couple small breakouts on my cheeks during that time, and I just didn’t trust it anymore.

The Peptide Complex serum was probably the least offensive out of the three. It didn’t really do anything, but at least it didn’t break me out. That’s... something, I guess. I used it at night hoping it would help with skin firmness, but I saw no change at all. It just kind of became a “filler step” in my routine. No real hydration, no bounce, nothing.

The Niacinamide serum was the one I had the highest hopes for, and yeah… no. I’ve used the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum before and loved it. That one helped with pores and oil control and gave me this subtle clarity. This Eva Naturals one? It didn’t even feel like niacinamide. No smoothing effect, no oil control, and worst of all, I actually felt more congested after using it. I gave it three weeks. Then I gave up. Went back to my BoJ and saw an improvement again almost immediately. So yeah, it wasn’t my skin. It was the product.

Something else that bugged me: there’s no real transparency from the brand. You don’t know where the ingredients are sourced, and they don’t list percentages (except the Vitamin C, which again, I’m skeptical about). It’s giving “private label Amazon brand” energy. You know, those companies that just slap a label on a generic formula and call it a day.

I found myself constantly wondering, “Why am I still using this?” I think it was partly guilt (I hate wasting stuff), but also this lingering hope that maybe it would just... kick in? Spoiler: it didn’t.

After a month of trying to “make it work,” I tossed the Vitamin C, shoved the Peptide serum in a drawer, and only used the Niacinamide on my neck just to use it up. That’s the level we’re talking about here.

By comparison, my K-beauty staples blow this out of the water. The Round Lab Dokdo Toner? Immediate soothing. The Cosrx Snail Mucin? Instant bounce. Even the $10 Iunik Propolis Serum did more for me than this entire set combined. I don’t know, maybe this brand works for someone with completely different skin, but for me, it was just one long “meh” with a side of irritation.

Also, this is petty, but the product names and design kind of feel like they're trying to sound clinical and trustworthy, but it comes off more like “trying too hard.” There’s no brand personality, and I think that matters more than people realize. Like when you’re applying a product and there’s no sense of ritual or enjoyment, it just feels like a chore. Skincare should feel like a little moment of peace, not a question mark.

If you’re thinking of trying this because of the price, I get it. $25–30 for three serums feels like a steal. But in this case, you’re definitely getting what you pay for. I would rather spend that money on one decent product from a Korean brand I trust than waste it on three that do nothing. Honestly, if budget is the concern, go on Stylevana or YesStyle and grab a single good toner or serum—you’ll get way more out of it.

Final thoughts? I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. Not even for beginners. Not even for “just trying it out.” There are too many better options at this price point and below. I’m not saying this brand is a scam, but it’s definitely not made with any kind of love or care for the skin. Just something to fill a cart and hope you don’t regret it.

So yeah, learned my lesson. Never again. Back to my trusty Korean skincare routine. I’m already seeing my skin bounce back and honestly? That’s all the confirmation I need.