Korres, the Greek pharmacy-turned-skincare darling, deserves a little limelight even if it sometimes slips past the noise of flashier conglomerates. Built on homeopathic principles and Mediterranean botanicals, the brand has a knack for blending science with sensorial pleasure while flying a relatively under-the-radar flag.
Enter the mouthful that is the Black Pine Primus Youth Renewal Sleeping Facial. The name might read like a superhero squad roll call, yet Korres promises a single overnight cream that melts into skin, plumps fine lines and sends you to breakfast looking well rested. The secret weapons, according to the brand, are antioxidant-rich black pine bud, a triple-hyaluronic YouthRePro complex and a lavender-derived biofunctional said to switch on beauty-sleep mode.
I gave this night-time overachiever a solid two-week test drive, using it as directed on freshly cleansed face and neck every evening to see if the claims translated into real-world results worth your money.
This is not a paid or sponsored review and all opinions are entirely my own. Skincare results can vary widely from person to person so your experience may differ.
What Is Black Pine Primus Youth Renewal Sleeping Facial?
Black Pine Primus Youth Renewal Sleeping Facial is an overnight treatment, the type of product meant to work while you sleep when skin shifts into repair mode rather than daytime defense. Unlike a standard night cream that focuses mainly on basic hydration, an overnight treatment is usually stacked with actives at higher concentrations since it benefits from several uninterrupted hours on the skin.
This particular formula combines three headline complexes. Black pine bud extract supplies antioxidants and vitamins intended to fend off free-radical damage. YouthRePro Technology layers three sizes of hyaluronic acid with a wrinkle-targeting hexapeptide to encourage temporary plumping and a smoother surface. A lavender-derived biofunctional rounds out the trio, positioned to enhance the rested look by morning. The base is 97 percent naturally derived, silicone free, vegan friendly and packed in recyclable materials. Daily use is straightforward: apply a thin layer over face and neck after cleansing, skip the eye area, then let it sit until morning.
Did It Work?
In the name of rigorous skincare science I benched my regular overnight treatment three days before starting the test so my face could reset, which felt very academic until I realized the control group was just me looking slightly dull for a long weekend. Fourteen days still struck me as a fair window to see whether the pine powered cream could step in as a worthy replacement.
Nights one through three were the honeymoon phase. The cushiony texture melted down to a silky veil and the herbal-lavender scent faded quickly so my pillowcase was spared. I woke up to skin that looked better hydrated than usual and definitely felt smoother to the touch. No instant wrinkle eraser of course but the promise of bounce seemed plausible.
By day seven the honeymoon glow settled into a reliable plateau. My cheeks retained a soft plushness through the afternoon and makeup sat a tad more evenly, yet fine lines at the corners of my mouth looked only subtly relaxed. I did notice a faint shine around my nose by midday which made me wonder if the rich triglyceride base might be edging toward too occlusive for combination skin like mine.
End of week two the results stayed consistent rather than cumulative. Skin tone appeared even, dehydration lines on my forehead were less etched when I smiled and I enjoyed the generally rested look Korres touts. Deeper expression creases were unchanged and a tiny clogged pore on my chin hinted that nightly use could tip into heaviness over time.
So, did it work? Partly yes. It delivered solid overnight hydration, a temporary plumping effect and a morning glow that felt earned after seven hours of sleep or five. What it did not do was move the needle dramatically on wrinkles or elasticity, at least not in a fortnight. I will happily finish the jar on drier winter nights but I will not rush to repurchase when it is gone, mostly because other formulas give me comparable bounce with a lighter footprint on my sometimes finicky T-zone.
Main Ingredients Explained
The star here is Black Pine Bud Extract, a botanical loaded with polyphenols that mop up free radicals while a mix of vitamins nudges cellular turnover. It sits fairly high on the list so you are not just getting a token sprinkle, which helps explain the nice overnight glow I saw. Next is the YouthRePro complex that splits into three weights of hyaluronic acid. The small molecules dive deeper for water binding, the medium ones pad out the mid-layers and the large size forms a surface film that traps moisture until morning. Tagging along is Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, a peptide sometimes called a topical alternative to injectables because it can reduce the look of expression lines by relaxing micro-tension in skin. Results are always subtle but every bit helps when you are eyeing smile lines in a magnifying mirror.
Lavender Biofunctional rounds out the headline trio. It is a purified fraction of the flower rather than straight essential oil so you get less risk of sensitising compounds yet still tap into lavender’s reputed calming effect. The formula also leans on tried-and-true moisturisers: glycerin for humectant pull, caprylic/capric triglyceride and triheptanoin for lightweight occlusion, plus apricot kernel oil that brings essential fatty acids. Those oils, along with cetyl palmitate and the various triglycerides, carry a moderate comedogenic rating which means they might clog pores if you are very acne-prone. My combination skin managed fine save for one clogged chin pore so oily or congested types may want to patch test first.
Everything is vegan friendly because Korres skipped animal-derived ingredients and kept the formula cruelty free. It is also devoid of silicones, which some readers actively avoid, and 97 percent of the content is natural origin. Potential irritants include fragrance, lavender extract and trace amounts of wheat or nuts flagged by the brand so anyone with related allergies should tread carefully. No hardcore actives like retinoids or salicylic acid appear, making it theoretically pregnancy-safe, but the standard rule applies: if you are expecting or nursing always run any new topical past your doctor before slathering it on nightly.
One final note: the preservative system uses potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and a low dose of benzyl alcohol which collectively keep microbes in check without relying on parabens. Sensitive noses might pick up a faint herbal-vanilla scent yet it dissipates quickly. All in all the INCI reads like a modern twist on a rich night cream that tries to balance natural feel with evidence-based lab ingredients, though acne-prone users should stay alert to those mid-weight plant oils.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks here is the nitty gritty.
What Works Well:
- Cushiony texture spreads easily and gives an immediate cocooning feel without excessive slip
- Noticeable overnight hydration leaves skin looking plush and makeup ready by morning
- Botanical heavy formula is 97 percent natural origin vegan friendly silicone free and packaged in a recyclable glass jar
- Herbal lavender scent is present but soft so it fades before lights out
What to Consider:
- Rich triglyceride base may feel too occlusive for oily or congestion prone skin with nightly use
- Plumping effect is temporary and deeper lines showed minimal change over the two week test
- Premium price sits in the same bracket as stronger active driven treatments
My Final Thoughts
After a fortnight of nightly slathering I land on a respectable 7/10 for Black Pine Primus Youth Renewal Sleeping Facial. It is a comfort blanket for skin that craves overnight cushioning and a morning pinch of bounce, yet it stops shy of being the miracle script its marketing team might have storyboarded. I have rotated through more overnight treatments than I care to admit so I feel I gave this pine powered jar a fair audition. I would recommend it to friends whose main goals are hydration and a healthier glow, especially if they lean normal-dry and adore a naturally leaning INCI. I would steer oil slick complexions or shoppers chasing dramatic wrinkle rollback toward something lighter or stronger on actives.
Good news: the night care aisle is a smorgasbord. If Korres is not quite your match try Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal which nails the all-rounder brief for every skin type and does it at a kinder price point. ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream brings a silkier texture and a touch more firming heft for those willing to splurge. LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask is my pick when I want pillowy moisture without the weight and it plays nicely with combination skin. On nights when my barrier is sulking I reach for BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue which calms while it hydrates.
Whichever jar you choose remember the boring but vital housekeeping. Patch test first, sorry for sounding like your over-protective parent. Keep expectations realistic because overnight plumpness is a rental not a purchase and staying power comes from consistent use, good sunscreen habits and decent sleep.