KORRES might not dominate every bathroom shelf yet but the Athens-born brand has earned a loyal following for pairing Greek botanicals with modern science. From its apothecary roots to its eco-conscious formulas it is the sort of company skincare enthusiasts like to name-drop.
The latest mouthful from the lab is the White Pine Restorative Overnight Facial – a title that sounds part spa treatment part alpine adventure. KORRES promises that this night cream will quench post-menopausal dryness with a plant based retinol alternative smooth deep wrinkles while you sleep and leave skin plush by morning.
I spent two full weeks slathering a nickel-sized dollop across my face and neck each evening to see if those claims translate from press release to pillowcase and whether it deserves a spot in your nighttime rotation.
Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored piece. All observations are my own and results with any skincare can differ depending on individual skin type and concerns.
What Is White Pine Restorative Overnight Facial?
Korres positions this cream as an overnight treatment, a product type designed to work while the skin’s natural repair processes are most active in the small hours. Unlike a regular moisturizer that mainly seals in daytime hydration, an overnight treatment tends to focus on recovery tasks such as supporting collagen, reinforcing the skin barrier and tackling fine lines that can deepen with age.
The White Pine Restorative Overnight Facial targets the specific concerns that often surface after menopause, most obviously the kind of tight dryness that seems to show up overnight. Its formula leans on a plant derived alternative to retinol, aiming to smooth wrinkles without the irritation that sometimes comes with traditional vitamin A. Hydrators like glycerin and squalane handle moisture replenishment while oils from abyssinian, sunflower and passionflower soften rough patches so skin feels less papery by morning.
Dermatologically tested, vegan friendly, silicone free and housed in recyclable packaging, the cream sits squarely in the clean conscious segment of skincare. In daily use that boils down to a nickel sized amount swept over face and neck before bed, with the eye area left out of the equation.
Did It Work?
In the name of journalistic integrity I benched my usual overnight treatment for three days before starting the White Pine experiment, which made me feel positively lab-coat official. With a fresh canvas I used the recommended nickel size each night for the full 14-day stretch, patting any extra onto the backs of my hands so nothing went to waste.
Night one the cream felt richer than its whipped texture suggests and it soaked in faster than expected, leaving a faint pine-citrus scent that faded by lights out. I woke up to skin that looked reasonably rested, albeit not yet transformed. By day four the flaky spots around my mouth had stopped staging their morning revolt and makeup went on a bit smoother, a small win I credit to the cocktail of oils and glycerin doing their barrier work.
The middle of week two was the high point. My cheeks felt pleasantly cushioned and I caught a subtle sheen that hinted at better moisture retention. What I did not see was a meaningful softening of the deeper parentheses lines that frame my mouth. They looked marginally relaxed right after cleansing but by midday their usual depth was back. The touted plant retinol clearly plays the long game but two weeks was not long enough to make a visible dent.
Sensitivity? None. Breakouts? Also none, which surprised me given the formula’s heavy oil roster. The only gripe was the scent on warmer evenings; it never irritated, yet some nights I wished it would tone itself down.
So did it earn its claims? Hydration yes, plumping yes to a polite degree, wrinkle smoothing not so much. I will finish the jar because it is a comforting night cream but once the last scrape is gone I will likely return to my stalwart retinoid for serious line duty. If your main concern is quenching post-menopausal dryness you will probably enjoy it, but for me it did not win permanent residency on the bathroom shelf.
Main Ingredients Explained
The star talking point is Korres’s plant based “retinol alternative” which shows up on the label as Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-polypeptide-76. In plain English it is a lab grown peptide designed to nudge cell turnover the way conventional retinol does, only with lower odds of flaking or redness. I did not experience a hint of irritation, which tracks with the peptide’s gentler nature, though its wrinkle smoothing power is equally soft touch and will need patience.
Hydration comes from a trio of classic workhorses: glycerin that draws water into the skin, squalane that mimics our natural sebum to lock that water in place and medium-chain triglycerides that create the cushiony feel you notice at application. Layered with abyssinian, sunflower, passionflower and sesame oils the formula leaves a velvety finish that feels comforting on post menopausal skin that has lost some of its own lipids.
White Pine bark extract, the ingredient that inspired the line’s name, is included for its antioxidant potential. It sits alongside artichoke leaf and sea daffodil (Pancratium Maritimum) extracts which lend additional free radical defense. While antioxidants are hard to measure in the mirror they do support the long game of collagen maintenance.
On the resurfacing side there is a whisper of lactic acid plus a microdose of salicylic acid. The percentages are low, so you will not get a peel level result yet they help nudge dull cells off the surface and keep texture looking smoother.
Vegans and vegetarians can use this without worry because every component is plant derived or synthetic, no animal by-products in sight, and Korres is certified cruelty free. Ingredient purists will also appreciate the absence of silicones which some find occlusive.
If you are breakout prone note that cetyl palmitate and caprylic/capric triglyceride carry a moderate comedogenic rating. That means they can clog pores in skin already inclined to congestion, though my own test run did not trigger bumps. Patch testing is your friend.
Expectant or nursing? Even without traditional retinol the inclusion of salicylic acid and essential fragrance compounds means it is safest to run the formula past your doctor first. When it comes to pregnancy skincare caution is the only sensible policy.
One final observation: phenoxyethanol and benzyl alcohol are present as preservatives so if you know you react to those, proceed slowly. Otherwise the ingredient list reads like a thoughtful blend of moisturizers, antioxidants and a gentle retinol stand-in that together make sense for dryer, more delicate skin.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick rundown of the highs and the maybes after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Rich yet fast absorbing texture leaves skin cushioned by morning without a greasy film
- Consistent overnight hydration helped calm flakiness and made makeup sit smoother the next day
- Zero irritation even on nights when I layered an acid toner underneath so a good choice for sensitive post menopausal skin
What to Consider:
- Wrinkle softening is modest and will ask for long term patience
- The pine citrus scent is pleasant but can feel noticeable on warm nights
- Heavier oil blend may not suit those who clog easily
My Final Thoughts
A good overnight treatment is like a silent partner doing the heavy lifting while you dream of beach holidays. After two weeks in the trenches with White Pine Restorative Overnight Facial I can say it delivers reliable comfort and moisture, asks very little of sensitive skin and looks chic on the nightstand. It did not, however, send my deeper wrinkles on permanent vacation which keeps it firmly in the “solid but not holy-grail” category. I have road-tested my share of night creams and feel I gave this one a fair shake, so here is the verdict: 7/10 stars.
Who will love it? Anyone whose post-menopausal skin feels tight and thirsty and prefers plant-based formulas over heavyweight actives. Who might shrug? Those chasing fast retinol-level wrinkle reduction or anyone who finds rich oils a pore-clogging gamble.
Would I recommend it to a friend? If her top priority is soothing overnight hydration, absolutely. If she is budgeting for visible line-plumping power I would steer her elsewhere or at least temper expectations.
Speaking of steering, a few alternatives I have personally rotated through could be worth a look. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream is an excellent all-rounder that feeds every skin type without shocking the wallet. ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream brings a silkier feel and a touch more firming for those willing to spend. BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue is my pick for barrier repair nights when redness looms. Lastly the classic Water Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE offers a lightweight gel finish that humid climates and oily faces will appreciate.
Before you dive in remember the basic safety briefing: patch test any new formula even if it claims to be gentle, sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent. Consistency is key because results fade if the jar gathers dust.