KORRES might not enjoy the splashy billboards of some global giants yet beauty insiders have long kept an eye on the Athens born house for its science backed spins on Mediterranean botanicals. Think pharmacy roots, eco ethics and a knack for turning pantry staples into top shelf formulas.
Enter the rather wordy Apothecary Wild Rose Night-Brightening Sleeping Facial, a name that could double as a short poem. According to KORRES it is a cult favourite overnight cream promising to swap dull uneven skin for a glowing plump complexion by sunrise, all while ticking the vegetarian friendly silicone free and cruelty free boxes.
I put that promise to the test for two full weeks slathering a nickel sized dollop on face and neck nightly to see whether the results justify the investment.
Disclaimer: this is not a paid or sponsored review. All opinions are my own based on personal use and results will naturally vary from one complexion to another.
What Is Apothecary Wild Rose Night-Brightening Sleeping Facial?
Korres positions this cream as an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to work while you sleep rather than during your daytime routine. Overnight treatments are typically richer than day creams because they do not have to contend with makeup, sunscreen or environmental stressors. By sitting on the skin for six to eight hours they aim to deliver a slow infusion of hydration and active ingredients that might otherwise be irritating or unstable in daylight.
This particular formula promises two main payoffs by morning: a more even tone and a noticeably plumper look. The brand credits a blend of rose oil, stabilized vitamin C derivatives and lightweight plant based emollients for the brightening and smoothing effect. It is silicone free, vegetarian friendly and packaged in a recyclable glass jar, details that matter to shoppers who track ingredient origins and end of life waste. Dermatological testing is listed though Korres does not claim the cream solves specific medical skin concerns.
In short it is a night time moisturizer with some exfoliating and antioxidant bells and whistles, crafted to slide seamlessly into an existing routine after cleansing and before any facial oils.
Did It Work?
In the spirit of real science I benched my usual overnight treatment for a few days before the test so the Wild Rose could have the stage all to itself. Fourteen nights felt like a fair audition window and gave the formula enough time to show its true colors.
Night one I pressed a nickel sized blob across freshly cleansed skin and immediately clocked the velvety texture and rosy perfume. The cream sank in within a minute but left a faint tackiness, the kind that makes you wonder if your pillowcase will get the brightening benefits too. By morning my skin looked rested and lightly dewy, though nothing revolutionary.
By the end of the first week a pattern emerged: I woke up to a soft sheen that made my cheekbones catch the light in a flattering way. Minor dry patches around my nose calmed down but did not disappear. What surprised me most was the subtle evening of tone on the tops of my cheeks where I usually battle post breakout shadows. It was not a Photoshop level fade, more a gentle soft focus filter.
Days eight through fourteen delivered more of the same. Hydration held steady and my complexion felt comfortably plump but the promised glow plateaued. A couple of tiny clogged pores surfaced on my chin which I chalk up to the richer plant waxes meeting humid summer nights, nothing a quick clay mask could not sort. The fragrance remained pleasant although I did start craving a break from it after nightly use.
So did it work? Partly. The Sleeping Facial gave me reliable overnight hydration and a mild brightening lift yet it stopped short of the transformative results the marketing hints at. I will happily finish the jar because it is a lovely cream for nights when my skin feels thirsty but once the glass is empty I will likely return to my old standby rather than make space for this one in my permanent rotation.
Main Ingredients Explained
Front and center is Rosa Canina fruit oil, the so-called wild rose that lends both the floral scent and a hit of natural vitamin A. Rosehip is praised for speeding up cell turnover yet it sits around a 2 on the comedogenic scale, meaning most skins tolerate it but very congestion-prone types might see tiny bumps if they pile on occlusive products afterward. Partnering the rose is Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, a lipid-soluble vitamin C derivative that can dive deeper than standard ascorbic acid while dodging the usual stinging side effects. It is here to tackle dullness and free radical damage and it does so at skin-friendly pH levels so the formula does not need heavy stabilizers.
Hydration duty is shared by Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice and Imperata Cylindrica root extract. The trio pulls water into the epidermis then locks it down with jojoba oil, sunflower wax and a touch of beeswax. Jojoba mimics skin sebum which is why it rarely triggers breakouts, whereas beeswax and soybean oil can slide up to a 3 on the comedogenic chart. That number simply indicates they have a medium chance of clogging pores if your skin already leans oily or if you skip a thorough cleanse.
Antioxidant back-ups include tocopherol, rosemary extract and turmeric-derived tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane. Together they scavenge environmental stressors that chip away at collagen reserves. Lactic acid makes a cameo at low concentration to nudge away dead surface cells for that overnight brightening effect without the drama of stronger exfoliants.
The cream is silicone free, cruelty free and packaged in recyclable glass. It is vegetarian friendly but not strictly vegan because of the beeswax. As for pregnancy, none of the listed actives are red-flagged by dermatologists yet every obstetrician will remind you that even over-the-counter topicals can absorb systemically in small amounts, so the safest route is to clear any new product with a doctor first.
One last note on the bouquet-like fragrance: it is naturally derived yet still a fragrance, so highly reactive skins may prefer to patch test behind the ear before committing to an all-night session.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks on my nightstand.
What Works Well:
- Delivers steady overnight hydration that leaves skin cushioned and soft by morning
- Helps smooth minor texture and lends a gentle brightening effect that shows up after about a week
- Comfortable medium-weight cream sinks in quickly yet feels substantial enough for drier skin types
- Vegetarian friendly formula in a recyclable glass jar ticks several sustainability boxes
What to Consider:
- Results plateau at a healthy glow rather than a dramatic tone overhaul so expectations should be realistic
- Richer plant waxes may not suit very oil-prone or congestion-prone skin in humid climates
- Floral fragrance is pleasant but could be too pronounced for those who prefer unscented skincare
My Final Thoughts
A good overnight treatment is a bit like a reliable night-light: you do not notice it humming in the corner until the morning when you realise you slept better. Korres Apothecary Wild Rose Night-Brightening Sleeping Facial behaved exactly like that for me. After two weeks of faithful use I am giving it a respectable 7/10. Hydration and a modest radiance showed up, but the lyrical marketing promises of waking to a brand-new visage felt one stanza too far. I have tested more night creams than I care to count so I know when a formula deserves a standing ovation and when it earns polite applause. This jar gets the latter. I would recommend it to friends with normal-to-dry skin who crave a plush texture, love a floral scent and are content with incremental rather than blockbuster brightening. Oily or congestion-prone complexions, fragrance critics and glow maximalists may want to keep browsing.
If you fall into that browsing camp allow me to save you a few late-night search sessions. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream has long been my Swiss-army moisturiser: lighter than it sounds, generously priced and somehow agreeable to every skin type that wanders through my bathroom. For a silkier gel finish LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask is hard to beat and has bailed me out after many dehydrating flights. If you prioritise firming over brightening ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream punches above its weight in the bounce-back department. Finally BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue offers the gentlest cuddle for stressed or sensitised skin with zero added fragrance. I have emptied at least one container of each so consider the endorsements field-tested.
Before you slather anything new, remember the unglamorous but vital housekeeping: patch test behind the ear or along the jaw for a couple of nights first, forgive me for sounding like an over-protective parent. Consistency is key, results fade when you do, and no cream can outshine sunscreen the next morning.