Etude House AC Clinic Daily Aqua Cream | Review

Etude House AC Clinic Daily Aqua Cream A skin care line which has been my skin savior. Check out "My Acne story" to find out why I say that.

Guess what? Recently, Etude House has added a new product to the AC Clinic line called the "Aqua Cream"!

Formulated with Salicylic Acid which helps to calm down the inflammation, and enriched with Hinoki Cypress extract that reportedly inhibits the growth of acne-causing bacteria, this cream provides soothing and long-lasting moisture to dry and exhausted skin while addressing acne concerns.

What's more, it is oil-free and non-comedogenic and is clinically tested that non of the content contained in this product would cause skin irritation or worsening the condition of the skin.

It comes in a plastic jar with a plastic twist off cap and a spatula (as shown in the first picture). The opening is not sealed but there is a protective lid covering the cream.

The cream has a medicated, herbal scent and it has a clear, gel-ish texture that is similar to an aloe gel or a sleeping mask/pack.

It may look heavy but in fact, it is lightweight and watery that gets absorbed into the skin in a few minutes after application. It does leave a mild sticky residue but it is not greasy.

Usage: The Etude House AC Clinic Daily Aqua Cream is designed for day and night use. Gently apply a pea-sized amount of cream all over the face after toner and gel lotion.

Step: Cleanser — Toner — Gel Lotion — Aqua Cream — Red Spot Balm — Liquid Spot or Pink Powder Spot

Tried and Tested

As usual, let's put it to a test...

"Moisture + Oil Test"

Here's the measurement guidelines for you to refer back to later:

*P.S. Analyzing Standards:

The standard value of moisture level is 38%++, 3-5 bars (normal to very moisturized).

The standard value of oiliness (skin type) is 3 bars (normal). - means balanced, which is neither too oily nor too dry.

The standard value of cells (roughness/softness) is soft - happy face.

BEFORE applying Aqua Cream:


AFTER applying Aqua Cream:

Skin's moisture increased from 3 bars to 5 bars; from 37% to 49%.

No increase in Oiliness; it remained at 4 bars and it's normal because I have oily skin.

Skin's cells (.aka. skin texture) became very soft!

- *Results shown are after cleansing without applying toner and gel lotion.* -

After applying the cream on my face, I felt a mild cooling sensation that was refreshing and soothing. I can literally feel it quench my skin's thirst, leaving my skin deeply hydrated from the inside out. Also, it didn't irritate my skin or cause any breakouts and it is not greasy at all!

FYI, I like to use this cream together with the gel lotion at night, as I sleep in an air-conditioned room. I find this cream gives an extra boost in hydration keeping my skin moisturized throughout the night, in the cold and dry environment. In my opinion, it acts almost like a sleeping mask/pack, but this gets absorbed into the skin and is less sticky. Plus, this is specifically made for acne skin which is awesome!

Now Etude House AC Clinic Daily Aqua Cream has become a stable in my daily skin care routine and I highly recommend to give this a try!

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Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Lotion

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Lotion

Description: A sebum control lotion enriched with volcanic cluster and green complex, from pure jeju island, that have strong sebum absorptive power to keep skin grease-free. It uses Innisfree's unique Sebum control technology™ to purify the pores and controls the sebum production.

[4-FREE Formula]:

- NO Paraben

- NO Artificial Colorings

- NO Mineral Oil

- NO Animal Ingredients

Directions: After toner, pour out an adequate amount of lotion and gently apply it all over your face.

[Usage Order] Cleanser - Toner - Lotion - Essence

Net Weight: 150ml

Price: ₩16000 (est. SGD$19) / Retail price in Innisfree SG: SGD$27

Packaging:

The bottle of lotion is packed in a rectangular paper box made of recycled materials.

The bottle itself is made of plastic and comes with an aluminum screw-off cap. The opening of the bottle is well-sealed with a stopper and the stopper can be pulled out effortlessly. The bottle is semi-squeezable type so some strength is required in order to get the lotion out.

Consistency:

It has a watery, serum-like texture and it's lightweight that allows fast absorption without leaving skin feeling greasy or very sticky.

Scent:
This lotion has a floral scent — similar scent to the toner, which smells really nice. But I find it's a tad overpowering and lingering...

Oil Control Test:
The oil control ability of this lotion is high average in my view. For optimum oil-control results, use together with the rest of Jeju Volcanic products.

Likes:

- the "recycle" concept; eco-friendly
- 4-free formula

- controls and balances sebum production effectively

- lightweight; fast absorption

- non-greasy

- does not cause breakout
- does not leave skin feeling very sticky
- the scent

Dislikes:
- bottle is kind of hard to squeeze; requires some strength to squeeze out the product...

- not moisturizing enough for dry skin or for winter season
- scent is a bit strong and lingering 

Verdict: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Lotion is a lightweight moisturizer that effectively controls and balances the sebum production yet leaves (oily) skin feeling refreshed and moisturized. It does not leave a greasy or a very sticky layer after absorption. The lightweight formula and sebum control properties make this lotion a perfect choice for people with oily skin and for summer season.

On the down side, it does not provide enough moisture for dry skin in my view. I have oily and combination skin (oily T-zone, dry and normal in other areas). Despite it provides moisture to the skin, I find it is not enough for my dry areas... The dry areas of my skin felt "tight" even though I had applied the lotion.

Frankly speaking, after I switched to the Jeju Volcanic skin care line, I get flakiness on my dry areas more often. Hence, I concluded that the Jeju Volcanic skin care line is more suitable for oily skin but not so much for dry skin. I highly recommend Jeju Volcanic skin care line to people with oily to super oily skin however, I wouldn't recommend to people with dry skin.

Note: If you want to achieve a significant results in pores size and oil control, use this lotion with the rest of the products from the Jeju Volcanic skin care line.

Check out my reviews on other products from the Jeju Volcanic Skin Care Line:
- Jeju Volcanic Cleansing Foam

- Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner

- Jeju Volcanic Pore Essence

- Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

- Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

- Super Volcanic Clay Mousse Mask

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Review: Etude House AC Clinic Daily Gel Lotion

Etude House AC Clinic Daily Gel Lotion [Re-updated]

Description(from the box): Formulated with Salicylic Acid and Hinoki Cypress, AC Clinic delivers trouble care. Skin lotion maintains oil and moisture balance to supply trouble care and prevention. Non-comedogenic & Dermatologist Tested.

Directions(from the box): Apply the lotion on skin from the center of the face to the outside, after using toner.

It comes in a sturdy glass bottle with a twist-off plastic cap and the opening is perfectly sealed with a foil.

It gets absorbed into the skin after a few minutes of application.

Consistency & Color:
The lotion is in opaque white color but when applies on skin, it becomes colorless(as seen in picture above). The texture is quite light and kind of runny. Once the lotion got fully absorbed into the skin, it does not leave a very sticky layer or greasiness.

Scent:
Just like other products from the AC Clinic line, it has a medicated/herby scent but to me, it's not overpowering. I love the scent though~

Oil-Control:

It does not seems to control oil because my skin still gets as oily as it would normally gets... However, this does not bothers me because I do like how this AC Clinic Gel Lotion helps to soothe and calm my pimples while at the same time giving enough moisture to my skin.

Moisture Test:

Before applying the gel lotion, my skin moisture level was 32.1%.

After applying the gel lotion, my skin moisture level increased to 62.7%.

*PS: I didn't take a picture of the measurement taken after 10 minutes because my camera ran out of battery lol*

Moisture gained before and after applying the toner was 30.6%.

Comparing the result taken before and after applying the gel lotion

I concluded that this gel lotion is pretty moisturizing.

**Above result is just for the application of the gel lotion(moisturizer), without prior application of a toner**

Likes:
- non-comedogenic

- contains salicylic acid
- soothe and calm troubled skin

- gets absorbed into the skin without leaving a very sticky layer

- moisturizes the skin

- not drying

- not greasy

- does not aggravate pimples

- does not cause breakout or irritation

- prevents future breakouts

Dislikes:
- does not seems to control oil

Verdict: It is a lotion formulated with acne-fighting ingredients, such as Salicylic Acid and Hinoki Cypress, which helps to deal with acne. In my opinion, this gel lotion does not seems to control oil. However, it does helps to soothe and calm troubled skin without causing any irritation or overly drying problem. It leaves the skin feeling moisturized and it helps to prevent future breakouts. It's also non-comedogenic which is great for acne-prone skin.

Though back then, I find this gel lotion not giving enough moisture to my skin, I don't think that's a problem to me now. Right now, it works perfectly for my skin and I'm loving it! Like other AC Clinic products I have raved and reviewed, this is one of my holy grail skincare product! You can read "My Acne Story" page to know why. I can't stress how much I love the AC Clinic line. Their products had helped to deal with my horrible acne and I'm glad I found them! After trying a bunch of products and wasted hundreds of money, I'm really glad to found products that really work for my skin~! :)

This gel lotion would be a good choice for people who are having trouble with acne/pimples. People who have trouble with acne/pimples, you might want to give this gel lotion and/or other AC Clinic line's products a shot! :)

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Review: Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Milk

Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Milk

My Second Bottle~ :D

Desciption: Contains 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid that deeply penetrates the skin(epidermis) to nourish and help restore skin's barrier to prevent moisture loss.

The 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid:

• Nano Hyaluronic Acid - with molecules size of 1/20 of HA, easily penetrates into the skin innermost layer to deeply moisturize the skin.
• Super Hyaluronic Acid - with 2x the moisture retention capacity of HA to keep skin hydrated & smooth for a longer period of time.
• Hyaluronic Acid(HA) - 1gm is able to hold 6 litres of water, effectively locks-in moisture on skin.

Claims to do:

- Moisturizes deeply, offering nourishing hydration and skin-smoothing conditioners.
- Skin becomes smoother, softer and richly hydrated, giving it a natural, healthy looking glow.

- It is free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol and colorant. Skin pH balanced. Low irritation.

Directions: Use twice a day after the hydrating lotion. Apply on palms and gently pat onto skin until thoroughly absorbed.

I couldn't express how much I LOVE THIS moisturizer! I mean this is the only moisturizer which works for me and it does really provides more than enough moisture to my skin! It's not greasy nor heavy, gets absorb into the skin after application and I'm pretty sure it does not clogged up the pores. Because so far, I don't have any problems with this moisturizer. Honestly, my acne problem got better. I only get mild breakout during "that time of month"(life being a girl. dang!). This milk lotion absolutely suits people who live in tropical countries, like me. :)

I'm not saying that this product is something which cures acne because well...this product line focus on "hydrating" instead of "troubled skin". However, in my situation, I believe"lack of moisture" is the root cause of my acne. On the other hand, I mentioned before that I have dry skin as well... so that's why hydrating does helps me to keep my acne at bay. :D

My mom, who has dry skin, saw the major improvement that I had and she wants to try out on this moisturizer too. Up till today, she fell in love with it as well~ She got a bottle for herself and after using it for a period of time, she's glad to notice that her dry skin problem has improved. Moreover, she's no longer has a cake-y makeup look~ Both of us are totally in love with this moisturizer~ XD

Consistency and Color:
Close to watery but it's NOT very watery...It's a really light lotion. It's in white color but when you massage it onto your skin, it will become colorless.

Scent:
Fragrance-free.

Likes:
- nano + super hyaluronic acid formula
- lightweight moisturizer
- provides enough moisture
- does not clogged the pores
- non-greasy
- absorbs into the skin without leaving a very sticky layer
- Brighten up dull skin
- mineral oil, alcohol, fragrance-free
- suits sensitive skin
- nice hydrating moisturizer as makeup base~
- friendly packaging - lotion can be pour out easily without much effort~

Dislikes:
- absolutely none! this product is incredibly awesome for me~ :D

I really love Hada Labo SHA line~! Currently, I'm using the cleanser, lotion(toner) and this, hydrating milk and I'm loving it. :D

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Related Posts:

• Hada Labo SHA Face Wash: [link]
• Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion: [link]

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Review: Etude House Pure Joy Restorative Cream

Pure Joy Restorative Cream Review: 
Etude House Pure Joy Restorative Cream (50ml)

Description: Chemical-free sensitive skin formulated lotion soothes and nourishes complexion. Void Paraben, Benzophenone, Ethanol, Synthetic Dyes, Mineral Oils and Genetically Modified Ingredients.
Active Ingredient: Quinoa, Phyto-Oligo
Directions: Massage cream onto facial surface.
Targets: Sensitive Skin

Consistency:
Soft cream texture.

Color:
White. As you can see from the picture above, after massaging it on my skin, it will change from white to transparent.

Scent:
It has a citrus-y scent.

Likes:
- chemical-free formula!
- moisturize
- soothes irritation skin(dryness/flakiness)
- reduce redness

Dislikes:
- does not have oil-control
- somehow, I think it does produce a little oil. :/
- packaging --- in a jar container.
- does not come with a spatula!
I find it very unsanitary and I really hate dipping my finger into the jar! I use spatula from other product to dig out the cream and I actually stored a small portion of the cream in a smaller container for easier usage like this:

I have oily and dry/combination skin and usually I will only apply this cream on my face on area where I feel dry and has irritation. I believe this is a night cream? Okay I wasn't sure but anyway, I use this in the morning too when my skin feels really dry. This cream helps to moisturize and soothe the skin really well! I suffered from dryness and mild irritation(mild red, flaky and dry skin) on both of my upper cheekbones due to the AC Gel Lotion not being moisturizing enough [link]. I applied this cream on the dry areas and within 2 days, the redness was completely gone! However, I can still feel the rough texture(dry, flaky skin) when I touch it with my hands. With continue application of this cream, my skin completely healed in another 2-3 days.

Effectiveness: 5/5 but for Overall Rating, I would rate it: 3.9/5.

So all in all, I think this is not a bad product. It claims to soothe and nourish complexion and yes, it does it's job. Highly recommend this to people who have dry and sensitive skin however, if you have oily & dry/combination skin like me, then I would advise to just apply ONLY on area where you feel dry and/or has irritation because I personally think that it does produce a little oil... Anyway, the packaging doesn't specifically state that it's "Oil-Free"... Well, that's my opinion though. :x Hope this helps. :)

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Update on 14 July 2012:
This product has been discontinued. :(

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