I was initially planning to get this cream for my husband, who has oily, acne-prone skin. I thought a cream from a well-known Korean brand with a design featuring some bumps would be perfect for him. But, as it turned out, it didn't suit him at all! So, it's now my cream.
General Info.
What: face creamVolume: 50 mlCost: 20810 KRW (1239 rub) for a set with a miniManufacturer: Cosmecca KoreaCountry of origin: KoreaShelf life of sealed packaging: until the date stamped on the top rim of the tube and written on the bottom of the boxShelf life after opening: 12 months
Packaging.
I bought this cream in Korea at Olive Young. It came in a box with a 10 ml mini of the same cream as a gift. Honestly, I was hoping the mini would be a sunscreen, and I wanted to try the sunscreen from this brand, but nope, it was the same cream just in a smaller size. Which, I guess, isn't bad at all.
The tubes for both creams are made of a very pleasant-to-the-touch soft plastic. The lid on the larger tube unscrews, and underneath, there's a surprisingly long nozzle.
Ingredients.
I was surprised to find that the ingredients list on the box is only in Korean - I couldn't even find the full list on the brand's website.
From what I've gathered from other websites, the ingredients look like this:
Water, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycoproteins, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid (LHA), Trideceth-6, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA.
But my phone did its best to translate it from the box:
All the ingredients are pretty impressive, but I'll focus on the ones that caught my attention. Purified water, butylene glycol, and glycerin are all standard moisturizing agents, but then you've got some more interesting stuff like capric/capric triglyceride and 1,2-hexanediol.
Now, let's talk about the extracts. Pine leaf extract, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolized hyaluronic acid are all great for hydrating the skin, but I'm particularly excited about the Indian mulberry flower and leaf extracts, as well as the green tea extract. They're all packed with antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
But what really stands out to me is the presence of Asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and madecasoside. These are all powerful antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
I was a bit surprised to see that the packaging has a bit more detail than what's listed on the website.
According to the brand's website, the key ingredients in this cream are:
Hyaluronic acid helps to lock in moisture, leaving skin feeling smooth and supple.
Hydrolized hyaluronic acid is absorbed deeper into the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and restoring moisture. It also gives skin a more youthful, plump appearance.
Asiatic acid is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce inflammation and soothe irritated skin.
Madecassic acid helps to smooth out skin texture, reducing inflammation, redness, and dryness, and is also beneficial for conditions like acne and rosacea.
Capryloyl salicylic acid helps to improve the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
Let's see if the manufacturer's claims hold up.
When I opened the box, I used the same translation tool to read the Chinese characters, and it just said the product is a soothing cream. That's it. I'm being honest, I don't get why they're marketing this line of green products as suitable for problem skin when all it does is calm the skin.
Still in use.
After my husband gave me this cream with a 'you won't like it' warning, I was expecting the worst. What's one to think in a situation like that? The texture is light, and it seems to moisturize okay, so I figured it might be tolerable. But in reality, this cream is actually really good! It's really good!
My husband didn't like the cream because his skin has acne, and this cream (which is supposed to be for problem skin, judging by the Russian name) didn't do anything for his acne. It just worked as a moisturizer at best. So, we returned it and went back to his favorite La Roche Posay cream. Their cream actually does something for the inflammation on his face, but Round Lab doesn't.
The texture of Round Lab cream is light and gel-like, and it absorbs really quickly. I have normal skin that's a bit dry and sensitive, and this cream absorbs into my skin instantly. I'm usually skeptical of light textures, expecting them to provide poor moisturization, but that's not the case with Round Lab. The moisturization here is amazing!
I was surprised by how neutral the scent is - it's almost like nothing at all. There's a faint hint of something fresh, but that's about it. And that's actually another thing that caught me off guard: the packaging features pinecones, so I expected a piney scent, but nope, the fragrance has nothing to do with the image.
The calming effect of this cream is seriously impressive - I initially underestimated it, but it's actually really great. The cream does a fantastic job of evening out my skin tone by soothing those tiny red spots that can make my complexion look uneven and tired.
Plus, the cream gives my skin a healthy glow from within. It's basically everything I love about face creams. It might even be my new favorite - one of my top picks, for sure. I'm actually surprised I didn't believe in it more, but it's turned out to be amazing!
My experience in a nutshell:
Light, gel-like texture.Super quick to absorb.Excellent moisturizer.Smells almost like nothing.Even out my skin tone by soothing my skin.Give my skin a radiant glow from within.
● The verdict.
This cream is a game-changer! However, I wouldn't recommend it for acne-prone skin - my husband's experience shows that it won't help with breakouts. But if you're looking for hydration and an even complexion, go for it - I highly recommend it. It's a great product.
More Korean skincare faves:
BANOBAGI Vita cocktail Aqua Foil Mask
Tocobo Vita Glazed Lip Mask
TORRIDEN DIVE-IN Serum Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid
Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
SNP Bird's nest water sleeping pack
ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Toner