I am a skincare nerd and the first that I do is to read the INCI list aka the ingredients. Some formulas push me away while others simply make me sad. For today’s I am going to discuss 3 brands that I wish were different.
Dear Klairs
I’ve been following this brand almost from its creation on wishtrend.com way before the boom of Kbeauty. The first time I saw their Rich Moist Soothing Cream I was gaging at the beautiful list of ingredients until I saw the end.
This formula is excellent, nice emollients (free fatty acid, Cetyl Alcohol, shea butter, jojoba oil, era microcrystalline, ceramics 3), beautiful humectants (glycerine, hyaluronic acid, amino acids…), skin-soothing ingredients (Centella Asiatica, beta-glucan, aloe vera…). The texture is lovely and yet very moisturizing. Not to mention that you get 60ml (2oz) for $24!
My problem is the number of essential oils 6: Lavander, eucalyptus, geranium, citrus, orange, and Ylang-ylang.
Rich Moist Soothing Serum
I have the same problem with other products from Klairs. The Rich Moist Soothing Serum is packed with humectants (Sodium Hyaluronate and amino acids mainly) and skin-soothing ingredients (Centella Asiatica, licorice extracts, panthenol, beta-glucan, aloe vera…). You get 80ml for $23 but again the same mix of essential oils. Heartbreaking.
Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask
My last example is the Vitamin E mask. The formula is also very interesting and is based on vitamin E, niacinamide, ceramides…. And has an interesting formula but again you find the essentials oils.
I hope that Klairs will remove all essentials oils. They have well-formulated products for an affordable price.
Purito
Purito is a recent Beauty brand that I’ve recently discovered. Their Centella line is based on Centella Asiatica extracts that boost the healing of the skin.
Their Centella green level recovery cream is close to perfection with free-fatty acid, squalane, shea butter, beautiful humectants glycerine, tremella mushroom, hyaluronic acid… and Centella Asiatica extracts and beta glucan…. This moisturizer has an amazing texture (a watery gel) but yet again two essential oils and this the same for a lot of their products. The perfume is quite potent too.
Glow recipe
Similar to Klairs I have followed Glow recipe from their creation. I am a big fan of their cleansers that is closer to serum than a cleanser. It is acidic, gentle and so pleasant to use but it has perfume. Their formula is a mix of the « natural trend » that is not based on facts but on marketing and proper formulation. The marketing idea is that if fruits are healthy they must be good for health. They go to the point that you can choose your product according to fruits! That is nonsense. Therefore, their formula mixed real fruits extracts with « conventional » good ingredients.
A good example is the Pineapple-C bright serum. The first ingredient is pineapple extract that supposedly still contains vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and then 3-O-ethyl Ascorbic acid at 25%. Especially with actives, I like a nonirritant formula without perfume and no weird fruit extract like here.
I wish Glow recipe could change their marketing and use proven extracts and use not « total » extract of fruits. This brand is one of those that makes you think that their products are safer because they are from mother nature but they are not.
Watch me talk about it.
Thank you for your time.
Cyrille
