The long search for a holy-grail moisturizer might have just come to an end. The first time I tried the Missha Near Skin Total Ceramide Cream (about a year ago), I wanted to like it but something about it felt off. It wasn’t working (the way I wanted it to) for my skin so I didn’t bother repurchasing it. Fast forward to August 2020, here I am with a juicy review after trying out another tube of the Missha Total Ceramide Cream.
Packaging: A hard plastic tube that dispenses just the right amount when you squeeze out.
Texture & Application: The cream is quite thicc, but spreads out seamlessly leaving the softest sheen, dewy finish. You don’t need to apply much, a little goes a long way. I use it as the final step after washing my face to seal in the moisture from any toners/essences/serums applied before. In the AM, sunscreen goes after the cream.
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic /Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol,Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate,Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Vinyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ceramide NP,Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Phytosphingosine,Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP,Carbomer, Sodium LauroylLactylate, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum,Maltobionic Acid, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium PolyacryloyldimethylTaurate,Tromethamine, Lecithin,Trideceth-10, 1,2-Hexanediol,Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol
Overall opinion/experience:
Like I mentioned earlier, I didn’t really enjoy this moisturizer the first time I tried it. Whenever I used it at night, I’d wake up with a greasy T-zone (nose, chin, cheeks) the next morning. Could literally fry an egg. The rest of my face, however, remained soft and moisturized all through the night.
It turned out I wasn’t using it the right way. Or rather, something else in my skincare routine needed to be fixed, not the cream. Talk about hydration, using an oil-dissolving exfoliant (Hello salicylic acid)…
Fast forward to July 2020, I’m on the hunt for a rich cream that actually ’moisturizes’. My oily/combination, dehydration-prone skin was tired of all these lightweight gels *rolls eyes*. I remembered how good this was at that, so I decided to give it another shot. When it comes to preventing moisture loss, you can highly count on the Missha Total Ceramide Cream. However, it doesn’t do well in the hydration department.
Yes, there’s a difference between hydrating and moisturizing. Read this post by Dermstore to learn more.
The ideal moisturizer should strike a perfect balance between the two.
A little bit about some of the key ingredients in the Missha Total Ceramide Cream. It contains Ceramide NP (Ceramide 3), Ceramide EOP (Ceramide 1), Ceramide AP (Ceramide 6), Phytosphingosine and Cholesterol. Ceramides are waxy lipids naturally present in the skin that help to retain moisture and the strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.
In cosmetics, when used along with fatty acids and cholesterol in the right proportions, they could mimic the natural Ceramide present in the upper layers of the skin. TheBeautyBrains explains this phenomenon better here. I can’t comment on the ratio of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids in this formulation but from the ingredients, it looks like a decent blend. Not bad for the price I guess. Most of these Ceramide skincare products be costing an arm and a leg for something we aren’t even sure will strengthen our skin barrier.
Value: 50ml for $18 (NGN 7,600). Should last about 5 weeks (depending on how frequently you use it)
Pros:
Highly moisturizing for balanced/combination skin types. Prevents the skin from dehydration. Didn’t cause breakouts. Free of Fragrance. Free of Drying Alcohols. Free of Essential oils (EOs). EOs can be irritating to the skin. Packaging promotes contamination-free environment for the product.
Cons:
Not hydrating enough. If you apply it when your skin is completely dry, I doubt you’ll enjoy it.
Suitable for: Balanced (normal)/combination skin types. Will make a good moisturizer for oily skin during dry/cold climates but might be too much on a regular. Dry skin types might need something richer.
Verdict: I’ll rate it 4/5. Will I repurchase this moisturizer? This is my second tube so I believe that answers the question.
Where to Shop? misshaus.com, yesstyle.com; Nigeria: Eve Beautique
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