Review: Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream

Identifying Information Product name: Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream, 80mL Price: PhP 665.00 (I purchased it for PhP 598.50 because I got 10% off thanks to my NR membership card) Description: "The Aqua Sherbet Network System protects skin from the external environment by forming a moisture film over skin. Hyaluronic acid, a plant-derived moisture factor, keeps skin moisturized by continuously maintaining moisture in combination skin for long hours." Product Origin: Korea Where I bought it: Nature Republic, 4th floor, Atrium, SM Megamall History: When I went to Nature Republic and bought the Acai Berry essence and the Fresh Green Tea toner and emulsion, I got a few samples and one of which was a little sachet of this cream. I brought it with me during a trip to Tagaytay. During my stay there, it was so cold because it was raining about 90% of the time and the winds were so strong. I liked how this cream made my skin feel so I decided to purchase the whole tub! Samples are a good marketing strategy, you see. All the makeup shops I've been to in Korea were extremely generous in giving out samples. I hope the Korean cosmetic shops here in the Philippines follow suit and not just give GWPs (gifts with purchase) once you've spent at least PhP 500.00. :) 
I've been using this cream twice a day for over a month now and as I've stated in my instagram post, it's my current favorite!
Physical Examination:

Ingredients: Sea Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Sargassum Muticum Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Agarum Cribosum Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Algae Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Laminaria Cloustoni Extract, Chlorella Minutissima Extract, Hizikia Fusiform Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Pikea Robusta Extract, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 20, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Betaine, Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Protein, Algae Oligosaccharides, Chlorella Ferment, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Yellow 5, Blue 1

Ingredients list.

Salient Features Positives:

• It provides enough moisture for my oily skin without the heavy, greasy feeling.
• It doesn't make my skin look and feel oily even after several hours. My face doesn't look like a used frying pan upon waking up. Compared to traditional creams, this has a gel-like consistency making it perfect for combination to oily skin.
• Has a nice, non-irritating, calming scent
• I personally like how it smells. Some people say that it kind of smells like a man's cologne. While I somehow agree with that, the scent is mild and relaxing for me. The scent goes away quickly too and it has never triggered my allergic rhinitis.
• Feels cool on the skin
• I use this as the last step of my skincare routine and the cooling sensation it provides is a nice last touch!
• Affordable
• The jar contains a lot of product and the price is also inexpensive so it's definitely good value.
• Has not caused me to breakout or develop an allergic reaction
• It works well under makeup. I've never had problems with applying makeup or getting oilier than usual with this on.
• The jar looks so classy and beautiful. I think the packaging makes it look more expensive than it really is.
• Available in Nature Republic branches located at major malls

Negatives:

• It comes in a glass jar.
• I know I said that the jar is beautiful but there are downsides for having this type of packaging. Once the cap is removed, the contents are exposed to air and dirt. There may be sensitive ingredients that would be rendered ineffective because of this. The jar is also heavy and prone to breakage.
• No spatula included.
• Most of the blog posts I've seen about this cream had a different (older) packaging and that came with a spatula. I'm not sure if the new packaging was supposed to have a spatula or not but mine didn't. Oh well. I just make sure my fingers are clean before getting some cream!

Impression/Rating: 3.9/4

Discussion: For me, healthy skin looks and feels moisturized. Having oily skin doesn't necessarily mean that the skin is moisturized since moisture comes from water, not oil. The oils or sebum in the skin act to trap moisture, keeping it from evaporating away. Since my skin is oily, I don't need products adding any more oil to it. My skin is perfectly able to provide that on its own, even if I don't want it to. This is why I prefer oil-free products, and why such products are often recommended for people with oily skin like me.

Couldn't show the moisturizing effect on my skin... BUT as you can see, there's definitely NO SHINE on the right side (radial side, lol) of my hand.

I use this cream as the last step of my skincare routine to seal in all the moisture and all the other good, skin-loving ingredients I applied to it with my essences and emulsions. According to the book Cosmetic Dermatology by Dr. Leslie Baumann, there are generally two types of ingredients seen in moisturizers - occlusives and humectants. In the chapter on moisturizing agents, it is stated that "a good moisturizer usually contains both components." Occlusives act by providing a coat over the stratum corneum which prevents transepidermal water loss (insensible water loss through the skin). They also give an emollient effect so they soften and smoothen the skin by "filling the spaces between desquamating *corneocytes." Humectants, on the other hand, provide moisture to the skin by attracting or absorbing water from the environment or from the **deeper layers of the epidermis. Still according to Dr. Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology book, humectants are able to absorb water from the atmosphere if the atmospheric humidity is greater than 80%. If your location currently has low humidity then the humectants will get water from the deeper epidermis and dermis instead causing the skin to become more dry.

Common occlusives: petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin, squalene, dimethicone, soybean oil, grapeseed oil, propylene glycol, lanolin, beeswax and natural oils (like sunflower, safflower, evening primrose oil, jojoba, olive, etc.)
Common humectants: glycerin, sorbitol, sodium hyaluronate, urea, propylene glycol, alpha hydroxy acids and sugars

*Corneocytes are also known as keratinocytes = principal cells of the epidermis
**The epidermis consists of 5 layers (arranged from outer/top layer to the inner/deeper layer): stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum basale. The layer stratum lucidum is found on the palms and soles. It also forms on thickened skin caused by scratching or rubbing.

This Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream has a combination of several occlusives and humectants in it making it a good and effective moisturizer for me. :) 

Prognosis: I LOVE THIS CREAM. It's a perfect match for my oily skin! I always look forward to using it because it smells lovely and makes my skin feel soft and smooth. Will I repurchase it? YES. I actually see myself using this in the years to come!  

>I am currently working on a skincare post as requested by some of my friends/colleagues who want to get into skincare. Also, I am testing out some new products that I've added to my routine which I will review within the next few weeks. As much as I love to post more often in my blog, I don't have the luxury of time to do so because I am currently reviewing for the set of exams that will determine my future as an MD. Blogging and researching (reading dermatology books, articles, etc.) are my rewards for myself once I finish a chapter or a topic in my review. Who else does that? Continues to read/research during a study break? Hahaha.
TL;DR I will continue to post here on my blog just not very often because I'm reviewing. My goal is to post at least 1x/week.

If you need to contact me, you may send me an e-mail, comment here or on my Instagram or tweet me. I'm also on the subreddit /r/AsianBeauty as /u/sunsetglowlove :)

Reference:
Baumann, L. (2009). Cosmetic dermatology principles and practices (2nd ed.) USA: McGraw-Hill