Review: Etude House Soon Jung Hydro Barrier Cream [Older Formula]

Where to purchase: From Yesstyle LINK – use my discount code CVQFZA to get some % off your purchase!

Price: ~£12

Volume: 75ml

What is it?: A cream meant to soothe irritated skin with the use of Madecassoside (from Centella Asiatica) and Panthenol (B5) to moisturise the skin. This is a water-based cream aimed at sensitive skins.

This product is Vegan and Cruelty Free.

Good for: Oily, dehydrated, sensitive (the newer version yes, not the older version) and even dry skins.

Note: I am someone who wants lightweight, heavy and watery creams and I have acne-prone / combo skin

Directions: ”Apply before sunscreen in the morning and as the last step in your skin routine at night.”

How I use it: I apply this usually in the AM before my sunblock. It goes: Tone – (possibly serum if I have time) – this cream – SPF.

Key Ingredients: Panthenol, Madecassoside – soothe and calm the skin. Anti-acne: Lauric Acid / Antioxidant: Madecassoside, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tocopherol / Skin-identical ingredient: Glycerin 10.0% / Soothing: Panthenol, Madecassoside, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Full Ingredients (Old Formula): WATER / AQUA / EAU, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, PANTHENOL, METHYL TRIMETHICONE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, C14-22 ALCOHOLS, ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL, STEARIC ACID, GLYCERYL STEARATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, PALMITIC ACID, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, C12-20 ALKYL GLUCOSIDE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, MADECASSOSIDE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, MYRISTIC ACID, LAURIC ACID, CITRUS AURANTIUM AMARA (BITTER ORANGE) FLOWER EXTRACT, CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA LEAF EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL

IN BOLD – ARE THE INGREDIENTS NO LONGER IN THE NEW FORMULA. This excludes Shea Butter (so the new texture may be thinner) and also Bitter Orange (so no essential oil).

NOTE: Skincarisma have an ingredient list breakdown HERE and also the Inci Decoder HERE

NOTE! THERE IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS CREAM WHERE ETUDE HOUSE HAVE TAKKEN OUT THE BITTER ORANGE AND ESSENTIAL OILS – YOU CAN SEE THIS ON THE INCIDECODER HERE

THE NEW UPDATED LIST :WATER / AQUA / EAU, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, PANTHENOL, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, TREHALOSE, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, C14-22 ALCOHOLS, ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, C12-20 ALKYL GLUCOSIDE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, ALLANTOIN, MADECASSOSIDE, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, GLUCOSE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL

You can see the addition of allantoin (skin-barrier ingredient), Green Tea (soothing) and Glucose (humectant). I prefer the updated version ingredients and would recommend the Updated version MORE than the previous version as it has shea butter removed (may make the texture thinner), and bitter orange (fragrant), and the newer version contains less silicones so it may have less of a plastic-y feeling.

But please note that I did try the updated version so my review is based on the previous version.

Texture: It’s a cream/gel that spreads very very far. It does feel near-watery on the skin. It can be sticky if you apply too much. I think less is more anyway with this because it spreads so well.

• This texture is lightweight, but it doesn’t disappear into my skin, so I don’t know if ultimately I can call it lightweight. This contains Shea Butter which could have something to do with it. It also contains silicone which might be the reason why this cream sit semi-on top of the skin. It is almost like a gel but has a bit more of an emulsif/occlusiv feel which can be enjoyable IF NOT TOO MUCH IS ADDED. This does make the skin dewy (definitely not mattifying) When I put my Missha Aqua Sun gel on top (which is mattifying) – the glow of this still pokes through.
• If I apply this in the PM – it doesn’t disappear (as my last skincare step), so my face can feel a tad bit sticky.

Note: You can see that this is lightweight, but there is a presence of oil. This cream isn’t entirely water, it almost has a silicone slip BUT IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE PURE SILICONE.

Fragrance?: Yes contains EO – ( Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract. Not happy as I find this unnecesary.

I don’t smell anything weird or funky from this. It doesn’t have a bad or harsh smell to me. I thought perhaps it would smell very chemical-y, but no it’s quite mild.

Good Under Makeup?: Yes! I think this is a great ‘primer’ for makeup. This is heavy enough for foundation to stick onto it.

How long have I been using this?: For about a month

The Effect?: Hydrated and moisturised skin. (I don’t think this particularly cools down or de-sensitises irritated skin, but at least this does not aggrevate or further annoy the skin.

What I like:

• This hydrates
• This moisturises
• pH of 5.5 – to mimic the skin’s barrier pH.
• No irritation caused by using this
• Easy to spread i.e lightweight.

What I don’t like:

• Would have preferred a pump (since a spatula isn’t provided)
• Although I said the texture of this is light – it’s not as lightweight as the Tony Moly Chok Chok watery cream (as this is a bit more emollient/oily than a watery cream, and I prefer watery creams).
• I think this is a little too dewy for my liking.
• I do think if vitamin C or Niacinamide was added or peptides, this would have really bumped up the ‘excitement’ of this cream.
• Can be sticky if too much is applied
• The Bitter Orange (in the previous version which is the version I have tried and tested) is an unnecessary fragrant ingredient, I am glad they have removed this from the updated version.

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 3.9/5 – I think I find this a bit too dewy for my liking and sticky (because I like to add a lot of cream). I do think the addition of some actives would have been nice BUT I understand that this is meant for sensitive, reactive skins that possibly can’t take actives. So I could always mix in my serums to this cream and then apply it to my face for a minimised step routine! I do think oily (although this is heavier than a pure watery cream) and dry skins will enjoy this. Not sure about skins in hot/humid weather. I do think that the Glossier priming moisturiser is still the better cream (because it is more emollient and isn’t sticky) – but this is still decent. I also think this would have been better in a pump or at least to be provided with a spatula would have been nice to discourage sticking fingers in.

Would I repurchase?: Not too sure because of the semi-stickiness when I apply a lot (in the PM). This does moisturise and hydrate, make no mistake – but I do think that the glossier moisturiser is more up my alley. Also I do think that I prefer the Tony Moly Chok Chok Green Tea Cream Texture over this BUT – the Tony Moly Cream is Essential Oil HEAVY, but I do prefer the Tony Moly texture the best.

NOTE: I would repurchase the UPDATED VERSION – as they removed the bitter orange and shea butter and also some silicone ingredients which I’m hoping overall has made the product less sticky and less plastic-y in texture. (Do let me know if you have tried the updated version and how was it?)

My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.

Youtube Video – my PM Routine! I do a live swatch of this product so you can see how it is

Note – in the video I am discussing the older/previous version of the cream.