Review: Curél – Intensive Moisture Facial Cream

Where to purchase: Available on Yesstyle.com HERE – Discount Code: CVQFZA to receive % off.

Price: £19.50

Volume: 40g

Made in: Japan

What is it?: A ”Light as air” moisturising cream that is comfortable on the skin, containing ceramides (fatty ingredients hence why the product looks white) to provide the skin with moisture and a healthy glow.

What does it do?: A Skin made for sensitive skins – Dry skins often lack ceramides (lipids/oils in the skin’s protective barrier), so Curel’s range was made with the intention to replenish these natural ceramide moisturisers in the skin.

Do I agree with the above?: Yes. It’s a lightweight moisturising cream that sits comfortably on the skin and does provide that moisturised ”Glow” after applying (so not sure how oily skins or those living in hot and humid weathers would like this for AM use).

Supposedly Good for: Dry, Sensitive Skins

What I think: Yes to Dry and Sensitive skins as well as Combination skins.

[I’m not too sure about Oily Skins or those living in hot and humid weathers as this may be a bit too ”fatty” and therefore oily-feeling for those skin types. But I would still recommend it as a PM moisturiser for oily skins as Ceramides are still important for any skin type to promote good skin function. I think Oily skins would prefer the Moisturising Milk from Curel as a regular moisturiser HERE ]

You can see the product has a milky white, creamlike texture. It’s not overly thick (you can see through it) which also shows how lightweight this is for a fatty cream. You can see how it melts a little around the sides, indicating how soft it is.

Packaging: Plastic tub with a screw top lid. It did come with an initial paper hygiene tab I had to peel off. It’s quite lightweight.! The tub itself is very small.

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It really reminds me of the Krave Beauty Oat so Simple Water Cream (but with less water) HERE).

Directions: Apply after the Facial Lotion or the Milk (Depending on skin types i.e. oily skins can skip the milk and dry skins can include the milk).

How I use it: I use this mainly in the PM because it’s a little less watery than the Milk/Lotion (however please don’t think of this as a heavy cream). I apply this on top of everything in my last step of skincare with no issues of baling or piling up.

• I also would feel comfortable using this as a Makeup Primer (Reminds me of the Glossier Priming Moisturiser).

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E (Antioxidant – but mainly used her to keep the product fresh). Glycerin + Squalane (Skin-identical ingredients to reinforce the skin’s barrier and moisturise). Allantoin (Soothes the Skin).

Full Ingredients: Water/Aqua, Glycerin, Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Trisiloxane, Dimethicone, PEG-3 Dimethicone, Allantoin, Magnesium Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Glyceryl Ether, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Succinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Bis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Methylparaben

NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE

• I know people get worried about Eucalyptus Globulus leaf OIL but this is leaf EXTRACT (not an essential oil and technically still perfuming according to some websites, but skin conditioning in other websites – so I would still consider this to be fragrance and essential oil free)

Texture + Swatch: This is NOT sticky or tacky. It layers fine under and on top of skincare products. It’s not thick or heavy (i.e it doesn’t have that shea butter base to make it heavier).

I can still feel it on top of the skin i.e. it doesn’t get fully absorbed or sucked into the skin like a lotion (which has more water), and immediately, it makes the skin feel smoother and softer. (I’m guessing it stems from these ingredients: Trisiloxane (This evaporates upon contact with the skin and makes it appear softer and smoother), Dimethicone, PEG-3 Dimethicone).

My skin can still breathe. This doesn’t feel oily or greasy on the skin, it simply has a residual smoothing finish on the skin in terms of the softening of the skin’s texture.

This is also easy to spread along the skin, it’s not too viscous and also not so thin that it simply disappears and doesn’t feel like its done anything. This definitely feels moisturising (I wouldn’t say it’s hydrating enough i.e. I would apply a watery serum underneath).

Due to this texture, I do think this product alone wouldn’t be moisturising for dry or very dry skins, which is why the Milk can be a great addition to use as a pair, to fully moisturise the skin.

You can see how lightweight this is (you can see the skin underneath as I spread this just a little).

• If you have NOTHING under this product when applying, it results in a more matte finish. BUT if you are using serums + essences underneath, you will end up with a more dewy finish as this doesn’t do shine or oil control.

Swatch 2 (Just to fully see the texture and milkiness of this product):

Curel Milk VS Curel Cream

Youtube Video: Swatching and Reviewing the the Curel Collection!

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(If you would like to see how this swatches in real-time then you can watch the video. As I’m also recommending the facial milk, you can see the swatch and difference in texture there).

Fragrance?: No added Fragrance / Essential oils – To me it smells like a typical unscented cream (Think of the Clinique unscented creams).

Good Under Makeup?: Due to the silicone, this makes for a good primer as it makes the skin texture feel softer and smoother (better for foundation application). I do think dry skins would prefer this over oily skins as a primer (Oily skins may prefer the Glossier Priming Moisturiser Balance).

How long have I been using this?: Until Completion (about 3 months as I used this daily in the PM and the jar is tiny!).

The Effect?: Moisturised, soft skin!

What I like:

• Lightweight
• Didn’t sting or irritate
• No added fragrance / Essential oils
• Didn’t cause pimples/comedones
• Fine under makeup (As long as I didn’t overdo my skincare layer underneath).
• Layerable (Doesn’t ball or pill)
• Moisturising

What I don’t like:

• Wish there was more – so little! I have to be quite sparing.
• I still found this a bit too fatty to wear as an AM Moisturiser (especially in the Summer) under SPF.

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4/5 – A great moisturiser! Yes it would be improved by adding in actives like Peptides, Niacinamide etc, BUT I get that this is really aimed at sensitive/sensitised skins so a very basic routine is necessary at times.

Would I repurchase?: Yes! I would use this as a good Ceramide-replenishing PM Moisturiser. I find this to be the closet dupe to the Krave oat so simple cream I’ve tried so far (less watery however and a bit higher in the fatty part of the cream).

Dupe?: the Krave Oat so Simple Water Cream (Contains more water so more preferred for oily skins) OR the Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream (Slightly more watery but also thicker as it doesn’t contain the same silicones).

My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated 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.

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