What a mouthful, but also, what a lovely product! I’m very picky when it comes to moisturizers – too light, and it’s not hydrating enough. Too rich, and it feels heavy + breaks me out. The Naruko Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Hydrating Cream EX manages to find the perfect balance, and has been my moisturizer of choice this summer.
- What is it
- A lightweight and watery cream that thoroughly moisturizes the skin, leaving it hydrated and shine-free.
- How I use it
- Scoop a pea-sized amount with spatula and apply all over face every morning
- Best suited for
- All skin types, especially dehydrated skin
- Size & Price
- 60g – $18.99
- Where to buy
- Naruko Boutique
Purified Water, Cyclomethicone, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Silica, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, Sodium chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Bisabolol, Panthenyl ethyl ether, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Rosa Damascena Essential Oil, Rosewood, Saccharide Isomerate, Galactoarabinan, Isostearyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Amara Essential Oil, Palmarosa, Kalanchoe spathulata, Licorice Root Extract, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Peucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camelia sinensis leaf extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xylitol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ceramide 3, Retinyl Palmitate
The first third of the ingredients list may seem underwhelming, but the remaining 2/3 is packed with great plant extracts and hydrating ingredients. Xylitylglucoside + Anhydroxylitol + Xylitol makes up the ingredient AQUAXYL, which helps balance dehydrated skin by improving moisture retention and decreasing water loss (source).
Next, you have 11 different plant extracts – from Kalanchoe spathulata, which contains ferulic acid, to camelia sinensis leaf extract, aka green tea leaf extract – which combine to form phytoferulin. The synergy from these extracts help improve our skin’s natural defenses and provide antioxidant benefits.
In the mix you have your traditional favorites like hyaluronic acid, ceramide, a water + oil soluble form of vitamin c, and even a little of retinol for antiaging benefits.
A closer look
The Naruko Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Hydrating Cream EX comes in a sturdy pink glass jar and smells like fresh roses. The outer box packaging can actually be repurposed into an origami piggy bank (see above photo), a part of Naruko’s effort to reduce waste and encourage reuse. Sadly my origami skills are nonexistent and my piggy bank ended up looking deformed :(
Open the lid and you’ll find a small plastic spatula that fits perfectly on the inner lid – how ingenious is that? If more products did this I wouldn’t be losing those damn spatulas all the time and have to resort to using my fingers #skincareergonomics101. Anyways, points to Naruko for its quality and thoughtful packaging!
Oh mah gawd that texture
I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s not a gel or a traditional cream, but it feels ah-mazing! At first glance it looks like a gel, but you’ll definitely want to use the included spatula to scoop it up, because it turns into liquid upon the tiniest bit of friction.
LOOK AT THAT MAGIC! IS THIS MADE FROM UNICORN TEARS? Honestly I don’t know how or why it does that, but it feels pretty darn magical on the skin when you apply it. The liquid has a slip to it, but it’s not oily at all. As you can see from the 3rd photo, it dries to a completely shine-free finish and your skin feels soft + hydrated. I’ve been using this since April as my day moisturizer, and it’s been nothing but lovely for my combination skin.
Magical texture and great hydrating properties aside, it layers well under makeup and actually helps prevent caking and creasing. Seriously this cream is on point when it comes to hydration, and hydrated skin = happy skin. With that said, don’t expect any anti-aging or brightening effects from this cream. It’s formulated as a moisturizing cream, does a great job at that, but nothing more.
- Packaging8/10
- Ingredients8.5/10
- Texture/Application9/10
- Performance8/10
- Price8.5/10
It's affordable, works well, has a heavenly texture, and is just an all-around solid moisturizer. For those with seriously dry skin or mature skin, this might not be enough, but if you're just looking to keep your skin properly moisturized, please give this a try, you won't be disappointed.
Awesome review ! Just wondering, have you tried any other Naruko products since then? If so, what’d you think about them :) I did notice a few other reviews of yours that included Naruko so I’ll be checking those out now! I’m specifically interested in the tea tree line and the raw job’s because of it’s brightening properties!
My friend is currently in Taiwan and I’m trying to have her grab me some products and doing my extensive research right now so I thought I’d ask your opinion :) Thanks so much!
Thank you Jackie! Other than the products I’ve reviewed on the blog, I’ve also tried their 60 Actives Bright Perfecting Enhancer (a brightening first essence with a viscous texture), the La Creme Platinum Bright Essence Repairing Complex (lightweight and slightly brightens the skin), a sample of the 60 Actives La Creme (too thick and heavy for my combo skin), and the Tea Tree serum (silky texture and prevents me skin from acting up).
Unfortunately I haven’t tried the raw job’s tear line but I’ve heard good things about the night jelly! I did really like the tea tree serum and will likely repurchase it to use on my forehead where I’m most prone to breakouts :) hope this helps!
This sounds great, I have really dehydrated skin so this would be perfect. Its also a reasonable price too Lucy x
Indeed! I’m not sure if Naruko Boutique ship to the UK, but I know the product is also available on eBay
!
Wow, that looks awesome! I have combination skin too and I’m going through so many different products trying to find the right one to moisturize my skin. I will have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing. :)
You’re welcome, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Ooo sounds amazing and that little spatula is so cute! It kinda reminds me of a little wrench haha
Haha, now that you mention it, it does look like a mini wrench!