So luxurious, but so affordable – a Naruko Rose & Botanics Jelly Lotion review

I’ve been a big fan of Naruko for their affordable yet effective skincare brand, and one line I’ve been using recently is their hydrating line – the Rose & Botanics line. I’ve already reviewed the Naruko Rose & Botanics Hydrating Cream EX (which is awesome btw), so today I’m going to review the Naruko Rose & Botanics Jelly Lotion.  

What is it

A hydrating serum/jelly formulated with 3 types of rose extracts to penetrate deep into your skin and provide instant moisture.

How I use it

Shake, press 2 pumps into my palms, then massage into skin evenly. Used after toner and brightening serum but before oils and emulsion.

Best suited for

All skin types, especially combination/dehydrated skin

Ingredients

CosDNA analysis

Size & Price

$16.99 for 120ml

Where to buy

Naruko Boutique

As with the entire Rose & Botanic line, this jelly lotion has a rose scent is is oh-so-appealing. That’s because the fragrance comes from various the rose extracts and oils in this serum, not artificial fragrances. In fact, it shares some of the same rose ingredients as the $235 Sisley Black Rose Precious Oil – but only at a fraction of the price! Using this makes me feel like I’m strolling through a rose garden – ie. super fancy and luxurious.

The texture is also a delight. It looks like jelly at first but as your massage it in it feels like water, very similar to the Rose & Botanic Hydrating Cream! Of course this has an even lighter texture than the cream, and perhaps is the lightest of all my serums – so why do I layer it after my brightening serum?

#SkincareTip: When layering serums, the function of the serum matters!

• Use your anti-aging serums first. Anti aging ingredients often work at a cellular level, which is active throughout the dermis layer. This is where the collagen in our skin is produced and found!
• Use your brightening serums second. Brightening ingredients often work to inhibit keratinocyte and melanocytes from producing melanin, which in turn causes hyper pigmentation (source). As you can see from the diagram, these cells are found in near the top of the dermis layer and in the epidermis layer.
• Use your hydrating serums last. Hydrating serums typically feature humectants like hyaluronic acid, which attract and retain water on the surface level of our skin. They may also include occlusives that prevent moisture from escaping, which again, is on the surface level.

The Naruko Rose & Botanic Jelly Lotion is your typical hydrating serum, with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and patented Aquaxyl, which increases water content on the epidermis (surface) level, improves our moisture barrier function, and decreases water loss (source). It also contains 11+ plant extracts with antioxidant properties (a patented blend Naruko calls phytoferulin), but overall this serum works at the surface level of our skin, and thus should be used last in our serum order.

This serum layers extremely well in any of my routines, absorbs instantly, and doesn’t leave any sticky finishes. Scent and texture wise, this product is a dream. If only the bottle was prettier, it would get a full score for aesthetics. Not that the bottle is bad – the pump is definitely an upgrade from droppers.

Overall this is a great hydrating serum that is a delight to use. It won’t get rid of any wrinkles or brighten your skin 3 shades, but it will make your skin soft, supple, and smell like roses!

Have you tried the Naruko Rose & Botanic line yet? In my opinion it’s one of the best entry level skincare lines you can start with, and everything I’ve tried so far has been fantastic!