I have declared multiple times that Centella asiatica one of my most favorite skincare ingredients. My love for it began with the use of a moisturizer that has it as a main ingredient. With just a month of continuous use, I noticed my skin got better with it - it looked and felt hydrated and moisturized and the tone evened out. My dry skin loved it so much that, unconsciously, my entire skincare routine now revolved on products that have it or complement it.
So why Centella? Centella asiatica, or Cica in the skincare world, is known to bring wonders to the skin, all thanks to its potent, active compounds. The extract from this medicinal herb has been proven to effective in healing and restoring the skin barrier. These repairing properties work great in maintaining the skin's moisture and reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
It is why that, without a doubt, I got interested in trying out the SKIN1004 Centella Basic 5 Set. This set has a cleansing oil, a cleansing foam, an ampoule, a toner, and a soothing cream or a moisturizer cream. And since your girl cannot decide, I got both the cream and the soothing cream.
SKIN1004 is a Korean brand that focuses on the use of natural ingredients. Centella asiatica, the brand's signature ingredient, is from Madagascar and is extracted through a vigorous process to extract only the purest ingredient that will sure be beneficial for the skin. SKIN1004 is passionate about making sure their products only contain essential ingredients and free from any irritating components.
Since I wanted to see how my skin would react on a Centella-dominated routine, I ditched 80% of the products in my arsenal and just used the SKIN1004 Centella Basic 5 Set in my morning and evening skincare routine. It has been more than 3 weeks now and I think I am ready to share my thoughts about each of the products in the set.
Truth be told, my routine has been pretty messed up ever since I started working on US hours. I can hardly differentiate day from night, so in terms of my skincare routine, I just make sure I do each of the step twice a day.
In the morning, I always start with Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil. I used to only use a cleansing oil to remove makeup but this cleansing oil is so light that it is perfect for an everyday kind of deep cleansing.
Right before I wet my face, I light massage 1-2 pumps of the cleansing oil all over my face, making sure that I reach each and spots. Afterwards, I emulsify it with a few drops of water and massage it again before rinsing. I prefer to do it this way for I feel that makeup, oil, and gunk really goes with the oil.
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| left: Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, right: Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam |
After cleansing with oil, I cleanse again with the Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam. Too much, you say? No, actually this combination is a hit for me! This low pH cleansing foam helps in thoroughly cleansing the skin without leaving it dry and destroying the skin barrier. It contains a good amount of surfactant that helps in calming, moisturizing, and hydrating the skin.
Fact: An experiment done by the Korean Dermatological Research Institute show that this cleanser can remove 92.69% of fine dust on the skin. Amazing, right?
The cleansing combination of the Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil and the Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam is perfect for those who seek thoroughly cleansed skin minus the irritation and dryness.
Have you heard about PHA? I have to be honest, it is my first time to hear and and use a product with PHA. Thanks to Google, I learned that Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), like their well-known cousins, AHAs, work as an exfoliator but on a much chiller side.
The Madagascar Centella Toning Toner is a PHA-toner/exfoliator that is perfect for those with ultra-sensitive skin. It breaks down the dead skin cells with little to no irritation. And since this toner also contains Centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, and niacimide, it is also great in softening and brightening the skin.
The star of this set, for me at least, is the Madagascar Centella Ampoule, a power serum that contains 100% Centella asiatica extract. The light, liquid texture of this ampoule is perfect as a pre-moisturizer step. It is easily absorbed by the skin and provides a soothing feel.
And since it is made of pure Centella asiatica, I use it to treat random pimples and itchy spots on my face and it is working wonders! For those with normal skin, this can be used on its own as it is already very hydrating. but for those like me who has skin that crave for that extra touch, a cream moisturizer is a must.
Initially, it was difficult to differentiate the cream from the soothing cream, except with the color difference. But after days of use, I eventually learned when to use the cream and when the use of the soothing cream is best.
The Madagascar Centella Cream is a straightforward moisturizer cream. It has a dewy and creamy texture that hydrates and feels non-greasy on the skin. The niacinamide and adenosine it has helps in brightening and reducing appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It is light and fragrance-free too!
The Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream, as its name implies, provides a cooling and soothing effect when used. It comes in a gel-form that is easily absorbed by the skin. Since it provides high-level of hydration, it is great as a follow-up step after my weekly face scrub.
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| left: Madagascar Centella Cream, right: Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream |
So how does the 3-weeks religious use of the SKIN1004 Centella Basic 5 Set? Let the photo below say it all.
I swear, no editing was done on these photos! If you would notice, the before photo showed a pimple on my temple and though it still isn't completely gone, it didn't leave a nasty mark. The dry patches on my cheeks were gone too. I am not sure if it the after photo gives justice to it but my skin looks more evened out too.
Three weeks may still be too early but I can say that, so far, this skincare routine with SKIN1004 Centella Basic 5 Set has been doing wonders on my skin! But if I have to choose my favorites, those are the Madagascar Centella Toning Toner and the Madagascar Centella Ampoule. These two are ♥!
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SKIN1004 is available in Shopee and Lazada. Make sure to follow the SKIN1004 Shopee and Lazada Philippines stores to get a discount voucher!
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Have you tried SKIN1004? What's your favorite?
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