Hmm.

Ever wanted to try a brand so much that you ignore the negative reviews and your better judgement because packaging? No? Let me introduce you to Cremorlab.

Why I was excited!

Have you seen the packaging? I mean, seriously, look at it. Look at how classy and sexy it is! Have you not eyes?! I admit I was wooed by the packaging, but having heard very little about the actual products themselves I held off on ordering anything. Then, I got a lovely package from my unnie with the wipes in there and my interest reignited. The wipes are part of my undupeables, so I thought I wonder what else this lovely brand has to offer!

After feverishly posting about them on my SNS, Anna from asianskincareblog reached out to me and offered to ship me some products straight from Japan! Awesome. After a few LINE messages back and forth she found and sent me the Cremorlab Aqua Essence Water Fluid along with some other (non-cremorlab) lovely goodies!

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Orchid Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, ChamomillaRecutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Yeast Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-20, PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arginine, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Algin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Alcohol Denat., Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Dehydroacetic Acid

It’s a lot right?

I actually wasn’t looking for this particular product, but as the ingredients looked good, the price was right and the brand had my curiosity I gave it a shot. There are a lot of really interesting and potentially effective ingredients in there, but with so many I wondered are they too diluted to see any positive effect? Seriously, so many ingredients! Gah!

Brand Story

From Peach and Lilly’s Website: Cremorlab’s Brand Story

Cremorlab’s innovative skincare products harness the power of Thermal water therapy, Eco-energy, and Natural nourishment (T.E.N.). aka T.E.N. thermal water, a rare and mineral-rich water from Geumjin, a special region in Korea. Famous for its richness in minerals, T.E.N. is the foundation of all of Cremorlab’s products that focus on the hydration and health of your skin. Discover how this unique skincare line can help boost radiance, vitality, and hydration.

Hm. That’s interesting.

To me it seems like Cremorlab is trying to pull an Avène by capitalising on their water being the key to amazing skincare.

Hm. Well everyone has to have a thing.

Packaging

unf. You see this? Yaaasss.

My Experience

This water fluid is a type of essence that can be applied after toner and before your serums. It can be used as a “booster serum”, an extra hydrating step that imparts conditioning and moisturizing elements to the skin. Your subsequent serums are then delivered into well-moisturized skin more effectively.

With such a description, the emphasis on the T.E.N water and the name being ‘water fluid’ I expected it to be very watery, but actually it’s quite gloopy and feels like every plain moisturiser that ever existed rather than an essence. Seriously, I tried so many ways to make this work but at every turn I just felt pretty ambivalent about it, at least it didn’t break me out eh?

Repurchase?

Absolutely not. In fact, try as I might, I couldn’t get myself to finish it, or even use it for any extended period of time. I simply forgot and never noticed a change either way, when I did or didn’t use it. So I gave it away.

Sorry Cremorlab, you didn’t do it for me this time. Though someone will have to pry your face wipes out of my cold hands.