Review: Nature Republic Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream

Skin typing is standard for anyone interested in beauty products and I understand why it's useful. Everyone's skin has different needs and each product caters to different needs. But I think it's just as important to listen to your skin and observe its changes and fluctuations. Weather, the seasons, pollution, your diet, health, medication, etc. all have an impact on the skin. The reason I started off with this is because as the weather gets warmer my skin get more oily T.T If a walk into a cosmetics store in January and the sales associate asks me my skin type I say dry. If I walk into a cosmetics store in June and the sales associate asks me my skin type I say combination or oily xD

Perhaps for most people the seasons don't have such an extreme impact on their skin but for me it does. I need to completely overhaul my routine when the seasons change and it always leaves me scrambling to find products because I need to replace most of the steps in my routine. Because it's too overwhelming for me to do it all at once, I tend to replace products as I finish them. That way the goliath of changing my entire routine becomes a manageable step by step process.

First to get swapped was my face cream. I opted for Nature Republic's Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream because it seems to be a popular choice for those with combination skin, not only in Korea but also among AB fans around the world. Nature Republic's Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream weighs in with over 60 ingredients. Sweet lord jesus it's a long list. Perhaps other people would find this more impressive but personally I'm in the camp that simpler is better. With so many ingredients packed into an 80ml container, are any of them present in a large enough concentration to actually be effective? Looking at the top of the list there aren't any knock out ingredients that really grab my attention. The top of the list includes Seawater, Glycerin--which draws up moisture from the inner layers of the skin to the outer layers of the skin, and various silicones such as Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone which act as a protective barrier on the skin and allow other ingredients to absorb into the skin. Based on the ingredient list I would expect this product to be good for moisture and softness but not much else.

Nature Republic's Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream is packaged in a simple plastic container with a screw on lid. I'll be honest, when I first opened the container, the smell of it was overpowering. I generally don't use many fragrant product and I'm the kind of person who walks through the perfume section of a department store feeling queasy and lightheaded because I'm particularly sensitive to smells. The scent kind of reminded me of Irish Spring's soap LOL though it's been a long time since I've smelled it. Over time I became less aware of the scent and now I barely notice it. I use this product everyday as the last step in my skincare routine in the morning and at night.

I don't dislike Nature Republic's Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream. It goes on smooth and doesn't feel heavy or greasy. Did it somehow even the oil levels in my skin? No. My cheeks still feel slightly dry and my T-zone is still slightly oily. On most days the difference in oil levels isn't enough to be particularly bothersome to me. There are some days when it is though. If I have acne healing on my cheeks the area might become flakey and on some days the T-zone oil is bad enough that I use a Tea Tree Oil toner on my T-zone (look out for this review in the near future). Is there a magic unicorn out there that can somehow leave my T-zone less oily while making my cheeks not dry? T.T

An 80ml container costs 25,000₩ ($21) but it's often on sale for 12,500₩ ($11), which is the price I bought it for.

My ratings

Price: 4/5. The price is great, particularly if you can snag it on sale. Effectiveness: 2/5. For a product that is particularly marketed for those with combination skin, it didn't really seem to make a noticeable difference in the oil level discrepancy in my skin, Packaging: 4/5. The packaging is simple and effective. Overall: 3.5/5.

Repurchase? Possibly in the future but as the weather gets warmer and my T-zone gets more oily I will probably switch to a different product. TL;DR, Still looking for that unicorn product that make my T-zone less oily without leaving my cheeks dry. Do you also change your skincare routine as the seasons change? Are there certain products that you use year round? Tell me about it in the comments below ^^

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