peel to reveal

In 2003, Natural Aqua Gel by Cure was developed and quickly became a true cult favorite. It’s the #1 exfoliating skincare product in Japan and has become such a global obsession that there are counterfeits on sale now : (

I have been amazed and baffled by this product for many years and I want to be super clear in explaining what this product is and how it works. I’m not a cosmetic chemist but I know the basics and have done my research … it’s not hard to figure out if you read the ingredient list!

If you’ve read about it or even tried it, you are probably under the impression that it removes the top layer of dead skin cells from your skin to reveal a baby smooth surface - and it does this without skin-dissolving actives like acids.

best korean peeling solution

The gel has no fragrance, colorants or preservatives and yes, it has no chemical exfoliants - so it’s good to use for sensitive types. It’s a base of activated hydrogen water and natural extracts including aloe, gingko biloba and rosemary. It does help to smooth your skin and leave a super soft feeling … but it’s really important to understand that the balls of dirty stuff that come off when you rub it are balled up polymers in the formula. Yes that is probably helping remove dirt etc. but it is NOT your top layer of skin coming off. Sorry! I do feel it’s somewhat misleading that it is described that way by the brand. It’s kind of like if you put a super thin layer of one of those peel off masks on and then rubbed it off … the mask would ball up. It’s the formula coming off - not your skin. If there was a way to break down your skin cells and remove them without acids or physical exfoliation … it wouldn’t just be in this small class of products.

Moving on from this! The Water Treatment Skin Cream by Cure also makes use of some cosmetic chemistry tricks in that it is a lotion/gel formula that “breaks” to turn into almost a watery toner feel. It’s super moisturizing while still being light and a great oil-free moisture option.

There’s a lot of magic in beauty products and it’s not a bad thing - cosmetic chemistry (that includes both synthetic and natural ingredients) is what creates amazing textures and results. It’s just important to understand WHAT is actually happening when you evaluate where to spend!

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