Alrighty, do you have a cup of tea on hand? If not, go boil some water because this is going to be a bit of a long post, not because I talk too much (if I do, please tell me to hush), but because there is a whole skincare routine to discuss! Last month, I reviewed a couple of masks (here) from Taiwanese skincare company, Naruko, and had such a great experience that I moved right into the hardcore stuff - using them as my main skincare exclusively for 6 weeks!
PR samples, Affiliate links
I listed my skincare concerns as anti-aging with my skin ranging from normal to dry with few to no breakouts and was sent a few products from the Jing Cheng 60 Actives line which is plant-based and contains 60 botanical extracts that aim to nourish, repair and soothe skin to keep it looking tight, young and happy. Though Asian skincare has never been marketed as green beauty, I am often surprised at how many plant extracts are found in their products though when I saw that this line had 60...I mean, that's a lot of supposed "actives" so let's see what these actives actually did for my skin!
The Jing Cheng 60 Actives Youth Activating Enhancer* (200mL/$72.00 CDN) is used after cleansing and toning and is a referred to as a "booster lotion with special skin-toning properties that primes and prepares the skin for enhanced absorption of skincare products. It continuously hydrates, improves skin texture, brightens and tightens skin, stimulating the revitalization of the skin back to its firm, radiant and moisturized form."
In my books, I categorize this product as an essence based on its slightly heavier than water texture and hydrating properties. I remove my makeup once I get home from work, but don't want to do my whole skincare routine as I usually have my shower after dinner. After cleansing, my skin gets quite dry and needs SOMETHING hydrating, but I don't want to use full-on moisturizer so this essence is sort of perfect for what I refer to as "Bandaid hydration". It's temporary, but effective. Its texture also lends itself to effective layering with serums and moisturizers and though I know not everyone is a fan of essences, in Asian skincare religion, they are what enhance the effects of future products applied by softening skin and making the surface of the skin more receptive. Think of the absorption abilities of a dry vs. wet sponge. It makes sense visually, but a part of me wonders if a hydrating toner would do the trick too?
In my books, I categorize this product as an essence based on its slightly heavier than water texture and hydrating properties. I remove my makeup once I get home from work, but don't want to do my whole skincare routine as I usually have my shower after dinner. After cleansing, my skin gets quite dry and needs SOMETHING hydrating, but I don't want to use full-on moisturizer so this essence is sort of perfect for what I refer to as "Bandaid hydration". It's temporary, but effective. Its texture also lends itself to effective layering with serums and moisturizers and though I know not everyone is a fan of essences, in Asian skincare religion, they are what enhance the effects of future products applied by softening skin and making the surface of the skin more receptive. Think of the absorption abilities of a dry vs. wet sponge. It makes sense visually, but a part of me wonders if a hydrating toner would do the trick too?
The Jing Cheng 60 Actives La Creme* (50mL/$99.00 CDN) is the creme de la creme of all of the Naruko lines and comes in a box larger than my hand and on a gold cushion! In addition to the 60 botanical extracts, this moisturizer boasts other repairative and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, shea butter, ceramide-3, ascorbyl glucoside, retinol palmitate, vitamin B3, CoQ10 and vitamin E. While the majority of these key players are in the first half of the ingredients list, CoQ10 and vitamin E are the very last ones. Maybe you don't need that much to have an effect, but I'm not even sure they are worth mentioning if their concentration is so low.
While this moisturizer was indeed incredibly hydrating while still allowing me to apply my makeup easily, I do not like that there is dimethicone in this. This is what gives this moisturizer the beautiful texture, but if there was a way to have these botanical extracts without the 'cones I would be all for it. I will forego the velvety texture for a moisturizer that doesn't feel as pretty for one that has fewer synthetic ingredients. Silicones are not nourishing or preserving and the only real benefit it has on skin is locking in moisture, but it's not actually DOING anything to your skin to improve it. Once you stop using it, your skin will most likely go back to being dry. David Suzuki doesn't like 'cones either (here) so I really don't know if I will continue to use this moisturizer for this reason.
While this moisturizer was indeed incredibly hydrating while still allowing me to apply my makeup easily, I do not like that there is dimethicone in this. This is what gives this moisturizer the beautiful texture, but if there was a way to have these botanical extracts without the 'cones I would be all for it. I will forego the velvety texture for a moisturizer that doesn't feel as pretty for one that has fewer synthetic ingredients. Silicones are not nourishing or preserving and the only real benefit it has on skin is locking in moisture, but it's not actually DOING anything to your skin to improve it. Once you stop using it, your skin will most likely go back to being dry. David Suzuki doesn't like 'cones either (here) so I really don't know if I will continue to use this moisturizer for this reason.
The next three products I used in addition to the essence and moisturizer were deluxe sample sizes that lasted approximately 2-3 weeks so I definitely got a good idea of how they worked!
The Jing Cheng 60 Actives Ultimate Moisturizer* had a different name and slightly different ingredients than the Creme, but its purpose is the same. The main thing I noticed was how much more fragrant this one was compared to the Creme which actually was a bit of a turnoff for me. The consistency was a touch lighter than the Creme which made it nice for use during the day, but was just as hydrating. Again, this also has 'cones so I'm not sure if this is a product I would purchase on my own.
For the serum portion of my routine, I used the Jing Cheng 5-D Face Lift Firming Serum* which is a lotion-like serum that suitable for fine to deep wrinkles. What I liked about this serum was the texture and how hydrating it was, but again there are silicones in this serum so this was only something I used during the day prior to makeup application. This serum alone could have been my moisturizer which is why I chose to layer it with the moisturizer below.
I actually used up this entire sample of Jing Cheng Illuminating Bright Essential Gel Cream*! It didn't have quite as many silicones as the 60 Actives moisturizers and really did seem to give my skin a brightness the other moisturizers did not. The texture was lightly whipped and perfect for someone with combination to normal skin that is looking for a moisturizer that doesn't feel suffocating.
Final verdict: If you are not too fussed with silicones in your products, you will adore the Jing Cheng line because your skin feels incredibly pampered at the end of the routine. I just wish that the Canadian site featured ingredients so that I can see what has silicones and what does not for future purchases.
As for how my skin fared, I never had a single dry patch in common areas like my forehead and around the nose and mouth. I also never had a single breakout in the 6 weeks I was using Naruko products. I like the focus on plant-based technology and though I am not sure that I need 60 actives for optimal efficacy nor am I sure that the extracts do not interfere with each other, I know that I did not experience any redness or stinging because of these actives. Naruko has a huge following in Asia and among Asian beauty bloggers so I have read of other lines that have cult followings and will give a couple of other products a try and let you all know how it goes!
Naruko Canada has offered everyone $10 off on their Naruko purchase with the Code: I88021G44522B. Find them on Amazon.ca as well at Naruko Amazon.ca!
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