Review: COSRX – Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream
Where to purchase: Stylevana HERE / Yestyle HERE Discount Code: CVQFZA / Feel Unique: HERE / Beauty Bay: HERE / Look Fantastic: HERE
Price: ~£20
Volume: 50ml
Made in: South Korea
What is it + What does it do?: From the Hydrium Line (Hydrating Line), this is a gel-cream that focuses on cooling the skin and providing it with much-needed hydration.
Skin Issue: Hot (warm) and Dehydrated Skin.
Brand Description: This Gel (Jelly Texture) Moisturiser aims to provide cooling relief to angry, hot skin, mostly living in hot and humid climates. B5 (Panthenol) Is a Key Ingredient throughout the Hydrium Line as it’s both moisturising and soothing. Aloe Leaf Extract is added which provides soothing relief (and also that green tint) as well as Green Tea extract to let this product overall provide relief against Sun Burn, Redness and Blemishes. It ”refreshes” oily skin + skin that feels hot. This is meant to absorb quickly without leaving a greasy finish.
Supposedly Good for: Hot, Humid Climates and those with Oily Skin
What I think: Agreed! I think Sensitive (Not Sensitised) Skins can use this too.
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Youtube Video: Swatching + Reviewing the COSRX Cica Line!
Vegan?: Yes
Cruelty Free?: Yes
Packaging: Plastic Tub with a Screw Top Lid. It did come with a hygiene tab but no spatula.
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Directions: ”Apply a proper amount of gel cream to the face after cleansing and toning. Apply the cream on gently by tapping.” (From the COSRX Website). This can also be applied to Sun-burnt skin and reddened skin to help bring down the skin’s temperature.
How I use it: I either apply this AFTER an emollient/emulsion-like serum i.e. The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid Emulsion OR I’ve also really been enjoying using this with my Foreo Bear I’m currently trialling/testing out, instead of buying their fragranced water-based serum, I can use this water-based gel that should help with the conductance of the Bear.
Key Ingredients: Green Tea (Antioxidant + Soothing), Glycerin (Moisturising Factor), Panthenol (Soothing + Moisturising) + Allantoin (Soothing). This also contains Aloe Leaf Extract which is soothing! I believe that’s where this typical Aloe-like Gel texture comes from.
Full Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Allantoin, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
These flower and plant extracts are counted as ”Skin Conditioning”
NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
Texture: A cooling, watery gel that easily spreads along and absorbs into the skin. I don’t really feel too much of a sticky or tacky feeling (as with most Gel-like creams, if you add a lot then you will start to feel a tackiness), and I definitely don’t feel an oily or greasy feeling.
It’s really interesting how similar this is in texture to the Rovectin Lotus Water Cream without containing as many emollients.
You can see that this is practically transparent and looks water!
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This really does feel like a ”Creamy Gel” – It’s hydrating! (I would not say moisturising though, or at least not moisturising enough for my Oily-Combo Skin in the Winter).
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Does this layer well?: Yes this seems to layer fine! I simply wouldn’t use this under or on top of oily products (i.e. facial oils)
Does this sting of the Skin is Irritated/Sensitised due to heavy retinol use and/or shaving?: Yes, this stings if my skin is newly sensitised. However it’s fine applying any other time.
Summer or Winter?: Oily skins could enjoy this both seasons but Combo Skins may find this not enough in the Winter (especially in the PM). Dry skins could use this in the Summer during hot weather (AM).
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Video Swatch:
Hopefully you can see that lovely Gel-like texture!
Fragrance?: Fragrance + EO Free – this practically smells of nothing.
Good Under Makeup?: Yes this is fine under makeup but I usually prefer to apply gels on their own without foundation (especially oil-containing foundations) to avoid any potential balling up.
How long have I been using this?: Until Completion (Because I’ve been using this with my Foreo Bear, I got through this quite quickly (the face needs to remain moist in order to get the bear smoothly sliding along the skin) so this lasted me 3 weeks of daily PM use.
The Effect?: Hydrated, Soothed and Calmed skin! (Definitely cools the skin). My skin can still breathe after applying this. Is it radically moisturising like a creamy moisturiser? No. This doesn’t have a mattifying finish either.
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What I like:
- No Fragrance / EO
- Hydrating
- Soothing + Cooling upon initial application!
- Did not worsen my skin
- The Skin can breathe
- Doesn’t feel oily or greasy
What I don’t like:
- Not moisturising enough for Dry weather (I have Oily-Combo Skin)
- Doesn’t sit well with oily products (i.e. if one applies facial oils or oily foundation)
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Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4.2/5 – Not Moisturising enough for Dry weather or when the skin is feeling dry (in the PM), so I either apply a more moisturising cream on top, or an emollient/emulsion-type serum underneath to ensure my skin gets the ceramides it needs in the PM. Other than that, I think this is something oily skins, especially those living in hot and humid weather would ADORE. I love that this is fragrance and EO free and ofc Cruelty Free. This is a simple and soothing gel moisturiser. I do wish it had ingredients like Niacinamide or Hyaluronic Acid and if this is aimed at oily skins, some BHA would have been nice, but I understand that the brand wanted to make a gel cream that would be accessible to sensitive skins. Definitely a Gel-Cream I would recommend.
Would I repurchase?: Yes! This has been useful with my Foreo Bear as mentioned above, and it’s cooling, hydrating and lightweight. It definitely layers better than the Purito Oat Gel (My Review is HERE), and it still provides some moisture and I like how it does feel like a lightweight cream although it’s mainly a gel.
Dupe?: If you want a slightly creamier version but a similar texture, then the Rovectin Lotus Water Cream is a good dupe! If you want the same gel-like texture, then the SVR Sensifine Aqua Gel (Also Aloe Based).
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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