Hi everyone, welcome back! I’ll be reviewing PHA Moisture Renewal Power Cream from Cosrx for our first post of the year. Cosrx is one of my favourite brands and I’ve been using their products (formulated for sensitive skin) for quite some time now. Chemical exfoliants are a gentle and effective alternative to physical exfoliants (think: the St. Ives Apricot Scrub). I fell in love with this cream after receiving a sample and I can’t wait to share with you all!
About
This product is made with 3% PHA. PHA (polyhydroxy acids) are a type of acid that works on the surface of the skin and lock in moisture. It’s milder than AHA and BHA as it doesn’t penetrate as deep beneath the skin. The main ingredients (beside PHA) are coconut fruit extract and niacinamide. The cream’s texture is thicker than I expected, but doesn’t fell greasy. There’s also no scent, which is great for those who are sensitive to fragrance.
Ingredients List
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Betaine, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, BeesWax, Elaeis Guineensis(Palm) oil, Elaeis Guineensis(Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin
Use
I like to use this as a night cream after toner and essence as I’m always paranoid about chemical exfoliants making my skin more sensitive to UV rays. It’s also a bit heavy for my liking to use in the day, but I do use it occasionally when I want that glowy sheen beneath my foundation.
Results
This cream does what it claims to do. It hydrates, gently exfoliates and makes my skin even softer. It absorbs really well into the skin and I haven’t purged or had any bad reaction to it since it’s so gentle. Over time, it actually lightened my acne marks (or PIH) and reduced redness in hormonal acne. I find that it also helps new acne marks to heal faster, though this may be the result combined with the other products in my routine. Also, I don’t have any pore issues but it somehow makes my skin looks even smoother!
As for the downsides to this product… The pot is smaller than I expected but a little goes a long way. It’ll be a while before I finish it. And this might not suit those with oily skin due to its sheen. But if you’re using this at night then it shouldn’t be an issue!
The verdict
I think this is a great cream for those with sensitive skin or want a product with simple ingredients that actually works (note that YMMV, so be sure to patch test it before use!). It gently exfoliates the skin while locking in moisture to give that glass skin look. It’s also a nice product for those trying out chemical exfoliants for the first time. I rate it a 5/5!
Love,
B ♡
Chapter Two 