The Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Moisture Watery Cream was one of my first K-beauty face creams but just like a first boyfriend, it probably wasn’t meant to last. I’ve debated if I wanted to write this review because it’s such an old product that already has tons of reviews however it’s also a Nature Republic classic that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. Ever since K-beauty made it big in the United States, there has also been an influx of newer, flashier brands getting my attention but I won’t forget some of my first-timers when I started building a Korean beauty routine. I suppose this post is more of a nod to my 2015 K-beauty beginner self. That said, this is a great starter face cream for those on a budget and starting their skincare journey.
I was first exposed to Nature Republic when I went to Korea in 2014 and K-beauty wasn’t even on the USA beauty radar yet. Completely oblivious to “what I should buy” during such a trip where beauty shops were on every block, my best friend’s sister bought a set of the Nature Republic Super Aqua Max cream in the blue jar meant for normal skin. At the time, it was on an incredible Buy 1, Get 1 Free Sale (or locally labeled as 1+1). I still had Missha products to use back at home so I didn’t any skincare even though it was their #1 Best Seller. I only bought makeup from Etude House, A’pieu and Holika Holika (and I soooooo regret not buying more).
2015: When SISTAR slayed my summer with “Shake It”.
Fast-forward to 2015 and there’s a Nature Republic that opened in Chinatown and I discovered another outpost in Flushing, Queens. Here was my second chance!
2016, I took the bait and bought myself the pink version (for dry skin). However, Memebox International hypnotized my wallet and suddenly I had too much product to use within a lifetime.
End of 2017, I finally decide I need to use this jar as fast as possible because it’s been on the shelf for too long. Some of you may have tossed it but it doesn’t show any concern of mold or odd smells so on the face it goes. I don’t regret it and 2015 nostalgia sets in. Of course the jar (and the other varieties) is available on Amazon for around $12 but there’s something about my first sights in Korean stores that makes it extra special.
Product Claims
Basically it promises to hydrate your skin. For fancy marketing language, see below from the Nature Republic USA website:
Super Aqua Max Watery Cream is a high-performance hydrating cream which infuses extract moisture and refreshment back to skin with an energizing complex of deep sea minerals from maritime plants while extract of chlorella, seaweed, plankton, and water-soluble collagen and hyaluronic acid help to strengthen skins’s ability to defend itself against external aggressors and dehydration.
Recommended for DRY TYPE SKIN
- Winner of Get It Beauty TV Show in 2011
- Nature Republic’s Exclusive Super AQUA Max line features a moisturizing set that provides a watery texture for watery hydration with a less creamy and heavy feel
- Contains Kona Hawaii’s 914m deep ocean water which instantly hydrates, releasing steady amounts of moisture also contains MD101 Polynesian Lagoon Water which replenishes dehydrated skin, provides intense hydration and provides nutrients
EFFECTS: Hydration, Moisturizing, Control, PH Balance, Maintenance
Packaging, Size, Prices, etc.
The packaging on mine says that an 80ml/2.70 fl. oz. is the “BIG SIZE” however it seems like this is the ONLY size (it’s not like getting this size is an upgrade of any kind). Admittedly 80ml is a bigger size compared to other Korean brands that might sell face creams in 50ml jars instead. The product is housed in a glass jar (big points on that one), twist-off plastic lid that looks like a cute dollop of cream. It comes with a clear plastic spatula as well. I’m not too picky about using a twist-off jar but others won’t like how it’s constantly exposed to air and allowing other contaminants from falling in. Unscrewing the cap off and on every night is also annoying when a pump bottle can dispense product faster however was only $16.90 USD! This cream comes with a lot of bang for your buck once you see what’s in the ingredients list.
Cute cap with a water ripple effect.
Ingredient List
The first few ingredients listed are Seawater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentailoxane, emollients, more Dimethicone and finally Betaine which is a skin-conditioning ingredient probably most responsible for making my skin feel soft. Despite having a crap-load of silicones in the upper part of the list, there’s a bevy of maritime plant extracts, skin-brighteners, and hydrators in the mix. Here are my ingredient highlights and here’s the full CosDNA analysis:
- Portulaca Oleracea Extract – antioxidant and has skin soothing properties
- Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract – a traditional oriental medicine that can treat skin inflammation
- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) Root Extract – skin brightener, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and moisturizer.
- Blue-green Alga (Spirulina Platensis) Extract – anti-inflammatory ingredient
The only ingredient with a hazardous rating of 7 is Methylisothiazolinone, an anti-microbial preservative known to be a skin toxicant or allergen so it’s restricted for use in certain concentrations. It comes in third to last after Phenoxyethanol, another preservative that also has restricted concentrations. There are also other ingredients rated 3 and 4 safety warnings so I’ll color coat green as good (1-2), orange as iffy (3-5) and red as known irritants (6-7). The overall list is chock-full of extracts even though it’s full of ‘cones that are creating a silky, spreadable feeling. Just be mindful of which ingredients you might react negatively to.
SEA WATER, DIMETHICONE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, BETAINE, ULMUS DAVIDIANA ROOT EXTRACT, AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS SEED EXTRACT, PIPER METHYSTICUM, LEAF/ROOT/STEM EXTRACT, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, PUERARIA THUNBERGIANA ROOT EXTRACT, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, CNIDIUM OFFICINALE ROOT EXTRACT, GELDIUM SESQUIPEDALE EXTRACT, ULVA LACTUCA EXTRACT, ECKLONIA CAVA EXTRACT, CODIUM TOMENTOSUM EXTRACT, LAMINARIA JAPONICA EXTRACT, ULVA PERTUSA EXTRACT, AGARUM CRIBOSUM EXTRACT, SOLIDAGO VIRGAUREA (GOLDENROD) EXTRACT, ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA EXTRACT, DUNALIELLA SALINA EXTRACT, CAPSOSIPHON FULVESCENS EXTRACT, SARGASSUMFULVELLUM EXTRACT, PORPHYRA YEZOENSIS EXTRACT, FUCUS VESICULOSUS EXTRACT, SPIRULINA PLATENSIS EXTRACT, JANIA RUBENS EXTRACT, SEA WHIP EXTRACT, GELDIUM CARTILAGINEUM EXTRACT, UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT, CORALLINA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, CODIUM FRAGILE EXTRACT, LAMINARIA CLOUSTONI EXTRACT, CHLORELLA MINUTISSIMA EXTRACT, HIZIKIA FUSIFORME EXTRACT, SALICORNIA HERBACEA EXTRACT, PLANKTON EXTRACT, PIKEA ROBUSTA EXTRACT, SEA CUCUMBER EXTRACT, LAMINARIA DIGITATA EXTRACT, SOLUBLE COLLAGEN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, TRIDECETH-6, POLYSORBATE 20, PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE, GLYCOSYL TREHALOSE, WATER, HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, XANTHAN GUM, HYDROLYZED SPONGE, FRAGRANCE, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE, CI 14700, YELLOW 5
Results
Hope this illustrates its silicone-y thickness.
The cream is thicker than most and takes a while to use the heat of your fingers to spread an even layer. It also takes a bit of time, approximately 20 minutes, for it to absorb and evaporate to a less non-tacky finish. It’s still thick and can act like a sleeping pack where it will seal in all the layers of essence and serum. I wake up to really hydrated skin and the tacky finish is completely gone by morning time. I have normal to dry skin and its best to exfoliate prior so that all the steps can soak in properly. Overall, this is a good face cream for the fall and winter time but I think it’s too thick for warmer months.
What I’ll do to make it less thick is to mix in a few drops of facial oil to thin it out. I’m adding a punch of hydration while making the consistency more to my liking! I’ll use CoverFX Custom Infusion Drops or Skinfood Pomegranate Oils.
ADD OIL! FIGHTING! I’ve been watching Kdramas :3
Rating – 3.5 out of 5
For a budget face cream, it’s full of beneficial extracts and works to seal in all steps used in your routine. Sure, it feel tacky and thick from the silicones but it eventually goes away and can work double-duty as a sleeping pack. I wouldn’t buy this again however because I’ve moved on other things in my stash/wish list. It’s also fragranced but it doesn’t bother me that much. The lid sometimes doesn’t screw on straight but I love how the jar is actually made out of glass. As a beginner, I would have rated this as a 4 out of 5 but now that I’ve tried other face cream with whipped textures and other delicious ingredients, I’ve bumped it down. I won’t use this as a daytime cream because I’m not patient enough to wait for it to set so minus points there for lack of versatility. Again, considering the low price point it will do its job of locking in moisture at night and making you wake up as a moisturized princess.
Where to Buy
Amazon – $12 Free Shipping over $25
Nature Republic USA – $16.90 Free Shipping over $75
