Naruko is a Taiwanese brand created by famed Taiwanese skincare connoisseur and talk show host, Niu Er. I had a period in my youth where I was OBSESSED with Asian skincare (I still am, but less so mostly because Western skincare has really caught up to the technology of Asian skincare), so I watched his shows religiously. A lot of my skincare tips and tricks, I learned through watching his segments. That was also around the same time he launched his brand, which is what I am very happy to share with you today. Naruko is available in Canada through their website, which to be completely honest is actually not that great, but the pretty amazing prices make up for lack of website user-friendliness.
Today I’m sharing with you my thoughts on the first part of products sent to me by Naruko Canada’s PR team. The Rose & Botanic line is formulated with hyaluronic acid to boost the skin’s hydration level, increase collagen production, and prevent the first signs of aging. This line is perfect for those in their early to late 20s, or if you are just starting out in the anti-aging arena.
Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Jelly Lotion (C$25 for 120mL) is a jelly-like softening lotion, applied using a cotton pad over cleansed skin. This is very heavily scented with rose. I actually didn’t find this to be super hydrating, sadly. It dries down to almost a matte finish, whereas I prefer something that stays tacky for a while, which helps my other products absorb better. While I was really looking forward to trying this, I was sadly a bit let down.
Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Complex EX (C$29 for 30mL) is a hydrating serum, applied after the lotion and before moisturizer. This rose hydrating serum is only slightly hydrating and not really that plumping on my dehydrated skin. I feel like this Rose and Botanic line was created for Taiwanese weather, which is significantly more humid than it is in Canada, so while I only felt a temporary relief from dryness, I much prefer my other hydrating serums that just inject my skin with so much water.
Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Hydrating Mask (C$24 for 10 pieces) is a hydrating mask that you can use to supplement your existing skincare routine. I received two pieces of this, which I used once a week. Each mask is drenched in 25mL of hydrating serum - one of the first things I learned from Niu Er was to never waste any of that serum inside a mask sachet, and instead apply it over your body so your body can receive the same treatment. I quite like this mask, it’s lightly hydrating and also very cooling and soothing. I would take this on vacation with me to Mexico when I need to cool down my skin after spending the day in the sun.
I also received a sample of the Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Night Gelly EX (C$24 for 80mL), which is a night-time moisturizing gel. I wear this in place of my night time moisturizer and so far I’ve been pretty happy with it. It’s lightly hydrating, and perfect for those hot summer nights when you want to stay away from anything oily.
Lastly, I was very excited to receive a box of the Facial SPA Massage Cotton Pads (C$5.50). You might be wondering, who cares, it’s just cotton pads, but if you’ve ever tried premium cotton pads, you will know what I am talking about. Good quality cotton pads truly elevates your skincare experience, and as the fibres are more refined, it is gentler on your skin too. I really love these cotton pads, they are super soft and glide over my skin very nicely without dragging or pilling. The cotton is high quality and doesn’t leave behind fibres or lint when you’re using it. Each cotton pad is thicker, so you tend to use more toner / lotion. I’ve used this with both hydrating and exfoliating toners and both work very well.
If you have very dry skin, I’m not sure that the Rose & Botanic line will be a be-all-end-all solution for you. The products are relatively inexpensive though, so it isn’t much risk if you wanted to try it out. Naruko also sent me some products from their Jing Cheng collection, which I’ve had much better luck with (review coming soon!). I definitely recommend picking up a box of the Facial SPA Massage Cotton Pads, just to see the difference between your generic cotton pads and these ones that are a bit more of an upgrade. You can purchase Naruko on their website.
Ingredients of Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Jelly Lotion and Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Complex EX
Ingredients of Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Hydrating Mask
Ingredients of Rose & Botanic HA Aqua Cubic Night Gelly EX
Product received as PR samples for review consideration; all opinions are my own.