THE FACE SHOP Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Line Review

Hi guys, today I'll be sharing my review of THE FACE SHOP's latest addition to the Dr. Belmeur Range: the Advanced Cica Recovery Line.

If you guys remember, I previously did a post + video on Dr. Belmeur's Clarifying line, and up till this day, the products from that line are some of my ultimate faves. The Dr. Belmeur Range is THE FACE SHOP's cosmeceutical range, which is a combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products with biologically active ingredients that have medical or drug-like benefits. The Dr. Belmeur line has active plant-based ingredients that are low-irritant, and are recommended by skin experts.

The Dr. Belmeur Range initially only had 2 lines: the Daily Repair Line (for dry skin) and the the Clarifying Line (for oily skin). The Advanced Cica Recovery Line (for sensitive skin) is the 3rd and latest addition to the Dr. Belmeur line and will be available here in Malaysia from April 2018 onwards.

Along with this blog post, I also created a video for easier watching:

Remember to like the video + to subscribe to my channel!

This line consists of 4 products:

1. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Serum
2. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Hyaluronic Sheet Mask
3. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Cream
4. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Hand Cream

Cica actually comes from the word Centella Asiatica, and as I mentioned in my previous video & blog posts, Centella Asiatica was a very popular ingredient in K-beauty last year. Centella Asiatica is especially great for people with sensitive or acne skin like me because it helps to relieve the skin while helping repair the damage from the inside out, leading to visible results.

What makes THE FACE SHOP's Advanced Cica line different from other brands' Cica products is their patented Skin Sync Rx technology.

Skin Sync RX is Dr. Belmeur's custom-made formula that is different for each of the Dr. Belmeur lines. For example, the Skin Sync formula for the Clarifying Line (oily & blemished skin) focuses on low irritant &trouble healing ingredients, while the Skin Sync formula for the Daily Repair Line (dry skin) focuses on atopic care + moisture & soothing care.

The Skin Sync formula for the Advanced Cica line contains 3 main ingredients:

1. Ceramide - to lock in hydration & help prevent moisture loss.
2. Panthenol - delivers intense moisture without causing irritation or sensitivity
3. Centella Asiatica Extract - an anti-inflammatory & soothing ingredients that is known for its healing properties.

If I compare the functions of the Cica line's Skin Sync RX formula with the previous 2 lines' Skin Sync formula, I feel like the Cica line covers both areas but does it in a more intensive way that is safe for sensitive skin.

The products from THE FACE SHOP's Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Line are all paraben free, sulfate free & alcohol free. They are all dermatologically tested & are formulated without synthetic pigments & irritating additives. Its also delicately-scented with a 100% natural citrus-floral fragrance which I personally really like.

Without further ado, let's get on with the review!

Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Serum

This serum contains ingredients that target damaged skin, and these ingredients help to:

1. Regenerate & strengthen the skin barrier (Panthenol & Madecassoside)
2. Soothe the skin (Asiatic Acid)
3. Firm the skin (Ceramide)
4. Powerfully moisturize the skin (Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate)

As someone with oily skin, I tend to avoid creams and cream serums. At first I thought this product was a cream type serum, but it has more of a light ointment kind of texture. Its light and not too heavy, plus it gives a smooth finish and it feels comfortable on my skin.

After the serum is applied evenly, a skin-like barrier is formed. I think this would be a great serum to wear at night because night time is when the skin repairs itself and this will act as a booster. However, I've also worn this serum in the morning when my skin is irritated and I find it very soothing & moisturizing. 

Dr. Blmeur Advanced Cica Hyaluronic Sheet Mask

The Advanced Cica Hyaluronic Sheet mask is for intensive soothing + moisturization. It contains Powerful Hyaluronic acid that deeply moisturizes + hydrates the skin. It also contains ingredients that:

1. Sooth the skin (Asiatic Acid)
2. Promote wound healing (Panthenol & Madecassoside)
3. Moisturize the skin (Sodium Hyaluronate & Panthenol)
4. Help with Anti-aging (Ceramide)

Like most sheet masks, this mask needs to be left on for 15-20 minutes. After 15  minutes, I remove the mask and pat in the remaining essence (which is quite in excess, I approve!).

The shape of the mask is perfect for me, and I love that because sometimes Korean sheet masks tend to be too small for my face. So far I haven't had any problems with masks from THE FACE SHOP, so if you have a big face like me, I think the masks would fit you well too haha.

This sheet mask is super juicy and I love how thick & cooling the essence is. I think this mask would be great for important days when you want to have calm, clear skin with no redness or breakouts. Putting this on the night before a big event will also help to prep your skin for makeup because it's so hydrating and plumping.

Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Cream

The last product in my Cica skincare routine is the Advanced Cica Recovery Cream. Sensitive skin needs to be deeply hydrated on the inside so it can restore the skin's barrier to its healthy condition.
I think people with dry & sensitive skin would really love this cream because it contains powerfully moisturizing ingredients like Panthenol & Beta-Glucan.

This product also contains ingredients that help:

1.  Improve fine scratches (Panthenol & Madecassoside)
2.  Improve skin barrier (Panthenol & Madecassoside)
3.  Brighten the skin (Niacinamide)
4.  Help the skin from aging (Niacinamide, Beta-Carotene, Ceramide).

I love the packaging of this cream and I love that it comes with a spatula for hygienic scooping. If I were to rank the 3 skincare products from this range, this would be #1 followed by the mask.

I love the scent of this cream (it reminds me of fruity loop cereal lol) and I also love how calm and moisturized my skin is after applying it. A little goes a long way, and if I have any excess I usually rub it on my trouble areas like breakouts or scars.

If you have oily acne skin like, you don't have to worry because the texture of the cream is similar to a sherbet and doesn't leave a very shiny finish, even during the daytime. It only leaves behind 

Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Hand Cream

Sensitive skin doesn’t just occur on the face. Other parts of your body like your hands & arms are prone to irritation as well! The Advanced Cica Recovery Hand Cream is an anti-wrinkle hand cream which provides 24 hours of lasting moisture without leaving a sticky residue. 

The Skin Sync RX trio of ingredients can help to improve fine scratches on hands by up to 107%, strengthening the weakened barrier of the fragile skin on your hands and making soft and smooth again..

The texture of this is kinda silicone-y and thick, and a little goes a long way. When you rub it in, it spreads well and even looks like a few droplets form at first. Once it is fully absorbed, it leaves behind a non-shiny velvety finish that is comfortable and not sticky at all.

VERDICT

I think this range is great for sensitive skin as I didn't break out at all from using them + they work really fast and at an intense rate.

You might be thinking "Eros, the Clarifying Line also has sheet masks, serums and creams! Which one do I choose?". For the masks, the only difference I could surmise was that they're both soothing & moisturizing but that the Advanced Cica mask was slightly more cooling + had a bit more essence.

For the serum, I think the Clarifying serum is better at keeping me acne free + healing/getting rid of any acne that I already have, while the Advanced Cica serum is more suited for someone who suffers from super tight or irritated skin.

Finally for the creams, I think the Clarifying one is lighter and great for use during the day + when I want to keep my skin feeling light and fresh, while the Advanced Cica cream is more for intensive care when you have breakouts or if your skin is feeling very sensitive & tight. It can be used nightly, but for my personal experience, my skin is only occasionally sensitive and I only opt to use this as a healing cream at the end of my evening skincare routine.

And that's all for this review! As I mentioned, the Advanced Cica Recovery line will be available in Malaysia from April 2018 onwards, and you can find them in all THE FACE SHOP outlets nationwide as well as on their website/e-store at http://thefaceshop.com.my.

If you missed the prizes that I included under the names of the products, here they are again:

1. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Serum - RM165
2. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Hyaluronic Sheet Mask - RM18
3. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Cream - RM165
4. Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Hand Cream - RM52

As always, thank you guys so much for dropping by my blog! I hope you guys liked this blog post and found it informative & helpful. I'll see y'all in the next one!