Apparantly, a bottle of Cure Natural Aqua Gel sells every 12 seconds in Japan. I say apparently because given that it’s so popular, it was more difficult than you might imagine for Mr BBB to find it. It’s very similar – okay, the same – as Ginvera Marvel Gel which I know a lot of bloggers have tried, which is also billed as Japan’s best selling exfoliator. Well, they can’t all be..
The gel is loose and a bit watery, and once it’s on your skin you start to massage it around. Nothing happens for a little while and then suddenly you get piles of little skin rolls which aren’t pretty because they’re kinda grubby!
As you can see above, grubby swirls! Now, although there is definitely an exfoliating effect because the product does bring dirt off the skin and if it’s bringing dirt, it must be bringing old skin cells, there is just NO way that this could all be skin. My bottle is in Japanese, but I’ve scoured the internet for other reviews and it’s more or less a fifty fifty split of believers and non-believers. If you’re a non believer then you’ll subscibe to the acrylates polymer meets water evaporation theory of the swirl production. If not, then okay fine, it’s skin.
I’ve used Cure Natural Aqua Gel on my inner arm several times in a row – each time the balls form, and yet, there cannot be that much spare skin to come off so many times! The gel itself is gentle and my arm definitely feels smoother, so I believe some exfoliation takes place. But this one, to my mind, is a bit like the rabbit out of the magician’s hat: you know you’ve been fooled but can’t quite work it out! It’s fun to try and certainly has caused no harm at all to my skin – you can find it very readily on Amazon, or opt for Ginvera or there are even a few Korean alternatives. There is no way that this product can ‘eliminate blackheads’ as claimed.
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10 comments
I’m a cosmetic scientist and yes, it is a bit of a gimmick – the polymer reacts to the salt you have on your skin and forms the little balls you see. However, this all happens on a very low ph which will exfoliate the skin, which is why people actually do see results too.
I hv tried this. Totally rubbish i feel n i gv this product away full 3/4.. Lolz
I have tried this product in Japan. You’re better off using grains or a cotton towel to exfoliate skin. It doesn’t really do anything. If you want deep exfoliation, use a BHA lotion to eliminate blackheads and an AHA product to minimize fine lines and make the skin smoother.
With the Ginvera, I find that I don’t get that many swirls, mostly just little slightly gritty bits and sometimes no real lumpy bits. After rinsing I can see that where once there were blocked nose pores/blackheads there are empty pores and if I do it at night, a couple of black/whiteheads sitting outside their pores in the morning so I do believe it works. I use about a pea sized bit for my whole face so it lasts for months and does seem to keep my face pretty much sebum-free if I use it once or twice a week.
Your description reminds me of the Gatineau Pro-Radiance Anti-Ageing Gommage. The trouble with this type of exfoliator is that the bits get stuck in eyebrows and hair. Much prefer the Gatineau Radiance Enhancing Gommage which is enzyme based and the best exfoliator I have found.
I agree – my thoughts exactly: this cant all be skin!
There’s so many products out there which do the same (particularly sold through someone handing you a sample as you are walking on the street, then dragging you in and asking you to pay an extortionate price for it – I am thinking of you Orogold and Vine Vera!). At least this one is only 20 dollars and not 150 like what Vine Vera wants to charge for theirs…
I enjoy using it but doubt I will repurchase.
Will definitely have a look at this, thanks for the info Jane.
I have used Ginvera Marvel Gel for around the last 10 years, after reading rave recommendations on online forums. I rarely re-purchase products, but I would never be without my Marvel Gel, I buy it in 3’s on Ebay. Other exfoliators, for me, can’t match up at all. I use a retinol product all of the time & I never get any stinging or reaction from the Ginvera. However, I’ve tried using other exfoliators, including Liz Earle & my skin stings like mad with them.
I really didn’t realise there was doubt over whether it works. My skin is always like velvet after I’ve used it & if I miss a session out, the next time I get extra pilling (?).
Will try this one as I am intrigued that there’s a similar product to Marvel Gel.
Thanks again.
According to Amazon it contains 90% revitalised hydrogen water! (Cue Toy Story aliens Ooooh)
I heard about this years ago thanks to Bubz Beauty, but I was never able to find any online other than on eBay and I felt iffy about buying it back in the day.
I think I’m going to order some from Amazon though because this product sounds amazing still to this day. ^_^
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Hi,
I bought mine directly from the producer, their web page is: http://www.toyojapan.net/en/info/order_2.html
I was also sent some nice samples.:-)
Hope that helps!
Regards,
Ani