|REVIEW| April 22 Rose Energy Cream 玫瑰能量霜 Review (Special Deal!)

I'M SO TROUBLED!

If you've followed me for some time now, then you might know that I'm not one who loves to put on makeup. For some unknown reason, I'm always worried that makeup is going to clog my pores and give me acnes. (My brain: No, it's just because you're lazy!) *Err, did you hear anyone talking? No? I didn't either, so let's move on.* But I do need to put on makeup for some occasions such as a wedding dinners and interviews to look less tired (thanks to me going to bed at the wee hours of the morning) and more presentable (my acnes love to choose those times to pop up!). How do I convince myself to put on makeup??? 😭

April 22 Rose Energy Cream (RM249 for 40ML)

SKINCARE WITH MAKEUP

NOW we're talking. I simply cannot accept the fact of putting on makeup just for the sake of putting on makeup. If that makes any sense, haha! My makeup has to be something beneficial to my skin and does not smother the little pores whose existence I'm slowly coming to terms with. There comes the April 22 Rose Energy Cream (also known as 玫瑰能量霜 in Mandarin). I bet you can't tell what it can do from its name other than it can moisturise our skin and has skincare benefits. Wanna take a guess?

The bottle looks incredibly sturdy and luxurious. This is how a RM249 product should look and feel!

A 5-IN-1 FORMULATION

That's how cool it is. It's even cooler than my newest babe, the Klairs Mochi BB Cushion Pact! Let me list it all out for you. It has sunscreen protection with SPF 30 and PA++, the minimum requirement I set for myself when buying sunscreen! It can also act as a primer, a concealer (with low coverage though), a moisturiser (which I revealed above) and as a skin-repairing cream! I'm thinking you might've already guessed the last one too, since the words 'Rose Energy' are staring at you in the face right there 👆🏼.

It comes with a pump so it's very hygienic.

How much one pump gives me.

Trying it on my hand: Without flash, applied only on the lower part, this is five minutes after application.

Trying it on my hand: With flash, applied only on the lower part, this is five minutes after application.

WHAT IT DID TO MY BROWS

One huge difference I noticed when using the cream is how easy it was to get my eyebrows filled in. I usually have a hard time getting the pigment of the eyebrow pencil (maybe I should buy a new one haha) to show up on my brow area. But it's no longer a problem if I fill 'em in after applying the cream. I was blown away when I saw for myself how much it showed up on my brows! 😱 Note: it's not a bad thing at all. I've never done my brows in less than 1 minute before and this helped me break the record LOL! Maybe that's why Tati always emphasises that primer is a must when doing makeup. 🤔

Back of the box that keeps the cream and the brush. Heh it looks a bit dented there LOL.

INGREDIENT LIST

(Skincarisma)

Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Rose Extract, Rosa SPP (Rose Hip) Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Valine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, *PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane), Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Ethyl Alcohol, Glutamic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Proline, ß-glucanase, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid. 

Note: Bolded are the star ingredients in the product whereas underlined are those flagged as 3 & above under 'Safety index'. Safety index ranges from 1-9 and the lower the number means the less hazardous. Those with asterisks (*) are more likely to cause acne than those without.

By reading the list, I believe some of you already can recognise a few ingredients famous for their roles in anti-ageing products and their ability in reviving dull skin. If you have not, it's okay because I've bolded them in the list above. Let's go through them one by one!

Hyaluronic acid
This one here is a popular ingredient in moisturising masks and creams. It can bind moisture to our skin by revitalising the outer layers so that they feel softer, smoother and radiantly hydrated. The cream feels intensely moisturising when I put it on. Other than my T-zone, every other part of my face is dry and sometimes flaky. I always dread using foundations because some of the formulae can be really drying and cause my skin to flake off. This one doesn't do that. My skin also feels much smoother, looks much more alive and glowy.

The finish is semi-matte under natural light. Coverage is low but my skin is smooth as silk, soft as satin.

But when using camera with flash, the finish is more towards the dewy end. This is a picture taken during the Luxella Launch Party.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
If you read my event coverage on Jeunesse's product launch, you may have seen the name EGF before. It is a protein that stimulates cell growth and the scientists have won Nobel Prize discovering this protein. Its regenerating properties have been utilised in the Rose Energy Cream to help produce collagens, minimise pores, prevent wrinkles and accelerate tissue repair. I have to admit, my nose and the areas around it do seem less porous after using the cream. This is a good sign!

Rose Extract & Rosa SPP (Rose Hip) Oil
Not only do they make the products smell good (did you realise there's no added fragrance in April 22's Rose Energy Cream?) they are also extremely beneficial to the skin. Both of these are good anti-oxidants and astringents. They can tighten pores and help retain moisture, adding to the strength of this cream as a moisturiser. Rose extract itself also has the capability to soothe and relieve the skin as well as promote skin metabolism. No wonder there are so many rose-infused products now on the market!

p.s. This cream smells like heaven, nothing like your typical foundation! It's a sweet floral scent that lingers for a while and slowly fades off once your nose gets used to it.

Sodium Lactate
I skipped Titanium Dioxide because I've explained it before when I reviewed Klairs Mid-Day Blue Sun Lotion. About Sodium Lactate, this is my second time seeing it in a beauty product after the COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. This is used to help increase the efficacy of the hydrating ingredients above and prevent the formation of wrinkles as well as reduce the look of fine lines. In other words, it can boost the moisture of our skin to give a plump and younger look.

NO PIMPLES BUT... ONLY ONE SHADE?

The cream claims to be suitable for all skin types, especially acne-prone skin and sensitive skin. So far it's faring well on my sensitive skin, giving me no pimples and no redness. But please do a patch test before you start using it to be sure! Looking at the picture below, it looks really fair on my skin. I'm a N23, and this cream looks like a C21 right upon application! At first I was so upset but when I checked back after 10 minutes, my skin looked normal again (pictures below). Then I read somewhere that this cream contains a new skin-matching technology that helps it "blend" into our skin tone after 5 to 10 mins of application. That's freaking awesome! 😃

Only having the cream on the left. It looks whiter than my skin tone, doesn't it?

Within 10 minutes, the colour slowly adjusted to match my darker skin tone.

IT COMES WITH AN ARTIS DUPE
I've been dreaming of owning one set of Artis Brushes myself for some time now so I literally squealed in happiness when I saw the brush this cream came with. You don't have to buy it separately (I'd hate them so much if that's the case). It comes with the cream when you purchase it at RM249, so you get a brush for FREE! I tried using both the brush and my It's My Magic Sponge (which I got as a free gift from Althea during promotion) to "paint" the two halves of my face to see how good the brush is.

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 Look at the brush head, it's so dense. The bristles are very soft on the skin, almost feeling like I'm using a sponge.

I like how the brush doesn't leave streak marks on my face. Although please make sure you wash it maybe once a week (if you use it every day) because the dried leftover cream can cause the brush to start going streaky and for hygienic purposes!

A little streaky if I don't wash mine after using it for a few times hehe.

Left is using the brush while right is using the sponge, the brush blended the cream really well, but I personally prefer using the sponge as it produces a more natural look in my opinion.

Five hours after using the cream. A little shinier than I like, but it didn't oxidise and the cream didn't budge at all. But if I have a meal and wipe my mouth area after, it gets wiped away too.

YOU WON'T NEED MAKEUP REMOVER
Since this Rose Energy Cream is a skincare product that gives a makeup effect, you don't need to remove it with a makeup remover at the end of the day. Just do your normal double cleanse (oil + foam/cleansing water) during your evening routine and that shall take care of it. That's how I do it and so far it has not given me any issue.

My cleansing oil at work.

After I cleansed with Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil.

I went over with Bioderma Sensibio H2O just to be safe.

Some leftover was picked up

VALUE FOR MONEY?

Now it's time to talk about the price. RM249 is pretty up there for a normal foundation but this is no normal. It is a skincare product with makeup effect which can feed my hungry skin and keep me away from foundations that do nothing other than drying my skin and clogging my pores. More like a combination of my essence, moisturiser and foundation. So instead of buying three products, I need only fork out maybe a third of the usual amount I'd spend to buy those three to buy one product. It also cuts down the skincare steps in my morning routine which helps me save a lot of time as well!

IT HELPS CLEAR MY SKIN
 I have a pretty sensitive combination skin that sends me running the other way every time I sense a need to use foundation. Not that I'll have anywhere to run to, but figuratively, you know? I especially hate it when I get pimples before an important event. All my old foundation did was worsen the situation and became the pimples' accomplice! Grr. The frustration! But I'm glad I discovered this one. Not only it doesn't worsen the situation, it speeds up the recovery of my skin after some serious pimple attack.

FINAL NOTE
So if you're looking to replace that faulty old foundation of yours or just want to simplify your morning routine, I'd highly recommend this one, if you ask me. If used every day, I think 40ml can last around three months? That means each day comes down to only RM2.70, not very cheap, but definitely affordable. I believe it is worth an investment because some foundations out there already cost the same even though they don't offer any skincare benefits like this one!

Where to get April 22 Rose Energy Cream:

Website

Facebook

Authorize Dealer

All selling at RM249.

You will get one piece of April 22 Skin Energy Revitalising Mask (check out the picture below, it is a silk mask!) for FREE if you mention my name "Yan Ru" upon purchase.

From Website

 Look at the words on the right highlighted in pink (right next to Login), it means "contact us" in Mandarin, click that after you've purchased the cream.

In the box, write down your message, mention my name "Yan Ru" to redeem your free mask.

From Facebook or Authorised Dealer
Just mention my name "Yan Ru" to them when you're buying the cream and you'll get your free mask!

Note: Terms and conditions apply and I do not guarantee the availability of the masks. Please double check with the seller upon purchase to avoid disappointment.

This mask contains high level of EGF, Hyaluronic acid, β-glucan, Lonicera Japonica extract, combined with extremely small molecules of hydrating and repairing essence.

It uses 384 silk mask that enhances the absorption of the mask essence which is imported from Japan!

Of course, if you love the silk mask, you can get more for yourself too. They come in boxes and each box contains five pieces and it costs RM79. So it comes down to RM15.80 per piece. Well, it's a silk mask after all!

Thank you for reading, see you in the next post!

I post new contents on skincare every Tuesday and Friday. Follow me on Bloglovin' so you won't miss it when my next review is up!

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The products were sent to me for review purposes and the review is sponsored by April 22. As usual, the review is 100% my personal opinion of the product after personally trying it out. Please make sure you consult whoever is selling you the product and ask for samples if you can! Read my disclaimer here.