iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream: The K-Beauty Moisturizer You’ll Want on Your Shelf

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Throughout my years of skincare experimentation, I’ve tried a multitude of moisturizers. Most of them have come and go with minimal fanfare. Not because they were bad per se, but they simply didn’t wow me enough to cause me to repurchase. The iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream, on the other hand, is a different story.

On the outside, this is an unassuming moisturizer. It isn’t pricy (it’s quite affordable, actually) and it doesn’t have super flashy packaging. One might be inclined to think that it won’t wow you much, but that is where you would be wrong!

The magic of this formula lies in its ability to intensely calm your skin, including redness and inflammation from pesky pimples. Every time I use the Centella Calming Gel Cream, I consistently see a major difference in my skin’s appearance. I mentioned this product briefly in my post 5 Korean Skincare Products Under $20 That I Use Daily, but I love it so much that I had to give it a post of its own.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients that make this moisturizer so effective!

Ingredients

Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, C12-14 Pareth-12, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Brassica Napus (Canola) Extract, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Seed Extract, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract

Centella Asiatica leaf water makes up 70% of this moisturizer, which is good news for your skin! This ingredient is famous now for a reason: it is proven to be effective for calming sensitized or inflamed skin. Centella Asiatica contains triterpene compounds, namely asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside. These components are known to promote wound healing through the increase of type 1 collagen and the reduction of inflammatory reactions. (Source)

Butylene glycol is a solvent that helps ingredients penetrate the skin. It can have antimicrobial effects that help boost product preservation as well. Phenyl trimethicone is a silicone that adds to the texture of a product, giving it a silky feel. It’s an occlusive that helps your skin barrier retain moisture.

Arginine is an amino acid that acts as an antioxidant. It is a humectant that can increase the skin’s hydration, and it can help increase collagen production.

This moisturizer contains iUNIK’s 6 sprout formula comprised of broccoli extract, alfalfa extract, cabbage leaf extract, wheat germ extract, canola extract, and radish extract. The extracts come from sprouts that have been germinated for a week, at which point the nutrients the plant needs to start its life are condensed in the sprouts. These sprouts contain a plethora of vitamins and nutrients that help protect the skin.

Tea tree leaf extract calms sensitized skin, and its antibacterial and toning properties help prevent acne. Adenosine is an ingredient naturally found in the body, and in skincare, it works to fight off wrinkles.

Roobios extract is rich in flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Its soothing properties are helpful for sensitive skin! Licorice root extract brightens the skin and helps even the skin tone. It does this by inhibiting the production of an enzyme needed to create melanin.

You’ll notice there is a small amount of Bergamot fruit oil in the formulation. Why it’s included I’m not sure, as you can’t even detect it in the smell. Given that it’s such a small amount, its presence doesn’t bother me. But if you have skin that is sensitive to citrus essential oils, proceed with caution.

Usage

In the morning I put this on as the last step before my sunscreen, and in the evening I’ll either keep this as my last step or apply a thicker sleeping mask over it.

This product has a light, watery texture that smoothes into the skin beautifully. It’s not so watery that it leaves sticky residue; it has just enough creaminess that feels incredibly balanced on my skin.

Results

iUNIK’s Centella Calming Gel Cream is one of those products that vibes with my skin in the best way possible. I feel like it was made just for me!

This month I was having an onset of maskne after returning to work and wearing a mask 8+ hours a day. My skin was not loving that change. I had three pimples beginning to pop up on my cheeks, and something had to be done. I started using this moisturizer again, and after a few days, those pimples had all but disappeared!

The cooling effect of this is so calming for my skin, and it zaps inflammation dramatically. This moisturizer + retinol are the power duo that helps keep away pimples on my face. It works incredibly well with the Tea Tree Relief Serum (also from iUNIK) that I review on my Instagram here. I honestly can’t sing its praises enough!

I’m happy that iUNIK is a cruelty-free brand, and on top of that their products are accessibly priced. You can get the Centella Calming Gel Cream on YesStyle (where it’s often on sale) or Amazon for under $20.

iUNIK is one of those brands that confirms for me that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for quality skincare. This moisturizer works like no other that I’ve experienced, and you’re not paying an arm and a leg for those results. What more can you ask for in a product?

To shop the iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream at YesStyle, you can use my affiliate link. You can also use my code INTROVERT6 at checkout to get 2-5% off your purchase!