Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream Review

Oct 12

Written By Tiana

If you're looking for the perfect go-to, sensitive-skin friendly, day or night cream for dry skin, this is it. Keep reading for this in-depth Etude House Soon Jung 2X Barrier Intensive Cream review!

Spoiler alert: this has made it to my all-time favorites list!

Quick facts:

Makeup Alley Rating: 5/5 out of 3 reviews

Formulation: Cruelty-free, mineral oil-free, free of color additives, synthetic perfume, parabens, harsh alcohols, common allergens, silicones or sulfates

Potential irritants: Cetearyl Alcohol is a very commonly used fatty alcohol ingredient in moisturizers, however, may also be an irritant to very sensitive skin types (suggest to patch test or simply avoid it if you're allergic)

Texture: The texture of this intensive cream is actually not as thick as you'd imagine for an intensive cream. It has a pleasant viscosity to it that is very emollient and spreadable. If you're using it for daytime, you'll have to wait a few minutes for it to sink in more before makeup application.

Scent: Fragrance-free

Price: $17 USD on Amazon

Note for Packaging (instructions in images below): After opening the flip cap, you need to twist the opening, then squeeze out the cream. When you are done, twist back the opening and put the cap back on. This is meant to keep the cream airtight and to avoid spoilage/bacteria getting into the product.

Main pros: It is a gentle but very moisturizing cream that has a great texture. It makes for a great last step to seal in serums/treatments. I've had no irritation using this and usually pair it overtop my BHA toner in the wintertime. Everything from the formulation to the twist cap packaging is so well thought out! It's my new HG.

Cons: It doesn't sink into the skin right away and leaves the skin slightly tacky. Personally, this is really not a big con at all since it's meant to be more moisture-intensive. I would give this some extra time in the morning to settle in before makeup or use a lighter moisturizer in the AM altogether.

About the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

The Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream uses 93% naturally derived ingredients and as few ingredients as possible to balance, hydrate, and soothe skin. It has been tested to be non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores), and hypoallergenic.

It's suited for irritated skin, sensitive skin, or 'weak/fragile skin', but I find even for normal skin/dry skin this is perfect! I mostly use this as a basic, regular moisturizer, and then for days that my skin is feeling more irritated or need to be extra delicate with skincare, I'll use the La Roche Posay Toleriane moisturizer mentioned in my all time favourites list here.

etude house soon jung 2x barrier cream review swatch

Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream ingredients

Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Potassium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Edta

etudehouse.com

Key ingredients for this product:

Panthenol, a skin-benefiting ingredient closely related to Vitamin B5, delivers deep hydration

Madecassoside, derived from Centella Asiatica, repairs skin damage

Sunflower seed oil and shea butter combine to nourish skin and moisturize

What's special about this formulation is that it has a lower pH, similar to that of healthy skin, so it helps to strengthen the skin barrier. It's also awesome to see that it's free of potential irritants like fragrance, artificial color, and parabens.

More info on how to read ingredient labels here!

Is Soon Jung 2x barrier cream oil-free?

No, it contains Sunflower Seed Oil and leaves the skin feeling a little tacky upon application. It is best suited for normal/dry skin types as oily skin types may not enjoy the thicker and more emollient texture for this.

If you have oily skin, I would suggest trying the CeraVe PM lotion (review here).

Is Soon Jung barrier cream good?

The Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream is one of the best go-to moisturizers I've ever tried (I have combo skin). It's got a simple, clean ingredient list and is not irritating or comedogenic.

How to use:

After cleansing, toning and using treatment products, apply a generous amount of cream over your face and neck as the last step to your routine (SPF goes over it if it's your daytime routine).

How to open Soon Jung Barrier Cream:

To dispense, open cap and twist the top mechanism until the mid-piece kind of pops up. Then squeeze to dispense. Twist back then close cap when you're done. This keeps the product fresher for longer!