Mizon Returning Starfish Cream

Today I'm going to speak about my current obsession - Mizon Returning Starfish Cream. I bought this about 8 weeks ago and have been using it ever since - to be honest the only reason I bought this was because of the amazing tin, it's beautiful:

However, this rather fetching tin holds (what's turning out to be) my HG hydrating cream, it's completely bowled me over!!

Mizon Returning starfish cream contains a whopping 70% starfish extract as well as some other nice additions such as niacinamide. 

So why should you be putting starfish on your skin? There are very few studies on the effects of starfish at present, but it does appear to be a very promising cosmetic additive! Here's a summary of the current studies available (skip forward if you don't want a science lecture, and thanks goes to u/ecologista on reddit for gathering all these papers!). 

Starfish extract contains steroidal compounds which may play a part in the  anti microbial properties it exhibits against yeasts and fungi (maybe something to consider if you're using any fermented cosmetics). 

Another study suggested that it may also have skin whitening materials which could result in a reduction of melanogenesis by reduction of tyrosinase activity. Now that's a few big scientific words, let's break that down a little: Melanogenesis produces melanin, or skin pigmentation - the pigment in your skin, eyes and hair. Sun exposure causes these melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) to go a bit crazy, depositing a lot of protective melanin in the skin layers as a reaction to Ultraviolet light - this is what gives you a "tan". Other compounds can also trigger melanogenesis such as metabolic disorders, Vitamin D and retinods..but that's a lesson for another day.

Other studies found that like snail filtrate (yeah remember the snails?) starfish extract accelerated wound healing and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects (all good things if you're suffering from acne scarring).

Now none of these studies were conducted on humans and a variety of different starfish types were used - so don't take these claims as gospel, these are potential effects and further studies will have to be conducted to prove their efficacy on humans!

Now back to the cream!

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream, available from RoseRoseShop: ~£12.50 it's out of stock at the moment (free p&p) TesterKorea: £16.80 CultBeauty: £25 (err nope)

Ingredients: 

Water, Hydrolyzed Starfish Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Isododecane, Triethylhexanoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Tropolone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Adenosine, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Beta Glucan, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Pca, Betain, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Disodium Edta, Fragrance

There are a few known acne triggers including Oenothera Biennis Oil (evening primrose oil), so do check the ingredients through cosdna to be sure this product is suitable for you. 

Texture: Its a firm jelly like texture when you first scoop it out from the tin (with the handy spatula provided) when I first scooped some out my initial thoughts were "How is this even going to spread on my face, it's so solid!" But rub it a bit between your fingers and you'll notice that it becomes a lot less viscous and it's then very easy to pat on to your skin. 

Scent: Light floral scent - I don't usually like fragrance in my cosmetics but considering the ingredients in this cream, a floral scent was extremely welcome! It's very subtle and disappears once the cream sinks in. 

Effects: now you don't need much, just a pea sized amount to achieve the most wonderful hydration! I put this on at night over Mizon All in One Snail Cream, just on my cheeks and just before my face oil and WOW I'm waking up with the bounciest, plumpest skin I've ever had. 

I can't really comment on the "whitening" effects as I'm using a few different products containing niacinamide and AHAs, but in combination my routine has dramatically faded the pesky freckles on my cheeks left over from lax SPF application during the summer. 

Rebuy: Yes!! 

Disclaimer: I can't be held responsible for how much you end up stroking your face after applying this cream.