Truth to tell I have little confidence in the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream and Confidence in A Cleanser

Sometimes, you love a product so much you want to tell the world about it. Sometimes, you hate it so much, you want to tell the world about it.

But sometimes, you come across a product that you just feel so ambivalent about, that you don’t know if you want to tell the world about it.

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Ladies and Gents, meet the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream and the Confidence in a Cleanser. I haven’t felt so ambivalent about a product in a long time 😛

I figured however, that I would tell you about this, despite my ambivalence, because a few people had recently asked me about it, and whether I felt it was worth using or buying.

My answer was, in a nutshell, “It’s OK OK only” with a horizontal waggle of the hand LOL 😀

It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream – RM193 | US$48 for 60ml

The It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream erm… cream moisturizer comes in a generous 60ml sized tub. It is a very generous size, as moisturizers usually come in 50ml tubs.

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What catches the attention of many is the fact that It Cosmetics says that they developed this line with plastic surgeons. Does the participation of doctors automatically lend credence to the product or brand?

I personally don’t pay it much mind. From my experience, and based on my preferences, plastic surgeons or dermatologists or even chemists can peep at ingredients and tell you how wonderful or not they are or how it can benefit you. But what many won’t tell you is how elegant the formulation or texture is.

While it is claimed that the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream contains what they call a “proprietary Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate™” which combines collagen and hyaluronic acid to plump fine lines and wrinkles, and niacin, peptides, a super ceramide complex and other high-performance ingredients activated upon contact to immerse skin in moisture, smooth texture, enhance firmness, and reduce the look of pores and discoloration, I don’t lay a lot of score by it.

I find the texture inelegant

The reason is this – I personally find the formula and texture inelegant.

I don’t mind that it is a little thick. In fact, I’m happy when creams are thicker, because I like how it feels on my drier skin type. What I dislike about the texture of the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream is the heavy silicone feel.

There is a lot of slip to the cream, which reminds me a lot of a hair mask or hair conditioner. If you have used products like that, you will understand what I mean, by that slippery, thick feeling as you rub it between your fingers.

When I come across a cream like this, I usually stay away, because it makes me feel like my skin is being covered in clingfilm. It’s a little extreme, but I am sensitive to textures like this, as I abhor it. For this reason, you don’t see me using many department store brands, because of this very texture.

It is for this reason also that when it comes to moisturizer, I prefer going for the newer brands or green beauty brands. I prefer the texture, and in many newer brands, I find that while they may include silicone in their creams, it isn’t there in such great quantities that the cream feels like hair conditioner.

If you peep at the ingredient list, it appears that the first 25 ingredients are a mixture of silicone and humectants. I am no expert at reading ingredient lists, but it troubles me when they claim to have a “Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate™ ” but its ingredients don’t appear till you’re halfway down the list.

It isn’t particularly hydrating or moisturizing

I also don’t find the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cream particularly hydrating or moisturizing. I have been using it both day and night, and really, it doesn’t quite matter to me.

With the 13 dot technique, it ends up feeling a little more comfortable. But otherwise, despite the thick texture, I find it just sits on my skin doing nothing much.

While it is claimed that this is suitable for all skin types, I’d disagree. I’d go so far as to say that this might suit those with slightly dry skin. Oily skin and combination skin may find it a little heavy. Those with drier skin might find it insufficient.

In fact, on days when I do use it, I wake up with my skin feeling a little under par. This, despite using my moisture sandwich technique. I even layer facial oils underneath, and it still feels like it’s not doing anything.

For the price you pay, I’d say it isn’t worth the money. Do note that It Cosmetics is owned by the L’Oreal Group, so you can likely get very similar textures and ingredients in something from L’Oreal Paris, at the pharmacy.

I’m not saying it’s bad. But in the time I’ve been using this, it’s just felt like lemon scented cling film on my skin, that helps seal in my serums and oils, but does not do much else. And for this reason, I don’t think it worth the money you pay for it.

I’d much rather get something from organic brand Melvita or REN Skincare, or a non-mainstream, department store brand that does not depend heavily on silicones for that slick, satin, smooth feeling that people love, and I abhor 😛

Will I use it up? I may or I may not. To be honest, I’ve been using this for a while, since it was sent to me by the brand, but can’t seem to bring myself to use it for a few days at a stretch. It bores me, the texture doesn’t sit well with me, and I don’t like the faux citrus scent. But I know of people who love it, so I suppose your mileage will vary!

It feels like It Cosmetics has just thrown a whole bunch of ingredients, everything that is said to be “good” for antiaging, just so they can tout it, without caring really how it feels on the skin. Perhaps doctors like this, I wouldn’t know. I know I don’t 😛

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearyl Behenate, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyethylene, Peg/Ppg-20/15 Dimethicone, Phenyl Methicone, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyquaternium-51, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Peg-150 Distearate, Ceramide Ap, Glycosphingolipids, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Meadowfoam Estolide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Polysorbate 20, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Polysorbate 60, Aleuritic Acid, Yeast Extract, Glycoproteins, Betaine, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ceramide Np, Allantoin, Colloidal Oatmeal, Retinyl Retinoate, Polylactic Acid, Canola Oil, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Water, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Ceteareth-20, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glucose, Stearyl Stearate, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caramel, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene, Linalool

PROS:
Heavier texture helps those with drier skin ease into these sort of creams
Moisturises skin (just not as well as I like)
Large tub of product

CONS:
Heavy silicone feel that leaves skin feeling satin smooth and silky
Doesn’t moisturise my skin well enough
Faux citrus scent

PRICE: RM193 | US$48 for 60ml

WHERE TO BUY: Sephora, Beautylish, Ulta, Selfridges, Cult Beauty

It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cleanser – RM126 | US$28 for 148ml

Long story short, it foams and I find it drying. So it’s not something I reach for in the shower. Fin.

LOL! 😀

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To be fair to the It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser, it is a sulfate-free and soap-free formula, so it isn’t the sulfates that’s making my skin feel dry. It has a light lotion texture, that will foam up when you add water.

What is a little odd, is that It Cosmetics claim that the Confidence in A Cleanser is a cleanser and serum in one. Now, how does that work?

A serum works best when left ON your skin. A cleanser works best when washed OFF your skin. How they two can be merged is a mystery to me.

Perhaps what they’re trying to say is that because of their proprietory “Anti-aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate”, with its blend of anti-aging collagen, hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, and a super ceramide complex, it actually helps your skin even as it cleanses.

I however, pay very little mind to claims like this in a cleanser. For me, a cleanser should perform just one function – cleanse my skin properly, without drying it out. Everything else is nice, but secondary.

If a cleanser contains all these anti-aging properties, then I really should be leaving it on my face, not washing it off.

While it is also supposed to be good for dry skin, being soap-free and sulfate-free and therefore less drying, I don’t think so. My skin does feel tighter after using this. I must say that I regularly use cleansing cream type cleansers, or the occasional cleansing gel, all of which are very gentle and don’t dry my skin out.

When I do use the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cleanser, I use it as my second cleanse in the evening after a heavy cleansing balm like the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm, then run off to pile on my skincare for the evening. I can’t use this in the morning. I find it too harsh 😛

I personally think that (unlike the Confidence in A Cream), this Confidence in A Cleanser better serves those with a combination skin type.

I came across people who use the It Cosmetics Confidence in A Cleanser as a makeup remover. I personally won’t, because I believe in proper cleansing, but hey, you do you – just don’t complain later when your skin doesn’t thank you for it 😛

Ingredients: Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Arginine Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Water, Colloidal Oatmeal, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ceramide Np, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Glycosphingolipids, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Meadowfoam Estolide, Ceramide AP, Ethylhexyl Isonanoate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Steareth-20, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Ci 19140).

PROS:
Cleanses skin without overly drying it out

CONS:
I still find it drying on my skin

Leave the anti-aging ingredients for a serum not in a cleanser

PRICE: RM126 | US$28 for 148ml

WHERE TO BUY: Sephora, Ulta

Have you tried the It Cosmetics skincare? Do you like them?

Does it look like I’m just hating on these? LOL I don’t hate the brand. In fact, I love their makeup products, especially their CC Cream. But I’m not sold on their skincare, and have no intention or desire to try anymore of them. Have you tried it? Love it? Hate it? 😛

Paris B