when i was shopping at guardian singapore, somehow there's a promotion going on and i managed to buy certain amount of goods and got a goodie bag. inside there were several minis from brands that i haven't tried before (oh well, there's only cetaphil that i've tried, but everything else is new to me). anyway, i have tried several items, and there are only a few left, mostly moisturizer. so after finishing medicube one, it's time to try this neutrogena one. i've heard lots of good reviews about this moisturizer, so let's see.

this is the description from guardian singapore's website: helps quench dry skin to leave it looking smooth supple and hydrated. absorbs quickly like a gel but lasts long like a cream. hydrating hyaluronic acid acts a sponge for dry skin cells. moisturizing skin with up to 1000 times its weight in water. oil-free and non-comedogenic formula. wearable under makeup.
neutrogena hydro boost water gel with unique light-weighted fresh texture that can be instantly absorbed, proven to effectively lock in abundant hydration deep within your skin & continuously quench your skin's thirst throughout the day. tested with hydro boost regimen. dermatologist tested, oil free and non-comedogenic.

the packaging: since i got this in a goodie bag, it comes with several other items and a pouch. there's no box whatsoever. the packaging is just like the full version but in mini size. this one comes in 15 g. it comes in a blue plastic tub with screw cap. no other seal inside. there's a bit description at the back in english.

the tub

the scent: it smells fragrant, floral scent. but as usual, i have no idea what kind of scent it is.

back of the tub

the product: it's a bluish water gel that spreads easily and changes into watery traces when you spread it around. it's absorbed easily and leaves matte finish. it has several types of dimethicone, that's why it feels smooth after it's being absorbed. since it's a mini size, there's no spatula included. and i don't think they provide spatula for the full size either.

the bluish gel

the result: it's a lightweight moisturizer so i think it's suitable for day and night, though i would say that if you have dry skin, it won't be enough for you. somehow i'm not quite sure that it's hydrating enough. because it gives matte finish, i don't feel that it's enough, like it absorbs the hydration that i've put before it. but i don't experience any bad reaction from it, so i guess it works okay. it just doesn't give you the glow that i usually have after putting on lots of skincare.

i can see why it's popular. there are many people that think they have oily skin, but in fact they have dehydrated skin. and back then, matte finish is more popular than glowy finish, that's why i can see why it gets so popular. i can say that if you're okay with loads of dimethicone, then you should try it. neutrogena is a well known brands and it's quite affordable so i think it's okay to try them. i think they still sell mini size in guardian, so maybe you'd want to try mini first. i think it's more suitable as morning moisturizer since it gives matte finish that would be okay for daytime since most of you would put on some makeup. but it won't be enough for night time. as for me, i don't think i'll buy the full size since i usually use emulsion at daytime and i like something more glowing and a bit more occlusive at night.

honestly, when i went to japan, i had no intention of buying their serums or essences, mainly because i never heard most of them. i only wanted to buy kanebo white serum which i've heard from @ryanroar. but then i saw hadalabo essence. and i'm curious to see whether it's worth a try or not, since the toner from the same line is very famous. so let's check it out.

this is the description from their website: hadalabo gokujyun hyaluronic essence is a moisturizing serum that contains two hyaluronic acids. a essence that tightly confines fresh moisture. plenty of moisture, sticky and sticky skin. same weak acidity as healthy bare skin. hypoallergenic, non-scented, non-colored, mineral oil-free and alcohol-free, considering gentleness to the skin.
moisture component: acetyl hyaluronate Na (super hyaluronic acid), hyaluronate Na.

the box

description and ingredients list on the box

the packaging: it comes in a white box that has similar design as the toner from the same line. there's no english text at front, so make sure you google first and take a screenshot before diving in japan's drugstore. on one side of the box, you can see the picture of the essence bottle. there's description and probably ingredients list on the box as well, but everything is in japanese. it comes in 30 g which is the usual size for essence/serum. the bottle inside is really just as pictured outside. it's a silverish plastic bottle with white pump head covered in another white plastic cap. at first i thought it's opaque, but when i almost finish with it, i can see the remaining product inside when i put the bottle under the light.

another text on the box

the picture of the bottle on the box

the scent: i think it's scentless. most japanese products are scentless, so it's no wonder that this one too.

the bottle

description at the back

the product: the essence is a white gel-like essence. it's quite viscous when being pumped out of the bottle, but it turns watery and spreads easily. i use one and a half pump for my whole face and neck.

the pump head

the result: this is where it gets weird. i remember the toner was similar to this. when i finish put it all over my face, i will pat it. and then it gets sticky as i pat the essence in. which i think it is similar to the toner. i remembered it gets sticky a bit when you pat it then you need to keep patting it until it doesn't feel sticky anymore. honestly, even when i almost finish it, i can't say anything good about it. it does hydrate my skin for a bit, but it's not enough. when i put more, it feels siliconey, so i think it messes with my pores. and even after putting more, it doesn't add any more hydration to my skin. sometimes i think it makes my skin more dehydrated than before.

the essence on my hand

after patting it in

anyway, if you love the gokujyun toner and want to try the essence, you should try it as it's quite affordable. but it's not easy to get. you have to go to japan to get it, or buy it online but with higher price. i think even though it might be suitable for all skin type, i don't think it would be enough for dry skin type. even normal skin probably won't like it as it's not super hydrating. as for me, i definitely won't repurchase.