REVIEW: HERA Aquabolic & Waterin Lines

This review covers my favourite items from Hera:

• Hera Aquabolic Line: Moisturizing Water and Moisturizing Emulsion
• Hera Waterin Line: Gel Serum and Gel Cream

I use the Aquabolic products in conjunction with Hera's Waterin Gel Serum and Waterin Gel Cream - they are part of a full skin care routine. These products are my absolute favourite right now and represent a core part of my baseline skincare routine.  [You can read about my baseline skincare routine here]

I started using this after I received a sample kit in one of my W2Beauty purchases (this is not a sponsored post!).  At the time, I was at my wits' end with my troubled skin.  I was on a strict prescription skincare regimen that included a 20%(!) glycolic acid treatment, a prescription retinoid cream, and a hyperpigmentation/melasma cream with decapeptide-12.  Big words, I know, and BIG skin sensitivity resulted.

My skin was inflamed all the time; red, raw, sensitive, cracking, and painful.  I was suffering from terrible acne at the time on my cheeks hence the reason why my dermatologist had me use those pretty harsh treatments.  The skincare products I was using during that time were simply not working for me anymore and only served to irritate and sting my skin, but then.....HERA SAVED MY SKIN!!

I loved the sample kit so much I went out and bought the full sized items from Gmarket less than two weeks after starting the kit! 

Hera Aquabolic Moisturizing Water

According to the official Hera website in Korean (translated roughly):

Key Product Features

• Essential skin moisturizing essence ("drop-wise" moisturization).
• Cactus and Water Lily extracts that instantly moisturizes the skin.
• Apply right after cleansing and every layer of your  skin will feel soft and moist.
• Lecithin ingredients help the skin to form a structure to protect the skin's moisture environment.
• Contains a lamellar liquid crystal lecithin component which is known to form a structure to increase the water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum.
• Moist spreadability, fast absorption, deep penetrating.
• Strengthens the skin barrier with immediate hydration after cleansing. 
• Ensures a moist and smooth skin texture. 

How to use

After cleansing in the morning and evening, take an appropriate amount on the palm or cotton pad and spread evenly over the entire face. This can be used as a toner on its own or after your favourite toner/essence. Amount to use: 0.5 ml (diameter 2cm).

Other Instructions

Once opened, it's best to finish the product within a 12-month period.

Storage conditions 10 ~ 30ºC. Avoid direct sunlight.

Ingredients

Click photo to enlarge

Notable ingredients include:

• Camellia sinesis (green tea) leaf extract 
• Beta-glucan
• Opuntia coccinellifera
• Yeast amino acids 
• Acrylates/ C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer 
• Hydrolized millet 
• Adenosine 
• Sodium hyaluronate

Overall Impression 

The Aquabolic Moisturizing Water is best suited for normal to dry skin, but for my combination skin it has worked wonderfully too.  I'm prone to cystic acne, comedones, and clogged pores but this hasn't caused me any problems.  In fact, this has REDUCED the number of breakouts and skin problems for me. I attribute this to ingredients such as saline (antiseptic properties) and acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer (absorbs sebum from your skin while still providing moisturize).

In the winter time, the beta-glucan and the sodium hyaluronate has really saved my stressed and dry skin.  The yeast amino acids, adenosine, and green tea extract provide additional great nutrients for my skin, particularly the yeast since it helps the skin to strengthen itself and "bounce" back.

Hera Aquabolic Moisturizing Emulsion

According to the Hera Korean website (translated roughly):

Key Product Features:

• Essential lotion that delivers rich moisture and nutrients deep into the skin 
• Skin circulation recovery
• Powerful moisturizing effects of beta-glucan
• Beta-glucan (β-glucan) strengthens the skin with powerful moisturizing ingredients to protect your skin, even in a dry environment.
• 사르르 penetrating soft and smooth spreadability 
• Spreadability on the skin helps to straighten 사르르 penetrating soft skin texture

(Anyone know what 사르르 translates to?)

How to use

Morning and evening, after cleansing and the toner step, apply onto face gently in small circles to help absorption.  Amount to use: 0.4 ml (pumping diameter 1.5cm / 1-2 times).

Other Instructions

After opening, this should be used within 12 months.

Storage conditions 10 ~ 30ºC, Avoid direct sunlight.

Ingredients

Unfortunately, I do not have the translated ingredients - sorry guys! I'll update this once I am able to :) 

Overall Impressions

This product is best suited for Normal to Dry skin types, but with my oily/combination skin type in the winter, this does the job! I wouldn't say this emulsion is better than any other higher end Korean emulsion.  In fact, I think I actually prefer my sum37 Skin Softening Emulsion over this one! 

This is the one item in the entire Aquabolic and Waterin line that I think most people can do without and just use whatever emulsion they already have in their skincare stash.  

However, the beta-glucan is a great ingredient and if that's what you're looking for, then this is definitely worthwhile to at least sample and try before buying the full bottle. 

Hera Waterin Gel Serum

Key Features

Suitable for all skin types, the gel serum helps to refresh tired skin in dry conditions and hot climates.  Key ingredients such as pinitol and Biosaccharide Gum-1 help to moisturize the skin by ensuring the skin retains its water content. 

How to use

In the morning and evening, use the gel serum after the emulsion/lotion step. 

Apply product on the cheeks, forehead, and chine than apply evenly by spreading outward from the the face.  Amount to use: 0.3 ml (diameter 1.2 cm / 2 times).

Other Instructions

Product is good for 30 months from the date of manufacture. After opening, product should be used within 12 months. Storage conditions 10 ~ 30ºC, Avoid direct sunlight.

Ingredients

Click photo to enlarge

Notable Ingredients 

• Pinitol (herbal extract)
• Biosaccharide Gum-1 - moisturizer 
• Prunus Persica (Peach) Leaf extract

Overall Impressions

Honestly, I can't love this gel serum more.  I use this after my emulsion step and right before my moisturizer and it keeps my skin soft and supple all day long, even under make up which tends to make my skin very dry in the winter.  It is lightly fragranced, goes on smoothly, and absorbs quickly.  I don't feel like I'm wearing anything oily on my skin.  I can't recommend this enough for all skin types, especially for dry skin!! 

Hera Waterin Gel Cream 

Key Features

• Contains pinitol which is a herbal extract that helps to relieve dry skin. Water and moisture in the skin becomes balanced. 
• Beta-glucan helps to sooth and strengthen skin's barrier while also relieving tired skin.  
• Water reed and Poria Cocos extracts help to prevent moisture loss and strengthen the skin. 
• Refreshing gel texture that forms a "hydrogel network" on your skin to provide fast hydration and a plumping effect.

How to Use

In the morning and evening, place an appropriate amount of the gel cream into the palms of your hand and spread evenly across the face.  Tap lightly for absorption. 

Mixing or Layering

You can mix the gel cream with Hera's Intensive Age with a 3:1 ratio. You can also mix with Hera's cream foundation in a 1:2 ration for a moist finish. The gel cream can also be used as an eyeshadow primer if you spread a thin layer before applying powder shadows. Lastly, the gel cream can be used as the first step of your skincare for extra moisture retention.  

Amount used

0.5 ml (50 one coin size)

Ingredients

Click to photo enlarge

Other Instructions

Shelf life is 30 months from the date of manufacture.  After opening, it should be finished within 12 months. Storage conditions 10 ~ 30ºC, Avoid direct sunlight.

Overall Impressions

There is a significant amount of silicone compounds in this product, so that may cause some people to break out. However, I haven't broken out from using this at all and I have acne prone skin.  This product has really helped soothe my skin after AHA/BHA treatments and retinoic acid.  Overall, a great moisturizer and it smells great too! 

You can purchase these products at the following, trusted e-shops:
Koreadepart.com
W2Beauty.com** (free shipping)
Gmarket.com
Testerkorea.com

**If you are a first-time buyer at W2Beauty, you can enter in my sponsor code 25809502 when you register an account, and you'll receive a $5 discount towards your first order!