HI-REVIEW: Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream💦

by Cindy Lu

Hi Beauties!

Anyone who has even the SLIGHTEST interest in K-Beauty would know that Etude House is a household name in this industry. Especially internationally, it has gained massive popularity for their cute and affordable makeup products!

But today, we’ll be taking a look into their skincare products, namely the Soonjung range designed for sensitive skin! The Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream was created with care, being mindful of the number and type of ingredients in the product. It also boasts…

“Lightweight moisturising cream uses gentle ingredients to keep your skin balanced and hydrated…Ingredients will nourish your skin with vitamins, thus protecting it from further damage caused by free radicals and UV exposure”

But which ingredients will promise you these effects? How does it feel on the skin? I will be diving in deeper into this product so you can find out whether this product is the one for you! 😊

Price: $25NZD

Quantity: 60mL / 2.02 oz

Product Features:

Alcohol Free | Cruelty Free  | Vegan | Fragrance Free

*Note: None of the ingredients nor Etude House suggest animal testing or animal products. But I’m pretty sure that Etude House is sold in China, which has compulsory animal testing for all products. Although the brand themselves do not animal test in Korea/NZ, I think people who choose cruelty-free products for ethical reasons would not call this cruelty free.

The packaging of the cream is incredibly unique, it is my first time seeing a squeeze bottle packaged like this! It is super hygienic due to the innovative packaging, which does not dispense product unless you physically turn the tube, almost like a switch. This prevents any excess product from spilling out and accumulating at the nozzle.

Part of the sensitive-skin friendly product is the fact it has absolutely no fragrance! This can be a downside for some who appreciate their rose-scented creams but is totally an upside for those who have easily irritated skin. Another bonus to the sensitive skin team is the fact the cream has a low pH.

In terms of the texture and finish of the moisturizer, I would say this is more on the moderate to heavier feel as it hydrates quite deeply leaving the skin feeling nourished. However, in saying that, it applied and spread very easily due to its lightweight texture and doesn’t leave much of an oily/shiny finish as seen in the photos above!

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

Now, what makes this product so great?

Just from how short the list is, you can tell each ingredient was added for a specific purpose for nourishing skin. The simplistic formulation is a great start for those who have irritated skin, acne-prone skin, or even those with comedones.

Superstar ingredients that really make this formulation amazing include: Glycerin, Sunflower Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Panthenol and Madecassoside.

  • Glycerin and Panthenol are great humectant ingredients found in moisturizers. This means they are effective in hydrating the skin by drawing moisture from the environment and promoting retention.

  • Madecassoside is a derivative of the famous Centella asiatica, an herbal ingredient which aides in reducing irritation to the skin and also regeneration of our skin barrier which it vital for anyone with sensitive/dry skin

  • Sunflower Seed oil and Shea butter are emollients, ingredients bringing nourishment to our skin whilst moisturizing and smoothing the appearance of rough, flaky skin.

TLDR: This cream contains simple but vitally important ingredients to hydrate and soothe our skin. It restores the water-oil balance in our skin and keeps the skin barrier healthy by repairing and strengthening - making it a lifesaving cream for those who have over-exfoliated or have dry-irritated skin.

Personal Opinion

The Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream is an amazing standalone moisturizer with no extra strings except to hydrate and balance the skin. It has been the perfect day cream for my combination-dry skin and hasn’t broken me out during this 1 month trying it out! I like to use this cream ESPECIALLY on a no-make up day as it moisturizes my skin well but doesn’t leave my skin oily looking.

The simplicity of the Soon Jung range is great for those with sensitive skin. However, in turn, this simple formulation will not promise textural and pigmentation improvements that creams including snail or niacinamide will provide.

For those with super DRY skin and have a simple skincare routine, this cream may not be enough hydration for you. But for those with oily skin this can be a really great night cream, especially if you have sensitive acne-prone skin on top of that! I would highly recommend this cream to beauties with normal/dry skin who worry about breaking out or getting rashes from extra fragrances and potent active ingredients 😊 Hope you all can give it a try!

Thanks for reading until this far

Stay Comfy 💖


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