rephr skincare

Where I got it

I got to know about rephr from a Youtube video on their brushes previously and about their concept store. The idea of a concept store is where you purchase their products for a heavy discount but you must provide them honest feedback within a period of time. From time to time, they also offer product testing opportunities, product development discussions, and your personal secret shop. Head to their website and have a look for yourself. Their products are high quality and really well designed.

Besides brushes and other makeup tools, they also have a couple of skincare products. I have previously purchased their Hydration Cream 1.0 which I have used a couple of times (now they have reformulated to v2.0). Every time I try to order their skincare products, they are sold out. So when their skincare products were in stock, I went straight for it and checked out. The Gentle Cleanser is $17 (with pump), and $13 for the refill. The Rebalancing essence is $19 (with pump), and $15 for the refill. Hydration cream is $13. They also have Intense Hydration Cream 1.0 for $13 which I did not purchase. Shipping was free when your order was over $50. They also offer free gifts if your purchase is over another amount.

What I got

Gentle Cleanser 1.0 (250ml). Our gentle cleanser is a light-foaming gel ready for everyday use. formulated with a slightly acidic formula (pH 4.5) to maintain the skin’s oil and water balance while washing away excess oil, direct, and skin waste.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Aloe Vera Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Sodium Chloride, Hyaluronic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Rebalancing Essence 1.0 (250ml). A treatment for daily use that helps prepare your skin for rich moisturization. The rebalance essence 1.0 has been formulated to restore the balance of your skin’s biome caused by external elements, replenish moisture in the skin, and regulate excess sebum.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Betaine, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Madecassoside, Sodium Phytate, Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Octanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol

Hydration Cream 1.0 (100ml). A hydration cream for makeup lovers. this new & improved moisturizer retains the same makeup friendly texture with a boost in hydration power for the winter season.

Ingredients: Water. Butylene Glycol. Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol. Cyclohexasiloxane. 12-Hexanediol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Panthenol, Dicaprylyi Carbonate, Polyacrylate-13, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethy/ Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyidimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methyiglucose Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Capryly/ Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Palmitic Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexy|glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phytate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract. Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate

How I find it

The Gentle Cleanser comes in a beautiful matte black metal bottle with a separate pump. The design of the bottle and pump is just so sleek and chic I love it! The cleanser contains 15% glycerin which you can expect to be very hydrating and gentle on the skin. There is a surfactant blend to provide effective cleansing, green tea extract to provide antioxidant protection, aloe vera to soothe and hydrate the skin, and meadowfoam seed oil to provide moisture.

The cleanser has a liquid gel-like consistency and forms a very very light lather if you try. It is fragrance-free but does have a clean scent from the ingredients. It is a great morning cleanse or a second cleanse as it does not break down and remove makeup. One pump is enough for the entire face as it spreads easily when in contact with water and it is so gentle on the skin. Rinses off easily and leaves my skin feeling clean, but not dry and tight.

After cleansing, I would use one pump of the Rebalancing essence and apply it all over my face. The essence is very lightweight, almost watery so it is absorbed really easily. The milky-white essence contains glycerin to hydrate and moisturise, niacinamide to brighten and balance the skin, meadowfoam seed oil, panthenol, betaine, and allantoin to provide hydration and moisture to the skin and lock it in. This is a great layering product after cleansing and before your actives. I have been using this before my AHA/BHA serum or vitamin C serums to provide some hydration and I noticed that my skin is in no hurry for a moisturiser after this. The lightweight hydration and moisture this gives are very good.

After the essence and any other serums I like to add, I would seal everything in with the Hydration Cream. This is V1.0 which was purchased in late 2022 (nearly 1 year ago), the latest version now is V2.0. If I love this cream, I will give V2.0 a go next time I see it available. Rephr has created two creams – this one and the intense one which is more suitable for dry skin types. I have combination-oily skin, so I decided to give this one a try. It has a gel-cream-like texture which I was not expecting. It is really easy to spread and leaves my skin looking moist and plump.

The hydration cream contains 5% niacinamide to brighten and balance the skin, dimethicone moisturises the skin and temporarily smooths skin texture, Centella Asiatica to calm and soothe the skin, and meadowfoam seed oil to moisturise the skin. Also, an 8-hyaluronic acid complex provides even more hydration. My skin feels hydrated with a slight dewiness. There is no scent to this cream whatsoever and my SPF glides on without any issues of pilling.

I see that the V2.0 has added squalane and Hyalocta complex (looks like it is the same 8-hyaluronic acid complex?), and some of the ingredients in the INCI list rearranged. It must’ve been an improved formula after feedback from customers.

Overall

First impression, I love the packaging and I love the overall feel of the product – from texture to the scent, to the application and immediate feeling on the skin. The cleanser is gentle but doesn’t leave a film on the skin. I can use this twice a day without any dryness and at $13 for refill, this is great value! The essence was also something that I am really fond of. The convenient pump dispenser is great for a liquid product as such. The milky, watery consistency reminds me of the Laneige Creamy Skin Refiner which is also an amazing product. This one hydrates without adding weight to the skin, you can add this to an existing routine or be part of a simple hydrating routine. Perfect price point as well. Lastly, the texture of the hydrating cream was a pleasant surprise to me – the gel-cream texture glides onto my skin and spreads so easily.

After using these products for 4 weeks, I have come to the conclusion that these products are great on their own or as a very simple routine if you do not have a lot of skincare concerns except for dehydration or dryness. If you have other skin concerns, you will need other products in your routine. Personally, I would easily keep using this cleanser as it is gentle and can be used day or night. The essence I would still continue to use and repurchase simply because I love the texture and the way it feels on my skin, but for the hydrating cream, it becomes something that I would probably reach for less because I usually go for a moisturiser with retinol or example, or one with vitamin C, etc. I need a product with more function than hydration and moisture.

Have you tried any of rephr’s skincare products or signed up for their concept store? You won’t regret it!