It’s a beauty myth that’s worth debunking repeatedly—just because you have oily skin doesn’t mean you should omit a moisturiser from your regimen. On the contrary, you should look for a good calming cream to deeply hydrate and balance out your sebum levels.
The FaceShop’s Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream is a great entry-level product that claims to do just that. Fortified with the sap of organic chia seed, the brand says the novel ingredient absorbs up to 10 times its weight in moisture, making it a great delivery system for slaking the thirst of parched skin. The lightweight, oil-free cream also contains cotton seed extract, a botanical that complements the chia seed in squelching shine and regulating sebum production.
Packaging-wise, the cream is ensconced in a reassuringly clinical jar topped with a cap in a soothing mint hue. We like that the cream comes with its own spatula, making application a hygienic, hands-free affair.
The cooling, jelly-like consistency of the product melts on contact with the skin for a matte finish—we suggest using this as a pre-makeup base to suppress sheen throughout the day.
We also experimented by slathering it on like a sleeping mask. Layering the cream over our usual night-time unguents seemed to seal in moisture for plumper skin the morning after, so we recommend doing this a day or two in advance as part of your prep for a big social event.
Finally, if going chemical-free is your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that this cream is stripped of seven potential irritants: parabens, benzopheone, artificial colouring, sulfate, mineral oil, animal-sourced ingredients and triethanolamine.
The FaceShop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream, $44.90 for 50ml, is available at all The FaceShop boutiques. For more information, visit thefaceshop.com.sg.