When I saw Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream online, it struck me like lightning. A CICA cream from Purito? Yes, please! If you had followed me for a while, you would have known my crazy love for Centella serums, which I will review soon. I immediately carted this out when I saw it sold on Amazon*.
Some background: I have been working from home since the pandemic started, and I have noticed that my skin type has somewhat changed from super oily to combination skin. I asked around, and to my surprise, my friends who used to have combination skin now suffer from extremely dry skin. Can anyone relate to these pandemic skin changes?
My nose area is currently super dry, with itchiness and redness. And I started having random pimples here and there …
Purito Centella Cream, at a Glance:
Where to Buy the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream?
In the US, it’s available for roughly $16 and comes in a 1.7 fl. oz / 50 ml tube.
You can shop for Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream on Amazon* or choose other popular, trusted Asian websites: YesStyle* or StyleVana*.
The Purito Brand
Purito is a relatively new Korean-based company. They are a cruelty-free, vegan-certified, climate-neutral, certified sustainable brand that emphasizes the 10-Free Skincare Ingredient Philosophy: No parabens, ethanol, surfactants, artificial coloring, fragrance, triethanolamine, phthalein, triclosan, petrochemicals or benzoyl peroxide.
Purito takes pride in animal care by donating a part of its profit to the Best Friend Animal Society.
The company attempts to reduce its carbon footprint by minimizing cosmetic packaging. Their products are packaged in sustainable, earth-friendly materials. Purito donates another part of its profits to the Korean Federation For Environmental Movement.
Purito is a relatively inexpensive but effective brand, safe, non-irritating, and suitable for sensitive skin.
I like you, Purito.
Just as healthy plants grow from robust roots, the beauty glows from your inner green.
puritoen.com
*Affiliate links below.
Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream Claims
The Centella Asiatica Extract (50%) soothes and relieves the irritated skin keeping skin radiant and healthy. It contains Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, and Ceramide, which help strengthen the skin barrier preventing the evaporation of moisture inside the skin. This cream is gently absorbed deep into the skin to control the skin’s oil-water balance for a longer time.
puritoen.com
Again, I like it, Purito! No outrageous claims. Everything presented is plausible and accurate.
Who Is Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream For?
Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream is the unscented, essential oil-free version of the original CICA cream with green packaging. The star ingredient of this cream is Centella Asiatica Extract, which helps to soothe and relieve irritated skin, keeping skin radiant and healthy. It also has skin barrier-repairing ingredients such as Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, and Ceramide.
The product claims it is suitable for combination skin. I would recommend this for dry, normal, or combination skin types. Oily skin may use it in the dry winter season only.
Not sure what your skin type is? Please read our guide on Skin types & skin conditions.
As you can see, I have tested the pH for you guys. It has a pH of 6 ~ 6.8 and is weakly acidic, so it is safe to use on compromised skin barriers.
Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream Ingredients
Centella Asiatica Extract(50%), Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Behenic Acid, Betaine, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Carbomer, Adenosine, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Madecassic Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid.
Ingredients referred from the Purito Official Website
Herbs Humectant/Moisturizing Active Ferment
Ingredients Analysis
I don’t know where to start because the ingredient list seems too good.
Centella Asiatica Extract
This cream contains 50% Centella Asiatica Extract, the highest among all the Purito Centella products. Centella is a fantastic moisturizing and anti-inflammatory agent that is excellent for calming down any redness or irritation on the skin. It is my favorite ingredient to soothe, calm, and heal the skin. One really cannot go wrong with this.
Benefits of Centella Asiatica Guide
Asiaticoside is a Centella derivative that heals skin, improves the skin barrier, boosts elasticity in the skin, and, of course, calms the skin.
Asiatic acid is also a Centella Asiatica derivative that calms the skin and has anti-aging benefits for the skin.
Madecassic acid is a Centella Asiatica derivative that calms and heals the skin and helps fade PIE and PIH through skin regeneration.
Squalane
Squalane is a light and non-comedogenic oil that helps moisturize the skin without feeling heavy. This ingredient prevents the evaporation of moisture from the skin and soothes its texture. It is non-irritating, making it great for people with all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Glycerin
Good old trusty glycerin is often overlooked as an inexpensive or inelegant ingredient in skincare, but it is one of the best, most reliable humectants.
Glycerin is also probably the most well-known humectant. It:
- Hydrates. Glycerin is a very effective humectant, used in many moisturizers to increase skin hydration.
- Occurs naturally in your skin as part of its home-grown moisturizing system, the natural moisturizing factor (NMF).
- Strengthens skin barrier. Glycerin also keeps the skin’s lipids flexible, strengthening your skin barrier.
- Softens. Glycerin softens the skin so other hydrating ingredients can more easily penetrate the skin.
- Reduces TEWL. Glycerin helps slow down transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Like other humectants, it works by sitting in the top layers of your skin and attracting water from the air and the deeper layers, leaving your skin surface plump and hydrated, even when the weather is arid.
Guide on the Best Humectants in Skincare
Niacinamide
Niacinamide has been making a splash in the Western market over the last few years and has been splashing in Asian skincare for decades. This beauty powerhouse is the topical form of vitamin B3.
Several well-documented studies show that when used topically, niacinamide can:
- Strengthens the skin barrier by increasing ceramides and lipids and decreasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL);
- Improves the surface structure and smoothes out wrinkles;
- Boost hydration;
- Controls sebum production;
- Reduces acne;
- Calms redness and evens out red blotchiness;
- Improves skin texture;
- Lessens hyperpigmentation;
- Brightens sallowness of the skin;
Long story short, niacinamide does everything, and the good news is it is included in a low percentage, 2% strength, which is well tolerated by all skin types. To learn more, please read our Complete Guide on Niacinamide and How to Reduce Hyperpigmentation with Niacinamide.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a water-binding emollient with skin-restoring properties when used in high concentrations.
Mushroom Extract
The Mushroom Extract calms skin and helps in reducing breakouts. It also protects from and repairs UV photoaging.
Ceramides
Ceramides are a family of lipids that account for 50% of the skin barrier (by weight), so they’re essential, right? Ceramides are crucial to:
- Maintain the skin’s moisture levels;
- Protect skin from external irritants, making the skin more resilient;
- Help make skin more plump, juicy, radiant, and smooth;
- Make skin tolerate chemical exfoliation much better;
- skin is less likely to become irritated;
- because they prevent dehydration, ceramides are a great anti-aging ingredient;
- regulate the cell cycle and apoptosis (regulated cell death);
- beneficial for all skin types.
Guide on the Benefits of Ceramides for the Skin
Heralded as skincare heroes, ceramides can now be found in cleansers, toners, serums, masks, moisturizers, and even hand creams.
Broken your skin barrier? Fallen in love with ceramides? The muses from Garden of Muses have, too. Read the reviews to add more ceramides to your routine:
Toner: Thank You Farmer Miracle Age Repair Toner
Mist: Holika Holika Good Cera Super Ceramide Mist
Serum: Thank You Farmer True Water Deep Serum
Creams: Real Barrier Extreme Cream, Holika Holika Good Cera Super Ceramide Cream, Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
Sunscreen: Pyunkang Yul ATO Mild Sun Cream
Other Multitaskers
Sodium Hyaluronate and Beta-Glucan are humectants that help keep skin soft and well-hydrated.
Other notable ingredients include Phytosphingosine (a problematic name, lol) and Adenosine. These two are great for repairing the damaged skin barrier and treating acne due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Other moisturizing ingredients include Macadamia Seed Oil, Shea Butter, and Argan oil, which are rich in nourishing fatty acids.
Ingredients not included in Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream
To make it even better, this cream is free from alcohol, fragrance, and essential oil.
Note: Purito has removed their Witch Hazel Extract from their formulation for their newer version. This ingredient can be hit & miss for many.
Purito has also removed Vitamin E from its latest formulation.
Is the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream vegan?
Yes, it’s vegan and cruelty-free.
Packaging
Purito products are generally well-priced and easily accessible by everyone.
Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream comes in this beautiful, absolutely no plastic, clean and green cardboard packaging with the essential details about the product printed on the box. Inside is the white tube filled with Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide goodness.
Purito Centella Unscented Recovery cream comes in a simple tube packaging with a roll-on cap, which I love. I find this more hygienic than creams in a jar.
Expiry: Use within 12 months of opening.
Scent
This product has no scent as it is free from fragrance and essential oil.
Texture
I expected this cream to be very heavy and thick, but to my surprise, this cream is somewhere in between a thick cream and a gel. It spreads quickly on the skin. It’s not very greasy but not very light either. A little goes a long way; a tiny pea size is enough for anyone’s full-face application.
On application, it sinks in well, leaving skin soft and moisturized. It will give you a slight occlusive layer with minimal stickiness on top of your skin.
My Personal Experience with Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream
The performance of this cream is wow, my skin loves this cream! I am amazed by how calming, moisturizing, and comfortable it feels on my combo-acne-prone skin.
For reference, I live in Singapore. The weather here is hot and humid.
The dry patches on my nose and skin tightness are all gone. The sebaceous filaments on my nose also seem smaller, and I haven’t spotted much irritation since then.
My pimples also seem to heal faster. This cream works on all kinds of acne marks, from red to brown ones; the lighter and superficial ones will fade sooner, and the deeper ones take time, but they do in almost two months or so!
When my tube got almost empty, this Purito Centella Recovery Cream* and the Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence worked fabulously in lightening my quite deep, stubborn acne mark in nearly 30-40 days with daily day and night usage! The mark is still there but faded.
How to use Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream?
Wondering where something like this fits into your skincare routine?
- Double Cleanse;
- Do your toners, essences, serums, ampoules;
- Squeeze some Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream;
- Massage gently on your face, neck, and decolletage;
- Apply another thick layer on dry patches and red areas.
- In the AM, don’t forget the sunscreen!
When do you apply?
Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream can be used daily; I apply it twice daily during my skincare routine.
Pros
- High concentration of Centella;
- Helps reduce the inflammation due to acne;
- Moisturizing;
- Fragrance-free;
- Essential oil-free;
- Cruelty-Free;
- Vegan friendly;
- Clean Beauty Product;
Cons
- It is not that effective on severe acne;
- It’s not fungal acne-safe.
It is to be noted that fatty acids are fantastic for the skin and are much needed for repairing damaged skin barriers, but if you have severe fungal acne issues, stay away from ingredients like carrier oils.
Conclusion
The Purito Centella Green Level Recovery Cream is a moisturizer that helps repair the damaged skin barrier, soothing and relieving irritated skin.
I’m delighted with my results. This moisturizer has helped tremendously with acne marks, hydration, and redness.
Will I repurchase Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream?
I enjoy this product and am almost certainly repurchasing it to use it twice daily.
Have you tried Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream, and did it work for you? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Rating 5/5
Shop for the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream
Shop other products from the Purito Centella Unscented line:
Eye cream: Purito Centella Unscented Eye Cream*
Toner: Purito Centella Unscented Toner*
Serum: Purito Centella Unscented Serum*
(*affiliate links)
Lastly, I was not paid for this review or received it as a gift.
As always, you do you; be kind to your skin and yourself! Remember that every person’s skin and skin type is different, so what might work for me might not work for you, and vice versa. So, before adding a new product to your skincare routine, it pays to do a little research first.
Before adding the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream to your skincare regimen, ensure you are not allergic to it or its ingredients. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical conditions or medications that may interact with the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream. Always do a patch test before applying the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream on your skin to avoid adverse reactions.
I am not a dermatologist or licensed aesthetician, but I have sufficient experience and knowledge I gained by testing multiple products and self-exploration. Unsure? Best to consult your dermatologist.
Happy skin experimenting, and don’t forget to try the new Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen*! Here’s to great skin in 2023!
Show Me Proof
- Ratz-Łyko A, Arct J, Pytkowska K. Moisturizing and Antiinflammatory Properties of Cosmetic Formulations Containing Centella asiatica Extract. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2016 Jan-Feb;78(1):27-33. doi: 10.4103/0250-474x.180247. PMID: 27168678; PMCID: PMC4852572.
- Lingrong Wen, Qing Gao, Chung-wah Ma, Yazhong Ge, Lijun You, Rui Hai Liu, Xiong Fu, Dong Liu. Effect of polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis on UV-induced photoaging.
Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 20, 2016, Pages 400-410, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.11.014. - Q Li, H Fang, E Dang, G Wang, The role of ceramides in skin homeostasis and inflammatory skin diseases, Journal of Dermatological Science, Volume 97, Issue 1, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2019.12.002.
- Coderch, L., López, O., de la Maza, A. et al. Ceramides and Skin Function. Am J Clin Dermatol 4, 107–129 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200304020-00004
- Uchida Y. Ceramide signaling in mammalian epidermis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014 Mar;1841(3):453-62. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2013.09.003. Epub 2013 Sep 19. PMID: 24055887; PMCID: PMC3943494.
- Cha, H. J., He, C., Zhao, H., Dong, Y., An, I., An, S.”Intercellular and intracellular functions of ceramides and their metabolites in skin (Review)“. International Journal of Molecular Medicine 38, no. 1 (2016): 16-22. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2016.2600
- Tanno, O., Y. Ota, N. Kitamura, T. Katsube, and S. Inoue. “Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrier.” British Journal of Dermatology 143, no. 3 (2000): 524-531.
- Snaidr, Victoria A., Diona L. Damian, and Gary M. Halliday. “Nicotinamide for photoprotection and skin cancer chemoprevention: A review of efficacy and safety.” Experimental dermatology 28 (2019): 15-22.
- Gehring, W. “Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 3, no. 2 (2004): 88-93.
- Soma, Yoshinao, Masato Kashima, Akiko Imaizumi, Hideto Takahama, Tamihiro Kawakami, and Masako Mizoguchi. “Moisturizing effects of topical nicotinamide on atopic dry skin.” International journal of dermatology 44, no. 3 (2005): 197-202.
- Draelos, Zoe Diana, Akira Matsubara, and Kenneth Smiles. “The effect of 2% niacinamide on facial sebum production.” Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 8, no. 2 (2006): 96-101.
- Shahmoradi, Zabiolah, Farib Iraji, Amir Hossein Siadat, and Azamosadat Ghorbaini. “Comparison of topical 5% nicotinamid gel versus 2% clindamycin gel in the treatment of the mild-moderate acne vulgaris: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial.” Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 18, no. 2 (2013): 115.
- Ungerstedt, J. S., M. Blombäck, and T. Söderström. “Nicotinamide is a potent inhibitor of proinflammatory cytokines.” Clinical & Experimental Immunology 131, no. 1 (2003): 48-52.
- Bissett, D. L., K. Miyamoto, P. Sun, J. Li, and C. A. Berge. “Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin 1.” International journal of cosmetic science 26, no. 5 (2004): 231-238.
- Stallings, Alison F., and Mary P. Lupo. “Practical uses of botanicals in skin care.” The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology 2, no. 1 (2009): 36.
- Fiume, Z. “Final report on the safety assessment of Lecithin and Hydrogenated Lecithin.” International journal of toxicology 20 (2001): 21-45.
