I’ve tested…a lot of creams over the years, but the one I keep coming back to as the absolute best, undisputed champ is SN Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer Goddess Cream, also known as SN T Cream or Yeoshin Cream in Korea. It’s a weird pick. The brand, SN (stands for Science & Nature), has slipped from the international kbeauty fan radar, for the most part, since Memebox stopped carrying this cream last year.
That’s not to say it doesn’t have fans. The cream has 476 ratings with an average review of 4.1 out of 5 on the Hwahae ingredient and product app that caters to Korean skincare enthusiasts (anything 4.0 and over with lots of reviews tends to have a good shot of being awesome, I’ve found). The Memebox product page for this cream features a number of reviews that beg the company to restock this cream.
I first tried it in 2014, selected it as one of my picks for a curated sale the same year, and have been buying it over and over again due to its awesomeness. From the nasty heat of NYC in summer to whipping winds of winter, this is my [face] jam.
SN Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer Goddess Cream Review
About the brand: it’s a fairly obscure Korean skincare brand that’s focused on plant stem cells.
What it is: a lightweight, oil-controlling gel cream.
Where to put it in your routine: in the cream slot (uhh…that sounds weird) at the end of your routine, right before sun protection. Need a basic outline of when to use your products? Here you go:
Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, taxus cuspidata meristem cell culture conditioned media, cyclopentasilxane, dipropylene glycol, cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-hexanediol, portulaca oleracea extract, betaine, trehalose, polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, polyisobutene, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, arginine, carbomer, tocopheryl acetate, dipotassium glycyrrizate, methyldihydrojasmonate, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, disodium EDTA, linalool, biosaccharide gum-1, asiaticoside, lemon peel oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, rosemary leaf oil, lime oil, glyceryl caprylate, sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, eucalyptus leaf oil. CosDNA analysis.
Ingredient breakdown: butylene glycol rates 1 out of 5 in terms of possibly causing acne and carbomer rates 1 out of 5 in terms of possibly causing irritation. Otherwise, all clear as far as common triggers.
What type of skin might like this: if you have normal or oily skin (but especially oily), this cream is the shiiiit. If you have dry skin…honestly find a cream for dry skin, this isn’t it. I mean that with all love: don’t try to wedge someone else’s favorite into your routine and end up having to do all sorts of skincare wizardry to make it work, just buy a cream for your skin.
Packaging: hard jar, not fancy at all. No spatula. I just use my fingers to get it out tbh.
Smell: it has a fresh, bright lime and linalool smell.
Price: ranges wildly depending on where you buy it. I wouldn’t pay more than $35 for 50ml, but prices less than that can easily be found if you can stand waiting for the product to ship from Korea.
Value: the pricing is all over the place, but this can be an incredibly cheap cream considering the performance and ingredients.
What’s good: it’s a light, but very moisturizing gel cream that sinks in FAST and somehow controls oil. It never balls up when it comes in contact with my sunscreen or makeup.
What’s not good: it’s really annoyingly hard to buy and prices fluctuate due to different sizes being released. It’s not really appropriate for drier skin.
How it compares to similar creams (from best alternative to good, in my oily-to-normal book):
- CosRx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion: super good value, easy to find, I love the smell less, takes longer to sink in. Still a very good option.
- Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream: I don’t love the smell of this cream and it feels like I have more something on my face. Still a good option.
- belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb: SN contains no simple alcohol, it’s cheaper, and I find that it controls oil (whereas I don’t find that Aqua Bomb controls oil at all). Still a good option.
Will I repurchase it: I’ve repurchased this cream over and over again, and I have two jars as backup at all times. I refuse to live without this. Trust me, I’ve tried.
Where to buy it: TesterKorea (90ml) | Amazon (not Prime, 90ml) | Amazon (Prime, 50ml) | eBay
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