Throughout my childhood, I often noticed the large bottles of Curél body lotion prominently displayed on my parents’ bathroom counter. Even today, my father is a devoted user, diligently applying the cream from head to toe every single day. However, it wasn’t until last year that I stumbled upon Curél’s extensive range of skincare products, which sparked my curiosity and eagerness to explore their offerings.
The secret behind Curél’s popularity as a family favorite lies in its key ingredient: ceramides. This Japanese skincare brand traces its roots back to the 19th century when it began as a sundry goods shop named Kao. In 1976, the brand established a dermatological research center dedicated to investigating the vital role of ceramides—lipids found within skin cells—in enhancing skin hydration and reinforcing the skin barrier. Today, ceramides remain the cornerstone of all their Japanese skincare products, ensuring optimal moisture retention and barrier protection.
Curél’s facial care line is specifically designed for individuals with dry, sensitive skin. It avoids common irritants such as fragrances, artificial colorants, and drying alcohols, adhering to the nourishing principles of Japanese skincare that emphasize double cleansing and double moisturizing. This streamlined collection consists of four essential daily products, presenting a refreshing alternative to the widely popular 10-step Korean skincare routine. Continue reading to uncover my favorite products from this line, discover which ones to skip, and see how it compares to other simplified skincare regimens.
After using Curél’s skincare for two months, I’ve seen remarkable improvements in my skin, particularly during the harsh transition to winter. For many, dryness is a significant concern during the colder months. At 25 years old, I have a combination skin type, where my T-zone tends to get oily, yet my cheeks suffer from severe dryness. Thankfully, Curél’s gentle cleansers and their double moisturizing approach have effectively prevented any tightness or flaking, allowing my skin to feel comfortable and well-hydrated throughout the day.
To thoroughly test these products, I completely overhauled my nighttime skincare routine to exclusively use Curél’s four-step system. For my daytime routine, I included Curél’s Hydrating Water Essence and Intensive Moisture Facial Cream as my moisturizing steps while still utilizing my trusted vitamin C serum and sunscreen. Integrating Curél into my regimen has kept my skin feeling radiant and healthy, and I highly recommend this line to anyone seeking to enhance their skin’s moisture levels. Below, I share the standout products that I adored:
Gentle Makeup Removal with Curél’s Cleansing Oil
Curél’s skincare routine commences with a double cleanse, a practice deeply rooted in Japanese skincare traditions. The first step involves an oil-based cleanser designed to dissolve makeup and other impurities from the skin’s surface.
“Double cleansing ensures that sebum, dirt, makeup, and sunscreen are thoroughly removed,” explains Dr. Rebecca Marcus, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Maei MD. “However, it’s crucial not to over-cleanse, as stripping the skin of its natural oils can trigger an overproduction of oil.”
Fortunately, Curél’s Makeup Cleansing Oil is exceptionally gentle. Its fragrance-free and sensitive-skin-friendly formula provides a silky texture when massaged onto the skin, effectively removing nearly all makeup (though waterproof mascara may require additional effort). For those new to cleansing oils or balms, it’s essential to apply it on dry skin to effectively break down makeup and sebum before rinsing with water. As the oil emulsifies with water, it transforms into a milky consistency, leaving the skin nourished and free of impurities.
Refreshing Cleanliness with Curél’s Foaming Facial Wash
The Foaming Facial Wash serves as the second step in Curél’s cleansing regimen, and it has converted me into a fan of foam cleansers. Although I’ve been committed to double cleansing for years, I typically opted for gel cleansers as my second step. Unfortunately, those often left my skin feeling tight post-wash, which indicated dryness. In contrast, this cleanser boasts a luxuriously fluffy foam that remains soft and airy as you lather, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and hydrated after rinsing.
There’s no concern about drying out the skin or over-cleansing, as this gentle formulation preserves your skin’s natural ceramides. Each of Curél’s three cleansers (I’ll discuss the Makeup Cleansing Gel shortly) incorporates moisturizing elements that prevent the stripping sensation often associated with other cleansers. “Oils like caprylic/capric triglyceride in the Makeup Cleansing Gel, mineral oil in the Makeup Cleansing Oil, and the high glycerin content in the Foaming Facial Wash indicate a reduced likelihood of contributing to skin dryness,” explain cosmetic chemists Victoria Fu and Glora Lu, founders of Chemist Confessions.
Hydration Boost with Curél’s Hydrating Water Essence
Following the double cleansing routine, Curél emphasizes double moisturizing as well. The initial moisturizing step, known as a lotion or essence in Japan, boasts a lightweight texture. “Japanese essences and toners often fall into a similar category,” say Fu and Lu. “They typically contain water-attracting hydrators called humectants like glycerin and glycols to provide foundational hydration for the skin.”
Curél’s Hydrating Water Essence features glycerin and hydrogenated castor oil, which work synergistically to keep the skin plump and nourished. As a humectant, glycerin “draws moisture into the upper layers of the skin from both the environment and deeper skin layers,” while hydrogenated castor oil “serves as both a humectant and an emollient, attracting moisture into the skin and preventing its evaporation,” explains Marcus.
True to its name, the Hydrating Water Essence has a watery consistency that absorbs effortlessly into the skin. While it’s recommended to apply it immediately after double cleansing, I found it beneficial to use it as a toner in my morning routine. I tend to skip cleansing in the morning to avoid drying out my skin, so I apply this essence as my first skincare step before my vitamin C serum, Intensive Moisture Facial Cream, and sunscreen. While the Hydrating Water Essence may not seem essential for those with oily skin, I view it as a moisturizing primer, prepping the skin for additional hydration. As noted by Fu and Lu, “Essences typically have minimal oil content — so most skin types definitely cannot rely solely on essences for hydration!”
Lightweight Hydration with Curél’s Moisture Facial Milk
The Moisture Facial Milk is one of Curél’s two second-step moisturizers and showcases a serum-like texture that is neither as watery as a toner nor as thick as a cream, providing a soothing and light application. It serves as an excellent choice for those in need of light hydration. This product is enriched with numerous hydrating ingredients that enable it to stand up to heavier moisturizers. Notably, it shares many of the same beneficial components as the Intensive Moisture Facial Cream. “You’ll find beneficial barrier-supporting ingredients like cetyl-PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide, cholesterol, and the soothing active allantoin,” Fu and Lu highlight. “Additionally, glycerin is prominently featured, providing solid hydration as well.”
After adjusting my routine to include the Water Essence in the morning, I decided to incorporate the Facial Milk as my first moisturizer before applying the Intensive Moisture Facial Cream. This decision proved to be advantageous, especially since my cheeks tend to become quite dry in winter. The combination of using both products significantly improved the softness and suppleness of my cheeks over a couple of weeks. Luckily, Marcus confirmed that this approach is perfectly acceptable, particularly for parched skin. “Using additional moisturizer can be advantageous when skin is particularly dry, especially during winter months,” she states. “As long as it’s not an occlusive product that clogs pores, feel free to apply as much moisturizer as you need to keep your skin adequately hydrated.”
That said, I can envision the Water Essence and Facial Milk duo being sufficient for those with sensitive skin living in more humid climates.
Ultimate Hydration with Curél’s Intensive Moisture Facial Cream
The Intensive Moisture Facial Cream offers the same benefits as the Moisture Facial Milk but in a cream formulation. It is lightweight and non-greasy, yet it envelops the skin in a nourishing layer of moisture. I appreciate that it absorbs quickly while still leaving a nourishing veil on the skin. I use it every morning before applying SPF and at night as the final step in my skincare routine.
As the concluding step in Curél’s system, it enhances the ceramide-focused collection with an additional dose of barrier-supporting ingredients. As previously mentioned, it shares many components with the Moisture Facial Milk. In addition to the humectants, it incorporates allantoin, which provides several benefits. “[Allantoin’s] keratolytic action gently exfoliates the skin, preparing it for optimal absorption of moisturizing agents,” Marcus explains, adding that this ingredient “promotes wound healing, has antimicrobial properties, and encourages healthy tissue regeneration by stimulating cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis,” which is vital for collagen production.
As I navigated through Curél’s double cleansing and double moisturizing process, certain products clearly stood out as my favorites, while others were not as impressive.
When it came to cleansing, I found that the Makeup Cleansing Oil outperformed the Makeup Cleansing Gel. Both products are integral to Curél’s double cleansing routine and are designed to melt away stubborn makeup, including long-wearing foundations and waterproof mascara. While the gel has an oil-rich formula that mimics a cleansing balm when massaged into the skin, the cleansing oil demonstrated superior efficacy overall in my experience.
Although neither product completely removed my waterproof mascara (for that, I still rely on micellar water), I found the cleansing oil to be less of a hassle and its emulsification provided a more thorough cleansing experience. Numerous reviews on Amazon echo my sentiments, noting that the cleansing gel struggles to effectively eliminate waterproof makeup.
Additionally, Curél provides a ceramide-rich Deep Moisture Spray suitable for both face and body. This convenient product delivers a quick burst of hydration; however, it felt somewhat too heavy for facial use while not quite rich enough for my body’s needs.
The fine mist makes application effortless, dispensing similarly to a sunscreen spray, and absorbs quickly when patted or rubbed in. As noted by Fu and Lu, “The Curél spray is enriched with nourishing components such as its signature ceramide precursor and cholesterol blend, making it a superior choice compared to other sprays. However, we suspect that individuals with drier skin types may still require a thicker lotion or cream to effectively lock in moisture.”
It contains many of the same hydrating and soothing ingredients as the other moisturizers in the line (including glycerin, cetyl-PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide, cholesterol, and allantoin), yet it leaves behind a greasy film that sits on the skin’s surface. This sensation feels particularly heavy on the face compared to the body, leading me to reserve its use exclusively for moisturizing my body. The instructions also caution against spraying near the eyes, which can be challenging during application.
While this spray provides a light layer of moisture that may suffice during the humid months, it lacked the richness I needed for my severely dry skin during winter.
I also had the opportunity to test the Moisture Repair Eye Cream, which quickly became one of my favorite products from the collection; however, it is presently available for a steep $40 at Stylevana. This eye cream
Sienna Blake is a licensed aesthetic consultant and beauty writer specializing in cosmetic surgery advancements and non-invasive treatments. With a background in dermatology and over eight years of industry experience, Sienna is passionate about helping people achieve confidence through informed beauty decisions. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and regularly collaborates with top plastic surgeons to stay at the forefront of aesthetic innovations. Outside of her work, Sienna enjoys traveling, skincare research, and practicing Pilates.
