*Milk; Dr. Ci:Labo Aqua-Collagen-Gel (review & comparison)

Description: Aqua-Collagen-Gel contains no surfactants, mineral oils, artificial colorings or fragrances. The product is free of ingredients that can be harmful to the skin, so you can use it with confidence every single day - simple and natural. Unlike other skincare products, this versatile gel is all you need after cleansing to keep your skin moisturized 24 hours a day.

Enrich Lift


The 'Enrich Lift' version of the Aqua-Collagen-Gel is currently listed as best seller on the Dr. Ci:Labo website. It claims to help firm up the skin with help of their 'Lifting Complex'. It also contains skin firming ingredients such as alpha lipoic acid and coenzime Q10 as well as hyaluronic acid which is a potent hydrating ingredient.


The product


The product itself has a light texture, similar to that of a gel cream. It is slightly thicker than the Dr. Young 'Sprinkling Gel Cream' which I reviewed aaaages ago (link) including several other gel moisturizers I have tried in the past such as the Clinique 'Moisture Surge' and the ~H2O+ 'Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment'. It leaves no tacky residue on the skin after application.





As all Dr. Ci:Labo products do not contain artificial fragrance, the products tend to have a slight 'chemical' scent. In this case, the 'Enrich Lift' version has a faint scent reminiscent to paint or glue. The scent disappears after applying it to the skin so it does not bother me too much.


Super Moisture


The 'Super Moisture' version uses a 'Nanosphere System' which allows deep penetration of the active ingredients into the skin for better absorption. It also claims to protect the skin and to lock in moisture.




The consistency is lighter than the 'Enrich Lift' version and is similar to the gel moisturizers I mentioned earlier. It feels very soothing and relaxing. Whenever my skin gets irritated, I apply it to the affected area and I find that it helps calm down redness and is able to relieve itchiness.


The comparison


Left: Super Moisture Right: Enrich Lift
It may not be noticible in the photo above, but the 'Enrich Lift' has a light yellow color in contrast to the 'Super Moisture' which is entirely white. The Super Moisture' retails for $40 USD for a 50 gram jar while the 'Enrich Lift' retails for $45 USD for the same amount of product.

Now the question would be: 'Is it worth the 5 dollar price difference?' Personally I would say that the answer is 'No'. I do not feel that the 'Enrich Lift' version is superior to the 'Super Moisture' formula. It does not feel as moisturizing nor does it deliver visible anti-aging results. Perhaps it is the kind of product that you will notice the difference once you stop using it, but for me it was not the case. I did not notice any difference when I stopped using the 'Enrich Lift' formula.

Both products did not perform as well as I had hoped for. There are definitely better gel type moisturizers on the market for the same, or even a lower price. One thing that does set the Dr. Ci:Labo 'Aqua-Collagen-Gel' apart from the rest is that it does not contain any additives such as fragrance, colorants or perservatives.