More glass skin glow with the I Dew Care Say You Dew Moisturizing Vitamin C Cream
Written By Jenny Wu on
The last moisturizer I fell in love with was the Shiseido Essential Energy Moisturizing Gel Cream, and that was more than a year ago. It’s been a bunch of mediocre moisturizers since, so I’m glad to have discovered another gem from the Korean brand I Dew Care, the Say You Dew Moisturizing Vitamin C Gel + Cream.
What is it
A dual-layered formula that helps you dew you all day long, with a top gel layer of antioxidant-rich lemon extract and brightening Vitamin C, and a bottom cream layer with banana extract known to prevent moisture loss.
How I use it
As a moisturizer twice a day, followed by sunscreen in the am.
Best suited for
All skin types except super sensitive skin. More mature skin might not find this rich enough.
Things to note
Alcohol free but does contain fragrance and potential comedogenic ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter.
Packaging
A bright plastic jar that looks cute and not cheap.
Scent
A light citrus scent
Texture
True to its name, it’s a gel-cream hybrid that’s refreshing and creamy at the same time. Comes with the gel layer at the top and the cream at the bottom so make sure you mix well!
Finish
A glass-like, slightly sticky finish. The stickiness goes away after a while
Where to buy
$23/1.69 oz on Ulta, Amazon, Target, and YesStyle (5% off with code GEEKYPOSH)
Ingredients Highlight
full analysis on INCIDecoder
So right off the bat that ingredient list is not the most attractive. The star ingredient, vitamin c, doesn’t even appear in the first half of the list! As a matter of fact, a lot of the beneficial ingredients are in the bottom half, and the first half is mostly emollients. But for a moisturizer, is this really a bad thing?
While it’s nice for products to include antioxidants or anti-aging/brightening actives, we need to remember the main function of a moisturizer is to hydrate and prevent further moisture loss, which means there are 3 types of ingredient we should look:
- Humectants to draw moisture in, like glycerin, hyaluronic acic, trehalose, and urea.
- Emollients that smooth the skin and strengthen the barrier, like dimethicone, shea butter, and most plant-based oils.
- Occlusives that form a film on our skin to lock in the moisture, like mineral oil, most waxes, and some of the thicker plant oils.
With that in mind, this I Dew Care moisturizer actually does contain a good mix of all 3 types of ingredients at a reasonable price, so I’ll let the stingy amount of bonus ingredients slide for now.
Usage Experience
Very important: this is a duo texture moisturizer, which means the gel and the cream must be properly mixed before applying.
Of course me in my excitement totally did not do that, and applied just the top gel layer the first few days and wondered why it wasn’t moisturizing enough. Oops.
But once I mixed it, the magic happened. The texture became a light cream that moisturized well without feeling oily or heavy on the skin. Most importantly, it gave my skin that glass skin glow that rivaled the Glossier Futuredew! The only downside to this glow is that it went away as soon as I applied sunscreen, but boy did I look dewy af right before bed!
As for long term results, this performed just as well as pricier moisturizers I’ve used. It kept my skin hydrated and I always woke up with soft bright skin the next morning.
For what appears to be a gimmicky product with a meh ingredient list, it’s certainly exceeded my low expectations and proved that first impressions aren’t always correct.
Read more: 36 moisturizers reviewed, and here are the best ones for dry aging skin
Final Verdict
-
Packaging
8
-
Ingredients
7.5
-
Texture/Application
10
-
Performance
8.5
-
Price
9
For $29, don't expect this to be a miracle in a jar. But if anti-aging isn't your main concern and you're just looking for a fun and effective moisturizer that gives you a bonus glow, this is it.
Personally I won't repurchase only because I need something richer and more nourishing for my aging skin. But 10 years ago when I was still in my early 20's, this would've been an excellent fit!
Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.
Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨
Comments & Questions
Jennifer
I really love the packaging!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
Shireen L. Platt
This sounds lovely but yes, I agree on the ingredient list not very impressive. I do find we can't judge a product solely on ingredients though, I have some products that I thought would be brilliant turned to be a dud and some with mediocre ingredients turned out to be brilliant. Skincare is so weird. LOL!
Jenny Wu
It really is! I feel like ingredients only tell a small part about the product, there's really so much that goes on in the formula that we can't tell on paper!
Allie Mackin
Hmm not bad. Can you put it on after the sun screen maybe? I will have to keep this mind!
Ah love this look! You look great :)
Allie of
www.allienyc.com
Jenny Wu
You could but then you wouldn't really get the skincare benefits since the sunscreen will act as a buffer. So to get the same glow I've just been relying on the Glossier Futuredew instead ????
sonia // daring coco
Shame about the vitamin c claim/slight lack of. Makes me think I really should check the ingredient list on my products and not be so trusting! Though I know for the most part the majority wouldn't/shouldn't be so misleading.
Sxx
daringcoco.com
Jenny Wu
It's always a bit of a letdown when brands feature a star ingredient but the amount included is quite low. Ironically I see this issue more with popular brands!
Anne
Do the contents separate again after a while, or do you just mix once and then are done?
I agree with you on the ingredients in a moisturizer: All the fancy stuff sure doesn’t hurt, but the main purpose is a different one!
Anne from “Doctor Anne”
Jenny Wu
Nope they don't separate! It does take some effort to make them blend seamlessly though, I was too lazy so mine stayed chunky the whole time.
Rowena @ rolala loves
It's always a nice surprise when a product exceeds your low expectations :) Too bad that applying sunscreen on top erases the glow that it imparts. This sounds like a nice moisturizer though I suspect it might not be hydrating enough for me during the cooler months.
Bash Harry
Love hearing your thoughts on it! Personally, I'm not too picky with moisturizers but I do like something light for the day.
with love,
Bash
Hey Bash
Chanel
I've seen I Dew Care products at Marshalls/TJ Maxx every once and awhile and the packaging is so cute. It's good to see that the product is quite good.
x,
S | Je M'appelle Chanel
Sam | Violet Hollow
They like a dew pun haha! I always like anything glowy and this looks like a good one Jenny, I will keep an eye out for it. xx
Violethollow.com
Gemma
I don't know how I've not come across this brand before. I really like their branding, and more skincare brands should totally make yellow packaging, it looks so vibrant and happy! I think I'd really enjoy this, it sounds great! xx
GemmaEtc.com