My new favorite: the Goodal Water Oil Firming Camellia

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my post on my new favorite skincare product: the Goodal Water Oil Firming Camellia. A terribly undescriptive and confusing name, but a wonderful addition to my skincare routine! 

Goodal is a Korean skincare brand, and you’ve probably read glowing reviews on their original Water Oil. I definitely did, and during Black Friday I hauled both the original and this Firming Camellia variation which is targeted towards, ahem, maturing skin. No my skin hasn’t started sagging yet, but it’s never to late to start the prevention process!

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I don’t usually pay attention to the box packaging, but the camellia print on there was so pretty! The product comes in a frosted plastic bottle with a pump. It feels quite substantial without being heavy, and bonus points for the pink color! :D

Ingredients

Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, glycerin, dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, niacinamide, 1,2-hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, tromethamine, xanthan gum, adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance, purified water, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, propylene glycol, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Sodium Hyaluronate, oregano leaf extract, cypress leaf extract, white willow bark extract, beta-glucan, Lactobacillus / bean fermentation extract, Portulaca Oleracea extract, cinnamon extract, Gold extract, polysorbate 20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentapeptide-4
full analysis on CosDNA

As you can see there are plenty of excellent ingredients high up on the list:

1. Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate is the key ingredient in many essences including the famous SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and the Missha FTE.
2. Studies have shown that Camellia Japonica Extract (not to be confused with Camellia Sinensis – aka green tea extract) can help increase the skin’s production of collagen, which in turn prevents wrinkles.
3. Camellia Seed Oil is a fast-absorbing and non-comedogenic oil that can restore moisture balance to the skin and protect against sun damage + moisture loss.
4. Niacinamide is a beauty blogger favorite for good reasons: it helps fade hyper-pigmentation, brighten the skin, increase ceramide levels in skin, plus much more.

The only iffy thing for me was the fact that fragrance was quite high on the list – higher than the Camellia Seed Oil. Personally I don’t have an issue with fragrance, nor do I find the product scent overwhelming, but it’s also quite unnecessary in my opinion.

What the heck is Water Oil anyways?

The name is a bit of an oxymoron because water and oil by nature to not mix well together. However with the advancement in technology, the Goodal Water Oil Firming Camellia is able to deliver all the benefits of camellia oil without any of the texture/unpleasantness associated with traditional oils. In a nutshell, it’s the oil for those who hate oils.

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In the bottle the product looks like a typical serum, but once dispensed, you’ll find that it has a lightweight watery texture that doesn’t feel oily at all. As with the original Water Oil, you’re supposed to use this after your toners & first essence but before your serums & ampoules. This makes perfect sense to me as it’s definitely lighter than all my serums. Plus, I find that applying this actually helps subsequent products absorb better and faster!

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The Goodal Water Oil Firming Camellia is easy to spread and quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving any shine, oiliness, or residue of sorts. As a matter of fact, I feel like it mattifies my face a bit, probably due to the dimethicone. Needless to say I fell in love with this right away, and after using it morning + night for a week I find my face is more hydrated and less oily. And that is a happy face indeed.

Key Points

• Provides the benefits of an oil without the unpleasant texture or stickiness
• Suitable for all skin types
• Excellent ingredients that help soothe and hydrate the skin
• Absorbs quickly and helps with subsequent product absorption
• Fragrance is pretty high on the ingredient list

Final Verdict

Where to Buy

RoseRoseShop – $17.86 – Ships from Korea, and shipping cost is based on weight and location. A reputable seller that includes lots of samples in each order!
TesterKorea – ~$19 – Ships from Korea and cost is based on weight and location. Another reputable seller with frequent sales and includes lots of samples in each order!

Jenny Wu

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 ✨