Naruko AMPM Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle review

Damn these long product names, but in case you can’t tell, I’m going to be reviewing a super hydrating moisturizer from Naruko’s AMPM line. 

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What is it

A hydrating cream with 3 types of hyaluronic acid that permeates deep within your skin to provide lasting moisture.

How I use it

As the last step in my routine, I scoop a tiny pea-sized amount with the included spatula, and massage into my skin. At night I’ll apply a second layer on my cheeks and eye area for extra moisture.

Best suited for

Dry skin

Key ingredients

3 types of hyaluronic acid, allantoin, centella asiatica extract, brightening compound extract, vitamin c – full list on CosDNA

Irritants

Ethylhexyl Palmitate is highly comedogenic. Also watch out for dimethicone and carragenan. Paraben-free, fragrance-free (artificial ones at least).

Scent

None that I could notice

Texture

thick and creamy, but blends out well at suggested use amount

What I loved

Its rich texture is perfect for doing facial massages, and it really nourishes dry skin. The large jar means I can use it on my body without feeling guilty.

What I disliked

The suggested usage (size of 2 pearls) was way too much for my skin, and it takes a while to absorb, leaving an oily finish. The huge size makes it difficult to use within its 6-month expiration date. The inclusion of 5 different preservatives before the key ingredients was also disheartening.

Size & Price

$24.99 for 4.03oz (115g)

Where to buy

Naruko

The Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle is part of Naruko’s AMPM line, which provides long lasting, effective, and efficient products for busy working women. With this premise in mind, I expected a pretty incredible ingredients list, but instead I got this. The top 1/3 is mostly preservatives and emulsifiers, and hyaluronic acid doesn’t show up until #36, which is baffling (I just learned that hyaluronic acid should only be used at 1% or less, as anything higher would turn the product into solid jello), so I’ll ignore those and focus on this moisturizer’s key feature: its 3 types of hyaluronic acid:

1. Regular HA, which are large molecules that draw moisture from the air to the surface of your skin to keep it hydrated.
2. Small-molecule HA, which as the name suggests have smaller molecules to go deeper into the skin. It can help hydrate and repair from within.
3. Hydrolyzed HA, aka the XS version. It can go even deeper than small-molecule HA and work its magic there.

In addition to the multiple level of hydration, this moisturizer also has a several ingredients that help brighten and soothe: mulberry extract (part of its brightening compound complex), vitamin c, and centella asiatica extract (or cat’s foot extract on the Naruko site). So much promise, so much potential, so much sadness at ugly ingredients near the top.

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Another feature of the AMPM line to keep in mind is that it’s designed to be efficient – cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer (SPF in the am) and bam you’re done. After testing out the Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle, I can confirm that unless you have super dry skin, it will not work well with a multi-layer approach (ie. more complex skincare routine).

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My current routine consists of 8 products (2 are cleansers, 1 is my Curology prescription), and when I switched out my Gobdigoun 24K Golden Cream for the Naruko one, my skin took a hit: It got oilier, duller, and a few closed comedones popped up on my cheeks. The souffle at its suggested use was just too rich for my combination skin, especially after I layer on my hydrating essence and facial oil. So I had 2 options: 1) cut down my routine significantly 2) use less product.

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Option 1 didn’t make sense because you simply don’t cut out products that work for your skin. If anything I should be cutting this souffle out, but I figured I could just use less of it instead. At the size of 1 pearl per application, I stopped breaking out and my skin looked less dull and oily. BUT, it was more difficult to blend the product and my skin didn’t feel as hydrated. So damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I ended up using this on my neck and body, and boy it was fantastic. Despited using a generous amount, it absorbed very quickly and left a soft velvet finish.

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A quick comparison with other moisturizers

• The Naruko Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle is the heaviest and thickest one I’ve tried to date. Keep in mind I have combination skin and I use facial oils in my routine.
• It’s less hydrating than the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, BUT, it doesn’t pill. Pilling is a huge no-no for me, so Naruko > FAB.
• It’s more hydrating than the Gobdigoun 24K Golden Cream, but the texture is not nearly as pleasant. Plus the Gobdigoun cream has an ingredient list so beautiful I could cry. Gobdigoun > Naruko
• It’s more hydrating than the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming cream, but then everything else about Klairs blows this cream out of the water. I guess it’s not fair since the Klairs cream was a 2016 beauty favorite. Klairs > Naruko
• It’s on par with the hydration level and finish of the I’m From Honey Cream, but the honey cream is a little lighter. Hone Cream > Souffle
• It’s on par with the hydration level of the Naruko Rose & Botanic Hydrating Cream, but the latter has a better texture and ingredient list as well. Rose > Souffle

Before you rule out the Naruko Super Triple HA Hydrating Souffle completely, remember that I chose the other moisturizers with my skin type and routine in mind, so of course they’d be a better fit for me from the start. With the souffle, it was an unfortunate case of wrong skin type + incompatible routine that resulted in its poor score. If I were to use these same moisturizers on my body where the skin is drier, I can assure you the results would be completely different.

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

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 ✨