Is this product American, French or Japanese?

You can’t tell from the ingredient list.

Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, PEG-75, Pentylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Juice, Allantoin, Arginine, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

What I can tell you about this Japanese product (yes, it’s Japanese) is that its advertising is honest. The claims are “No synthetic fragrance, no coloring, no mineral oil, weakly acidic, paraben-free, alcohol-free. ” True, but not important.  Natural fragrances can be allergenic just like synthetic. No mineral oil is useful when you live in a humid climate. “Paraben free” reinforces the idea that all parabens are bad, something that is not true.

Are there any actives here? Kiwi fruit contains proteases, and how much activity is left depends on how the juice was treated (heating would kill the protease). The orange peel extract contains some essential oils, which could irritate the skin for some people. Again, it depends on how much there is. This is a moisturizing cream/gel without pretensions of antioxidation or antiaging.

But, isn’t it interesting that skin care products have no nationality?

Hannah