May 23, 2018

Shiseido Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream Gets Things So Terribly Right And Many Things Completely Wrong

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

Shiseido Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream ($38) is a new hydrating gel moisturizing that’s part of the brand’s new skincare collection that hopes to target millennials. When you think of Shiseido I’m sure you think of chic, expensive skincare but the new Waso Skincare Collection actually pares down things in this new line with affordable pricing and simple packaging.

Although I’m not a prime target for the Waso Skincare Collection I have to admit Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream was something that kept me quite warm and happy during the long, cold Winter. There are so many wonderful things to love about this moisturizer, things that I believe Shiseido got terribly right but there are many things that are completely wrong as well.

Let’s explore Shiseido Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream.

Shiseido Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream is 1.8 oz in size and $38 which is a deal compared to some of the brand’s more expensive offerings that start at $45 and go up to $100+. This is affordable to say the least and I do wonder if the brand’s goal is to capture the eye of millennials or a younger demographic because millennials are most definitely not concerned about splurging some buck on skincare. None the less, the price is just right and quite a change for Shiseido.

Waso is inspired by 和食 (Washoku) the traditional culinary of Japan. I honestly didn’t make much of a connection between Waso Skincare and traditional Japanese cuisine but ummm ok!? Maybe I missed something here. Perhaps the ingredients which Shiseido says include carrot, loquat, honey, tofu, and white jelly mushroom are the connection between Japanese cuisine and this skincare collection.

The moisturizer arrives in a simple peach jar with a white lid. For some reason, the packaging reminded me of the simplicity of Ayura’s Skincare Collection. Ayura is a Japanese brand that isn’t entirely well known in the US which has a makeup and skincare line available in Japan. It feels a bit hip on some levels especially when compared to some of the brand’s more chic and heavier jars and bottles but it’s also simple as well.

The moisturizer is a water and glycerin base that has propylene glycol that acts as a humectant for skin to retain moisture. There are host of other highly hydrating ingredients here as well but also silcones which may or may not be an issue for certain skin types. The texture is a very thick gel which has a gelatin-like feel that absorbs easily into skin and has this incredible cocooning effect that wraps your skin in moisture without being greasy, shiny, nor oily. I can’t rave the texture enough. I’ve used a lot of different gel moisturizers but this is by far the most interesting of them all. The consistency is just so lovely and provided some truly intense moisture which gives my skin a very smooth appearance not to mention it feels very hydrating.

I am very guilty of using this everyday this Winter. But why am I feeling guilty? Because there are a ton of really great ingredients here but there are also a ton of horrible ones those mainly being alcohol and fragrance. There are many skincare junkies out there, myself included, who are guilty of using alcohol in their skincare but alcohol is something you do want to avoid since it can potentially dry skin out further and break down collagen in your skin. Sadly, alcohol is fairly high on the ingredient list here and it as well as fragrance which comes before many of the beneficial ones. Well, that sucks. After using it for several months I can honestly say I never felt like it was drying my skin out further. I felt very, very, very well hydrated after use and I felt like my skin was retaining moisture well. However, who knows if I’m contributing to the aging process by using alcohol daily on my skin which is one reason this formula disappointed me. The second reason would be it comes housed in a jar which means any of the good ingredients are bound to breakdown quickly and bacteria will soon set in. As for fragrance, that one didn’t bother me. I thought the scent very nice! It’s a fresh scent that was very pleasant but very strong which means if you’re sensitive you’ll hate it.

Shiseido Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream is freaking formulated amazingly well which a great texture that truly feels super hydrating. However, the addition of alcohol and fragrance (not to mention poor packaging) made this a disappointing pick when it comes to treating your skin to beneficial ingredients.

Shiseido Waso Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream is available now at sephora.com.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Xylitol, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat, PEG-20, BIS-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Dipeptide-15, Dimethicone, Erythritol, PEG-150, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Trehalose, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-19/19 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Caffeine, Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Fragrance, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, BHT, Lamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Protoplasts, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Beta-Carotene (CI 75130).

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Christina

    Is this gel sticky at all? My main reason for staying away from all gels is that weird tacky sensation that is left behind. I want my skin to feel creamy, soft, and smooth, and gels usually leave me a little tacky feeling.

  • Kathy

    Hi Isabella, I am 45 & I received a same if this stuff. Sadly I love it despite the “suspect” ingredients. Is there anything you can recommend as a dupe without fragrance ? Thx so much. Kathy