Milky Piggy Retinol Cream 100g/3.53 fl.oz. - Retinol Swiftlet Nest Extract (69.9%) |Face Cream |

I'm 37 and I've always taken care of my skin. I figured if I moisturized well and used sunscreen I wouldn't have to worry about more intense anti-aging products when I got to my age. After having a child with special needs who sleeps only a few hours at time, lack of sleep and stress is beginning to catch up with me. While I don't have many fine lines or wrinkles yet my skin was constantly dull and tired looking, and oddly prone to dryness, which was never something I had to deal with before. The healthy glow I used to get from a gel moisturizer and some rosewater is apparently a thing of the past for me. My skin soaks the moisture right up and it still looks and feels the same. Heavy moisturizers almost always break me out, and I'm beyond tired of the rough texture and dry, flaky skin on my face. This is a Korean beauty brand I've used and loved in the past. Their products are consistently good and very affordable, so don't let the cartoonish packaging and sometimes oddly named products put you off. As a beauty junkie I have tried so many different products and I still love Elizavecca, their skincare products rival or outperform many of the expensive brands, which is something I've noticed about K-beauty in general. Their standards seem to be much higher than the majority of our domestic brands that are in the same price range. This particular cream is different from anything else I've ever used. Like others have said, it has an odd consistency and texture. Very similar to white Elmer's glue, it's sticky and a bit stringy at first but it dries down to a nice velvety feel on the skin. It's very moisturizing, which often causes painful cystic acne to flare up on my chin with other formulas, but this cream provides the heavy moisture I need without clogging my pores. That's been a huge challenge for me, I typically cant use things that provide the level of moisturization my skin needs. It has a light and fresh floral scent that fades away after a short time. Now, as for the results, I haven't been using it long enough to really see anti-aging benefits, and like I said I don't have many fine lines and wrinkles. So I cant say either way how effective it is for that. But my face actually looks smooth and healthy and I have that nice healthy glow again. It revived my skin in just a couple of weeks. If you aren't looking for a strong retinol, definitely consider giving this a try. You might be pleasantly surprised like me.

One of the very few retinol creams on the market that I can use daily on my sensitive skin. This cream doesn't sting, and it has never caused me to break out either. Many retinol creams on the market didn't suit me, even the ones with low retinol percentage. Also, this cream has a unique formulation. Power-packed ingredient list. Good quantity and pretty cheap. The texture is distinctive, too. It is slightly slimy. Lightweight. Absorbs well. No smell. Love this product!

Does not break out my skin and very hydrating for a retinol cream. I use a little every night and the amount will last you a long time. Only downside would be its a little sticky and your hair can get caught on your face!

This definitely isn't a powerful retinol product but it's still good. It's kinda messy - a glue like texture - but it comes with a little spatula on the inner lid. There's a large amount of product so it's a good value and it's moisturizing. I noticed I don't have to put on another layer of moisturizer after if I don't want to. If you're looking for a powerful retinol product, this probably isn't it, but if you still have youthful skin or are just starting out it's definitely worth a try. I love this line of skincare...and the packaging is so seriously adorable that you won't want to toss it!!

Update on 3/27/18 : This is almost an empty for me, I was alternating night using for a little bit so it slowed the use. I've got it on my repurchase list! Skin Type: Oily/Easily Dehydrated Skin Shade : NC15 Skin Conditions : Large pores, Darker sebaceous filaments around nose, some acne scarring, post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (from acne), hormonal breakouts, fine lines around mouth/eyes, lack of water production Product: Elizavecca Milk Piggy Revitalize EGF Retinol Cream Perfumed: Very faint fragrance, smells soft Purchase: 11/16/2017 Review: 1/7/2018 Overview: This is a Korean sleep pack (night cream). Please note that the description for the item states "Day or Night" but that is incorrect. This product contains 2500 IU Retinol (75%), which will break down in sunlight and be rendered useless. While it's labeled as a cream, it is more like a gel. This Milk Piggy cream has several ingredients to provide moisture while encouraging new skin cell growth. For those with sensitive skin, be aware this contains Cetyl Alcohol, Alcohol and fragrance. For those wanting products without animal ingredients, this is a cruelty free brand. Photos attached show product front, product on skin and product rubbed into skin. Ingredients: Swiftlet Nest Extract Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil Beeswax Cetyl Alcohol Niacinamide Glycerin Polysorbate 60 Dipropylene Glycol Retinol rh-Oligopeptide-1 Sodium Polyacrylate Allantoin PEG-100 Stearate Adenosine Carbomer Betaine Propylene Glycol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Polysorbate 20 Triethanolamine Alcohol 1,2-Hexanediol Ceteth-3 BrassicaCampestris (Rapeseed) Sterols Tocopheryl Acetate Cetyl Phosphate Cholesterol PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol Hydrogenated Lecithin' Phenoxyethanol Water Sorbitan Sesquioleate Ceteth-5 Disodium EDTA Glyceryl Stearate Fragrance Appearance : This is a white gel like cream. It's very slippery and has a high viscosity to help it sit on the skin. It has a very slight fragrance. I'm familiar with Korean products containing perfume and on a scale of 0-10 I consider this a 1. I cannot smell the product on my skin once applied and I can only smell it if I specifically sniff the container. The container is a good size and seals well. It comes with an inner plastic tray like cap with a little spatula attached via a clip. The product packaging is really cute, I love the shiny pig and his piggy bones. Applying : This is a thick product, but is not as thick as a night emollient cream. If you are applying a heavy cream or vaseline for evening routine, this will go before. The product comes with a little plastic spatula to allow for finger free application. I am always applying with super clean hands so I don't use the spatula. If you do opt to use the spatula, wash after each use to remove the slick reside to make it easier to pick up next use. You only need about a dime to quarter sized amount for the entire face. Place the product on the face and then smooth into the skin with clean fingers. It should be applied in a VERY thin layer. The skin will feel tacky before going to sleep but the product sinks in overnight. Usage/Feedback : This product has been helping my skin really soften up. When I wake up I find my skin is really soft and smooth and hydrated. I do use this as PART of a routine with other products that hydrate,heal and nourish the skin, but I have been really please to see noticeable results. Best results are when I use it consistently. I can definitely tell my skin is much drier and rough in the morning if I skip this step. I do not get any acne breakouts from this product, which is perfect. My skin is looking much brighter and clearer with several healing and restoring ingredients in my routine, including this retinol cream. I am pleased that a little goes a long way, I have about 2/3 left and I've been using for about two months now.

I am a long time skincare enthusiast, particularly of Korean skincare. I have always been hesitant to try Elizavecca skincare because the branding seemed juvenile to me. On a whim I ordered this cream. It is the most effective neck cream I have ever used, hands down!! And I have tried neck creams that cost upwards of $300. I am 45 years old and starting to get the dreaded crepey neck skin. The first night I had this cream, I used it on my face, neck, and chest. It has a somewhat slimy and stringy consistency. However, it soaks in well and does not stay sticky. When I woke up the next morning, my neck was not crepey AT ALL. I have never had that effect from any neck cream. My chest was not dry or wrinkly either. I was glowing! The cream says it has a retinol in it, but it must be an extremely low strength. My skin is usually sensitive to actives, and I had no reaction whatsoever. A few weeks later I incorporated trentinoin into my skincare routine and used this cream with it accidentally. No reaction. So I have continued to use it together, since it is so moisturizing. If you are considering getting this cream: buy it! It’s SO AFFORDABLE as well. I have been using it for about 2 months now and I love it just as much. I’ve also bouse several more items from Elizavecca and they are all winners!

Efficacy: I don't know how well this works because I couldn't get myself to use it consistently enough to expect to see any results. I did not peel or purge while using this product, and it was my first time using any kind of retinol. I didn't even use it 'right' and apply it on dry skin, and avoid using it with acid products like hyaluronic acid. I don't know if my skin is just very irritation resistant, or if it's not as strong as advertised, or what. I still wouldn't recommend using any retinol product on damp skin or with acids, despite my experience. Consistency: this product has the weirdest consistency I've ever seen in a skincare product. It is gooey, and scooping it out of the container makes a mess because it leaves tendrils of product everywhere if you're not careful. It also doesn't feel like it ever fully absorbs into the skin, and feels greasy/sticky. Scent: smells very strong and sharp, and very similar to a shampoo and conditioner I used back in middle school. I only remember what it smells like so well because of how strong that scent was. I don't mind products being a little scented, but this smells like something I shouldn't be putting on my face. Overall: between the scent and the consistency, this product does not work for me because it is uncomfortable and annoying to use, despite the fact it didn't do anything bad to my skin. I can't speak for how effective it is, but I'm giving it three stars for at least not destroying my skin. If you can get past the scent and consistency, it may work for you as an inexpensive retinol.

Heads up, this is a longer review, but hopefully helpful. I’ve done the research and I’m here to share it. I’m a self care product formulator and I have a lab in my home for creating products if that helps you understand just how invested I am. I love elizavecca, it’s my favorite skincare brand, and I’ve tried hundreds, if not thousands, of different brands and products. It does have a particular texture that some dislike. It’s akin to Elmer’s school glue at first. It’s due to one of the extracts in the formula, and it doesn’t leave any weirdness on the skin once applied and massaged in. It’s not spoiled, it’s supposed to be that way (hence “elastic” in the description). For reference, I’m 38, plenty of imperfections and lines (sun damage from not using sunscreen in my youth, and autoimmune condition that breaks down collagen too fast..yay me), no cosmetic enhancements/Botox/fillers, combination/VERY sensitive, finicky skin. I’ve been using this retinol, the elizavecca hyaluronic acid water drop cream, bubble clay mask, and collagen marine serum for about 4 months now. Let me tell you, K-beauty has won me over. The only gripe I have is fragrance, but it doesn’t cause me any adverse skin reactions so I can deal with the “grandmas perfume” smell until it dissipates, which it does(I’m referencing this product with the fragrance, the water drop cream has a fragrance too but it’s not a dealbreaker for me). It’s not the worst fragrance I’ve smelled by a mile in skincare, and it does dissipate quickly. I’ve noticed a significant difference in fine lines and crows feet, smoothness is much improved, and this is THE only retinol that doesn’t make my skin get super weird and break out. I know retinol tends to do that, and many others have. Not this one, and it works better than expensive retinol creams IMHO. I’ve tried a great many retinols and I always come back to this one. I wish I’d gotten before and after pics now, but here we are. You’ll have to take my word for it. Don’t let the texture turn you off from this, yes it’s a little weird, but totally worth it. It comes with a spatula to keep it sanitary, which is absolutely critical to keeping skincare products safe to use. I’d pick up the hyaluronic water drop cream with this, the bubble clay mask, and the marine collagen and/or hyaluronic acid serum. It’s an absolutely perfect routine for maintenance/improvement of mature(ing) skin, or anti-aging for you younger whippersnappers that still have smooth skin 😉 For the price and quality, it would be silly not to try it. You can get a whole routine for under $60. Don’t throw away hundreds or thousands of your hard earned dollars on celebrity-endorsed brands that cost $$$ for a name. They’re paid to endorse them. Spend 50 or 60 (I’m overshooting, it cost me less than 50 for all the products, but I also caught a sale) on this comprehensive routine and try it for 3 months. I use this retinol at night, water drop cream in the morning after washing my face and using the marine serum. It doesn’t pill when applying makeup over, and makes an excellent base for makeup application (niacinamide is the ingredient that causes that dreaded pilling, fyi, and these products do not pill; use niacinamide on no makeup days or at night to prevent that awful pilling. You’re welcome 😉). Not complicated, not expensive, not a 3 hour time thief. Use the bubble mask once a week when you have the time for a little self care. Even that takes less than 10 minutes start to finish. You’ll be amazed. I’m a skincare formulator/nerd, I make many self care products, both for business and hobby, and I am very much invested in the science of it all, not bogus “clean” and “green” claims (they are bogus, fact check me, I encourage it). I’ve dumped all my former products for my own formulations, except elizavecca, if that’s any indication how much I love these products. La Mer who..??