I’m a longtime Dieux Instant Angel evangelist. I’ve been using the toiletry bag (I love having it when I travel), my stomach twisted when I handed over my card. That isn’t to say it’s not worth it; I just can’t afford it with regularity.
A few months ago I ran out of my beloved formula. I planned to suck it up and buy another but I kept putting it off, hoping it would land on my doorstep. In that waiting period, the COSRX Ceramide Skin Barrier sunscreen—but I’d yet to delve into their moisturizers. I was indifferent to the snail mucin line as a whole. I had a brief affair with the propolis one but didn’t quite fall in love. But the ceramide one looked a little more my speed. I have normal skin that’s on the drier side and appreciate a rich formula that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. I don’t mind lotion-y formulas but I want there to be some heft and to leave my skin with a little gleam.
From the first time I applied this, I knew I’d found a formula I could work with. My skin instantly felt like it had taken a drink of water. It gave me a little glow without veering into greasy and I liked how it worked with my sunscreen. Its texture is reminiscent of Cerave Moisturizing Cream, which I like, but thicker. It isn’t as lush-feeling as the Dieux Instant Angel but I’d argue it’s equally as nourishing. I was impressed but not moved to declare it a new favorite. I used it the next day and then the next. Eventually I realized I hadn’t rushed to buy another Instant Angel like I would’ve in the past. Within a month’s time I was done with the first bottle and ordering a second.
I quickly restocked on Amazon and was disappointed to find that the texture was slightly off, like the formula had separated while sitting. I later repurchased a bottle at Ulta, and the consistency was identical to the one I’d originally tried. I’m chalking this up to a one-off warehouse issue — reviewers on both sites have generally received perfectly fine tubes, but it’s just something to keep in mind.
What works for me with this moisturizer is the ingredients and price point. It contains a mix of ceramides and hyaluronic acid (though it is fairly low on the ingredient list), along with squalane and glycerin, ingredients my skin generally drinks up. It doesn’t have any fragrance, which would be a big “no” for my skin. As far as price, it’s a little under $25 for 2.7 ounces, which isn’t dirt cheap but is much more affordable than the Instant Angel. I could buy three of these for the price of one jumbo bottle, which made my one-off bad bottle feel like less of a headache (I was lazy and never returned it). Like most COSRX products, it also goes on sale frequently: Just last week, I saw it for $17.
Admittedly, I do still adore my Dieux Instantly Angel (I have a bottle on the way), but I’m happy to have an alternative I can lean on and outright replace the more expensive option with if need be. Moving forward, I’ll likely be rotating between the two, saving Dieux for special occasions or when I’m particularly dry and using this most other days.
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