It’s been a long time since I had reviewed a Secret Key product…but there was nothing that perked my interest until now…since most Secret Key product packaging resemble various other brands…and the prices online keep going up, so I didn’t feel interested in trying anymore products. (That being said, their products are usually decent to good quality – but every brand has their hits and misses.)
It is currently Autumn in Australia, so I decided that it would be a good season to test this out since there has been a mix of cold and hot weather recently.
First impression: Unlike the previous version, I really liked how it applied and spread across my skin. There was definitely no need to mix it with a moisturising cream, and I applied it after using “skin/toner” to prep my face. I waited 2 hours before blotting, and it removed the sheen.
I then waited 2 more hours and found that my skin was still ‘whitened’, but required blotting again so I blotted then mixed a small amount of the Snow Toning Whitening Cream (equal parts) with the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++. I let it sit for 3 minutes before proceeding to apply my foundation.
I applied my Touch In Sol Flawless Skin Top Coat in shade 2. It did not help my foundation glide over dry patches it normally adheres to, but it did not emphasise it either. I left the house at 4:30 and got back at 1:30 AM the next day, and found that my makeup looked fine (I only blotted then applied powder once in that time.) My skin did not flare up or have excessive bumps forming.
Second use: I applied toner and (without waiting for it to fully absorb) immediately followed with the Premium Snow Toning Cream, and found that it did not spread well across my face – it seemed to stick around the section it was first applied to and looked uneven since I could not blend it out well.
When it didn’t blend, I found patches of skin which were red were not covered up/product did not adhere to those spots. I figured that it probably had to do with how I rushed into applying the cream before waiting for it to absorb.
Other uses: I continually used this day and night to really test this out. When I woke up the next morning, my skin had absorbed the white cast look it had the night before when I applied it, and my skin just had the usual oil on my face in the morning around my T-zone. My skin didn’t look any worse than it does usually – I actually expected my skin to look completely dry or feel tight.
I used it when I was at home all day (I only applied a toner and the Snow Toning cream), and found that I needed to blot after 2-3 hours. The product also sank in more naturally by that time. My skin did not look discoloured/uneven at all, and I applied another layer of the cream. It did not ball up or become cakey looking.
Price: Between 15-20 AUD (depending on the seller)
Weight: 50 ml
Positive
- A little more hydrating that the previous version without being oily
- Comes with a spatula
- Easily available online
- Immediately whitens like the previous version (kind of like regular sunscreen)
- Makes a good makeup base
- Mixes well with sunscreen and other products
- Packaging looks and feels better than the original (still plastic though)
- Does not break me out
- Does not feel sticky
Negative
- No english ingredients listing
- Blotting required every two hours (but not so much when used under a drier foundation)
- Doesn’t hydrate dry, flaky skin (but that can’t be helped since this product doesn’t target that skin concern. You can always mix it with a cream/ampoule or serum if you need to)
Rating: 3.9/5
Repurchase: Yes
Last words: I definitely like this more than the original version. Since I have dull skin tone, this product is something that I enjoy. I normally use this in the morning rather than at night, since I prefer using an oil mixed with cream/emulsion as a last step at night. I probably won’t repurchase the previous version again, since I felt more satisfied with this version.
It does have the “whitening” white cast look, but as long as you blend it in it looks okay – and over time it will absorb into your skin. I like using this under my foundation, and I will probably continue to do so in the future.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if this seems like something you need in your routine. It fits my needs for correcting my uneven skin tone, but I’m not sure how it will perform in summer or humid countries, since my face produces a manageable sheen after 2 hours. I personally love mixing this with a water based sunscreen before applying my makeup and I prefer using this rather than the Etude House Choux Base and similar products since it also smells more pleasant.
I think if you found the previous version drying, you should give version a try. I have combination skin, so this worked well for me. I definitely want to purchase the Secret Key Premium Milky Pack, seeing as how well this spreads compared to the old version without clogging my pores or causing my face to over-produce oil. Sorry I did not provide a swatch – the product blended in so naturally on my hand, that the difference didn’t show up on my camera.
Any questions, suggestions or comments? (Or did you spot anything I need to edit?) Drop by and DM/comment on my instagram or below a post on my blog.
heartairou 