Kicho’s sheep oil cream is our new favorite moisturizer. It is remarkably seasonless, as it feels both heavy enough for winter and fast-absorbing enough for summer. We love it year-round. In the winter it makes for a great heavy dose of hydration morning and night. In the warmer months, we like it to seal in all the rest of our routine before bedtime.
But, its most remarkable feature is not the pretty apothecary-style glass jar it comes in, or even its luxurious texture; rather, it is its incredible formulation.
Lanolin is the hero ingredient in this moisturizer, and so, first, let’s discuss why we love it. Lanolin is obtained from the wool of young sheep withoutany harm to thesheep. In fact, it is the ONLY animal oil in the world, which is obtained in an entirely cruelty-free manner.
Lanolin is essential for sheep’s survival—throughout the cold winter and sun-drenched summers, This incredible substance protects sheep from the elements. More significantly, Lanolin, secreted from sheep's sebaceous glands, contains important chemical and physical similarities to human lipids which hydrates the skin while regulating sebum production.
As such, it is an extremely nourishing ingredient in skincare, a natural softener and emollient. In fact, the hands of the sheep shearers, who work on the New Zealand farms from which Kicho’s lanolin is derived, are softened by their shepherding work!
After Kicho’s lanolin is sourced, it goes to Germany, where the finest and most-cutting edge technologies are used to refine and process the ingredient, preparing it for use in products.
But Lanolin isn’t the only reason Kicho’s sheep oil cream is a true hero product. Kicho’s moisturizer also includes a proprietary eight-berry complex composed of:
[Photos of each?]
- Seabuckthorn fruit extracts
- Blueberry extracts
- Acai Palm extracts
- Strawberry extracts
- Goji berry extracts
- Raspberry extracts
- Black Mulberry extracts
- Cranberry fruit extracts
As you may know, berries are extremely rich in Vitamin C—a powerful antioxidant which works to brighten and clarify the skin in addition to helping fight signs of aging. Also found in berries? Anthocyanin, which is actually an even more stable antioxidant than Vitamin C. In addition to its antioxidant properties, anthocyanin suppresses free radicals and environmental pollution, which helps skin appear youthful and keeps wrinkles at bay.
The final star ingredient you need to know in this formula is totarol, sourced from the heart of the Totara tree which dates back to the Jurassic age (aka, it’s 135-195 million years old). Needless to say, it has aged well. This compound protects the tree from the elements and makes it extremely resistant to decay. Meanwhile, for our skin, this antimicrobial ingredient uses its potent antioxidant properties to act both as a preservative for the product, and eradicate oxygen free radicals, soothe irritated skin, and maintain a youthful appearance naturally.
This pale yellow cream has a very nice mild, fruity scent—reminiscent of the eight berries it is made with with a hint of citrus. The scent does not overpower and lingers slightly as it absorbs into your skin. The texture is somewhere between buttery and custard-like. It comes out in a thick glob from the container, but a little goes a long way—you only need around pea-to-nickel-sized amount to cover your face.
In Seoul, thousands of beauty brands compete for the attention (and of course, money) of extremely discerning, well-informed consumers. Kicho grabbed Alicia’s attention when she heard it mentioned repeatedly while #SeoulBeautyTripping. Girls on the street raved about this gentle cream—not for a highly Instagrammable beauty experience, but for its gentle and efficacious formulation. Tons of celebs and Korean influencers are also raving about this moisturizer.
On the Korean television show "A Style For You," Kim Hee-chul from top K-pop group, Super Junior, discusses Kicho's Sheep Oil Cream.
Beloved Korean comedian, Lee Guk Joo, is also a fan of this superstar moisturizer. Whle appearing on Beauty Station's "Unni's Hot Choice." She says, "The Kicho Sheep Oil Cream combines the benefits of a facial oil and an ultra moisturizing cream, leaving your skin hydrated for longer, and looking plump. So what’s the difference between a regular moisturizer and this cream? A regular moisturizer merely infuses moisture into your skin, but doesn’t have the capability to keep the skin moisturized. The sheep oil cream, however, not only delivers moisture, but also keeps it from escaping, so your skin stays hydrated all day long!" Her special tip—"When applying makeup, mix two parts of your foundation with one part sheep oil cream to result in a smooth and even application process."
KICHO's Sheep Oil Cream, beloved by beauty-savvy Koreans!
