Whether you’re an avid beauty enthusiast or simply searching for something new to add to your regimen, keep your eyes peeled for MOSAIK, which will officially launch this fall. This Japanese skincare line is the brainchild of Emi Schemmer and a love letter to her upbringing and heritage; Emi’s mother is Japanese and her father, Dr. Robert Schemmer, is an established dermatologist whom she started assisting at a very young age. It comes as no surprise that Emi has been passionate about skincare for as long as she can remember.
In alignment with Emi’s values, MOSAIK’s products are neither anti-ageing nor whitening. They are also not crafted in pursuit of what society deems as “perfect” skin. “When we celebrate our natural beauty, our differences, and forget about [being moulded] into created ideals, it allows us to wholeheartedly accept ourselves and one another,” Emi says. “After all, the whole world is a mosaic — a mosaic of nature, a mosaic of cultures, a mosaic of people, a MOSAIK of skin.”
Photo from MOSAIK
As such, Emi set out to design beauty products that are effective, inclusive, and suitable for all skin types, genders, ethnicities, and ages. Formulated by dermatologists and backed by the latest scientific research, MOSAIK’s products are natural, vegan, as well as free from alcohol and parabens. If you are pregnant or have sensitive skin, be rest assured that they are safe for use! Emi also avoids animal cruelty and uses eco-friendly packaging to minimise MOSAIK’s environmental impact.
Acknowledging that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to skincare, MOSAIK invited the GirlStyle Team and some of our readers to test their Hydrating Cream Cleanser and Revitalising Face Scrub. In the process, we discovered which skin types these products are best suited for.
Read on for our review and to find out how you can get your hands on a sample kit of the products!
Sherryl, 27
Skin type: Dry skin that is prone to breaking out in hives
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Apart from hormonal acne, I generally have clear skin. However, I am plagued by a skin condition: chronic urticaria. It manifests in red welts, even though I take anti-allergy medicine on a daily basis. I get flare-ups when my skin is too hot, too cold, or itchy — you can spot the slight redness on my nose bridge and on my neck!
And so, I’m always on the lookout for products that can help to repair my sensitive skin. The Hydrating Cream Cleanser slot into my daily routine seamlessly and was particularly suitable for me because it contains ingredients such as artichoke leaf extract and liquorice root extract, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
As for the Revitalising Face Scrub, I was truly impressed because I’ve never used a physical exfoliant with grit this fine. To avoid over-exfoliation, I only use it once a week but I’d have you know that it has since become an important part of my weekend skincare routine, which is more indulgent and has more steps than my typical weekday routine.
Isaac, 24
Skin type: Oily skin
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
I take a minimalist approach when it comes to skincare, so my cleanser is an integral part of my daily routine. I was pleasantly surprised to note that just a fingertip-worth of the Hydrating Cream Cleanser lathered into a generous amount of foam. The foam was scent-free, felt gentle on my skin, and washed off very easily. My skin was left matte and would stay that way for a considerable amount of time.
I have never been a fan of using scrubs as the products that I’d previously used would irritate my skin, especially in my t-zone. The Revitalising Exfoliating Scrub was gentle on my face and there was no irritation. Rinsing was also an easy process that didn’t take too much water. My face was smooth and radiant after I dried it with a towel. After testing the scrub for weeks, I realised that I develop fewer blackheads as well, which is probably because it is designed to minimise large pores.
Megan, 27
Skin type: Combination skin that is sensitive
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I tend to stick to fragrance-free products with natural ingredients because I have sensitive skin. For a week, I followed the instructions on the packaging of the products; I used the Hydrating Cream Cleanser twice daily and the Revitalising Face Scrub once every three days.
The Hydrating Cream Cleanser smells light and pleasant, even though it was scentless. Plus, it felt moisturising when I applied it to my face. It lathered easily with minimal rubbing, producing a mousse that was smooth and gentle on my skin. It removed my light makeup easily, without leaving any residue on my face.
I was hesitant to use the Revitalising Exfoliating Scrub as I generally shy away from physical exfoliants. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the scrub was gentle. I learnt that the ultra-fine scrub particles are made from peach seed — it’s nothing like the coarser products that I’d previously tried.
After testing the products for a week, I did not see any difference in my skin texture. Nevertheless, they left my skin squeaky clean. I used both products after wetting my face but that could be a personal preference. I would recommend them to people with oilier skin, given that they felt a little bit drying on my sensitive, combination skin. If your skin type is similar to mine, I’d suggest using the Hydrating Cream Cleanser once a day instead and topping it off with a hydrating serum and cream to lock in the moisture!
Adlin, 31
Skin type: Oily skin
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
As someone who has a fairly oily T-zone, I thoroughly enjoyed using MOSAIK’s products. For me, they’re perfect for daily use in Singapore, as the weather makes my skin super oily. Of course, I’d leave them behind if I were to travel abroad to somewhere with a drier climate.
A little truly goes a long way with the Hydrating Cream Cleanser. I've found that mixing a small amount with water creates a luxurious foam that makes it super easy to apply to my face. After washing and drying my face, it feels matte, which is a pleasant surprise. I can finally say goodbye to the dreaded post-cleanse greasiness!
This cleanser does an amazing job when it comes to oil control; I only experience a slight oiliness in my nose area towards the end of the day, which is pretty impressive. To counter that, I decided to lather and massage more of the cleanser on my nose. I did that for a week and it ended up drying the area out. But fret not, applying a little more moisturiser did just the trick in resolving the issue!
As for the Revitalising Face Scrub, I would recommend using a small amount and adding sufficient water to lather up the foam. My skin feels a slight prickly sensation, possibly from the dryness on some parts of my face. And so I typically use a hydrating moisturiser right after this scrub. I do like that the scrub is rich in vitamin C, as that is an ingredient that is lacking in my skincare routine.
Elizabeth, 24
Skin type: Combination skin that is sensitive
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
As a skincare fanatic, I’m pretty picky when it comes to the products that I apply to my face. I like that MOSAIK’s Hydrating Cream Cleanser is unscented and suitable for all skin types. I use it as the second step in my nighttime skincare routine, right after an oil cleanse. I found that it lathers easily and is effective in washing away all the grime, grease, and residual oil that I’ll typically find after being out for an entire day.
While I rarely use physical exfoliants, I turn to Revitalising Face Scrub on days when my skin feels particularly clogged. I really liked it as I’ve been searching for a scrub that isn’t too abrasive for a while now. I typically use a small amount of the product on slightly damp skin for a gentler exfoliation and it helped to brighten my dull and tired skin. Each use left my face softer and smoother than it was before. It also works great in terms of prepping my skin for serums and moisturisers.
As both the cleanser and scrub leave my skin feeling “squeaky clean”, I believe that these products would be more suitable for oily skin types rather than my dehydrated skin. I would continue to use the scrub as an exfoliant on days when my skin needs extra TLC!
Photo from MOSAIK
If you’d like to try these products for yourself, tell us why in your caption when you share this Facebook post — make sure your post is public — or comment directly on this Instagram post! 10 of our readers will get a sample kit of both the Hydrating Cream Cleanser and Revitalising Face Scrub (the winners will be contacted by 24 August 2023).
As education is an important component of skin care, MOSAIK offers in-depth resources and expert advice on their website to empower their customers to make informed decisions when it comes to selecting the products that suit them best. You can also take this quiz to better understand your skin condition — MOSAIK will send your results and personalised recommendations. So what are you waiting for? Learn more about your skin and redefine what beauty means to you today.
