[ENG] Review: Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Line – Underrated K-Beauty Gem!

This article contains affiliate links* Sometimes you discover skincare products that blow you away so thoroughly that you wonder why they aren’t hyped up more: The Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule and Cream are such products, and so I decided to write a full review to hopefully create some hype!

Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule and Cream: “Why Is No One Talking about These?!”

And once again I start off a product review with the question that keeps plaguing me whenever I discover some new Korean beauty gems which have been around for a while but completely slipped by me for too long: “HOW did I not know about these skincare gems?!”

Truly, it is baffling sometimes how some products get talked about and highlighted by influencers to the point of making me almost not like them anymore (I swear, if I see one more TikTok video about the Cosrx snail essence…!), while others that are just as worthy of being spotlighted just never appear on anyone’s social media feed or in skinfluencers’ video content. Of course, as someone who has been “in the industry” for years now, the cynical part of me knows why this is likely the case: because, I am guessing, the brands who make those underrated superstar products simply don’t send out PR samples by the hundreds, and potentially also do not care too much about the Western market, thus also not really working with Western influencers much.

I feel this might absolutely be the case when it comes to Thank You Farmer, a Korean brand that has been successfully bringing out products since the 2010s. Indeed, their True Water Deep Serum* was one of those must have products during the first big K-beauty wave. After the 2020 sunscreen scandal, the Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream* with SPF50+ became a big hit, passing re-testing with flying colours. But, I honestly didn’t know about all the other amazing and unique products that brand had been launching since those two were big in the K-beauty community!

It took me winning a Thank You Farmer giveaway by the lovely Eunice for me to realise how awesome especially the newer product lines were. Apart from the super convenient Rice Pure Clay Mask to Foam Cleanser*, which I discuss in this YouTube video about underrated K-beauty, I became enamoured with the Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule and Cream. And because, again, no one is talking about these two somehow (?!?), I felt it was basically my duty to review them for you here on the blog. So, let’s start with the ampoule first and then move on to the cream.

Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule – Lightweight Centella Goodness

The Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule has a runny consistency, much more so than I at first expected. This ampoule was mostly formulated to target redness and inflammation, with a mix of hydrating and calming ingredients. The main ingredient here of course is the centella asiatica extract, one of my favourite plant extracts in K-beauty, no doubt. Centella asiatica has this double benefit of both soothing inflammation plus also being antibacterial, helping breakouts to heal faster while making sure the inflamed area can calm down.

Here is the full list of ingredients for the Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule:

“Water, Centella Aasiatica Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Solanum Melongena (eggplant) fruit extract, Lonicera Japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alykyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, PVM/MA Copolymer, Tromethamine, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin.”

Apart from the centella asiatica extract, this ampoule also contains a host of other calming, soothing and hydrating plant extracts, among them antibacterial eggplant extract, hydrating and anti-inflammatory coptis japonica extract, brightening licorice root extract, and houttuynia cordata extract or heartleaf, another great anti-inflammatory, antibacterial healing herb that works very well in tandem with centella to help with sensitised skin issues. Humectants galore are added into the watery mix, e.g. hyaluronic acid, glycerin, polysaccharides (humectant sugar molecules) and beta glucan. The Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule is free from any fragrance or potentially drying alcohols!

This is an ampoule which very much focuses on pure hydration and calming, so if you are looking more for either an anti aging formula or something very rich and nourishing, this may disappoint you. It really is a very light texture, runny and watery, which my skin just drinks up when I apply the serum. As someone with combo skin, the texture is just perfect for me as a daytime serum, though sometimes I do need to layer this with an extra serum for more hydration. I would say this is ideal for anyone with oily to normal skin, sensitive skin that doesn’t like heavy textures, and for those of you struggling with redness and breakouts.

Because this is the amazing thing about the Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule: it is just so effective when it comes to dealing with redness and inflammation! I’ve tried many, many cica/centella products and can honestly say they are not all equal. I can always tell if the centella asiatica extract used in the formula is good quality or mediocre, watered-down. Well, the centella extract used for the Phyto Relieful Cica products from Thank You Farmer is definitely very high quality, and my skin gets noticeable relief when I use them, especially overnight.

The ampoule is basically one of my number one “SOS products” when my skin is freaking out, leaving this nicely cool sensation after application while never feeling overwhelming. Especially in hot weather, this is a godsend, bringing relief and comfort to overheated, red, sweaty skin. I really love this so much!

You can purchase the Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule at Stylevana* for currently around $20 for the 50ml bottle, at Yesstyle* for roughly $25, or at Amazon* for $26.

Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Cream – Unique Texture with Cooling Effect

I love the Phyto Relieful Ampoule, but if I had to choose between it and the Phyto Relieful Cica Cream… Well, I’d choose the cream! This is just such a unique moisturiser, the likes of which I’ve honestly never seen or experienced before. When I first opened my jar of Cica Cream I audibly gasped, because the texture is just so beautiful and appealing. And this cream doesn’t just look pretty – it also happens to be formulated with all sorts of skin goodies, among them of course that lovely high quality centella asiatica extract.

Here is the full list of ingredients for the Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Ampoule:

“Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dicaprylyl Ether, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Hexyldecanol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Fructooligosaccharides, Xanthan Gum, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin.”

Just like the ampoule, the Phyto Relieful Cica Cream features a skin-calming complex of plant extracts with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In addition, panthenol adds skin soothing and wound healing abilities to the mix, while ceramides help replenish a weakened lipid barrier. This moisturiser is free from any added fragrance or drying alcohol.

Now, about that texture: how can I describe it accurately to you? It almost feels like a sorbet or a whipped gel, somewhat similar to a lighter sleeping cream such as the Laneige sleeping cream, but without its “silicone-y” feel.

It is a gel that leaves no uncomfortable feeling on the skin upon application – on the contrary, the sensation of the cica cream melting onto skin is pleasantly cooling and refreshing. But it isn’t that weird stinging coolness you sometimes get when products contain alcohol, rather a feeling of your skin going back to its regular temperature, calming down after being overheated. I can’t tell you how nice this was to use on warmer weather days, especially in combination with the ampoule!

The Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Cream works even better than the ampoule when it comes to calming down redness. I often use this as an overnight sleeping mask, applying a thicker layer to finish off my routine, and always wake up with less inflammation and less “angry” skin. The texture is absolutely wonderful when your skin is having a bad day, as it really feels so light and refreshing, leaving a very natural glow and giving enough hydration for oily to normal skin.

Now, I would say that this is probably not enough for dryer skin types, who best use this more as an overnight treatment for sensitised and aggravated skin, potentially layering another lotion or emulsion underneath. As a standalone moisturiser it just lacks the oil content needed by skin prone to extreme moisture loss or dryness. But otherwise, this is a fabulous product, a redness-fighting texture miracle that really is unrivalled in my eyes.

You can purchase the Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Cream at Stylevana* for roughly $32 for the large 80ml pot, or at Yesstyle* for $31. Stylevana often has sales on Thank You Farmer, so watch out for those!

Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Line – Underrated Heroes!

This cica duo definitely needs and deserves more love, so I’m hoping that my reviews will create a bit of a buzz around them. Thank You Farmer is such an underrated brand, and their newer skincare launches in particular just seem to just have mostly gone unnoticed by the larger influencer community.

Both ampoule and cream are excellent companions for sensitive, redness-prone combo to oily skin, with refreshing and light textures that hydrate, soothe and cool down distressed faces.

Let me know in the comments: What’s your favourite cica product? Are you a fan of centella asiatica in skincare?

Take care guys, and stay safe – don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news, and check out my other work, e.g. my tips on how to repair a damaged skin barrier! And guys – I have a YouTube channel now, I’d love for you to check it out and subscribe!

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