The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream

I not so recently picked up a jar of The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream on impulse. It's advertised as great for banishing excess sebum and ideal for sensitive oily or combination skin.

Leslie Jones, you so funny.

INFO SHEET

INGREDIENTS 

Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Glycerin, Peg-32, Betaine, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Beta-Glucan, OrthosiphonStamineus Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Peg-40 HydrogenatedCastor Oil, Plankton Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PropyleneGlycol, Parfum/Fragrance, Disodium Edta, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl TaurateCopolymer, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Phenoxyethanol

Note that the first ingredient is Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, AKA Chia Seed Extract.  Chia Seed Extract which is an emollient that helps prevent water loss and has a soothing effect on the skin.

COSDNA ALERTS 

Alcohol Denat - Rank 5 Index irritant
Butylene Glycol - Rank 1 Index acne trigger
(Ranked from 0 - 5 with 5 being the highest / greater chance of happening)

So while there are quite a few ingredients that can have a soothing effect on the skin I found it to be interesting that there is also Alcohol Denat included as well.  Alcohol Denat can be irritating to some, including (unfortunately) myself.

TEXTURE

Shiny.

Clear gel-like consistency which leaves a dry-sticky film on the skin.

BEFORE AND AFTER

I applied The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream to half of my entire face before work (and without makeup), and now for the moment of truth...

The other kind of shiny...

As you can see above, after swiping each side of my face equally with a blot sheet; there was zero difference in the amount of oil / sebum control that The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream provides.  I did grow used to the sticky film on the side of my face as the day went on, but I felt that no matter how sparingly the product is applied - it still left a film.  I also felt that applying this cream does not leave me feeling pampered like when I apply other moisturizers.  It's more of an "Ugh, gross" feeling followed by some irritation.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It did not work for me at all.  I would put up with the stickiness if it did do something for my oiliness, but lo and behold - it does not.  Essentially, The Face Shop Chia Seed Sebum Control Moisture Cream was ineffective for sebum control and does not feel nice on the skin.  I don't believe it was very moisturizing either.  It did nothing for me.  Though the packaging is cute, at the end of the day I won't even use this as a hand cream :(.

Rating