Thorakao Turmeric Makeup Cream from Vietnam - 3g Jar

Natural Kem Ngho Thorakao Trang Eiom Trang Da which translates roughly as turmeric cream for makeup and a brighter look. Made in Saigon since 1961, but this version leans towards a tinted base or makeup primer rather than a leave on night cream.

Pale yellow, a bit warmer in colour because it doubles as a tinted base. The box is the usual Thorakao orange and white with the long Vietnamese product name printed across the front.

Quick Notes

• 3g sounds tiny but it goes a long way when used as a primer or spot treatment. People get two to three weeks of regular daily use out of one pot, give or take.

• Doubles as a makeup base. Wear it under foundation or powder for the look of a more even tone, or use it on its own as a daily conditioning cream.

• Free from corticoid, which the brand prints right on the box because some local creams in this category are not.

• Original Lan Hao Cosmetics formula, still produced in Ho Chi Minh City. Same brand that has been on Vietnamese dressing tables since 1961.

What People Use It For

Mostly for the look of a brighter, more even complexion, the apperance of small marks left from old breakouts, and as a thin tinted layer that softens how the skin looks under makeup. Some apply it daily as a primer step, others reach for it only on weeks when their skin needs a little extra coverage. It is not a heavy moisturiser by design, so if your skin sits on the very dry side, run a richer cream underneath first.

How To Apply

Cleanse face. Take a pinhead amount of cream on a fingertip, the stuff is concentrated. Pat it across the face evenly and focus a little extra on areas you want to even out. Let it settle for about a minute. After that you can either leave it as the only step, or layer foundation, BB cream or powder over the top. Most people apply it in the morning before makeup. It also works as an evening conditioning step on its own.

Suitable For

All skin types, including skin that needs a little help with the look of dark spots and uneven tone. First time using turmeric on the face? Patch test on inner wrist or behind the ear for a day before going full face. Worth doing for anything new really. And don't get cream in your eyes by the way, it stings.

Main Ingredients

Curcuma longa (Vietnamese turmeric) is the lead active and the reason the cream sits on the warm yellow side. Kem ngho literally translates to turmeric cream, so the colour is doing exactly what the name says. Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) sits in the formula as an antioxidant for the look of skin freshness. Chamomile flower extract is in there as a soother, common in low cost Vietnamese skincare and a big part of why this version feels gentle on most skin even with the tinting effect.

Full Ingredient List

Full INCI provided on the packaging. Key listed actives: Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract. Free from corticoid.

Precautions

External use only. Do not use on broken or irritated skin. Stop use if skin reacts badly to anything in the formula. Keep out of reach of small kids. Store somewhere dry, not in direct sunlight. Don't use if jar is past the expiration date printed on the base.

Product Specifications