As a category of skincare, fat waters have taken off, and we'll talk about why. But, first off, what is a fat water? A fat water is a product with a unique texture. It's a gel, but it's also a liquid. It's not a toner or a serum. It's like a hydrating essence that's a little more gelatinous.
Fatty waters are not an essential step like a cleanser, serum, or moisturizer. But, when you apply one before a moisturizer, they can add so much more hydration to dry skin. On the other hand, it also works for very oily skin. If you have oily skin, you actually could use something lightweight like a fat water in place of a serum or moisturizer. And in that case, it could take the place of your "serum skincare step."
While serums and moisturizers might contain oils, fat water simply has hydrating properties, making them wonderful for acne-prone skin.
What are good fat water products?
Here are some of the fat waters Cassandra uses. We're going to list the top 5.
The original "fat water" came from Rihanna's skincare line, Fenty Skin, and when Cassandra first tried it, she wasn't impressed. But, the brand continued to innovate, and Cassandra has truly grown to like it.
This was Cassandra's least favorite for her oily skin, but if you have dry skin, this is one of the most creamy and hydrating options you can get. If you're dry, you'll probably want to put this underneath another moisturizer.
Cassandra is not a fan of every ingredient in this product or the scent, but the ingredients such as apple fruit extract, panthenol, and vitamin B make it very hydrating.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Toner
They call this a toner, but it's truly a fat water. Cassandra loves the consistency because it's like a jelly liquid. When Cassandra first tried this, she was enamored by the way it hydrated her skin. The black rice antioxidants were also good for Cassandra, especially when she used them under sunscreen.
Upon applying this, her skin looked much better by the end of the day. In the evening, she normally has large pores and dry patches showing. But, this has been phenomenal in helping with that. It is one of Cassandra's favorites, and it's fantastic for combo skin. If you have dry skin, you can use it with a moisturizer. But if you're skin is oily, it can be used on its own.
The best part is that they now have a sensitive skin version of this product. In the past, they only had one fragranced with lavender. But now, they have a fragrance-free one for sensitive skin.
Clear Genius Toner + Serum - $18
This is an acne-prone favorite that Cassandra has had in her routine for a very long time, but she never thought of it as a fatty water. If you have large pores or breakouts with dry skin, this is especially good since some serums can be overwhelming for sensitive, acne-prone skin. This has salicylic acid, witch hazel, niacinamide, and zinc PCA, and these are all great for oily skin. However, this also contains very hydrating ingredients. So, this would be Cassandra's top pick for anyone with acne.
Cassandra applies it to her T-zone, especially where her pores get large from sebaceous filaments. Cassandra's skin has always been oily and acne-prone, but when she gets stressed, sometimes her skin dries out, and this has definitely helped her in these moments also.
If you layer this with a moisturizer, this works so well. But, while some people experience irritation from layering products, layering this product won't leave the skin irritated. This is one of Cassandra's favorites to use on her chest's sebaceous filaments. Some days, it almost looks like she has a bumpy texture on her chest, and this works so wonderfully. It's very lightweight, and it doesn't stick to clothing or anything you're wearing.
Additionally, the way this product dispenses is very good. You pump the top, and it comes right out on your fingers.
Jumiso Hyaluronic Waterfull Toner
Cassandra uses this when she showers, and it's very thick. This is one of the most amazing and lightweight moisturizers that Cassandra has ever used. And because it's so cheap, it's feasible to use all over your body. This keeps your skin feeling soft. Plus, it doesn't sting, and it's fragrance-free.
Glow Recipe Cloudberry Essence Toner - $38
This is the best brightening essence toner Cassandra has found, especially if you have sensitive skin. Because it has citrus and bergamot in it, Cassandra was surprised to see how gentle it was. She is normally sensitive to these ingredients, but this doesn't have much citrus in it. It mainly has cloudberry which has vitamins A, C, and E. So, Cassandra is able this all over her face without getting red. With this product, she can actually enjoy citrus ingredients without the irritation, and she loves the pump top.
If you're looking for a brightening, gentle fat water, this is one of the best ones. For dry skin, this works fantastically under a moisturizer. But, if you're oily, this is very nourishing. You could use this as a one-step, or you could put a sunscreen over it. This works very well for Cassandra's oily-prone skin because it's so lightweight. She doesn't even need anything else after applying it!