Back in May, for our birthday celebrations we gifted you, our dear customers, sample-size bottles of a new face lotion to see what you'd think. We didn't expect the response we got. Nearly 1000 of you tried it, and 100 of you completed our survey and told us exactly how your skin felt, and a huge number said the same thing we were hoping to hear: please just launch this already.
So we are. Restore: Daily Face Lotion just launched in fullsize, and we wanted to share what our sample testers actually said, what's in it, and the one small thing we changed for the official launch of our full-size version.
We do this with most new Neat products before they get a full launch: send out samples, ask real people what actually happened to their skin, and use that to decide whether (and how) something goes into the range properly. It's slower than just launching straight away, but it means what you're reading below isn't marketing copy — it's what nearly 100 people told us, unfiltered.
What Our Testers Told Us
We asked nearly 100 people who trialled the sample what changed in their skin. The themes came through loud and clear, in testers' own words:
- “Softer, smoother” and “more hydrated” were by far the most common responses — said in one form or another by the overwhelming majority of testers.
- “It's hydrating, but it soaks in fast — no greasy residue”, and several people specifically noted it absorbed quickly enough to apply makeup or SPF straight after.
- “I'm in the older person group — it feels so much smoother and firmer”, and a few testers in their 60s told us their skin looked more “filled out” and youthful with regular use.
- “As a person with sensitive skin, I found this cream to be perfect and had no negative reaction” — though, as with any new product, a small handful of testers did notice sensitivity around the nose, so we'd always recommend patch-testing first.
A lot of testers also compared it directly to our Cacay Face Elixir — several preferred the lotion for daytime specifically because it felt lighter and layered better under makeup, while still loving the oils for night or make-up free days.
What's Actually In It
Restore is built around two key active ingredients:
- Totara extract aka Totarol — naturally soothing, calming actives that help restore the skin barrier.
- Tremella mushroom — sometimes called “mushroom hyaluronic acid” for its ability to hold moisture in the skin, without the heaviness of a traditional cream. It's one of the ingredients skincare circles have been talking about lately, and for good reason — it plumps skin with water rather than oil, which is exactly why testers kept describing Restore as hydrating without feeling greasy.
Together, they're formulated to lock in lasting hydration while calming and replenishing skin — which lines up with exactly what testers reported feeling.
How to Fit It Into Your Routine
Restore slots in as step 4, after your cleanser, toner, and serum. A few ways testers used it:
- Instead of Cacay Face Elixir, for a lighter, non-oily daytime feel.
- Alongside Cacay — a couple of drops of oil plus a small amount of lotion layered together, which a number of testers described as the perfect combination.
- Instead of or alongside your Night Oil in the evening — if using both, most people found a smaller amount of oil was all that was needed on top.
Your Questions, Answered
Will there still be a sample size?
Yes — the 20ml sample stays at our usual $16, exactly like our other sample sizes - great for travel, and first-time buyers!
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
The large majority of testers with sensitive skin had no issues at all, and several called it out specifically as gentle. A small few noticed sensitivity around the nose, so we always recommend patch-testing before applying it to your whole face.
The Bottom Line
Restore: Daily Face Lotion earned its spot in our range the honest way — nearly 1000 real testers, real skin, and real feedback from 100 genuine customers. Full-size is almost here, with the same formula you told us you loved and a sturdier preservative system to back it up.
Shop Restore Now and Feel the Difference in your skin!
