I’m quite curious about the creation process of the JouJou Marshmallow Rose Hydrating Cream from the luxurious Croatian brand JouJou Botanicals. I imagine they had a brainstorming session in Zagreb, and the brief went something like this: “…we want to create a lightweight, yet noticeably nourishing hydrating cream that won’t burden the skin. It won’t be sticky or crumbly, and the skin won’t sweat under it, even in hot weather. It would be great if it could brighten the skin—maybe like the effect when a customer removes our ultra-fine Floral Filter Face Mask. And the scent—we can’t forget that! It should be velvet-soft, silky, and ridiculously addictive. Let’s give it a cloud-like texture. And the packaging—let’s design it like a perfume bottle. Oh yes, this will be a hit!”
JouJou Botanicals is hard to describe—you really have to experience it because it’s luxury skincare in the truest sense. Don’t expect cheap substitutes or marketing hype that gets ahead of the product itself. No. JouJou [zhoo-zhoo] is a heartthrob that you’ll look at, smell, try… and you’re hooked. And from the last flickers of sanity, you’ll try to quickly block your payment card or at least lower your credit limit to the minimum, and stomp on your Wi-Fi router to avoid internet access. It’s an addiction. But a big one. And it will grab your heart. You can count on that.
JouJou Marshmallow Rose – A Pink Treat for Your Skin
According to JouJou, the Marshmallow Rose cream is primarily intended for combination, oily, or uneven skin, providing nourishment and hydration without weighing it down. It also works as a treatment for pigmentation spots, thanks to special ingredients in its formula that reduce existing pigmentation and prevent new spots from forming. It’s suitable for both morning and evening use, leaving the skin deeply hydrated, firm, and plump. That’s what the manufacturer says.
What does “balancing” mean in the cream’s name?
I thought of adding this mini-section when I was copying the name of the cream into the title. I realized that the word “balancing” might be a bit confusing for some. What does it actually mean? It refers to its ability to balance various aspects of skin condition. Specifically, for the Marshmallow Rose cream, this means several things at once:
The cream regulates oil production, making it suitable for combination skin. The ingredients help mattify shiny areas while hydrating drier zones. A cream made for dry skin alone can’t do this.
The cream evens out the skin tone, gently lightening pigmentation spots, redness, and other irregularities.
The cream maintains an optimal moisture level in the skin, meaning that dry areas are hydrated while oilier parts aren’t unnecessarily burdened. Once again, this shows why the product is great for combination skin.
Packaging, Consistency, Fragrance
Earlier, I compared the packaging to a perfume bottle, and I still think that’s not far from the truth. The transparent glass bottle with a golden cap and minimalist label highlights the pink content, which really looks like mashed-up fluffy marshmallow candies. The pump dispenses just the right amount for the entire face, neck, and décolletage (two pumps are enough) and works perfectly.
The cream has a light, whipped texture but is creamy and nourishing. It’s not a gel-like fluid that disappears into the skin with nothing left behind. When applied, you really feel that your skin is being pampered, immediately becoming smooth, bright, and incredibly satisfied. Touching it, I’d describe it as velvety-soft, moisturized, weightless, and most importantly—non-sticky. It also works great with other skincare products. It blends perfectly with your hydrating serum underneath if you need one, or with a few drops of oil or sunscreen on top.
The fragrance is fruity-floral, I’d say. You get the feeling you’ve just sniffed a big bouquet of delicate pink flowers, with fresh mulberries skewered on sticks in between. The mulberries are the most recognizable scent in the mix and give the cream its distinctive juiciness.
How to Use the Cream
The lightweight texture makes it perfect for both morning and evening use. It works well as a makeup primer or as part of your multi-step (or simple) skincare routine.
Ideally, JouJou recommends that you massage the cream into clean hands before applying it to the clean face and neck, activating the highly effective plant-based ingredients. Then, apply it to your face, neck, and décolletage. Depending on your routine, you can apply it either after a face serum as the second step or use it alone. The cream also pairs wonderfully with the Absolute Berry Face Oil—just add 2-3 drops to your cream and massage it into your hands before applying to your skin. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops with the cream and “press” it into your skin. There’s no wrong way to do it—it’s entirely up to you and what feels most comfortable.
When the Ingredients Make You Crave a Snack
The formula is perfected to the highest degree, and JouJou carefully selects ingredients that complement and enhance each other’s effects, creating a synergy that is incredibly useful in skincare.
So, what ingredients are we talking about?
Macadamia oil, rich in oleic and palmitoleic acids, helps hydrate, regenerate, and improve skin elasticity. Shea butter is packed with vitamins and fatty acids, providing intense hydration and supporting cell regeneration. Avocado oil is full of antioxidants and healthy fats, which support hydration, elasticity, and calm irritation. The very light oil from Ethiopian cumin absorbs quickly and hydrates without leaving a greasy residue. Cucumber extract has hydrating and soothing properties, helping to balance skin tone. White mulberry extract effectively combats hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin production, helping to lighten dark spots. Hibiscus extract gently exfoliates the skin, supports hydration, and may improve tone and lighten dark spots.
Marshmallow root extract has soothing and hydrating properties, improving overall skin condition. Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa extract protects the skin and contributes to its brightening, also offering antioxidant and anti-aging effects. The extract from the root of the madder plant protects the skin from free radicals, supporting a healthy appearance. Sunflower oil hydrates, protects, and regenerates the skin due to its high vitamin E content. Panthenol has strong moisturizing and soothing effects and supports skin regeneration. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps lighten pigmentation spots. Hyaluronic acid retains a large amount of water in the skin, significantly improving hydration.
Overall, the cream provides excellent hydration thanks to the combination of humectants (glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol) and plant oils and butters. For pigmentation spots, it works primarily through white mulberry extract, hibiscus, and antioxidants (vitamin E, bisabolol).
My Impressions from Testing
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate it when I get too much sun on my face? I really don’t like it, and I can’t recognize myself in the mirror afterward. If it’s just a slight sun-kissed glow on my nose to keep me from being too pale, that’s fine. But I try to avoid getting too tanned or, heaven forbid, my face turning brown. And worse yet—having to deal with pigmentation spots. Oh no… that’s a no-go for me, I prefer prevention!
Why am I mentioning this? Besides never letting go of my sunscreen, I also try to look for ingredients in skincare that specifically target pigmentation spots. Because I’m terrified of getting them and not being able to get rid of them if I let them “burn” onto my face. So in addition to occasionally using Myrro’s whitening balm with lemon essential oil, which saved me this year from getting too much sun (just a week of using it, hehe), I also love the magical ingredients in everyday creams and serums. And that’s what the Marshmallow Rose cream from JouJou is.
Not only does the cream beautifully brighten the skin from the first use, as if someone just flicked a light switch inside, but it’s also incredibly pleasant. I truly believe there’s no skin type that wouldn’t fall in love with it. Whether you have oily, combination, or dry skin, this delicate pink little gem can nourish and hydrate it without ever making you feel like you’re sweating under it, suffocating, or that it’s not rich enough in hydration. I don’t know how JouJou managed to formulate this, but it seems like they’ve created a product that suits everyone. Strange? Yes. But also amazing!
The fluffy, gentle texture absorbs so eagerly and quickly into the skin that you’ll feel like adding more layers just to make sure you don’t miss out on anything. It’s as if your skin wants more and more, and everything you give it, it drinks up entirely. Of course, don’t add layers—two pumps are enough for one application. If you need more, you can always reach for your concealer or sunscreen throughout the day. If you truly feel like the cream isn’t enough, take it to the next nourishing level with a few drops of the Absolute Berry oil from the same brand. Or try Myrro’s Remodeling Serum (but only at night, as it contains retinol, which shouldn’t be used in the sun).
The only thing that occasionally gives me an aesthetic twitch is the slight separation of the pinkish element in the whipped texture. This doesn’t affect the cream at all. It happens because it’s natural skincare without synthetic stabilizers. Just shake the bottle, and it’s gone. I researched what might be happening, and it’s most likely the pink drop comes from either the madder root extract (which has a reddish-purple color) or hibiscus. Either way—no harm done.
Would I Recommend the Cream?
Absolutely yes. The JouJou Marshmallow cream is excellent. Nourishing. Lightweight. Brightening. Beautifully fragrant. Works well under makeup and sunscreen. And—very importantly—it looks great on your bathroom shelf. My little JouJou crush continues.
*PR sample – chosen by me, loved (or not) by me. I picked it out myself, no arm-twisting involved 🌞
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