I swear by the biore UV aqua rich sunscreen and I've tried the 2023 version. There's a different delivery system now and what looks like a much smaller container...but it's actually about the same size as the large bottle was and the new delivery system allows you to get every bit of the sunscreen and it produces less plastic waste. I wasn't sure about it at first, but I've grown to like it a lot.
I really like the Jung Soon Barrier Cream! It feels really comforting to the skin without being heavy. I live in a humid climate and have normal to slightly oily skin. I may have a different formulation though? Mine has a twist and lock, but the product flows through an outer circle, with no cross lines like the one in your photo.
In today's era of so many skincare videos online Michele your authenticity and knowledge blows me away. Please make more such videos as I learn a lot about my skin .I love your videos girl!!
Oh how I relate to feeling “meh” about toners that just hydrate, even when they do it well! I adored that Hada Labo when I had it, but the second I finished it I kind of forgot it’s existence…
Yeah we're spoiled with choice now! I have a lot of fondness for legacy HG products like the Hada Labo though, so I definitely ranked it higher than I would've for a newer product...
I feel the same way! There are so many essences & serums that are formulated w/ humectants that it's like... Why bother? I might as well get my hydration AND stuff like exfoliating, calming, brightening, or antioxidant action. I use the COSRX 96% Snail Power Essence now, which DOES primarily moisturize, but it also keeps my skin bright & helps my moisturizer spread more evenly. I'm a fan!
The Isntree green tea toner is amazing for fighting inflammation and antioxidant protection but not for hydrating lol. I apply it first thing after cleansing and and it helps with calming and redness. It does help with pores over time too!
I have it in mist bottle and I spray it immediately after cleansing too. Too watery and not hydrating enough, I usually follow it up with Cosrx 96 snail essence. But I'm not always in the mood to put on two cleansers so... 😅
Oh, I never really saw the snail mucin as an exotic/"oriental" gimmicky thing, it's just had a surprisingly strong effect on my skin over time. Scar repair, mostly. I had acne pitting become significantly less severe from using a snail mucin serum.
I unfortunately had an allergic reaction from it. Apparently the snail it’s not recommended for people who are allergic to dust mites, I need to research more about it.
It's traditionally used in France as well. I watched video on a woman raising escargot snails for food and she put one on her face saying it's good and a traditional moisturizer.
As someone with very sensitive and dry skin, I absolutely love the soon jung line. I’ve never had any problems with any of the products I’ve tried including the barrier cream. A lot of products cause rashes on my cheeks, and irritate my skin but I absolutely adore their line. If you have a similar skin type, I highly recommend!
@LabMuffinBeautyScience It’s been my HG for at least 7 years and I have very dry skin and I have Rosacea. I try other things from time to time but I always come back to Biore. I use it in my body too.
I really wanted to like them but I found the scent of both the essence and gel off-putting. Instead, I use Skin Aqua in both gel and essence formulas. They doesn’t smell like anything to me.
I love the soon jung 2x barrier cream so very much, and here’s why: 1. I agonized to find a noncomedogenic moisturizer that was a *cream* not a stupid gel or gel-cream. I have combination, acne prone skin. But I love heavy creams!! This definitely could be richer but it’s the nicest, one of the most moisturizing creams I’ve found without isopropyl myristate/palmitate or other pore cloggers. I really do feel the moisture lasts as well!! 2. At first I was like “WHY” about the airless pump twist cap, but once I got used to doing it, honestly it’s SOOO satisfying to swipe it off the flat surface. Like asmr. 3. This works for day or night! It’s milky silky and smooth under makeup and never pills like cerave, etc. It’s also *just barely* moisturizing enough to keep me quenched through the night. I’m open to trying other products but so far this one hits all the marks 4. Simple ingredients, but it does include some stuff my skin loves, like the madecassoside, green tea, panthenol, shea butter, and sunflower oil 5. Affordable / easily available on yesstyle or even amazon in a pinch. Cheaper than the Cetaphil Redness Relief night moisturizer, another favorite (but soon jung has a silkier texture!) 6. Minimal decently attractive packaging
The COSRX bha black head power liquid is a holy grail for me. I used to use the Paula’s choice 2% and while it did work I hated putting it on, it has more of a oily consistency, it would drip everywhere and it irritated my skin. The COSRX one gives me the same results without the irritation, the consistency is so much better and hydrating. It has a pump so I don’t struggle with spilling it everywhere and contaminating the product. I have combination skin and struggle with white heads, blackheads, sebaceous fillaments and millia so I Use a chemical exfoliant almost everyday.
Hey, I'm so glad to hear this cus I'm in a somewhat similar situation! I used to use the Paula's Choice exfoliator as well and it worked but was SO harsh. I recently switched to the COSRX one because it's way more affordable (less than half the price?!) and it's been doing okay, but I still get new pimples popping up. May I ask if you use anything alongside the COSRX BHA liquid to help with skin troubles? My blackheads have been pretty stubborn :(
@@pharen4108 hi!! Omg thank you, I've been using that some by mi toner alongside the cosrx stuff as well! Honestly I really like how it feels and smells. Ahh I should look into purging cus I never heard about it till I read these comments. I've been too scared to use the power liquid as of late, but I'll look into it more cus i do wanna give it a chance :')
@@shahdaryu my skin used to be so oily with large clogged pores and acne prone , and now it’s completely acne free and no longer an oil spill (my bf’s word). What I did is for night routine use CosrX Salicylic acid gentle daily wash, then Niacinamide (the Ordinary brand ) , retinol (the ordinary brand) Cosrx Snail Essence , then your choice of eye cream and moisturizer . For day time I’d use Cosrx good morning cleanser, alternate Cosrx BHA and AHA liquid each day, wait 30 minutes, vitamin C serum (Tiam or Cosrx ), moisturizer then sunscreen . Oh and after washing face immediately apply Hadalabo lotion on DAMP SKIN . The routines sound like a lot , but it totally transformed my skin 😊
@@CaliberDawn yes, I use retinol after the Hadalabo lotion, wait for a bit may be 10 minutes, then Niacinamide, followed with the snail essense and moisturizer. It's okay to change up the order since they have similar consistency. You should apply skincare by the watery first then thicker consistency after. I used to use retinol after Niacinamide since it was the type in squalane oil, but now I'm using the stronger retinol at 2% (also from The Ordinary) which isn't mixed in oil.
Point for the Soon Jung Intensive Cream: I have very dry skin due to Sicca Syndrome and so far it’s the only non-medical moisturiser I’ve tried that is moisturising enough to prevents dry eczema and does not break me out. I’ve tried expensive dry skin lines from LaNeige, Clinique etc. It’s as moisturising as a serum to me. I use the Soon Jung Intensive cream twice a day and mix it with Squalane (The Ordinary) in Winter. I live in France, we have oceanic climate here (cool summers, mild winters, mild humidity).
Michelle mentioning the lack of occlusives in Korean creams makes so much sense to me! I use the pyunkang yul intensive repair cream before I apply retinoid & just a few minutes later my skin feels super dried out. That's never happened with Western creams before
You would like the round lab dokdo cream it’s sooo thick and has one of the better ingredients lists I’ve seen. Ceremides cholesterol and fatty acids and the ceramides actually sit at the top of the list. A better one that I find insanely occlusive is the Pyunkang Yul ATO blue label CREAM. it is worth every single penny especially in the winter with tretinoin
i find that a bit of a 'whut' moment but i do realised that majority of western speaking k-skincare/beauty consumers aren't korean. most don't even actually scratch the surface of the items and brands that are actually great or well known in korea. 99.99% brands mentioned in western/english based youtube skincare promoting k-beauty vs actual korean skincare youtubers are totally different. like pyunkang yul for example, i have truly never seen it mentioned except in western based videos. And in the western speaking k-beauty realm, its always that same old few items and brands. /r/asianbeauty also are majorly filled with rec of products in that same sense. its unfortunate, but to really find gems from k-beauty, one have to understand korean because not enough of them cater to western speaking audience to put subtitles which is a shame.
You’re right, it has been hard to look for occlusive ones in terms of ingredients. So far, I can say the Beauty of Joseon dynasty cream, Isntree Yam cream, Tocobo multi-ceramide, im from rice cream are good
@@freespiritdamsel have you tried aestura atobarrier 365 cream before? I want to recommend Yunjac whole plant effect essential cream (but its on the pricier side though) as well. I have combi skin but more on the dry side and using retinoid as well so that dries me out even further and aestura works great for me. Its occlusive and also calming and soothes even psoriasis
I'm glad you like the Cosrx snail essense. I use if after microneedling because it is so soothing. My skin has been healing quickly afterwards. It also helps to create a glowey look because of the way it reflects light, and I find it surprisingly moisturizing considers it's only a humectant. In the winter I will still switch to their snail cream, but this is great stuff for the rest of the year. I can't wait to try their propolis toner!
I couldn't agree more about the illiyoon user experience! When I told people I wake up dry after using it, they thought I'd destroyed my skin barrier by over exfoliation, but much less thick products work far better for keeping my skin moisturized all night.
Can I say that I appreciate you listed what type of skin you have! It’s so important but so many ppl skip over it! I think probably 50% of ppl do it b/c they wanna push products and 50% do it because they don’t really know. I need more ppl to be transparent like that!
the pyunkang yul essence toner in my and my partner's experience a great anti inflammatory!! It's been a game changer in terms of like ezcema type stuff on the scalp.
There are actually three versions of the Canmake sunscreen. The clear (original) one has a pink label on the front, there are also white and green labelled versions (mineral and colour correcting, respectively). The original is very nice and doesn't leave a white cast on me although I'm a Fitzpatrick type 2.
My skin color is medium dark tan and the clear does not leave a white cast. It also doesn't feel like it has changed the formula that much. I've been using it for years and I have gotten it from many different stores, online and in person.
People with darker skin have been complaining that the clear version now has a white cast: www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/hmepaa/new_2020_formulation_for_canmake_mermaid_skin_gel/
@Lab Muffin Beauty Science interesting, then not sure what the difference is. I got a new one recently at my local asian store and I had no problem. It may just be that my experience is different. I'm thankful for that because it's my favorite.
well considering that the comments in the thread are 3 years old and my canmake bought 4 months ago is still clear and withtout a cast and dated for last autumn, I think there might have been another re-formulation in between even?
I hear you on the inconvenience of getting cleansing oil from your hands to your face. The reason I tolerate it (and use the Kose specifically) is because it's much more effective at coating my lashes and removing waterproof mascara than balms tend to be. As for the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream, I really like it. I have dry, easily dehydrated, sensitive skin with mild rosacea, and live in a variable climate. A few winters ago, I'd been using too many products on my skin, probably had more barrier issues than usual, and had to pair down my skincare routine. My normal moisturizer wasn't heavy enough and was also causing some stinging when it hadn't before. I'd tried several creams meant for sensitive skin, and they all either stung, caused an allergic reaction, or clogged my pores. It got to the point where I was scared to apply anything to my face. The Soon Jung was one of the only moisturizers that didn't cause any issues for me at all, and was such a relief. One from Avène worked for me as well, but it was just too expensive. The Soon Jung also gives a nice glow that I prefer the look of. But I could see this product not being occlusive or soothing enough for those with incredibly dry, irritated skin. I now use the Pyunkang Yul Ato Cream (blue label), which works really well and is a bit heavier, which I prefer. Very cost effective too since it's technically a body cream. I prefer it to the Illiyoon because it actually contains emollient and occlusive ingredients, albeit "natural," like shea butter and beeswax.
That is so relatable, my skin is combined and it tends to get so dry around my cheekbones during winter, this season is just deadly for me. And whenever I apply moisturising products, these dry patches start burning. It is horrible.
one thing I’d love to hear more about is how much Differin/Adapalene specifically differs from Tretinoin or other OTC retinols/retinals. I’m exclusively getting conflicting info on how likely Differin is to work for “anti aging”, sun damage, scarring and texture, some people say not at all and a retinal serum is better and others say it will work for all of those just not as quickly as Tret and it’s gonna be more effective than a retinal!! idk what to believe 😭
I think all the pharmaceutical retinoids probably work pretty similarly for all retinoid indications, IMO the main difference is just what it's been studied or approved to treat. There's a bit of talk about how they hit different receptors but I don't think the differences are large enough to make any of them not work at all for aging or acne or anything else.
differin helped my cystic acne. i now use a prescription version of it since i wanted a higher dose and higher doses only come in rx form. i love it and use it at night before my moisturizer. my skin looks thicker more plump and smooth.
Omg!! I am so glad I watched this video! I just got the cosrx nail mucin essence and have been dealing with lots of closed commedones for the last few weeks when i never had them before. I’ll take it out of my routine and see if it gets better. Thank you so much for this!! ❤
Great video as always! I tried that Soon Jung moisturizer from Etude and it's one of my favorite skincare products ever! It's been my go-to AM moisturizer this past winter season and I was so sad when I finished it (for context: where I live, the climate is very humid all year round. The temperature rarely goes under 0° C during the day in the winter season). Skin type: normal to dry and tends to be dehydrated (no matter how much water I drink, you can still notice the fine lines on my forehead).
I can attest to the Rohto Melano CC. While it didn’t completely remove my dark spots, particularly the old ones, it really helped lighten them. The Melano CC is most effective when used on an active pimple. When I use it, getting an ugly spot is much much lower. Lastly, because of its packaging, it’s pretty stable and lasts a looong time.
I live in a dryer area in Brazil, so I need a least a mist to pack hydration throughout the day even though I have oily skin. Been using tretinoin which is already drying to the skin and I cannot live without a mist and that’s why I’m really surprised that the poll doesn’t have a nice hydrating mist in the product list. I can attest that the cosRX snail line have improved my skin so much! Bioré sunscreen has been my go-to this summer even though it has ethanol, which I don’t mind cause it’s a better solvent option for my oily prone skin. I ordered the cosRX propolis toner and I’m excited to try it.
I bought something from this list, completely forgot about it, it came in the mail 800 years later, and now I have to go back and look up what you said about it😂❤
I remember trying the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence in around 2019/2020 and my skin got so itchy I could actually feel a pimple form under my skin :( Just shows how skincare is so YMMV. It also sat on top of my skin in a greasy layer and made my eyes water (I used to live in a humid climate). Happy for the people it works for though because I do recall enjoying the texture and the fragrance :)
The 2019 reformulation did the same thing to me and gave me closed comedones every time I tried it. I loved the previous formulation so it made me so sad when I couldn't make the new one work!
I absolutely think humidity and temperature makes a difference - it works great for me most of the year but I start to have problems in the summer when the weather is hot and humid...
Oh! My area is very dry, so when I use this Biore sunscreen, it goes on and disappears. I suspect sweat mixes with this sunscreen and burns my eyes though. Maybe the climate is the difference.
I was using the Mermaid Sunscreen for a while. My first try at a Japanese brand, but lately have been using The Beauty of Joseon brand sunscreen. Like it a lot, and feels so lightweight on.
I have been using the cosrx BHA liquid and I actually find that it really does help to cut down on my black heads! I really work it in around and on my nose, which is where my black heads predominantly appear and I have been very pleased So far
Hiii just wanna say that for french people a lotion is something liquid but with that cream effect too 😊 and it is often refers as lait which means milk 🥛! Ps I love your review !
I loved the Soon Jung 2x barrier cream. I have dry skin and like it both in summer and winter. For me, it just sinks into my skin and absorbs very well, so I'm surprised to hear that it sits on your skin. I guess we all have different skin types :)
Same I have very dry skin due to Sicca Syndrome and so far it’s the only moisturiser I’ve tried that prevents dry skin eczema. I’ve tried expensive dry skin lines from LaNeige, Clinique etc. It’s as moisturising as a serum to me. I use the Soon Jung Intensive cream twice a day and mix it with Squalane (The Ordinary) in Winter.
I'm one of those who loves the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream. But we also have *very* different skin types. 1. I have extremely sensitive skin, easily irritated even by tap water. I have chronic eczema, too, the kind that I have to regularly treat with zero therapy. So I love this cream primarily because it has never caused irritation - if I can't use something due to irritation it doesn't matter how fabulous it is in other ways. 2. My cheeks are extremely dry. I tend to only use this over my butterfly zone, especially because I'm a nurse and that's the area I get mask chafe and eczema from masks with specific chemical treatments (not in a "natural products only" way just some antiseptics and disinfectants are more irritating than others and I'm certain many cheaper N95s aren't choosing that based on my specific skin sensitivities). 3. I live in a much drier climate than Sydney! I especially like this when I'm in Adelaide or inland Victoria where it's very dry. Also of note: the water in Adelaide and inland is much harder than East Coast metro tap water, and hard water gives me eczema. I find this especially good when I'm in California with the famously hard US tap water irritating my skin.
I use that subreddit and tbh, have used literally every single product mentioned lol. I prefer western brands for exfoliating, the asian ones don’t do anything. But for everything else especially toners, essences, sunscreens and moisturiser it’s all Asian Beauty for me. For cleansing either or, as I so like products for cleansing from both.
Thank you. Another amazing review 👏 My HG is the Melano CC. It’s not the best and most effective vitamin c but it does not irritate my skin and I can use it daily in the morning on face and back of my hands . I have used about 10 tubes and it does brighten my skin and with my sunscreen over it help to prevent pigmentation.
Being a former obsessed lurker of r/AB from 2014-2019, this was really fun to watch and see all the recs as it really hasn't changed much there haha! For a data point on Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream, I use it and it does a great job for me all year round: My skin: Dehydrated, very sensitive, and prone to acne. Climate: northeast US so very dry in the winter, and humid in the summer but it works for me with each season. I use it at night with a routine of double cleansing (micellar water & milky cleanser), light toner, mugwort essence (shoutout to Im from mugwort!), and soon jung on top of it all. Moisturizers that have worked for me in the past were: Goodal Premium Snail Tone-Up Cream, Mizon Black Snail All In One Cream -- so more lightweight stuff works considering I like layering
I also use the mugwort essence and soon jung and have similar skin type! I feel like the soon jung is nice hydration but it isn't extremely hydrating as I'd like
I feel like I learn so much about skincare when I watch your videos, like I might not even be buying these things but it helps me understand what I already have too 🫶 love the effort that goes into these videos ❤
The watery lotion in the pink bottle is something I randomly bought 3-4 years ago and have been reordering ever since. I just use it on my face, but I might try it on my whole body now.
i have normal-dehydration prone skin and i LOVE hydrating toners, the hada labo premium lotion has been a holy grail for me. when it comes to year-long tropical & humid weather i hate heavy moisturizers (even "gel" moisturizers bog down my skin with the amount i sweat every day). i love using toners with a watery serum and a lightweight gel sunscreen. it's light enough to sink into my skin but moisturizing enough that i don't have to worry when i'm constantly in an air conditioned room!
Muffin & Friends: Besides the legacy Kikumasamune Essence looking fabulous sitting upon the vanity and body use post shower, I use it as a refreshing scalp treatment along with a scalp massage. Works beautifully.
Hi Dr Michelle! I just wanted to say THANK YOU for ALL of the amazing advice and knowledge you provide in your videos! It is such a shit show in the marketing arena these days and it's so nice to have someone like you out there trying to debunk and correct all the nonsense with facts and science! Your hard work and information is greatly appreciated! You have saved me so many times from purchasing something I didn't need and something my skin DEF didn't need and turned me onto things I probably Never would have tried! You are doing such a wonderful job of clearing up a lot of misunderstandings and misinformation that a lot of us "consumers" deal with daily. I love all of the chemical knowledge I have learned, as well...watching you is like sitting in the BEST Chemistry class Ever...and I'm ACTUALLY interested! Lmao🤣 You are just so AWESOME!!🤩 Keep up the fantastic work!
I'm glad you mentioned Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion. I use this all over myself and it's convenient to put on my scalp in the shower, compared to regular lotion. I agree, the scent is weird. The price is great.
Ive never thought to put it on my scalp! I have a sensory thing with body lotions so ive used that and the hatomugi all over and then top it off with a non greasy lotion haha, but its nice to find out another way to use it, my scalp has been dryer lately!
It's so crazy how skincare works out so differently for everyone's skin type, even with some formulations being more advanced than others. The Illiyoon moisturizer is a new holy grail for my dry skin (even though I hate the misinformation on it), like a "I didn't know my skin could feel like this" kind of hydration, but it's not supposed to be hydrating based on the formulation??!! Wild. It's so stressful trying to find skincare that works when its all so subjective.
I just got it and it's great! A lot better for me than the Benton steam cream which seemed so promising but wasn't rich enough + caused texture 😔 Hoping these next couple wks I don't react to my new illiyoon!
Used it also and it is better than my cerave. this is for people who have fungal acne. The ingredients she said that it lacks is petrolatum and mineral oil are both bad for acne prone people.
I haven’t tried the toner, but I really like the Isntree green tea fresh emulsion. It’s a nice lightweight moisturizer for under sunscreen and my skin finds it super soothing.
my skin is normally quite oily, but after starting tretinoin it got really dry and flakey. I couldnt get it to stop peeling and the only products that helped were the Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream and Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream so I was quite surprised you werent a fan of either! Guess it shows how skin care is a hit or miss cause they truly saved my skin :)
The kikumasamune is HG for me! It is the only reason my face isn’t flaky and dry in the winter. I use a couple pumps under a hyaluronic acid serum and then a thicker lotion over top to seal it all in.
Here's something that bugs me when I hear people talk about Isntree's toner -- they'll claim the light brown color indicates it's a "good" concentration of tea, but it literally has another brown ingredient on the list. The color tells you nothing about the tea. Anyway, I LOVE a good green tea toner, but Isntree's is out of my routine. I liked it in the summer because it did feel refreshing on my skin. But, when I bought it again I found the new bottle really irritated my skin. The ingredients list was the same, so I thought maybe it was a bad batch or something. I purchased a travel-size bottle to try it again a year later, and it broke me out again. I'm not too upset because I think I actually like the Benton toner better, anyway! I'm excited to try the Dr. Ceuracle kombucha toner as well. I know you said you don't think green tea does much for your skin, but it's one of my favorite ingredients.
All these comments criticizing this toner are interesting since it's one of my favorites. I have one in stock and will start after I finish another toner/essence. I felt it was hydrating especially for the summer months. The only issue so far was it would stain my reusable rounds when I used it a year ago.
I adore the Etude Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream! I've gone through 2 bottles so far, and I've ordered my next one already. I normally have dry skin, but the reason I started using the Etude Soon Jung was after the Kate Sommerville retinol + vitamin c product combo destroyed my skin barrier (even though I had successfully used other retinol products without issue in the past). My face was pretty much an embarrassing disaster. The Etude Soon Jung helped alleviate the dry, scaly, patchy tightness all over my face, and it moisturized my skin so well that I've continued using it for about 2 years now. I usually use it in the PM, because although it does work nicely under makeup, it has no SPF.
Regarding your last question in the video, I like to mist the Kikumasamune High Moist over a layer of (dried down) CosRx Snail Mucin because the snail mucin has a bunch of hyaluronic acid and I have dry skin (and live somewhere with dry winters), so the High Moist gives the HA some water to lock on to. Another glycerin based toner would probably also work well, but I haven't tried yet - I like the look of the I'm From Rice Toner so that will probably be my next toner purchase. Alone I find either product to be just okay but in combination they're my holy grail. Also it's funny you say the High Moist smells like apple cider, to me it always smells like Dubble Bubble chewing gum (not a fan).
Dr Michelle LabMuffin, here’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask you, but always forget: A couple of years ago, here in Sweden, where I live, the Public Service TV ran a short science documentary series about the cosmetics industry - the claims, the science, the ingredients & the biology/chemistry basics, studies & research review, their own very small ”study” with male & female subjects etc. There was an expert panel with professionals from the Swedish ”FDA”, chemists etc. Now to the point: the Dalton unit came up, of course. Then on to the peptides - what was interesting, is that some Chemistry PhD/associate professor in Life Science guy said, that although the peptide Dalton size is OK for penetration, he calculated that it would take like 10 years for the peptides to reach the cell entry point of interest - making the peptides useless as antiaging active. I thought WTF?! Ofcourse. I kid you not, that’s what I heard, or else I had the weirdest hearing hallucination ever. Any comments? Cheers!
I've heard the same thing, but I understand that fermenting peptides makes the molecules much smaller. I recently started using a fermented peptide essence. It's too soon to see results, but the experience of using it is lovely.
The Cosrx BHA worked great for me for a few years, but now I feel like I’d like to try something stronger. It’s still effective and overall I recommend it!
For AHAs, I definitely prefer stuff from The Inkey List over Asian skincare options. And my fave BHA is the Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer [one of their only products that doesn't fuck up my skin]. I have combination skin which is very blackhead prone & Betaine Salicylate/Willow Bark just... Doesn't cut it.
Omg that Etude soonjung barrier cream used to be a holy grail. Then when I was dealing with tretinoin and winter dryness I tried the balm and I LOVE it. It gives a film type of protection on the skin. I used to wake up with horrible dryness and I’d put that ball on my cheeks and it just made the dry flakes literally disappear and not be visible. I love that stuff. I’ve since moved onto other things but the balm will always stay on my shelf. I like the purito dermide balm it’s a bit of a different texture but I like it. My fav thing about Asian skincare is the textures and the fact that I’ve never had a single cream pill on my skin. I could layer 10 layers of Korean creams in my face and never experience pulling. American moisturizers are the worst for pilling. I haven’t had almost a single North American product NOT pill on me. I have an extremely unhealthy phobia to pilling on my face so I’ve been through the ringer. Also the Pyunkang Yul ATO blue label is a HG. One of the best occlusives I’ve ever owned and I own dozens of Korean creams. Illyoon cream is just ok-I prefer the ATO lotion to the cream ❤ ok ranting over lol😅
The soon Jung 2x barrier intensive is SO good for me. On a normal day I have normal skin. I live in Melbourne, in summer I can get oily. With tret I get quite dry. No matter what, I love this year round. I find it sinks into my skin way better than LRP CP B5, despite CP B5 being the holy grail for barrier repair (that one is my mask, moisturiser, and is the most effective at quickly sorting out an impaired barrier). It's one of my most repurchased products.
I was going to repurchase the Rhoto Vitamin C essence but it went out of stock on yesstyle after this video 😢 Its really a steal when you compare it to some western vit c serums that turn brown as soon as you open them
I am 64 and love the Isntree Green Tea toner. Now, I have never had skin issues; breakouts, acne, etc. Toners have never been my thing. I've used them on and off over the decades, but never really found them useful. I saw something, I don't even remember what, that prompted me to try this toner. I'm on my third bottle. I put it in a mister and use it after cleansing morning and night. It gives hydration and brings a clarity to my skin I didn't have before.
The Soon Jung 2x Barrier cream works amazing for me, it's one of my favorite moisturizers of all time! Feels like giving my skin a hug, haha :') I really love the whole Soon Jung line. The cleanser is great too, it's so basic and never irritates or dries out my skin. My skin type and climate: I live in Norway where it's cold for 6 months out of the year. My skin is dryness prone (gets flaky dry in the winter if I neglect my routine) and I have rosacea that requires constant management to stay under control.
It made my skin so glowy and plump just after one application! However, I noticed pimples coming out at the same time. I used it on and off and confirmed it does cause pimples. Sigh, love how it helps with hydration
Always Love your video, Michelle. Can you do a video with this format but with French pharmaceutical skincare brands. That could be helpful a lot. Thank you.
The korean brand I've consistently used for the past six years has been the moistfull collagen collection from etude house which are the toner, serum, emulsion and sometimes essence, mostly because they're at good prices and have worked wonders for my skin. For cleanser, i use the innisfree green tea and for moisturizer, i use the aveeno no scent lotion, i try to keep it simply. I also use the neutrogena 70 spf sheer sunscreen and its good enough lol
I LOVE the Isntree Green Tea Toner - It brings me somuch hydration and my cheeks are instantly calmed. I have redness in my cheeks (i've been told it is either PIE or just highly active capillaries) and somehow it calmed things right now. I tried using the Amore Pacific green tea toner and though I also liked that - I just felt that the combination of ingredients in the Isntree one did wonders!
Kikumasamune in japan is marketed as both for body and face!!! Also the smell is pure sake scent to me and I know that because we also have sake baths in Japan
So the RoundLab cleanser is on this giant list of cleansers with a neutral pH, which is why I bought it and have repurchased it several times. I always tell people who like the Taycha Rice Powder (speaky clean feeling because the pH is like 8 or 9 😱) to use the Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash, which is neutral and makes your skin feel buttery soft instead of stripped. Got super into cleanser pH when I randomly started to get hormonal acne at 24 despite not having it as a teenager. I'm 29 now and as long as I use a BHA once and a while, no more monthly flare ups!
There are 4 types of can make mermaid skin gel available to order on some Asian online markets. One clear, that you recommended an it is just fine to the day (I see no difference after using for quite a while) and there is also white one, that people probably purchased mistakenly, it has white cast, there’s also one with mint and tinted, both emerged not long ago.
Yea I thought it was weird she mentioned it has a white cast now. The regular version doesn’t. People are probably grabbing one of the tone up versions.
Yes the round lab cleanser is such a holy grail I love it so much and yes to the cute seal!!!! Usually I avoid foam cleanser but that cleanser is just amazing!!!
Korean products update their ingredients almost every year tweaking for better results. I watch Director Pi on youtube for information sometimes it has translated subtitles in English but she is the holy grail on Korean beauty product information
I'm such a skeptic on this because I find it hard to believe a brand is going to update a product yearly and still make a profit. This means reformulating, testing again, meeting regulations, etc. Unless, I'm missing something, this would cost millions.
I must have received the old formula of the Mermaid sunscreen because it was amazing when I bought it last year. It felt like a light moisturizer and no white cast. I do remember there was a “clear” option and a “white” version where I purchased it, so maybe it was just the old and newer formula.
The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid works just as well as Paula's Choice. I've used both for years and actually prefer the COSRX one. Once I run out of my PC one, I'm going to replace it with the COSRX one. I feel like it had more of a brightening affect and I like how it made my skin feel better.
I have combination, sensitive skin. I find the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream to be quite heavy on me, but it moisturizes pretty well, so I use it at night. Garnier Micellar -> Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion -> Soon Jung 2x barrier Cream is my night time routine and I've found it works really well for me. The heaviness of the barrier cream doesn't bother me because I'm in bed, and it has all night to absorb and do whatever it does and my face feels nice in the morning.
Round Lab probably reformulated the Dokdo cleansing foam at one point without changing the packaging because the original clear transparent gel texture has now become a milky gel in appearance.
As an alternative i recently started using the Neogen Cica Repair Snail essence which combines snail and centella and OMG this is a wonderful product!!!!!
Soon Jung 2x barrier cream is SO lovely imo. i have dry skin (live in South Australia) and i love putting it on before sleeping or under my makeup in the morning. my makeup doesnt clutch onto my dry spots anymore, my skin feels soooooo lovely too. i agree with the lid dispensing too much product though haha.
Dry, dehydrated skin that lives somewhere dry: - Canmake SPF: Tried older version; it was nice and felt smooth. Didn't have a smell or leave a white cast. I never repurchased it though because it didn't feel like a holy grail. -Cosrx Snail Mucin: Got it. Forgot about it. Use it on arms since I have KP and don't want it to go to waste. Not a HG for me. Seemed to dry my skin further. - I haven't used the cosrx propolis but I do have the iunik propolis and it's a HG. I love it and have repurchased it. So good to my dry, sensitive skin. - Laneige Cream Skin Refiner: HG. Love it! I don't want to be without it. lol - Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cream did not work out as a face cream. My significant other used the entire cream up on his hands and he said it's the only thing he's tried that has worked wonders. Keeping an eye on it for price drops to load up for this use. - I'm From Rice Toner doesn't do anythiung substantial other than ~some brightening. I won't repurchase.
I agree regarding the exfoliating chemicals, sometimes it feels like Asian products are extremely low concentration to the point that it doesn't feel effective but some western exfoliants that I would never use because it's so crazy strong. I saw a dermatologist in Asia and was given 7% glycolic acid which already feels so strong to me so I was shocked to find out that there are people who use the TO 7% glycolic as a deodorant since the underarms seem like a sensitive skin area! I want to try the Melano CC, I also have a lot of hyperpigmentation and do rotate through AHA, BHA, adapalene and azelaic acid but I'm hoping Vitamin C will speed things up. I personally like western silicon heavy primer-like sunscreens under makeup but I also really like bulk size Asian gel sunscreens even if the protection isn't as high for daily usage. I think the only Asian product category that I don't find cost effective for the amount of product is moisturizing creams except for Illiyoon. Other than that I'm quite happy sticking with Hadalabo for HA and Hatomugi Skin Conditioner as my holy grails! I do find myself siding with Western products for benzoyl peroxide cleanser, BHA pads and the Aveeno Cream (previously I liked the illiyoon Cream but Aveeno was just more accessible to me as I just wanted a ceramide cream and have grown to appreciate petrolatum as an occlusive ingredient)
I used to use the Biore sunscreen but have since switched to Canmake, it suits my sensitive combination skin much better and doesn't feel dry at the end of the day. I really like it and it has no whitecast :)
I just saw a product advertise itself as free from Urea... like, among the other things it said it was formulated without such as mineral oil and parabens (which is annoying enough), they say they're not formulating with something that's naturally present in human skin, acting like urea is bad and dirty and unsafe. I thought of you after reading it and how grateful I am for your work, you explain things so well and I believe I am a more aware, mindful consumer because of the information you share. And I really hope other brands keep using urea because I adore it as an ingredient
I have oily/normal skin and I like the soon jung and illiyoon for their blandness and affordability! I rely on other products for my skin priorities (acne, hydration) and literally just want a cheap moisturizer that soothes and moisturizes but not too heavily. Those two are perfect for me during night time in dry seasons. in contrast cosrx snail mucin essence was only okay for me--i like the cosrx snail mucin "cream" a lot more since it feels like it plumps up my skin more
I've only tried like 2 of all these lol. As someone with oily acne prone/clogging prone skin, I don't see the point of using toners and what not. I can usually skip to sunscreen in the am and moisturizer in the pm without any extra moisturizing steps, which is what a lot of these products seem to be geared towards. I have gotten into active toners recently tho, like the Paula's Choice 2% bha in order to address the clogged pores. I wasn't aware that vit c can help address PIH which I also need a lot of extra help with so I think I'll try that Melano product :) Thanks Michelle!
@Lab Muffin Beauty Science - Aussie here the etude products do work great for some people with sensitive dryish skin, my mum has Rosacea, and the Etude House Soon Jung 10-Free Moist Emulsion works great for that and my dad who is a chef and works many hours in hot steamy kitchens, uses it too and it helps his Rosacea. Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream is good for dry patches and people with sensitive skin prone to winter cracking.
The Kikamasumane is a facial holy grail for me, but that's because I'm 60 with extremely dry and dehydrated skin. The smell doesn't bother me because it is not the powdery, overpowering perfumy smell so many skin care products still have. I'm looking at you, Mizon anti wrinkle sleeping pack and almost every L'oreal cream! I can see how it would be terrible for a person with oily skin, though.
found this on my recs, pretty funny that my list would be the complete 180 of this tier list. skincare really is just different strokes for different folks. ex. hada labo was absolutely hell on my skin idk what happened there
I use the Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule; I didn't know that it also came in a toner! The one I use works so nicely for my skin so I might have to check out the toner as well. I'm also all-in on the Cosrx Snail Mucin and have been for years. From the other comments, it sounds like the Soon Jung 2X cream might be a good fit for me as I have extremely sensitive, dry skin (plus acne rosacea for a little ~*razzle-dazzle*~), plus I live in New England in the US so it's usually quite dry here for about 75% of the year. I will see about getting a sample!
Report back if u check it out. Im using the ampule too and it feels hydrating and moisturizing, without feeling like its left a layer of grease on my face. I tried a few serums in the past that felt oil slicky or too tacky which put me off from trying more essences, ampoules, serums. I dont know if its worth it to add another toner when the ampoule should do a similar job? Maybe once i need to restock i’ll try it out
I would argue the round lab dokdo crème is one of THE BEST creams. It’s silky, thicker, and has ceramides higher up in the ingredients list along with cholesterol and fatty acids it’s so healing and like $20! My local Korean store stocks all the popular Korean skincare but I’ve been noticing the ingredients in those products are a bit different than the ingredients in the Korean products we get from Stylevana and those stores. I think they carry products actually being sold in Korea and not the ones marketed to the rest of the world but I’m not sure ❤anyway just blabbering
I've been using Kikumasamune on my face for years now. Sensitive, dehydration prone, hormonal acne. I don't know if my skin is just used to it but it doesn't seem to break me out and it's ridiculously cheap and effective.
Soon jung barrier cream is my absolute favorite moisturized, I've been using it for years now! I have normal-oily skin with rosacea and occasional breakouts. I also like the tatcha water cream moisturizer and the neutrogena gel moisturizer.
I like the I’m from Rice Toner and Mugwort Essence. My skin is pretty dry and dehydrated, and is often gets sensitized (I have asthma, and many allergies.). I’ve been using both of these products for over a month now, and they have been working nicely so far.
I'm really fond of the isntree tea tree toner. It's helped me with oil control (I have combo skin and it's helped with the oiliness on my t-zone) and it has a delightful, light consistency. It's my favourite step in my routine :). It takes a little while its effect to be visible, the first couple of weeks it did do something but not much, but after about a month of using it daily the result is significant. I would recommend it.
I love the Isntree Green Tea Toner. For the Melano CC essence, i just find that any vitamin C product irritates my skin and makes me have some break outs
I'm also a super big fan of the Melano CC serum, I'm someone who can't tolerate vitamin C if used daily, but I like to use it once or twice a week when I'm getting more sun exposure that day, and it is just PERFECT for me! i've had my tube for a year or so and it's also completely transparent, and I don't get any stinging with this vitamin C compared to other ones I've tried. I totally agree about Sun Jung cream, it's lightweight and doesn't irritate my skin, but it just isn't occlusive enough and it sort of forms a film over the skin. Honestly most Korean moisturizers have been like that, very elegant and lightweight but not moisturizing enough, wondering if they could add a bit more shea butter or sth similar into the formula.
@Jerry try body creams, eg. Benton shea butter & coconut body lotion, or the Illyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream. These are face creams for this family
I swear by the biore UV aqua rich sunscreen and I've tried the 2023 version. There's a different delivery system now and what looks like a much smaller container...but it's actually about the same size as the large bottle was and the new delivery system allows you to get every bit of the sunscreen and it produces less plastic waste. I wasn't sure about it at first, but I've grown to like it a lot.
I can't be the only one bothered by the fact that red is at the top and green at the bottom😬
really? all the tier lists are like that
I didn't even notice
Yes! It's bothered me for years now lol
And the “no opinion” should not be on the same color spectrum
I see this so often!! Make it make sense ! 😵💫🥴
I really like the Jung Soon Barrier Cream! It feels really comforting to the skin without being heavy. I live in a humid climate and have normal to slightly oily skin. I may have a different formulation though? Mine has a twist and lock, but the product flows through an outer circle, with no cross lines like the one in your photo.
In today's era of so many skincare videos online Michele your authenticity and knowledge blows me away. Please make more such videos as I learn a lot about my skin .I love your videos girl!!
Oh how I relate to feeling “meh” about toners that just hydrate, even when they do it well! I adored that Hada Labo when I had it, but the second I finished it I kind of forgot it’s existence…
Yeah we're spoiled with choice now! I have a lot of fondness for legacy HG products like the Hada Labo though, so I definitely ranked it higher than I would've for a newer product...
@@LabMuffinBeautyScience plz recommend a few
I bought 3 of the hadalabo lotion/toners. I got the premium ones. I like the gold one so far.
@@LabMuffinBeautyScience would love to see a ranked toner/essence video
I feel the same way! There are so many essences & serums that are formulated w/ humectants that it's like... Why bother? I might as well get my hydration AND stuff like exfoliating, calming, brightening, or antioxidant action.
I use the COSRX 96% Snail Power Essence now, which DOES primarily moisturize, but it also keeps my skin bright & helps my moisturizer spread more evenly. I'm a fan!
The Isntree green tea toner is amazing for fighting inflammation and antioxidant protection but not for hydrating lol. I apply it first thing after cleansing and and it helps with calming and redness. It does help with pores over time too!
I have it in mist bottle and I spray it immediately after cleansing too. Too watery and not hydrating enough, I usually follow it up with Cosrx 96 snail essence. But I'm not always in the mood to put on two cleansers so... 😅
How long does it take for you to see the difference in your pores from using it? My pores are my #1 insecurity 😭😭
@@hurmaes id say probably after 3-4 weeks of consistent use!
@@johnsskincarereviews thank you! I'll consider using this since I have large pores and am acne-prone 😊
This is really helpful, because I am in need of a calming toner to alternate with more acidic, clarifying toner.
Oh, I never really saw the snail mucin as an exotic/"oriental" gimmicky thing, it's just had a surprisingly strong effect on my skin over time. Scar repair, mostly. I had acne pitting become significantly less severe from using a snail mucin serum.
I unfortunately had an allergic reaction from it. Apparently the snail it’s not recommended for people who are allergic to dust mites, I need to research more about it.
It's traditionally used in France as well. I watched video on a woman raising escargot snails for food and she put one on her face saying it's good and a traditional moisturizer.
@@Bea-yg9od omg, my bf is allergic to dust mites and recently tried my snail essence and had to rinse it off because it was stinging
As someone with very sensitive and dry skin, I absolutely love the soon jung line. I’ve never had any problems with any of the products I’ve tried including the barrier cream. A lot of products cause rashes on my cheeks, and irritate my skin but I absolutely adore their line. If you have a similar skin type, I highly recommend!
Biore Watery Gel has been the only sunscreen that I've liked enough to consistently use every day.
I still need to try it - is your skin more oily or dry?
@@LabMuffinBeautyScience, my skin is more oily.
@LabMuffinBeautyScience It’s been my HG for at least 7 years and I have very dry skin and I have Rosacea. I try other things from time to time but I always come back to Biore. I use it in my body too.
I really wanted to like them but I found the scent of both the essence and gel off-putting. Instead, I use Skin Aqua in both gel and essence formulas. They doesn’t smell like anything to me.
@@debbyd5729, yes, the smell and the alcohol can definitely be a turn off for some. I'm usually pretty sensitive to smells and it doesn't bother me.
I love the soon jung 2x barrier cream so very much, and here’s why:
1. I agonized to find a noncomedogenic moisturizer that was a *cream* not a stupid gel or gel-cream. I have combination, acne prone skin. But I love heavy creams!! This definitely could be richer but it’s the nicest, one of the most moisturizing creams I’ve found without isopropyl myristate/palmitate or other pore cloggers. I really do feel the moisture lasts as well!!
2. At first I was like “WHY” about the airless pump twist cap, but once I got used to doing it, honestly it’s SOOO satisfying to swipe it off the flat surface. Like asmr.
3. This works for day or night! It’s milky silky and smooth under makeup and never pills like cerave, etc. It’s also *just barely* moisturizing enough to keep me quenched through the night. I’m open to trying other products but so far this one hits all the marks
4. Simple ingredients, but it does include some stuff my skin loves, like the madecassoside, green tea, panthenol, shea butter, and sunflower oil
5. Affordable / easily available on yesstyle or even amazon in a pinch. Cheaper than the Cetaphil Redness Relief night moisturizer, another favorite (but soon jung has a silkier texture!)
6. Minimal decently attractive packaging
I also love it💜... What's your favourite sunscreen?
@@annabelle007 beauty of Joseon!! So silkyyyy how bout you?
@@Justaregularoldplumbus which one of the beauty of joseon do you like?
@@nancykerrigan there’s more than one BOJ sunscreen?? I’ve only tried the Relief Sun rice spf 50
are you me coz the firsr point is spot on😂
The COSRX bha black head power liquid is a holy grail for me. I used to use the Paula’s choice 2% and while it did work I hated putting it on, it has more of a oily consistency, it would drip everywhere and it irritated my skin. The COSRX one gives me the same results without the irritation, the consistency is so much better and hydrating. It has a pump so I don’t struggle with spilling it everywhere and contaminating the product. I have combination skin and struggle with white heads, blackheads, sebaceous fillaments and millia so I Use a chemical exfoliant almost everyday.
Hey, I'm so glad to hear this cus I'm in a somewhat similar situation! I used to use the Paula's Choice exfoliator as well and it worked but was SO harsh. I recently switched to the COSRX one because it's way more affordable (less than half the price?!) and it's been doing okay, but I still get new pimples popping up. May I ask if you use anything alongside the COSRX BHA liquid to help with skin troubles? My blackheads have been pretty stubborn :(
@@pharen4108 hi!! Omg thank you, I've been using that some by mi toner alongside the cosrx stuff as well! Honestly I really like how it feels and smells. Ahh I should look into purging cus I never heard about it till I read these comments. I've been too scared to use the power liquid as of late, but I'll look into it more cus i do wanna give it a chance :')
@@shahdaryu my skin used to be so oily with large clogged pores and acne prone , and now it’s completely acne free and no longer an oil spill (my bf’s word). What I did is for night routine use CosrX Salicylic acid gentle daily wash, then Niacinamide (the Ordinary brand ) , retinol (the ordinary brand) Cosrx Snail Essence , then your choice of eye cream and moisturizer . For day time I’d use Cosrx good morning cleanser, alternate Cosrx BHA and AHA liquid each day, wait 30 minutes, vitamin C serum (Tiam or Cosrx ), moisturizer then sunscreen . Oh and after washing face immediately apply Hadalabo lotion on DAMP SKIN . The routines sound like a lot , but it totally transformed my skin 😊
@@Helterskelter803 u use the essence over ur retinol?
@@CaliberDawn yes, I use retinol after the Hadalabo lotion, wait for a bit may be 10 minutes, then Niacinamide, followed with the snail essense and moisturizer. It's okay to change up the order since they have similar consistency. You should apply skincare by the watery first then thicker consistency after.
I used to use retinol after Niacinamide since it was the type in squalane oil, but now I'm using the stronger retinol at 2% (also from The Ordinary) which isn't mixed in oil.
Point for the Soon Jung Intensive Cream:
I have very dry skin due to Sicca Syndrome and so far it’s the only non-medical moisturiser I’ve tried that is moisturising enough to prevents dry eczema and does not break me out. I’ve tried expensive dry skin lines from LaNeige, Clinique etc. It’s as moisturising as a serum to me.
I use the Soon Jung Intensive cream twice a day and mix it with Squalane (The Ordinary) in Winter.
I live in France, we have oceanic climate here (cool summers, mild winters, mild humidity).
The silver lining to having oily and acne prone skin is one of the smartest cosmetic RUclipsrs doing lists like these :D Thanks Michelle!
Michelle mentioning the lack of occlusives in Korean creams makes so much sense to me! I use the pyunkang yul intensive repair cream before I apply retinoid & just a few minutes later my skin feels super dried out. That's never happened with Western creams before
You would like the round lab dokdo cream it’s sooo thick and has one of the better ingredients lists I’ve seen. Ceremides cholesterol and fatty acids and the ceramides actually sit at the top of the list. A better one that I find insanely occlusive is the Pyunkang Yul ATO blue label CREAM. it is worth every single penny especially in the winter with tretinoin
i find that a bit of a 'whut' moment but i do realised that majority of western speaking k-skincare/beauty consumers aren't korean. most don't even actually scratch the surface of the items and brands that are actually great or well known in korea. 99.99% brands mentioned in western/english based youtube skincare promoting k-beauty vs actual korean skincare youtubers are totally different. like pyunkang yul for example, i have truly never seen it mentioned except in western based videos. And in the western speaking k-beauty realm, its always that same old few items and brands.
/r/asianbeauty also are majorly filled with rec of products in that same sense. its unfortunate, but to really find gems from k-beauty, one have to understand korean because not enough of them cater to western speaking audience to put subtitles which is a shame.
You’re right, it has been hard to look for occlusive ones in terms of ingredients. So far, I can say the Beauty of Joseon dynasty cream, Isntree Yam cream, Tocobo multi-ceramide, im from rice cream are good
@@freespiritdamsel have you tried aestura atobarrier 365 cream before? I want to recommend Yunjac whole plant effect essential cream (but its on the pricier side though) as well. I have combi skin but more on the dry side and using retinoid as well so that dries me out even further and aestura works great for me. Its occlusive and also calming and soothes even psoriasis
@@-l485 you're right! I follow Odile Monod (sorry if I misspelled her name) and it's totally a whole different story of Korean skincare!
I'm glad you like the Cosrx snail essense. I use if after microneedling because it is so soothing. My skin has been healing quickly afterwards. It also helps to create a glowey look because of the way it reflects light, and I find it surprisingly moisturizing considers it's only a humectant. In the winter I will still switch to their snail cream, but this is great stuff for the rest of the year.
I can't wait to try their propolis toner!
I couldn't agree more about the illiyoon user experience! When I told people I wake up dry after using it, they thought I'd destroyed my skin barrier by over exfoliation, but much less thick products work far better for keeping my skin moisturized all night.
I'm a sucker for ranking videos in general. And then when you make them, total cherry on top! THANK YOU!
Can I say that I appreciate you listed what type of skin you have! It’s so important but so many ppl skip over it! I think probably 50% of ppl do it b/c they wanna push products and 50% do it because they don’t really know. I need more ppl to be transparent like that!
the pyunkang yul essence toner in my and my partner's experience a great anti inflammatory!! It's been a game changer in terms of like ezcema type stuff on the scalp.
That's great to know, thank you! I'll try to keep that in mind for the next time my scalp freaks out 😊
There are actually three versions of the Canmake sunscreen. The clear (original) one has a pink label on the front, there are also white and green labelled versions (mineral and colour correcting, respectively). The original is very nice and doesn't leave a white cast on me although I'm a Fitzpatrick type 2.
My skin color is medium dark tan and the clear does not leave a white cast. It also doesn't feel like it has changed the formula that much. I've been using it for years and I have gotten it from many different stores, online and in person.
People with darker skin have been complaining that the clear version now has a white cast: www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/hmepaa/new_2020_formulation_for_canmake_mermaid_skin_gel/
@Lab Muffin Beauty Science interesting, then not sure what the difference is. I got a new one recently at my local asian store and I had no problem. It may just be that my experience is different. I'm thankful for that because it's my favorite.
well considering that the comments in the thread are 3 years old and my canmake bought 4 months ago is still clear and withtout a cast and dated for last autumn, I think there might have been another re-formulation in between even?
Oh possibly! That would be great news! 😄
I hear you on the inconvenience of getting cleansing oil from your hands to your face. The reason I tolerate it (and use the Kose specifically) is because it's much more effective at coating my lashes and removing waterproof mascara than balms tend to be.
As for the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream, I really like it. I have dry, easily dehydrated, sensitive skin with mild rosacea, and live in a variable climate. A few winters ago, I'd been using too many products on my skin, probably had more barrier issues than usual, and had to pair down my skincare routine. My normal moisturizer wasn't heavy enough and was also causing some stinging when it hadn't before. I'd tried several creams meant for sensitive skin, and they all either stung, caused an allergic reaction, or clogged my pores. It got to the point where I was scared to apply anything to my face. The Soon Jung was one of the only moisturizers that didn't cause any issues for me at all, and was such a relief. One from Avène worked for me as well, but it was just too expensive. The Soon Jung also gives a nice glow that I prefer the look of. But I could see this product not being occlusive or soothing enough for those with incredibly dry, irritated skin.
I now use the Pyunkang Yul Ato Cream (blue label), which works really well and is a bit heavier, which I prefer. Very cost effective too since it's technically a body cream. I prefer it to the Illiyoon because it actually contains emollient and occlusive ingredients, albeit "natural," like shea butter and beeswax.
That is so relatable, my skin is combined and it tends to get so dry around my cheekbones during winter, this season is just deadly for me. And whenever I apply moisturising products, these dry patches start burning. It is horrible.
one thing I’d love to hear more about is how much Differin/Adapalene specifically differs from Tretinoin or other OTC retinols/retinals. I’m exclusively getting conflicting info on how likely Differin is to work for “anti aging”, sun damage, scarring and texture, some people say not at all and a retinal serum is better and others say it will work for all of those just not as quickly as Tret and it’s gonna be more effective than a retinal!! idk what to believe 😭
I think all the pharmaceutical retinoids probably work pretty similarly for all retinoid indications, IMO the main difference is just what it's been studied or approved to treat. There's a bit of talk about how they hit different receptors but I don't think the differences are large enough to make any of them not work at all for aging or acne or anything else.
@@LabMuffinBeautyScience omg thank you so much for actually responding!!
differin helped my cystic acne. i now use a prescription version of it since i wanted a higher dose and higher doses only come in rx form. i love it and use it at night before my moisturizer. my skin looks thicker more plump and smooth.
Omg!! I am so glad I watched this video! I just got the cosrx nail mucin essence and have been dealing with lots of closed commedones for the last few weeks when i never had them before. I’ll take it out of my routine and see if it gets better. Thank you so much for this!! ❤
Great video as always! I tried that Soon Jung moisturizer from Etude and it's one of my favorite skincare products ever!
It's been my go-to AM moisturizer this past winter season and I was so sad when I finished it (for context: where I live, the climate is very humid all year round. The temperature rarely goes under 0° C during the day in the winter season).
Skin type: normal to dry and tends to be dehydrated (no matter how much water I drink, you can still notice the fine lines on my forehead).
I can attest to the Rohto Melano CC. While it didn’t completely remove my dark spots, particularly the old ones, it really helped lighten them. The Melano CC is most effective when used on an active pimple. When I use it, getting an ugly spot is much much lower. Lastly, because of its packaging, it’s pretty stable and lasts a looong time.
I live in a dryer area in Brazil, so I need a least a mist to pack hydration throughout the day even though I have oily skin. Been using tretinoin which is already drying to the skin and I cannot live without a mist and that’s why I’m really surprised that the poll doesn’t have a nice hydrating mist in the product list.
I can attest that the cosRX snail line have improved my skin so much! Bioré sunscreen has been my go-to this summer even though it has ethanol, which I don’t mind cause it’s a better solvent option for my oily prone skin.
I ordered the cosRX propolis toner and I’m excited to try it.
I bought something from this list, completely forgot about it, it came in the mail 800 years later, and now I have to go back and look up what you said about it😂❤
I remember trying the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence in around 2019/2020 and my skin got so itchy I could actually feel a pimple form under my skin :( Just shows how skincare is so YMMV. It also sat on top of my skin in a greasy layer and made my eyes water (I used to live in a humid climate). Happy for the people it works for though because I do recall enjoying the texture and the fragrance :)
That's disappointing! Hope you found an alternative sunscreen?
OMG the same happened to me!
Greasy, hurts the eyes and if the skin is irritated it BURNSS. Didn't work at all to me
The 2019 reformulation did the same thing to me and gave me closed comedones every time I tried it. I loved the previous formulation so it made me so sad when I couldn't make the new one work!
I absolutely think humidity and temperature makes a difference - it works great for me most of the year but I start to have problems in the summer when the weather is hot and humid...
Oh! My area is very dry, so when I use this Biore sunscreen, it goes on and disappears. I suspect sweat mixes with this sunscreen and burns my eyes though. Maybe the climate is the difference.
I was using the Mermaid Sunscreen for a while. My first try at a Japanese brand, but lately have been using The Beauty of Joseon brand sunscreen. Like it a lot, and feels so lightweight on.
Isntree's green tea fresh toner was the only skincare product I used that made an noticable and immediate difference!
I looooove the soon Jung barrier cream! I'm South Asian and live in Sydney. I have dry/dehydrated skin. This has become my winter moisturiser.
I have been using the cosrx BHA liquid and I actually find that it really does help to cut down on my black heads! I really work it in around and on my nose, which is where my black heads predominantly appear and I have been very pleased So far
I find Cosrx BHA/AHA liquid ,which I alternate , work much better than the Paula’s choice BHA line.
Hiii just wanna say that for french people a lotion is something liquid but with that cream effect too 😊 and it is often refers as lait which means milk 🥛! Ps I love your review !
I loved the Soon Jung 2x barrier cream. I have dry skin and like it both in summer and winter. For me, it just sinks into my skin and absorbs very well, so I'm surprised to hear that it sits on your skin. I guess we all have different skin types :)
I use it too and love it also. Ive also got dry skin
same, i have dry sensitive skin & i'm enjoying it so far
She mentioned she has oily skin in another video
!
Same I have very dry skin due to Sicca Syndrome and so far it’s the only moisturiser I’ve tried that prevents dry skin eczema. I’ve tried expensive dry skin lines from LaNeige, Clinique etc. It’s as moisturising as a serum to me.
I use the Soon Jung Intensive cream twice a day and mix it with Squalane (The Ordinary) in Winter.
Dry skin too. Its the only moisturizer i expect no breakouts from too
I'm one of those who loves the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream. But we also have *very* different skin types.
1. I have extremely sensitive skin, easily irritated even by tap water. I have chronic eczema, too, the kind that I have to regularly treat with zero therapy. So I love this cream primarily because it has never caused irritation - if I can't use something due to irritation it doesn't matter how fabulous it is in other ways.
2. My cheeks are extremely dry. I tend to only use this over my butterfly zone, especially because I'm a nurse and that's the area I get mask chafe and eczema from masks with specific chemical treatments (not in a "natural products only" way just some antiseptics and disinfectants are more irritating than others and I'm certain many cheaper N95s aren't choosing that based on my specific skin sensitivities).
3. I live in a much drier climate than Sydney! I especially like this when I'm in Adelaide or inland Victoria where it's very dry. Also of note: the water in Adelaide and inland is much harder than East Coast metro tap water, and hard water gives me eczema. I find this especially good when I'm in California with the famously hard US tap water irritating my skin.
I use that subreddit and tbh, have used literally every single product mentioned lol. I prefer western brands for exfoliating, the asian ones don’t do anything. But for everything else especially toners, essences, sunscreens and moisturiser it’s all Asian Beauty for me. For cleansing either or, as I so like products for cleansing from both.
Thank you. Another amazing review 👏 My HG is the Melano CC. It’s not the best and most effective vitamin c but it does not irritate my skin and I can use it daily in the morning on face and back of my hands . I have used about 10 tubes and it does brighten my skin and with my sunscreen over it help to prevent pigmentation.
Being a former obsessed lurker of r/AB from 2014-2019, this was really fun to watch and see all the recs as it really hasn't changed much there haha!
For a data point on Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream, I use it and it does a great job for me all year round:
My skin: Dehydrated, very sensitive, and prone to acne. Climate: northeast US so very dry in the winter, and humid in the summer but it works for me with each season.
I use it at night with a routine of double cleansing (micellar water & milky cleanser), light toner, mugwort essence (shoutout to Im from mugwort!), and soon jung on top of it all.
Moisturizers that have worked for me in the past were: Goodal Premium Snail Tone-Up Cream, Mizon Black Snail All In One Cream -- so more lightweight stuff works considering I like layering
I also use the mugwort essence and soon jung and have similar skin type! I feel like the soon jung is nice hydration but it isn't extremely hydrating as I'd like
I feel like I learn so much about skincare when I watch your videos, like I might not even be buying these things but it helps me understand what I already have too 🫶 love the effort that goes into these videos ❤
The watery lotion in the pink bottle is something I randomly bought 3-4 years ago and have been reordering ever since. I just use it on my face, but I might try it on my whole body now.
i have normal-dehydration prone skin and i LOVE hydrating toners, the hada labo premium lotion has been a holy grail for me. when it comes to year-long tropical & humid weather i hate heavy moisturizers (even "gel" moisturizers bog down my skin with the amount i sweat every day). i love using toners with a watery serum and a lightweight gel sunscreen. it's light enough to sink into my skin but moisturizing enough that i don't have to worry when i'm constantly in an air conditioned room!
Muffin & Friends: Besides the legacy Kikumasamune Essence looking fabulous sitting upon the vanity and body use post shower, I use it as a refreshing scalp treatment along with a scalp massage. Works beautifully.
I use it on my face and neck, and it's a holy grail for my dry skin
Hi Dr Michelle! I just wanted to say THANK YOU for ALL of the amazing advice and knowledge you provide in your videos! It is such a shit show in the marketing arena these days and it's so nice to have someone like you out there trying to debunk and correct all the nonsense with facts and science! Your hard work and information is greatly appreciated! You have saved me so many times from purchasing something I didn't need and something my skin DEF didn't need and turned me onto things I probably Never would have tried! You are doing such a wonderful job of clearing up a lot of misunderstandings and misinformation that a lot of us "consumers" deal with daily. I love all of the chemical knowledge I have learned, as well...watching you is like sitting in the BEST Chemistry class Ever...and I'm ACTUALLY interested! Lmao🤣 You are just so AWESOME!!🤩 Keep up the fantastic work!
I'm glad you mentioned Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion. I use this all over myself and it's convenient to put on my scalp in the shower, compared to regular lotion. I agree, the scent is weird. The price is great.
Ive never thought to put it on my scalp! I have a sensory thing with body lotions so ive used that and the hatomugi all over and then top it off with a non greasy lotion haha, but its nice to find out another way to use it, my scalp has been dryer lately!
It's so crazy how skincare works out so differently for everyone's skin type, even with some formulations being more advanced than others. The Illiyoon moisturizer is a new holy grail for my dry skin (even though I hate the misinformation on it), like a "I didn't know my skin could feel like this" kind of hydration, but it's not supposed to be hydrating based on the formulation??!! Wild. It's so stressful trying to find skincare that works when its all so subjective.
Facts. Got it not long ago and so far it's amazing
I just got it and it's great! A lot better for me than the Benton steam cream which seemed so promising but wasn't rich enough + caused texture 😔 Hoping these next couple wks I don't react to my new illiyoon!
Used it also and it is better than my cerave. this is for people who have fungal acne.
The ingredients she said that it lacks is petrolatum and mineral oil are both bad for acne prone people.
I haven’t tried the toner, but I really like the Isntree green tea fresh emulsion. It’s a nice lightweight moisturizer for under sunscreen and my skin finds it super soothing.
I really liked this video! Love seeing rankings in this visual way. Would you do one for topical antioxidants?
Thank you! I've been meaning to do a video about antioxidants for a while actually 😊
@@LabMuffinBeautyScience yesss can you talk about skinbetter alto / alto advanced?
@@LabMuffinBeautyScience plz make for sunscreens mineral and chemical too plx
my skin is normally quite oily, but after starting tretinoin it got really dry and flakey. I couldnt get it to stop peeling and the only products that helped were the Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream and Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream so I was quite surprised you werent a fan of either! Guess it shows how skin care is a hit or miss cause they truly saved my skin :)
The kikumasamune is HG for me! It is the only reason my face isn’t flaky and dry in the winter. I use a couple pumps under a hyaluronic acid serum and then a thicker lotion over top to seal it all in.
I can't get past the placenta in it though
Same here! I have my elderly parents both hooked on it now too. SoCal desert living is no joke when it comes to dry skin (and dry eyes)
@Redsilas77 me too 😢
You're my favorite. Sources are reliable, credentials evidenced, well explained and clear enough for laymen like me. Thank you!
Here's something that bugs me when I hear people talk about Isntree's toner -- they'll claim the light brown color indicates it's a "good" concentration of tea, but it literally has another brown ingredient on the list. The color tells you nothing about the tea.
Anyway, I LOVE a good green tea toner, but Isntree's is out of my routine. I liked it in the summer because it did feel refreshing on my skin. But, when I bought it again I found the new bottle really irritated my skin. The ingredients list was the same, so I thought maybe it was a bad batch or something. I purchased a travel-size bottle to try it again a year later, and it broke me out again.
I'm not too upset because I think I actually like the Benton toner better, anyway! I'm excited to try the Dr. Ceuracle kombucha toner as well.
I know you said you don't think green tea does much for your skin, but it's one of my favorite ingredients.
All these comments criticizing this toner are interesting since it's one of my favorites. I have one in stock and will start after I finish another toner/essence. I felt it was hydrating especially for the summer months. The only issue so far was it would stain my reusable rounds when I used it a year ago.
I adore the Etude Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream! I've gone through 2 bottles so far, and I've ordered my next one already. I normally have dry skin, but the reason I started using the Etude Soon Jung was after the Kate Sommerville retinol + vitamin c product combo destroyed my skin barrier (even though I had successfully used other retinol products without issue in the past). My face was pretty much an embarrassing disaster. The Etude Soon Jung helped alleviate the dry, scaly, patchy tightness all over my face, and it moisturized my skin so well that I've continued using it for about 2 years now. I usually use it in the PM, because although it does work nicely under makeup, it has no SPF.
Regarding your last question in the video, I like to mist the Kikumasamune High Moist over a layer of (dried down) CosRx Snail Mucin because the snail mucin has a bunch of hyaluronic acid and I have dry skin (and live somewhere with dry winters), so the High Moist gives the HA some water to lock on to. Another glycerin based toner would probably also work well, but I haven't tried yet - I like the look of the I'm From Rice Toner so that will probably be my next toner purchase. Alone I find either product to be just okay but in combination they're my holy grail.
Also it's funny you say the High Moist smells like apple cider, to me it always smells like Dubble Bubble chewing gum (not a fan).
Dr Michelle LabMuffin, here’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask you, but always forget: A couple of years ago, here in Sweden, where I live, the Public Service TV ran a short science documentary series about the cosmetics industry - the claims, the science, the ingredients & the biology/chemistry basics, studies & research review, their own very small ”study” with male & female subjects etc. There was an expert panel with professionals from the Swedish ”FDA”, chemists etc. Now to the point: the Dalton unit came up, of course. Then on to the peptides - what was interesting, is that some Chemistry PhD/associate professor in Life Science guy said, that although the peptide Dalton size is OK for penetration, he calculated that it would take like 10 years for the peptides to reach the cell entry point of interest - making the peptides useless as antiaging active. I thought WTF?! Ofcourse. I kid you not, that’s what I heard, or else I had the weirdest hearing hallucination ever. Any comments? Cheers!
This is so strange and I really hope she answers!!
I've heard the same thing, but I understand that fermenting peptides makes the molecules much smaller. I recently started using a fermented peptide essence. It's too soon to see results, but the experience of using it is lovely.
Woah
@@sherryzmezzo Would you mind sharing the brand name of the Essence ? Thanks !
What is the name of the essence please?
The Cosrx BHA worked great for me for a few years, but now I feel like I’d like to try something stronger. It’s still effective and overall I recommend it!
For AHAs, I definitely prefer stuff from The Inkey List over Asian skincare options. And my fave BHA is the Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer [one of their only products that doesn't fuck up my skin]. I have combination skin which is very blackhead prone & Betaine Salicylate/Willow Bark just... Doesn't cut it.
Omg that Etude soonjung barrier cream used to be a holy grail. Then when I was dealing with tretinoin and winter dryness I tried the balm and I LOVE it. It gives a film type of protection on the skin. I used to wake up with horrible dryness and I’d put that ball on my cheeks and it just made the dry flakes literally disappear and not be visible. I love that stuff. I’ve since moved onto other things but the balm will always stay on my shelf. I like the purito dermide balm it’s a bit of a different texture but I like it. My fav thing about Asian skincare is the textures and the fact that I’ve never had a single cream pill on my skin. I could layer 10 layers of Korean creams in my face and never experience pulling. American moisturizers are the worst for pilling. I haven’t had almost a single North American product NOT pill on me. I have an extremely unhealthy phobia to pilling on my face so I’ve been through the ringer. Also the Pyunkang Yul ATO blue label is a HG. One of the best occlusives I’ve ever owned and I own dozens of Korean creams. Illyoon cream is just ok-I prefer the ATO lotion to the cream ❤ ok ranting over lol😅
The soon Jung 2x barrier intensive is SO good for me. On a normal day I have normal skin. I live in Melbourne, in summer I can get oily. With tret I get quite dry. No matter what, I love this year round. I find it sinks into my skin way better than LRP CP B5, despite CP B5 being the holy grail for barrier repair (that one is my mask, moisturiser, and is the most effective at quickly sorting out an impaired barrier). It's one of my most repurchased products.
I was going to repurchase the Rhoto Vitamin C essence but it went out of stock on yesstyle after this video 😢
Its really a steal when you compare it to some western vit c serums that turn brown as soon as you open them
Wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your channel; you combine two of my favorite things, science and skin care!
I am 64 and love the Isntree Green Tea toner. Now, I have never had skin issues; breakouts, acne, etc. Toners have never been my thing. I've used them on and off over the decades, but never really found them useful. I saw something, I don't even remember what, that prompted me to try this toner. I'm on my third bottle. I put it in a mister and use it after cleansing morning and night. It gives hydration and brings a clarity to my skin I didn't have before.
Kikumasamune changed my skin! I’m lucky enough to be able to use it on my face, though the “glossy” version was a bit too much for face.
The Soon Jung 2x Barrier cream works amazing for me, it's one of my favorite moisturizers of all time! Feels like giving my skin a hug, haha :') I really love the whole Soon Jung line. The cleanser is great too, it's so basic and never irritates or dries out my skin.
My skin type and climate: I live in Norway where it's cold for 6 months out of the year. My skin is dryness prone (gets flaky dry in the winter if I neglect my routine) and I have rosacea that requires constant management to stay under control.
It made my skin so glowy and plump just after one application! However, I noticed pimples coming out at the same time. I used it on and off and confirmed it does cause pimples. Sigh, love how it helps with hydration
Always Love your video, Michelle. Can you do a video with this format but with French pharmaceutical skincare brands. That could be helpful a lot. Thank you.
The korean brand I've consistently used for the past six years has been the moistfull collagen collection from etude house which are the toner, serum, emulsion and sometimes essence, mostly because they're at good prices and have worked wonders for my skin. For cleanser, i use the innisfree green tea and for moisturizer, i use the aveeno no scent lotion, i try to keep it simply. I also use the neutrogena 70 spf sheer sunscreen and its good enough lol
I LOVE the Isntree Green Tea Toner - It brings me somuch hydration and my cheeks are instantly calmed. I have redness in my cheeks (i've been told it is either PIE or just highly active capillaries) and somehow it calmed things right now. I tried using the Amore Pacific green tea toner and though I also liked that - I just felt that the combination of ingredients in the Isntree one did wonders!
I've been wanting to try a vitamin C product for PIH/PIE so this video is perfect timing. Thank you!
Kikumasamune in japan is marketed as both for body and face!!! Also the smell is pure sake scent to me and I know that because we also have sake baths in Japan
So the RoundLab cleanser is on this giant list of cleansers with a neutral pH, which is why I bought it and have repurchased it several times. I always tell people who like the Taycha Rice Powder (speaky clean feeling because the pH is like 8 or 9 😱) to use the Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash, which is neutral and makes your skin feel buttery soft instead of stripped. Got super into cleanser pH when I randomly started to get hormonal acne at 24 despite not having it as a teenager. I'm 29 now and as long as I use a BHA once and a while, no more monthly flare ups!
Thank you Michelle for such a thorough review - always appreciate your content!
There are 4 types of can make mermaid skin gel available to order on some Asian online markets. One clear, that you recommended an it is just fine to the day (I see no difference after using for quite a while) and there is also white one, that people probably purchased mistakenly, it has white cast, there’s also one with mint and tinted, both emerged not long ago.
Yea I thought it was weird she mentioned it has a white cast now. The regular version doesn’t. People are probably grabbing one of the tone up versions.
Yes the round lab cleanser is such a holy grail I love it so much and yes to the cute seal!!!! Usually I avoid foam cleanser but that cleanser is just amazing!!!
Korean products update their ingredients almost every year tweaking for better results. I watch Director Pi on youtube for information sometimes it has translated subtitles in English but she is the holy grail on Korean beauty product information
I'm such a skeptic on this because I find it hard to believe a brand is going to update a product yearly and still make a profit. This means reformulating, testing again, meeting regulations, etc. Unless, I'm missing something, this would cost millions.
@@rimun5235 skincare is huge in korea after all, so if it’s korean products i find it more believable
@@rimun5235 skincare and all beauty is HUGE in Korea so I can believe it but they probably rotate the reformulations to make good profit 😅
Cosrx snail mucin is my botox in a bottle! I'll never stop using it.
Love these videos, really helpful when trying new products 😊
Glad it was helpful!
I must have received the old formula of the Mermaid sunscreen because it was amazing when I bought it last year. It felt like a light moisturizer and no white cast. I do remember there was a “clear” option and a “white” version where I purchased it, so maybe it was just the old and newer formula.
I just received mine. I have medium tan skin, especially after my vacation. Zero white cast for me.
I think she is confusing the white and clear version
The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid works just as well as Paula's Choice. I've used both for years and actually prefer the COSRX one. Once I run out of my PC one, I'm going to replace it with the COSRX one. I feel like it had more of a brightening affect and I like how it made my skin feel better.
I have combination, sensitive skin. I find the Soon Jung 2x Barrier Cream to be quite heavy on me, but it moisturizes pretty well, so I use it at night. Garnier Micellar -> Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion -> Soon Jung 2x barrier Cream is my night time routine and I've found it works really well for me. The heaviness of the barrier cream doesn't bother me because I'm in bed, and it has all night to absorb and do whatever it does and my face feels nice in the morning.
Round Lab probably reformulated the Dokdo cleansing foam at one point without changing the packaging because the original clear transparent gel texture has now become a milky gel in appearance.
As an alternative i recently started using the Neogen Cica Repair Snail essence which combines snail and centella and OMG this is a wonderful product!!!!!
That sounds lovely, I'll have to look out for it!
The brand Peach Slices has a snail toner with centella!
Soon Jung 2x barrier cream is SO lovely imo. i have dry skin (live in South Australia) and i love putting it on before sleeping or under my makeup in the morning. my makeup doesnt clutch onto my dry spots anymore, my skin feels soooooo lovely too. i agree with the lid dispensing too much product though haha.
Dry, dehydrated skin that lives somewhere dry:
- Canmake SPF: Tried older version; it was nice and felt smooth. Didn't have a smell or leave a white cast. I never repurchased it though because it didn't feel like a holy grail.
-Cosrx Snail Mucin: Got it. Forgot about it. Use it on arms since I have KP and don't want it to go to waste. Not a HG for me. Seemed to dry my skin further.
- I haven't used the cosrx propolis but I do have the iunik propolis and it's a HG. I love it and have repurchased it. So good to my dry, sensitive skin.
- Laneige Cream Skin Refiner: HG. Love it! I don't want to be without it. lol
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cream did not work out as a face cream. My significant other used the entire cream up on his hands and he said it's the only thing he's tried that has worked wonders. Keeping an eye on it for price drops to load up for this use.
- I'm From Rice Toner doesn't do anythiung substantial other than ~some brightening. I won't repurchase.
I agree regarding the exfoliating chemicals, sometimes it feels like Asian products are extremely low concentration to the point that it doesn't feel effective but some western exfoliants that I would never use because it's so crazy strong. I saw a dermatologist in Asia and was given 7% glycolic acid which already feels so strong to me so I was shocked to find out that there are people who use the TO 7% glycolic as a deodorant since the underarms seem like a sensitive skin area! I want to try the Melano CC, I also have a lot of hyperpigmentation and do rotate through AHA, BHA, adapalene and azelaic acid but I'm hoping Vitamin C will speed things up.
I personally like western silicon heavy primer-like sunscreens under makeup but I also really like bulk size Asian gel sunscreens even if the protection isn't as high for daily usage. I think the only Asian product category that I don't find cost effective for the amount of product is moisturizing creams except for Illiyoon. Other than that I'm quite happy sticking with Hadalabo for HA and Hatomugi Skin Conditioner as my holy grails! I do find myself siding with Western products for benzoyl peroxide cleanser, BHA pads and the Aveeno Cream (previously I liked the illiyoon Cream but Aveeno was just more accessible to me as I just wanted a ceramide cream and have grown to appreciate petrolatum as an occlusive ingredient)
Which aveeno cream you use?
I used to use the Biore sunscreen but have since switched to Canmake, it suits my sensitive combination skin much better and doesn't feel dry at the end of the day. I really like it and it has no whitecast :)
I just saw a product advertise itself as free from Urea... like, among the other things it said it was formulated without such as mineral oil and parabens (which is annoying enough), they say they're not formulating with something that's naturally present in human skin, acting like urea is bad and dirty and unsafe. I thought of you after reading it and how grateful I am for your work, you explain things so well and I believe I am a more aware, mindful consumer because of the information you share. And I really hope other brands keep using urea because I adore it as an ingredient
Thank you so much for the education!! I love your content! I look forward to more asian beauty content!
I'm so glad to hear that!
The soon jung emulsion is so good. So much moisturise yet so lightweight! I couldn't wrap my head around it the first time I used it.
"not for anyone, maybe for my enemies" MADE ME CACKLE!! Love your content!
I have oily/normal skin and I like the soon jung and illiyoon for their blandness and affordability! I rely on other products for my skin priorities (acne, hydration) and literally just want a cheap moisturizer that soothes and moisturizes but not too heavily. Those two are perfect for me during night time in dry seasons. in contrast cosrx snail mucin essence was only okay for me--i like the cosrx snail mucin "cream" a lot more since it feels like it plumps up my skin more
I've only tried like 2 of all these lol. As someone with oily acne prone/clogging prone skin, I don't see the point of using toners and what not. I can usually skip to sunscreen in the am and moisturizer in the pm without any extra moisturizing steps, which is what a lot of these products seem to be geared towards. I have gotten into active toners recently tho, like the Paula's Choice 2% bha in order to address the clogged pores. I wasn't aware that vit c can help address PIH which I also need a lot of extra help with so I think I'll try that Melano product :) Thanks Michelle!
@Lab Muffin Beauty Science - Aussie here the etude products do work great for some people with sensitive dryish skin, my mum has Rosacea, and the Etude House Soon Jung 10-Free Moist Emulsion works great for that and my dad who is a chef and works many hours in hot steamy kitchens, uses it too and it helps his Rosacea. Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream is good for dry patches and people with sensitive skin prone to winter cracking.
The Kikamasumane is a facial holy grail for me, but that's because I'm 60 with extremely dry and dehydrated skin. The smell doesn't bother me because it is not the powdery, overpowering perfumy smell so many skin care products still have. I'm looking at you, Mizon anti wrinkle sleeping pack and almost every L'oreal cream! I can see how it would be terrible for a person with oily skin, though.
found this on my recs, pretty funny that my list would be the complete 180 of this tier list. skincare really is just different strokes for different folks. ex. hada labo was absolutely hell on my skin idk what happened there
I use the Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule; I didn't know that it also came in a toner! The one I use works so nicely for my skin so I might have to check out the toner as well. I'm also all-in on the Cosrx Snail Mucin and have been for years.
From the other comments, it sounds like the Soon Jung 2X cream might be a good fit for me as I have extremely sensitive, dry skin (plus acne rosacea for a little ~*razzle-dazzle*~), plus I live in New England in the US so it's usually quite dry here for about 75% of the year. I will see about getting a sample!
Report back if u check it out. Im using the ampule too and it feels hydrating and moisturizing, without feeling like its left a layer of grease on my face. I tried a few serums in the past that felt oil slicky or too tacky which put me off from trying more essences, ampoules, serums. I dont know if its worth it to add another toner when the ampoule should do a similar job? Maybe once i need to restock i’ll try it out
I would argue the round lab dokdo crème is one of THE BEST creams. It’s silky, thicker, and has ceramides higher up in the ingredients list along with cholesterol and fatty acids it’s so healing and like $20! My local Korean store stocks all the popular Korean skincare but I’ve been noticing the ingredients in those products are a bit different than the ingredients in the Korean products we get from Stylevana and those stores. I think they carry products actually being sold in Korea and not the ones marketed to the rest of the world but I’m not sure ❤anyway just blabbering
stylevana sells fakes that is made in china that's why its so cheap.
I've been using Kikumasamune on my face for years now. Sensitive, dehydration prone, hormonal acne. I don't know if my skin is just used to it but it doesn't seem to break me out and it's ridiculously cheap and effective.
Soon jung barrier cream is my absolute favorite moisturized, I've been using it for years now! I have normal-oily skin with rosacea and occasional breakouts. I also like the tatcha water cream moisturizer and the neutrogena gel moisturizer.
I like the I’m from Rice Toner and Mugwort Essence. My skin is pretty dry and dehydrated, and is often gets sensitized (I have asthma, and many allergies.). I’ve been using both of these products for over a month now, and they have been working nicely so far.
I alternate the rice toner with the Glow Recipe Watermelon toner.
They get a lot of rave reviews, I need to find the time to try out the Mugwort properly!
Do you get stinging with the mugwart?
I'm really fond of the isntree tea tree toner. It's helped me with oil control (I have combo skin and it's helped with the oiliness on my t-zone) and it has a delightful, light consistency. It's my favourite step in my routine :). It takes a little while its effect to be visible, the first couple of weeks it did do something but not much, but after about a month of using it daily the result is significant. I would recommend it.
I love the Isntree Green Tea Toner. For the Melano CC essence, i just find that any vitamin C product irritates my skin and makes me have some break outs
I'm also a super big fan of the Melano CC serum, I'm someone who can't tolerate vitamin C if used daily, but I like to use it once or twice a week when I'm getting more sun exposure that day, and it is just PERFECT for me! i've had my tube for a year or so and it's also completely transparent, and I don't get any stinging with this vitamin C compared to other ones I've tried. I totally agree about Sun Jung cream, it's lightweight and doesn't irritate my skin, but it just isn't occlusive enough and it sort of forms a film over the skin. Honestly most Korean moisturizers have been like that, very elegant and lightweight but not moisturizing enough, wondering if they could add a bit more shea butter or sth similar into the formula.
@Jerry try body creams, eg. Benton shea butter & coconut body lotion, or the Illyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream. These are face creams for this family