I’m sort of on a phase to overhaul my skincare routine and have been pretty interested in some of the more popular products on these boards lately (I say this every year). A bit of background on myself, I used to have an extensive skincare routine, but I had to dial it down while my skin adjusts to me increasing my tretinoin strength (0.025% to 0.05%).
Now my skin’s well adjusted, I am back to add more actives again, and especially looking for more cosmetically elegant formulas (and packaging)! I’m extremely fussy about how my product applies and feels on my skin and prefer toners and serums to be light and absorb well, while my moisturizers be thick and nourishing without feeling greasy.
Skin type and condition: Dry-dehydrated. Large pores, some unevenness. Prone to flakey patchy dry skin. Mild redness and pigmentation concern.
Environment: Tropical hot humid weather. Am usually alternating being in a dry air conditioned room and being in hot humid outdoors, so finding products that sit well on the skin throughout the day is a major concern.
Products Reviewed:
- Isntree Vegan Yam Root Milk Cleanser
- Isntree Vegan Yam Root Milk Cream (not pictured)
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner AHA + BHA
- Tirtir Milk Skin Toner
- Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Essential Toner
- Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum
- Ma:nyo Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule
- Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream
- Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
Isntree Vegan Yam Root Milk Cleanser – WRP 4/5
I really like this cleanser. This is a non-foaming cream cleanser similar, but a slight bit runnier in consistency compared to the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. I use this as my morning cleanser though, because I prefer something with more cleaning power in the PM. This product is a bit of a slip and slide when rubbed into your skin which I like because too much friction on my skin irritates me (either from cleansing or using cotton pads on my skin). There is a film-type of sensation left on the skin after washing but is only prominent when skin is wet. The feeling eventually goes away, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea and may not feel clean enough for those with especially oily skin, so I think this product would work better for those with dry skin. The pump bottle is a plus point for me also. My one gripe with this product is that it smells a faint bit like plastic. Overall gentle cleanser for removing dead skin cells and occlusive skincare over the night, but probably not enough cleaning power for especially oily skin. Would repurchase this over the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser.
Isntree Vegan Yam Root Milk Cream (not pictured) – WNRP 1/5
I tried it once and gave it away. Overall a good basic cream that isn’t greasy (but with the same plasticy smell similar to the cleanser). The cream comes out of the tube thick but is not really nourishing or hydrating enough for me. It absorbs fast for a thick cream but doesn’t feel like it lasts me through the day. Plus, it has this silicone-y film feeling after it dries down which I don’t like. I have heard this is good for oilier skinned people because then it doesn’t like greasy or slimy during the day when they sweat(?) People with normal to dry skin who are looking for a thick cream that easily absorbs into the skin may like this one. I’m very particular about my thick creams, so for now this one is a pass for me.
Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser – MRP 3/5
I’m not too sure the AHA/BHA in this does anything since it is a wash off cleanser, but it’s quite gentle and hydrating. It provides a gentle lather and washes off easily. There’s isn’t an overly strong scent to this, which I appreciate. The consistency of this gel cleanser is a bit runny, so I feel maybe this would have been better with a pump dispenser. It’s too easy to squeeze out too much out of the tube. This cleanser also leaves a slippery after feel, but cleanses quite well. Good for both dry and oily-skinned people. Not sure if I’ll be repurchasing this one yet.
Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner AHA + BHA – MRP 4/5
They say this is gentle enough to use day and night and that’s probably the case, but is a bit too much for my skin on tret. No cotton pads either because wasteful. Initially this gave me a slight tingling sensation (due AHA/BHA), but eventually subsided. I use this on nights alternating between tret and just pat it straight on my dry skin after cleansing. It helps remove dead skin cells, especially the crust around my nose and I notice my skin is producing less oils by the end of a hot day. Makeup applies more smoothly too after a week or so of using it. I think this product is a gentle active without harsh side effects and would be good for dry or oily skin.
Tirtir Milk Skin Toner – MRP 4/5
Watery and hydrating. The glycerin in this product will give a bit of a slip and slide after feeling which some may associate with the product not absorbing into the skin. It has made my face glow a bit more and hydrates quite well. I much prefer the multi-hydrating ingredient combination approach (glycerin, ceramides, panthenol, HA, etc) compared to a hyaluronic acid only toner. It feels hydrating and lasts throughout the day in various humid/dry environments. It supposedly contains a lot of soothing ingredients, but I haven’t really noticed much in that regard. Comes in a high-quality glass bottle reminiscent of the SK2 miracle water. This is a good product, but I’m probably going to be looking for other multi-purpose toners to cut down on the steps.
Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Essential Toner
I mainly bought this for the Matrixyl peptides and vit c. Haven’t used this long enough to notice results. I’m always on the hunt for a good vit c product that isn’t greasy. I was quite surprised about this product because I had assumed it would be watery, but the consistency is like a liquidy hand sanitizer. This easily absorbs into the skin well enough, but isn’t as hydrating as I would like. We’ll see when I reach the bottom if the vitamin c actually does anything for my skin. Verdict is still out on this one.
Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum
Used in the morning daily in combination with the toner. Wondering why this is a serum and the other is classified as a toner since the consistency of both is pretty similar. Bought it because I quite like the bifida in the Manyo product in addition to having vit c and glutathione. Both vit c products are elegant on the skin under makeup and sunscreen and isn’t heavy at all. So far, better for me than the melano cc as that one felt greasy on me. Not as hydrating or nourishing as the manyo, but we’ll see if the vitamin C actually does anything for me when I reach the bottom. Same as above, verdict is still out on this one.
Ma:nyo Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule – WRP 5/5
I generally tend to look for multi-action products rather than one dedicated to only hydrating, but this shocked me. My skin is noticeably softer, plumper and overall healthier. Its a light serum that absorbs easily with barely any scent. I initially bought the small trial size just for curiosity’s sake, but will purchase the full size to use. My skin just loves all the ferments I suppose. I use this in combination with the SK2 Miracle water. Why pick between bifida and galactomyces (pitera) when you can have both?
Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream – WNRP 2/5
There’s a warming sensation when applying this cream which I’m not sure I’m used to yet. I had assumed my skin was going to react to it, but apparently the warming sensation is normal. Texture is apparently similar to thick snail mucin as far as I’m told. Its thick and nourishing, but I’m not sure how I like the shea butter occlusive feeling of this on my skin for daytime use the weather gets hotter. Currently for this mild humid weather, it sinks in and dries down well enough. I would much prefer this to come in a squeeze tube or pump bottle. The tub and flimsy spatula is not so great to use. Hoping the Aestura Ato Barrier Cream coming in the mail will do better for me. Nothing wrong with this product, but I probably won’t repurchase this because of the packaging alone.
Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum – WRP 5/5
The product and packaging are both elegant. Just what I’m looking for! Its lightweight and good for everyday use. My primary concern for sunscreen is finding a product that sinks into the skin well, doesn’t smell, and won’t turn me into a grease ball. This is lightweight and not drying, even for my dry skin. I don’t particularly look for hydrating sunscreens as that is the job of my moisturizer, so I feel if you have a decent skincare routine, anyone can use this product. It plays nice over other skincare steps and under makeup as well. I think this will be my everyday sunscreen, but I still will keep the Anessa Perfect Gel/Milk (gold bottle) for days I would be exposed to more extreme sun just in case.
Let me know what you guys think of these products or have something better to recommend!
by apertle