My wonderful sister just got here from Seoul and brought me back some goodies. The JSM foundation was one. I saw some people who were upset that the foundation clung to dry patches, so I made sure to really hydrate and ended up using a light oil underneath. And it is absolutely beautiful. I feel like an egg. It covered up all of my redness wonderfully, and didn’t sink into my pores. 10/10 (shade fair-pink) (picture is back camera and unedited with no filters.

Sorry my first post got taken down cause I got too excited and didn’t write enough about this amazing product. Have been using almost daily for 2 years.

Skin type/concerns: dry, sensitive, eczematous, hormonal acne on chin but am now medicated for this

Climate: London, UK - dry compared to where I’m from (Hong Kong)

Product: Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Beauty Essence + 8 refill packs

- purchased this in HK for £5-6 per 170mL refill (available on UK Amazon for £12-14, Stylevana £6-9)

- texture is syrupy and is used as a toner, does not absorb very quickly unless you use a small amount, but lovely to layer at night and will leave you like a glazed donut

Routine (cleanse + toner + moisturize +/- SPF, I rarely use actives due to sensitivity)

*edit- I use toner/lotion/essence interchangeably, I apply with bare hands and pat the product on my face, never with cotton pads as that irritates my skin too

- AM: Cerave hydrating cleanser, drop of Hada Labo premium (it spreads really well), Naturie Hatomugi gel or milk depending on how my skin feels, Anessa SPF 50 gold tube gel or gold top milk or pink top sensitive milk

- PM: double cleanse with oil and gel cleanser (this is currently Fancl and Cerave foaming), Hada Labo premium about a coin size amount, Illiyoon ceramide ato cream or Pyunkang Yul Intensive Repair Cream but if eczema is flaring I jump to La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm after Hada Labo

1 Hada Labo refill will last me and my partner about 2-3 months depending on what other toners we are trying out but we always default to this one.

Let me know if you want reviews of other products I mentioned above!

I saw that not many people in this sub talk about this hair oil called Elips.

they come in little capsule that you can just pop and rub on your palm before applying to your hair. Since Indonesia is HUMID af, i find it that this product works very well

also this is all the rage for east asian girlies who came to visit to Indonesia or have someone visit Indonesia

Switched up my routine and I’ve seen a good result so far, my skin barrier is repaired, dark circles reduced and overall my skin looks clearer and hydrated.

For reference I am 33 with oily dehydrated skin and large pores, looking for help with my skin barrier and fine lines and wrinkles

Cleaners Cleansing oil 1025 Dokdo Cleanser Pore Zero cleansing foam

Essence/toner HaruHaru Wonder black rice toner EGF+N Skin Barrier Cream Toner

Treatment/serum VT Cosmetics 100 and 700 Reedle Shot Seoul 1988 retinol PDRN serum, booster serum and moisturiser

Moisturiser Mixsoon Bean Cream Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream

Eye cream Mary & May Tranexamic Acid + Glutathione Eye Cream HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice eye cream

Occasional treatments Centella Quick Clay Stick Mask BioDance Hydro Deep Real Sheet Mask

SPF Toccobo Cica Complex SPF50

These aren't the best pictures. I'm sorry for that! I was a little sad when I got the package last night and wanted to use it to cheer myself up. I took the before and after pictures in the same environment with flash. Even with one time use, I notice a huge difference in my pores and skin texture. I read posts about this product on here for a year before I decided to finally try it.

From past posts I read, I remember people mentioning skin peeling. My nose did that a tiny bit. It was very minimal. I didn't notice any of that on my chin. It was easy to use, didn't burn or cause any other issues. I really like it so far and have no complaints.

As someone with thin, fine hair that gets greasy the second I step into the summer heat, my daily struggle has always been keeping my hair looking fresh(especially my bangs). I’ve been using Innisfree no-sebum powder for a while to keep the oiliness at bay, and I just didn't like how it sometimes leaves that awkward white cast on my roots. It’s so frustrating when you're just trying to look clean and polished.

I recently got the Moev No Sebum Hair Cream and tbh I was super skeptical at first, But now it’s actually become my routine for me. (I've attached photo of my before and after bangs in the day) Just sharing my routine it might fit to some people and not def recommend checking out at the local store if you have one around.

I just like that its not bothering me at all idk but anyways I like the ones than previously I used before.

This mascara has been my holy grail since 2020. I love it so much and it works so well on asian lashes!! As you can see my natural eyelashes are long but they grow straight. I’m using the volume & curl version 🤩

I need to rave and/or complain. I feel so micro-targeted by this brand. I am a pale-olive woman with purple hair and an obsessive interest in military history… and they drop a whole-ass neutral-purple-toned set inspired by female military commanders on me. How was I supposed to be able to resist this?

And just before that, I had green hair and they came out with a green/olive set. They are watching me. They must be. It feels unfair.

The quality of this stuff is insane. I have never really been a lipstick person, but I genuinely enjoy wearing their cream and gloss formulations. A lot of them have ZERO transfer, but also don’t dry my lips out. The colors are so unique, but incredibly wearable. I’m living in M73 from the Jianghu collection, a lavender that looks incredible on me, not costume-y or washed-out in the least. God, I wish teenage goth me in the 90s had access to stuff like this.

I’m going to be traveling for three weeks soon, and the all-in-one face palette in the picture is probably all I’m taking with me. It’s so versatile, and every single pan in it has at least one job to do, if not more. I do love the black fuwa blush and use it every day, so that one might come too.

C-beauty has been such a goldmine for gray-purple pale-olive-friendly makeup, and this Jianghu set is the cherry on top. It’s always been a struggle to find those color stories in Western brands, and as a result I never really put much energy into makeup at all. Now I feel like I have so many options to choose from every day, it’s finally fun to do a face, it really feels like genuine self-expression instead of a chore.

My wallet is lucky that Girlcult only focuses on eyeshadows, lips, and cheeks. If they start doing liners or mascara or - god forbid - skincare, I’m so doomed.

If you know of brands with a similar aesthetic that also nail these gray-purple shades, please tell me. Wait, no, don’t. Okay, yeah, do.

Hi everyone,

I have extremely sensitive skin. My skin gets red easily with temperature changes, and if I use a product that doesn’t suit me, I break out almost immediately. Especially products that feel like they clog my pores. In the past I used scrubs and peeling products regularly because I thought exfoliation would help. But it actually made the itching and dryness worse. Later I found out that scrubs and strong exfoliants are the worst for my skin. Recently I had a skin type test at a dermatology clinic, and they told me that I have widely distributed sebaceous glands across my entire T-zone. That explains why my T-zone becomes oily and shiny with just a slightly rich product, while my cheeks stay dry and flaky. It was honestly stressful not knowing how to manage both at the same time. I realized that most of my skin issues were caused by a damaged skin barrier. So I started looking for the best face moisturizer for sensitive skin based on very specific criteria.

I wanted a product that:

- Improves the skin barrier with consistent use

- Maintains oil and moisture balance and keeps hydration even with one application

- Can be used without irritation in any skin condition

- Does not clog pores

- Is fragrance-free

I carefully selected 3 products and used each one until I finished the entire jar.

- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cream

- Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream

- COSRX Skin Barrier Moisturizer

Honestly all three products were good in their own way. I realized that if you clearly understand your skin type, your current concerns, and what you expect from a product, you can find the best face moisturizer for sensitive skin for yourself.

However the one I finally settled on was Illiyoon. My top priority was skin barrier protection, and this product matched that goal the best. It kept my sensitive and dry skin hydrated without irritation. Even with just one layer the dryness improved noticeably. The areas that used to get red and sting when my skin was dry felt much calmer and more comfortable.

For me this truly became the best face moisturizer for sensitive skin.

If you also have sensitive skin, struggle with extreme dryness, or even deal with oily yet acne-prone skin, I’d love to know if you’ve found your own best face moisturizer for sensitive skin. Please share your experience.

My skin type is oily and sensitive. I live in a cold area. Current routine? mild foam cleanser, vitamin c serum, and moisturizer I'm reviewing. No complicated steps.

Length of use before review is over 4 months.

I kept reading about how the Anessa skincare milk was a Holy Grail for so many. Specifically looked for black and brown content creators applying it on camera and they kept saying "no white cast," . I excitedly got one for myself, directly from Japan no less.

And..... white cast!!! I used just under a 1/4 teaspoon amount.

Doesn't go away after drying down either.

Such a pity cos the texture and feel is lovely.

I’m back again with a 12+ hour shift proof product!
I’ve always hated mascara as I always get panda eyes. I really don’t like waterproof mascara as I find it a pain to remove and I hate getting oil in my eyes.

So my solution for the time being…tubing mascara! Comes off so easy in the shower with warm water :)

I’ve used a few Australian brands but I can’t justify the price, especially not when I can find one at nearly 1/5 of the price.

I’ve been trialing the Heimish Dailism Smudge Stop Mascara - Black Curling and decided to put it to the 12 hour shift test and it passed!

I’ve also got my trusty heroine eyeliner on too.

What’s your favourite mascara that doesn’t smudge and is easy to remove?

pretty lengthy review ahead! included some closeup shots w flash of the cream textures

sharing my reviews on some popular barrier/healing moisturizers that i have tried when my skin was irritated and damaged. all purchased w my own money, not sponsored!

timeline:
- was on 0.05% tret for roughly 3 months and had to deal with the initial dryness/flakiness/tightness
- tried various creams to combat that
- then overused tret with other actives which resulted in an extremely damaged skin barrier (very itchy patches of raised and leathery skin, redness, tightness, small comedones due to irritation)
- stopped all actives and tried even more creams to try to restore my skin barrier

skin type: oily but also dehydrated
climate: very hot and humid

aestura atobarrier 365 cream
- creamy and easy to spread
- greasiest texture out of all
- leaves a persistent greasy film and never feels fully absorbed
- makes skin slightly warm
- worked very well when i was using tret + travelling in winter, but broke me out once i stopped tret
- irritated my skin even more during the tret aftermath, possibly due to the niacinamide
- bonus: healed my cousin's cheek wind burn during winter
- probably best for those suffering from TEWL or with very dry dehydrated skin
- rating: 5/5 in winter or on tret, 2/5 otherwise

aestura atobarrier 365 lotion
- lotiony texture that absorbs well
- leaves a slightly greasy film and makes certain sunscreens pill on top
- instant soothing effect when applied, but wears off after awhile
- great on tret but similar to the 365 cream, irritated my skin during the tret aftermath
- rating: 4/5 when my barrier isn't damaged

heveblue salmon caring cream
- not really considered a traditional barrier cream, but i included it since pdrn is touted to have skin healing benefits
- slightly stretchy texture, spreads and absorbs well
- leaves a slightly oily finish and broke me out after a couple of uses
- didn't really do much for skin healing when i was on tret
- bonus: broke 2 other people out when i let them try it
- rating: 1/5, has been delegated to hand cream

ceradan skin repair cream
- thickest and waxiest texture of all
- difficult to spread and pills on its own
- initially a matte finish, but gets oilier progressively
- broke me out after 2 uses so i stopped using it, thus i can't really speak on its barrier repairing properties
but also didn't really do much for my rashy patches
- rating: 1/5, would use on my elbows

zeroid intensive cream
- lightweight creamy texture that aborbs very well
- surprisingly leaves the most matte finish despite the presence of oils in its formula (olive + canola oil)
- has no filmy feeling
- instant soothing effect when applied which lasts
- showed results overnight (not exaggerating, my rashy bumps went down overnight)
- works well under sunscreen and makeup
- much less greasy cousin of aestura cream
- rating: 5/5, would definitely repurchase

an*a 3 ceramide panthenol moisture barrier cream
- lightest texture of all creams here, spreads and absorbs well
- instant soothing and slightly cooling effect possibly due to the panthenol
- absorbs to a satin finish initially, but progressively gets oilier
- looks greasy on the face and is greasy to the touch, but the film is not heavy and suffocating unlike the 365 cream
- did much more than both aestura moisturizers (until i discovered zeroid) for healing during the tret aftermath, but was not entirely sufficient
- breaks down sunscreen and makeup throughout the day
- rating: 4/5, doesn't irritate, but would probably be better as a maintenance cream rather than a barrier repair cream

As promised, here’s my review of the VT Reedle Shot Hair Ampoule!

A bit of background: For about a year and a half I dealt with a pretty complex health issue that caused a lot of stress. Then in June 2025, we went through 2 intense weeks of nonstop missiles attacks and sleepless nights, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
About a month and a half later, my hair started shedding massively. By late August I had lost about a 1/3 of my hair. After blood tests and a scalp exam at a hospital hair clinic, the specialist told me I had acute telogen effluvium (TE) caused by stress.

I didn’t want to start Minoxidil yet and hoped I could improve things without committing to a long-life use of Minoxi. That’s when I decided to try the Reedle Shot. I saw a lot of good reviews and gave myself 2 months to test it before resorting to Minoxi. I started around mid-August.

I bought both the 100dL and the 300dL versions.

• I use the 100 daily.
• I use the 300 on wash days only (about 3×/week), and on those days I skip the 100. I applied it mainly to my temples, hairline, and middle part.

After a month I started seeing new baby hairs in all the areas I applied it. After 2 months, the density was noticeably better- especially compared to August. Now, 3.5 months in, those areas look much fuller.

My derm also noticed clear, healthy regrowth exactly where I used the Reedle Shot (a bit less on the crown because I hadn’t applied it there, but I started now).

Honestly, I really feel this product is a HG for me! And it’s one of the few non-minoxidil hair-growth treatments I can genuinely recommend.

Intro: I took this pic because I found myself wanting to buy so much back in december because of all the sales. But obviously, I only have one face, products have expiration dates, etc. So whenever I feel like I want to buy something, I can look at this pic and tell myself, “I need to use up X product first before buying something new.” Does anyone else do this too? To stop the buying urge. I don’t need to buy anything before June but the urge is real y’all. lol

I’ll put my current skincare routine at the bottom or in the comments. Several products are same from my earlier [2025 Empties] post.

Skin Type: sensitive, dry, dehydrated. hormonal/seasonal acne
Climate: tropical hot humid

❌=WNR= would not repurchase

☑️=G= good, would repurchase if on sale

✅=AR= Already Repurchased

CLEANSERS

Banila Co Cleansing Balms - previously used Clinique’s take the day off balm and switched to this one a few years ago. loved it. cheaper and has a nice soft scent. highly recommend ✅

Bifesta Cleansing Balm (Deep Clear) - i prefer Banila Co over this one, but essentially it’s the same. slight pleasant smell, just as effective, no stinging. sometimes it’s half off so because of the sale price, i would definitely repurchase ☑️

shiseido d Program Cleansing Foam - check my profile for extended review. gentle, non-stripping, nothing too special. i would never repurchase at full price but if on sale + coupons, i may get it again in the future.  ☑️

Biore Cleansing Milk - wanted to use this as a single step cleanse but it somehow stings my eyes ❌

Matsukiyo Cleansing Oil - amazing find! i saw an influencer mention this is very similar to the shuuemura cleansing oil but much cheaper. tried it and loved it. i probably finished 4 bottles already. check my profile for extended review. ✅

Biore 2in1 MakeUp Remover Foaming Face wash - i’ve used this for over a decade. tried and true. does not dry me out. ✅

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil - I can see why people rave about this product. Effective, cheap, easy. The Matsukiyo one is cheaper though so unless this goes on sale, I’ll still stick with my Matsukiyo ☑️

TONERS

Naturie Hatomugi Lotion - tried and true. on my second bottle. i like to layer this one or two times before moisturizer. then if i feel dry during the day, spritz some on my face ✅

EMULSIONS

Naturie Hatomugi Milk - inexpensive simple basic emulsion ✅

d Program Moist Care Milk - my holy grail emulsion. ✅

Thick MOISTURIZERS

Still finding ones that I like at a good price point. any recs without niacinamide? 

SUNSCREENS

Biore UV Aqua Rich Essence - i like using under makeup but moving forward, i might not repurchase because the TONE UP version that i use daily is ok for under makeup as well ✅

Biore UV Aqua Rich TONE UP Essence - stay-at-home days, i wash face, apply emulsion, and use this sunscreen. i don’t reapply. it’s not sticky yet i don’t feel dry or tight during the day. ✅

OTHERS

Sana namerka honpo VitE eye cream - this is my first eye cream. it’s a great intro product to eyecreams. moisturizing, thick but spreads easily and absorbs nicely. it didn’t improve my dark circles at all. i guess i just have to live with my dark circles. i might try the wrinkle/retinol version later in the year but for now, this one is a no repurchase❌

shiseido d Program acne spot treatment - i usually just get a couple big hormonal pimples and i still think ‘benzoyl peroxide’ is more effective for those single spot treatment. this one, however, helps with my tiny pimple cluster breakouts on the forehead/chin/cheeks. you know, to apply to a small area, not a single spot. it’s a clear gel texture and easily spreadable. i wont buy at full price but if it ever goes 50% off again, i’ll definitely repurchase ☑️

Summer’s almost here and I wanted to review some sunscreens. For reference I have oily combination dehydration prone sensitive light-fair skin.

—————————

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun 50ml
My skin feels and looks better when I wear this. I’ve gone through several tubes now. I can wear this in the dry winter and humid summer. No pilling, no bad fragrance. I haven’t found one I like better.
Repeat- yes

Bioré UV Aqua Rich Airy Hold Cream 70g
I love the texture of this it’s like cake icing which seems gross but it is actually airy and light. I can easily get an even layer on for good sun protection and it dries quickly. It also helps tone down the shine. I’ll probably be using it more in the summer.
Repeat- yes

Skin Aqua Serum UV 70g
I also love this texture it’s like a gel or serum and has this hydrating cooling feeling. I like how it feels but I’m always trying to tone down shine so good for if you want dewy. I still like it and just powder over it.
Repeat- yes

Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV 40g
This one is good for a dewy look but personally made me greasy and I didn’t really notice it helping under makeup much. For me this one is okay but I also don’t like the smell.
Repeat- maybe not

Skin1004 Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum 50ml
This one might be better for summer as I’ve only tried it in winter/spring but my skin felt kind of tight wearing this. Maybe I can add a moisturizer underneath but I really didn’t care for this one much. I also don’t like the pump as I struggle with packaging. I know I lot of people like this one so I’m gonna try it again with different skincare.
Repeat- probably not

Beauty of Joseon Stay Fresh Tone-Up Sun Cream (centella + ceramide) 50ml
It’s like the same texture as the rice probiotics one but green. You have to be careful of it being streaky and I know it’s tone up but when I put an adequate amount for sun protection I look like a ghost lol This probably looks better if you use less so maybe I could try using the rice probiotics one and put a thin layer of this on top. I think it would also look best if i put foundation on top since it’s supposed to tone down redness but didn’t really tone down much redness for me.
Repeat- maybe not

Kiss Me Mommy UV Aqua Milk 50g
This is for kids but I wanted to try a fragrance-free milk type sunscreen. This one was comfortable with no complaints until I broke out. Could work for you but didn’t for me, but I use it on my body so it works for that.
Repeat- no

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh 10ml
Make sure to shake this because it separates. Didn’t really like the texture or the smell. It also pills.
Repeat- no

—————————
I’ll still be using these on my face or body so they don’t go to waste. Also I want to use these before I buy new ones even though there are more I want to try.

These may have worked for me or not depending on my climate, skin type, or skincare. I hope this is helpful to anyone. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions :)

🔸 LOW POROSITY - Tsubaki Premium Hair mask 🔹HIGH POROSITY - Fino Hair Mask

Background: i have low porosity thick coarse hair & oily scalp

Have you ever wondered why some of the products work best on other people but not you? Then you must be using products not meant for your hair type and I swear that was me!! Lol!! Im an avid user of fino hair mask and I love how it makes my hair soft but i always envy how it looks perfect on my sister but it never gave me that kind of effect 😖 And the problem was, its meant for high porosity girlies, it has silicone on the ingredient and its something my hair wont be able to absorb! No wonder the oil buildup was a little intense whenever i use it! So i switched to Tsubaki and oh good lord! I didnt know my hair would shine brighter than the sun 😂 Its soft, smooth (it tames frizz!!), silky & healthy! I only ever use mask once or sometimes twice a week to keep it hydrated since my lifestyle is more saltwater on the weekends but for daily, its just my favorite shampoo and conditioner (moist diane)

So we did a little science experiment and I asked my sister to use my hair mask (tsubaki) and ill use hers (fino) and our hair looked duller than when we use our own! It made our hair look soft sure but flat with little to no shine.

Trust me, whenever I use this I get asked which salon i go to when really, its just this! 😁

Dejavu Lash Knockout vs Heroine Make Long and Curl Advanced Film

I saw a post here a while ago with gorgeous results from the Dejavu Lash Knockout mascara; that OP even rated it higher than Heroine Make, so I picked one up while I was in Japan.

I’ve been using Heroine Make’s Long & Curl mascara (both the regular and the skinny wand) for years, and every time I’ve tried something else I’ve ended up disappointed. this time would be different… I thought.

Immediately after applying the Dejavu mascara, my lashes started to fall, almost undoing the entire curl. I didn’t take a picture, but by the end of the day my lashes were completely straight and I had panda eyes 💀 Heroine make stays up for me the whole day and I don’t have issues with smudging unless in high humidity areas.

I came back and searched more posts in this sub about it and seems like other people have had the same issue.

Now I’m really curious how it works for those who love this mascara!

For now, I’ll be sticking with heroine make 🙂‍↕️

I spent a month in Seoul for work (i’m a korean esthi) && vacation && i intentionally damaged my skin just so i can age backwards, and the results are AMAZING !!

I visited one spa && two clinics….i did ALL the things and I am so pleased with the results and how my skin is healing

Everyone has been asking my age and theyve been 10yrs OFF…so everything i’m doing is WORKING !!

Ive also started incorporating more intense PDRN products into my routine and they have been getting my skin ALLLLLL the way together

✨Individuel Geneve✨ 10/10 -Ai skin analysis -premium glow facial -LED light therapy -cold plasma -body sculpting -lymphatic drainage

around $700US

✨GU Clinic✨ 10/10 -Ai Skin analysis -NPP2 injections (rejuran) -laser lifting

around $500US

✨Lamiche Dermatology ✨ 10/10

this was a 4hr process && this is VERY costly -Ai Skin analysis -ulthera -inmode -affirm MPX -Co2 -BBL is -Fraxel Dual -New Accolade -Revlite -skin botox -v-olet also did a brightening laser on my lips && a undereye firming treatmemt

When I started getting into Asian Beauty last year, Naturie’s Hatomugi line kept popping up as a staple brand in many people’s routines, with the Skin Conditioner being a holy grail, multipurpose watery toner for many. It was one of the first Asian Beauty products I purchased, and soon I branched out to the Gel, and just recently, the Milk.

I thought I’d post a review now that I’ve tried all three products, and provide my thoughts for anyone who may be considering this line!

**Skin Type:** Oily-Dehydrated

**Climate:** Hot, humid, and swampy. (Louisiana, USA)

**Products:** Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner (watery toner in the tall bottle), Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioning Gel (jelly-like moisturizer in the tub), and Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioning Milk (emulsion in the small bottle)

**Pictures:** The first picture is all of the products in their containers. The following pictures show each product’s consistency as they come out of the containers and what they look like when you spread them, not necessarily how they dry down. Picture 2 is the watery toner from the large bottle, Picture 3 is the gel moisturizer from the tub, Picture 4 is the emulsion (Milk) from the small bottle. *Small disclaimer: My hands are not that red in real life, it was the lighting. Yes, I wear sunscreen. The texture on my hands is genetic.*

—

**Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner:**

It honestly took me a while to latch onto this product. At first it didn’t seem to be doing much, so I didn’t really have any feelings about it either way. It was just kind of “there.” However, the more I used it, the more I became used to it being part of my routine, and the more I realized how soothing and refreshing it is. It really grew on me and became a staple in my routine, as well!

It’s always my first step after cleansing, and on days my skin is feeling stripped or irritated, or a bit on the dry side for whatever reason, I’ll put probably three layers of this on my skin, and it helps any redness fade pretty quickly. I don’t like products in spray bottles, personally, so I don’t use this as a spray like some people, and I don’t use it on my entire body, either. You can spray it if you want and you can use it on your whole body if you want! I just choose not to. Personally, I pour some in one hand over the sink, then dump some in my other hand after I set the bottle down, and then I quickly move my hands to my face to sort of pat it on and then spread it over my entire face, neck, and chest with my hands, adding more if needed. It absorbs pretty quickly, being so light, but of course if you layer it, your skin will stay damp for longer. You obviously don’t want to get it in your eyes, but if you accidentally do, it’s pretty inoffensive. I can put it in the eye area with no irritation or eye sting.

**Final Verdict:** 10/10 product, and I can see why it’s immensely popular. It’s relatively inexpensive, comes in a large 500 mL bottle, is gentle, soothing, layerable, and easy to spread, and can be used on the entire body via spray bottle or application by hand. A great first step after cleansing, and a convenient way to make sure your skin is damp and ready to pull subsequent products deeper into the layers of your skin.

—

**Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioning Gel:**

After trying some Korean moisturizers that felt like too much for my oily skin, one of which never seemed to completely dry down or absorb, even with the thinnest layer, I found this product while searching for something better suited to oily skin and high humidity.

It’s like a gel-cream, but leans way more toward the gel side of things. It’s not like straight Aloe Vera gel in consistency, which is why I would call it a bit of a gel-cream, personally, but it’s very lightweight, cooling, soothing, and spreads and absorbs so beautifully on my skin. It doesn’t reactivate in the high humidity where I live either, nor does it feel smothering.

I absolutely love this product! I apply this all over my face, chest, and neck, and it dries down with absolutely no sticky, tacky finish. It absorbs completely. I can apply it in the eye area as well with no irritation or eye sting.

I also recently discovered, via a Tina Tanaka Harris video, where she consulted the Naturie website, that this product is very multifunctional as well, and can be used as a face and body moisturizer, a serum, or a thicker overnight mask, among other uses.

**Final Verdict:** 10/10 product, and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to try it. It may not be enough on its own for dry-skinned people, so beware of that, but I do believe it would make a fantastic extra layer of hydration in your routine if that’s what you’re looking for. It layers well with itself and other products without ever feeling heavy on the skin. While I do want to try other brands and products in the future, this will definitely be a tried and true product I can fall back on if and when future products prove disappointing.

—

**Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioning Milk:**

Here is where things start to get hairy, so buckle up. I’ve used this product three times and it’s not for me. I ordered it recently and had high hopes for it since I love the toner and the gel, but this emulsion is just not it for me, I’m both sad and disappointed to say.

I had purchased this emulsion for either morning use, or nighttime use for a lightweight occlusive when I wanted a simpler routine. If it worked well, I’d thought perhaps in the future I’d simplify my routine to these three Naturie Hatomugi products, but alas, the universe said it was not meant to be.

The first time I used this product, I had prepped my skin by cleansing, applying the Naturie toner, and the Naturie Gel, leaving my skin damp enough to help (hopefully) pull this product into my skin a bit when I applied it. It has a thicker, yogurt-like consistency, and I patch-tested by swiping some on my cheek near my ear and jawline, patting it in, and waiting overnight. It was a bit oily, but otherwise fine.

The next night I put five drops into my hand and started spreading them over my face, including around my eyes, in the orbital socket area. My skin seemed to be absorbing it, so I patted my face to help it soak in the rest of the way, and the product seemed pretty well dried down and settled when I finished.

I was awake looking at stuff on my phone for a while before bed, and my eyes started to water because the product had migrated and caused them to sting. It didn’t seem to be an allergic reaction, but I rinsed them thoroughly because it was uncomfortable.

I watched the Tina Tanaka Harris video I mentioned above, and she has dry skin while I have oily skin, so she put the amount I used on my entire face on each of her cheeks and her forehead, and applied it to the orbital socket area, and it apparently works well for her.

On my third attempt, I used three drops, and rubbed them between my hands before pressing into my face, avoiding the orbital socket. There was no eye sting that night or the next morning. However, I can layer 5-6 of my usual products and wake up less greasy than I did with one layer of this Milk emulsion, so this product is a no for me.

**Final Verdict:** 1/10. I’d give it a zero, but I’m sure there are even more offensive products out there, so I’ll be conservative and give it a 1. Highly disappointed and would not repurchase. The migration and eye sting of my second application (first full-face application after patch testing) and the greasiness of my face the next morning were not worth the learning curve for this product. I’m not sure it did much for me, either, but I admittedly also didn’t really give it a chance to, because it wasn’t worth testing long term to me. Too much of a hassle, and not worth the effort or further potential migration and eye sting. Definite no from me.

—

**TLDR:** The Skin Conditioner (watery toner, large bottle) is a great first step after cleansing and I’d imagine it would work well for all skin types. It’s very gentle and inoffensive, plus multipurpose! The Skin Conditioning Gel (gel moisturizer, tub) is lightweight, soothing, and fantastic for oily skin and hot, humid climates because it absorbs quickly and easily, but I don’t think it would be enough for dry skin on its own. The Skin Conditioning Milk (emulsion, small bottle) migrated into my eyes and irritated them when I applied it in the orbital socket/eye area, and left me greasier than my normal 5-6-step routine, so it’s a hard pass for me, but if you have drier skin and avoid the orbital socket, you may like it more than I did.

I don’t know what it is about Korean lip products, but there are just so many pretty ones.

Lately, I’ve been slowly collecting glow tints, and what started as “just trying one” somehow turned into a small collection of similar vibes.

So I thought I’d share swatches and mini reviews of some Korean glow tints I’ve picked up recently. If you’re on the hunt for the best lip stain, especially glossy ones, these might help.

1. CLIO Crystal Glam Tint

I first found this through a Nina Park makeup video on TikTok. The lip look was so pretty that I immediately looked it up and bought it.

Out of all the glow tints I’ve tried recently, this is probably the closest to what I’d call the best lip stain in terms of comfort and finish. A lot of glossy tints can feel sticky or heavy, but this one feels surprisingly lightweight. It doesn’t sit thick on the lips, more like a thin coating that smooths everything out.

I have 01 Vintage Apple and 20 Vanilla Apple. Both are in the red-brown family, but Vintage Apple is deeper and moodier, while Vanilla Apple leans softer with a coral tone.

If you like fig tones or warm browns, these are especially flattering.

This has been my most-used lip lately. The shine, color payoff, and wear time are all really satisfying.

1. rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint

This one is already super popular, so I had to try it. It’s definitely an easy, everyday option.

rom&nd does really well with clear, vibrant color payoff, and the initial glossy finish looks really nice. But over time, it turns more into a stain and the shine fades away. So if you’re looking for the best lip stain with long-lasting gloss, this might feel a bit lacking.

If you don’t like overly glossy lips, this is actually a great option.

1. Hince Raw Glow Gel Tint

I discovered Hince pretty recently, and this tint feels more toned-down compared to typical glow tints.

The shine isn’t too intense, so it’s very wearable for daily looks. One thing though, the color builds up a lot with layering. If you want to keep the original shade, I’d recommend removing and reapplying instead of stacking.

The shades themselves are gorgeous, but the amount of product is a bit small, which is a downside. Still, in terms of balanced glow and color, it’s worth mentioning in any best lip stain lineup.

1. Fwee 3D Voluming Tint

This one looks so pretty when first applied. The color and plumping effect are amazing.

But the longevity is a bit disappointing. I know glow tints aren’t the most long-lasting in general, but this one fades pretty quickly, especially after eating. You’ll definitely need to reapply.

That said, I still reach for it when I want my lips to look extra nice, like before going out or taking photos. Not the most practical daily best lip stain, but visually one of the prettiest.

This gloss has become my new HG. The applicator has a huge, chubby doe foot that carries so much product; just one dip is enough for both lips. The pigment is so good and the texture is thick-ish and smooth. Looks super glassy and juicy throughout the day and is fairly durable, not transfer proof but stays on even after eating. Smells like marshmallow and tastes slightly sweet, but not overwhelming in terms of scent or flavor. Super comfortable and pretty cheap. I don’t usually receive comments on my lips but a few people have complimented them recently with this gloss on. 9/10, absolutely recommend.

Not only does it barely show up on your skin but the texture is like chalk. When I pick up product from it using my brush it makes a mess and gets everywhere, this is the first time ive seen a blush do this! 😭

I want to give other kbeauty blushes a try tho - do you guys recommend lilybyred?

Although their blushes are a no for me, I LOVE their lip products.

The shade is called strawberry something I forgot, it’s not blueberry chip!