Each year I try so many new and classic skincare products, particularly those from Korea. As we enter the new year, I am looking back on 2024 and choosing some of my favourite products I’ve been using this year.
Shop my recommendations at YesStyle and use the YesStyle discount code ELLENNOIR for an extra discount on your order!
ByWishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water
Mandelic Acid is an AHA which acts as a chemical exfoliant; accelerating cell turnover and removing dead skin cells. The Prep Water also contains Centella Asiatica, panthenol and beta-glucan to calm and restore moisture, which is important following exfoliation.
The prep water is used like a toner, as it provides both exfoliation and moisture. As it’s an exfoliating product, I use it only 1-2 times a week during my evening routine.
It really helps to smooth skin – I get milia, so my skin is often very bumpy, but using this makes it as soft and smooth as it gets! It’s a great product and acid type for those with uneven textured skin, and is particularly recommended for dry and acne-prone skin.
Mary & May Vegan Blackberry Complex Cream Essence
Such a gorgeous cream essence – a vibrant purple with a double phase emulsion – shake it up and its a light pinky-purple creamy essence!
It contains blackberry extract to offer anti-ageing benefits and help repair skin damage, as well as blue lotus water to moisturise and soothe skin, while boosting elasticity. In addition there is jojoba seed oil to help remove dead skin cells and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate.
This is a mix of essence and cream offering a supremely nourishing and moisturising experience. It is perfect for when I want extra moisturising benefits, without choosing heavier products that will clog up my skin. This is still very light and doesn’t feel greasy or sticky on my skin.
Instantly upon using my skin is plumped, smoothed and so soft feeling! I won’t be suffering from any dry skin patches with this one!
Dr Ceuracle 5a Control Clearing Serum In Emulsion
A serum in emulsion to control excess sebum and balance skin to provide a matte finish without any greasy shine – perfect for oily skin.
It contains 5α Complex to control sebum and balance oil-water levels, as well as Witch Hazel to lessen the appearance of pores. There is also Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract to balance skin and control excess oil and shine.
This serum is incredible! I love it – it instantly makes my skin soooo smooth and mattified. It’s like putting a filter on your face in real life.
Dr Ceuracle BHA & Matcha Ampoule
Vegan ampoule that aims to control sebum production and calm skin. It’s a great one for oily skin types.
It contains 0.5% BHA to remove excess sebum and clear pores, plus Jeju Matcha Extract, an antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation and soothe skin. It also contains Peptide Complex to calm and clear skin.
This has a lighter, watery texture that you can barely feel on the skin. It feels really refreshing to use and helps to calm down my skin. My skin feels more ‘normal’ after using – not oily and not dry – just right! It also helps to make my skin feel very smooth and even.
Medicube Vegan PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
The results from this serum are instant and amazing! It makes my skin so smooth and plumped immediately after using. It really helps to fill in lines and improve the texture of my skin by plumping and firming it. I feel like it also gives me a slightly mattified finish which I love.
This is the vegan alternative to the original serum, which contains Rose PDRN – a vegan alternative to Salmon PDRN, it boosts elasticity, renews and restores the skin barrier, evens skin tone and gives skin a nice glow! The serum also contains 5 Peptides to boost collagen, reduce fine lines and firm skin.
It also contains Niacinamide to even skin tone, Holy Basil to protect and soothe skin, and Pink Vitamin B12, which gives the serum its natural pink colour and evens skin tone.
AESTURA A-Cica Blemish Calming Serum
A soothing serum that helps to calm skin and reduce the appearance of blemishes. It is infused with cica to calm skin and niacinamide to lighten blemishes and dark spots.
It is so nourishing and moisturising for skin, helping to plump it a little too, alongside the calming benefits.
AESTURA Atobarrier365 Cream
A deep moisturising cream with ‘Triple-Lipid Capsules’ that helps to prevent damage of the moisture barrier. The capsules are smoothly & easily absorbed into your skin, leaving your skin nicely moisturised for 100 hours!
The ‘Triple-Lipid-Capsule’ (a patent technology DermaON®) contains Ceramide, Fatty Acid and Cholesterol, which is inspired by the real lipid of skin.
The capsules sink into my skin really quickly and my skin instantly feels soooo much softer, smoother and moisturised. My skin looks brighter, refreshed and with a healthy glow, without my skin feeling greasy. This seems like a really great choice for dry skin types and I’m loving how nourishing and moisturising it is for my skin.
Vita A Anti-Wrinkle Moisturiser
A moisturiser to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, plump and boost elasticity.
It contains vitamin A, Bakuchiol, adenosine, collagen, offering antiageing benefits like a retinol.
It is a lightweight cream that quickly plumps and smooths skin and makes it look quite glowy. It makes my skin really soft and smooth and the texture and lines are really reduced a lot.
Dr G RED Blemish Clear Soothing Cream
The cream has a pudding-like texture. It’s a gel cream that quickly absorbs and hydrates skin without being sticky or greasy. It is soothing and helps to calm skin.
It contains a 5-Cica Complex (madecassoside, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, asiatic acid and centella asiatica extract) to hydrate, soothe and calm skin.
It’s an ideal lightweight cream perfect for my oily skin.
Roundlab Birch Juice Moisturising Suncream
A moisturising sun cream that doubles as a moisturiser. It is an SPF50+ PA++++ chemical sunscreen to protect from UV rays, plus birch juice and hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin. The sun cream also contains niacinamide to brighten skin and adenosine to offer anti-aging benefits.
It is a light lotion-like texture that sinks into my skin really well. For me, there is no whitecast, greasiness or stickiness. It is hydrating with a silky, dewy finish.
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
A lightweight and hydrating chemical sunscreen that contains 8 types of hyaluronic acid and Centella Asiatica. It is very lightweight but provides good hydrating and moisturising benefits for my skin – perfect for the hot summer days!
Medicube Triple Collagen Cream
Collagen is one of the best ingredients for making your skin look younger, and this cream combines 3 types of skin plumping collagen with elastin to boost skin elasticity. It also has hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract to improve pores and Olive Leaf Extract to reduce dark spots.
It is a thick and nourishing cream that makes my skin super soft and smooth. Despite being thicker it sinks in nicely and isn’t greasy. It has a fragrance that I’m not wild about, but it doesn’t cause me any irritation.
Korean Makeup Brands & Products I Love
- Romand for lip products, their glasting melting balms and velvet lip tints are my favourites!
- Peripera for their ink glasting lip gloss.
- Miguhara for their new blush drops.
- Colorgram for their lip tints – they are so long lasting, and glossy when first applied.
- Heimish Moringa Ceramide BB Cream.
Shop my recommendations at YesStyle and use the YesStyle discount code ELLENNOIR for an extra discount on your order!
