Mom blogger, Nikkah Sanchez, reviews Korean beauty products that have tackled and solved her acne woes in as fast as three days — Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner & Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream.
I hated toners.
Although it has been a part of my nighttime skin care routine, I just couldn’t get it right. Perhaps, you can blame it on my ignorance. I just always ended up using those products that felt like someone threw sulfuric acid on my face. They sting. They burn. They make my sensitive face beg for mercy.
Even those alcohol-free “hydrating” toners in the mainstream market are not mild enough for me.
Thus, toner application had been my least favorite part of my routine. It gets worse after I use kojic acid for exfoliation.
It’s really odd for me to confess my distaste for toners, right when it’s one of the most important steps in any skin care routine.
A facial toner provides additional cleansing and offers hydration to prepare the skin for moisturization. Unfortunately, most cosmetic companies continue to make toners out of experimental formulas that are either ineffective or skin-aggravating.
Imagine my frustration on this aspect of skin care that I was willing to try anything just to get the toner thing right before finally giving up.
And so, I tried Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner along with Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream, which I both got from Kbeauty online store Go Bloom & Glow.
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is a very intriguing product that I’ve come across a few months ago. It’s claim to fame? It’s both an essence and a toner – a powerful combo that ticks two steps of the famous 10-step Korean skin care routine.
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner: Review
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner and all of Pyunkang Yul’s products are all about simplicity, from its ingredients down to its packaging.
It is made with 91.3% Milk Vecht extract and is developed by Pyunkang Oriental Medicine Clinic in Korea.
I was surprised to know that inside its seemingly antique apothecary bottle is a toner made only with 7 ingredients.
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract 91.3%, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine
I am no chemist, but seeing the no-frills list of ingredients made me realize it’s an absolutely alcohol-free and waterless toner. Milk Vecht root, which is its dominant ingredient, has been around for ages, known in Chinese traditional medicine for its antioxidizing, anti-inflammatory, and nutrient-boosting properties. Hence, it helps in the DNA repairing ability of the skin.
My first impression upon using Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner was that it felt so gentle and moisturizing on my skin without the sticky feeling. It soothes and calms my skin, especially when I over exfoliate which leaves my skin dry and stinging as a result.
You’ll know its cooling and moisturizing properties even before applying it to your face when you take a look and have a feel of its consistency straight from the bottle. It’s clear, a bit viscous and runny at the same time. It’s quick-absorbing and completely unscented.
The only downside I experienced to this is that I have to use a lot of the product to get the cotton pad soaked and get the right amount into my face. Not to worry though! Even after a month’s use, I barely made it to the bottom half of the bottle.
The minimalist royal blue packaging labeled with a traditional paper makes me think I got the product from a town shaman. But in a good way! It’s as though I’ve come to possess a magical elixir that will grant me eternal youth from a forgotten era.
The antique-looking apothecary bottle looks like it’s made of glass when it’s purely plastic. Surprisingly, it screams the opposite of tacky. Even the box it came with is so durable despite its simplicity and elegance.
I thought the bottle’s dispenser is one thing to worry about when I turn it upside down. I don’t want liquid dripping down my fingers when applying the product. Fortunately, only a few drops escape the bottle when it is turned upside down. So that saves me the drama from spilling too much product and moolah down the drain.
If you have sensitive, dry skin, Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is definitely for you.
If you want a product sans the bullsh*t gimmicks and “trendy” ingredients, this is the one.
If you have been exfoliating nonstop to fade those acne marks, this is the yang to that yin; the substance to balance the harshness of those scrubs you swear by.
This product will last you for a long time. I’ve been using this toner for a few months now, and I still haven’t gotten to my second bottle yet. So far, I am very happy with the results I am getting.
I am in love with this highly-acclaimed Korean toner and I have made it my mission to use it every single day.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream: Review
As I mentioned above, I also got my hands on the Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream. Since I’ve round up the pros of using Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner, it’s now time to share my review on Pyunkang Yul’s Acne Spot Cream.
I really had a low expectation when I first used it. I’ve used different acne spot creams before, and they didn’t really live up to my expectations. Some spot creams I used didn’t do much of a difference, while others take a lot of patience before I could see the result. Hence, this time around, I wasn’t really expecting Pyunkang Yul to blow me away.
My golly! It blew me to smithereens. Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream is a holy grail.
On the first night that I applied the acne spot cream, I didn’t really put it on my face’s individual acne spots as anyone should do. I applied it to my entire chin and left cheek region because I had an ugly breakout coming out. I had to take my chances in stopping it, you know.
The next morning, the redness, swelling and pain on my problem areas were almost gone. Although I could still see a couple of pimples existing as they had not shrunken completely yet. Considering I set a low expectation on its performance before, I was really happy that the healing progressed that fast.
I continued using it for another night and found out the next day that my existing acne had either flattened or dried up.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream also claims to clear blemishes; however, it took rather a while for the cream to do its lightening job on my acne marks. With continuous use though, I saw that my acne scars have lightened up bit by bit.
It doesn’t promise to do wonders on hyperpigmentation, but it’s efficacy focuses on its immediate healing power. And this is the area where I’m mostly impressed at.
Here’s a before-and-after photo of using Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream.
Now, whenever I feel like a breakout is coming out, I use it to stop any acne from flaring up immediately. This time, however, I only apply it on top of each acne. In just 24 hours, those up and coming pimples are long gone.
The best thing about Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream is that it doesn’t dry up my face. It’s a white cream that comes in a simple white tube. Upon application, the cream feels cool and soothing on my skin without causing any burning or stinging sensation. I use it after the essence toner, so it’s really the final step to my nighttime skin care routine.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream is gentle enough for my sensitive skin, but strong enough for it to work well.
If you’re budget-conscious, the price tag might discourage you from purchasing it. But if you’re desperate or just want to tame your breakouts and have an extra to spare, then you’ve got to try this little miracle worker. It is a little pricey, but it does the work.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream is powered by copper tripeptide and licorice extract that provides relief from bad breakouts, which is perfect for those who have acne-prone skin like me.
Pyunkang Yul is available in KBeauty online shops worldwide. Not sure where to grab one in the Philippines? Try getting it here at Go Bloom & Glow.
Related: How I Get Rid of my Acne Scars & Pimple Marks: Cheap Product for only Php 50 ($1)
Disclaimer: The product that I just shared may or may not work for you. People have different skin sensitivities and this product might not be suitable for your skin type. Please note that this isn’t a paid product advertisement. This is based on my own experience of using the product. If you experience any burning sensation or other side effects upon using this product, please discontinue its use immediately.
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