Overall, this was a very good batch of products – I think I might’ve had my thumb on the scales a bit, because I do know what I’m looking for in products! Here at K Beauty UK we have grown to love the huge range of nourishing and kind-to-skin formulas that Pyunkang Yul have to offer and that is why we have worked hard to become leading suppliers of this fan-favourite Korean skincare brand. The optimum way of achieving healthy skin is ultimately by finding and then maintaining a healthy oil and moisture balance in your skin: this is something that all Pyunkang Yul products strive to achieve. The EU Allergen Free label is for the 26 ingredients identified by the EU SCCS and products will be only flagged if a suspected ingredient is on it's ingredient list. It is possible for cosmetics to contain one of the suspect ingredients without it appearing on the ingredient list due to it not reaching the concentration threshold to disclose it and cosmetic manufacturers choice to not disclose it.

The logic behind snail essence is that it’s the stuff protecting their belly (I know it’s called the foot, but it feels wrong to call it that…) against the world and helping it repair. Also since it’s a natural extract, there can be allergens in it, and there are cross-reactivities between snail and dust mites and shellfish – but lots of people with these allergies don’t have a problem with snail products, and people without these allergies have reacted to it. Some people do get closed comedones (small clogged pores that are flesh coloured bumps) with snail. Before trying this, I was honestly a little skeptical due to the fact that it’s almost like a creamy gel texture. I was afraid that it could either be just a very lightweight or a slightly heavy cream for my skin.

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I found this one very slightly heavier and richer than the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, so I think this is more suitable if your skin is drier. I also found it more hydrating and slightly lighter than the Isntree one. I heard about Pyunkang Yul first from Gothamista, YouTube’s skincare godmother. Their products are really minimalist and focus on using plant extracts to make products suitable for sensitive skin. They can leave a bit of a shiny finish, so some people find them greasy. For me, the shiny film is super light and falls on the glowy side of the glowy/greasy dichotomy. I think part of this is also that they hydrate my skin really well, which means any oil feels lighter, and makes my skin look better rather than worse. Yes– Pyunkang Yul products are a great choice for those of all skin-types. Those with sensitive skin should be especially interested in the brand given that they use the bare minimum number of ingredients and have a long history of targeting specific skin concerns like sensitivity or eczema.

Delivery timescales are estimated and could be affected if your parcel is very heavy or delayed by Customs entry procedures. Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream was a product that I hadn’t tried properly – while I’ve talked about the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, they do have a whole line of other products as well! They help loosen up the dirt and grime from your skin and hair to allow for water to wash it away with ease. Pityrosporum Folliculitis/Malassezia folliculitis or simply known as Fungal Acne is a persistent acne-like condition that commonly responds poorly to traditional acne-treating methods. Unlike most cases of Acne where bacteria is the culprit, Fungi is the culprit of Fungal Acne (Hence the name!). There are certain classes & groups of ingredients that have been shown to promote and feed the growth of the Fungal Acne, Fungi such as fatty acids, oils, esters, polysorbates and fermented ingredients.All in all, with such gentle and kind-to-skin products, Pyunkang Yul are a must-have brand for every consumer. The best known GAG in skincare is hyaluronic acid, and the sugary molecules in snail essence works along similar lines – they’re really good at holding onto water and acting as a humectant moisturiser. Aside from hyaluronic acid, you don’t really see these a lot in skincare.

If not, don't worry about it - they do have had one of the longest safety records as preservatives! The Silicone-free label only includes the most common Silicone ingredients that have indentified been reported by individuals that could potentially cause issues. Finding and maintaining the oil and moisture balance in the skin is the imperative goal of this cruelty-free brand. Why should someone try Pyunkang Yul?Kelly Driscoll mentioned that this irritated the skin near her eyes, which isn’t too surprising – strong retinoids make your skin go through a retinisation process as your skin kind of rebuilds itself, and your eye area can be quite sensitive. Snail is a natural extract, which means there’s a lot of variation, and that includes with the percentage – you’re going to have different amounts of the actual compounds within each extract. It’ll depend on things like which species of snail they use, what they feed the snails, and how they purify the snail extract (which is a commercial secret). Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner has always been the firm favourite amongst the Skinsider family. It is a fantastic toner to have and does a great job helping reinvigorate the skin after cleansing. Some customers love the smaller 100ml bottle as it’s great to take on holiday with you.

The Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner was perfectly soothing and hydrating during the summer months (I used 2-3 layers), but I had to switch to something a bit more hydrating when the temperatures lately have dropped below 0*C. Our current one, Ceramide 1, or morerecently called CeramideEOP, was the first one that was identified in 1982 and it's a special snowflake. It contains the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid and has a unique structure. It's believed that ceramide 1 plays a "binding role" in the lipid layers of the extracellular matrix. Along with ceramides 4 and 7, they also play a vital role in epidermal integrity and serve as the main storage areas for linoleic acid (a fatty acid that's alsovery important for barrier repair).Vitamin A derivatives are the gold standard ingredients in skincare, and retinal has been making its way into more skincare products recently. It’s usually encapsulated, which improves the stability of the retinal (retinoids are notoriously unstable – one study found that some retinol products on the market are 80% decomposed after 6 months), but also releases the retinal gradually onto the skin, so there’s less irritation. This moisturiser has a creamy texture but in that, I find it is slightly more hydrating than moisturising. K Beauty products don’t get much better than those manufactured by Pyunkang Yul. A brand that was launched by the renowned Pyunkang Oriental Medicine Clinic, Pyunkang Yul have diversified since their days as an esoteric company that only solved specific atopic skin concerns. Now they are a brand well-known for their huge range of skincare products that are suitable for those with all skin-types.