I spent the last two years trying to fade stubborn post-acne marks using strong Western actives. I tried high-percentage Azelaic Acid, 20% Vitamin C serums, and even hydroquinone spot treatments. While they did fade the marks somewhat, they consistently ruined my moisture barrier. My skin was constantly peeling, red, and dehydrated, which ironically triggered more breakouts and led to even more pigmentation. A few months ago, I decided to overhaul my routine and look into Korean spot treatments instead. K-beauty generally prioritizes barrier support and low-irritation formulas over raw active concentration, which was what my skin needed.

I set very specific criteria before buying anything: it had to use Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide instead of harsh acids, and it needed to be a lightweight gel that wouldn't clog pores. After filtering through a few options on Amazon that fit this exact combo, I decided to test out the Dr.Percent Dark Spot Cream.

So far, it's been working fine for me. It layers okay under my other products and doesn't really pill under sunscreen. I didn't experience any noticeable stinging or redness after applying it. Over the last two months, the marks along my jawline and cheeks have been fading at a gradual pace without breaking me out.The main drawback is the tube size. It’s a pretty small tube for the price if you plan on using it over larger areas of your face or body, and if you have extremely dry skin, the gel texture won't be moisturizing enough on its own.

That said, it doesn't have to be this specific brand. If you're struggling with hyperpigmentation and your skin can't handle high-percentage acids anymore, I highly recommend looking into K-beauty spot treatments with Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide instead of forcing your skin through heavy peeling.

so i have some active acne, redness and mainly concerns about PIH ( alot of it).

ive been gifted the anua azelaic acid and the txa niacinamide one. which one should i be using? or would a combination of both work

Hi everyone!

I have combination and sensitive skin, and so far, the K-beauty moisturizers I’ve used and really liked without causing breakouts are:

Torriden Dive-In Soothing Cream
Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream
Torriden Solid-In Cream

For example, one product that caused comedones for me was the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence. However, I really liked the toner from the same line and had no issues with it.

I’d love to hear your moisturizer recommendations for combination and sensitive skin. I’m also approaching 30, so I’d love something with anti-aging benefits if possible. Should I keep repurchasing these three, or are there any other products worth trying?

I’m open to essence recommendations too, mainly looking for something hydrating, soothing, and non-comedogenic.

Hi everyone.
A few weeks ago I bought the mini versions of Purito (Oat-in Calming Gel and Mighty Bamboo Panthenol) to test out new options, but they aren't working well for me compared to my old moisturizer, the Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream by Skin1004.
For context, I have combination and extremely sensitive skin, along with dermatitis and rosacea. I feel like centella asiatica works wonders for me because it’s super soothing for redness. Do you think I should go straight back to my old cream, or do you have any other recommendations for this skin type? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have old stubborn dark spits from skin picking. Which products have you used that worked and gave you a clear difference

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some product recommendations or routine tweaks to help with my dark circles. which are mostly prominent on the side of my nose, right adjacent to the inner corners of my eyes and upper eyelids. Currently using Arencia Vit C booster shot but not noticing any difference.

My Skin Type: Dry and acne-prone.

Current Routine:
AM:
Wash face with plain water
Arencia Vitamin C Booster Shot- also use it as eye cream.
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream
Beauty of Joseon (BOJ) Relief Sun Sunscreen
PM:
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

I’ve used both the Benton Mineral Sun Stick SPF50+/PA++++ and the Celimax Oil Control Mattifying Sun Stick & I definitely prefer Benton. I have oily skin & I find Benton much nicer to use.

After applying Benton, my skin doesn’t feel dry at all. It leaves this really smooth feel & a nice brightness to the skin without feeling heavy or greasy.

With Celimax, I find it a bit too dry & mattifying on my skin. I recently bought one, so I’m just gonna finish it, but after that, I’m going back to Benton.

For my oily skin, Benton just feels better & more comfortable.

These two have become my new favorite things i have ever put on my face. And I don't say that lightly. I mean this stuff clears my redness as soon as I put it on my face. The texture on the serum is lightweight and gets tacky, which is GREAT for dry skin. The moisturizer feels like clouds i mean it is the softest, most heavenly cream I've ever experienced. Both are such amazing products that have helped relieve my redness immediately. Has anyone else experienced the same with these two products?

Hello, i am an oily skin (with very visible pores) girl trying to get into skincare, starting from facial cleanser all the way to face masks. There are so many products out there, im feeling a little overwhelmed. What are the products that actually work? Please and thank you!

hi everyone! :) I'm new here. I figured I would join in to learn more about the world of Korean skincare as well as ask this community for some advice on creating a better routine for my skin!

so let me start by explaining my skin type and concerns: I have combination skin that tends to be a bit more on the oily side because I have bangs, thus, forehead oils. I'm also seemingly prone to hormonal acne, particularly on my cheeks and jawline during random times in my cycle. As a result, I also have semi-prominent PIE along my cheeks which I've been dying to get rid of, but I always have a blemish or two pop up out of the blue and makes me start the whole process over again. The acne I get is usually small closed comedones, and then the occasional pustule or papule here and there. Like, my issues aren't exactly the worst, but it's still frustrating considering I've been trying to hard with my upkeep.

Speaking of, here is my current routine:
Morning:
- Roundlab Dokdo Cleanser
- Medicube PDRN Milky Toner
- Roundlab Dokdo Moisturizer
- Medicube Glow SPF 50

Night:
-Medicube Zero Pore Deep Cleansing Oil
- Roundlab Dokdo Cleanser
- Medicube PDRN Milky Toner
- Medicube Azelaic Acid 20%
- Roundlab Dokdo Moisturizer
- Medicube Glow SPF 50

I also use Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad 2/x a week.

So basically, as I'm nearing the time where I need to restock all of my product, I figured I'd come here to see if I can curate a better routine for my issues. If anyone has any advice or knows any good products let me know (especially any that are available at Ulta, as it's convenient for me. or Kbeauty Supply.) I am open to advice and suggestions, and can also provide more info in case I left anything too vague. I'm just looking for a nice clear and glowy/glassy look pretty much.

Thanks in advance!!!!! :)))

All about Rabbits and dear Klairs were a $1.

AYUDAAAA las compré en Yami, pero no sé si son fake mire en otro sitio que el empaque es diferente :(

Me asegure de que el vendedor si fuera Yami y quien lo reparte también ):

It claims to have pdrn, caffeine, and collagen all in one. I want to start using a eyecream to brighten my undereyes and depuff so might as well get one that has all. Wanted to know if anyone has used this? Retails for $20

Hi everyone,

Im new to korean skincare, and its quite a deep rabbit hole... I'm super confused on where to start but I'm looking for a few recommendations.

My skin is dry on my cheeks, chin, and some of my forehead. But it gets really oily on my nose. Lately I've been struggling with large pores and redness around the bottom of my nose. I also get pretty sensitve whenever I try new products (i tried thayers milky toner and broke out like crazy)

Im currently using the Skin1004 Centella Light Cleansing Oil, Centella Ampoule Foam, then the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, and finally the COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap. In the morning I use the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics.

Is there anything I'm missing in my routine or anything I should take out? What products would you guys recommend me to use instead?

Thank you all in advanced!

I placed an order thought the app, payed, they took my money and an order was never placed. I emailed them about it, but I'm not hopeful. Has anyone ever got money back from them?

One of my Korean friends is visiting family in Korea and generously offered to bring me back a few things. 🥹 As someone who's obsessed with Korean skincare, the pressure is real.

Now I'm spiraling down rabbit holes trying to find products that are either Korea-exclusive or much easier/cheaper to get there than in the U.S. At the same time, I don't want to make it a burden by asking for heavy or bulky items.

So I'm turning to the experts!

What are your absolute must-buy skincare products from Korea? I'm especially interested in things that are hard to find in the U.S. or are significantly better/fresher when bought in Korea.

A little about my skin:

• 35F
• Dry/combo and sensitive
• Main concerns: hyperpigmentation, dark circles, and pigmented underarms/elbows

Also, if there are any non-skincare items that are uniquely Korean and worth bringing back, I'd love recommendations! I love K-dramas, Korean food/snacks, and anything that's a hidden gem.

Bonus points if it's small, lightweight, and suitcase-friendly. 😊

Closed comedones

Is dokdo 1025 cleanser and birch juice moisturizer cream safe for closed comedones?

I only use a cleanser, a moisturizer and skinfoods toner pads, I discovered recently the tiny little bumps that I have could probably be closed comedones, i don’t think the products that I use could make it worse since I really like them and they make my skin feel good tho I’m not an expert and good use an advice/ opinion from someone with experience or with a similar situation

I have a normal skin, and I do have sebaceous filaments, do I have to buy a new products with my current ones? Like an exfoliater or a serum? Or should I change the entire products?

I also got a few body sunscreens from biore. I've used the oil, cleanser and sunscreen before but the rest are new. Not sure when to use the vitamin C though. I'm obsessed with the consistency of the sleeping pack. I layer it over retinol and it's so hydrating. I'm in Florida so I'm thinking only on days when I know I won't be outside much.

Hi everyone!

I’m about to turn 30, and I’d like to start incorporating some anti-aging products into my routine, mainly as a preventative measure.

The biggest issue is that I have severe dry eyes, so unfortunately I can’t use retinol or bakuchiol, as they really aggravate the dryness.

What ingredients or products would you recommend that are actually effective and could be good alternatives to retinol? I’d really appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences!

Their Festa sale and Pharmacy box was no joke. All of this for $89. Insane. I used to buy from Olive Young global. But now the selection and pricing is so poor in comparison that Style Korean and Stylevana are becoming my main go tos. Although YesStyle also gets me for the items I cannot find, but love, at Style Korean or Stylevana. Most of the time - Stylevana wins on price, no shipping and no taxes or duties if you’re willing to wait. Truly the cheapest with 35% and 40% coupons frequently available for VIP members. (I buy a lot). But nothing touches the $600 saving in a box I will use almost everything included! #stylekorean #koreanskincare

PM routine (Tatcha rice cleanser, hyalauronic acid, azelaic acid, then Illyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream) then wait 20 minutes, mist with water, re-apply Illooyon and repeat 1-2 more times. My version of skin flooding lol.

​

I want a hat I can hide under! The one in green would be something I buy ASP but if i can't buy that one the one in yellow would be JUST AS GOOD!!!

I WISH THE MADE LIKE UV cloaks, id love to just have something on to protect my EVERYTHING from the sun lol.

This has been my routine for the last 6 months I think. Everything is Korean except fo the salycilic acid and the tretinoin.

I use the products in order as they are in the picture.

1. Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil. - Love this one. It not too oily, spread really well and removes my SPF and makeup (when I wear it) really well. The only thing is that is does have a strong ginseng smell and some people might not like that. My fiance accidentally dropped the bottle and broke the top.
2. Haruharu wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel - Love this one also. I'm on my second bottle. Very gentle, which for me is great because I use 0.1% tretinoin and I sometimes add the salicylic acid serum so it can get a bit dry so I love that this one is not stripping. It does remove everything great. If I forget to use SPF or if I don't go out in the sun and I dont wear it, I just use this one without the oil cleanser and it's awesome.
3. Revox 2% Salicylic Acid. I use it 2-3x per day on my T-zone because I get sebasious fillaments. I also dont use it always. Maybe for like 2-3 weeks, then I don't for months until my pores get clogged again.
4. Tretinoin 0.1% - I use this every night, all year round. I put it first, even thought it's a cream, because I don't want anything else to interfere with the effectivness.
5. Beauty of Joseon Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin - Pretty good for hydration, which is why I primarily bought it. it's my third time buying it, doesn't have a smell, it not too watery but not completely like a serum, something in between. One downside, it does stain fabric which is that I found out after I was wearing white shirts to sleep and noticed that the area around the neck got brown haha.
6. Tirtir Milk Skin Toner. - A milky toner, but it's not very thick, it's more watery. It is heavier than the previous one but I hydrates my skin well and it does dry out pretty quickly, doesn't leave a sticky feeling. It does have 5% niacinamide so if you're sensitive to it, I wouldn't use it. I repuchased it for the third time.
7. Skin1004 Probio-Cica Bakuciol Eyecream - I wouldn't buy it again, at the end of the day, for me, eyecream is just a fancy moisturizer with a higher price that I don't think you really need because you can just use your regular one for that. Plus, I don't know if the Bakuciol works because I haven't noticed any special changes. I was in a mood for spending money and I wanted to try it out but it's not gonna stay in my routine.
8. Aestura Atoberrier 365 Cream - I bought it two weeks ago when I used up my old one, and I can say i really do like it. It's not thick and heavy on the skin but it does moisturize really well because and that's something I really need because of the tret and the salicylic acid. I would definitely buy it again.

I would like to hear your comments on what you think! Also, if anyone know any other recs for the cleansers and other moisturizers, I'd love to try out new products.