New in #144 Skin Care and K-Beauty

January 16, 2026

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TIRTIR Mask Fit Aura Mini Cushion SPF30 PA++

15C Fair Porcelain

This is a mini version, which I got to carry in my bag. The red version is far more popular, but that one is a high coverage matte formula, the type that usually doesn’t look great on my dry skin, so I picked this silver one which is suited for dry skin and has a glowy finish. I managed to pick the perfect shade for my skin, which is great because this is very similar to Missha’s Radiance cushion, so both work like a sort of an eraser and I can just apply it where I needed without obvious edges and a shade mismatch. Coverage is light-medium and finish is natural-looking on my skin, like my skin but better & with a moisturiser. I presume oily skin may not like this formula, as it may just slide off. The ingredients list of this is long and fragrance is high up, so most stuff is in trace amounts, but it has some extracts (they highlight white birch juice and algae extract as the moisturisers and not the good old glycerine 3. on the list), niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and adenosine. It has SPF 30 PA++. It’s quite small and I feel this will be empty fast, but it’s a good size to fit in the bag or to just try the formula first.

VT Reedle Shot 100

I got this as a gift with purchase, but I heard many talk about it. It’s described as a skin care booster and it contains micro needles that “help absorption and skin revitalisation”. This one of the weakest versions and there are various strengths. It’s not meant to be used on its own, but as a base and it aids other skin care to work better. Aside from cica reedle needle it also has niacinamide, macadamia oil, adenosine, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, propolis, madecassoside and a bunch of amino acids. When I tested it on the back of my hand I felt nothing, but on my face there is a feeling of applying something scratchy and when I apply other products on top, it still feels like that. I use this about every third day and apply my regular hydrating products on top + an overnight mask. I’m not sure I see a difference, I felt my skin looked a bit better when I used this with a sheet mask. Some swear it makes their pores smaller and refines the skin texture, but I haven’t noticed such an effect – not that I pay much attention to that at the moment. I got no irritation or sensitivity.

NINE LESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum

A brightening serum with niacinamide, tranexamic acid, kojic acid, vitamin C, glutathione, arganine and peptides. It’s just a standard serum, the gel type variety. It’s light, absorbs quickly and it’s rich enough to be used on its own if desired. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now daily and it’s ok, I see nothing major on my skin and the sun damage isn’t fading/ the skin isn’t becoming more even, but I’ll continue using it and probably repurchase it in the colder months when I don’t spend so much time in the sun.

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50 PA++++

A popular Asian sunscreen that’s also sold here in DM, but I got it online. It has niacinamide, centella asiatica, some extracts and hyaluronic acid in several molecular weights. It’s very light, more classic moisturiser-like than a sunscreen and it leaves a moderate level of sheen on the skin. I don’t mind it and leave it just like that, but it needs a powder for a matte look. Compared to APLB it’s a bit richer.

APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

I didn’t hear anything about this sunscreen when I bought it, but I liked the look of this brand and the ingredients of it, so I hoped its texture is ok too. It has niacinamide, squalane, centella asiatica, adenosine, hyaluronic acid, collagen, glutathione, beta-glucan and madecasoside. This is very light, one of the lightest SPFs I’ve tried and it’s more liquid than the Skin1004 one. It’s similar to Garnier’s Fluid if it’s still the same. There’s less shine than at Skin1004. This quickly became one of my big sunscreen faves.

IUNIK Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask

An overnight mask with propolis and a bunch of other nice ingredients. I heard it helps the skin glow, but my skin likes products with propolis in general. I either use Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse or a sleeping mask on most days (Saturday Skin Yuzu mask or La Roche Posay Cicaplast as a mask or Glow Recipe Watermelon AHA mask). This is something between a gel and lotion, unscented. I apply a generous coat of it as the last step and in the morning when I’m washing my face, I can still feel a light coat of it on. As far as results go – it’s a nice hydrating mask.

VT Essence Sun Pact SPF50+ PA+++

I didn’t expect it to be so thick. This is a balm sunscreen and it feels more like that creamy highlighter than a skin care product, so I haven’t really been using it much since I got it. The added sponge picks up a small amount of product, but it can be spread to a large area. It’s tinted slightly blue, which isn’t that visible on the skin and it can be applied over makeup, but it leaves a highlighter or almost vaseline level of glow. I occasionally use it to top up my sun protection in the middle of the day, but when I’m at home, as it’s too shiny for my taste for the public.

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence

A repurchase. I’ve been using this for many years every day. It’s a lovely thicker toner that improved my skin, but it’s main benefit is described as giving the skin a glow. It has 95% Galactomyces enzyme filtrate, while the rest are niacinamide, panthenol, glycerine, betaine, hyaluronic acid, allantoin and adenosine.

PURITO SEOUL Wonder Releaf Centella Toner Unscented

I wanted to repurchase my trusted A’PIEU Madecassoside Fluid 2x, but I can’t find it anywhere, so I searched Stylevana for something similar and not overly expensive. This has Centella Asiatica second on the list, plus Trehalose, Hyaluronic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Panthenol, Allantoin and Arginine. I haven’t tried it yet, I’ll use up my A’Pieu before I open something new, but based on ingredients it’s a similar calming, hydrating product.

HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner

Apparently this is a best-seller. Some rave it makes their skin glow, so I decided to give it a try. It has black rice extract (2,000ppm), other extracts and ferments, hyaluronic acid an beta-glucan. Texture is thin for a K-Beauty toner, close to water and I don’t find it that hydrating compared to my other products, but it’s good for layering and it’s fragrance free. I’ve been using this for a couple of months now and I don’t really see anything much from it. I use a lot of products that supposedly make the skin glow and I don’t think my skin is more radiant, but it’s in nice condition. I’m not sure I’d repurchase this one, not that it’s in any way bad, it’s just not as hydrating as I like and I see no other visible effect compared to my skin care routine without it.

A.H.C Ten Revolution Real Eye Cream For Face

A repurchase. I use this daily all over the face, but concentrated around the eyes. It has everything from hydrolysed collagen, niacinamide, centella asiatica, a ton of extracts, allantoin, adenosine, ceramides, peptides, arganine…. It’s a medium thick cream and it sits on the skin for a time. I can’t claim I noticed any “age-rewind” effects, but it suits my skin.

KSECRET – SEOUL 1988 Eye Cream : Retinal Liposome 4% + Fermented Bean

I was going to repurchase Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal, which has 2% liposome retinal and my skin likes it a lot, but this one has 4% liposome retinal (I believe that equates to 0,04% (regular?) retinal), It has niacinamide relatively high on the list, some oils and extracts, ferments, hyaluronic acid and at the very end of the list vitamin C, bakuchiol and peptides. Texture is very similar to Beauty of Joseon eye cream. Both are light yellow lotions that sit for a while on the skin. I use it all over the face just like BOJ one and it suits me, but like at that one I see no visible changes in my skin (nor have I at any other retinal, retinol or other derivative).

GLOW RECIPE Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment

I saw this on one of the best overnight masks lists and some mention it makes their skin glow. AHA is very low, given how my skin doesn’t get much benefits even from 20% glycolic. It has a 2.5% pH-balanced AHA (glycolic and lactic acid), watermelon extract and ferment extract, plus some other extracts. I bought a mini because full size is expensive and actually 20 ml is a good size, since has a very light gel spreadable formula. When it dries it leaves a tacky film on the skin, which feels a bit tight. This has no scent. When it wasn’t as sunny as now I used it every 3 days and so far saw no major brightening or anything much. I stopped using it for now when I spent too much time in the sun, but I’ll start again in autumn.

CERAVE Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum for Anti-Aging

A serum with 10% L-ascorbic acid and the ceramides Cerave is known for. I got it because someone say it’s one of rare Vitamin C products at which they saw visible results, though it’s more medium strength compared to some others. I was using the Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence, which is fine, but I don’t really see much brightening from it and the texture of it is oily, so not ideal to put anything on top, though I regularly wore it with SPF over it. This one is a very light, liquid lotion that absorbs fully into the skin, leaving an almost dry-to-the-touch base for SPF. Like all ascorbic acid products I’ve tried so far, it makes my hands smell something like self-tan or like holding old metal in time, which I don’t think I’ll ever get used to and it makes me dislike ascorbic acid products, especially since I don’t see results at any, but I use them together with SPF, since apparently that’s recommended. This has no scent at application. From ascorbic acid products this one is so far my favourite. It’s light, absorbs fully, the packaging isn’t small (like at Eucerin, which is still the most impressive on I tried) and there’s no irritation.

THE ORDINARY GF 15% Solution

I believe this is one of the more new products by TO. It’s described as a serum for visible skin repair and wrinkles. It’s a growth factor serum that promises a lot of things concerning visible aging, plus that is hydrates and strengthens skin’s barrier. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and I don’t really see any change, but it’s a very light serum or maybe more like a toner and easy to layer, so I use it daily as one of the first steps in the morning.

GEEK & GORGEOUS A-Game 10

A repurchase. This has 0.1% Retinal, which was when I bought it the first time their strongest retinal. They’ve since came out with 0.2% which I meant to buy, but after waiting for a long time to come in stock, I just ordered this one. It’s a yellow lotion that’s quite light. I used up 0.05% and 0.1% and at neither I saw any irritation, both just felt like normal hydrating lotions.

GEEK & GORGEOUS aPAD

A 20% Azeclair Serum with a potent Azelaic Acid derivative (Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate or PAD). It’s light, but not that easy to layer, as what I put on top doesn’t glide as easily on the skin. It’s meant for skin with redness and for fading marks from blemishes and other things.

THE ORDINARY Retinol Serum 1% in Squalane

I was using Skinclopedia 1% retinol in squalane which is nice, I got zero reaction from it. I got this one for some time later, it’s going to take a while for me to open it, since I stocked up well. I assume the texture should be the same, a dry oil type of thing. I’ll report back later when I start using it.

THE ORDINARY Retinal 0.2% Emulsion

This is stronger than Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 (it’s the same strength as the new 20), but they only have 15 ml bottles, so it’s more expensive. I got a few retinols and retinals a couple of months ago, they are all meant as backups because ordering individual things comes with shipping costs. I started with the weakest, Ksecret – Seoul 1988 and this one will likely be last. But I’ll report back when I try it. I never saw visible results from A-Game, I’m just hoping that these retinols/retinals are slowing aging of the skin.

SHISEIDO Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask

This is a best seller on Stylevana, but I heard some people talk warmly about it. It has amodimethicone, which I like at hair care because it makes the hair feel so silky, though at this mask this effect is less powerful than at for example Kerastase masks. It’s a quite nice mask. I won’t say I like it quite as much as Elizavecca’s cer-100, but for the affordable price this is good. I has decent frizz control and adds some shine to my bland hair. The texture is nicely thick and it’s nourishing enough. It does have that minus that a lot of drugstore quality masks have and that is that my hair becomes dry quickly and the top layers of my hair coarse in about two days.

ELIZAVECCA Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment

A repurchase. This is hailed as a dupe for Olaplex – it’s not, it’s more of a dupe Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator as both are packed with hydrolised proteins and aminoacids. It makes my hair feels so nice – airy, nourished and silky. Along with some leave-ins even the bleached part of my hair dries smoother. Texture is easy to spread in a small amount.

PURITO SEOUL Dermide Relief Barrier Moisturizer

This from the Stylevana’s Vana Awards 2024 list . It’s a basic moisturiser with ceramides, allantoin, squalane, panhenol and meadowfoam seed oil. The name says it all – it’s a soothing formula that moisturises and strengthens the skin barrier. I bought this for someone else, as I use Cerave’s lotion as my basic moisturiser, but I gave it a quick test and it’s a medium thick moisturiser that takes some time to absorb. If I didn’t have Cerave, I’d likely buy this for myself too.

APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Sheet Mask

This is described as a calming mask with glutathione, centella asicatica and niacinamide. I haven’t used it yet, but I enjoy the sunscreen from this line and they have other products with similarly impressive ingredients too.

MEDICUBE PDRN Pink Vita Coating Mask

PDRN Pink serum is currently quite popular, so I got the mask from this line. It’s meant for fading dark spots and brightening. It has salmon pdrn and hydrolised collagen. I’ll report back when I use it.

They also have PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask, which is meant to be left of the face for several hours and turns from opaque pink to clear.

JIGGOT Real Ampoule Mask Honey

I got this mainly because it was very cheap and ingredients look good too. It has hyaluronic acid, honey, snail extract and propolis, plus unlike a lot of sheet mask it has no alcohol high on the list. I’ll report back when I use it.

ESFOLIO Collagen Essence Mask Sheet

I got this as a gift with purchase. It’s got hyadrolised collagen and ginger extract, but it also has alcohol high on the list. I tried the Milk version years ago and I remember the sheet is quite thick and the texture of essence quite rich, lotion-like. These are some of the cheapest sheet masks and there are many versions.

BERGAMO Help! Mask Sheet

Aloe

This was Stylevana’s surprise gift or whatever. It’s a calming, moisturising mask with aloe, hyaluronic acid, allantoin, adenosine, green tea, witch hazel and some other extracts. Though it has alcohol third on the list. I used it in combination with VT Reedle and my skin felt nicely moisturised. It was still on my face in the morning when I was washing my face, so it created a good occlusive layer.

ROUND LAB Soybean Nourishing Cream

A random single sample. It looks like a basic moisturiser, with panthenol, adenoside, cocoa seed extract and ceramides, but more on the end of the list. I haven’t opened it yet.

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica B5 Cream

A sample Stylevana included. The base is a Japanesse cypress water, then it has a lot of tea tree leaf water (not essential oil), panthenol, niacinamide, some other extracts, tea tree oil, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica and a very small amount of mandelic acid. I haven’t tried it yet.