u/Prior-Assistant7369

I’ve been using this for a month and it has already become my HG moisturizer. I am a sensitive combination skin, and I used to get dryness and redness from time to time after washing my face. I’ve heard of this moisturizer before on Reddit, which talked highly about it, so I thought why not gave it a go. The texture is kinda thick, but it’s really hydrating. I remember after a week of using, my cheek didn’t feel dry and sensitive as it did before after washing my face, and I didn’t put the moisturizer on yet. My skin barrier did grow thicker, which is amazing to me. You can check my redness on second and third pic. However, I don’t recommend using it in the daytime because it’s too heavy and the weather now is hot. I usually use cerave lotion in the day cause that one is lighter.

Bought this a year ago in Japan at Matsukiyo on a whim when I saw Tina Tanaka Harris purchase it in one of her shopping vlogs. I had no idea what to expect but I didn’t think a drugstore brand sunscreen would outperform every other Japanese and Korean sunscreen I’ve tried, and it’s such a good value too!

For context, I have oily skin, especially in my T zone area. Where I live isn’t very hot but is typically still humid since it’s right by the ocean and we get a lot of moisture in the air. Before trying this sunscreen, my other go-to sunscreens were Skin1004 Hyalu-cica Water-fit Sun Serum and Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit. Those two have the least glowy/dewy finish on me, but I would still be left with a slightly sticky/tacky feeling that never really dries down unless I apply setting powder over it.

But this sunscreen. It goes on so easily and dries down really fast. It leaves zero tackiness on my skin. I can reapply throughout the day without any pilling at all. I don’t wear makeup though so I can’t say if it would pill in that situation. The bottle says it’s “brightening” but I don’t think it means whitening since it left zero white cast on my skin. The only thing I don’t like about it is the fragrance, but it eventually goes away after applying it. It’s so lightweight on my skin and while normally my T zone will get oily by midday, I really didn’t experience that on the days I used this.

I hate that I can’t buy this anywhere online 😭 my new favorite sunscreen that comes very close in terms of user experience and finish is Skin Aqua Serum UV. But this Matsukiyo sunscreen still comes out on top due to its insane value for money. The only thing is I’m not sure how much I can trust the UV coverage since it’s a drugstore brand, though I never burned or tanned whenever I used it. Unfortunately I don’t remember how much I paid for it, probably around $12-15 USD. Definitely not over $20. Next time I go to Japan I’m definitely stocking up on this!

Things to note :Im living in a humid country ,i have oily ,acne prone skin and im currently on adapalene

I plan to recycle all the boxes by the end of the year so rest assured .

Cleansers :

1. Haruharu wonder black rice moisture deep cleansing oil (unscented ) 150 ml

Its actually quite pricy for its size compared to other cleansing oils (like anua cleansing oil which is cheaper for 200 ml ;anua cleansing oil broke me out anyway so still a waste of money ).The oil itself is thick and a bit heavy and its not really easy to emulsify .Due to this i think it eventually broke me out and i stopped using it ,i used it for around 3 weeks .

4/10 WNRP but if you have dry mature skin that is not easily clogged then i would reccomend

2.Round lab dokdo cleanser 150 ml

A solid cleanser .But omg the smell is like soap and sometimes if i use too much it will strip my skin .I do really like it but it also does not have much cleansing power.I used it for around 4 months .

6/10 Might repurchase in the future

3.Round lab mugwort cleanser 150 ml

Absolute holy grail.Strong enough to cleanse away sunscreen but not strippinv at all.Has some calming effect to my acne prone skin .It does kinda irritate my eyes though .It has a gorgeous lather and you only need a bit to for it to foam up well.

9/10 would repurchase and already did

Toners

1. Skin1004 tone brightening boosting toner 210 ml

Accidently purchased it thinking it was the skin1004 tone brightening ampoule .It actually does nothing .Didnt notice any brightening effects .I dont really like watery toners as they drip down my arm and face and feel like they do nothing .

2/10 WNRP

2.Axis y daily purifying treatment toner 200 ml .

Its fine .It does its job ,exfoliating well enough .I would not reccomend using daily though . Its smell really like chemicals which kind of throws me off .

5/10 would repurchase if there were no other options

3.Purito seoul wonder releaf centella toner unscented 200 ml

Another holy grail .Gives me the hydrating benefits needed when im flaking because of my adapalene.Its very soothing too .Its a gel like texture and is quite viscous.Some people dislike it due to the texture but i hate watery toners anyway so this is perfect for me .Kinda pricey tho

10/10 no complaints ,repurchasing until the day i die

Ampoules and serums

1.Mixsoon master serum 30 ml

Bought this on a whim .Very watery .Havent tried for long enough to know as i dont really need it in my routine .Has bifida and centella though so feel free to purchase and tell me how you guys feel .

?/10

2.torriden balanceful serum 50 ml

Quite afforfable for the amount you get ,has a gel like texture so you dont need that much .I like it .It feels a bit like the purito toner and i use it at night ,has slight exfoliating properties but not noticeable .I can use it when my skin is sensitive and it calms my skin down

8/10 good basic serum ,would repurchase

3.Anua azelaic acid 10 hyaluron redness soothing serum 30 ml

I have purchased 2 bottles already but i think its ok.It has a bit of exfoliating properties but 10 percent azealic acid is probrably not going to do a lot .Stings when i use it when my skin is compromised .Sometumes makes me even redder,which is the opposite of what it is claiming to do .Its very watery so you will use 2x more in my opinion.Kinda pricey too as you cant get it in store in my country .

7/10 okay to try for acne prone people ,wish i could get the 15 version .Might repurchase .

Moisturisers and sunscreens .

1.Axis y heartleaf my type calming cream .60 ml

My first holy grail.one of the few moisturisers that dont break me out .It is a gel consistency and is not the most hydrating or moisturising .I use it mainly to soothe my skin .I like just because it does not clog my pores. I dont need a lot from my moisturisers.Bit of a small size tho

8/10 Always repurchase.Reccomend for oily ppl but def not for dry skin

2. Torriden dive in soothing cream 50 ml

Nothing soothing about it imo.I think it broke me out .Feels a bit oily and never fully absorbed.I used it when i was flaking from adapalene and did not help AT ALL.Even my axis y cream did more and it does not even claim to hydrate .Pricey for 50 ml .

3/10 WNRP

3.Numbuzin clear filter sun essence 50 ml

Feels so good on the skin .Buttery soft and does not break me out .I cant say its soothing though .As for sun protection ,im a couch potato so i dont really know.My only sunscreem this year other than the fake skin1004 sun serum i got (long story ) .Used to be a sunscreens not necessary type of person (i know ,ew ) ,but this convinced me to wear spf everyday .

8 /10 would repurchase

Im on month 3 of adapalene and im staying strong (my acnes still here but its better ) Comment your thoughts and idk why i kept the boxes not the products .

Which team do you side with?

Also drop your favourite sunscreen in the comments 😄

I have combination skin and live in a high altitude dry climate. I used to love the Kiehl’s ultra face cream, but somehow it became irritating on my face after I started a tretinoin routine. So I switched to Korean moisturizers and was blown away by how gentle they felt! I got most of the highly recommended ones for comparison, here are my thoughts:

Beauty of Joseun Dynasty Cream: I’ve used this in the morning under sunscreen and makeup (no pilling). Love the texture and lack of odor, I give it a 10 out of 10.

Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream: I’ve also used this in the morning, no pilling under makeup as well. Personally I’m not fond of the gel texture even though it is moisturizing and gentle and has no odor. 8 out of 10.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream: I’ve used this over tretinoin and azelaic acid at night. The texture is wonderful and the formulation is very calming. Unfortunately for me, the cream has a slight strange odor, I also despise the deceptive slack-fill packaging. Will not repurchase as long as I have better options. 7 out of 10.

Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream: This feels like a richer version of the Dynasty Cream, I can use less on my face and it’s very easy to spread out. No pilling under makeup. I’ve read about people breaking out from this cream, I have not experienced that. It’s a bit pricier, I’ll still give it 10 out of 10.

Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream: This cream is more watery than the other ones. It’s also gentle, moisturizing and odorless. I don’t love the metal tube packaging though, I’m afraid it’d be prone to cracking with use. It’s also a bit pricier for its size. 7 out of 10.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream: Zomg the size of this! And only for $16.29 from Stylevana! I just got it in the mail today and tested on my wrist. The texture seems similar to Aestura, also odorless. I see no reason why it won’t work well on my face. If it does, I might settle on it as my night time moisturizer for the sheer bang for the buck factor. Scoring reserved for now.

P.S. My lovebird Halloween says Hello!

Since accutane I developed retinoid dermatitis. I saw a derm a month ago, she prescribed me Zoryve cream and told me to use cicalfate every other day. Well guess what now I have still flaky skin AND acne !!!!! Nothing work… I just buy the Vichy mineral 89 as it acne safe and low ingredient list but my skin is still looking bad. I’m so depressed I want to hide, I want to put a mask on my face and never taking off…

I have been a long time user of Tretonin 0.5 for the past five years ish. As skincare has become very popular and influencer trends take over social media many of us continue to seek perfection and damage our fragile barriers. I would watch a video and do more and more and consistently fuck up my barrier. Adding a growth factor serum gave me massive cystic acne. Then to fix that I added on azaelic acid to help the hyperpigmentation. Then facial oils to combat the worsening dryness. All on top of Tretonin…an extremely potent rx. Water would literally burn my face and I knew I had fucked up. I stopped Tret for three months and used differin but missed the glow. I slowly incorporated Tret back and dropped azaelic acid. Many ppl on Reddit love aza but I realized I have very sensitive and dry skin and also live in the desert and needed to cut out any other actives back. I stopped double cleansing unless I wear makeup which is about 1-4 times a month. On nights I use Tret I literally just use lotion then Tret instead of a million layers of toner. All of these things seem common sense but for many of us acne forms as a result of a damaged barrier and we do the most to combat it. So happy with where my skin is now ♥️

Routine:

Am: wash with water

Heveblue PDRN toner (love this !!!)

Haru haru probiotic toner

Zeroid intensive cream

Haru Haru wonder spf

Pm:

Vegan yam root cleanser

Cosrx snail mucin

Haru Haru toner

Aestura atobarrier

X3 a week Tret with only the aestura atobarrier. I will probably not increase my usage as I am happy with my skin and previously was doing ever other day

Hey girls I’m here with the latest review of this Charlotte tilbury flawless blur concealer. Last time I recommended Catrice eye brightener and some of you said Charlotte tilbury’s one is great as well. Recently I’ve got an event to attend so I bought this one to see if there’s any better. Personally speaking, I think it’s too thick, but the coverage is very decent, and it covers all of my dark circles with just a dot of it. Also I found it a little bit cakey. Sometimes my skin is dry and this one just makes me crevice everywhere. Am I doing it wrong? Do you guys know how to apply it appropriately? As always, the sec and third pics shows my dark circles level before and after apply this concealer. If you want a concealers with good coverage, this one is for you! My shade is 4 Fair-Medium

This is not just acne this is closed comedones!

This usually targets the younger generation and my best advice is to use Adapalene! *I am not a doctor, but I have been through it and came out using this one product! Adapalene (Differin gel).

Start very slowly like two times a week, if you want mix it with your moisturiser as well and then get used to the flow.

Adapalene (commonly known as Differin) and Tretinoin (Retin-A) are both potent topical retinoids derived from Vitamin A, but they differ significantly in strength, stability, and primary uses. Tretinoin is generally stronger and better for anti-aging, while Adapalene is gentler, more stable, and ideal for acne.

Adapalene is a third-generation topical retinoid primarily used as a first-line treatment for acne vulgaris. It works by increasing skin cell turnover and regulating the growth of follicular epithelial cells, which helps keep pores from clogging and prevents the formation of microcomedones (the precursors to pimples).
Its primary benefits include:

Acne Treatment and Prevention
Unclogs Pores: Effectively clears existing blackheads and whiteheads by exfoliating the skin at a cellular level.

Reduces Inflammation: Contains anti-inflammatory properties that help decrease the redness, swelling, and soreness associated with active acne.

Long-term Maintenance: It is often recommended by dermatologists for ongoing use to prevent future breakouts.

Reduces Scarring Risk: By treating acne effectively at the source, it lowers the likelihood of developing permanent scars and dark marks.

What product are you reaching for first to get your skin back on track?

Guys, if you haven’t found a body lotion with SPF 50, you gotta check this out. I never used body lotion that lightweight and it’s perfect for people living in humid, hot weather. It still has hatomugi in it but different from the hatomugi toner, it belongs to a different brand, called Reihaku. However, It’s a bit expensive and not waterproof, just let you know.

Hey everyone! I wanted to run a fresh Summer 2026 analysis focused specifically on the SPFs people keep recommending over and over again.

I pulled comments from threads like “best sunscreen for daily use?”, “best sunscreen under makeup?”, “summer sunscreen recommendations”, “best SPF for oily skin?”, plus long skincare discussion threads, then ran them through my analysis pipeline to see which sunscreens get the most consistent praise vs mixed reactions.

This isn’t about dermatologist rankings or marketing claims, it’s based on how often people actually recommend, repurchase, and defend these sunscreens in real Reddit discussions.

Keep updating the list scores with raw comments + TL;DRs here:
redrecs.com/best-sunscreens

Method in the comments.

As always, curious to get your inputs!

After the dry skin post, a few of you asked specifically about serums. So I pulled the data just on serums, essences, and oils recommended for barrier repair across 7 skincare subreddits. 487 mentions, 424 threads. More niche than the general barrier post, but there's a clear story in the numbers.

The COSRX Snail Mucin 96 Essence runs away with it at #1 with 73 mentions and practically zero negative sentiment. It's the product Reddit reaches for when their skin is truly wrecked, which makes sense. It's simple, it's gentle, and it doesn't ask much of your skin.

The most interesting data point is ranks 2 and 3: The Ordinary HA 2% + B5 and Niacinamide both have identical mention counts (45 each), but totally different sentiment profiles. HA has 56% positive, Niacinamide sits at just 49%. The complaints follow a familiar pattern lately: barrier struggling, niacinamide in the routine, things improve when it gets cut. The 10% + Zinc formula is designed for oiliness and congestion, not repair. Reddit seems to be figuring that out.

The real hidden gem is the Skin1004 Centella Ampoule with the highest positive sentiment in the list at 78% and 40 mentions. It consistently comes up in post-procedure and over-exfoliation recovery threads, which is a very specific use case Reddit clearly trusts it for.

Does this match what you're seeing in your own routines? Drop it in the comments.