This month’s opened products were really about getting ready for warmer weather as Colorado continues to waffle about what season we’re in. But as I think about all of these products the big thing that stands out to me, rather than transitional, is sensorial! For almost all of these products, the texture is possibly the most remarkable thing about it, making my skincare routine a sensorial delight right now. For some of the others, the smell (not always from fragrance) is the most notable, which is frequently less of a sensorial delight.

Cosrx Propolis Light Cream

I got this half-off in the Ulta sale because I’m a sucker for Cosrx and bee products. I’ve been absolutely bombing through it because I’ve been using it both AM and PM.Because the desperate winter dryness is nearly over and because I’ve been layering up with a new facial oil and a sleeping mask (see below!), I’ve actually found this has been working well at night. The texture is actually quite similar to Versed Skin Soak, which I’ve long held would make a great night cream for oily skin and day cream for dry skin.
Price: $32 USD / 50 mL

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner

This product has enough hype that I was jazzed to try it, despite the fact that I don’t typically go for BHA. It’s gentle enough that I’m able to use it daily — even on actives nights! It’s got quite a strong smell, and honestly smells more like cactus than watermelon, at least to me. Texture-wise this is surprisingly thick, and I find that I don’t need to dump as much into my palm (that’s right, this is one I feel comfortable doing san cotton pads) as I do hydrating toners. I have noticed some pore minimizing, but nothing dramatic.
Price: $34 USD / 150 mL

Dear, Klairs Fundamental Watery Oil Drop

This product came highly, highly recommended, but so far the verdict still out. Kelly Driscoll claimed it’s a shortcut to glass skin and I figured I might actually start seeing humans in person soon (hooray vaccination) so I better get that official glow-up going. Keeping with our texture theme, I can definitely see why they call this a “watery oil” despite it not having any oil in it — it has a lot of slip to it like an oil would, so I actually do use it as my last water-based serum.
Price: $31 USD / 50 mL

Chiasm Skin Daybreak Prototype A

I’ve been testing this oil for a few weeks in the morning. Yes, this is an oil that can be used in the morning and that’s the point, as it has 5% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin c derivative) and .5% ubiquinone (CoQ10). It didn’t seem to break down my sunscreen at all, which was good. It definitely dries down quickly (more of a “dry” oil) and I didn’t notice any sunscreen pilling with it. It’s got quite a strong scent and distinctive color, but neither last on the skin, and in the actual final version the scent is expected to shift. This did seem to keep my skin balanced for longer — sometimes my skin can dry out mid-afternoon, but that never happened when I mixed this into my moisturizer.
Price: TBD — not yet released

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner

This essence toner is a cult classic, so of course I had to give it a try. I’d characterize the texture as a “full-fat water”, so it definitely falls more on the “essence” side rather than the “toner” side. You probably could layer this, but I certainly wouldn’t go for a full seven skins. I can definitely see myself rebuying this in the larger size! Especially since I have a $100 gift card for Nudie Glow US burning a hole in my digital wallet.
Price: $19 USD / 200 mL, shown in the $4 USD / 30 mL mini size

Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule

This also came half-off in the Ulta sale, and highly recommended by a close friend. I find that I’m going through it surprisingly fast, as evidenced by how low the bottle is already. That said, I think I can slow down on it — a little really does go a long way with this, because the texture gives it a lot of slip and keeps it from sinking in before I can spread and pat it in everywhere. As for this ampoule’s acne fighting benefits compared to the toner from the line, which I adore, the verdict is still out.
Price: $28 USD / 30 mL

A’pieu Madecassoside Sleeping Mask

This mask was a repurchase for me, as I wanted to continue using a sleep mask through the summer but I found the iUNIK propolis one to be potentially too thick for warmer weather. I love how it immediately calms down my skin if it starts feeling warm and reactive during my routine, without adding a thick layer.
Price: $15 USD / 80 mL

Chiasm Skin Wild Being Desert Oil

This lovely oil is the dry skin-oriented one from Chiasm Skin. It’s definitely not a dry oil like the Daybreak prototype, so I use it in the PM after the Cosrx Propolis Light Cream. I haven’t used it too long just yet but it seems like a nice successor to my custom oil. This one in particular features cold-pressed lightning-struck juniper oil, so that’s pretty magical.
Price: $42 USD / 15 mL

Bonus Round: Body Skincare

Amlactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion

This lotion came highly recommended because it’s gently exfoliating, but I … am not loving it. And honestly the reason for that is the smell. The problem with fragrance-free products is that it doesn’t mean they don’t HAVE a fragrance, it just means there aren’t added fragrant compounds. But this smells super strongly of that lactic acid tang, which I don’t love smelling like and, unfortunately, brings my puppy running to lick it all off my legs. Texture-wise I do enjoy it, but I find the need to put on clothes after to lock the smell away, or promptly put on perfume to mask it.
Price: $13 USD / 255 g

Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil

This mega bottle of shower oil was my hope for a worthy successor to the Neutrogena Fragrance-Free Body Oil which is my go-to oil for keeping bath from stripping the heck out of my skin. After all, since it’s a liter and in a pump, it’s ostensibly a really great option. That said, I find that I need over 5 pumps to make my 50 gallon bathtub sufficiently moisturizing. And unlike the Neutrogena, this is fragranced with a baby powder smell. It’s a very light smell, though, and quickly disappears.
Price: $20 USD / 1 L