You know how I’ve been talking about how wild life’s been? Well, imagine me gesturing broadly right now. Given how truly off-the-rails things have been, I’m doing my July and August openeds in one post (it was the way to get them out before September, so it’s a win, right?). And yes, that is a dog fluff on the lid of the Isntree essence toner. And yes, that backdrop is extremely wrinkly. It is what it is. Anyways, both months featured a bit of travel around the great state of Colorado, and a lot of mountain biking. As such, dealing with the sun and the dryness took center stage.

Essences

🍶 Missha Time Revolution The First Essence 5X

The Missha First Treatment Essence was my first SK-II dupe, and it remains my favorite in its category — so I had to try Time Revolution The First Essence 5X, the latest iteration. It has 97% desert cica yeast ferment, which I’m assuming is the usual saccharomyces with a bit of extra “zhuzh”. In addition, this includes some niacinamide for brightening and ceramide NP for strengthening. I always find that my skin feels much more deeply hydrated and my pores appear smaller when using a first essence, particularly the one from Missha, and I’m glad to have it in my routine again. I use one layer (sometimes two!) as the first post-cleanse step of my morning and evening routine.
Opened: August
Price: $54 USD / 150 mL

🧅 Isntree Onion Newpair Essence Toner

I was skeptical when I first heard about the Isntree Onion Newpair Essence Toner but I love Isntree, I love toners and hey, I’m down with onions. Notionally, the 75% muan red onion extract is to help with acne, but a lot of the reviews of the line mentioned how it was good for brightening — and given the tranexamic acid, niacinamide and sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a vitamin C derivative), I’m willing to believe it. It’s a very classic toner texture, so the “essence” piece of this is more for the percentage of onion than speaking to a particular step in a routine. I’ve been using two layers, AM and PM.
Opened: August
Price: $25 USD / 200 mL

Serums

💧 Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum

I got the Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum for my husband to replace the hyaluronic acid serum he was upsold at our spa. Turns out — he likes it a lot better! Even before he knew it was half the price. I’ve tried their probiotic serum, but this one is much loved by the modmins of Skincare Fanatics, and being the “og” of the Vichy serum line I wanted to try it eventually. It goes on, and stays, smooth — no pilling, like some HA serums (including the expensive one from the spa). Two pumps of this is all you need.
Opened: August
Price: $20 USD / 30 mL

💛 make p:rem Idebenone Lifting Ampoule

The make p:rem Idebenone Lifting Ampoule, despite having idebenone in its name, is in my routine for all of its ceramides (NP, AS, AP, NS and EOP) and is largely kakadu plum extract. Idebenone, essentially a synthesized alternative to coenzyme Q10, doesn’t need to be at high percentages, and here is at 1%. This is a creamy serum, and feels very well rounded with its additional hyaluronic acid, plant extracts, beta glucan and cholesterol. I use two pumps of it as my last serum in the AM and PM, since I like the antioxidant support for morning and the skin barrier support for evening.
Opened: July
Price: $20 USD / 40 mL

🍒 Good Days For All C’s The Day Serum

I was a fan of the Good Days For All C’s The Day Serum when it was still the Good Skin Days C’s The Day Serum, and this is my second bottle of the rebrand. The rebrand involved a reformulation to be 12%, rather than 10%, ascorbic acid, and a notable increase in stability. It’s very gentle, non-tacky and, importantly, does NOT smell like hot dog water. In addition to ascorbic acid, this has licorice root extract, niacinamide, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (a vitamin C derivative), arbutin, camu camu extract and even idebenone, which can all help brighten. I use it as my first serum in my morning routine.
Opened: July
Price: $26 USD / 30 mL

Sunscreen

☀️ Hyggee Vegan Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++

I initially got the Hyggee Vegan Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++ when it was the first of the reformulated Korean sunscreens of 2021 which was a purported dupe for Krave Beauty’s The Beet Shield. This does, indeed, use beet root extract. It’s a moisturizing texture and uses modern chemical filters. While normally I would be more apt to use it in the winter, given that I’m using lighter moisturizers this summer, having its weight on my skin is comforting.
Opened: July
Price: $17 USD / 50 mL

Scinic Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence

The Scinic Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence is SPF50+ PA++++ as well, and we opened it shortly after my husband emptied his Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel. As such, I can’t help but feel like it’s a heavier, greasier version of that sunscreen, though in fairness it IS about half the price. That is, of course, not to say it’s as greasy as a US sunscreen — it is still a k-beauty SPF, after all, and has the elegance and modern chemical filters associated with that.
Opened: August
Price: $8 USD / 50 mL

Other

🫘 Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel

I got the Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel through the YesStyle review program, in exchange for a review which I am very overdue on (this is not that review). This is a new line from Beauty of Joseon, from which I already have and am enjoying the mask. This moisturizer is designed for oily skin, and has 44% haenam red bean extract, as well as three peptides. I, of course, do not have oily skin. But I do like a lot of layers, and so if I use a lighter moisturizer in combination with, say, a creamy serum like the one from make p:rem, and a moisturizing sunscreen like the one from Hyggee, I can very nearly pull it off. I will say, though, I haven’t been reaching for it much — sometimes I’ve been been foregoing moisturizer in the morning, as this doesn’t feel like it’s doing much, it’s just an additional hydrating layer.
Opened: July
Price: $18 USD / 100 mL

🥛 Grown Alchemist Meltaway Gel-Milk Cleanser

I also received the Grown Alchemist Meltaway Gel-Milk Cleanser in exchange for a review on the brand’s website, which I absolutely dropped the ball on. Sorry, Grown Alchemist! I promise I’ll get it in, but I’m sure I’m already struck from the review list. This cleanser reminds me a bit of the (now discontinued) Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser. It goes on dry skin, then gets emulsified and rinses off — so if you don’t want a double cleanse, this is a great option. I’ve also used this as a classic second cleanse (on damp skin) for which it also works well. This rinses much cleaner than other water-based cleansers, in my opinion, and it leaves the skin feeling beautifully soft.
Opened: August
Price: $50 USD / 100 mL

👁️ Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter

Have I mentioned it’s been a rough year? Well, I’m not a big eye cream wearer, but after some comments about how tired I looked, I figured I might as well give the Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter a try, since it was gathering dust in my skincare stash. It’s too soon to really see any improvement, and realistically a good night’s sleep does more for the appearance of my eye area than any topical could, but I’m hoping that with time the four peptides, as well as anti-oxidants like caffeine and green tea, make the effects of a good night’s sleep last. Because this doesn’t have any actives in it, I’ve also been able to bring back my old hack of using eye cream on my lips and tech neck lines, too.
Opened: August
Price: $24 USD / 20 g