If you notice, most moisturizers in the market contain hyaluronic acid. We’ll be diving deep to this holy grail ingredient!

So, what is hyaluronic acid and how does it work?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring acid in the body. What it does is it attracts and holds moisture in our skin cells. Thank you, hyaluronic acid, for retaining all the water!

Think of it as a magnet to water and a sponge to water.

What skin types benefit from hyaluronic acid?

Not just dry skin gals, but also oily, acne-prone, combination, and mature skin can benefit from hyaluronic acid!

What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid as a skin care ingredient?

As beneficial as its role on the human body, hyaluronic acid is likewise beneficial on the skin. As a skin care ingredient, hyaluronic acid is proven to have the following benefits:

• Hydrating Benefits

With its water retaining property, hyaluronic acid can enhance moisture content and revitalize skin’s outer layers. The result: hydrated and plump skin!

• Healing Benefit

Whenever we have a wound, hyaluronic acid concentrations in the body increase to repair the damage. It regulates inflammation and has antibacterial properties.

• Anti-aging Benefits

Did you know that as we age, the ability of our skin to hold onto a balanced amount of moisture decreases? Loss of plumpness and suppleness is the culprit to the wrinkles. Again, thanks to hyaluronic acid’s moisture retaining property, aging skin will be for the far future!

What hyaluronic acid products are recommended?

Hyaluronic acid is water-based so most likely it can be seen on serums, ampoules, essences, and face masks.

Here’s our favorite so far:

•  Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster

This concentrated booster can be added to any of your favorite moisturizer to increase its hydration powers! A little can go a long wayyyy.

• The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

hat we love about The Ordinary is its affordability and tested effectiveness! The concentration of The Ordinary’s serum is perfect for everyday use and on its own.

• COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence

With just seven ingredients, Hydra Power Essence has a lightweight formula. One pump goes a long way with this essence and can be used on it’s own.

Find out what hyaluronic acid product is best for you! Good luck!

The post Let’s Dive Deep: Hyaluronic Acid appeared first on Korean Beauty Inside.

Also known as snail secretion filtrate.. or snail slime? Much more gross. 

Whatever it may sound, still, nothing compares to the benefits of snail mucin in our skin. Snail mucin is a popular ingredient in Korean and Japanese skincare products and it’s hard not to come across products that contain snail mucin.

So I did my research. Here’s what I found interesting:

How does snail mucin work? And why snails, why not butterflies or other cute creatures?

Why not butterflies, eh? Well, butterflies do not secrete mucus which is the most beneficial. Snail mucin is a growth factor from snails that encourage wound healing and tissue repair. This allows snails to self-heal after injuries.

Snail mucin contains allantoin, elastin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, and natural anti-bacterial. These, too, are common ingredients we have in our skincare products!

How mucin works for snails is how it will work for us. Benefits for the human skin are the following:

• Improve wound healing

• Prevent and reduce scarring

• Reduce premature aging due to UV exposure

• Improve collagen production

• Improve skin hydration

• Increase skin cell turnover

• Reduce pigmentation

• Improve skin texture

Eh, okay.. I’m somehow convinced. But how do they harvest the mucin? Poor snails!

Thankfully, our favorite brand Cosrx shared how they harvest snail mucin. Only edible snails are used in the process to ensure safety of products. For Cosrx products, snails are placed over a mesh net and left alone to freely roam the net. Mucin are then left in their trails for harvesting.

Throughout the process, Corsx ensures quality living conditions for the snails. In return, snails give back by producing optimal mucin amounts.

Okay, I’m convinced! What snail mucin products are recommended?

•  COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

This lightweight cream is formulated with 92% snail mucin that helps to repair skin damage without feeling sticky. Because it is lightweight, this is best for oily skin types.

• Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream

Similar to Cosrx’ all-in-one cream, Mizon also contains 92% snail mucin on a much cheaper price!

• Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask

Unlike other sleeping masks, Missha’s sleeping mask will absorb right into your skin! Use this twice a week for that much needed repair.

Find out what snail mucin product is best for you! Good luck!

The post Let’s Dive Deep: Snail Mucin appeared first on Korean Beauty Inside.

Nowadays, it’s still everywhere! It’s everywhere that I overlook it and its benefits.

So I did my research on aloe vera. Here’s what’s interesting:

What are the benefits of aloe vera on skin?

Aloe vera is basically water but better. It contains 99% water so no worries of having any allergic reactions on the skin. It has cooling, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory properties. It is packed with antioxidants and vitamins C & E that benefits both young and aged skin!

Despite the emergence of new ingredients in skin care, aloe vera has been used for centuries and has proven the following skin benefits:

• Soothes sunburn or irritated skin

• Moisturizes skin

• Fades dark spots

• Removes dark circles and puffiness (Tip: Place the aloe vera gel in the fridge prior usage!)

• Prevents acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties

With all the aloe vera gel products in the market, how am I supposed to choose?

Honestly, I’m not sure as well. Personally I’ve been using Nature Republic 92% Aloe Vera as a go-to aloe vera gel. It also has a spray mist variant which comes in handy during hot summer days.

Aloe vera gel is safe in its pure form. I would recommend choosing aloe vera gel products that:

• Contains less to no alcohol

• Has no parabens

•   Has no synthetic fragrances (aloe vera contains that subtle fresh scent already!

If you’re still unsure, you may choose to do DIY aloe vera gel if you have one in your backyard. See recipe below:

DIY Aloe Vera Gel

1.     Remove the spiky side of the aloe vera using a knife.

2.     Remove one side of the skin.

3.     Scoop the aloe with a spoon.

4.     Blend using a food processor or blender.

5.     Secure in a small container and refrigerate! This should last up to 3 days.

If you don’t have one yet in your backyard or indoor, better start planting one! These plants are succulents and fairly easy to care for. Just like your cactus, they require water only every week or every couple of weeks. Easy, peasy!

The post Let’s Dive Deep: Aloe Vera appeared first on Korean Beauty Inside.

As a skincare ingredient, it receives the same attention. They say what’s good for the body is good to apply on the skin as well.

We’ll be diving deep into green tea and find out why it is good for the skin.

What makes green tea a good ingredient in skincare?

If you would notice, green tea as a drink is associated with its healing nature. This is because it contains high levels of antioxidants. Along with antioxidants, green tea is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and has high levels of amino acids, caffeine, and vitamins.

What skin types benefit from green tea?

As an herbal ingredient, green tea works gently on the skin. All skin types can incorporate green tea into their routine without worrying about potential irritation.

What are the benefits of green tea as a skin care ingredient?

When I consume green tea as a drink, my hunger is controlled and I feel energized. As a skincare ingredient, here’s what it does: ll of which have unique benefits on healing, hydrating, depuffing and detoxifying the skin.

Soothing and Anti-inflammatory

Green tea’s caffeine content is the culprit for this. Although caffeine is energizing for the body, it does the opposite for the skin. Caffeine reduces redness and puffiness.

Tip : After consuming green tea on a drink, refrigerate the tea bags and save it for the night as an eye mask. The results will amaze you!

Treating Acne

As mentioned earlier, green tea has antibacterial properties which makes it a good acne treatment. Compounds in green tea help control on sebum production. We all know that excess sebum = potential acne breakouts!

Antioxidant and Anti-Aging

Green tea is a rich source of EGCG (Google search: Epigallocatechin Gallate) which is considered as the most powerful antioxidant! Antioxidants fight off free radicals that can damage skin cells and cause premature aging.

What green tea-infused products are recommended?

As I shared, you can use used green tea bag as an eye mask. You want another tip?

Okay. After you use it as an eye mask, you can use that green tea inside the tea bag as a face scrub. Leave it on the face while you enjoy a nice steamy bath!

For products in the market, here’s our favorite so far:

Neogen Real Fresh Foam Cleanser Green Tea

Since this is a foam cleanser, this is recommended for combination to oily skin types. Formulated with 100% real green tea, you’ll definitely feel refreshed after a wash of this cleanser!

 CORSRX Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream

The soothing effect of green tea delivering in a refreshing gel cream. This has a lightweight formula which absorbs well in the skin. Tip: Use a thicker layer as a mask!

  Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum

This is Innisfree’s #1 serum! What makes it different? It contains what they call “beauty green tea” which was exclusively developed for innisfree skincare. They got me on “beauty”. They have this whole green tea line which you might want to explore!

The post Let’s Dive Deep: Green Tea appeared first on Korean Beauty Inside.

So I did my research.

Centella Asiatica is an ancient healing plant that’s been long enjoyed in traditional medicine in China, Japan, India, Australia, and the U.S. It has, in fact, many other names – gotu kola, Indian pennywort, brahmi, and spade leaf. It has been used to speed wound healing, calm inflammation, stimulate cell growth, promote collagen production, and improve blood circulation.

Wow! Is this everything we need in a skin care product?

What are the benefits of Centella Asiatica as a skin care ingredient?

People often say that what’s good in your body is good for your skin. This is the case for centella as well. As a skin care ingredient, centella is proven to have the following benefits:

Healing

Centella Asiatica contains “Madecassoside”, an antioxidant, that is an active compound of centella. The increased antioxidant activity at the site of wound strengthens the skin and increases blood circulation, hence, promotes healing.

Soothing

Acne, as we all know, is an inflammatory condition. Hence, acne-prone gals and guys can really benefit from centella. With its anti-inflammatory properties, the skin will be soothed and healed.

Anti-aging

Centella, as mentioned previously, promotes collagen production. This gives its anti-aging properties. It also prevents free radical damage and reduces sunspots. The culprit: Madecassoside.

What Centella Asiatica products are recommended?

As centella is found in most skincare ingredients, the choice is endless. You just have to choose what type is it that you want – serum, cream, cleanser, ampoule, sunscreen.. I’m sure and I bet there is!

But yeah, here’s our favorite so far:

Cosrx Centella Blemish Cream

Cosrx’s Centella Blemish Cream certainly kept it’s ingredients to a minimum by replacing water content with centella extract. Talk about concentration! I have tried this as an overall face moisturizer. But, no, never again. It leaves a white cast and has thick consistency so better use this at night as a spot treatment. 

 Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule

Similar to Cosrx Centella Blemish Cream, Skin1004’s ampoule contains 100% Centella Asiatica extract that will surely soothe that skin of yours.

 Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

This serum contains just 49% of Centella extract. On another note, it contains niacinamide, panthenol, and adenosine to help improve skin balance, wrinkles, and hydration. Still a win-win!

Find out what centella product is best for you! Good luck!

The post Let’s Dive Deep: Centella Asiatica appeared first on Korean Beauty Inside.