My New Korean Beauty Must-Haves | Dr. Sam Ellis

Not to be a jerk, but I have been gatekeeping a little bit from you guys. I have been testing a ton of K-Beauty Korean skincare over the past several months, and I haven't really been sharing my thoughts yet, but today is that day. I'm sharing things that are new to me in Korean beauty that I love. I'm not gonna bore you guys with the duds. This is just the good stuff, and you guys know I love K-Beauty. It is innovative, and the formulations are elegant, and it really focuses on healthy, calm, hydrated, radiant-looking skin, and have I got some recs for you. If you're new to the channel, welcome. I'm so happy to have you here. I'm Dr. Sam Ellis. I'm a board-certified dermatologist based in Northern California, and I created this channel to really help people understand what works and also what doesn't work when it comes to achieving healthy skin, and hair, and nails. I absolutely love sharing my product recs and tips with you guys, things that usually I only get to share with my patients, and now I have this bigger platform. So if you wanna join the community, make sure you are subscribed to the channel, and you like this video because I post here every week. Also, thank you Stylevana for partnering with me on this video. They are my go-to online retailer when I wanna shop for Asian beauty, whether that's skincare, or haircare, or makeup. They have an incredible selection at such good prices. If you wanna check them out, they also gave me a discount code, which you can use to save even more. I will put all of the details in the description box, including the links of everything I'm talking about today. Let's get into the products, shall we? I have them all sitting right here, and it's really quite the variety. I've got cleansers, moisturizers, things for hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, a couple of amazing sunscreens that I'll go through at the end, so make sure you stick around for that. First up, I have a product from one of my favorite South Korean brands, Celamax. It's a great brand if you have sensitive skin, if you want a lot of focus on barrier support, and this is their Dual Barrier Purifying Cleansing Balm. If you're a little bit newer to skincare, you might not be that familiar with cleansing balms, but they are essentially a true balm that you massage in your palms, and then it melts over your skin, and the goal with these balms is for it to dissolve makeup, dirt, other skincare, anything that has accumulated on your face during the day. So you treat it as a cleanser, and usually we do this as a first cleansing step. So for a lot of my patients, I recommend a double cleanse, where they first cleanse with either an oil or a balm, because that does the best job at really breaking down makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, and then you go in with sort of a traditional gel or water-based cleanser to kind of take off anything else that's left over. So this would be a first cleansing step for someone who puts a little bit more on their skin throughout the day. And to be honest, I test a lot of cleansing oils and cleansing balms, and I'm really rarely impressed because they either leave some residue on my skin or they cause irritation around my eyes or in my eyes, but this one is exceptional. So first of all, the packaging is super cool. It has this kind of like grinder cap, so it keeps it really clean. A lot of cleansing balms are sort of dipping into a jar, which is not the end of the world, but this is just sort of some unique tech that I think makes it more fun to use and keeps the jar really neat on your countertop. And then the product itself is velvety. It's almost buttery and melts down perfectly on your skin. And as I massage it over my makeup and over my skin, I can really feel it breaking down whatever is underneath it. I don't feel like I have to scrub super hard to make that happen. And then it does rinse truly clean, so there's no residue. There has been times where I've actually forgotten to go in with a second cleanse because I feel so clean and my makeup is completely gone after I use this product. So if you've been looking for a great, effective cleansing balm, absolutely give this a try. But also if you're newer to the idea of a double cleanse and maybe you haven't tried a cleansing oil or cleansing balm before, I feel like this would be a perfect first experience. And by the way, you can use cleansing oils and cleansing balms if you are acne prone or have acne. It is a complete skincare fallacy that you can't use oils or balms if you're acne prone. This actually helps cleanse your skin better, so you're removing those impurities and anything that you're putting on your skin as a treatment afterward is going to be more effective. Okay, so the next product is also a cleanser and this would really be like a second cleansing step. So this is a water-based cleanser, but also if you weren't gonna do a first cleanse, you could go in and use this as your exclusive cleanser. And this is from a brand that was new to me, Soonding, and it is their Coconut Jelly Pudding Pore Cleanser. I have never had more fun using a cleanser before than this one. It has this super unique texture that is truly jelly-like. If you ever watched the movie Flubber, as soon as they opened the packaging, it kind of reminded me of that. It like jiggles and quivers and they give you a little spatula to scoop this out with. But what I love about this is not just the fact that it's fun to use and kind of novel, but also the fact that as you play with it, it turns into this rich, dense foam that feels so good to wash your face with. Something I wasn't expecting, honestly, this cleanser was just like surprises all around, but it has these little exfoliating beads in it as well. Not enough to feel like scrapey, scratchy on the skin, but just enough to get like the tiniest bit of physical exfoliation and buffing while you're cleansing. And just that sort of sensorial feedback made this even more enjoyable to use. I actually brought this on a weekend friend's trip a month ago and I always put all my skincare out on the counter and I'm like, it's a free-for-all. Try what you want, tell me what you like, tell me what you don't like. Everyone was obsessed with this, even the dudes. They're like, I can't wait to use that again. So I feel like this is just, it's very rare that you find a cleanser that's so compelling and this cleanser just makes you want to use it. And then, perhaps this goes without saying, it does its job really well as a cleanser. Your skin is clean, it's soft, it's glowy, it doesn't feel tight or stiff after you wash your face. This is great for sensitive skin. I also think just for how fun this is, this would be a great face wash for a kid, a preteen, a teen, someone who maybe you're trying to get on a hygiene routine and need something a little bit exciting or someone who is skincare obsessed because a lot of teens and tweens are these days and want to be using new, cool, fun things. And this would totally check all the boxes. It's fun to use, but it's totally derma-approved in terms of being great for sensitive skin. So I just feel like a lot of people would enjoy having this in their routine. Moving on from cleansers, I have an eye cream recommendation for you. This is the Mary and May Tranexamic Acid Glutathione Eye Cream. And this is really an eye cream for people who struggle with dark circles or under eye hyperpigmentation. What initially caught my eye about this, no pun intended, is that it kind of had unique ingredients, like even before I ever tried it. So it has glutathione, which is a known brightening antioxidant. The way in the United States, we often talk about vitamin C being a brightening antioxidant. Glutathione also has that capacity, but for some reason we see it more in Asian skincare. And then it also has tranexamic acid, which is an ingredient often found in hyperpigmentation-focused products. And so having that combination, I just felt like there are not a lot of skincare products and under eye products specifically that utilize those ingredients. So if someone has been trying to improve their under eye dark circles and maybe wasn't getting where they wanted to go with the eye cream that they were using, this would expose them to a different type of formula with different ingredients, with different mechanisms of approaching hyperpigmentation that may yield them more success. Texturally, this is a really beautiful silky cream, absolutely nourishing enough to use during the day and at night, especially if you have a more dry or mature skin type. The other way I would use this eye cream is actually as a spot treatment. So because it has that glutathione and tranexamic acid and niacinamide, it doesn't matter where you put it, it's gonna help with hyperpigmentation. So if you get little post acne marks or even if you have like little patches of melasma, I feel like this could be a very multi-purpose hyperpigmentation product. While we're on the topic of hyperpigmentation, I feel like that's a nice segue to the next product I wanted to talk about, which is the Azleic Acid 12% Serum from CELDIQ. I ordered, I think six different Azleic Acid serums to try because I love that ingredient so much and I'll talk a little bit more about that in a second, but this one stood out above the rest. Within dermatology, Azleic Acid is kind of considered a jack of all trades. It's a very good supporting ingredient. It's a powerhouse antioxidant and it helps with melasma, rosacea, acne, and it's pregnancy safe and it tends to be very well tolerated. So if I can ever like sneak that into someone's skincare routine, if I feel like they need a little antioxidant boost and who isn't struggling with like a little bit of pigment or redness that they don't want, Azleic Acid is an awesome option. Now the serum from CELDIQ is a little bit unique. One, it has 12% Azleic Acid. And when we look at prescription Azleic Acid, that's 15%. 12% is quite high to see outside of a prescription. So it was nice to see that powerful concentration. But in addition to Azleic Acid, this also has Salicylic Acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid and exfoliant that helps clear out the pores, helps with texture. This also has Tranexamic Acid, which is going to help with hyperpigmentation. And then it also has Centella Asiatica, which is quite soothing on the skin. So you can tolerate that high concentration of Azleic Acid without any irritation. And then texturally, this almost feels like a super, super lightweight oil. So a lot of Azleic Acids are almost like water weight or they feel quite watery, which can be good if you have more oily skin. But if you have more dry or mature skin, sometimes that doesn't offer you anything. So the fact that this has like a slight oiliness to it is actually very supportive to the skin. I love using this in a nighttime skincare routine after I cleanse, apply this, apply my retinoid, apply my moisturizer, and then my skin just feels so supple and nourished. Plus, I've been able to layer a really powerful treatment serum in there that's gonna help with hyperpigmentation. It's gonna help fade my post-acne red marks. Very, very versatile. Now, next up, I actually have two moisturizer racks. And in my last K-Beauty video, I had no new moisturizers to recommend because I had tried a bunch and none of them had really blown my socks off. And I'm not gonna take the time to share them with you unless I am thoroughly impressed by them. But now I have two new ones for you to try. First up is what I would consider a true anti-aging moisturizer. This is packed with valuable ingredients. This is the PDRN Capsule Cream from VT. So the banner ingredient in here is PDRN, which stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide, which originally in skincare was a DNA fragment derived from salmon sperm. And despite that somewhat unappealing origin, this is an ingredient that is very popular in Korean skincare because of its touted abilities to help with wound healing, anti-inflammation, and skin regeneration. Now, I will say this cream is so much more than PDRN to me. I feel like PDRN is slightly overhyped, but the fact that this has an incredible array of anti-aging peptides that are very evidence-based, plus it has panthenol and shea butter and jojoba seed oil and squalane, it's just packed with nourishing ingredients. And this absolutely could serve as the most enriching, nourishing nighttime moisturizer that also has all these incredible anti-aging properties. So I just feel like this is a blow-me-away type of product. What's kind of interesting about this is when you apply it, it almost feels like you're applying a gel cream. It's quite lightweight despite all of those nourishing ingredients, but then the way it sits on your skin, it doesn't feel heavy. Yet if you were to apply it at night, which is how I've been using it, when you wake up in the morning, you still feel its presence on the skin, which is not going to be for everyone, but for people who feel like their skin just kind of dries out at night, this is such a great moisturizer. And then you have all these awesome anti-aging benefits and peptide exposures within it. So just like really a standout. Now, I also have a moisturizer here that does not have peptides. There are a lot of people who can't tolerate peptides. It causes irritation for them or breakouts, and you still deserve an awesome nourishing moisturizer as well. So this one is from Mary and May. It is the Edevinone Blackberry Intense Cream. And this is like a ceramide-packed, juicy, balmy moisturizer that is just, hmm. Now, I would categorize this moisturizer as a true barrier-support moisturizer. Not only does it have this rich, balmy texture that just melts into the skin, it feels so, so good, but it also has hydroxydecylubiquinone, which is an amazing antioxidant. It's an analog of coenzyme Q10. And for people who don't like vitamin C or can't tolerate vitamin C, but really want a great antioxidant in their skincare, this is a great option. It's incredibly soothing. So I also feel like this is nice to have in your routine for days or nights when your skin feels a little spicy, a little sensitive. Maybe you went in too hard with your retinoids or your acids. This is just like an all-around great nourishing moisturizer that leans rich, but I feel like would be fine for anywhere from combination normal to dry skin types. And last, but certainly not least, I have two sunscreen recommendations for you. Now, if you have not heard me talk about my love of Korean sunscreens before and why I think they are so fantastic, it is because Korean sunscreens, and also sunscreens from other parts of Asia and Europe, have access to UV filters that we cannot incorporate within our sunscreens within the United States because they are not approved by our Food and Drug Administration. Now, that doesn't mean they are bad UV filters or they're not safe. We're just a little behind in the times. And the beauty of these UV filters that they have access to and can incorporate into Korean skincare, for example, is the fact that they are super lightweight. They don't feel heavy on the skin. They don't irritate the skin nearly as much. And they have very, very good protection from both UVB and UVA rays. So they are highly protective, but also create these very elegant formulas. So it's always like my little secret with patients that blow their mind if they're not familiar with K-Beauty. If they come to me and they're like, Dr. Ellis, I know I should be wearing sunscreen. I just hate sunscreen. And that is actually a very common complaint. I always turn them on to K-Beauty and Korean sunscreens, and it completely changes their outlook on sun protection. And that's a really cool thing to be able to do as a dermatologist. Now, I realize in this video, I've been talking a lot about dry skin, maybe mature skin, but if you have oily skin, have no fear. I have an amazing recommendation for you. This is truly the best Korean sunscreen I have ever tried for oily skin. It is by House of Her. It is the Weightless Sun Fluid SPF 50 PA++++. And it is fantastic. As the name suggests, with sun fluid, this is a very lightweight, fluid sunscreen. And even on me, who has kind of dry skin, this was like a perfectly fine sunscreen. The first thing I appreciated about it was how matte it dried down. And so I was like, I gotta give this to my oily friends to try. And all of them were like, can I take this from you? And I was like, no, I only have one bottle, but I will be purchasing more as gifts. This sunscreen also has truly zero white cast. So it is completely invisible on the skin, which is great for anyone who has a deeper skin tone. It's also great for anyone who has facial hair, because sometimes in a beard or a mustache, sunscreen can get trapped and get white or even around the hairline. I also think a lot of men will like this, even if they don't have oily skin, because it has that really matte finish. Your skin just looks like skin afterward. I feel like as a woman, sometimes I want my skin to look a little bit more radiant or glowy or dewy, but not a lot of dudes love that look. And so I feel like this will just be such a go-to sunscreen if you just want to put on your sunscreen and then forget you have any sunscreen on. And the other sunscreen I have been gatekeeping is also from Celamax, that brand I talked about in the very beginning of the video with their Cleansing Balm. And this is their Pore and Dark Spot Brightening Care Sunscreen, SPF 50, PA plus plus plus plus. This is also a really lightweight lotion, rubs in super well, but I would say it feels a bit more moisturizing on the skin and really has more of a skin-like finish. You look a bit more hydrated when you put this on. But the other reason I love it so much is it has these active ingredients in it. It has 5% niacinamide and 1% tranexamic acid, which are going to help not only with hyperpigmentation, but that 5% niacinamide is going to help fortify your skin barrier. It's also going to help control oiliness. It's going to help with pores a little bit, like the name says, Pore and Dark Spot Brightening Sun Care. So I like this for people who want a really streamlined routine. Maybe you want to wake up in the morning, wash your face or not wash your face, and then just put your sunscreen on, but have these other actives in there that are going to be working for you in the background to make your complexion look more clear and even. So this is like a one-stop shop type of sunscreen, and I think it is awesome. And that is a wrap on my new Korean skincare faves. I am obsessed with all of these products. I'm so curious if you've tried them or if you're going to try them. Also, I did not talk about any of my Korean makeup or hair care faves that I've tried recently. So if you want a video on that, also let me know in the comments. Thank you so much for being here. Don't forget to become a part of this community and subscribe to the channel. That means so much to me. Give this video a thumbs up, and I will catch you in my next one. Bye.