[REVIEW] Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner (Before and After)

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[1]🐸Ingredients Breakdown [2]Instructions [3]Results VS. Claims [4]Before&After [5]Verdict

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• Price (using this link): US$ 19.32

• Texture: Very Watery

• What you get: 150 ml/5.07 Fl. Oz.

• Cruelty-free: Yes

• Instagram: @pyunkangyul

+INGREDIENTS

Ingredients of the Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner: Water, Propanediol (Solvent + Moisturizer/Humectant), Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol (Solvent + Perfuming + Viscosity Controlling), Panthenol, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Betaine (Moisturizer), Butylene Glycol (Moisturizer + Solvent), Caprylyl Glycol (Moisturizer/Humectant + Emollient + Deodorant), Pentylene Glycol (Solvent + Moisturizer/Humectant), Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-14 Pareth-12 (Emulsifying + Surfactant/Cleansing), Sodium Citrate (Chelating + Buffering), Disodium EDTA (Chelating), 1,2-Hexanediol (Solvent)

🐸In-Depth Details Of Interesting Ingredients:

Glycerine: Widely used as a quality Hydrator (occurs naturally in skin, and its chemical structure attracts water). You can find this ingredient in most good skin-replenishing products.

Panthenol: Moisturizing (penetrates deep into the layers and gets converted into Pantothenic Acid (B5)) + Possibly Anti Acne (B5) + Wound healing ("Promotes skin cell proliferation") + Anti-inflammatory ("Help reduce the appearance of UV-induced redness and may alleviate the itchiness associated with dermatitis.") + Skin barrier protection (B5 is involved in the creation of lipids, which themselves play a significant role in preventing moisture loss from the top layer of the skin)

Citric Acid: A form of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), a class of acid that reduces cell adhesion in the top layer of the skin (decreases cellular bond between corneocytes)), which leads to an exfoliating effect. AHAs have also been shown to increase the production of mucopolysaccharides and collagen in the skin. [Anti-Acne + Anti-Aging + Brightening + Antioxidative]

Gluconolactone: A form of PHA (Polyhydroxy Acid) that reduces cell adhesion in the top layer of the skin (decrease cellular bond between corneocytes), which leads to an exfoliating effect. PHAs have a larger molecular structure that presumably serves to make them gentler and less sensitizing as they do not penetrate the skin as deep as AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids). [Anti-aging + Antioxidative + Photoprotective + Moisturizing]

Salix Alba Bark (Willow) Extract: Anti-acne (salicylic acid precursor) + Wound healing ( Polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins)

Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract: Antioxidative + Anti-inflammatory + Wound healing

Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating (water-binding properties) + Wound healing (promotes microcirculation)

Centella Asiatica Extract: Wound healing (promotes collagen production) + hypertrophic scar healing properties in particular

Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract: Tea Tree leaf oil is known to be anti-acne (has Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiviral properties), but the leaf extract itself is not well researched. Usually, oils are more concentrated than the extracts, so you could assume that the extract has the same properties but with less potent action. [Also, note that some people use the terms leaf extract and leaf oil interchangeably, so this could also be the case]

Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract: 🔴[Not enough research] Potentially Wound Healing + Potentially Antibacterial

Camellia Japonica Flower Extract: Antioxidant (Notably: protects skin against airborne pollution. source)

Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic Acid is a relatively big molecule that tends not to penetrate the skin very deep. After its rise in popularity, different formulators have created smaller or different versions of this molecule. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid means that this molecule has been ruptured into smaller parts. Depending on the final size of the molecule, it can have different properties. L'Oréal does not specify the size, but the properties all center around hydration/moisture, some even exhibiting anti-inflammatory and skin-repairing properties.

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate: 🔴[Not enough research] Film-forming + Potentially Moisturizing

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer: "A modified form of skin-replenishing hyaluronic acid attached to a polymer structure that keeps it within skin's uppermost layers longer, allowing for enhanced hydration" [Explication: Paulaschoice] Hydrating

Asiatic Acid + Madecassic Acid: Both of these compounds are major constituents of Centella Asiatica Extract. Several studies point to them promoting Collagen I synthesis (anti-aging), and being anti-inflammatory.

Asiaticoside: Derivative of Centella asiatica. Wound healing (promotes cell migration to healing sites and enhances skin cell adhesion)

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate: One of the limitations of Hyaluronate Acid (Known to keep skin hydrated/plump) is that it has a short half-life and gets degraded in the skin. Sodium Acetylated hyaluronate is a form of this molecule where some of the OH (hydroxyl groups, water-loving, and binding) groups that constitute the molecule are replaced by Acetyle groups to make it longer-lasting. Minor studies exist on this, but current ones suggest that this leads to a general increase of the properties of the molecule, notably: Moisture + Anti-inflammation

Madecassoside: Derivative of Centella Asiatica Extract: Wound healing + hypertrophic scar healing properties + promotes collagen production (Acts as an Antioxidant). - "Madecassoside can also help in burn wound healing through increasing antioxidant activity and enhancing collagen synthesis."

Hydroxyacetophenone: Acts as a preservative and might have some antioxidative properties (depends on the derivative used)

+HOW TO USE THE Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner

Pyunkang Yul instructions:

1.Soak a cotton pad in toner and gently wipe it along the skin

2.When you need to soothe and moisturize your skin: apply a generous amount of toner on thin cotton pads and place it on the face, and leave it for 5-10 minutes to use as a skin mask.

How I use it:

Pat the toner in the skin after cleansing. I recommend using this toner only once a day.

+WHAT DOES THE Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner DO?

Claims are taken from the product page of Pyunkang Yul.

1.Acne-care: I had a couple of breakouts prior to using this toner, and it has managed to reduce them in just a couple of days. I've tried the product on both cystic-like acne and smaller bumps. It tends to work better on smaller bumps as it completely removes any trace of them ever existing after a couple of days. For cystic or larger acne, it will make it so that the puss disappears and the zit stops progressing, but you will still be left with a bit of normal scarring. In that last case, I recommend combining the toner with the SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum, which is the best product I've tried for fading scars and dark spots so far. I usually get acne before my period but didn't get any new zit while using this toner, so I think it would make an excellent preventative treatment for people with acne-prone skin.

3.Pore control: No difference in size or overall look. They might be a bit less dirty, but I still have blackheads on my nose at the same rate that I usually get them. If blackheads or dirty pores are an issue for you, check out the Ciracle Blackhead Off Sheet instead.

2.Skin texture improvement: This is where I saw the most impressive improvement. I had a couple of small bumps due to a combination of sweat and pollution exposure, as well as more prominent fine lines due to the fact that the last product I was using wasn't hydrating or moisturizing enough for my skin's needs. After about a week of using the Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner, my forehead skin was back to its smooth look, and my fine lines were dramatically less noticeable. The combination of moisture and exfoliation this toner provides is perfect for texturized skin. Note, however, that if your forehead lines are due to aging skin and not dehydrated/under moisturized skin, I don't think that the exfoliation this product provides will be able to change their appearance noticeably.

3.Sebum/oil reduction: I wouldn't say that this toner completely balanced out my skin, but it definitely reduced by oil and sebum production levels. If this is a specific skin concern of yours, check out The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% instead, as it does a much better job.

4.Low pH toner:

Here’s an excerpt from ‘‘ALL ABOUT CLEANSING & HOW TO CHOOSE A GENTLE CLEANSER’’ by Michelle from Lab Muffin blog: ‘‘Skin is acidic, meaning it has a low pH (around 5). This is important because a lot of the biochemical reactions that occur in the Skin only work within a narrow pH range. Surfactant-containing cleansers are particularly good at changing skin pH for long amounts of time, meaning that if your cleanser has a particularly high pH, then it’s going to hinder your Skin from repairing itself. High pH also makes Skin swell and reduces its flexibility.’’

I always copy and paste this paragraph in my reviews when it comes to pH. I personally don’t care much about pH when it comes to cleanser, but having a low pH toner is a welcomed product on my shelf.

⭐Recommendations based on skin type and concern (this is based on using the toner once a day):

• 🩹Skin with hyperpigmentation or scars: If you’re looking for an exfoliating product because you want to get rid of scar or hyperpigmentation, this is not the product for you. It’s too mild for that: you will not see any result, or it will take a very long time to become noticeable. If you’re looking for an exfoliator, invest in the SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Serum instead, or go the Vitamin C route with the SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum.

• Skin with texture issues (bumpy skin): Yes, this is a great toner for that.

• 🧠Mature skin types: The exfoliation this provides would be too mild for you, so check out the SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Serum instead.

• 🏜️Dry skin types: While you would definitely benefit from the exfoliation, I would highly recommend combining it with a moisturizing product. I personally really like the AXIS-Y Cera-Heart My Type Duo Cream, but the product you choose should depend on your hydration needs.

• ⛰️Acne skin types: The people who will benefit the most from this toner are people with acne-prone skin, as it will aid in diminishing the acne you currently have and make it so that your rate of new breakouts gets dramatically low. It’s also mild enough not to dry out your skin, unlike other acne products of the same type. Check out this post for other product recommendations: [10] Anti-Acne products that actually work + A Skincare routine.

• 👉👈Sensitive skin types: The exfoliation this provides is mild enough for people with sensitive skin to use daily (but make sure to only use it once a day!).

• 😬Normal skin types + ☯️Combination skin types + 🛢️Oily skin types: It's a good product to consider since all skincare routines would benefit from a mild exfoliator that can be used every day (since our skin's natural exfoliation rate decreases with age). Just don't expect astonishing results if your skin doesn't have any acne or texture issues.

+BENEFITS:

1. Gets rid of the majority of acne, regardless of its type

2. Will smooth down bumps of textured skin

3. Great price/quality/quantity ratio

4. Mild enough to use every day, once a day

5. Mild enough to use on sensitive skin types

6. No nonsense ingredients (essential oils, fragrance)

-CONS:

1. Is to mild to efficiently get rid of hyperpigmentation or scarring

🌼🌼🌼🌼Score: 4.5/5 ——— Overall a great and effective product against texturized bumps and acne. It doesn’t get a full score because it’s not effective on hyperpigmentation or scarring.

+AMAZON

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