Influenced by Influencers: Trying Viral K-Beauty Products

Annyeong, Ray-mi-da, ban-ga-tsu-mi-da! Welcome back to my blog, and if you're new here, a huge welcome to you! I'm Ray, and I'm passionate about all things K-beauty. My skin is a bit of a complex character – oily, sensitive, reactive, and dehydrated, sometimes even combination depending on the season. Here, I share my personal experiences with Asian skincare products to help you shop smarter. So, grab your favorite beverage and join me for a new episode of "Try K-beauty with me!"

I'm just getting over a nasty cold/allergy combo – I actually lost my voice yesterday but thankfully it's back today, albeit a couple of octaves lower. Today’s post is inspired by the amazing K-beauty influencers I follow. I wanted to try some of their go-to products and see if they live up to the hype.

A quick disclaimer: I intentionally avoided looking at the ingredient lists for these products beforehand. I wanted a truly unbiased first impression, free from any preconceived notions. Normally, I strongly recommend researching ingredients before trying anything new – informed decisions are crucial for skincare. But for this experiment, I wanted to avoid any ingredient bias. So, no judgment please for slapping things on my face without knowing what's in them! I know, I know, that's the whole point of this experiment! Don't worry, I’ll still list the ingredients for all you curious readers.

Full transparency: Style Korean generously sent me these products for this review. Huge shoutout to Style Korean! With that said… 우리 가자! Let's go!

You guys actually introduced me to this one! It’s a vibrant pink, the special Esther Bunny edition. The original version is blue, but let's be honest, how could I resist this adorable packaging? Big thanks to Nasha at Style Korean for hooking me up with this limited edition – she just knew.

After you mentioned this product, I noticed James Welsh using it on TikTok, which further piqued my interest. The packaging is undeniably cute, adorned with little Esther Bunnies. Ilseul also offers a scraping tool to remove the melted sebum, but I don't have it. Requiring a separate tool feels a bit gimmicky to me, promoting unnecessary consumption. So, I’m opting for Q-tips and my trusty Pyunkang Yul cotton pads.

I appreciate the convenient twist cap. The nozzle is designed for direct application, but I’m using a cotton pad to avoid any messy drips. The scent is quite fragrant – a very generic, old-school K-beauty perfume. Not my favorite, but not a deal-breaker either.

The instructions advise applying the product to areas with excess sebum and blackheads for 10-15 minutes after opening your pores with warm water. Then, use a cotton swab to remove the sebum and rinse thoroughly. It contains cleansing ingredients, so rinsing is essential. A bit of a bummer – I'm lazy and wish I could skip the rinsing step. But okay, 10 minutes on the clock!

…Okay, 10 minutes later…

Time to remove the cotton pads. Now, using the Q-tip… Whoa, I genuinely didn’t expect this to work! There’s definitely some yellowish gunk on the Q-tip. It seems to effectively melt the sebum. Checking the other side of my nose… not as much came out. Perhaps the product didn’t penetrate the crevices as well. I wonder if it would be more effective without the cotton pad?

Let's rinse this off and see how my skin feels.

…Back after rinsing…

To be honest, I don’t see a dramatic difference. My blackheads are still quite visible. Maybe I didn't use it correctly? Something definitely came out of my pores, but it didn’t deep clean as thoroughly as I anticipated. Perhaps consistent use over several weeks or months will yield more noticeable results. It wasn’t a wow moment on the first try, but it was a somewhat interesting experience. It's just quite time-consuming. If you’re short on time for your skincare routine, this might not be the best fit. I’m not a fan of masks because they require dedicated time, and this feels similar. I’ll continue using it and see what happens, but I’m not entirely convinced yet.

This serum was another recommendation from you, and I also saw my friend and fellow K-beauty enthusiast Namuna (aka Casper) using it. The packaging is charming – minimal and understated, yet the “Sour 1988” branding stands out.

It contains 2% retinol liposome and black ginseng. You know I love black ginseng! The packaging evokes a nostalgic 1988 Seoul Olympics vibe – I appreciate the simplicity.

Since this is a retinol product, I’m starting with just a tiny drop. It’s a neon green-yellow color… I'm still unsure about that. With retinol, it’s all about starting slow and gentle. Namuna uses this on her neck, so I might try that as well.

It feels pleasant going on – absorbs quickly, not greasy or oily at all. The last retinol serum I tried was sticky, and I absolutely hated it. This one also lacks that typical unpleasant retinol scent, which is a major plus. It leaves a slightly glassy finish, but I’ll be applying moisturizer over it anyway.

No irritation so far, which is excellent news for my sensitive skin. I genuinely like the finish and texture. The neon color is still a bit off-putting, but overall, I’m impressed. I’ll definitely continue testing this one.

I’m going to try a tiny drop on my neck as well. Neck skin is thin and prone to irritation, so I usually keep my routine simple with toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. I had a bad reaction to a retinol product on my neck previously, so I’m a little hesitant. But this serum feels so gentle and light, almost like I’m not wearing anything. So far, so good!

This cream comes highly recommended by Ricky Choi (aka Brute Choi). He has acne-prone skin and offers excellent advice for managing breakouts. I trust his recommendations implicitly.

Speaking of acne, I woke up this morning with a new blemish on my nose. I took care of it with a pimple patch, and now we’re here. I blame the pollen – allergy season is brutal this year.

Back to the Dr. G cream. Ricky raves about its effectiveness for acne-prone skin. It’s supposed to have a gel-cream texture, which I adore. Gel creams and aqua creams are my go-to moisturizers. Thick creams are too heavy for my oily skin, especially during the day.

I’ve been eager to try this for ages! It’s been sitting on my shelf for almost a year. It comes with a spatula, which is a thoughtful touch. The spatula even has its own dedicated holder built into the lid – brilliant! The jar also features Braille – such a considerate detail. The packaging clearly contributes to the higher price point compared to other moisturizers. It’s a sturdy glass jar, and the spatula is custom-made. It also contains 50ml, which is more than most moisturizers.

My only concern is the lack of an inner lid. I’m worried about potential spills during travel.

The texture is jiggly, like gelatin. Definitely an aqua-gel consistency. A little goes a long way, so I’m starting with a small amount.

It feels wonderful going on – very light and hydrating. My skin absorbed it instantly. I think I need a little bit more, though.

Ricky recommends this for acne, so I applied some to my nose area. My pimple is already addressed, so I don’t expect miracles, but hopefully, it’ll help prevent future breakouts.

The finish is definitely dewy, not matte. Still wearable for daytime, even with my oily skin. If you have dry skin, you might want to layer a face oil or a richer cream on top.

I wasn’t doubting Ricky for a second, and he was absolutely right! I love this moisturizer. The finish is beautiful, it blends in seamlessly, and the spatula is a game-changer. The packaging is also travel-friendly – just keep the box, and the spatula will stay secure.

Another Ricky Choi recommendation! He gave this a resounding “yes” in his “Rate These Korean Sunscreens” series, and if anyone is more discerning about sunscreen than me, it’s Ricky. He has incredibly high standards, so I felt confident I’d like this one.

The packaging is simple and minimal, which I always appreciate.

Ricky described this as super lightweight, and he’s spot on. It reminds me of the Abebe Calming Drop essence – very liquidy and fluid. The applicator is similar to the Kyané sunscreen, but that one was thick and cakey. This one, however… oh my goodness. The texture is incredible.

It’s so light and milky, disappearing into the skin effortlessly. The finish is dewy, not greasy. This is precisely what I look for in a sunscreen. It evens out my skin tone and texture, creating a perfect base for makeup.

It is slightly sticky, which might be a concern in the summer, especially for oily skin. But I don’t mind it too much. The beautiful finish outweighs the tackiness.

This is definitely a top 10 sunscreen for me. Love at first try! It’s weightless, fluid, and feels amazing on my skin. No residue, no pilling. I’m thoroughly impressed.

That concludes this episode of "Try K-Beauty with me!" Let me know if you'd like me to try other products. I'd love to hear your suggestions!

I'm genuinely excited to continue using these products and see how they perform over time. First impressions are important, but consistent use reveals the true potential of any skincare product. Stay tuned for updates!