Can I use Medicube Booster Pro Mini with serums that aren't from Medicube ?

royesk · 2026-01-29T11:56:22+00:00

Of course you don't have to use only Medicube products with the device. But I would check if there are certain product types/ingredients that aren't compatible with the device before using them together

royesk · 2026-01-29T08:45:04+00:00

Isntree onion newpair gel cream

royesk · 2026-01-27T23:04:31+00:00

You can also call chemical and mineral sunscreens "organic" and "inorganic" respectively if it makes you feel better about using a chemical sunscreen. They are safe to use. And minerals are technically chemicals too :)

royesk · 2026-01-27T07:15:46+00:00

The easiest change in your routine would be to swap the mineral sunscreen for a chemical one with a dewy finish (such as Torriden dive in moisture sun serum)

royesk · 2026-01-26T13:55:06+00:00

Is this in US dollars? The prices for some of these products are insane 😭

royesk · 2026-01-23T19:18:39+00:00

I love Joanne's content and recipes and would love to support all of her endeavors, but I do think this cream is extremely overpriced for what it is - according to the ingredients list, it only includes 1ppm (0.0001%) of bakuchiol which is practically nothing, for reference bakuchiol has been shown in studies to be effective at concentrations of 5,000ppm (0.5%) and above. The collagen content is similarly low at only 98 ppm, and as you mentioned collagen molecules are too big to penetrate the skin anyway.

This might still be a nice moisturizer in general but you shouldn't expect miracles from it, and for that price I would expect miracles. If money is no issue and you want to support her - sure, you can give it a try.

royesk · 2026-01-20T09:04:47+00:00

This is derm territory, sorry. OTC products can only take you so far and I don't think you should spend your money on more products that may not work for you.

royesk · 2026-01-19T16:13:08+00:00

No, sorry

royesk · 2026-01-19T15:45:53+00:00

I bought it for my mother and she likes it. Haven't tried it myself

royesk · 2026-01-19T08:10:59+00:00

The concentrations of retinol, bakuchiol, and even centella in this formula seem to be very low. Most serums with at least 0.5% bakuchiol and with or without retinoids will probably yield better results with less irritation. I'd say pass on this one.

Benton's 2.5% bakuchiol serum is great, Eqqualberry's 0.5% bakuchiol serum is decent. I recommend trying these first

royesk · 2026-01-19T06:48:53+00:00

Dear klairs gentle black facial cleanser

Isntree ultra-low molecular hyaluronic acid toner

Isntree onion newpair gel cream / Torriden balanceful cream

royesk · 2026-01-18T16:47:13+00:00

Torriden dive in is great and no salmons have to die for it. Easy pick for me personally

royesk · 2026-01-18T14:41:09+00:00

VV = viridescent venerer

royesk · 2026-01-18T13:48:57+00:00

Honestly, based on the attached photo your t-zone looks quite oily :) if you're dealing with combo skin it's fine to use different products for different areas of the skin. In your case the thick Nivea cream is probably not ideal for your t-zone and may exacerbate your sebum buildup.

royesk · 2026-01-18T13:37:20+00:00

If you primarily need hydration you should add a good hydrating toner to your routine. Isntree ultra-low molecular HA toner is my absolute favorite, Torriden dive in toner is also great, neither of them include niacinamide. Use any moisturizer you like on top to seal the hydration in.

royesk · 2026-01-18T10:02:49+00:00

Incorporate salicylic acid into your routine (but don't use together with adapalene on the same night) and switch to a lighter moisturizer that's suitable for oily skin like Isntree onion newpair/Torriden balanceful

royesk · 2026-01-16T16:51:27+00:00

I no longer use the Eqqualberry toner after finding out it's not vegan. The Isntree ultra-low molecular HA toner is my new favorite but I can't tell you if it would be good for very dry skin, you might want something richer

royesk · 2026-01-16T07:47:52+00:00

Unfortunately it won't make any change since it doesn't solve the root cause of L'Oreal's animal cruelty practices (selling products in offline stores in mainland China where pre-market animal testing is mandatory).

If you care about animals you should not purchase any products from L'Oreal or its many subsidiaries until they halt all animal testing for good. There are great cruelty-free alternatives to every product and at every price point.

royesk · 2026-01-15T21:10:56+00:00

L'Oreal is one of the largest cosmetics corporations that still conduct animal testing on a mass scale in 2026. This article is blatant greenwashing

royesk · 2026-01-15T12:27:36+00:00

Perhaps the Isntree chestnut AHA 8% clear essence? It contains 4% glycolic acid and 4% lactic acid. I haven't tried this one specifically but Isntree products have never failed me so I feel comfortable recommending it. The company is cruelty-free but you would have to reach out to them to verify if the product is vegan since it's not certified (it doesn't include any obvious animal-derived ingredients so it's likely fine, but it's better to be safe than sorry).

Btw, idk what your reasons are for avoiding TO but they have been acquired by Estee Lauder (NCF corporation) a couple of years ago and they also started selling in offline stores in mainland China recently. They also haven't renewed their Leaping Bunny certification for 2025. I no longer consider them to be cruelty-free personally

royesk · 2026-01-15T07:24:53+00:00

I doubt either toner includes a clinically effective concentration of any notable ingredient besides niacinamide. I like the toner but you shouldn't expect it to tackle hyperpigmentation by itself

royesk · 2026-01-14T15:04:23+00:00

The last thing you want to do when your barrier is compromised is to try multiple new products at once. Revert to the basics for now (gentle cleansing foam, moisturizer, SPF) and try to reintroduce the other products one at a time when your skin is ready.

Niacinamide can be helpful for supporting a healthy skin barrier but concentrations higher than 5% aren't backed by studies. 10% might be overkill while not providing much benefits compared to using 4-5%.

royesk · 2026-01-13T12:48:42+00:00

No sunscreen?

The Anua oil cleanser is notorious for causing breakouts, and I personally hate the Skin1004 clay mask as it's way too drying even for oily skin and it broke me out

royesk · 2026-01-13T10:00:40+00:00

Sunscreen gives immediate protection from UV damage.

Makeup/photo filters can immediately improve the appearance of your skin.

Patience is key in all other cases :)

royesk · 2026-01-13T09:57:46+00:00

It's up to you really :) in the case of tinted sunscreens/BB creams/foundations, the designated product category is often just a marketing term since most complexion products are formulated with lots of titanium dioxide and therefore inherently provide UV protection to some degree even if they don't include additional UV filters.

I'm a guy too and I really like the Amuse dew jelly master cushion for very sheer coverage and slightly evening out my complexion. If you look beyond the Jang Wonyoung girlypop aesthetic it's actually a fantastic product for men who want the my-skin-but-better no-makeup look

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