Plus, two more skin care finds I'm adding to my fall routine.
Last year I played it too fast and loose with my skin care routine. I was trying too many products and eventually gave myself contact dermatitis. In 2024 I am (hopefully) smarter, especially since I’m incredibly cautious and selective with the products that make their way onto my face. Over the last few weeks, I have been slowly integrating three new products into my regimen, tweaking my skin needs as the days get shorter, and the air dryer. The products in question are SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream, Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule, and Superegg Vitamin Collective Vitality Elixir.
SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream
Orig. $92 $87 at Amazon
My under-eye circles are the capital B bane of my existence. They are genetic, but also exacerbated by bad sleep hygiene and excessive screen time. I have tried many eye creams, and by far, this is the most impressive and effective one I’ve used in a year.
SkinMedica is a brand from Allergan, the makers of Botox, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised by the visible results of this eye cream. After a month of use, I took stock of my circles and they were not gone (I don’t think that’s realistically possible), but they were so much lighter than before and my lids are much less puffy in the morning.
Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule
Orig. $28 $19 at Amazon
I have a hard time keeping my skin moisturized. It seems like a straightforward thing but I run into a plethora of issues; my skin is oily and prone to breakouts, yet it’s quite dehydrated. Unsurprisingly, the internet’s favorite K-beauty brand Cosrx was my solution all along with its Propolis Light Ampoule. It seems like a simple product—it’s mainly a mixture of bee propolis (83 percent) and honey (11 percent)—but the results are anything but. My skin is instantly soft and smooth to the touch, it heals and soothes irritation and blemishes, and makes my complexion look supple.
Upon first applying it, your skin will feel a little sticky but after a minute or so, there’s no residue or tackiness. I’m not exaggerating when I say Cosrx’s Propolis Light Ampoule made a difference after a single use.
Superegg Vitamin Collective Vitality Elixir
$65 at Amazon
I’m going to preemptively say “you’re welcome” because I’m turning you onto the next big K-beauty brand: Superegg. I have a handful of its products (most of which I have not gotten around to testing yet) and have been so impressed by the Vitamin Collective Vitality Elixir.
This serum is a cocktail of vitamins B, C, E, F, and K, each of which has several benefits. In short, it’s a moisturizing, dark spot-fading, skin-brightening, wrinkle-reducing, and barrier-protecting formula. After using it for three weeks, I noticed brighter, less blemished, and more even skin.