The skin rundown before we delve in; I have normal skin with the tendency to be oily at times. I am extremely adamant about wearing sunscreen as well as removing all traces of make-up before bed. I do not smoke and I drink more water than necessary (it’s probably actually an excessive amount). While I do get the occasional breakout I would consider myself to have “nice” skin.
When it comes to skincare, Koreans are known to have the best of the best. Korean beauty products are more gentle with less irritants because of the Korean practice of using natural, unique and harsh-free ingredients in their formulas. Skincare is an essential step in the K-beauty trending looks because it focuses on healthy, glowy skin.
When the team at Nature Collection reached out offering a personalize consult and specialized products I was stoked to delve into Korean skincare for the first time. Under their Dr. Belmeur line, the derma-cosmetics K-beauty brand that is plant based with a focus on sensitive and problem skin. A lot of their products contain cica, which is also known by tiger grass (a TikTok fave!) The plant name comes from observing tigers rolling around in the grass after getting into scuffles. Cica helps aid in repair, forms a protective barrier and helps treat conditions like rosacea, eczema and acne!
Daily Repair Toner
The Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Toner is a gentle toner suitable for calming sensitive skin while boosting moisturizer. It’s an extremely mild toner and is more like an essence vs a toner. It helps calm my natural redness and is gentle enough to use morning and night. I love that it’s lightly scented and doesn’t have the tight drying sensation other toners do.
$31 CAD
Amino Clear Peeling Pad
Perfect for those new to chemical exfoliants, the Amino Clear Peeling Pad is the grown-up version of Oxy Pads that haunted your vanity in your teens. While the Daily Repair Toner is mild enough for daily use, these peeling pads are potent and should only be used 2-3 times a week. It comes with a Capri-Sun style pack of peeling water that you pour into a jar of 60 pads and once it soaks up all that amino acid goodness it’s ready for use. The pads have a well designed texture, a gauze side for intensive exfoliation and an embossed side for a gentle peel.
$34 CAD
Advanced Cica Eye Cream
While some may say a cream is a cream and that there is no need for an eye specific cream, skincare experts (and science nerds!) agree that eye cream serves a purpose. Eye creams are formulated with smaller molecules to penetrate the skin deeper. The skin around your eyes has less oil ducts and pores making it more prone to fine line and wrinkles. Sold yet? The Dr. Belmeur Advance Cica Eye Cream has a silk consistency, help heal fine scratches, while vitamin A and retinol helps produce collagen (read: firming AF.)
$43 CAD
Cica Peptite Ampoule
Before delving into the review, let’s talk about what ampoules are, because I didn’t know before trying this product. Ampoules are a supercharged serum for a mega boost, in this case, of Cica. This Cica Peptite Ampoule energizes tired skin, creates a smoother surface and helps strengthen the skin barrier for firmer skin. While it packs a punch, the consistency is very lightweight and designed for layer, so feel free to follow up with a primer. I know it seems like a lot of steps, but Koreans are known for their 10 step skincare routine.
$65 CAD
Vita Serine Tone Smoothing Serum
I love a serum. Serums mean it’s face rolling time, which is forever my skincare step of choice. The Vita Serine Tone Smoothing Serum provides moisture, increase brightness and tighten pores. It is jam packed with all of the best vitamins for your skin, a combo of B5, B3 (aka niacinamide) and C. It also has hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate your skin!
$55 CAD
Cica Hydro Cream
If you’re only going to try one product I review, this is the one I would recommend the most. It is so moisturizing without being heavy and is perfect for soothing sensitive skin. The Cica Hydro Cream is a cica lover’s dream to help promote cell growth. It is 90% water-based, perfect for the hyaluronic acids (they hold up to 1000x their weight in water!) Trust me, if you have dry skin, you won’t be disappointed.
$60 CAD
The Verdict
Let me tell you, my skin is glowing. I have been getting compliments non stop via DMs that my natural, makeup free skin looks healthier, than ever and despite the weather being so wishy-washy my skin has been hydrated more regularly. I also LOVE how many steps this is. Since we’re all spending more time at home, the additional steps feel like a little bit more me time before starting my day and also before calling it a night. My skin’s natural redness has gone down and my skin is looking more plump. The entire Dr. Belmeur routine somehow feels both easy to understand yet personalized to your needs.
