A new month, a new roundup of skincare. That’s how it works, right? And yes, we’re talking about Korean skincare on the blog AGAIN. I feel like Korean skincare has officially entered the North American market. For years, it was so hard to get my hands on my K-beauty favourites, but now every retailer, from Sephora to Shoppers Drug Mart, seems to be carrying a multitude of Korean brands and I’m loving it!
This Korean skincare brand in particular, although I’ve heard tons about it over the years, is actually new to me. I had never tried it before this, so I was super amped to give it a try. Isntree is a South Korean green beauty brand that focuses on ingredients that are safe for both the skin and the planet while still being effective. I was sent four products from the line, and they all seem to centre around providing soothing hydration while helping to support the skin barrier- which all sounded right up my alley.
Isntree Yam Root Vegan pH-Balancing Cleanser
Let’s start with the two cleansers. The first is the Isntree Yam Root Vegan pH-Balancing Cleanser ($25.67 CAD). It has a lovely thick, smooth texture that foams up nicely. It’s enriched with, yup, you guessed it, Yam Root Extract to moisturize the skin and improve the look of its texture, while Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid help hydrate and soothe the skin while supporting it’s natural barrier. But that’s not all- the rice bran powder also help to gently smooth the skin, leaving it feeling super refreshed and clean without drying it out. I love a cleanser that goes the extra mile beyond simply cleansing the face without being too harsh or stripping the skin of its natural oils, and this one excels at that.
Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Cleanser
The next cleanser is the Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Cleanser ($33.50 CAD). Although this cleanser might look similar in appearance to the cleanser I just talked about, it actually couldn’t be more different. This one has a cream-to-milk texture that doesn’t foam at all. It’s infused with coconut, rice, soybean, sweat almond seed and oatmeal extracts to gently smooth and buff the skin, while Yam Root helps support the skin barrier. It’s super effective at lifting away any dirt, excess oil and impurities. I’m usually a fan of double cleansing (AKA micellar water followed by a cleanser), but you could get way with just using this Milk Cleanser on a lighter makeup day!
Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Zinc Aqua Cream
Okay, that’s enough cleanser talk. Let’s move on to some hydrating products from Isntree! First up is the Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Zinc Aqua Cream ($26.97 CAD). As soon as I saw that this cream contained zinc, I was instantly a fan. And when I felt the texture of this Aqua Cream? My fan status skyrocketed. My skin is definitely on the oilier side so anything lightweight and watery that helps control excess oil while also adding hydration is instantly loved by me. This cream delivers moisture to the skin with its 10 types of Hyaluronic Acid while also helping to refine the look of pores. The Zinc Hyaluronate helps to balance excess sebum while supporting smoother-looking skin. The texture is incredibly lightweight and absorbs almost instantly without leaving any stickiness behind. It’s exactly the kind of moisturizer I reach for when I want hydration without feeling like I’ve layered something heavy onto my skin.
Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner
And to pair perfectly with the Aqua Cream is the Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner ($35.53 CAD). I’ve been loving using a hydrating toner lately. I was previously using the BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner, but this one seems to be very comparable (although not milky). It’s formulated with 14 types of Hyaluronic Acid (I didn’t even know there were that many variations!) to help retain moisture in the skin, along with deep seawater from Ulleung Island, Korea, to deeply hydrate and and soothe the skin. It also contains one of my favourite ingredients, Beta-Glucan, which helps to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. The toner has a lightweight, hydrating feel and pairs really nicely with the Aqua Cream. If your skin loves hydration but you don’t necessarily want a heavy, layered routine, these two make a great combination.
After trying these four Isntree products, I can definitely see why the brand has become such a popular name in the K-beauty world. The focus on gentle cleansing, lightweight hydration and supporting the skin barrier really speaks to what I look for in my skincare routine.
If you’ve been wanting to try my faves from Isntree or explore more K-beauty finds, feel free to use my code WHENIMOLDER1 at checkout for an extra special discount when shopping on YesStyle. Happy shopping, and as always, let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you think!
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Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!
