Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Review
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Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is a cult favorite toner among skincare enthusiasts and Korean Beauty fanatics alike, and for good reason. It’s made with only 7 ingredients, all of which are natural and help to soothe and condition the skin. In this Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Review, I’ll be talking about why I love this product, how it works, and who it’s best suited for.
What Does Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Do?
The Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is a deeply hydrating product that’s designed to draw moisture into the skin, calm irritation and inflammation and protect the skin against free-radical damage. With only 7 ingredients, it’s perfect for sensitive and reactive skin types. But don’t let that fool you, this product is packed with vitamins, minerals and other skin-loving ingredients that can help to keep skin healthy.
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Ingredients
One of the best things about this toner is that it has a very minimal ingredients list, with just 7 ingredients. It’s also been through strict testing with the Korea Dermatology Research Institute, so it’s a great option for those with sensitive and reactive skin types.
Astragalus membranaceus root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, butylene glycol, bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, hydroxyethylcellulose, carbomer, arginine.
It’s a very interesting ingredients list, as there’s no water! Pretty much all skincare products contain water, so this formula is really unique, especially for a toner/essence. It also has a few ingredients that double as formula enhancers and hydrating ingredients.
When you look at the ingredients in detail, there’s really only 4 that can provide skin benefits. The others are used to create a nice, smooth texture. Let’s take a look at what these ingredients can do for the skin.
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
With a whopping 91% Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, you know this ingredient has to be good. It’s also known as Milk Vetch Root Extract. It’s used in place of water in this formula and has incredible benefits for the skin.
It’s an herb that’s commonly used in traditional Chinese Medicine to treat everything from a cold to heart issues. As for the skin, it provides tons of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to help calm any skin irritations, reduce redness and protect the skin from environmental damage.
The herb is rich in flavanoids which have been shown to help with signs of aging by stimulating collagen production. It also has high concentrations of saponins which have been shown to promote wound healing. Saponins can also provide a variety of other benefits like antioxidant protection, soothing/calming, anti-acne and hydrating properties.
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract is also rich in polysaccharides which have humectant properties and help to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized. They also help promote wound healing and provide antioxidant protection.
It’s also rich in essential vitamins and minerals that can help keep your skin healthy and happy.
So as you can see, Astragalus Extract can help to reduce inflammation, promote wound healing, protect the skin from damage, hydrate and help reduce signs of aging.
1,2-Hexanediol
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare products because it’s dual-purpose. It’s used as a solvent to help create smooth, silky feeling product. It’s also used as a preservative to keep the product fresh longer. As for its skin benefits, it acts as a humectant to draw moisture into the skin.
Butylene Glycol
Butylene Glycol is another multi-purpose ingredient that helps the product absorb deeper into the skin and create a nice texture that spreads easily across the skin. It also has humectant properties to attract water into the skin.
Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid that serves as a building block to collagen. Arginine in topical formulations can help to promote collagen synthesis to plump skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles and help prevent signs of aging like sagging skin.
It’s also considered a natural moisturizing factor and can help to hydrate and moisturize the skin. It also helps to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration by stimulating fibroblast production.
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Review
Overall Thoughts
This is a great option for those with sensitive skin types. Thanks to the lack of water in this formula, you’re getting the most concentrated version of all the beneficial Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract! That being said, Astragalus can help with so many different skin issues like dehydration, aging and sensitivity.
This product helps to instantly plump and rehydrate my skin. It’s become one of my go-to products when my skin is being sensitive. It layers well with other products and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.
I’ve layered this product with my hydrating toners and it works flawlessly! There’s no pilling or strange interactions like I’ve experienced in the past. As for the scent, it doesn’t have much of one. There’s a slight herbal/medicinal smell but doesn’t linger on the skin or bother me at all.
Overall, this toner has quickly become an absolute favorite. As I kept hearing people rave about this product, I took a look at the ingredients and was honestly very underwhelmed. That was until I looked at all the benefits of Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract. It’s truly a great multi-tasking ingredient that everyone can benefit from! I’m so glad I gave this toner a try and will keep repurchasing it because my dehydrated, sensitive skin absolutely loves it!
If you want a more detailed look at the product, keep on reading as I break down the packaging, cost, performance, etc.
Related post: Does Toner Have To Be Washed Off
Packaging
The product comes in a blue plastic 6.8oz bottle with a flip cap lid. The packaging is very minimalistic, which I love. I find the flip cap is perfect and the dispenser is the perfect size to shake out just a few drops. It’s a smaller opening which is perfect for more liquidy formulas like this.
Price
The Pyunkang Yul Toner is actually one of the most affordable Korean toners I’ve ever tried. It retails for around $10 for 6.8oz. I get mine off of Amazon, but there are lots of other Korean skincare retailers you can get this product from.
Scent
If you smell this product from the bottle, there’s the faintest hint of an herbal-y/natural scent, but I don’t notice any sort of smell or scent when applying the product.
It’s fragrance-free, so any kind of scent is from the natural ingredients, most likely the Astragalus Extract.
Formula
Pyungkang Yul products are also free of artificial dyes, parabens and mineral oil, so it’s good for those with sensitive skin types. If you’re looking for
Texture
The texture and consistency is slightly thicker than most essences and toners. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely still runny, but it’s thicker than water. It feels really silky and smooth and glides across the skin like a dream.
Performance
My skin immediately feels plumped and hydrated after use. I also find that my pores look smaller right after use. The product sinks in so quickly and doesn’t leave a tacky or sticky finish at all. I find that I can even use multiple layers of this product and it still doesn’t feel heavy or tacky. It’s a great product to use for the 7-skin method.
It layers beautifully with other products and helps to keep my skin feeling soft and hydrated throughout the day. I typically use another toner, essence or serum with this and layer a good moisturizer on top. I’ve never experienced any pilling when layering with this product.
This is definitely a multi-tasking product that can help with multiple different skin issues. Of course, it helps to rehydrate and moisturize the skin which is always great! But it can also help to soothe irritation and reduce redness.
My skin is very sensitive and prone to breakouts (regular acne and perioral dermatitis). I’ve not had any issues with acne or flare ups since using this product and find that it does help to reduce any redness associated with skin issues.
Since the product has a lot of slip to it, you really only need about 4 drops, so one bottle will last a really long time.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Deeply hydrates
- Minimal ingredients
- Suitable for all skin types
- Free of alcohol and fragrance
- Cruelty-free
- Non-sticky
- Very affordable
Cons
- Might not be hydrating enough for very dry skin types
How To Use Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
There are a few different ways you can use this product. The easiest way to apply is to take a few drops in the palm of your hand and use your fingertips to apply the product and gently massage it into the skin.
You can also apply a few drops to a cotton pad and gently wipe the skin with the cotton pad. This method can help to remove any excess dirt, oil, makeup or bacteria you may have missed with your cleanser.
You can also use this product kind of like a sheet mask. Simply saturate a cotton pad and apply It to the skin. You can do this all over the face or just a certain area if you have a patch of irritation or dryness.
Is Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner An Essence?
The Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is both a toner and essence. It can take the place of both products in your routine, if you’d like. I personally use it with other toners/essences and serums in my routine, but you don’t have to.
I’d say if you have oily or combination skin, using this by itself would be just the right amount of hydration. But if you have drier skin, you’ll likely want to layer this with some other hydrating toners, essences or serums.
Does Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Help Acne?
Although it’s not marketed as an acne treatment, the Astragalus Extract does have some anti-bacterial properties which can help to kill acne causing bacteria. However, this product on it’s own won’t be enough to treat acne, but it can be a great addition to your routine if you are acne-prone.
Additionally, keeping the skin hydrated can help to reduce acne! When skin becomes dehydrated, it will produce more oil (sebum) which can lead to more breakouts.
Can I Use Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner With Retinol?
Absolutely! I use retinoids 2-3 times a week in my routine. The Astragalus Extract is amazing for sensitive skin types and can help soothe irritation while you’re using the retinol as well as keeping the skin hydrated so it doesn’t get dry or flaky.
I also find that if I use retinol too much, this product can help to get my skin back on track quickly.
What’s The pH of Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner?
The pH of the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner ranges from about 4-5, which is perfect to use right after cleansing to restore the skin’s natural pH balance.
Is Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Alcohol Free?
Yes! It is 100% alcohol free!
Is Pyunkang Yul Toner Good For Oily Skin?
Yes! It’s suitable for all skin types, but it is particularly good at keeping oily skin hydrated without being greasy or heavy. The product provides lots of hydration which can help to keep oiliness at bay and even help to reduce oily skin.
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Review: Wrap Up
Overall, I’m really happy with this Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for an affordable, hydrating toner that is good for all skin types! The Astragalus Extract helps to soothe any irritation or redness while keeping the skin hydrated. I hope you found this Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Review helpful!
