Minimalist K-beauty: Pyunkang Yul Moisture Ampoule + Mist Toner reviews

For the most part K-beauty is anything but minimalistic. They preach the 10-step skincare routine and their products often contain a ton of extracts, but that doesn’t mean all K-beauty brands follow the “more is better” approach. For the minimalists out there, Pyunkang Yul will fit your aesthetics and needs nicely.

Pyunkang Yul is the skincare range developed by the Pyunkang Korean Medicine Hospital, which specializes in treating respiratory and atopic skin disorders using hanbang, aka traditional/oriental medicines. The ingredients in each product are carefully selected to help balance, reinforce, and protect the skin, and anything potentially sensitizing or frivolous are removed from the formula. The end result? Gentle products with the minimal yet effective ingredients, plus they’re cruelty-free!

As an aspiring minimalist myself, I would’ve loved to buy the whole range, but I already had products in my stash, so buying these extra products would’ve been the opposite of minimal. So I opted for their Mist Toner (because one can never have enough mists) and Moisture Ampoule.

Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner

What is it

A fine mist toner to hydrate, refresh, and soothe the skin.

How I use it

Layered between my skincare steps for extra hydration

Best suited for

All skin types, but especially oily skin or those that are prone to redness as a result of heat or irritations

Key ingredients

91.9% coptis japonica root extract, hyaluronic acid (full ingredients here)

Irritants

none!

Packaging

Blue apothecary style bottle. Made of plastic so clumsy folks (like me) need not worry!

Scent

A faint herbal scent that goes away pretty much instantly

Texture

A fine mist of water

Finish

Skin feels cooler and more hydrated without stickiness or oiliness

Available At

$12 at Jolse and Ohlolly; $14 at iHerb (get 5% off your order with code DGQ071); $17 at Amazon

When it comes to mists, the simpler the ingredients the better, because I want to layer them on generously without worrying about it being too heavy or conflicting with my other products. My holy grail is still the water-in-a-can La Roche-Posay Thermal Water, but the Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner is a close second.

Unfortunately there’s not much research on Coptis Japonica Root Extract, except for one claiming it can help prevent cellulite and skin sagging. However I did find more studies on berberine, the key component in Coptis Japonica Root Extract, and it’s a great anti-inflammatory ingredient thats been used in traditional eastern medicine for hundreds of years (source, source). There’s also a bit of hyaluronic acid for extra hydration, but otherwise this is as simple as a mist can get.

I thought the Pyunkang Yul Toner Mist was an ok product and didn’t feel the benefits until this summer with its unseasonably warm temperatures. After a day out in the sun my skin would be red and uncomfortable, and this mist has been excellent for calming it down. I can’t say it feels more cooling than other mists I’ve used, but it does get rid of the redness quicker. The mist itself is fine enough to disperse an even layer of moisture on my skin without disrupting what’s underneath, because no one likes feeling like they just shot their face with a water gun 🙅🏻‍♀️

Overall a nice mist I’m glad to have in my routine, especially when it’s hot! If you have easily irritated skin this is a worth trying 👍🏻

Pyunkang Yul Moisture Ampoule

What is it

An occlusive gel that hydrates, calms, and smoothes the skin

How I use it

As the last step in my routine to seal everything in. I dispense a pearl sized drop on my fingers, dab the product evenly on my face, then gently pat everything in.

Best suited for

All skin types, but especially oily and sensitive skin

Key ingredients

90+% coptis japonica root extract (full ingredients here)

Irritants

none!

Packaging

A blue apothecary style glass bottle with a pipette.

Scent

A barely noticeable herbal scent. You’d have to sniff real hard to notice

Texture

Very thick and goopy, but not sticky or oily.

Finish

A glass-like finish when you initially apply it, but eventually it dries down to a natural finish

Available At

$17 at Althea (get 20% off your first order); $20 on Amazon; $22.39 at iHerb (get 5% off your order with code DGQ071); $22.66 at Jolse; $28 at Ohlolly;

This features the same anti-inflammatory Coptis Japonica Root Extract, except in a much thicker texture. So thick that the pipette can only pick up a small amount each time. Don’t let the thickness put you off though, it’s not sticky or oily at all, and transforms into a water-like texture as soon as you start patting it into the skin. You can actually feel this cooling your skin down as you use it, which is especially nice after a hot day. While it would’ve been nice to see more hydrating or skin-soothing ingredients in the mix, sometimes less is more, and I’m glad Pyunkang Yul provides this option. Plus you’re gettin 90+ % of the actives, so you can’t complain.

Despite the name, this isn’t a traditional ampoule but an occlusive you can use after your moisturizer to seal everything in. If you have oily skin or just an aversion towards traditionally heavier occlusives (eg. oils and butters), you’ll really like how refreshing (literally) the Pyunkang Yul Moisture Ampoule feels on the skin.

For me it’s the perfect occlusive during the summer, and occasionally I’ll even skip moisturizer and apply a more generous amount right after my serums. A little really does go a long way with this, and usually the pipette picks up just enough. My face always feels less oily but still hydrated the next morning when I use this the night before, so obviously it’s now a staple in my routine. You can also use it during the day, which I’ve been doing under my heavier sunscreens. I find that the Moisture Ampoule provide just the right amount of hydration and it helps keep my skin calm and cool in the heat.

Hope you enjoyed this review, and let me know if you’ve tried anything from this brand before! Their essence toner and balancing gel are on my wishlist, and I’ve already ordered their cleansing foam (because you can’t have enough cleansers either, amirite? 😂)! Have a great weekend!