There are so many new K-Beauty brands emerging and I love how they are using innovative ingredients and ideas. Listed below are some of my new findings for 2020.
XYCOS
XYCOS is a new K-beauty brand that focuses on providing clean, cruelty-free products with natural ingredients. The brand’s R&D Lab is located at the port city of Incheon and its HQ is located in Jamsil, Seoul. Their green plant-based skincare products are targeted for all skin types irrespective of age/gender.
One of their products I got to test out was from their Pink Collagen line – the Pink Collagen Toner. The toner is curated with highly-concentrated collagen that helps in the repair of wrinkles and dullness. This also contains wild berries and rosehip, both of which are rich in antioxidants and reduce skin wrinkling. This comes in a pump tube of 50ml and I must say the feel of the packaging feels super good quality. Even the plastic cap feels sturdy and strong. Hence the overall feel of this feels like a good quality tube. Having said this, the scent of this toner is a bit too overwhelming for my preference (could be from the wild berries). The texture of this is more like a gel-like serum, meaning this is not a watery-type toner. However, it sinks in quickly without any tackiness and there is a tad bit brightening effect. Thankfully, the fragrance dissipates after being absorbed. As for the anti-aging results, it is too early to say. Just like with all anti-products, the results are seen over a period of time, so I guess we will have to wait and see. In conclusion, I like the concept of the brand where its focus is on plant-based ingredients.
Ingredients
Water, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Glycoproteins, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Turnera Diffusa Leaf Extract, Xanthan GUM, Arginine, Carbomer, Adenosine, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Leontopodium alpinum extract, Honey, Raspberry Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Squalane, Geranium Oil
COXIR
Pronounced as [kosi:r], it was launched in 2018 and is a new subsidiary beauty company of the famous Korean cosmetic company NOKSIBCHO that dates back to the year 1979. This is another brand that claims to focus on less irritating raw materials and is backed up by a series of intensive research. The brand’s slogan is Good. Simple. Trendy and hence the colors of their products are mostly two colors – Black and White. COXIR is a sister brand of XYCOS.
While the brand has a wide line of products ranging from – Green Tea, Intensive EGF Peptide, Black Snail Collagen, Ultra Hyaluronic, Vita C Bright, Tea Tree, and Ceramide, I got to test out the Black Snail Collagen Emulsion.
The Black Snail Collagen Emulsion contains ingredients from the snail, collagen and black foods. This claims to improve wrinkles, elasticity, and dryness. The snail mucin in this gives the skin elasticity and helps in managing signs of aging. Collagen is great in providing moisture to the skin and helps in softening and smoothing of the skin. Another ingredient highlighted in this is Adenosine, which helps in improving wrinkles and accelerating collagen syntheses. Besides these, this also contains many plant extracts, like black soybeans and fermented ingredients to brighten the skin.
I love the simple packaging of this which is so similar to Cosrx. This claims to be a fast-absorbing lotion and this does absorb well. The milky emulsion absorbs super well, there is no greasiness and my skin feels supple and enriched with moisture. The same goes for this too, immediate anti-aging benefits are hard to comment on but this does leave my skin feeling nourished. for this too, we will have to wait and see for the anti-aging benefits.
Water, Betula Alba Juice, Butylene glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Glycoproteins, Betaine, Yeast Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Sea Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isohexadecane, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate , Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Black Soybean Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Adenosine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Polysorbate 60, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium AcryloyldimethylTaurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Parfum
The Skin House
This is another subsidiary brand from the NOKSIBCHO beauty company and is a sister brand of XYCOS. Like their sister brands, this too claims to use carefully selected natural ingredients. The brand aims to bring ‘home’ the valuable beauty and hence their logo is designed with a house motif; using a triangular roof. They have a wider range of skincare products out of which I got to try the serum from their Wrinkle Supreme Serum line.
The ingredients of this serum are super interesting. Along with Ginseng extract, this contains 9 different types of highly enriched nutrition from mushrooms that help in making the skin super soft and elastic. Mushroom extracts have great anti-inflammatory properties and are rich in antioxidants that provide protection against skin wrinkles and discoloration. Also, the antioxidant ingredients from mushrooms help in achieving baby soft skin.
I have never tried any product with mushroom extracts so I was super intrigued by this. The gel-like serum comes in a sturdy glass bottle and the gradient red color packaging of this is so pretty. This soaks into the skin quickly without leaving behind any tackiness. My skin does feel soft and supple. I have dry to combination skin and this is a very light-weight serum with super nourishing effects.
This definitely feels like a luxurious product. I cannot wait to see the improvements this brings.
Main Ingredients
Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Inonotus Obliquus (Mushroom) Extract, Agaricus Blazei Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract ia Fusiforme Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract.
SFERANGS
Sferangs too is a subsidiary brand of NOKSIBCHO and I was hearing about this brand for the first time. Their product line is Collagen Recharging, Vita-C, Aloe Essential Soothing, More Than White, T-Care Clearing, Gold, Pearl, and Snail Mucin. I got to test their T-Care Cream which claims to control sebum, provide soothing effects and rich moisturization. This is suitable for dehydrated skin but mainly for sensitive and oily skin that produce excess sebum.
I have dry skin, so for me, this felt light-weight but moisturizing enough and it is quickly absorbed. This did not feel greasy and for my night-time routine, I could follow this up with a deeper moisturizing cream (currently using the I’m From Honey Glow Cream). I am using this for my “moisturizer step” and I am alternating this with the iUNIK’s Centella gel cream (for AM routine) and the Klair’s Midnight Blue Calming Cream (for PM routine). I feel this will be great for the summers as this also helps in controlling sebum production. For those with sensitive and oily skin, this will be an ideal cream and can also be substituted for a makeup primer.
Ingredients
Water, Loess Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethyyhexanoate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed OIl, Betaine, Ozokerite, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated polydecene, Trideceth-6, Polymethyl Methaacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Diacaprylate/Dicaprate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl, Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Alchol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Water, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum FLower Extract, Paullinia Cupana Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Honey, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ligustrum Japonicum Fruit Extract, Elsholtzia Splendens Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, sh-Oligopeptide-1, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum