Has anyone tried the IOPE XMD Stem III Clinical Recovery Serum?

Yes, it’s such an interesting product! I’ve actually seen quite a few people say that out of all the PDRN products they’ve tried, this is one of the ones where they felt they could actually see a difference. I think what makes it more interesting to me isn’t just the PDRN itself, but their PDRN HA Liposome Complex and the overall formula. I’m usually a little skeptical of skincare being marketed mainly around PDRN because I feel like PDRN has become such a huge marketing ingredient lately, so I tend to look at the rest of the formula when choosing a serum. IOPE actually has a whole Clinical Recovery line with the serum, softener, emulsion and cream. I tried samples of the line for about two weeks and really liked everything! The serum especially has such a nice texture — very lightweight, almost watery/gel-like, so it doesn’t feel heavy at all, but it’s still really hydrating. That’s why I’ve been so curious about the full size. I’m pretty confident it’s a good serum because I’ve had really good experiences with IOPE in general, but what I’m still wondering is whether it’s good enough to justify the price, since it’s definitely more expensive than a lot of other serums. I haven’t tried the Eqqualberry Purple PDRN Pore Minimizer though! How has it been for you? Have you actually noticed a difference in your pores or skin since using it? Right now I’m using the IOPE PDRN Caffeine Shot Serum and Aestura Regederm, which also uses PDRN, and I really like both. But again, I don’t necessarily buy them because they contain PDRN — I’m more interested in the complete formulas and what they actually do for my skin. And if you do decide to buy the IOPE serum, I’d definitely check Amore Mall first! That’s where I buy most of my Amorepacific skincare. They usually have much better sets and promotions, and you often get a lot of minis/freebies with your order, especially with IOPE. Sometimes the gift sets make the price much more reasonable than buying the serum elsewhere.

@Veky Yes I am familiar with Amore Mall thats where I got my mom started on her skin care journey. The Eqqualberry is about $21 on YesStyle, when I first started using it I did see reduced pores but I’m not sure if I peaked on the formula but it doesn’t seem to have an effect on my pores anymore. Then again thats the only brand I tried with PDRN. I mean, there’s only one way to find out if it’s worth the $64 stated on YesStyle. I will put it in my next order and I will let you know when I start and make sure I take a zoomed-in before picture of my pores to compare after a month or 2, results may vary or might need more time than 1-2 months just so you know but I will keep up with it, its gonna go in my morning routine.

@Paul YesStyle is honestly such a great site when you want to shop across different brands, and they usually have really good prices and deals too! I mostly order from Amore Mall because a lot of the products I use are from Amorepacific brands. I’ve only recently started branching out and experimenting with other brands because my skin is very sensitive and I was always a little scared of trying too many new things and having my skin freak out 😭 That’s actually one of the reasons I think the CYoung product testing is perfect for me — it’s encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone and discover products I probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise. If pores are one of your main concerns, I’d also recommend looking into the AESTURA Regederm365 Skin Tightening Capsule Serum. I was genuinely surprised by how much of a difference I noticed in the appearance of my pores with that one. It is definitely on the more expensive side though, and I think it needs consistent use for a while, so I’d wait for a good sale rather than paying full price. Did you end up ordering the IOPE XMD serum? 👀 I actually decided to get it after all — and somehow I ended up buying the entire XMD Clinical Recovery line instead of just the serum 😂 I’ve wanted to properly try the line for a long time, so I figured if I’m going to test it, I might as well see how the whole routine performs together. Now we’ll find out whether it actually lives up to the hype! Even better if you got the serum too, because then we can compare our results and see how it performs on two different people. That would actually be really interesting, especially if we both keep track of our skin over the next month or two!

I usually Shop on YesStyle unless it’s a HOLITUAL item for my mom or myself. My skin is very resilient so I don’t mind experimenting with new products. I haven’t heard of that Aestura product, yes I struggle with enlarged pores on my cheeks around my nose but the pores on my nose are normal. I have it saved for my next order! I can’t wait to try it, I’m so excited and intrigued. Oh my goodness you bought the entire line? Definitely take a “before” picture to compare results, I will too. That is a great idea @Veky !! I will let you know as soon as I have the product in my hands.

@Paul I recently ordered from StyleKorean and they have some really good deals! They sometimes do monthly boxes with full-size products for around 70% less than buying everything separately, which is such a good way to try different products. StyleJolly is also great — they sell samples and minis from almost every brand for really low prices, especially useful for testing expensive serums or creams before committing to the full size. They also have discounted full sizes. The only downside is shipping by weight, but if you calculate it well, it can still be really worth it! What have you tried from HOLITUAL? I wanted to order their peel pads, but I didn’t realize there was a separate link for their products. 😭 And yes, AESTURA’s purple Regederm line isn’t very well known outside Korea. It’s basically an anti-aging line for sensitive skin — I think of it as ATOBARRIER with added anti-aging benefits. Honestly, I’d almost call the serum a pore-tightening serum 😂 because that’s one of the biggest differences I noticed while using it. And yes, I actually ended up buying the entire IOPE XMD line! 😂 The set was such good bang for the buck that I decided to just go for the whole thing. I’m definitely going to take before pictures and track any changes so I can compare the results properly. I’ll let you know when my set arrives — and when your serum arrives too! Maybe after all this testing we’ll end up getting an IOPE brand deal 😂

@Veky I am familiar with these websites too but YesStyle wins for me. Oh I haven’t updated my skin care list on here, so I ended up buying my mother a dry HOLITUAL set to start her on her skin care journey. So I picked one product first, I was running out of morning lotion and swapped out my Isntree-HA soothing gel cream for the HOLITUAL Elemental smoothing lotion. Its gonna last me a while, I love how their products come in thick glass bottles with pumps 💙 Anything to minimize these pores, thank you so much for mentioning them to me. I want to try that Aestura soon as my Eqqualberry runs out. 🧐 You’re gonna definietly get the best results then me since you bought the entire line but we’ll see. Like I seen and heard of the IPOE brand I just never looked thoroughly into it amongst a couple other brands but at least this checks one off my list! ✅

@Paul @Veky I would try it, as well. I'm ordering from the Amazon Iope storefront since it would arrive quickly. I am still tediously waiting for a YesStyle order.

@Annie YesStyle takes a while to arrive even with express shipping. I might consider getting it through Amazon myself. Yay, time to experiment with this new skin care product 😁

@Paul Yes! I always make sure to order from the dedicated storefronts so I don't get a sketchy seller 🤭

@Annie Very smart

@Veky I’ve been using quite a few HOLITUAL products like the toner, gold serum, eye cream, and emulsion. So far I love it all! Sorry to jump in the conversation haha

@Paul Ohh, the HOLITUAL Elemental Smoothing Lotion actually sounds like such a nice replacement! And I agree, their packaging is beautiful — I love those heavy glass bottles with pumps. 💙 Let me know how you like it after using it for a while, especially compared to the Isntree HA Soothing Gel Cream. And yes, definitely try the AESTURA Regederm serum once your Eqqualberry runs out! I really hope it works as well for your pores as it did for mine. 😂 I don’t necessarily think I’ll get better results just because I bought the entire XMD line though — I mainly got the full set because it was such a good deal and I wanted to properly test how the products work together. IOPE is honestly one of those brands that can easily get overlooked because there are sooo many Korean brands and products out there. Once I started looking more into their different lines and formulas, I fell down the IOPE rabbit hole. 😭😂 At least now we can compare our XMD results once we both get our products! Maybe we’ll both end up obsessed with IOPE. 😂

@Annie Oh, Amazon definitely wins when it comes to delivery speed. 😂 I wish we had the IOPE storefront on Amazon here! I know the pain of waiting for YesStyle though — sometimes by the time the package arrives I’ve almost forgotten what I ordered. 😭 At least you’ll probably get the XMD serum before I get my full set, so you might actually be the first one testing it! 😂 Let me know your first impressions when it arrives.

@Sora Please don’t apologize, jump in anytime! 😂 That’s actually really helpful because I’ve been so curious about HOLITUAL. I keep seeing their products on Amore Mall but haven’t properly tried the brand yet. The gold serum especially caught my attention! 👀 Out of the toner, gold serum, eye cream and emulsion, which one has impressed you the most so far? And have you noticed any actual changes in your skin since you started using them, or is it more that you really enjoy the formulas and how they feel? 💙

@Veky thank you for welcoming me 😊 I asked my husband for one of the holitual sets for Mother’s Day and he got it for me and I’ve been using it almost daily since and still have about half of everything left! Oh man that’s hard to pick lol I think the toner and the gold serum and maybe the eye cream? Sorry that wasn’t very helpful but it’s a good problem to have haha. If I HAD to pick one I’d probably say the eye cream. I’ve been told by my husband (and that man doesn’t notice anything lol) that I don’t have crows feet like our other friends our age so that’s saying something 😂

@Veky That’s exactly what I told CYoung on her Live video, fancy-fancy bottles with pumps. To make sure I scrape the most out once its done, I bought a M spatula to get all of my money’s worth out of the bottle 🤣 Most definitely, @Annie also said she was including herself in this IPOE experiment along with us so 3 tests are better than 2. I’ll be the results for men & you two can be the results for women 👍🏼

@Veky 😆 I HAVE forgotten what I've ordered and then went and ordered the same things from Stylevana. Between those two sites, I have a few duplicates. I've started printing the orders because my brain is toast and I need easy reference. 🤯

@Sora Okay, the fact that your husband actually noticed the difference makes the eye cream sound even more convincing 😂 Men noticing skincare results without being asked is basically an independent clinical trial at this point. 😭 And honestly, you’re making me want to explore HOLITUAL even more now! I was looking through their products and sets on Amore Mall and realized I’ve been overlooking the brand. I actually have a few HOLITUAL minis and a cream to try, and I’ve already tried their resurfacing peel pads, so I think it’s time I properly test the brand instead of just staring at all their sets. 😂 The fact that you’ve been using the set almost daily since Mother’s Day and still have about half left also makes the price seem much more reasonable. 👀 I’m especially curious about that gold serum now, but if the eye cream is your favorite, I’m definitely going to look into that one too. Apparently while everyone else is slowly falling into the IOPE XMD rabbit hole, you’re going to be the one who pulls us into the HOLITUAL rabbit hole. 😂💙

@Paul Fancy bottle or not, I’m getting EVERY last drop out of that product. 🤣 I’m actually ridiculous about this. When I have a serum or another product left at the bottom that absolutely refuses to come out no matter what I do, I’ll add a tiny bit of a very basic hydrating toner — usually just a simple hyaluronic acid toner that won’t interfere much with the formula — shake/mix it around and get the rest out that way. 😂 I literally keep a couple of basic toners around partly for this purpose. I do it with serums too. That bottle is NOT empty until I say it’s empty. 🤣 And our IOPE XMD experiment keeps gaining testers! 😂 At this rate we’re going to end up doing a full community product trial even though XMD was never an official testing product. We basically picked our own product to test. 🤣 Now we have you for the men’s results and Annie and me for the women’s — three testers are definitely better than two! I’m really curious whether we all end up noticing similar things.

@hazelmoss Wait, which products did you accidentally order twice? 😂 Were they some of the same things from your Amore haul? Look, you can always tell yourself that backups will eventually come in handy. 🤣 If you love the product, future you will be very pleased with past you accidentally buying two. I got so bad with keeping track of everything that I actually started an Excel spreadsheet for my skincare products AND my orders. 😂 Otherwise between what I already own, what I’ve ordered, samples, minis and packages that haven’t arrived yet, I genuinely cannot remember anymore. At this point I apparently need inventory management software for my skincare addiction. 🤯🤣

@Veky right??? And I’m a trans man so my husband is gay but not the “has good hygiene skincare” gay more like “lives in the gym and works out to lady Gaga” gay 🤣 🌈 so he doesn’t notice anything and he wouldn’t just say that and lie about it bc he knows how much it cost and if he wanted to sell me onto a cream he’d pick a cheaper option lmao! For me here is the reason why I know I love it: I have a LOT of skincare products different brands and lines about 80% all CYOUNGS top tier recommendations. But the reason I use HOLITUAL so much is bc every day when I see my options, my hand goes to HOLITUAL first without thought. Like my body and mind both agree that HOLITUAL is my fav instinctively. I am very frugal like @Paul and don’t use too much each time I usually layer a cheaper toner before using HOLITUAL toner as opposed to multi layering Holi toner but even if you weren’t rationing it out (I’m trying to make it last until Christmas guess what I’m asking Santa for 🤣) I’m sure it would still last longer than expected. Haha there is no other rabbit hole I’d rather jump into than holituals sign me up! What are the odds of getting sponsored?? 🤣

Tagged you Paul bc I also scrape my bottles clean after I’m not throwing a drop away if I can help it 🤣

@Veky Fortunately, they were affordable products like sunscreens, lol. One I returned because I got it from Amazon and it was easy.

@Sora Gym Bro Gay? New category unlocked! My friend just came out as Sports Gay during the world cup and we're all still reeling, haha! But he does talk skincare with me and we exchange KB products. And he notices when I'm having a good skin day, so he's a keeper.

@Sora Yes make sure you get your money’s worth, thank you for tagging me. I forgot to mention that I buy everything in 2’s when I make purchases so I have like 2 or 3 extra back—ups, this way I can purchase other products to try out and experiment with. I can’t wait to see the kind of deals Amore Mall and a couple of other websites have for the holidays! I’m planning a vacation to Puerto Rico with my partner soon, so I’m excited :D

@Sora LMAO okay, with that additional context your husband’s comment carries even MORE weight. 🤣🌈 If he’s the “lives at the gym and works out to Lady Gaga” type of gay and normally doesn’t notice skincare, then him randomly noticing your lack of crow’s feet is basically the strongest endorsement HOLITUAL could ask for. 😂 And you’re right — if he were trying to encourage the skincare spending, surely he would’ve chosen something a little cheaper to compliment. 😭 But what you said about instinctively reaching for HOLITUAL is actually what convinced me the most, because I know EXACTLY what you mean. That’s me with IOPE and AESTURA. 😂 I can have a ridiculous amount of other skincare sitting there waiting to be used, but somehow my hand just automatically reaches for IOPE or AESTURA without me even thinking about it. When you have that many good products to choose from and you still instinctively keep reaching for the same brands, I feel like that says more than any review ever could. 👀 And YES, I do the exact same thing with expensive products! 🤣 I’ll use a cheaper basic toner or hydrating product underneath and then go in with the expensive stuff. I refuse to waste my fancy skincare by using five layers of it when a cheaper product can do the basic hydration part perfectly well. 😂 Skincare economics! I have a feeling all of our Christmas wish lists are going to look suspiciously similar this year… possibly identical. 🤣🎄 Between HOLITUAL, IOPE, AESTURA and everything else we’ve collectively discovered, Santa is going to need an Amore Mall account. 😭 And honestly, at this point Amorepacific should just start sponsoring half of this community. 😂 You can be our official HOLITUAL representative, I’ll happily take IOPE/AESTURA, and everyone else can claim whichever Amore brand has currently taken over their bathroom. 🤣 We’re basically doing unpaid R&D for them at this point — comparing routines, testing products on different skin types and reporting back to each other. Where are our sponsorships, Amorepacific?! 😂💙

@hazelmoss Okay, sunscreens are probably the BEST products to accidentally order twice. 😂 You can never have too much SPF! That’s something I use 365 days a year, so I wouldn’t even be mad about having a backup — I know I’m going to need it eventually anyway. 🤣☀️ And being able to just return one to Amazon that easily must be nice! 😂 If I accidentally ordered a duplicate from Amazon, I’d probably just accept my fate and keep it. 😭 I’m in the EU, so by the time I dealt with an international return and waited for everything to be sorted out, I’d probably have finished the first sunscreen already. 🤣

@hazelmoss I know a lot of gym bro gays but the trick is getting me to the gym more 🤣 I need to but ugh these autoimmune issues make it hard

@Paul That’s so smart I like to get bundle deals from Amore Mall so I usually get two bottles or at least a full sized and a mini for when I travel. Omg that sounds like a lot of fun! I’ve never been to Puerto Rico you’ll have to tell me all about it

@Sora 💙 I have never been there either but I will make sure to share some pictures when I get back! Speaking of mini travel-size products, I’ll have to find a way to bring all my products with me on the plane or at least half of them 🤔😱

@Sora I refer to myself as a basement queer so you definitely will not be seeing me at a gym. 🤣

@Veky sorry for the delay in reply, I knew it was going to take a minute for me to reply properly lol Yeah this is a man that uses one bottle for everything in the shower lmao. We have a joke that whenever I get new skincare I just say I got it for free and he just rolls his eyes lol You have me wanting to try Aestura so badly now! I do like the samples that I have gotten so far and would definitely like to expand my exposure to their products. Right? Like I'm not about to pour all of the expensive stuff out when I can layer the cheaper stuff on the bottom. Oh yeah, we might as well just meet up at the North Pole so Santa gets it right lol I agree with that! haha! We could make them so much money based on all of our collective experience. I'm calling you the IOPE/AESTURA expert in this community. I'll claim Holitual haha

@hazelmoss My husbands gym is in our basement bc we have so much workout equipment some of it is bolted into our concrete floor. And yet I still struggle to get down there most days lol

@Paul I'm flying to Saint Louis in November and will probably finally use some of those mini sample bottles I keep getting from Amore Pacific lol

Oh thank you, I actually didn’t think of checking SkinSort for this! I’m going to go through the list because I recognize quite a few of these products and brands. I do think I’d take the “dupe” matches with a little bit of a grain of salt though, because some of the products on the list seem to have pretty different purposes even if they share a lot of ingredients. For example, I see Aestura A-Cica on there, which is much more of a calming/blemish serum, and Primera’s PDRN Niacinamide serum as well. That’s actually what makes me so curious about the IOPE one — I’m wondering whether their PDRN HA Liposome Complex and the overall formulation really make enough of a difference to justify the higher price, rather than whether I can find another serum with a similar ingredient list. But this is really helpful! I’m definitely going to look through these and see if there are any that I’ve already tried. Thank you for sending it 💕 If I find one I’ve used before, that might actually give me a much better reference point for deciding whether the IOPE is worth buying.

@Veky I understand what you mean. I'm still not very experienced with a lot of K skincare brands but I know the cosmetic dupe lists I've looked up have left me a little skeptical. But then, I want my dupes to be real ingredient dupes rather than alternatives with only 50-60% matches. I think that "alternatives" is a better name for the lists on SkinSort. Actually, I think the best ever dupe I found was from Reddit. Red Earth V10 primer is almost an exact copy of the Bobbi Brown product. I felt like I'd won the lottery, lol. Good luck with your decision!

@hazelmoss I’m still researching and trying different products too, and sometimes I can literally spend hours looking into them 😂 I have very sensitive skin, so I have to be quite careful and really look at the ingredients before trying something new. Of course, you never truly know how your skin will react until you actually try the product. That’s actually why I was a little scared to experiment with new products for a while — I didn’t want my skin to suddenly freak out. 😭 But I finally gathered the courage to start doing product tests through CYoung, and I think it’s such a great opportunity for me to slowly branch out and try things I normally might have been too nervous to buy myself. I also really like the community here. From the replies I’ve received so far, people genuinely seem willing to help with advice and recommendations. And thank you so much for telling me about SkinSort! Even if the products aren’t always true dupes, I think the comparison feature will still be really useful for checking ingredients and finding possible alternatives, so I’ll definitely be using it when I research products from now on. And I finally made my decision about the IOPE XMD serum! 😂 I actually ended up buying not only the serum, but the entire XMD Clinical Recovery line. So once I’ve had enough time to properly test everything, I’ll definitely update you on how the serum and the rest of the line perform — especially since the line is focused on damaged barrier recovery and skin repair. I’m really curious to see if it lives up to the claims!

@Veky The skincare rabbit hole is very deep, lol. It is genuinely interesting to learn more about products and ingredients, and how they help (or hurt) or skin. I understand your fear of trying new products as a fellow sensitive. I refer to myself as having lobster skin because it turns bright red from literally anything. For the last two or three years I was only using distilled water and a barrier cream for skincare...which ended up dehydrating my skin, really. But until trying K skincare I hadn't ever used a toner that didn't sting horribly. Yes, please keep us posted on the XMD Clinical Recovery line. I definitely want to hear your experience and I hope it goes well. I'm glad you've found a welcoming community here. I feel the same.

@hazelmoss Yes, especially because there are SO many brands and products now! I’ve also realized that a lot of viral products are sometimes better at marketing and looking good on social media than actually helping with specific skin concerns. Meanwhile, some of the products that genuinely work really well aren’t nearly as popular, so you really have to research. Or you have to find those rare influencers like CYoung whose recommendations you can actually trust because she focuses on products that genuinely perform rather than just whatever is trending. I’m curious though, how do you usually introduce a new product into your routine, and how do you decide what you’re comfortable trying when it isn’t specifically barrier-focused? Even barrier products can sometimes have something that irritates sensitive skin. My skin actually got so bad at one point that it was cracking and bleeding, and I genuinely didn’t know what to do anymore. That’s when K-beauty really helped me, especially AESTURA. So far, it’s the only brand that has really helped me when I’ve had atopic dermatitis flare-ups on my face. And yes, I’ll definitely keep you updated on the XMD line! I’ll take before pictures and compare everything once I’ve used it consistently. That’s actually one of the reasons I decided to get the whole line — I really want to test it properly and see whether it genuinely makes a noticeable difference. 😊

@Veky 😫 I'm so sorry. Your poor skin! And you're right, barrier products can have irritants in them. That's why I'm only using water and vaseline right now, to limit any possible irritation. When the nerves in our face are unprotected, they get sensitized and even beneficial ingredients become damaging -- and could lead to secondary allergies. I'm bad...My process until recently has been very slapdash. I usually just read the product claims or see what CYoung is recommending, and slap it on to see what happens. Only in the last month have I attempted patch testing and trying to track reactions to different products or find links in formulas for irritant trends. I also tend to mix and match and change up my routine -- which sensitive skin hates. I'm trying to be a better carer for my skin. I've had the most luck with sunscreens. Serums might be too concentrated for my skin, at least right now with a broken barrier and hypersensitive nerves. It seems like my skin can tolerate a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer -- sometimes just a cleanser and toner. So now I'm focusing more an what actives are inside of toners and using them as watered down serums. On occasion I can add a mask. We'll see. I think I got too excited with KB and tried too much too quickly, so now I have to walk it back. Plus, my skin is changing with perimenopause so I used to have to focus on oily skin products and now I have to focus on mostly dry skin products. It's wild. I'm also learning that in KB, "calming" refers to acne, not sensitivity! Those two things require VERY different ingredient approaches and that has gotten me into rosacea jail a few times too. So I try to look for "soothing" in the description. It's all a learning curve.

@hazelmoss I did some research just now on my own. I found this: The Best Alternative Specifically for Pore Volume: Beauty of Joseon Red Bean PDRN Pore Firming Serum. If your only goal is getting the exact pore-shrinking results of IOPE, this is a highly targeted choice. Why it mimics IOPE: It specifically isolates the pore-tightening benefits of PDRN. It works by firming the skin matrix around sagging, stretched-out pores to make them look tightly knit and small. The top one was Medicube. The Closest Match for Overall Results: Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum. If you want the pore-shrinking, firming, and skin-smoothing effects of IOPE without the steep price tag, Medicube is your best bet. Why it mimics IOPE: Both formulas utilize Salmon DNA (PDRN) as their heavy-hitting active to repair skin elasticity and tighten the skin tissue surrounding your pores. Medicube also adds niacinamide and a 5-peptide complex to help brighten uneven skin tone while it plumps. The Difference: Skincare users over 40 note that while Medicube is excellent, the IOPE serum feels more potent and acts faster on mature or severely depleted skin. IOPE uses a 92.3% Liposome Complex to push the PDRN deeper into the skin layers, whereas Medicube can take slightly longer to show the same level of structural lifting.

@Annie @hazelmoss @Sora @Paul ... wow! I just found this thread and so enjoyed reading it! Please keep us posted on the Iope that y'all are going to try. :-)

@Annie Wow, thanks for the breakdown! I might have a small size of the BoJ serum. It is interesting that the IOPE liposome complex helps deliver faster results (although I'm always skeptical of these claims after watching the Chemist Confessions channel on Youtube). But Victoria and Gloria do both say that sometimes you get what you pay for and I'm thinking that might be the case with IOPE v Medicube.

@Gabking1217 Thanks for joining us! Have you been looking into IOPE products too?

@hazelmoss Honestly, I completely understand how you ended up there because I did something very similar when I first got really into K-beauty. 😭 There are so many interesting products and ingredients that you want to try everything, but with sensitive skin it becomes almost impossible to figure out what caused a reaction when you introduce too many things at once. I’m trying to get better at that too and introduce things more slowly. I actually think your idea of using toners almost like diluted serums is really interesting, especially while your skin is this reactive. And it makes sense to keep everything extremely simple right now if even concentrated serums are too much. The “calming” vs “soothing” distinction is interesting too! I’ve definitely noticed that a lot of products marketed as calming are actually aimed more at acne, redness from breakouts or sebum control, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be gentle enough for extremely sensitive skin. My biggest problem is still figuring out exactly what my skin reacts to. Fragrance is the clearest one for me, but even that isn’t completely consistent — some fragranced products irritate me immediately while somehow my skin is perfectly fine with others. 😭 That’s why I’m trying to pay much more attention to formulas now instead of assuming that something labeled “barrier,” “calming” or “for sensitive skin” will automatically work for me. And changing from oily to mostly dry skin on top of everything else must make it even harder because suddenly all the products and routines you already figured out don’t necessarily behave the same way anymore. It really is a constant learning curve. 😭

@hazelmoss I have a ton of Iope samples and they are so good! I have three months' worth that I get from a lady in S Korea. For a full month I paid $23 for the whole system. I also bought Holitual samples from her as well as Sulwhasoo Ultimate S line. I figured, why not? This way I can cruise on the luxury line 😄

@Annie Wow! We need your source. 🤣

@Veky Fragrance is such a b**** to figure out. It can mean so many different things. At least in the States there's so many ways for companies to get around disclosing information that even if you figure out a fragranced product is bad for you, you still won't be able to pinpoint what specific fragrance. I've had less trouble with Korean brands causing headaches, but Dr. Ceuracle sunscreen is almost as bad as US products. Watercome (Chinese?) has a safe profile for me, but it's all body products on YesStyle, so I don't know if it would bother my face. My main concern is how fragrance can trigger rhinitis or migraines.

@hazelmoss Yes, exactly! That’s what makes fragrance so frustrating — “fragrance” can mean so many different things that it’s almost impossible to figure out what exactly is causing the problem. 😭 For me it can actually be an issue in more than one way. My skin is very sensitive to fragrance, so some fragranced skincare can make my face sting, turn red or feel irritated. But I also have rhinitis and migraines, so certain fragrances can bother me that way too — strong scents can irritate my nose or sometimes contribute to a migraine. The annoying part is that I’m not sensitive to ALL fragrance. Some fragranced products are completely fine and I can use them without any problems, while another product can immediately bother either my skin or my nose/head. So I don’t automatically avoid everything with fragrance, but it definitely makes me more cautious, especially when my skin barrier is already having one of its 🦞 episodes. 😂 And I totally understand what you mean about Dr. Ceuracle! Some of their products have pretty noticeable fragrance. I really wish companies were more transparent about what their “fragrance” actually contains, because it would make figuring out our specific triggers so much easier. Right now it feels like trial and error every single time. 😭

@Annie I actually looked into this a bit more because I was curious about the PDRN itself, and there’s an important difference between IOPE and Medicube that I think is worth mentioning. IOPE XMD Stem III does not use the same salmon-derived PDRN as Medicube. IOPE developed its own second-generation PDRN derived from microalgae. Amorepacific actually has a patent specifically for producing high-purity PDRN from microalgae. In XMD, that PDRN is combined with low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid in their PDRN H.A.™ system, and the serum uses a liposomal delivery system. Also, the “92.3%” IOPE advertises is 92.3% PDRN H.A.™ Liposome Complex, NOT 92.3% pure PDRN — the actual PDRN concentration is 0.015%. Medicube Pink PDRN, on the other hand, uses salmon-derived PDRN, along with niacinamide and peptides. So although they both have “PDRN” on the label, I personally wouldn’t consider Medicube a dupe or even a particularly close match for XMD. They’re very different formulas and PDRN systems. And this part is just my personal opinion from looking at the formulas/products, but I’m honestly not very impressed by the Medicube serum compared with XMD. 😅 I wouldn’t put them in the same category just because both contain PDRN. XMD is much more interesting to me because of the microalgae-derived PDRN, the PDRN + HA system, liposomal delivery and the clinical testing IOPE did on the finished serum. Beauty of Joseon is interesting too because their PDRN is red-bean-derived, so that’s another non-salmon approach. Their serum also has actual clinical pore measurements behind it, so I think it makes much more sense to call it an affordable pore-focused alternative rather than saying it “mimics” XMD. So I’d personally look at them as three different products rather than XMD and its dupes: IOPE XMD = microalgae PDRN + PDRN H.A. liposome technology and broader recovery/elasticity/barrier/pore focus; BOJ = red-bean PDRN with a strong pore focus; Medicube = salmon PDRN + peptides/niacinamide. They may overlap in some of the results they’re aiming for, but I don’t think sharing the word PDRN makes Medicube a cheaper version of IOPE. 😊

@Veky Agree 100%!

@hazelmoss yes ma'am. I currently use the PDRN Caffeine serum. And I have samples from Amore Mall that I am going to start trying also. I will have to see what they are and let you know.

@Gabking1217 Yes, please do! I feel tempted every time I see it, mainly for the caffeine aspect, but I have a feeling that like everything that sounds fun, lobster will say no. 😭

Same here! I’ve heard so many good things about IOPE that I finally decided to properly invest in the brand too. 😂 I actually ended up ordering the entire XMD Stem III Clinical Recovery line because I found a really good deal on the set, and I’ll be testing it consistently and taking before and after pictures to see if it actually makes a noticeable difference. Oh, which IOPE retinol did you get? 👀 I have one of their retinol products too, so I’m curious if we have the same one! I’d love to hear how you’re planning to use it together with the Stem III serum once you finish your Celimax retinol. 😊

@Veky I bought the IOPE Reti-Jection 2% (the blue one), but I received several IOPE Super Bounce 1% (the white one) as a gift. I'm going to start with the lower percentage retinol serum so my skin can adapt first. I was really tempted to buy the Stem III line emulsion, but I was afraid it wouldn't suit my combination skin and would leave it feeling oily.

@SaraO. Reti-Jection is great, and so is Super Bounce! I actually started with Super Bounce first, then got some Reti-Jection samples and tried that too, and now I use both. Just a little tip from my experience — if you’ve never used retinol before, I’d definitely start with the Super Bounce samples first since I can see you got quite a few of them. Once your skin gets used to it, you can introduce the Reti-Jection you bought, or alternate between the two. My skin adjusted to Super Bounce really well and eventually I could use it every day. I’d even occasionally use IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1%, which contains pure retinol and is a stronger retinol treatment. So when I started Reti-Jection, I thought, “I’m already used to retinol, I’ll be fine using this every day.” Nope 😂 I irritated my skin. Reti-Jection felt surprisingly stronger on my skin because of the spicules, so even if your skin is already used to retinol, I wouldn’t jump straight into using it every day. The spicules also increase skin turnover, so you may notice more irritation or purging at first. What helped me was applying a hydrating serum first — something simple like a hyaluronic acid serum — then Reti-Jection, and another layer of hydrating serum afterward. I’d also press/tap it gently into the skin rather than rubbing it in while your skin is still getting used to the spicules. And I saw that you got some Stem III samples, so you can actually test the emulsion before buying it! I don’t think it will necessarily be too much for combination/oily skin because the texture is surprisingly watery and lightweight. But honestly, the serum is the product I’d invest in first from that line anyway, so I think you made the right choice. If you end up loving the emulsion from the samples, you can always get the full size later. Also, if you’re looking for something from IOPE that works really nicely for combination/oilier skin, I really recommend their Bio Conditioning Essence. It’s a very watery first-step essence, so I basically use it like a toner. It’s hydrating without feeling heavy, and IOPE designed it around their Bio-Redox α antioxidant complex for improving overall skin condition, clarity, tone and glow. They also talk about helping the skin’s oil/moisture balance. I originally bought it just to try it and somehow ended up going through six bottles 😂 That’s how much I like it. My skin is dry but acne-prone, and it’s one of those products where I noticed the difference much more with consistent long-term use.

@Veky I have a HORROR of shattered glass and accidentally stepping on it. When I discovered there were skin products with things in them called spicules...terrified! And what did Stylevana send me for my birthday? Mary&May Spicule Collagen PDRN Cream mini -- I'm going to need someone to hold my hand when I patch test. 😱

@hazelmoss I was EXACTLY the same at first. 😂 When I first learned what spicules were, I was like, HELL NO, I am NOT voluntarily putting microscopic needles on my face. 😭 And then I saw those VT Reedle Shots and all the different strengths they have and immediately went, nope nope nope — my skin is absolutely not ready for that level of bravery. 😂 But somehow I worked up the courage to try Reti-Jection, and the first time was SO weird. It genuinely felt like tiny little pieces of glass/prickly needles going into my skin. 😭 Strangely though… I actually found the sensation kind of interesting and even fun?? Which is shocking considering how dramatic and sensitive my skin can be. 😂 I guess beauty is pain sometimes and sacrifices must be made. 🤣 My skin did get red after the first few uses, though, which is when I realized I needed to be much more careful about supporting my skin before and after using it and not going crazy with the frequency. Now I barely even notice the spicules anymore! My skin apparently decided, “Oh, THESE again?” 😂 VT Reedle Shot is still going to have to wait for me though. I haven’t collected THAT much courage yet. 🤣 Definitely wait until your 🦞 has completely calmed down before you patch test that Mary&May mini. Then take a deep breath, apply the tiniest amount and tell yourself: “You spicules cannot hurt me. My skin is stronger than you.” 😂💪 And if you need someone to virtually hold your hand through the first patch test, I volunteer. 🤣💙

@Veky 🤣🤣🤣🤣 The spicules CAN hurt me -- just like sticks and stones and words! LOL! I am very tender for a 🦞. Thank you for the virtual support, haha.

@hazelmoss HAHAHA okay, I take it back!! 🤣😭 The spicules absolutely CAN hurt you — apparently sticks, stones, words AND microscopic skincare needles can all hurt a very tender 🦞. 😂 So we’re changing the affirmation from “You spicules cannot hurt me” to: “You spicules MAY hurt me, but Veky is virtually holding my hand and I have a barrier cream ready.” 🤣💙 And please, when you finally patch test it, start with the tiniest little amount because now I feel personally responsible after giving you that motivational speech. 😂😭 If the 🦞 objects, we retreat immediately. No beauty-is-pain heroics required. 🤣 Although I’m still extremely curious whether you’ll come back afterward like, “...okay, that was actually kind of fun.” 😂 Because that is somehow what happened to me.

@Veky 🤣 I'm gonna have a whole bathtub full of cicablast baum ready! And some ice packs! ...not to be dramatic. "Okay, it was actually kind of fun" is how I started to enjoy eating mushrooms. (The culinary kind. Not the recreational kind, lol).

@Gabking1217 kay, seeing the IOPE PDRN Caffeine Shot in your photo means I can trust your skincare recommendations. 😂🤣 So now I’m taking your HOLITUAL Ultra Nourishing recommendation VERY seriously. I have to ask though — how strong is the fragrance? 👀 Is it quite noticeable or more of a soft/tolerable scent? That’s probably my biggest hesitation with some of the HOLITUAL products. Because the way you describe it sounds exactly like the kind of product I love — something that feels relatively lightweight and elegant on the skin but is still genuinely hydrating and nourishing and leaves your skin soft and supple. 😭 You guys are seriously going to talk me into buying half of HOLITUAL at this point. 😂 And I see that eye cream AGAIN!! 👀 I swear that HOLITUAL eye cream keeps following me around because everyone seems to praise it. 😂 Between the Ultra Nourishing line and that eye cream, my wishlist is getting dangerous. And then there’s CYoung’s AM/PM Hana Moisturizer too! I keep seeing that one pop up in people’s routines as well. Apparently I came here to discuss skincare and instead I’m just collecting more reasons to buy things. 🤣😭

@Veky try it!!! The scent is fantastic. It is a "spa" or "cozy" scent but light, not too strong (in my opinion)! I have normal to dry mature skin and am going to try the blue PDRN double ampoule next!

@Gabking1217 I need to finally take a picture of my routine I keep putting it off for no reason. Wow, your picture looks amazing and very similar to mine haha @Veky The only thing I've noticed that has a scent is the HOLITUAL toner but it isnt terrible. By the time I put the gold serum on, I've stopped noticing the scent and I get migraines from the smell of coffee and perfume so I am very sensitive to fragrances. I feel like such a good/bad influence, bc I think you should def try Holitual! Maybe we can swap routines for a month and try each others products haha, I'll finally get Aestura, then I'll work my way up to IOPE lol. Yes that eye cream is so good! Granted I havent tried many others, but with this one, I dont feel a need to shop around. Have you tried CYOUNGS Am/Pm hana? It's a staple in my house, I've given a bottle to my mom, my pregnant sister, and I have 3 more in my stash haha

@Veky I really like the Hana moisturizer. No fuss. No niacinamide. NO ACNE! If I wasn't putting myself through a 2 week trial of the ETUDE Soonjung line I'd be using it right now. The ETUDE moisturizer is breaking me out. Ugh. HOLITUAL scents don't bother my nose. I haven't used the core lift serum long enough to tell if the fragrance will irritate my skin. So, I can vouch for it at least from a personal migraine/rhinitis trigger standpoint.

@Sora COFFEE!!! Oh, friendo. All coffee smells or flavored? I have to avoid flavored creamers and coffees, but I would die without plain old coffee.

@hazelmoss all coffee. I can’t drink it or even be near someone with coffee breath. My husband has to chew gum and brush his teeth before he comes near me. I find it gross lol

@Gabking1217 Okay, if the fragrance is actually pretty light, I might be willing to try it. 😂 My only concern is how my skin will react because when fragrance is too strong, both my nose AND my skin hate it. 😭 I’ve seen a few people with sensitive skin say they’re doing well with HOLITUAL too, although some are still testing it and aren’t sure yet if the fragrance will eventually irritate their skin. So I might wait a little longer to hear everyone’s final verdict. 😂 I’m pretty sure I actually have samples of the Core Lift serum and cream, and maybe the lotion too. I saved them because I wanted to try them, so I really should dig through my samples and test those first. 😂 And please let me know what you think when you try the Blue PDRN Double Ampoule! I’m REALLY curious about that one despite the fragrance. Honestly, the more I hear about HOLITUAL, the more I’m starting to think I’ll end up buying a few things from them anyway. 😂 The recommendations have been way too good so far.

@Sora But is your skin sensitive to fragrance too, or is it mainly your nose/migraines? That’s the part I’m most worried about because unfortunately mine likes to complain about both. 😂😭 And honestly, maybe we SHOULD swap routines for a month. 😂 It would be such a fun experiment to see how our skin reacts to each other’s favorites — you finally get your AESTURA initiation and then slowly work your way up to IOPE, while I get properly introduced to HOLITUAL. 😂 We could basically do a routine swap and compare notes. I haven’t tried CYOUNG’s AM/PM Hana yet, but at this point I think I have to. 😂 I’ve seen so many people praise it, and now you have your mom AND your sister using it plus three backups?? That’s a serious endorsement. 😭 It’s definitely going on my list for my next order.

@hazelmoss Okay, that’s another vote for the Hana moisturizer, and this time from someone with sensitive, acne-prone skin like mine. 😂 I think CYOUNG’s Hana is officially sold to me at this point. It’s going in my next order because I’ve heard way too many good things about it now. Oh nooo, the ETUDE moisturizer is breaking you out? 😭 I’m sorry! It sounded so good and I was actually considering trying it too, but now you’re making me hesitate a little. Please let me know how the rest of your two-week trial goes and whether you figure out for sure that it’s the moisturizer. And okay, I think I’m going to wait for your final verdict on the HOLITUAL Core Lift Serum before I buy it. 😂 Since we seem to have similar issues with sensitive skin AND fragrance/migraine/rhinitis triggers, your experience will be especially useful for me. So far it sounds promising that the scent doesn’t bother your nose, now I just need you to be my fragrance-sensitive skin tester too. 😂❤️

@Sora *cries in caffeine 😭

@Veky I can tell you right now that the moisturizer is the culprit based on the ingredients, but I'm going to experiment this weekend with keeping the routine the same except insert LRP Cicabaum. I know that one doesn't give me acne and I could use the barrier boost after the toxin exposure at work.

@hazelmoss That actually sounds like a really good test. 😂 If you keep everything else exactly the same and swap the ETUDE moisturizer for LRP Cicaplast Baume, it should make it much easier to confirm whether the moisturizer really is the culprit. And honestly, after all those carpet/glue fumes, the barrier boost from Cicaplast probably isn’t a bad idea anyway. 😭 Your skin has been through enough experiments that it deserves something boring and reliable for a few days. 😂❤️

@Veky Oh thats a good question. Its hard for me to know what my skin is reacting to vs when my autoimmune flares are starting to show on my face. I know that its mostly my nose that is sensitive to fragrances, but since I stay away from them I'm not sure if my skin would react to them too. Sorry im not much help there Right? It actually would be a good experience and I really do need to get my Aestura routine started

@hazelmoss I genuinely dont know how I got my bachelors and my masters without any caffeine, but I also have a heart condition so even a full can of coke a cola at once can be a bad idea lol