I am by no means a "beauty guru" (I don't even know how to blend eye shadow), but I am a bit of a skincare junkie. I'm a strong believer that even the most expensive foundation in the world would be fighting a losing battle without a proper base to lay on. This is why I spend way too much time reading reviews, watching favorites videos, and testing/sniffing everything at the department store. My addiction to products got a whole lot worse after moving to Korea... Everybody and their mama knows about the hype surrounding Korean skincare, and I've definitely hopped on that crazy train. Today thought I'd share something I've been trying out and is fast becoming one of my faves: IOPE Essential Moisture Relief Cream.

To start off, let me introduce my skin. On most days I am combination-oily. I suffer from flushed discoloration on my cheeks and chin, and I'm constantly battling dark spots caused by acne. Living in Seoul, I'm always commuting and walking from one place to another. All that sun-exposure and pollution does wonders for my skin -__- What's great about this cream in particular is that it contains an oriental herb complex which is meant to soothe skin damaged from the environment. Exactly what I need!

As you can see from these photos, this cream actually has more of a gel type consistency. It's super fluid, glides on smoothly, and works great under make-up, just make sure to give about five minutes to sink in. But I find I get the best results when I use it at night :) After cleansing and all that jazz, I slather on a generous amount (about double of what I'd normally use in the daytime) and by morning, my skin is bouncy and looks totally quenched. My normally flushed cheeks look soothed and less pinky, and (huge plus) it hasn't broken me out yet!

This cream has the loveliest floral scent that I find very therapeutic when applying, but I know that scented moisturizers aren't for everyone. Also, this is one of the few Korean products that only focuses on soothing and hydration, and doesn't target wrinkles or aging, making it great for women in their 20's. On packaging: look how sleek! I love this tone of blue, and the gradation from aqua to black just makes it that much more appealing. All of IOPE's products have a more sophisticated look to them, unlike high street brands such as Etude House and Banila & Co. This will definitely up your vanity game.

IOPE is one of my most favorite Korean skincare brands. All of their products have a certain quality to them, and I'm never worried that I may be rubbing something cheap or harmful to my face. As we're practically sprinting towards summer weather, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a bit of relief from the elements and hydration without the sticky feel.

Let me know what you think!