You can buy Pyunkang Yul skincare products in Australia at Kanvas Beauty!
Named by Vogue and E! as one of the 6 natural Korean brands worth getting to know, cruelty-free brand Pyunkang Yul is all about minimalism (how gorgeous is the apothecary-style packaging), balance and maintaining the skin's optimal temperature.
Established by the famous Pyunkang Korean Oriental Medicine Clinic, traditional Asian medicine (or as it’s known in Korea, hanbang) forms the backbone of its product offering. This means clean, non-irritating formulas backed by centuries of Eastern medicine.
It could be its unique concept of keeping the skin’s temperature in equilibrium, the fact that Pyunkang Yul only uses EWG Green ingredients, or that it skips artificial fragrances, dyes and other nasties. Whatever it is, this stuff works – like, really works. Literal magic on skin. In fact, the Pyunkang Korean Oriental Medicine Clinic has been successfully treating various skin conditions with its herbal formulas for the last 50-odd years.
But to us, the most compelling part of Pyunkang Yul’s offering is its accessibility. Hanbang-based skincare usually requires top-rate doctors, expensive ingredients and precise formulations – all of which can result in a hefty price tag (think Sulwhasoo and The History of Whoo). Pyunkang Yul however, is as affordable as it is chic – allowing anyone to enjoy a bit of hanbangin their skincare routine.
Pyunkang Yul’s most popular product is its essence toner. What makes this Pyunkang Yul Toner so good? Well to start, it boasts an impressively short formula, with only 7 ingredients. Over 90% of the essence toner is Milk Vetch Root extract, which central in Chinese medicine to boosting "qi" (i.e., the immune system). On your skin, it delivers powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner particularly good for dry skin, as well as sensitive and reactive skin. Other research suggests it’s also useful in treating both ageing and acne-prone skin, increasing the skin’s hydration and improving texture.
But firstly, what is an essence toner? Is the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner an essence, or a toner? Here’s the deal: it combines the best of a facial essence and toner in a single product. Like a toner, it corrects the skin’s pH after cleansing, removes any leftover residue and preps it for the remainder of your routine. It also hydrates, refines and soothes skin at the cellular level, as a good essence would. In her Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner review, our blogger Hannah claimed the first time she used it, it felt like she’d put on two coats of moisturizer and her skin felt instantly softer. Don’t believe us? Check out this Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner Reddit thread!
How you use Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner really depends on what type of skin you have. Here’s the trick: if you have dry skin, use the 3 to 7-skin method. This involves applying 3-7 layers of the Essence Toner on slightly damp skin after cleansing. It takes a bit of patience, but boy does it pay off! You’d be surprised at how quickly skincare products can evaporate (especially on parched skin) after a hot shower or washing your face. This method ensures that more of the essence toner is actually absorbed by your skin. The end result will be that just-got-a-facial-glow. Check it out in action in Gothamista’s morning routine here!
If you have oily or combination skin, use this as you would a regular toner/essence (i.e., a single layer on damp skin, after cleansing and before any serums). Oily and combination skin doesn’t need a whole heap of hydration, but a modest, regular dose will keep your skin barrier strong and prevent your oil glands from overcompensating.
The soothing and incredibly hydrating Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner was made for those who struggle with heated and irritated skin. Comprised of over 91.9% barberry root extract as well as glycerin and goldthread extracts, it'll refresh and moisturize. Use it any time of day when your skin needs a bit of calm. The hypoallergenic, lightweight formula also sits perfectly over makeup. We prefer using it as a mist rather than as a toner – just pop it in your handbag and spritz it over your face whenever you need it.
The hypoallergenic Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream is perfect for those with oily and sensitive skin looking for a good, basic moisturizer that will fit into any routine. We love it because it works in harmony with any active ingredient (acids, retinol, vitamin C etc). The ingredients are simple but nourishing - Coptis Japonica extract, shea butter and jojoba oil reduce redness, treat past UV damage and balance your skin's natural oil production. Style Vanity calls it their ‘go-to’ moisturizer after masking in their Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream Review. It’s also great for humid climates, as it won’t block pores and absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky finish.
Dry skin types will want to opt for the Pyunkang Yul Nutrition Cream over the Moisture Cream. It gets rid of flaky skin fast, thanks to several different humectants (the ingredients include shea butter, macadamia oil and hyaluronic acid). It’s one of Pyunkang Yul’s most popular moisturizers, probably thanks to its super-dewy finish that instantly transforms the appearance of parched skin. It’s also one of our blogger Hannah’s favourites (check out her Pyunkang Yul Nutrition Cream review here). Now, if you have extremely dry or dehydrated skin, we’d recommend combining this with the Moisture Ampoule or a few drops of the Pyunkang Yul Oil. Your skin will look supple and plump in no time! But more on those two products later.
It’s about time we spoke about the Pyunkang Yul Balancing Gel – another one of their cult products. We love it for its unique texture, which is deliberately dense and honey-like, so that it adheres closely to your skin. This functions like an occlusive, forming a protective barrier on your skin to seal in moisture, letting your serums do their best work.
Balancing Gel carries all the usual Pyunkang Yul hallmarks - a concise formula (only 7 ingredients), fascinating texture and results, results, results! Now, there’s a trick to using this, as its sticky gel texture can take some getting used to: Using a single swipe, spread it on your skin (like honey on toast), and then pat the area until it’s absorbed. DON’T rub it in as you would a regular moisturiser, as it will pill and leave a tacky residue. You can, however, mix it with the Pyunkang Yul Oil to enhance its absorption and lessen the stickiness. Trust us, it’s worth the struggle. After a single use of the Pyunkang Yul Balancing Gel, dry and dehydrated skin will look plumper and feel softer. Tip: Use it as a sleeping pack!
Ah Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel, how we love thee. This gentle but effective peeling gel is a great dupe for the popular FirmX Peeling Gel from Peter Thomas Roth – but at less than half the price. Ideal for all skin types from acne-prone to sensitive, the clear watery gel binds tightly to your skin and forms small clumps. This gives you a sensation of a mild physical scrub, while betaine salicylate (derived from sugar beets) exfoliates at a deeper level. The formula is balanced with soothing allantoin, to prevent your skin from feeling excessively dry. The best part is that it doesn’t take long to do its work: Just massage it in and rinse off for instantly brighter, smoother skin. Yes please!
There’s no doubt Pyunkang Yul is a great brand for all degrees of dry and dehydrated skin. The various moisture-laden additions allow you to layer or ramp up in the moisture in your routine as and when your skin needs it. But did you know it’s also fantastic for oily skin? These following products help to control your skin’s moisture content and regulate shine.
The Pyunkang Yul Moisture Serum was especially developed for oily skin. Bet you thought oily skin didn’t need a moisture serum, of all things! What makes this serum different is that it’s designed to balance out excess sebum production, putting your skin back in equilibrium. In addition, anti-inflammatory Coptis Japonica Root extract makes this a soothing salve for skin irritated by harsh, drying treatments. Try it and feel the difference – we like using it to balance out anti-acne treatments. The Pyunkang Yul Moisture Ampoule performs a similar function, but is made more for combination skin (i.e. dry U-zone but oily T-zone) and shine control, rather than inflammation.
The Pyunkang Yul Oil on the other hand, is perfect to treat dry patches on any skin type. Unlike heavier oils (like marula or coconut), it’s relatively lightweight and absorbs quicky. As previously mentioned, you can also mix a few drops of this 8-oil blend (including jojoba and rosehip) to switch up the texture of the Balancing Gel or any of the other creams.
You’ll be hard-pressed to meet a PKY cleanser you didn’t like. There is literally something for everyone’s skin type. Oily skin or those looking for the occasional deep pore clean will love the silky, goopy Pyunkang Yul Cleansing Foam (which has a pH of ~7). Check out our review here.
At the other end of the scale is the Pyunkang Yul ATO Cleanser, which is made for atopic skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema. We reckon it’s even more hydrating than CeraVe, and love its versatility. It’s effective as a shampoo as well as an all-over body wash, and is even safe for kids to use! Use the Pyunkang Yul Ato cream afterwards for some extra soothing.
Want to set up a routine with the basics? Pair the cleansing oil with everyday gentle cleansers like the Pyunkang Yul Low pH Pore Deep Cleansing Foam or the Calming Low pH Foaming Cleanser, both with natural AHAs and cica. Looking to tailor it for acne? Try the Pyunkang Yul Acne Facial Cleanser. Yep, when we said Pyunkang Yul had something for everyone, we weren’t kidding!
You can shop the best of Pyunkang Yul (including the cult essence toner, the set and the 1/3 cotton pads) in Australia right here on Kanvas Beauty!
We ship Australia-wide, including all the major cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Canberra). Enjoy free standard shipping with any purchase over $50, and free express shipping with any order over $99. If you’re new to Kanvas Beauty, take an additional $20 off your first order with us (use code WELCOME20 at checkout).
Happy shopping! If you have further questions on Pyunkang Yul or any of our other brands, drop us a line on: hello@kanvasbeauty.com.au.
Have you tried any Pyunkang Yul products? What do you think? Leave a review under your favourite products and tell us all the gory details!