‘I’m the Founder of This Viral Korean Skin-Care Brand, and These Are the Products I Specifically Made for My Own Eczema’
Anyone with eczema will tell you that it can be a frustrating condition to manage. Some days are fine, while others... not so much. When your skin decides it's no longer happy, it can flare up, and become dry, itchy, and painful to manage. Frustrated by the experience herself, Alicia Yoon, a New York-based entrepreneur, founded Peach & Lily, a Korean beauty brand with products targeted toward eczematic skin. "I started Peach & Lily because of my own struggle with severe eczema," says Yoon. "I know what it feels like not to love your skin, and the confidence that comes from knowing that you're alone."
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
Like Yoon, I've had my fair share of struggles with the inflammatory condition. For a long time, regardless of the season, I'd get consistent flare-ups, and the wrong products left me in an even worse spot than I started. So, when I got the opportunity to test the viral Glass Skin Refining Serum ($39) and Glass Skin Veil Mist ($31) from Peach & Lily's skin-care collection, I was over the moon. The brand's line—which features a plethora of skin-friendly products, ranging from retinal-infused serums, antioxidant-rich creams, and oil-based moisturizers—is formulated without irritating ingredients that generally cause flares. Even more, all of the products are available at an affordable price point, so you can quickly restock these Korean beauty essentials once you're out of product.
I tested both products for several weeks—here's how it went.
Testing Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
The first product I tested was the serum that took the internet by storm when it launched back in 2018. What makes the Glass Skin serum great for eczema is that it's formulated with occlusives and humectants like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid—which Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York, says boosts hydration levels.
In people with eczema-prone skin, this extra layer of hydration is necessary. These ingredients attract water to the skin's barrier, retain moisture, prevent water loss, and keep parched skin cells happy. Madecassoside, a derivative of plant extract Centella Asiatica extract, also makes up the formula, and is filled with anti-inflammatory properties that revives lifeless skin and prevents skin from acting out. Packaged in a minimal white bottle with peach-colored lettering, the formula is easy to apply, thanks to the pump applicator.
As for the texture, the formula marries a water and gel that has a gentle, smooth, non-sticky consistency. It applies smoothly, and only needs a couple of swirls to fully blend in the serum until it fully absorbs. After application, it leaves my skin feeling more supple and smooth, with no leftover grease or residue. It's also unscented and formulated without fragrances, which makes me skin happy.
However, since the serum is on the lighter side and my skin leans drier, it doesn't give me the coverage I'm looking for during colder months. After using this serum for several days at the end of January, I noticed that my face feels drier toward the end of the day compared to other serums I've used. With that said, I see this lightweight, gel-like serum being a great addition to my summer routine.
What I did appreciate, though, is that the serum doesn't irritate my eczema. I didn't experience any redness, itchiness, or inflammation. Instead, it left my skin looking glow-y and as the name implies, "glass-like." Retailing for $39, I'll definitely be restocking.
Testing Peach & Lily Glass Skin Veil Mist
Chillier and drier weather calls for an extra dose of hydration, and that's exactly what the Glass Skin Veil Mist, which launched in 2020, delivers. According to Zeichner, mists are "beneficial water sources." "Many of them come from volcanic sources or thermal springs, so the water itself contains natural elements that are beneficial to the skin, both in terms of hydration, calming inflammation, or balancing the microbiome," he says.
Each mist functions differently, though, depending largely on their active ingredients, Dr. Zeichner adds. In this case, this easy-to-use mist is infused with skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin E—which strengthens skin—aloe to quell inflammation, and ceramides to shield from environmental stressors. "If you have ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides, then the benefit would be hydration," says Dr. Zeichner. As someone who battles eczema year-round, the ceramides in this mist come in handy, offering my skin the pick-me-up it needs during drier and colder months.
All of these ingredients are brewed into the cucumber water base, delivering a refreshing mist. I like to spray once or twice on my face for an extra dose of hydration when my skin starts to feel dry. Like the serum, this mist didn't irritate my eczema or cause any flareups—which is my number one concern when testing other skin-care products. I find that one spray delivers instant hydration and is non-irritating.
Similar to the refining serum, this mist is free of icks (insert TikTok voice here) like silicone and fragrance, making it ideal for all skin types, from dry to combination. My skin leans on the drier side, so my skin soaks up all of the ceramide, vitamin E, and aloe infusion. According to Dr. Zeichner, aloe is an active ingredients that offers hydrating benefits. Additionally, it's formulated with peach extract, giving this spray a subtle fresh scent. All in all, I enjoyed using the Skin Veil as a pick-me-up hydrator.
Eczema-friendly skin care is hard to come by but with the introduction of Peach and Lily's mist and serum, I haven't had issues with inflammation or extremely parched skin. And that's a major win in my book.
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