Tried, tested and combo skin approved products I cannot put down and I always come back to these whenever I do rotate them out to try some newness. Here are my thoughts on these vegan skincare gems:
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Byoma Creamy Gel Cleanser: This Creamy Jelly Cleanser has a lightweight, gel-like texture that transforms into a rich, creamy lather. Just two small pumps get me a deep, gentle cleanse. It leaves my combo skin feeling soothed and refreshed without any tightness or dryness. It does a decent job at removing makeup and SPF, but might need a double cleanse for some stubborn mascaras. This cleanser contains powerhouse ingredients like their tri-ceramide complex, panthenol, licorice root, and green tea, it supports my skin barrier while calming during the cleaning process. Simple, effective, reasonably priced and TBH, it’s been my ride-or-die cleanser since summer 2024.
Vegreen Mucin Toner: This toner has a beautifully lightweight, watery texture that sinks in almost instantly — truly the perfect scent free, no stickiness or heavy feeling toner. I love that it’s snail free, but with all the benefits. This vegan alternative is packed with 63% wild yam extract enriched with vegetable mucin. It delivers the same plumping, moisture-locking benefits as snail mucin but without animal-derived ingredients. The wild yam mucin forms a natural barrier that keeps my skin soft and dewy all day. Plus the blend of five types of hyaluronic acid and panthenol soothes any dryness. It’s a gentle yet powerful second step that leaves my skin calm, refreshed, and deeply nourished while prepping it for serums, moisturizer, and SPF.
Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: This serum flew under my radar at first but is now a staple in most of my morning routines. It has a thicker, jelly like texture — a clear, goopy essence — that glides on smoothly and absorbs with a plumping, dewy finish. No stickiness or tackiness, just cushioned hydration that leaves my skin feeling refreshed. With 68% rice bran water and 2% alpha arbutin, it brightens and evens out tone while nourishing the skin barrier. Added niacinamide, panthenol, and green tea keep it soothing and ideal for daily use. I’m almost finished with this bottle, and the results have been impressive .. my skin looks more even, less dull, and overall healthier. A quiet achiever, gentle, reliable, and easy to layer with many other serums.
Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum: Right after Glow Deep, I layer on the Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum to dial up brightening and boost antioxidants. This combo works beautifully — Glow Deep preps and hydrates while Naturium’s thicker jelly texture brings antioxidant power with stabilized vitamin C (ascorbic acid + sodium ascorbyl phosphate), plus hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E to support the skin barrier and boost radiance. It’s not just brightening; it also helps with texture and tone without harshness or irritation. Together, they brighten my skin in my morning routine.
Shani Darden Eye Cream: This cruelty free eye cream was on my wish list forever but held off because of the price tag. After loving her retinol, I had to try more from the brand and originally snagged a sample. Basically fell in love with its formulation and texture. It also has excellent ingredients to plump, brighten, and firm, but the experience is what sold me. It looks thick and dense at first but eventually melts around the eye area, instantly delivering a refreshed, firm feeling ..thanks to peptides. After my eye area feels prepped and ready for makeup.. I’m all about eye creams with that instant firming effect !
Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50: For my final skin step, I use this SPF moisturizer as my solo moisturizer in this combo skin approved morning routine. If it was winter, I would consider adding a moisturizer under this. It offers broad spectrum sun protection with skin barrier friendly ingredients in a creamy formula pumps out white, but blends clear and leaves a nice juicy, dewy, glow. It does have that classic SPF scent, but it fades fast. My combo skin loves it, though if you’re oily, it might feel a little too shiny. The innovative dip cap makes this easy to use just the right amount every time. The enclosed pump plus non-bulky packaging are perfect for everyday on the go use, it’s easy to toss in my bag or bring to the beach. Love her.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla: Of course I can’t forget to include a forever favorite lippie. But in a cute mini size. I picked this up from Sephora as it was their free birthday gift last year and we already love her, so a mini is the perfect size to keep laying around. Why do we love her so much ? Well she’s packed with healing ingredients that actually repair dry, chapped lips—not just sit on top and slip around. Shea butter, murumuru seed butter, and vegan waxes deeply nourish, while jojoba and sunflower oils soften and smooth leaving a nourishing butter feel. The buttery texture melts right in, and the lip-hugging silicone applicator makes every swipe an experience. Forever repurchase, I’m already 8 deep.
-Alicia !
