I am a woman that is endlessly searching for the “perfect” skincare regime. My quest for a poreless, clear, bright, acne-free complexion has lead me down the Internet beauty blog and forum rabbit hole. I’m trapped in between the tastes of the nouveau riche, eager to gobble up the new assortment of products that seem to roll out every other month without delay, and the eco-friendly, new-age hippie looking for the organic seal of approval. I’m easily distracted by products that claim to be the be-all, end-all solution. When the beauty industry began touting the brilliance of Korean skincare, I was instantly curious. The process seemed tedious, with a system dictated by specific steps. The Coveteur provides a typical Korean beauty routine, which involves 10 steps. Who had time for 10 or 11 or 12 steps? Fortunately, if you’re not wooed by this involved, detail-oriented nature, brands such as Peach and Lily provide a less intense approach for hesitant beginners.
Founded by Alicia Yoon, the entrepreneur and Harvard Business School graduate decided to launch Peach and Lily out of a passion for skincare and a sense of passion-driven purpose. When speaking with Mochi magazine, Yoon said, “Our number one priority is to always curate the best, most innovative, effective, and high-quality beauty products to the U.S. consumer from Korea and Japan, which are two of the world’s most beauty-forward countries. So we spend a lot of time hunting down the best and filtering the brands and products through a very stringent curation process.”
The Peach and Lily site is easy to navigate, breaking down products by skin care concerns. Products can address and improve the following problems: acne, hyperpigmentation, blackheads, dryness, redness, pores, sensitive skin, and oily skin. Contrary to what the blogs are advising, Yoon told Coveteur that the 10-step routine is more of a marketing brainstorm, rather than set-in-stone rules. She said, “Honestly, the 10-step Korean skincare routine is not a real thing. I’m not sure who came up with that marketing-friendly, coined term. I grew up in Korea and from a Korean person’s perspective, it’s a little bit funny. Korean women don’t think, ‘Oh, I have to do my 10-step regimen’. Instead, what they think is that flawless, radiant skin that is very healthy is a sign of true beauty.”
I received the Mizon All-In-One Snail Repair Cream ($38) and the No. 1 King’s Berry Aqua Drink Toner ($32), which seems to be sold out at the moment on Peach and Lily (Urban Outfitters offers the toner here). I know what you’re thinking about that first one: snail cream? In a beauty product? Trust me, it’s not as gross as it sounds. The cream is made with 92-percent snail extract, which promises to hydrate, improve the appearance of fine lines, and help reduce the appearance of acne scarring and blemishes. It can be layered underneath a heavier moisturizer if your skin is especially dry. I wasn’t sure how my skin would react to snail cream, so I initially replaced my moisturizer with the repair cream. It glides on quite easily and doesn’t leave your face feeling tight afterwards. The cream is virtually odorless, for those wondering if snail slime has a particular scent. After using the cream for a week or so, I don’t think I saw any drastic improvements in wrinkles or fine lines, but it did keep my skin hydrated, in addition to battling breakouts and pimples.
In comparison, the Aqua Drink Toner is packaged in a bright blue box with King Kong doing his best duckface pout, and looks more like some kind of sports drink than a beauty product. But don’t judge a book by its cover! The list of ingredients includes bamboo leaf extract and is free of artificial coloring, artificial scent, parabens, animal ingredients, mineral oils, sulfates, and/or silicones. I used the toner after I washed my face with my usual cleanser. In combination with the snail repair cream, I think that both products improved my overall complexion.
Have I been converted? To keep it simple: Yes. The results prove that there’s a reason for this intricate method.
Check out peachandlily.com for the complete skincare and beauty offerings.
