I buy most products myself. This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure

Summer is here where I live.

You’d think my skin would finally get a break from the dryness. Nope.

If anything, the AC makes it just as bad.

The AC is on everywhere. At work, in my car, at restaurants, even at home. If you have dry skin, you know.

So this post is about my holy grail products for dry skin.

Some I’ve talked about before. Some are new here.

Quick note. Finishing a product doesn’t mean I love it.

Sometimes I finish things just so they don’t go to waste.

Rebuying is different.

These are the ones I actually missed when I ran out. The ones I’d buy again. They’ve survived years of trial and error.

This post was getting way too long, so this is Part 1. 😊

And yes, there’s a Part 2. You can read it here.

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Laneige –
Cream Skin Toner

I have always struggled with dehydrated skin.

After I wash my face, I have about two minutes before it starts feeling tight.

This is the product that taught me toner actually matters.

Before this, I used toner only because it’s supposed to be step one. I didn’t think it did much. I just didn’t want to skip it.

The Laneige Cream Skin Toner changed my mind.

It was one of the first products that showed me the difference between moisturizing and hydrating.

It helped with the dryness underneath, not just on the surface. That was a big deal for me.

It’s probably the product I recommend most to friends and family.

Here is the link to the product:
Laneige Cream Skin Toner — Check price on Amazon

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Aestura –
Atobarrier 365 Cream

This is usually my last step.

It feels like a protective layer over everything I put on before it.

Toner, serum, eye cream. This keeps all of that from escaping too fast.

It’s on the thick side. If your skin is oily, it might feel heavy.

For my dry skin, it’s perfect.

When I spend too long in the sun or in AC, my skin gets sensitive and irritated easily.

That’s a big reason I keep going back to this cream.

It locks in moisture and helps my skin barrier at the same time.

Two jobs, one cream. I’ll take it.

Here is the link to the product:
Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream — Check price on Amazon

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Round Lab –
Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen

We all know how important sunscreen is, right?

The sun is one of the biggest causes of early aging. It can weaken your skin barrier over time, too.

A lot of people think you only need it on sunny days.

But UV rays are still there on cloudy days. I wear it even when I’ll be inside most of the day.

With dry skin, mornings are tricky. I want enough moisture, but I don’t want to feel heavy.

If I layer too much, my face feels greasy and sticky for hours.

And on the rare days I wear makeup, everything pills.

That’s why I love this sunscreen.

It feels like a moisturizer and sunscreen in one.

Really hydrating, but never heavy.

It’s light and comfortable. One of my favorite last steps in the morning.

Before this, sunscreen was honestly my least favorite part of the morning.

Now I don’t even think about it.

Check price on Amazon

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Beauty of Joseon – Radiance Cleansing Balm

This was my first Beauty of Joseon product, even though the brand is pretty popular in Korea.

I found it by accident at TJ Maxx.

I’d already tried a bunch of cleansing balms and oils people loved. Some were good. But I kept having the same problem.

Even after double cleansing, I’d swipe a toner pad and still see makeup or sunscreen on it.

So not every balm was taking everything off like I thought.

For a long time I used the Farmacy balm. I loved it.

I am going to be honest here. The only problem was the price.

So I started looking for something cheaper.

And then I found this one.

It takes off sunscreen and makeup really well. My skin feels clean and fresh after.

I especially love how it melts the oil and gunk in my pores.

My skin feels soft and smooth, not stripped.

With dry skin, that’s hard to find.

Check price on Amazon

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Ole Henriksen –
Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment

I tried this one because I already liked the brand.

Dry lips have been a problem for me for years.

It has peptides, which caught my eye.

Peptides can help lips look smoother over time.

The hydration is so good.

It’s thick and glossy, so it actually stays. It doesn’t disappear after 30 minutes.

I love that. I don’t have to keep reapplying.

But if you hate thick or sticky lip stuff, this might not be for you.

I’ve said this a lot. My skin hates AC.

My lips do too.

They get the driest at work, where the AC runs all day.

So this one lives on my desk.

When my lips feel tight, I grab it without thinking.

And can we talk about the scent for a second?

I have the Strawberry Sorbet version, and it smells SO good.

The scent alone keeps me using it.

It comes in a few scents, so you can pick one you like.

Here’s the link if you want to check it out:
Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve — Check price on Amazon

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Want to Read More?

If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome! 😊

I’m Hazel, a Korean girl living in the U.S. who is probably a little too obsessed with skincare.

I have dry, dehydrated skin, and I’ve spent years figuring out what actually works.

If you’re dealing with dryness or a damaged barrier too, these might help.

Here are a few places to start:

💧 Hydrating vs. Moisturizing: Which One Does Dry Skin Need?
💧 My Korean Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
💧 How I Treat Pimples Without Scarring

I hope something I learned along the way can help you too. 🤍

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Final Thoughts

I’ve tried a lot of products over the years.

Some were great. Some were okay. Some were just disappointing.

These are the ones I keep going back to.

If you have dry skin like me, I hope a few of these become your favorites too.

I still had more to talk about, so Part 2 is here: 5 More Products I Keep Rebuying. 😊

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

Hazel 🙂

Disclosure: I buy most products myself. Some were gifts from friends or family, and I’ll always tell you when. No brand has ever paid me or sent me anything to review. Some links in this post are affiliate links, so if you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what I recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.