CYoung has tested more than 90 dry skin products, and her approval rate of 54% says a lot right away: she is not easy to impress. She keeps coming back to the same question: does this actually get moisture into the skin, or does it just coat the surface and feel heavy? That answer decides almost everything in her dry skin takes.
What does CYoung recommend for dry skin?
What CYoung keeps reaching for are products that hydrate without feeling suffocating or greasy. She praised the I'm From Rice Bran Cream for being moisturising enough for dry skin while still feeling comfortable, and said she grabs it without even thinking, which is high praise from her. She rates ingredients like ceramides, panthenol, and madecassoside highly. These help rebuild the skin barrier rather than just sitting on top of it. The Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Lotion she called a holy grail during her pregnancy, finishing two bottles because it kept skin moisturised for hours. She also has a soft spot for products that work for dry mature skin, naming Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 as something women in their fifties with dry skin should really try. She has named more than 10 outright winners.
CYoung's dry skin picks, in her words
"I'll definitely give this an S. All three of us makeup artists gave this an S. If you have dry, sensitive skin, or even if you're oily or combination and not that dry, it still works in winter, so why not. You don't have to put it on your whole face, mainly just the dry areas. It has no scent and contains cholesterol and ceramide, and it just restores your skin, so it's definitely worth it. I've used it for more than five years, and the reformulated version is even better."
"This is the one I like the most in the normal skin category. It's a little more moisturizing than the others, so if you're more on the dry side you'd like this. I have so many products I don't even think about which to use, I just reach for this one, it's really rare for me to use something this much without thinking about anything else. It has no scent and works really well in the winter."
"I love it because the pad is so thin, you can keep it in [...] the shower and wipe your whole face with it when you get out, then use it as a quick sheet mask while you're drying your hair, it stays on well and feels cooling. It also has centella in it, [...] so anyone with oily combo skin who gets red easily, especially in tropical weather, it's great for cooling the skin down. Why not, great."
"This one has so many reviews on Olive Young in Korea and became viral, partly because Korean beauty YouTuber Lisa Bae mentioned it's the only foam cleanser she uses at home. Even if you're dry or sensitive skin, whatever else you use might leave your skin feeling too tight, but this feels like a cloud. It's great for a second cleanser if you're double cleansing since it's so mild and soft, even softer than the Skin1004 one. I love it so much. If your skin turns red easily, please try this."
"The YSL lip oil was also my holy grail this year. They have a warm color and a cool color, the cool one is a little purple and shiny, it's great, and the packaging is pretty."
"This was my holy grail for a pretty long time. It contains both panthenol and madecassoside. Some of my guests say they're so sensitive they can't even use Aestura, but this one is okay even if you have super sensitive skin. The texture is similar but it doesn't have capsules, it's a little bit heavy. They also have an Extreme Cream Light version, which is better if you have oily or acne prone skin."
How many products has CYoung reviewed for dry skin?
CYoung has reviewed 80 products for dry skin, for an approval rate of 54%. 43 approved, 14 mixed, and 23 skipped.
What has CYoung skipped for dry skin?
CYoung is especially direct about products that look moisturising but do not behave that way. She skipped about a quarter of the products she tried, and gave a smaller share a mixed take. Her harshest words were for Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream, which she called the worst of all sixteen moisturisers in one round of testing. She said it felt like Vaseline without actually moisturising underneath. She also gave a hard skip to Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder, warning that it left her dry skin feeling tight after rinsing. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence got skipped too. She found it slow to absorb, and said it left skin looking oily on the surface while still feeling dry underneath, which she described as just a film. The pattern in her skips is clear: if a product is slow, heavy, or occlusive without delivering real hydration, she moves on.
"I expected a lot from this because I see it everywhere selling like crazy on Amazon, but how could you even call this a toner? It's not even moisturizing, it's not even a proper Milky Toner, and it's not even hydrating."
"If you are expecting the slimy TikTok effect you will need to use a ridiculous amount, and seriously, why would you even mix it with toner? If that worked, then just washing your face with toner should give you perfect skin. It was so slippery that I had to rinse for over five minutes, and at that point any cleanser would leave your face squeaky clean anyway. After rinsing, my dry skin felt tight. If you want deep cleansing, melt down your sebum with a cleansing oil instead."
"I think it's trending on Reddit because the fermented ingredients like galactomyces, bifida, and aspergillus cause extreme reactions, some people get glow and some people break out. I didn't break out, but I'm still skipping it. The texture and results just aren't worth it. Save your money, go for Torriden or Numbuzin Number 9 instead."
"This is another new Anua serum, and I don't like it, I don't even like the packaging, mine is leaking, that sucks, and it's not even that cheap, which makes me so annoyed. I expected more because it says ceramide, and a ceramide based product should mean a lot more hydration and be good for dry, mature skin. At first it feels slippery like a snail serum, but it's gone so quickly. Anybody expecting their skin barrier to get better from using this will be disappointed."
What should you take from CYoung's picks?
CYoung's dry skin record is a useful filter for anyone who has wasted money on products that promise moisture but disappoint. Her approval rate of 54% means she skips or gives mixed marks to nearly half of what she tries. So when she names something a winner, and she has named more than 10 category winners, that carries real weight. Her advice points toward fast-absorbing, barrier-supporting formulas, and away from anything that just coats the skin.
Watch CYoung say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ (Korean formula)Named a winnerWatch at 6:31
- Laneige Lip Sleeping MaskNamed a winnerWatch at 14:09
- Aestura Atobarrier 365 CreamNamed a winnerWatch at 7:09
- Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ (Korean formula)Named a winnerWatch at 10:31
- Rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial EssenceNamed a winnerWatch at 2:13
- Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep MaskNamed a winnerWatch at 5:50
- Skin1004 Probio-Cica Essence TonerNamed a winnerWatch at 10:02
- I'm From Rice TonerNamed a winnerWatch at 3:08
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate CreamNamed a winnerWatch at 10:59
- Torriden Solid-In Ceramide Lip EssenceNamed a winnerWatch at 14:01
- Mixsoon Bean CreamNamed a winnerWatch at 3:52
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate LotionNamed a winnerWatch at 10:22
- I'm From Rice Bran CreamNamed a winnerWatch at 9:46
- BYOMA Milky TonerSkipped itWatch at 3:04
- Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing PowderSkipped itWatch at 11:46
- Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier EssenceSkipped itWatch at 4:14
- Anua Rice 7% Ceramide Hydrating Barrier SerumSkipped itWatch at 6:31
- Dr.Althea 147 Barrier CreamSkipped itWatch at 10:03
- Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping MaskSkipped itWatch at 1:47
- Numbuzin No.6 Deep Sleep MaskSkipped itWatch at 10:05
- Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel MaskSkipped itWatch at 2:35
- Pyunkang Yul Essence TonerSkipped itWatch at 3:09
- Purito Tranexamic Acid 6% Niacinamide 10% Retinaldehyde Toning Booster SerumSkipped itWatch at 3:11
- Tirtir SOS SerumSkipped itWatch at 5:16
About this expert
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This guide reflects what CYoung said across her videos about 80 products for dry skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.