Korean Skincare at 30: I Tried a Beginner Routine with Abib from YesStyle

I received three Abib products sent by YesStyle, an online store that sells imported cosmetics. And it's the real deal from Korea, okay? Not “Korean-style,” not “Korean-inspired.”

This article is my first encounter with all three, recorded in the video (in Portuguese): what it's like to put them on, the texture, the scent and how I felt when I took the eye patch off. I can't promise skin results on day one — I'll keep using them over the next few weeks and come back to tell you what changed.

The routine has one product for each area: eyes, face and lips. The details below come from each product's official page on YesStyle; the impressions are mine.

The first contact is the best part: the patch is nice and cool. It comes in a jar with 60 patches, and the brand says the textured surface helps keep it from slipping.

I'll confess I put the first one on wrong. I flipped it, flipped it back, tried it the other way and decided that looked better — but honestly, I couldn't feel any difference between the sides. If you've never used these either, don't worry: what matters is that it sits snugly under the eyes without touching the eye itself.

Over time the patch gets thinner, as if it were disappearing. That doesn't mean your skin absorbed the whole hydrogel; it's the gel delivering what's inside while it sits there, sealed against your skin, without evaporating.

The packaging says to remove it after 10 to 15 minutes. In the video I left mine on for about 20, because I was busy with the rest of the routine — follow the label. And don't sleep with it on.

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• When I took it off: everything had soaked in, my skin wasn’t left damp, and I could clearly see the shape of where the patch had been;
• Feeling: cool the moment it touches your skin;
• What the brand promises: to brighten the area and soften the tired look, with PDRN, retinal and caffeine. I can only judge that with continued use.

While the eye patch did its work, I applied the crème. It comes out of the tube with a balm-like texture: you smooth it on and feel it glide across your skin.

Then comes the part I liked most: once it's spread, the skin has a velvety finish, as if it turned to velvet on the spot. And it spreads really well.

In the formula, Abib highlights PDRN and Volufiline (an ingredient used for a plumping feel), plus retinal, peptides, niacinamide and caffeine. It's a crème designed for firmness and fine lines — in other words, a long-term job.

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• Where to apply: face and neck, patting gently to help absorption, as the brand directs;

Last, the lip mask. It comes with a tiny spatula, and the texture is a gel — similar to the eye patch.

It smells sweet, like candy, but it's not sickly. Anyone who follows me knows I have a problem with strong scents, and this one didn't bother me.

The brand says to use a thin layer during the day for shine and hydration, or a generous layer before bed as an overnight mask.

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The big thing about Korean skincare is that the products are designed for long-term use. Girl, you just turned 30: this is only the beginning. For the rest of your life, you're going to need a skincare routine.

In the video (in Portuguese) I said retinoic acid, but the correct name of the ingredient in the eye patch and the crème is retinal (also called retinaldehyde). It's a vitamin A derivative, in the same family as retinol, and the skin converts it into retinoic acid. The action is more gradual — which is why I'm not about to start peeling just because I started using it.

PDRN is an ingredient made from DNA fragments that has become a craze in Korean cosmetics tied to regeneration and firmness. For the lip mask, Abib states that the PDRN comes from centella asiatica and ginkgo biloba.

• A gentle effect: don't expect a change on day one or in the first week; the benefit comes with consistency;
• Sunscreen by day: if you use retinal at night, you need sunscreen during the day. For someone like me who never used it, that's the first habit to build;
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: vitamin A derivatives call for medical advice before use;
• Sensitive skin: if it stings or turns red, use it less often and see a dermatologist.

The order I followed in the video fits into an ordinary night, without the ten-step marathon the internet associates with Korean skincare:

• Step 1 — Eyes: with a clean face, I put the hydrogel patch under my eyes;
• Step 2 — Face and neck: while the patch works, I pat on the Booster Crème;
• Step 3 — Lips: one layer of the lip mask with the spatula;
• Step 4 — Remove the patch: after 10 to 15 minutes, as the packaging says;
• Total time: about 15 minutes, most of it just waiting with the patch on.

All three products are sold by YesStyle, which ships internationally. Delivery time and shipping cost depend on your country, so check the estimate in your cart before you pay.

At checkout, enter CECILIA010 in the Reward Code field: it gives you 5% off your first order and 2% off later ones. Promotional coupons go in the other field, Coupon Code — and they stack with CECILIA010, including those special coupons that are sent only to your account.

About customs: YesStyle refunds customs duties and fees, as YesStyle Credit, on orders under US$ 1,000 (the value before coupons, excluding shipping). If you're charged when the package arrives, pay it, keep the receipt and send it to YesStyle customer service within 30 days. Taxes charged at checkout in some regions — such as EU VAT, UK VAT, US sales tax or Australian GST — are not covered by this refund.

This is a record of my first use. I'll keep up the routine and come back to tell you what really changed — and what didn't.

• Dark circles and the tired look under the eyes;
• Texture and glow of the skin on my face and neck;
• Whether the retinal causes any irritation with continued use;
• Whether the lip mask keeps my lips hydrated overnight.