My Experience with the Medi-Peel Hyal Kombucha Tea-Tox Cream - A Game-Changer for Dry Skin

I recently stumbled upon Medi-Peel, a Korean skincare brand, and I had to try their Combo-C course cream. Before I even finished using it, I went ahead and ordered a few more products from different lines, but so far, this cream has been the standout from Medi-Peel. I'll get into the details about this cream, and later, I'll compare it to two other creams from the brand.

The Basics

Product Name - Hyal Kombucha Tea-Tox CreamManufacturer - Medi-Peel, South KoreaVolume - 50 mlWhere to Buy - I got mine from Wildberries, but I wouldn't recommend buying from there, as prices can vary greatly. You can also buy it in-store or online from Golden Apple, but be aware that prices differ significantly. I got it for 1125 rubles, and now it's 1413 rubles on that platform. Official retailers, including Golden Apple, have it for almost 4000 rubles with a discount.Description:This ampule cream from Medi-Peel's Hyal Kombucha Tea-Tox line is packed with hydrating and nourishing ingredients, including 50% kombucha, which helps to boost skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The cream fights dehydration and dryness, reduces greasiness, calms, evens out tone, and smooths out texture. It's a two-phase formula consisting of a kombucha gel that enhances elasticity and a moisturizing and nourishing capsule cream. The unique Korean cream design lets you apply the right amount of each component depending on your skin type. The kombucha used is from Ahmad Tea, a well-known English company that sources high-quality black tea. This cream is suitable for problem and combination skin, providing protection from environmental stressors. The formula with active ingredients like kombucha, ceramide, niacinamide, and panthenol effectively tackles imperfections and promotes restoration after acne, scars, or pigmentation spots. It's also 100% vegan and comes in eco-friendly packaging made from organic recycled materials with soy ink. This hydrating cream is perfect for daily and nighttime care. It absorbs quickly, creating an invisible protective barrier on the skin. It helps minimize the appearance of closed comedones, evens out skin tone, and strengthens skin structure. This cosmetic product also fights early signs of aging. It would make a great gift for a friend, sister, mom, or colleague. The aesthetically pleasing packaging with a convenient pump will add a touch to your bathroom shelf. Usage: Apply a suitable amount of gel and cream using a spatula and gently massage it onto clean and toned skin, including the neck and décolletage.Thoughts on where to buy and why the price difference

I've gotta say, the Medi-Peel brand is a total mystery when it comes to authenticity. There's a ton of info online, but I'm still not sure how to tell the real deal from a fake. Do you need the hologram on the packaging to be legit? Apparently, the manufacturer doesn't even include it, and it's the retailers who slap it on and jack up the price. But to charge three times as much just for the hologram? That's just weird. And then there are the sellers who claim the product is authentic but are actually peddling fakes for over a thousand bucks. So, I'm left wondering: do I buy from the official Russian stores with the hologram and a hefty price tag, or do I opt for the marketplaces with sellers who import from Kazakhstan at a lower price, but with no guarantee of authenticity?

I chose a reputable seller on the marketplace with a high rating and a large number of positive reviews on their products. I carefully read reviews specifically for this product.

My skin

I have very dry skin in the winter and during the transitional periods, and it's a mix of dry and oily in the summer. As I've gotten older, I've noticed fine lines, loss of elasticity, age spots, dullness, and sallowness, as well as enlarged pores. If I don't take good care of it, my skin can still 'surprise' me with acne like I had in my teenage years.

The appearance of the product

The packaging is quite interesting. The box and jar are in a cream and terracotta color scheme.

The jar is made of plastic, which means I can replace the cream compartment. The box wasn't wrapped in plastic or any protective covering, and there was no sticker on the box to prevent the first opening.

Under the removable lid, there's a plastic stopper with a plastic spatula that I rarely use, but it's actually quite useful in this product.

And the magic happens under the lid – it's a mesmerizing sight. It's a cream gel mixture or, more accurately, a 'capsule' or 'ampoule' with cream in a gel base, which looks beautiful for those who appreciate the unusual, but, as I expected, it's not very practical.

Sensory characteristics

The consistency is quite fascinating. Both textures are pleasant on their own, but the final consistency after mixing is what really stands out – it turns into a silky, smooth milk.

The color. The cream has a light beige tint, while the transparent gel has a slightly pinkish tint. When mixed, the result is a soft, pale peach color, like a peach yogurt.

The scent. This aspect is no less interesting. There's virtually no scent, yet it's there, and I love it. It's a light, barely noticeable herbal freshness with a hint of bitterness.

How the manufacturer recommends using it

I was experimenting with the idea of mixing the two textures of this product separately before use, but it seems like a bit of a hassle. You're supposed to mix them together in the right proportions depending on your skin type, which can be a bit tricky to get right.

Apparently, if your skin needs a bit more nourishment, you're supposed to take a bit more of the cream part, and if it needs more hydration, you should focus on the gel base. But if you think about it logically, if you use up one part faster than the other, it'll just make it harder to use up the part that your skin doesn't need as much of.

How I used it

I have to admit, I played around with this idea for a bit before mixing everything together. And since I wanted to get some good photos, I had to wait for a sunny day, which is pretty rare in Moscow in early December. I'd mix the two textures together, trying to get a decent ratio, and then mix it all up on the back of my hand until it was smooth.

As you can see, the final texture is really light and airy, but when I applied it to my skin, it turned out to be a lot more moisturizing than I expected. I mean, this stuff is like an 'aqua bomb' for your skin! At first, I wasn't expecting it to be so rich and hydrating, so I had to learn to control how much I applied. I'd end up with too much product, so I'd have to carefully pour it back into the bottle. And sometimes, I'd even mix it up in the bottle itself, but it was hard to tell where the cream ended and the mixed product began.

After a week of messing around, I'd had enough and gave it a good stir with a clean spoon. I know the manufacturer recommends mixing the texture just before use, but I skipped that step and it didn't make a difference - the quality of the product remained the same, and it was a heck of a lot easier to use. So, it's up to you how you want to use it. If you've got plenty of time on your hands and you enjoy the ritual of skincare, go ahead and follow the manufacturer's instructions. But if you're a busy person who likes to keep things simple, feel free to mix it all up at once.

Visions from using

I've got to say, this product is a real pleasure to use. The texture is super moisturizing and rich, and it absorbs into the skin in no time, leaving it feeling smooth and hydrated. It does take a bit of time to absorb - around 2-5 minutes, depending on the amount you use. If you apply too much, especially if the gel component is dominant, it can leave a slight residue, but it's not a big deal and it doesn't bother my dry skin. On the other hand, if you apply too little, your skin might not get enough moisture.

The product absorbs slowly, but thoroughly, leaving a healthy, dewy glow on the skin. I'm not a fan of the post-moisturizer glow, typically because it's just too oily or sticky, but this product is different. The glow is natural and healthy-looking, without any greasiness or stickiness. My skin looks smooth and radiant, with a subtle sheen that's just right. The moisture is locked in, and there's no residue or stickiness to speak of.

I've also used it around my eyes, and it's been a breeze. No irritation or discomfort to speak of.

As you can see, my skin looks great after a week of using this product, even without foundation and just a light swipe of eyeshadow.

I've noticed a real improvement in the color of my skin, and it's not just about brightening it up - it's more about making it look healthier and more even-toned. The color is more vibrant, and the dullness is gone. It's like I've got a natural glow, without any of the harsh chemicals or artificial ingredients that can come with using self-tanning products or heavy foundation.

I noticed a healthy glow once the product kicked in. My skin looked more plump and the fine lines were less noticeable. The effect was really impressive and the changes became more apparent with each passing day.

In terms of day and night usage, I found this product to be versatile enough to use as a night cream and a day cream. I'd apply a bit more at night and a bit less in the morning. Surprisingly, the makeup applied smoothly on top of it, but I had to be careful not to overdo it.

I found it to be suitable for the beginning of December, but when the heating got too intense and dry, I felt the product's moisturizing properties were a bit lacking, especially at night. I ended up adding a serum to compensate.

Comparing it to other popular Medi-Peel lines

I was so impressed with the effect of this product that I ended up buying another one from the same brand before it even finished. I thought to myself, if this product is this good, how much better must be the more popular ones? It turned out that the best-selling product from the brand was the Volume Tox pro peptide 9 cream. I'd read many good reviews about it, so I decided to give it a try. However, unfortunately, it turned out to be too drying for my skin, especially during the winter months. My skin would absorb it completely and then feel dry and dehydrated. I had to use it with a moisturizing serum to get any benefit from it. I tried to make it work, but I ended up setting it aside for the summer.

I couldn't stop there, though. I wanted to try another popular product from the brand, the Peptide-Tox line. However, I struggled to decide between the serum and the cream, so I ended up buying the entire set, which included a toner, serum, emulsion, and cream. The serum from this line was somewhat effective, but not for my dry skin during the winter. The cream, on the other hand, didn't live up to my expectations and provided insufficient moisturization, even when used with the other products in the set. I haven't tried any other products from the brand since.

I do want to note, though, that I bought the Peptide 9 Volume Tox Cream PRO and the Peptide-Tox 5 Peptide Bor Multi Care Kit from a different seller on Wildberies, but with a guarantee of originality and good reviews. However, I don't have any assurance that they're not counterfeit, as they didn't come with a hologram or a guarantee of authenticity.

I think I might have chosen the lighter products from the brand because I tend to avoid rich, heavy textures or use them only at night.

The Verdict

I'm really happy with the Medi-Peel cream with kombucha in the end

It has a great, rich formula

The texture is pleasant

It really hydrates

It makes my skin tone look more even, brighter, and fresher

It tightens and smooths out my skin

It makes fine lines less noticeable

However, for very dry skin, especially during the heating season, this 'water bomb' might be a bit too little, lacking nourishment - I wish it had a bit more oil in the formula. A nourishing serum could make up for it, paired with this cream.

One of the downsides is the price, and it's quite high, I have to admit, considering its rich texture. I've been using it up really quickly, it just disappears, and it's not 100ml like some Korean brands, it's just the standard 50ml.

And, if you buy it in official stores, the price is another minus. For example, I couldn't afford it at 4000 rubles, I have a block budget, and I know I can find working alternatives at a more affordable price.

But the last minus isn't a minus for me, I've found a way to deal with it - the original or not, the most important thing is that it works. And the fast consumption isn't a minus when you buy it at a discount on a marketplace.

So, I can confidently say that this cream from the kombucha series is the most effective one from the brand so far, but to make definitive conclusions, I'd need to try their other products. The cream with kombucha is actually really good, and I'd recommend it to anyone with any skin type, especially oily skin - it's a must-try. For dry skin, you could add a serum during the winter.

Despite the minor downsides, I'm giving it a solid 5 stars.