Parabens are a large group of preservatives which are used to prevent bacteria growing in cosmetic formulations. This Ato Ceramide series is a no-frill, effective and affordable. As mentioned earlier, the cream can be used for both face and body, depending on your preference.

As you might have read in my recent article on sleeping masks, slugging doesn’t work for me so finding a great last step is very important. A last step that dries down well, meaning it genuinely forms an occlusive film that doesn’t rub off easily (because I’m a sweaty, restless side sleeper) will therefore keep moisture in my skin better. The Silicone-free label only includes the most common Silicone ingredients that have indentified been reported by individuals that could potentially cause issues.Kim, Ji Hye, Young-Su Yi, Mi-Yeon Kim, and Jae Youl Cho. “ Role of ginsenosides, the main active components of Panax ginseng, in inflammatory responses and diseases.” Journal of ginseng research 41, no. 4 (2017): 435-443. There's still a lot of support for avoiding parabens following the better safe than sorry route. If you do we completely support you! My skin no longer gets wet (literally) when I use too much. I don’t know why the old formula did that. I never actually minded it, but it’s a nice improvement in the new formulation.

Glycerin– a popular humectant used for skin care products especially for moisturizers, and is a natural moisturizer that can be found in our skin.Free: Animal-derived ingredients, mineral oil, artificial color, fragrance, Paraben, Triethanolamine, Imidazolidinyl Urea Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Stearic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, Palmitic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Magnolia Biondii Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Lactobacillus/​Soybean Ferment Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethiconol, Mannitol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Silica, Arachidyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, Acrylates/​Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Propanediol The PC also has a lighter, fluffier texture, but it’s even less moisturizing than the DE! If you have oily skin and no issues with TEWL then the PC could be a good fit, but it uses the SK-Influx blend at around 1% as well…so just know you’re not really getting a lot of ceramides in the formula. Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is excellent for all skin types, even for sensitive skin, and is much more hydrating than Dr. Jart+’s Ceramidin Cream. There has been some healthy controversy surrounding them due to a few studies finding paraben presence in breast tumours and breast tissue. However, the majority of the scientific community have deemed these findings non-conclusive due to the limitations of these studies.

Whilst makeup will get rid of that shine, if you’re having a no make up day, Illiyoon will be your new bestie. The great thing about Illiyoon is that it dries down pretty matte without obscuring your K-Beauty glow. I’ve never had any issues with applying sunscreen or makeup on top of it. Illiyoon vs other sleeping masks All skin types will enjoy how moisturizing this is without being greasy. Sensitive skin types especially appreciate its gentle and barrier repairing formula. Like other humectants, it works by sitting in the top layers of your skin and attracting water from the air and the deeper layers, leaving your skin surface plump and hydrated, even when the weather is arid. This ingredient softens the skin so other hydrating ingredients can more easily penetrate the skin. Although I’ve tried the Mary & May by itself and it does a good job of keeping moisture in my skin overnight, I find putting the Illiyoon on top gives me the best results in terms of my hydration levels in the morning. The Isntree sleeping mask works very well too, I just find the Illiyoon to have the edge. And that might be partly down to the formula but partly down to actives drying out my skin so I need all the help I can get to keep moisture in my skin.The 200ml size comes in a plastic tube but they also sell this in a 500ml plastic jar. Basic but looks better than Western drugstore brands imo *cough* Cerave * cough* A generous pea-sized amount in the mornings and evenings as my moisturizer step. If my skin is extra dry I’ll use this in the evenings over another moisturizer like a sleeping mask. Glycerin also keeps the skin’s lipids flexible, strengthening your skin barrier. Ceramide Skin Complex

Ginsenosides are believed to be the major biologically active components of ginseng, responsible for many of the benefits of ginseng for the skin. Ginseng, in skincare: You might be wondering about the meaning behind “Ato” in this cream. “Ato” means Atopic in Korean, from Atopic Dermatitis, a skin condition common to people with sensitive skin (aka me). Many products aimed at sensitive skin will use the term “Ato” to identify their product as friendly and with minimal “bad” ingredients.National Center for Biotechnology Information. “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 11193108, Hydroxypropyl bispalmitamide monoethanolamide” PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydroxypropyl-bispalmitamide-monoethanolamide. Accessed 22 March, 2023. Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K. Moisturizers for Acne: What are their Constituents? J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014 May;7(5):36-44. PMID: 24847408; PMCID: PMC4025519. The rich and creamy texture of Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream envelops your skin, cocooning it in a layer of replenishing goodness. What sets this cream apart is the presence of tiny capsules within the formulation. These capsules burst open upon application, ensuring that the ceramides, essential components of your skin's natural structure, are delivered most effectively to reinforce and fortify the skin barrier. Glycerin is a very effective humectant, used in many moisturizers to increase skin hydration. It occurs naturally in your skin as part of its home-grown moisturizing system, the natural moisturizing factor (NMF).