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This article contains affiliate links* and PR samplesº The AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream has been popular in Korea for years now, but only recently has the rest of the world started to notice this derma brand moisturiser, dubbing it “Korea’s no. 1 moisturiser” in social media posts. As a long-time fan of this cream, I felt this was the perfect time to finally give you a full review!
Korea’s No. 1 Moisturiser?
I always smile to myself when especially TikTok creators “discover” a Korean beauty product that has been a success for years and years in Korea already. They sell it like this cream, toner, foundation or serum is the latest in “Korean technology” or “currently trending”, when the product in question has been winning awards and topping bestseller lists since 2016/17. In the case of the AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream*, I’d say this derma brand classic has been around since the mid-2010s, becoming increasingly popular since the pandemic thanks to all our skincare barriers being broken due to prolonged mask wearing and intense stress.
And, yes, the cream has been topping bestseller and awards lists for years now! I hesitate to call the Atobarrier 365 Cream the “No. 1 moisturiser” in Korea – which is how it is currently marketed by influencers especially on TikTok – simply because there is, in my opinion, not one specific moisturiser that outsells absolutely all others. Given the difference in skin types and skincare needs, plus different needs throughout the seasons, a number of moisturisers all pretty much share the top spot together. The Dr. G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream, for instance, is probably the No. 1 moisturiser for more oil-prone skin, while the AESTURA Atobarrier Cream works best for dry to very dry skin types.
Which is why it’s kind of surprising that I, with my combo skin, love this cream as much as I do. But, you see, there is just something extra special about AESTURA’s bestselling cult moisturiser. So, time to dedicate it a full review!
AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream – The Secret Behind Its Success
As I already mentioned, the success of the Atobarrier 365 Cream started right around the pandemic, although it was already popular before that. Koreans tend to gravitate towards thick, moisture barrier friendly, sensitive skin focused moisturisers, since many of them are plagued by sensitivities and dry, damaged skin. The hype around moisture barrier repair here in the West was already a steadfast fixture in Korean skincare routines, but the pandemic certainly increased the demand for repairing, nourishing and minimalist skincare products.
AESTURA just turned out to be the perfect brand to meet this demand! This is an Amore Pacific brand, so it belongs to the same big conglomerate which also houses Laneige, IOPE and Sulwhasoo. It is marketed as a derma or even “clinical” brand comparable to European pharmacy brands. Indeed, you usually find AESTURA products right next to Bioderma, Avène and co. at Olive Young stores. I did a full video on the brand a while ago, so you can watch it to learn more and see some of my other product faves from the brand!
The Atobarrier 365 line is formulated for people with a damaged or compromised skin barrier, focusing on repairing, nourishing and protecting the skin. AESTURA actually started as a clinical skincare company in the 1980s, and Amore Pacific bought the company so that they could use their patented “dermaON” technology for their products. Basically, this is a special type of encapsulation technology used for the Atobarrier 365 Cream, which creates tiny oil capsules within the formula.
Here is the full list of ingredients for the AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream:
“Purified Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA, Cyclohexasiloxane, C14-22 Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide MEA, Mannitol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Polyacrylate-13, Allantoin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax Extract, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Polyisobutene, Phytosphingosine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Acrylate/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Methylarachidic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Caesalpinia Sappan Stem Powder, Oleic Acid, Tocopherol.”
The cream consists mainly of a bunch of fatty alcohols, plus emollient oils and waxes – the thick texture has to come from somewhere, after all! Glycerin and squalane also help to moisturise the skin, while allantoin soothes. A very interesting ingredient addition is sappan wood powder, apparently a quite well known folk remedy rich in antioxidants. Sappan wood powder is said to speed up wound healing and could potentially help with acne and blemishes fading faster. The cream is both fragrance- and alcohol-free and also doesn’t contain any essential oils.
AESTURA 365 Atobarrier Cream – Does It Work for My Combo Skin?!
So, I was a bit unsure if this moisturiser would work for my combo skin, since it is advertised as a rich, deeply nourishing cream. At 44, I don’t get as oily as I used to anymore, and in winter I now crave richer textures than when I was young. However, I still need to be a bit careful about breaking out from oil-heavy skincare, and so I was a little bit hesitant before my first use.
Thankfully, I need not have worried! Yes, this is a rich, thick texture that feels heavy at first. But, once applied, the creamy formula melts into skin easily and is absorbs super fast. I am fascinated by the texture of the AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream: when you rub it onto skin, tiny beads appear that then slowly melt into the cream. This is the “DermON” tech I was talking about earlier, giving the Atobarrier Cream extra richness and emollient, skin-protecting goodness. NOTE: if you suffer from trypophobia… better look away here…
Don’t worry about those little oil beads, by the way – they melt into the skin super fast, and without any sort of residue. It was, in fact, quite difficult to take a picture with them still intact, that’s how fast they disappear. Also, if you do have trypophobia, don’t let that deter you from using the cream! I suffer from this myself (it was a bit of an uncomfortable experience taking these texture shots…), but you really only see the little dots if you zoom in super closely or focus strongly on the cream’s texture while applying it, so this shouldn’t cause any triggering sensations with everyday use.
The AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream comes in a large 80ml tube, so even though it can a bit of a pricier product outside of sales, once you’ve made that investment, it will last you for a long time.
And let me tell you, it is a great investment to make for your skin! I have been so impressed with how lovely this cream has been, how velvety soft and supple my skin always feels and looks when I use this. Since it is a bit richer, I usually apply the AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream as a nighttime moisturiser, and it always leaves my skin happy and relaxed the next day. The richness helps to nourish and protect my skin in rougher weather, and I can attest to its skin barrier respecting properties.
This is one of those emergency products that I grab when my moisture barrier is out of whack due to, say, overuse of actives. It is also a fantastic moisturiser to pair with your retinol journey, especially if you use tretinoin for the first time and experience a lot of shedding and dryness. Dry skin, very sensitive skin, extremely dehydrated and/or barrier compromised skin will adore this cream, but it also works if you have combo skin that needs extra pampering.
So, where can you buy the AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream?
The AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream is available at Yesstyle* for currently around $23 for the 80ml tube, at Stylevana* for around $29 (use code “INF10SPL” for an additional 10-15% off!), at Amazon* for $32, and at Olive Young Global* for $37 (use my code “SUGARPEACH10” for an additional 5% off!).
Let me know in the comments: What’s your favourite Korean moisturiser?
Take care guys, and stay safe – don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news, and check out my other work, e.g. my article about HSGN Retinally Liposomal Retinal Cream! And guys – I have a YouTube channel now, I’d love for you to check it out and subscribe!
*Affiliate Links, meaning I earn a small commission if you decide to use the link to purchase an item. This does not raise the purchase price for you, and it helps me and my blog to grow – so, thank you for supporting me in this way!!!
°PR Sample, kindly provided by a brand or shop – I am not obligated to write this blog article, was not paid for the article, and my opinions are entirely my own.
can a 8 year old boy use this moisturizer?
It depends entirely on things like allergies, skin type etc. I am not willing to make this decision for a child, please refer to a dermatologist for this!