Arencia

Arencia is a Korean brand that does two unusual things: it sells single-active concentrates it calls "booster shots", and it makes its cleansers solid — bars and cakes rather than tubes. The solid cleansers are what people remember it for, but the vitamin C is what most people should probably buy first.

Booster shots: one active each, no guessing

The idea is a 30ml bottle with one thing in it, so you know exactly what you're adding to your routine. Vitamin C Booster Shot for dullness and uneven tone, or Vitamin C Glutathione Booster Shot Essence if you'd rather layer a lighter 95ml essence over the whole face than treat specific areas. The rest: Retinal for texture and fine lines, PDRN for recovery, NAD+, and Eraser Shot with glycolic acid. Don't buy three at once — they're concentrates, and stacking two strong ones is how a good routine goes wrong. See Vitamin C and Serums & Ampoules.

Why anyone would use a solid cleanser

The reasonable question. A bar lasts longer than a tube of the same weight because you're not rinsing away water, it travels without leaking, and it doesn't need preservatives in the same way a liquid does. The Rice Mochi Cleanser is the 120g bar range, built on rice extract, in Fresh Green, Rosehip, Blue Hyssop, Calendula and Black Tea & Yuzu. The Rice Cake Cleanser line adds LHA for congested skin: Green Tea + LHA, Hyssop Sebum Control, Rice + LHA Pore Control. There's also a Rice Mucin Cleanser and a Rice Mucin Glow Serum. See Cleansers, Rice Extract and Pores & Texture.

Masks, and the soothing creams that go with the actives

Red Collagen Jello Mask for firmness, Retinol Boosting Eye Mask as 60 patches, and Honey Glazed Collagen Lip Mask for lips. If you're using the Retinal or Eraser boosters, keep Eraser Soothing Cream or Deep Water Surge in rotation — that's what stops a strong active turning into a week of redness. See Masks and Redness & Sensitivity. For body, the Fresh Cloud Body & Scalp Scrub works on both skin and scalp, which almost nothing else does (Bodycare).

Questions people actually ask

How do you use a cleansing bar on your face?

Wet it, rub it between your palms to build a lather, then apply the lather — don't drag the bar across your skin. Stand it somewhere it can dry between uses, or it'll soften and go through twice as fast.

When should I use vitamin C?

Morning, after cleansing, before sunscreen. If your skin is sensitive start every other day, and don't layer it with an exfoliating acid the same morning.

Can I use Retinal and the glycolic Eraser Shot together?

Not the same night. That combination is the single most common cause of irritation we hear about. Alternate nights and keep a soothing cream on hand.

Is Arencia Korean, and is it worth trying over a bigger brand?

It's South Korean. It's a small brand, so you won't find much about it online, and that puts people off. Worth trying if the solid-cleanser format appeals or you want a single-active concentrate without a long ingredient list. If you want the reassurance of a range everyone knows, Korean Skincare (K-Beauty) has the bigger names.

Want a recommendation for your skin type? Our team can help. Or start with the Vitamin C Booster Shot and browse more in Korean Skincare (K-Beauty).