‘I visited Seoul and every skincare girlie was using this $35 product.’

Navigating the Korean beauty world is overwhelming, to say the least.

Jump on TikTok and you'll find countless influencers claiming one moisturiser is "game-changing," another insisting a serum is "revolutionary" and someone else convincing you to buy a "sell-out" toner. And even with your cupboard full of unused skincare products, you still find yourself adding to cart.

I say this because I can relate — I've fallen into the trap of purchasing every "viral" product someone online influenced me to buy, all in an attempt to achieve flawless, glowy skin. Honestly, it's a dangerous cycle.

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But what I've learnt is that there's no better way to separate what's truly trending from what's just 'internet noise' than going straight to the source itself: Seoul.

Yes, every year, I make a trip to the skincare epicentre to find out exactly what South Korean skincare shoppers are really using.

And on my most recent trip in late April, there was one product flying off the shelves: the d'Alba Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream.

Here's what happened when I put it to the test.

Firstly, what is d'Alba?

D'Alba is having a major moment. While the Korean premium vegan cosmetics brand has been around since 2016, it's only in recent years that it's gained serious international traction.

Before 2023, the brand's now-viral White Truffle First Spray Serum rose to fame in Korea as the so-called "flight attendant mist". The face mist stood out thanks to its innovative formulation featuring white truffles sourced from the Piedmont region of Italy — a rare ingredient harvested only once every 10 years, packed with vitamins and minerals that help improve skin tone and reduce dark spots. Even Leigh Campbell admitted on an episode of You Beauty podcast that she uses and loves the face mist.

Once word got out to the Western world, d'Alba's popularity skyrocketed.

OK, what are tone-up creams?

If you've been wondering what a tone-up cream actually is, I've got you.

As the name suggests, tone-up creams are lightweight moisturisers or primers designed to instantly brighten and even out your skin tone, without the coverage of foundation. They usually have a subtle pink, lavender or green tint to cancel out dullness, sallowness or redness, leaving skin with a natural, radiant glow.

They're not a new type of product, either. Tone-up creams have been a staple in Korean and Japanese beauty for decades because they help create that "glass skin" effect. But now, more people in the West are catching on — especially with the rise of no-makeup makeup trends and the shift towards a more minimal, natural approach to beauty.

Think of them more as a glow-boosting moisturiser than a skin tint or base.

What is the d'Alba Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream? 

Now that you're across what a tone-up cream is, let's talk about one of the best on the market: d'Alba's Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream.

Here it is in all its glory.

Image: Supplied.

Just like d'Alba's signature face mist, this cream is infused with white truffle extract from Piedmont, which is paired with vitamin E for a bucket load of antioxidant benefits. It also contains Panthenol, Centella Asiatica extract (an ingredient I absolutely love, which you can read about here), Aloe Vera Leaf Extract and Hydrolysed Hyaluronic Acid to nourish, soothe and protect the skin.

d'Alba's tone-up creams come in a few different tint options, each tailored to specific skin needs:

• Beige-pink: Instantly brightens dull skin, evens tone and gives a soft, natural glow. Perfect for most skin tones and ideal if you want that "lit-from-within" look without makeup. This is the most popular tint colour - both in Korea and internationally - as it suits the widest range of skin tones.

• Lavender: Cancels out yellow or sallow undertones and boosts brightness. Best for dull or tired-looking complexions.

• Green: Neutralises redness, especially around blemishes or cheeks. Ideal for sensitive, acne-prone or red-prone skin.

What the cream looks like on first application (left) vs. what it looks like after it's rubbed in and absorbed (right). Image: Supplied.

How do you use the d'Alba Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream?

After your usual morning skincare routine - cleanser, toner and moisturiser - apply a pea-sized amount of the tone-up cream. (Although it contains SPF, there's no harm in layering it over your usual sunscreen for added protection.)

Because it has a subtle tint, it's important to blend it in thoroughly with your fingers, especially around the hairline, jaw and nose to avoid any patchiness or white cast.

At first, it may look quite white on the skin, but I urge you not to panic. Give it a minute or two to settle and adjust to your natural tone, and you'll be left with a soft, brightened and natural-looking glow.

Where to buy the d'Alba Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream in Australia. 

Thankfully, Korean beauty is now super accessible in Australia, both online and in-store. You can find d'Alba at retailers like Amazon, YesStyle, Nudie Glow and KBeauty Australia, just to name a few.

But if you've read any of my previous beauty articles, you'll know my favourite place to shop is Lila Beauty. They consistently offer the best deals, and their shipping is lightning-fast. At the moment, you can grab a 50ml bottle of the d'Alba UV Essence Waterfull Vegan Tone-up Sun Cream for $34.95 (usually $55). 

d'Alba Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream review.

To give a bit of background, I have combination skin (an oily T-zone and dry cheeks) that's hyper-sensitive and prone to clogged pores. Over the years, I've learnt the hard way that many products just don't agree with my skin, especially those loaded with fragrances or harsh chemicals. Many foundations don't even agree with my skin as the thicker consistency tends to lead to clogged pores. 

Because of this, I was honestly a little sceptical about trying this product because of my terrible history with foundations, and BB and CC creams. TBH, I've stuck to using one CC cream for more than a decade simply because I've been too afraid to try anything else. After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? 

But after seeing this product literally fly off the shelves on my recent trip to Seoul, I simply couldn't resist the temptation.  

Here's what happened when I tried it…

After applying my regular morning skincare, I dotted the tone-up cream around my face and rubbed it in like a moisturiser. 

And I… panicked!

My face looked a ghastly white-pink!

Was this just a white-cast heavy cream?! How could such a small amount of product make me look like… a ghost?!

I seriously considered washing it all off at this point.

But, I persisted and waited a few minutes. I walked around, folded some clothes, and came back to the bathroom mirror.

I was… stunned. In a good way this time.

The white cast had completely disappeared, and instead, my complexion had a soft, radiant glow. The redness on my cheeks was neutralised. It looked like I had spent ages perfecting my base makeup, but really, I had barely applied anything at all.

I didn't even feel the need to apply CC cream. I just spot-concealed a few blemishes and left the house.

Throughout the day, I felt like my skin could breathe because I wasn't weighed down by layers of product. It didn't smudge, crease or melt, and it came off easily at night with micellar water.

Final word: Is the d'Alba Waterfull Vegan Tone-Up Sun Cream worth the hype?

It's been just over three weeks since I first tried d'Alba's tone-up cream, and I genuinely haven't gone a day without it. It's completely replaced my CC cream and occasional foundation.

If this experience has taught me anything, it's that less really is more. My skin looks glowy while wearing it, but even better, it's also healthier underneath — I've noticed fewer clogged pores and less irritation overall.

The only downside? Since tone-up creams originated in East Asia, they're mainly formulated for fair to neutral skin tones. So, I'm not sure how well this would work for deeper skin tones, and I really hope brands keep improving on that.

That being said, if you're looking for an easy, skin-loving product to give you that perfect natural glow, I'd highly recommend investing $35 into this tone-up cream.

Have you tried the d'Alba Tone-Up Cream? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Feature image: Supplied.