GET TO KNOW SUMU, IHME, SILEÄ, AND SALVA.
You can find the Yin Your Skin collection at Cream Files Studio. I use the range in my facial treatments, and the products are also available for purchase at my studio in connection with treatments.
Yin Your Skin is a holistic wellness and skincare concept created by Katja Kokko. The Yin Your Skin concept combines effective skincare products, cosmetic gua sha techniques, the grounding effects of yin yoga, and sound healing. Katja Kokko is a cosmetologist, natural skincare specialist, and licensed acupuncturist. You can learn more about the Yin Your Skin beauty concept in its entirety here.
Yin Your Skin is very familiar to me as a whole, especially the gua sha aspect. I have shared many gua sha tips on my channels and trained as a professional cosmetic gua sha practitioner through the Yin Your Skin Pro training program. Gua sha is close to my heart, but so are all the Yin Your Skin skincare products, which I use both on myself and in my facial treatments. This means I have seen the effects of these wonderful products not only on my own skin but also on many different skin types among my clients.
Although Yin Your Skin is a beautiful combination of skincare, gua sha, yin yoga, and sound healing, every skincare product in the range can absolutely be used on its own as part of a regular skincare routine. They work beautifully with gua sha, but they are also designed for everyday skincare.
In this article, I introduce four Yin Your Skin skincare products: a facial mist, an essence, a facial oil, and a cleansing balm. A skincare minimalist could easily build an entire routine using only these four products.
SUMU TRANSFORMATIVE FACIAL MIST
The place for a facial mist in your skincare routine is always immediately after cleansing—morning and evening. It restores hydration after cleansing and creates an ideal base for all subsequent skincare products, helping everything you apply afterward absorb more effectively. When you choose a mist with multiple skincare benefits, such as SUMU, you gain numerous advantages from the very first step of your routine. SUMU visibly hydrates, brightens, and balances the skin.
SUMU contains powerful antioxidants including hibiscus flower extract and blueberry extract. The green tea in the formula is also a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants protect the skin and help prevent pigmentation changes, fine lines, and various inflammatory conditions. In addition to brightening the complexion, hibiscus helps firm and plump the skin. With regular use, the skin becomes noticeably firmer. Blueberry extract is rich in vitamin C, which helps calm inflammation, reduce redness, stimulate collagen production, and brighten the complexion.
SUMU also contains Ginkgo biloba extract, known for its many active benefits for the skin. It improves microcirculation, increasing radiance. It also helps remove toxins and puffiness while reducing inflammation, making it an excellent ingredient for concerns such as acne, rosacea, and eczema.
The lotus flower extract in SUMU also hydrates effectively and improves microcirculation, helping the skin appear brighter and more vibrant. It is a wonderfully revitalizing skincare ingredient often used in Korean skincare.
EFFECTS I HAVE NOTICED ON MY OWN SKIN:
I clearly notice improved hydration levels when I use the mist morning and evening after cleansing. My skin also looks brighter and feels firmer overall. The mist energizes the skin and instantly brings it to life. I love the scent—it feels luxurious and soft, and to me smells like a blend of green tea and jasmine. SUMU is both wonderfully refreshing and at the same time grounding and calming. It begins the hydration process beautifully, and I can already see and feel a difference from the mist itself even though I continue with an essence afterward.
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND SUMU TO:
SUMU is suitable for all skin types. It is an excellent facial mist for both sensitive skin and stronger, more resilient skin. Because of its many skincare benefits, it works equally well for younger skin and mature skin. SUMU is ideal for anyone who enjoys a luxurious aromatherapeutic scent and wants a refreshing cloud of mist morning and evening. Increasing vitality and radiance is something many of us are looking for.
IHME BOTANICAL WONDER ESSENCE
IHME is an essence that combines deep hydration with gentle acids. The acid concentration is moderate, allowing the acids to focus primarily on hydration and maintaining optimal moisture balance. However, IHME offers many other skincare benefits as well, and can even replace a serum in your skincare routine if desired. Thanks to the essence, the skin in the mirror appears exceptionally radiant, bright, fresh, and breathable.
In addition to gentle exfoliation and deep hydration, IHME helps balance the skin’s pH. Healthy, radiant, balanced skin naturally has a slightly acidic pH, and IHME helps maintain that optimal state. When the skin’s pH is balanced, the hydrolipid barrier remains strong and moisture retention functions properly.
The gentle exfoliating ingredients include lactic acid and hibiscus flower extract, which functions similarly to an AHA acid. Both are relatively gentle acids and therefore often suitable even for sensitive skin. They support cell renewal, remove dead skin cells, improve elasticity, balance sebum production, smooth fine lines, improve skin tone, and increase hydration levels. The formula combines two acids because they complement one another. Lactic acid is particularly effective for strengthening the skin, improving hydration, and addressing visible signs of aging. Gentle acids truly offer many skincare benefits.
Like SUMU, IHME also contains Ginkgo biloba extract, which improves microcirculation, helps remove toxins, and calms inflammation. It is a powerful antioxidant containing over 40 active compounds. Additional key ingredients include mulberry root extract and peony extract, both powerful antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radicals such as pollution and UV damage. They also help prevent pigmentation changes while reducing redness and inflammation. Betaine, sourced from by-products of Finnish sugar production, further enhances hydration and soothes the skin. It has also been shown to strengthen the skin barrier. Plant-derived propanediol acts as a humectant and helps the other ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively. IHME is therefore an exceptionally versatile essence that hydrates, renews, strengthens the skin barrier, brightens the complexion, and helps address signs of aging.
USAGE TIPS:
Many people ask whether IHME is suitable for their skin type, so I have gathered together recommendations for various skin concerns.
If your skin is dry, dehydrated, normal, oily, or if you are specifically targeting signs of aging, you can use IHME every evening. If your skin is sensitive, reactive, or thin, start with a few evenings per week. Because it contains acids, IHME is best used at night.
IHME can also be used as a treatment course. After finishing one bottle, you can take a break if desired. If your skin loves it, there is no need to stop.
For skin conditions involving sensitivity, suitability varies individually. IHME often works well for eczema-prone skin because lactic acid is a gentle acid and frequently beneficial for sensitive skin. However, if eczema is accompanied by heightened sensitivity, start slowly with 2–3 uses per week. If no unwanted reactions occur, increase to nightly use.
For rosacea, suitability is also individual. Some people experience reduced redness and breakouts, while others may find their skin becomes irritated. If you have rosacea, I recommend beginning with just a few applications per week.
If you have perioral dermatitis (POD), avoid using IHME during active flare-ups. Once the skin has clearly calmed and symptoms have disappeared, you may try introducing it, as its pH-balancing and barrier-strengthening effects may help prevent future flare-ups. For POD-prone skin, IHME is generally best used 2–3 times per week and as a treatment course, with breaks between bottles.
There have also been many positive experiences using IHME for acne. Since acne varies greatly and sensitivity can sometimes be involved, the same advice about introducing it gradually applies. If your skin is resilient, nightly use is possible.
If you are still unsure whether IHME is right for your skin, I recommend looking at the results from the 15-person IHME test group, which includes experiences from a wide range of skin types.
EFFECTS I HAVE NOTICED ON MY OWN SKIN:
My skin becomes noticeably brighter and more even-toned thanks to IHME. It also clearly reduces congestion. Signs of aging such as fine lines, pigmentation changes, and uneven texture appear diminished. My skin feels balanced in terms of tone, blemishes, and various unexpected reactions. It looks and feels fresh and healthy.
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND IHME TO:
Anyone concerned with signs of aging such as pigmentation changes and fine lines. Beyond treating existing signs of aging, IHME is also excellent for prevention. It is ideal for dull skin that needs more brightness, radiance, and evenness. It is also excellent for congested skin with blackheads and impurities. For dehydrated skin, IHME often provides quick relief. For anyone seeking multiple benefits from a single product and wanting to simplify their routine, IHME is a wonderful choice. It can replace a serum and eliminates the need for a separate exfoliating product.
Many of my facial clients have found IHME to be an excellent addition to their skincare routine.
SILEÄ SILKY FACIAL OIL
The name describes the product perfectly: Silky Facial Oil for Resilience and Glow. SILEÄ was the very first skincare product launched within the Yin Your Skin line and was originally presented primarily as a facial oil for gua sha. However, don't let that limit how you use it. It is designed as a daily skincare product, even though it works beautifully for gua sha as well.
Use the facial oil morning and evening after your other skincare products to lock hydration into the skin. SILEÄ does not clog pores or feel heavy. It also works beautifully under makeup, though I recommend using a lighter amount during the day than in the evening.
Its rich yet silky texture spreads beautifully and feels wonderful on the skin. This is a nourishing oil that enhances skin vitality. It calms the skin, helps it feel more balanced and content, and noticeably brightens the complexion.
The oil is a carefully crafted blend of high-quality cold-pressed plant oils. Cold-pressed oils preserve the full active potential of the plants, seeds, and berries from which they are derived. SILEÄ contains chia seed oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids including omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9. These fatty acids help calm inflammation, balance oil production, improve elasticity, firm the skin, and leave it wonderfully soft. Chia seed oil helps soften, smooth, and plump dry skin and fine dehydration lines. It is particularly beneficial for mature skin and skin showing premature signs of aging caused by lifestyle factors, stress, or inflammation.
Grapefruit seed oil is rich in vitamin E, flavonoids, and beneficial fatty acids. It nourishes dry skin, protects against free-radical damage and premature aging, and supports skin renewal. Poppy seed oil contains beneficial fatty acids and minerals and acts as an antioxidant. It is excellent for dry skin, fine lines, eczema, and sensitivity. SILEÄ also contains lingonberry seed oil, which brightens the complexion, improves hydration, and smooths fine lines. Altogether, SILEÄ is a remarkable blend for nourishing, protecting, and strengthening the skin.
The essential oils in SILEÄ include geranium, immortelle (helichrysum), and blue tansy. The oil’s greenish-blue color comes from blue tansy, known for its soothing and redness-reducing properties. Geranium helps renew and firm the skin. Immortelle brightens and evens out the complexion while reducing redness. Blue tansy refreshes, calms, and helps soothe redness.
The scent is sophisticated and luxurious. It is not overpowering, but rather complements the oil’s soft and nurturing character. The aroma has a calming aromatherapeutic effect. I absolutely love its gentle, luxurious, and relaxing fragrance.
EFFECTS I HAVE NOTICED ON MY OWN SKIN:
My skin becomes noticeably more balanced, softer, and calmer when I use SILEÄ. Sensitivity decreases, redness is reduced, and breakouts become easier to manage. My complexion appears brighter, more radiant, and more even-toned. SILEÄ is and will remain my personal favorite facial oil because my skin truly loves it.
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND SILEÄ TO:
SILEÄ is suitable for all skin types. Anyone with sensitive skin should definitely try it. Because it effectively calms the skin, it can also work beautifully for many people dealing with perioral dermatitis (POD). It is suitable for daily use and layers well under makeup. It does not clog pores and is an excellent treatment oil for acne-prone skin. Try SILEÄ if your skin is prone to redness or reacts easily. It is an excellent choice if you are looking for balance, brightness, softness, and support for signs of aging.
SALVA CLEANSING POTION CLEANSING BALM
SALVA is an extraordinary cleansing balm that truly needs to be experienced to be fully understood. It offers an aromatherapeutic experience that beautifully grounds you during your evening cleansing ritual. Apply SALVA to dry skin with dry hands and then emulsify it with water. Take your time massaging it into the skin. As water is added, the balm transforms into a creamy texture. Continue massaging to fully benefit from its skincare properties. If it doesn't emulsify easily, simply add more water or a little more balm. After a thorough massage and rinse, you'll be left with remarkably bright and radiant skin.
The balm contains cucumber seed oil and tamanu seed oil. These oils nourish and calm the skin while leaving it incredibly soft. Cucumber seed oil is rich in vitamin E, which helps protect against free-radical damage. It also contains phytosterols that help smooth fine lines and improve firmness by supporting collagen production. In addition, it contains linoleic acid, which helps calm inflammation, blemishes, and redness. Oils rich in linoleic acid are particularly beneficial for acne-prone skin. More broadly, cucumber seed oil is an excellent ingredient for inflammatory skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. This balm should therefore not be overlooked if your skin is oily or blemish-prone—quite the opposite.
Tamanu seed oil offers antibacterial and antiseptic benefits, making it another excellent ingredient for blemish-prone skin. It helps calm inflammation, breakouts, and redness while strengthening the skin and its protective barrier. It also supports skin renewal, making it useful for fading scars, pigmentation changes, and post-breakout marks. Its alpha-linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids help strengthen the skin barrier.
The balm also contains green clay, which attracts dirt, impurities, and excess sebum from the skin. It improves microcirculation, supports renewal, and helps purify the complexion. Green clay also firms the skin and helps reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. It reduces inflammation, calms breakouts, and soothes skin irritation and sensitivity.
The essential oils chosen for the cleanser are cardamom and lemongrass. To my nose, cardamom is the first note that stands out, and I absolutely love it. It is both refreshing and warmly calming. Cardamom essential oil stimulates the skin and improves microcirculation. As I've mentioned repeatedly throughout this article, the skin looks incredibly bright after cleansing. Lemongrass essential oil contributes refreshing, cleansing, and antiseptic properties.
SALVA is an exceptionally treatment-focused cleansing balm that few other cleansers on the market can match. It feels more like a short daily facial treatment than a cleanser. Its silky-soft texture pampers the skin, and if you take your time during cleansing, the difference in your skin becomes genuinely noticeable.
EFFECTS I HAVE NOTICED ON MY OWN SKIN:
SALVA effortlessly removes all makeup—even waterproof mascara, long-wearing foundation, and sunscreen. It is worth taking the time to massage the balm thoroughly into the skin because the longer contact time produces immediate visible results. My skin looks noticeably brighter and more radiant immediately after cleansing, and with regular use the improvement in overall brightness is remarkable. After cleansing, the skin feels soft and nourished, and even very dry skin never feels tight. I consider SALVA my own little facial treatment every evening because of the visible difference it makes to my complexion.
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND SALVA TO:
SALVA is suitable for all skin types. It is especially beneficial for irritated skin that needs calming and balancing support. It is also an excellent choice for blemish-prone or acne-prone skin because it contains numerous ingredients specifically beneficial for these concerns. It works beautifully for skin that needs more brightness and a more even complexion. For dry skin, its nourishing properties make it particularly wonderful. Even the driest skin never feels tight after cleansing.