Capsule creams are one of my favorite K-beauty product discoveries as of late, and VT Cosmetics is one of the brands doing them best. If you haven’t seen these boba-like creams all over TikTok, capsule creams are moisturizers containing “capsules” filled with active ingredients like retinol, PDRN, etc., and when applied to your skin, they break apart and release their actives. Not only does the capsule delivery system offer enhanced stability and potency, but it makes a mundane skin-care routine more fun, which is something Korean beauty is known for.
One of my favorite capsule creams right now is VT Cosmetics’ PDRN Capsule Cream 100 ($20), which is especially beneficial for dry or dehydrated skin and a great lightweight option for summer. Here’s my honest review.
The Benefits of This PDRN Capsule Cream
Beyond its eye-catching, cushiony texture (I love the sensory experience and silky finish), this fragrance-free capsule cream combines PDRN, peptides, ceramides and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid into one lightweight gel cream I look forward to putting on my skin.
The suspended blue capsules contain VT Cosmetics’ Phyto PDRN Complex (plant-derived PDRN; no salmon DNA), while the surrounding gel-cream supplies hydration and barrier support with niacinamide, ceramides, squalane, shea butter and a peptide blend that includes copper tripeptide-1 and multiple signal peptides. It also features an impressive blend of hyaluronic acid derivatives that hydrate the skin at multiple levels. In fact, it’s clinically proven to help improve skin barrier function by reducing transepidermal water loss.
If I use it in the morning, it layers well under makeup and gives my skin a really pretty, glass-skin glow, but it also feels substantial enough to use as a night cream. My skin always looks dewy and feels more hydrated in the morning.
You can also customize your experience depending on how many capsules you blend into each application. I generally like to use two capsules per application, applying one to each cheek and massaging outward across my whole face. The brand recommends two for dry or sensitive skin. If you’re oily or acne-prone, you can probably use just one capsule and more gel, but try different combinations until you find what suits your skin best.
The bottom line: If you have dry or dehydrated skin and want a lightweight yet nourishing moisturizer, this is a great one to try.
