CNP Laboratory Skincare

CNP Laboratory is a South Korean skincare brand with roots in a dermatology clinic. Its formulas target dryness, visible pores, rough texture and other everyday skin concerns. The best-known products are the Propolis Energy Active Ampule, the Invisible Peeling Booster, the PDRN serums and the Lipcerin lip butters. Sunscreen, cleansers and moisturizers round out the line.

Yes. CNP traces back to the Cha & Park dermatology practice, which opened in South Korea in 1996. That's where the "C" and "P" come from. CNP Cosmetics was founded in 2000 to bring that clinic experience into products people could use at home. It later became part of LG Household & Health Care, one of Korea's biggest beauty companies.

LG Household & Health Care, a South Korean company that also owns several other beauty and personal care brands. LG H&H bought a controlling stake in CNP Cosmetics in 2014. CNP still runs as its own skincare brand and sells in Korea and a number of other markets, including the US.

The Propolis Energy Active Ampule. CNP says it has been a steady seller since 2005, and it's the bottle most people start with. The Honey Lip Butter and Jelly Lipcerin have a big following too, along with the Invisible Peeling Booster and the newer PDRN serums. In Korea, the Anti-Pore Blackhead Clear Kit is another classic.

It's a light, slightly bouncy serum that hydrates and gives dull skin a bit of glow. Along with two kinds of propolis extract, it has hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan for moisture and madecassoside to calm things down. Use 2–3 drops after toner and before moisturizer, morning or night. It comes in 1.18 fl oz (35 ml) and 0.5 fl oz sizes. If you're sensitive to bee products, patch test first.

It's a two-step nose treatment. Put the first sheet on for about 10–15 minutes to soften the gunk in your pores. Peel it off and gently wipe the loosened buildup away with the cotton swab from the kit. Then put the second sheet on for 5–10 minutes to calm and hydrate the area. Don't squeeze or scrape, and go by the directions printed on your kit, since versions vary.

No. It clears out what's there now and makes pores look cleaner for a while, but your skin keeps making oil, so blackheads come back. Good cleansing and a gentle exfoliant like the Invisible Peeling Booster help between treatments. The kit isn't in CNP's US Amazon store at the moment. For pores, the Propolis Rescue Ampule is the closest option in the current US lineup.

It smooths rough texture by loosening dead skin on the surface. It's a leave-on essence with gluconolactone (a PHA), plus allantoin and panthenol to keep skin comfortable. Pump one or two pushes onto clean, dry skin before toner, and don't rinse. Start every other night. If you also use retinol or other acids, go slower. The bottle is 3.38 fl oz (100 ml).

PDRN products use DNA fragments, listed as Sodium DNA on the label, to help with hydration and smoother, bouncier-looking skin. CNP's US lineup has the Active Boost 1:1 Ampule and Toner, which focus on fine lines and firmness, plus the TX-PDRN serum and Pink Toning Toner, which add tranexamic acid for uneven tone. These are cosmetics. They won't do what injectable PDRN does at a clinic.

CNP has sold retinol products in some markets, but its US Amazon store doesn't carry one right now. For fine lines in the current lineup, look at the Active Boost 1:1 Ampule with PDRN. For rough texture, try the Invisible Peeling Booster. If you already use a retinol from another brand, use it in the evening, skip the peeling booster that night, and wear sunscreen every day.

Honey Lip Butter is a thick, cushiony balm in a 0.5 fl oz jar with a twist dial. It works best as an overnight lip mask and comes in Original, Berry, Lime, Mint and three Café flavors. Jelly Lipcerin is a 0.3 fl oz glossy tube with a soft cushion tip. It's made for wearing during the day, either clear (Honey Cake) or lightly tinted in Pink Donut, Caramel Pudding, Cherry Pie and Grapefruit Candy.

Many of the formulas are tested on sensitive skin, but it comes down to the product. Barrier Reset Cream, Aqua Soothing Gel Cream and the Propolis Energy Ampule are gentler places to start than the exfoliants or the TX-PDRN serum, which can tingle. Some products contain fragrance or propolis, and either can bother reactive skin. Read the ingredient list and patch test before putting anything new on your whole face.

Most of them, yes. The toners, the Propolis Energy Ampule, the moisturizers, the lip butters and the sunscreen are all made for daily use. The Invisible Peeling Booster and the Rescue Powder Wash are exfoliants, so build up to them slowly. Treatments like the Blackhead Clear Kit are for once in a while. Follow the directions for each product instead of using everything every day.

Yes. In the US, CNP sells Daily Milky Light Sunscreen, a broad spectrum SPF 50 with niacinamide and panthenol. It has a light, lotion-like feel, doesn't leave a white cast, and works for face and body. In Asia you'll also see formulas like Tone-Up Protection Sun SPF42 PA+++, but those are made for other markets. Apply plenty, and reapply at least every two hours outdoors or after swimming or sweating.

In the US, the simplest option is CNP Laboratory's brand store on Amazon, which the shop buttons on this page link to. CNP products are also sold through beauty retailers and marketplaces in other countries, and Korean or Japanese versions can differ in size, formula and packaging. Whatever you buy, check the product name, size and ingredient list, and make sure the seller is legit.