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Ever since South Korea introduced the UK to BB creams back in 2011, we've been looking to the far East for the latest makeup and skincare innovations, and so far, we’ve not been disappointed.
SoKo has become the global epicentre for cool new beauty products, from sheet masks to cushion foundations, and essences to sleep masks. Brands such as COSRX, Glow Recipe and Dr. Jart+ have gained cult status for their innovative, skin-perfecting formulas, and adding steps to our beauty routines we didn’t even know we needed (but wouldn’t be without now).
“Korean women are always trying to achieve flawless, glowing skin, so the demand for good-quality products is very high,” explains Maree Kinder, founder of beautyandSeoul.co.uk, a curated edit of the best Korean skincare. “Due to this demand, skincare companies invest huge amounts into their research and development – delivering elegant formulas based on the latest research.” Maree also adds that the level of industry competition means prices stay reasonably low for high-quality products – lucky us!
“Personally, I don't believe in the Korean 10-Step Routine,” admits Maree. “K-Beauty for me is all about knowing your skin type and treating it accordingly.” Still feeling overwhelmed by the choice? She advises starting with a gentle, low-PH cleanser that won’t dry out the skin (Cosrx Low-pH Good Morning Cleanser, £14 is a best-seller on her site), and if you don’t use one already, invest in a daily SPF!
Fancy dipping your toe into the world of Korean beauty buys? Below are some glow-giving game-changers to add to your cart…
If your skin is congested and prone to breakouts, this no-messing exfoliating solution could be the answer to your prayers. Containing 4% natural BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid), it keeps pores clear of debris, while hydrating and brightening with white willow bark and niacinamide. It’s easy to use – just apply a thin layer over your T-zone after cleansing at night, then follow with your serum and moisturiser. New to chemical exfoliants? Ease yourself in by applying every other night to begin with – this brand does not hold back on its concentrations.
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment
When a product goes viral on TikTok, you know it’s a game-changer. It might feel counter-intuitive to smother green cream all over your face, but it instantly cancels out any redness (opposite ends of the colour wheel), adapting to your skin tone and priming it for makeup. Although you apply this after your moisturiser, it still boasts plenty of skin-loving ingredients too, such as soothing tiger grass, humectants to draw in moisture and even a probiotic to support the skin's microbiome.
Yes, the bottle and name are cute (as is the idea of applying a “skincare highlighter”), but what we’re more drawn to is the key ingredient. Niacinamide (teamed with plenty of moisture-drawing humectants) ticks all the brightening, soothing and barrier-building boxes. The light, tack-free formula can be applied under makeup or even patted over the top of it, leaving a “wet glow” without any help from light-reflecting particles such as mica or glitter. Glass skin with all the benefits of a hydrating serum? Sold.
It’s essentially just a really good, skin-quenching night cream, but the noticeable affects you see the next morning make it feel more like a treatment. Don’t underestimate the light-gel consistency, or the fact it melts into the skin almost instantly. It’s chock-full of hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus vitamin-and-antioxidant-packed prickly pear seed oil and centella asiatica (also a key ingredient in the Dr.Jart Correcting Treatment mentioned above). Dry, flaky skin will be plump and radiant by morning – leaving the perfect canvas for makeup application.
Another super-hydrating gel formula that absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue. So why this one over the trillions of other hyaluronic products? It boasts a triple hyaluronic acid complex, meaning it contains three different molecular weights of the acid, which penetrate to varying depths of the skin. Dry complexions will drink this up, and you’ll have to refrain from stroking the silky texture it leaves behind.
Pimple patches are all over Instagram, and although these ones don’t come in pretty star shapes, they’re one of the best on the market. They contain hydrocolloid to help speed up the healing process of an already open or oozing whitehead, and are also good for people who have the tendency to pick at their spots. The weightless, anti-bacterial patches calm inflammation, and can even be worn under foundation to avoid piling makeup onto an open sore.
We couldn’t do a Korean roundup without including a snail-slime product now could we? Dry heaving aside, snail secretions contain a cocktail of chemicals that help snails to regenerate after an injury. These include hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and moisturising allatoin (to name a few). Snails aren’t killed in order for these products to be made, but the process used to harvest the slime is thought to be a bit stressful for them, so if that niggles at your conscience, we don't blame you for moving on. These delicate gel patches are also laced with 24k gold and peptides, so you’ll look far from sluggish after using them.
There is no ingredient more soothing than aloe vera – ask an expert how to treat sunburn, and they’ll tell you to smother a bit of aloe on ASAP. The fact that this product is almost entirely aloe vera based is really promising (we’ll ignore the teeny-tiny amount of fragrance). Because it’s (almost) pure, you have to compromise on texture (a bit thick and sticky while you wait for it to sink in), but the skin softening and calming benefits make it a must-have for your sun-care stash.
COSRX Aloe Soothing SPF50 PA+++ Sun Cream
With Korean labs constantly pushing boundaries when it comes to formula stability and effectiveness, it’s no surprise their sunscreens are considered some of the best. This fast absorbing, grease-free face protector is laced with aloe vera (remember how soothing that is for sunburn?) and works well on all skin tones because it doesn’t leave that tell-tale white residue behind. Super hydrating, you can even try switching out your usual moisturiser.
It might feel like we’re bombarding you with dewy, glow-giving formulas ideal for dry skin types, but the key to battling excess sebum is keeping skin hydrated. Next? Mattify without drying out, which is where this matte-finish cream comes in. It contains silica, an absorbent powder found in clay, that drinks up excess oil and keeps makeup looking fresher for longer on oiler skin types. It also contains a combination of bamboo sheath extract and bamboo sap to hydrate, so can be used in place of a moisturiser, or as the last step before makeup.
Masque Bar Pretty Animalz by masqueBAR Tiger Sheet Mask
If you hadn’t noticed, Koreans love a sheet mask, and we couldn’t help including this one for its fun-factor and selfie potential. The ingredients aren’t to be sniffed at either: moisture-drawing glycerin, plus anti-inflammatory honeysuckle extract and skin-tone-improving grapefruit extract. If you’re going to sit with a sheet on your face for 15 minutes, you may as well make it a novelty tiger one, right?
If just hearing the word “toner” dries you out and makes you sting, hold up. Sure, alcohol-based toners are a NO, but ones that work with the skin’s natural PH to unplug pores without irritating the skin are most definitely a GO. Liquorice root extract is a known brightener, and it works alongside anti-inflammatory and antioxidant heroes peony flower and green tea extract. Wipe this herbal-smelling water over your face after cleansing, and any active ingredient that follows will have a much better chance of penetrating the skin.
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