Most people think of the infamous 10-step skincare routine when it comes to Korean beauty products, but that is not the reason K-Beauty has taken the world by storm in the past few years.
K-Beauty is also known for innovation, high efficacy and the use of natural ingredients. Many K-Beauty brands have recently made their way to our country. Here are a few of our favourites.
Dr. Belmeur’s CICA recovery Collection is a premium derma-cosmetic line that uses plant-based ingredients like ceramics to form a moisture barrier for our skin, pantheon (pro-vitamin B5) to moisturize and soothe, and tiger grass extract to heal. this collection is ideal for those with very sensitive and problem skin.
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Energize, smooth and strengthen your skin first with CICA Peptite Ampoule and follow with a generous application of CICA Advanced recovery Cream. the cream forms an immediate moisturizing and protective barrier to the elements, which is especially appreciated on cold, wintry days.
CICA Peptite Ampoule, $65
CICA Advanced Recovery Cream, $60
Amorepacific believes in unlocking the potency of nature through ingredients unique to Asia, such as green tea and bamboo sap. It even farms its own green tea on Jeju Island, whose volcanic soil is believed to be extremely rich in nutrients, producing some of the most desirable green tea in Asia.
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The Vintage single Extract Essence is an anti-aging essence with only six ingredients—the key one being vintage green tea from Dolsongi tea Garden on Jeju Island, which goes through 50 days of fermentation before being aged in traditional earthenware for another 50 days. In addition to being one of the world’s most potent antioxidants, this tea leaf extract also helps to improve skin’s clarity, texture and elasticity. Use morning and night after toning.
Vintage Single Extract Essence, 70ml | $125, 150ml | $230
Belif may not seem like a Korean brand at first glance. Its legacy began 160 years ago when scottish herbalist and botanist Duncan Napier founded a herbal clinic, and developed proprietary extraction processes and exclusive formulas. the brand inherited this knowledge, and applied modern Korean skincare science to create highperformance bestsellers, such as its renowned “bomb collection”.
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Two hero products lay the foundation for the brand: the true cream Aqua Bomb and true cream Moisturizing Bomb. Using lady’s mantle to soothe and keep skin trouble at bay, the Aqua Bomb is an ultra-lightweight, mineral oil-free gel cream that instantly cools and refreshes the skin while providing intensive hydration. targeting skin on the dry side, the Moisturizing Bomb is a 26-hour-lasting moisture keeper that uses the powerful effect of comfrey leaf to calm and reduce skin tautness. As of 2019, the Moisturizing Bomb had sold more than six million units worldwide.
The True Cream Aqua Bomb And True Cream Moisturizing Bomb, both 50ml | $50
Dr. Jart+ is not an actual person. the name is an abbreviation of “Doctor Joins Art”, and the brand’s motto is to fuse skincare with science and art. Founded in Korea in 2004, Dr. Jart+ pioneered the invention of the BB Cream, setting the standard for multifunctional beauty. today, there are nine different lines under its name, each focused on a specific ingredient or skin issue.
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For a dose of fun, try one of the shake & shot rubber Masks. Using the same “rubber mask” technique found in Korean spas, you need to mix the ingredient pack and the ampoule in the cup before applying to your face. In about 15 minutes, it transforms from a creamy mixture into a peel-off rubbery mask, delivering high-potency active ingredients. Choose from one of four formulas: hydration, soothing, brightening and firming.
Shake & Shot Rubber Masks, $16 each
Glow recipe lists its products by fruits on its website, and you will find the most delicious of product names: Banana soufflé Moisture Cream, Avocado Melt retinol Eye sleeping Mask and Plum Plump Hyaluronic serum. the brand began as an educational platform and curated an e-commerce site selling indie Korean brands in 2014. seeing a void in the North American market, it launched its eponymous skincare line three years later.
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A cult favourite that lives up to its hype, the Watermelon + AHA Glow sleeping Mask is pillow-proof, skin-smoothing and radianceboosting with an addictive scent. In fact, this 2019 sephora bestseller became so popular that shops just couldn’t keep it in stock, resulting in a 5,000-person waiting list at one point.
Watermelon + AHA Glow Sleeping Mask, 80ml | $59
Innisfree is another Korean brand based on natural ingredients from Jeju Island. Its name is inspired by William Butler yeats’ The Lake Isle of Innisfree, a lyric poem that expresses a longing to leave behind urban life for a beautiful peaceful island, where one can enjoy the fruits of nature’s abundance. Green tea features prominently in its ingredient list, together with more than 15 other ingredients responsibly sourced from the island, including camelia, cherry blossom, tangerine and lava seawater. Cutting-edge extraction methods help preserve their purity and potency from plant to bottle.
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While some of us turn to honey and ginger as a warming drink, the brand incorporates these familiar ingredients into its skincare products. Using ginger grown in fertile Jeju soil and honey originating from the yellow waves of canola flowers that the island sprouts every spring, the four-step collection process helps protect and nourish skin that’s been weakened by external stressors and dryness. the regimen includes Nourishing Ampoule toner with Ginger Honey, Nourishing Essential Emulsion with Ginger Honey, Nourishing Cream with Ginger Honey and Nourishing sleeping Mask with Ginger Honey.
Nourishing Ampoule Toner with Ginger Honey, 200ml | $28
Nourishing Essential Emulsion with Ginger Honey,160ml | $28
Nourishing Cream with Ginger Honey, 50ml | $35
Nourishing Sleeping Mask with Ginger Honey, 60ml | $30
Laneige is one of the earliest Korean brands to reach the international stage. Its name comes from the French “la neige”, which means snow. the brand is known for its vast range of hydration products. Deemed as “water science”, its flagship products include the Water Bank skin care line, Water sleeping Mask, BB Cushion foundation and two-tone lipsticks.
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Most will agree that facial masks and foundation don’t go well together. If you want to refine the look of your skin without wearing coloured foundation, just apply the Glowy Makeup serum as the final step of your morning routine, after you have applied moisturizer and sunscreen. this lightweight ceramide hydration gel locks in moisture while maintaining the skin’s oil-water balance. Extra-fine diamond mineral powder creates a visibly translucent glow and smooths the skin’s appearance without leaving messy marks on your mask. It can also be used as a makeup primer to provide a smooth and radiant base.
Glowy Makeup Serum, 30ml | $43
Sulwahsoo recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of studying the beautifying effect of Korean ginseng. the miraculous power of its roots has been known and used in Asia for centuries. taken as a food, it is renowned for its potency in promoting longevity and vitality. the brand’s research has found that the saponins from its roots and extracts from its berries also have a formidable anti-aging effect when applied to the skin.
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The two-piece Concentrated Ginseng renewing Creamy Mask is infused with the brand’s bestselling Concentrated Ginseng renewing Cream. touted as the world’s first-ever cream-textured sheet mask, it delivers the benefits of ginseng to the skin for age prevention, as well as to target dark spots, uneven skin and dehydration problems. Use twice a week after applying the Concentrated Ginseng renewing serum.
Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Creamy Mask, 5 sheets | $158
Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream, 60ml | $317
Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum, 50ml | $270
