The Top Korean Skincare Products On The Market
In recent years, there has been an increasing fascination with Asian Beauty products in the West. Korean beauty products in particular have risen in prominence for their effective, advanced formulations, unusual textures, and downright adorable packaging choices. We have become fascinated with the seemingly elaborate skincare routines from places like Korea and want in on it too. A mere few years ago, you were only able to find these beauty products on shelves in Asian countries. Today, some of the top Korean skincare products are increasingly being brought over and introduced into mainstream Western beauty stores. The availability of Korean skincare from online retailers is also escalating. With the broadening selection, what are the top Korean skincare products you need to try?
In This Post
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Korean Beauty Expanding Worldwide
When I return to Asia, I relish being able to browse the skincare shelves of beauty stores such as Sasa. Everything from snail mucin face masks, to egg pore masks and miracle-working BB creams are immense fixtures in Asian beauty stores. The kind of peculiar formulations that would have made us wince at the sound a few years ago, are now beginning to adorn the shelves of our beauty stores in the West as well.
It is a dream of mine to be able to go to Korea and immerse myself into all their top Korean skincare products and beauty offerings. For now, the wonderful phenomenon of the internet means that we are able to indulge in the same products, without having to splash thousands of dollars on an air ticket and accommodation. The distance most definitely has not stopped me from investigating the beauty of all things K-beauty.
While in the West we are greatly reliant on the makeup and beauty products we put on our faces, in Asia women place a great deal of significance on fostering a good skincare routine. In the West we tend to splurge on the detailed makeup routine, false lashes and beauty treatments. Asian women will keep their makeup more minimal, emphasising proper skin care before any makeup or additional embellishments.
First Part of the Korean Skincare Series
In this post, I have compiled a list of some of the hottest K-beauty skincare brands and their star products. Because there are so many Korean skincare lines to choose from, this blog post sums up five of my top Korean skincare products that are also available online globally. Unfortunately not every retailer will stock every product from a certain brand, and many online retailers offer a limited selection from each line. In this post I will also be letting you know the exact destinations you can source each product, from reputable retailers.
The purpose of this blog post is to act as a little introduction to some of the star Korean brands and their hero products. Perhaps you are already familiar with Korean skincare or would like some guidance so you can dip your toe into it. In subsequent posts I will be following up with additional K-beauty brands that you need to look out for and introducing more K-beauty products to be aware of.
So, whether you are planning a trip to Asia, or would like a little introduction to these brands before making an online purchase, this blog post has you covered. Make sure to keep an eye out for my upcoming articles about more of the top Korean skincare products, and posts all about K-beauty makeup. If there is a particular brand you would like to know more about, please leave me a request and I will happily look into it for you in my upcoming posts.
COSRX
Top Korean Skincare Products
COSRX is a Korean brand that incorporates some seriously interesting ingredients into their formulations. With a minimalistic packaging design, the brand’s main focus is their formulas. They include a substantial array of acne products, chemical exfoliants, and the ever-famous snail secretion filtrate. I am a fan of this brand because while presenting innovative formulations, they do not include overly fragranced options or many harsh preservatives in their products.
Top Korean Skincare Products from COSRX
Acne Pimple Patches
How can we mention COSRX without a tribute to their highly acclaimed pimple patches? They are a top Korean skincare product because of the smart concept behind them. These patches treat blemishes as a wound using a hydrocolloid material similar to that of the dressings used for wounds. The hydrocolloid patches will keep you from touching your blemishes and eliminates the acne-causing bacteria without drying out skin. Stick them on overnight and wake up to find your raised spot has flattened or your whitehead has disappeared entirely. An absolute gamechanger in your acne fighting tool kit.
Acne pimple patches available here internationally, from one of my favourite beauty sites. You can also find the acne pimple patches at Beautytap.
Galactomyces Alcohol Free Toner
Galactomyces is quite an obscure skincare ingredient in the Western world but is used in Asian beauty products. It is a type of yeast that has undergone a filtration and fermentation process. If that sounds a little gross to you, have no fear. Although I am a little sick of learning about filtration, fermentation and other chemical processes from my Chemical Engineering degree, I absolutely love fermented products. I am a huge fan of fermented food products and I love that these ingredients are increasing in popularity in skincare. I will give you all the details for exactly why I love fermented ingredients in a future post. But for now, trust me when I say that fermentation is awesome.
Galactomyces has been shown in dermatological studies to reduce skin pigmentation and oxidative stress. For more details about oxidative stress, click here. It has an antioxidant effect and hydrates the skin. Aside from galactomyces, this COSRX toner also contains skin soothing allantoin, hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium hyaluronate, and panthenol for additional moisture. Read this article for more of the best products containing hyaluronic acid and pathenol. This toner is perfect if you are wanting to try the seven-skin toner method (more on that in an upcoming article) and is also free of any stripping or drying denatured alcohols.
You can check out the Galactomyces toner on this beauty site. Also available here.
Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream
If you are in search of some deep moisturisation, this rich COSRX cream will certainly give you just that. It contains humectants like glycerine and hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin while containing various non-fragrant plant oils. It provides intense hydration without feeling overly occlusive or heavy on and contains no fragrance or very irritating preservatives. Read this complete comprehensive guide to hyaluronic acid.
Available here (currently out of stock) or from Beautytap.
If you would like to save some money, click on this link to save $15 off all orders over $100 with code BEAUTYTAP100 at Beautytap
Low PH PHA Barrier Mist
I wanted to include this product with the top Korean skincare products to check out because it contains the polyhydroxy acid gluconolactone. You do not commonly find PHA products in many Western brands, which tend to focus more heavily on AHA and BHA products instead. However, PHA is included in some of the top Korean skincare products for a reason. Gluconolactone is far gentler than regular alpha hydroxy acids but has similar benefits. This makes it ideal for those with extra sensitive skin conditions such as rosacea prone skin.
COSRX PHA mist can be used for “sandwiching” between skincare steps. Damp skin allows greater penetration of subsequent product ingredients so it is great for this purpose. It works to hydrate the skin, chelate metals, and provide antioxidant activity. If you want to know why I’m so crazy about antioxidants, check out this post about antioxidants.
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Blithe
Top Korean Skincare Products from Blithe
Blithe has some of the top Korean skincare products available. The brand places an emphasis on protecting from this concept of “polluaging” (that is, ageing as a result of environmental pollution). It has been designed for the women who leads an urban lifestyle, with a view to combat everyday environmental and city stressors. Blithe has got you covered to maintain glowing skin regardless of your environment. From luxurious pressed serums to its ingenious splash masks and essences, they are amongst the top Korean skincare products. The entire line is free of parabens and synthetic fragrance, which is fabulous for those of us who have problematic or highly reactive skin.
Top Korean Skincare Products from Blithe
Patting Splash Mask
The Koreans love their face mask ritual. And some of the top Korean skincare products available are the face masks. These Blithe splash masks are intended to give similar benefits of regular face masks and sheet masks without having to wait 20 minutes for your mask to work its magic. These masks are designed to be added to water then splashed and pat onto the face after cleansing for instant visible results. You can choose between the Energy Yellow Citrus and Honey, Soothing and Healing Green tea, or Rejuvenating variety.
I prefer the Rejuvenating Purple Berry because it does not contain lavender or peppermint, both of which I find have the tendency to aggravate my skin. Each variation of the splash mask contains lactic acid to help exfoliate for a brighter skin tone. I do not advocate for relying on face masks over a regular consistent skin care routine, but you have to admit they do add some fun into your regimen.
If you are in the UK, I like to purchase my Blithe products over here. In the US, they are available at Sephora online.
Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum
A pressed serum is Blithe’s serum and moisturiser hybrid. It can be used in as a replacement to the separate serum and moisturiser steps in your routine. This product comes with a spatula for a more hygienic application of the serum. It has a pudding-like texture that melts into skin on application.
This serum contains 60% Chaga mushroom extract and various oils like argan and olive oil. Chaga mushrooms are rich in nutrients and have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. If you want to know why you need antioxidants, read this article. There is also interesting research showing these mushrooms may have some cancer fighting properties!
You can find Chaga Serum in the US and Chaga Serum in the UK.
Vital Treatment Essence
My blog post all about what essences are is coming up. In the meantime, here is a sneak peek recommendation for a great Korean essence line. The Blithe 8 Nourishing Beans essence contains a number of beans, such as soybeans, black beans and kidney beans, which are rich in amino acids and vitamins. It is very hydrating and contains vitamin E for additional healing and antioxidant benefits.
This formula does contain a small amount of peppermint. As I previously mentioned, peppermint can be a little sensitising to my skin. I do not find that I have too much of a problem with this essence relative to other peppermint containing products I have tried. But it does depend on how my skin is behaving on a particular day. If you aren’t quite as ridiculously sensitive as I am and are on the hunt for an essence to add to your routine, I don’t think you will be disappointed in this choice.
More options
The slightly more underrated variety, Blithe 9 Essential Seeds essence, agrees with my skin a little more. I love it for its brightening properties. As an acne-prone individual with Mediterranean/Asian skin, I tend to deal with a great deal of hyperpigmentation after I have had a blemish. What I love about the top Korean skincare products and ranges, is the emphasis on brightening and correcting the uneven skin tone I struggle with.
The Hydrating Essence with 5 Energy Roots is also a wonderful choice. Not only will it combat dull, dehydrated skin, but also works to calm inflammation. It contains some of my favourite ingredients like burdock root and ginseng. I consume both herbs on a regular basis and they are popular ingredients in Asian medicine. Let me know if you would like a blog post about more Asian herbal remedies and ingredients like these!
Shop Blithe
Dr Jart
Top Korean Skincare Products from Dr Jart
The Dr Jart brand is the result of a Korean dermatologist’s foray into skincare back in the early 2000s. The line now has developed somewhat of a worldwide cult following. I was first introduced to this line after hearing about their outstanding BB creams, which if you haven’t heard, are pretty fantastic.
Dr Jart has a vivid selection of products ranging from sheet masks to ceramide-rich creams to beauty balms. The brand has definitely introduced some of the top Korean skincare products to the market. The line is not heavy on irritants and the clean packaging takes on somewhat of a pharmaceutical quality.
Top Korean Skincare Products from Dr Jart
Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45
This Dr Jart product instigated the BB cream craze of a few years ago when it was brought to the West. Its introduction catalysed every other brand’s jump on the Beauty Balm bandwagon. It provides a light tint although the shade range is a little limited. As opposed to pink or yellow undertone shades, Korean beauty lies within a more neutral spectrum. You will find many K-beauty BB creams lean towards a somewhat grey, neutral undertone, and this BB cream is no exception.
On days when you simply don’t have the time to go through an elaborate skincare routine and makeup application, BB creams are a great, easy option. This product works just fine without a moisturiser and I don’t find I need a primer. Like many top Korean skincare products, it also provides a good amount of SPF. Be aware that you would need to use a significant amount of product to achieve sufficient protection. You may not want to rely on this as your sole SPF on particularly sunny days. Make sure to read this post about sun damage and the fundamentals of SPF.
Ceramidin Cream
This cream contains a number of ceramides, a few variations of hyaluronic acid, shea butter and other hydrating ingredients. If you struggle with dry, flaky skin, this product is worth trying. It does not feel overly greasy while still providing deep moisturisation. If you are experiencing a lot of irritation from overdoing the active ingredients and retinols, this cream is good to use to dilute the effects of harsher ingredients. Ceramides help the skin to retain moisture and enforce skin barrier function. This in turn helps to combat signs of irritation and dehydration.
You can get Dr Jart Ceramidin in the UK at Selfridges, or in the US at Sephora online.
Masks
Although I don’t believe sheet masks will ever be a substitute for an adequate daily skin care ritual, Korean skincare brands are huge on masking. Dr Jart offers a vast array of such sheet masks. These types of masks are designed to give you instant results, which is great for use before a big occasion. In the event you want to temporarily fill in lines or brighten skin, sheet masks are a must have. They also help makeup apply a lot more smoothly and are the perfect fix if you are feeling in need of a pamper session.
Aside from sheet masks, Dr Jart has recently introduced rubber-like masks to their line. The Dr Jart Shake and Shot Rubber masks are so much fun to use. They are rubbery and dry down to later be peeled off the face. The brightening mask contains the antioxidants sea buckthorn and Vitamin C to even skin tone (which, as I said, I absolutely love). Make sure to read more about antioxidants here. The rubber masks are even available in the UK.
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Erborian
Top Korean Skincare Products from Erborian
This line is inspired by ancient Korean traditions and herbs, coupled with new technologies to create innovative formulations and skincare products. Erborian features an expansive range of BB and CC cremes in different textures and finishes. Ancient herbs like ginseng and purifying ingredients like charcoal are a recurring theme in the line.
There is a particular focus on luminous skin, which is highly coveted in Asia, and of which I am a huge fan. Luminous skin is youthful, vibrant and full of life, as opposed to a dull, or overtly mattified look. The packaging is exquisite, and while certain products in the range can creep up in price, the line as a whole is not too overly pricey for the generous packaging sizes available.
Top Korean Skincare Products from Erborian
CC crème
Following the BB cream was the dawn of the CC cream. This particular skin perfecting cream has a luminous finish and leaves your skin with an extremely dewy finish. In Asia the transluscent, especially radiant “glass skin” is very popular. The Erborian CC cream will assist in achieving that look. It seamlessly blends into skin, correcting uneven tone and texture. It may not be officially a “skincare” product but its skin multitasking benefits do earn it a place with the top Korean skincare products.
Although the shade range is very limited, the finish of this product will aid in blending into a multitude of skin tones. It would be great to have a broader range of shades that more accurately match a variety of skin tones. However, it is important to note that many Asian brands tend to cater for a limited shade range. If you were to look at the market of people they are serving in Asia, skin tones tend to be particularly light in shade. Because these brands originated in Asia, they were originally intended for this Asian market.
Fortunately for us UK consumers, we can find this CC cream in a number of places. Available at:
And of course, US readers can easily purchase it from Sephora.
Eau Ginseng
This is a ginseng infused “lotion” that can be used as your toner or essence step. It contains soothing ingredients like licorice root extract and ginger. The addition of ginseng is great for energising and brightening. You can pat this onto clean skin before moisturising for additional hydration and to ensure a greater penetration of consecutive skincare ingredients.
This website is the only place you can reputably find Erborian Eau Giseng here in the UK (be quick because they are about to go out of stock!) In the US, get your Eau Ginseng here.
Black Cleansing Oil
Erborian’s Black Cleansing Oil contains charcoal for drawing out impurities from pores. It is to be massaged onto a dry face and is gentle enough for use on eyes. On contact with water, it transforms into an emulsion and dissolves your entire face of makeup. Cleansing oils and balms are great for when you have a face of heavy makeup on. With a full face, you do not want to have to use up endless makeup wipes or cotton pads soaked in makeup remover just to remove your makeup. It is an easy, one-step affair that does not leave your skin feeling stripped or excessively taut.
This brand also offers a broad range of konjac sponges for use with cleansers. These sponges are a brilliant, gentle, natural alternative to cleansing brushes and other abrasive facial tools.
In the UK, I have purchased my cleansing oil through this well-loved beauty store. If you’re in the US, get yourself over here for your black cleansing oil.
Shop Erborian
Laneige
Best of Laneige Skincare
Laneige is a brand under the branch of AmorePacific, a South Korean beauty conglomerate. The company also produces brands such as Etude House, a very popular makeup line in Asia. I was made familiar with this brand as a result of encountering their cushion foundation five or six years ago, on a trip to Sephora in Asia.
It is a line that is primarily focused on hydration and adopting trendy new skincare concepts. Laneige products capitalise on the Asian fixation with glowing, sparkling skin. Their innovative products are created to help you achieve just that.
Top Korean Skincare Products from Laneige
BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF 50
Cushion foundations and BB creams are extremely prominent in Korea and other parts of Asia. While the trend has not quite taken off with the same enthusiasm in the West, in Asia you will find BB cushions from every beauty brand. Even brands that are available globally such as Urban Decay produce a BB cushion that is exclusive to the Asian market. The Laneige BB Cushion is a high-quality option with sturdy, beautifully chic packaging. I would not usually include makeup products in a post dedicated to skin care. However, these BB cream options I have been listing are more makeup/skincare hybrids.
The Laneige BB cushion is perfect for brightening a dull skin tone and improving signs of dehydration. If you find your skin is looking a little lacklustre, a radiance boosting base product like this is perfect. It is great for women of any age who would like to restore radiance to their complexion and maintain a youthful glow. The fact that it comes in a cushion compact makes it convenient for touch ups. Because it contains SPF 50, it is great for SPF top ups throughout the day. This version contains fine pearls, but if you don’t love the look of dewy skin, the regular BB cushion is less radiant in finish. You may also wish to set it to minimise shine. If you are extremely oily, this type of product will likely not be to your taste because of its luminosity.
Korean Beauty is all about radiance
Many Asian base products focus on enhancing skin and improving tone, rather like skincare, before providing coverage. Western beauty brands tend to focus on the level of coverage and longevity. They may then include additional selling points such as certain skin-friendly ingredients. By contrast, you will find that Asian products will provide less coverage and be less of that bulletproof staying power. They prefer to endorse the skin benefits you will be achieving from wearing the product. After all, they were the pioneers of the BB cream, which was intended as the original fusion of skincare and makeup. Basically, with Western brands the skincare benefits are just a bonus. With Asian brands, the coverage or tint is the bonus.
LANEIGE BB Cushion
Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance (US)
Water Sleeping Mask
Sleeping Masks
This Laneige sleeping mask is rich in humectants such as glycerine and sodium hyaluronate to attract water to the skin. It even contains some vitamin C derivatives for extra brightening properties. Use this product as the final step in your night-time skin care routine. You can apply it a couple of times a week after moisturiser, on days your skin is feeling particularly parched. After being left on overnight, you will wake up with plump, bouncy skin.
Laneige Water Sleeping Pack (Sleeping Mask)
Water Sleeping Mask (US)
Lip Sleeping Mask
As I have said time and time again, K-beauty are King of masks. And now they have nailed lip masks too. Rather than mess with lip scrubs and exfoliators on my lips, I make sure that I am actively preventing my lips from drying out. During sleep your lips are at their most likely to become dry. It is therefore critical that you do not leave lips bare overnight. A good lip balm or moisturiser will act as a barrier, preventing the evaporation of moisture from lips.
This Laneige lip mask is designed to work in the same way as the facial sleeping mask. It retains moisture overnight and prevents the drying out of skin. Unlike the Water Sleeping Mask, which you may not want to be using every single night, this lip mask is great for your nightly routine. I really appreciate that both this mask and the water mask come with spatulas for sanitation purposes.
Lip Sleeping Mask (US) and the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in the UK
Shop Laneige
More K-beauty to come
I could talk K-beauty and top Korean skincare products all day, but I will spare you from information overload in one post. Keep an eye out for the upcoming instalments to my Korean skincare series. This has been the first part in my Asian and K-beauty series and there are many more articles to come. I hope you found this informative and were introduced to some great failproof K-beauty brands and top Korean skincare products you need to try.
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Have you tried any K-beauty brands? What are your top Korean skincare products?
Wishing you boundless love, endless light, and life without limit,
Shannon xo
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.