Unusual Korean Skincare Ingredients You Need to Know About
It is about time I added another instalment to my series on Asian Skin Care. In my previous article about Top Korean Skincare Products, I introduced a few of my favourite K-beauty brands and some of their star products. Korean beauty is notorious for its highly innovative formulas and cutting-edge ingredients. In this post, I will be introducing a few interesting Korean Skincare Ingredients you need to know about. Some of these Korean skincare ingredients are a little unusual, but they are all worth keeping an eye out for, next time you are shopping K-beauty.
Snail Secretion Filtrate
What it is:
This is perhaps one of the most infamous Korean skincare ingredients. And it is exactly what it sounds like: snail slime produced by edible snails. (Fancy some escargot, anyone?)
Because South Korea now bans the testing of beauty products on animals, the harvesting snails is done with this in mind. Therefore, a number of quality K-beauty brand harvest their snail mucin as “gently” as possible. This is done in an attempt to apply as little external stress as possible to the snails.
Snails are left to roam around, leaving little trails of slime behind them. Then, once they go back home to chill after their stroll, the snail mucin is collected and processed for cosmetic use.
If snail welfare is a concern for you, I would recommend you do your own research before purchasing from certain brands.
Benefits:
- Some of the key nutrients of snail slime include hyaluronic acid, glycoprotein enzymes, glycolic acid and peptides.
- If you have read my complete guide to hyaluronic acid, by now you would be familiar with all its benefits. It helps keep skin hydrated, provides antioxidant benefits, and assists with wound healing.
- Glycolic acid exfoliates the top layer of skin and helps to diminish dark spots, as explained in my post all about glycolic acid. It will also help boost collagen production, fight blemishes and signs of ageing.
- Glycoproteins and peptides work to reinforce skin’s barrier function. They keep skin smooth and improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
What would Korean skincare be without beloved snail secretions?
Shop Snail Secretion Filtrate Skincare
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
24K Golden Snail Hydro Gel Sheet Mask
Aloe BHA Skin Toner with Snail Secretion Filtrate
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
What it is:
Galactomyces is a type of nutrient dense yeast and by-product of the fermentation process.
I am a huge fan of fermented products, both for cosmetic and ingestion because fermentation processes introduce a number of friendly bacteria and probiotics necessary for a healthy microbiome.
Benefits:
- Galactomyces ferment filtrate exhibits powerful antioxidant activity, combatting the reactive oxygen species responsible for premature ageing. Read this article about the importance of antioxidants for skin for more on why you need antioxidants in your routine.
- It also fights against acne-causing bacteria and reduces the number of enlarged pores and blackheads. Therefore it is a great ingredient to use if you struggle with blemishes and enlarged pores.
- Galactomyces is a great moisturising agent. It will thus keep skin hydrated and encourages hyaluronan production in skin cells.
- K-beauty is all about bright, bouncy, clear skin, so it is no wonder that galactomyces is so widely used in Korea. It brightens the complexion and evens skin tone by reducing melanin synthesis in the skin.
Shop Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Skincare
COSRX Galactomyces Alcohol Free Toner
Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
Neogen Agecure 3D Lifting Wrinkle Neck Mask
Volcanic Clay
What it is:
Volcanic clay is one of the more mystical sounding Korean skincare ingredients. It is essentially mineral-rich clay, collected from volcanic areas.
Because clay is relatively alkaline, it should be mixed with a liquid such as apple cider vinegar before being applied to skin.
Benefits:
- Clay is rich in minerals that draw out impurities and remove toxins from the skin. Clay’s detoxifying properties are important for fighting against premature signs of ageing, as the accumulation of toxins will contribute to ageing.
- If you struggle with clogged pores and blackheads, volcanic clay is a godsend for oily skin individuals and people struggling with blackheads. This is due to the fact it absorbs excess sebum, can aid in exfoliation and de-clogs pores.
- Clay is worth considering if you are acne prone. Check out my post on how to get rid of blackheads for more tips on getting rid of blemishes and enlarged pores.
- Due to various antioxidants and its mineral rich profile, it can also help with skin healing.
Shop Volcanic Clay Skincare
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam
The Face Shop Volcanic Lava Pore Scrub Foam
Ginseng:
What it is:
Ginseng is a herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for years. It is an adaptogen herb. Adaptogens essentially help to support hormonal function and your adrenal system. There are many types of ginseng and they each have a multitude of transformative properties.
Benefits:
- Ginseng is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Inflammation and overexposure to free radical damage are major contributors to premature ageing. Ginseng helps to quell this inflammation and combat free radical damage.
- Brightens skin. Ginseng is energising and invigorating. Paired with its antioxidant properties, it can help brighten and tighten a dull complexion. There are various eye creams on the market that like to incorporate ginseng for its de-puffing and brightening effect on dark undereye circles.
- Ginseng boosts blood circulation, which encourages a natural glow.
- Ginseng’s antibacterial activity and ability to impede excess oil production make it great for those struggling with oily or acne-prone skin.
Shop Ginseng Skincare
Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye
Banila Co Clean It Zero Nourishing
Bee Venom
What it is:
Bee venom, or apitoxin, is essentially the poisonous liquid bees release when they sting. This bee venom contains a number of compounds with potential medicinal applications and skin benefits.
The process of collection of bee venom is both expensive and laborious, which makes this ingredient a hot commodity in the skincare space.
Benefits:
- Bee venom contains a combination of peptides, enzymes and amino acids which all have impressive anti-ageing benefits for skin.
- As an anaphylactic, bee venom has the potential to temporarily relax facial muscles, in a similar way to botox.
- It can help to smooth out wrinkles and improve blood flow to help diminish visible signs of ageing.
- Because the ingredient is merely topical, I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle replacement for actual injections of botulinum toxin into the skin. However, it is worth a try if you have the cash and aren’t too enthused about actual botox injections.
Shop Bee Venom Skincare
Propolis
What it is:
Propolis is another bee-related ingredient. It is the substance produced by bees to varnish, protect and keep honeycombs together.
Rich in flavonoids, propolis has extremely impressive antibacterial properties that are crucial in maintaining a sterile environment for the hive.
Propolis can also be taken internally to boost the immune system.
Benefits:
- Propolis provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection to aid against environmental aggressors. It can therefore help calm redness from inflammation and post-acne marks.
- The antimicrobial, antibacterial activity of propolis makes it highly favourable for acne-prone skin.
- It also has wound healing properties, helping to smooth out and regenerate skin, while speeding up skin recovery from scars and sunburn.
Shop Propolis Skincare
Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Essence
Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel
COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule Serum
Leegeeham Grow Vita Propolis Ampoule
Egg Whites
What it is:
Quite literally, the whites of an egg that has had its yolk removed. Egg whites are rich in protein and collagen essential for healthy skin function.
Benefits:
- Tightens skin. The albumin protein is a film forming agent, which will help to firm and tighten skin when applied. As a result, it can aid in firming loose, ageing skin. This can be especially helpful before special occasions when your skin needs a pick-me-up.
- Egg whites may also be beneficial for dealing with acne and oily skin types.
- The tightening action can help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.
Shop Egg Whites Skincare
Holika Holika Smooth Egg Skin Egg Soap
Tony Moly Egg Pore Tightening Cooling Pack
Too Cool For School Egg Cream Pore Tightening Mask
Have you tried any of these Korean skincare ingredients before? What other unusual Korean skincare ingredients have you come across?
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And before you leave, I suggest checking out these posts for more these skin care tips:
Top Korean Skincare Brands You Need To Try
How to Properly Layer Skincare Products
How to Get Rid of Blackheads for good
Skincare Products You Should Only Use At Night
Wishing you boundless love, endless light, and life without limit,
Shannon xo
This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material is strictly prohibited.