The K-beauty craze sweeping the West

Korean culture has taken the world by storm, particularly, K-beauty! But what exactly is K-beauty, what pushed this craze, and why is it worth the investment? 

Why is K-Beauty so popular?

During the early 2010s, the West saw an explosion of everything Korean - from K-Pop to K-Drama’s. Subsequently, K-beauty and Korean skincare boomed. With a Western audience admiring idols, actors, and actresses with flawless skin, it’s no surprise that we also wanted to try replicating their skincare routines.

This K-beauty infatuation isn’t slowing down any time soon. Many people claim to see better results using Korean skincare as opposed to Western products, leading to a buzz around certain products that are labeled as miracle workers or “holy grails”.

Korean Skincare: Why is it so good?

Whereas Western cosmetics prioritise intense treatments to tackle existing skincare problems, along with high-coverage makeup to hide blemishes, Korean skincare has a more long-term, preventative approach to skincare. Most Korean skincare products focus on skin barrier health, as damaged, weakened, or otherwise compromised skin barriers are the root of many skin concerns such as irritation, acne, and dryness. By nourishing skin from the inside out, Korean skincare helps you to achieve the coveted “glass skin” look - when the complexion appears dewy, bouncy, and blemish-free.

Korean skincare also promotes a mindful lifestyle that focuses on long-term results rather than quick fixes. It encourages patience and consistency in your skincare routine, making it a form of selfcare that is much needed in a busy world!

Korean skincare uses traditional and organic ingredients that are less familiar to the Western consumer

Snail Mucin, Bee Venom, Mugwort, Ginseng, Rice Water, Centella Asiatica, and Heartleaf are just a few ingredients that K-Beauty products harness. Many of these ingredients have a rich history behind them. For example, Rice Water has been long used as a traditional beauty treatment by women in Korea, China, and Japan to brighten dull skin. It looks like Korean skincare has been around longer than we realised!

Western consumers are growing to enjoy these more unfamiliar ingredients. COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence got some attention online for using a snail-based ingredient – which would be considered unusual in the West. However, once people started seeing the results (glowy, healthy, and balanced skin), more became interested, eventually leading to more people becoming K-beauty converts. 

Currently, PDRN (DNA extracted from salmon sperm) is trending in both Korea and the West, thanks to its ability to stimulate fibroblast proliferation and increase collagen production in the skin, giving it powerful regenerative and anti-ageing properties.

Korean skincare propels advances in the dermatological industry

Korean skincare is spearheading the development of new technologies - they don’t shy away from experimenting with new ways of bettering your K-beauty experience!

Devices intended to improve your Korean skincare experience are trending online. For example, MEDICUBE’s AGE-R Derma EMS Shot works to better your skin elasticity, slim down the face, and enhance body contours. This popular Korean skincare device also allows active ingredients in products applied after use to penetrate further into the skin, making your skincare routine more effective.  

Double cleansing - the best way to start your Korean skincare routine

Korean skincare usually has around 10 steps - far more than you see in Western skincare. The first two steps of the routine are dedicated to cleansing the skin, which removes impurities and prepares it for serums, toners, eye treatment, masks, moisturisers and SPF.

Oil cleansers

Oil cleansing is the very first step of the Korean skincare routine, which removes oil-based impurities like sebum, makeup, and SPF from the skin. A popular technique when using oil-cleansers is called oil-pulling, which involves massaging the oil into your skin for at least a minute to remove (“pull”) the sebaceous filaments from your pores. You should be able to see these filaments appear on your hands after massaging for long enough! 

Oil cleansers at Skin Cupid

ANUA is a bestselling K-beauty brand. Known for using organic and gentle ingredients, their products are formulated to nourish your skin without harming the environment. In fact, their Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil has become a viral sensation! Formulated with 10,000ppm of one of K-beauty’s favourite soothing ingredients, Heartleaf Extract, this oil-based cleanser soothes irritation from the skin, all while decongesting the pores from excess sebum. 

Water-based cleansers

The second step of double-cleansing is a water-based cleanser, which removes water-based impurities like dirt and sweat that can’t be clarified through oil-cleansing alone. These cleansers can come in different textures, such as foaming and gel, but they all work to purify your skin of any remaining residue before you apply toner.

Water-based foaming cleansers at Skin Cupid: 

ETUDE HOUSE is a well-established Korean skincare brand, founded in 1985. Over the years, they have become a trusted name amongst consumers, becoming a staple in many Korean households. One of their top products is the sensitive-skin-friendly Soon Jung P.H. 6.5 Whip Cleanser - a gentle cleanser that clarifies your skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

Water-based gel cleansers at Skin Cupid:

HARUHARU WONDER uses 95% naturally-derived ingredients that are cruelty-free and gentle on your skin - integral to the Korean skincare ethos! Their Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel is mildly acidic to keep the skin at a healthy pH level, while Fermented Rice Extract and Bamboo Shoot Extract soothe, brighten, and hydrate. The gel-like texture ensures a refreshing finish, and leaves your complexion looking radiant and healthy. 

 

Korean skincare believes hydration is key!

Whereas the West focuses on chemical peels and using high concentrations of strong exfoliants like BHA, Korean skincare values hydration instead. By using ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol and Squalane, products like toners and essences hydrate both the skin’s surface and its deepest layers. This ensures long-lasting hydration and skin that looks dewy and plump – getting you one step closer to glass skin!

Toners

Toners prepare the skin for the rest of the products in your routine by adding hydration and balancing skin pH levels. Toners are so popular in Korea that some celebrities swear by the 7-layer method – applying 7 layers of toner for deep hydration and to give a skin a glossy finish.

Toners at Skin Cupid

One of Korea’s top brands, S.NATURE is a perfect choice if you’re just getting started with Korean Skincare. Their Aqua Oasis Toner in particular is one of the best-rated toners across multiple Korean skincare platforms. It is rich in Gluconolactone, a gentle exfoliating acid that dissolves the bonds holding dead skin cells to the skin surface while also offering refreshing hydration, alongside 8 types of Hyaluronic Acid for a bouncy, glossy finish after use – perfect for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin.

Essences

Essences also provide hydration, but they also tackle issues like dullness and redness. As Korean skincare has advanced and toners have become more multifunctional, the overlap between essences and toners has increased, but essences are still generally characterised by a thicker texture. 

Essences at Skin Cupid

MIXSOON’s Bean Essence is the brand’s star product! The showcase ingredient, Fermented Soybean Extract, helps to brighten skin tone and restore lost elasticity to complexions. It also soothes inflammation and tops up skin’s moisture levels, making it a great choice for all skin types. You can also use it as a wash-off exfoliator - start massaging it into your face and watch in the mirror as it pulls the dirt and debris from your skin!

 

Korean skincare has separate steps to target specific skin concerns

After cleansing, toning, and hydrating skin with essence, it’s time to use products with active ingredients that address specific skin concerns, like hyperpigmentation, or fine lines and wrinkles. Korean skincare does this with ampoules and serums, which use more concentrated formulations than essences. 

Ampoules

You can think of ampoules as supercharged serums! They contain a higher concentration of active ingredients to deliver faster, more intensive results.

Ampoules at Skin Cupid

GENABELLE’s PDRN Vita Toning Ampoule is one of the brand’s bestsellers. It contains a rich concentration of PDRN, derived from salmon DNA, to rejuvenate and nourish damaged or ageing skin, along with vitamin capsules to brighten and hydrate. 

Serums

Like ampoules, serums contain a high concentration of active ingredients to target specific skin concerns. 

Serums at Skin Cupid

SKIN1004 has become a household name - and for good reason. Their Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Blue Serum balances hydration through the soothing powers of Centella Asiatica, which has become a well-beloved ingredient to use in K-beauty. Infused with Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid, this serum improves the skin’s moisture levels as well as leaving your complexion soft. 

Korean skincare prioritises skin barrier repair 

Korean skincare is concerned about the health of the skin barrier, which protects the internal structure of the skin from microbes, free radicals, and environmental stressors. Most K-beauty products are formulated to heal a damaged skin barrier in order to prevent acne, sensitivity, and dryness to the skin. Korean skincare is amazing at nourishing the skin barrier, as many products include Ceramides, which are lipids that protect the barrier and hydrate the skin. 

Sheet masks and moisturisers both help to lock moisture into the skin, reinforcing the skin barrier to keep essential hydration in and external irritants out. 

Sheet masks

Sheet masks are generally applied after applying products containing active ingredients (like ampoules and serums) and help to hydrate the skin, along with other benefits. 

Sheet masks at Skin Cupid

K-beauty fans love overnight masks like BIODANCE’s Hydro Cera-nol Real Deep Mask! This collagen-rich mask is designed to be worn for at least 4 hours, making it perfect for hydrating and healing your skin during the night, so you wake up with a refreshed and balanced complexion. 

Moisturisers

Moisturisers are designed for all-over hydration, working to deliver moisture across the entire face. They are key to your skincare routine because they help to lock in all the ingredients you have applied beforehand! 

Moisturisers at Skin Cupid

Packed with Ceramides, THE LAB’s Prebiotic-Cera Cream has been proven to improve skin barrier strength by 152.12% in just one week of use*!

*As concluded by a clinical trial conducted by the Human Skin Clinical Trial Centre in 2020.

UV protection is an essential component of K-Beauty routines

Korean skincare is concerned about protecting the skin from the sun and other UV rays as it could lead to premature aging, sunburn, and even skin cancer. 

Sunscreens

K-beauty enthusiasts believe sunscreen should be worn everyday - even in the winter. UV rays are sneaky; they can shine through even the cloudiest of days! Western sunscreens tend to be on the greasier, stickier side, and often leave a white cast on your skin – K-beauty sunscreens are formulated to do the opposite.

Sunscreens available at Skin Cupid

NACIFIC’s Sun Essence SPF50 PA++++ offers full protection from UVA and UVB rays, while also being lightweight - so it’ll feel as if you’re not wearing any sunscreen at all! Like many K-beauty sunscreens, this is designed to be reapplied during the day without weighing down your skin or leaving a white cast.