Sheet masks, cushion foundations, snail serum, bee venom treatments, 10-step skincare, “glass skin.” Does any of this sound familiar? If you spend just a little bit of time scouring the internet, you will definitely hear about one (or more) of these Korean beauty trends that have infiltrated international markets for several years now. So, let’s talk a little bit about the Korean beauty industry. Ready to dive in?

What is Korean beauty?

With an emphasis on dewy, naturally luminous skin, the Korean beauty industry is no longer a movement that’s just floating around specific communities. It seems that Korean beauty wave, aka the “Hallyu wave” is now a mainstream function of today’s beauty standards! Just about everywhere in the United States and even now in Europe and Asia, you can find Korean cosmetics everywhere and at a range of price points!

Why are Korean beauty products so popularised?

The popularisation of Korean beauty products may have been influenced by the simultaneous popularisation of Korean animated media, soap operas/dramas, and widely celebrated K-pop. When it comes to numbers, the Korean diaspora account for seven million people worldwide! Two million of which settled in the USA and China – this is significant! Add globalisation, social media, the ease of international travel (amongst other things), we are undeniably all more interconnected. We are no longer limited to the physical movement of people or goods and we have access to almost everything we could want these days via the internet.

One of the main tenants of the Korean beauty wave that we’re here for is a large focus and emphasis on healthy skin and healthy skin practices. Considering our skin is one of our largest organs, our hopes are that this trend will help consumers understand that skincare is paramount to makeup application. The more access to SPF, moisturiser, and preventative formulas, the better!

TOP-RATED K-BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO SWEAR BY

Korean skincare is here to stay – and we’re more than okay with that, because it’s not just a trend but a cherished way of caring for your skin. Even better news: K-beauty products are becoming more widely available by the day. We've tried hundreds of Korean skincare brands and products and we know there are still many more to try, but these products below are the ones that make us melt, peel, glow, and repair – in the best ways.

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

The cult-favourite lip mask from LANEIGE is everything you could want in a lip balm, with all the sweet goodness of a lip gloss from the beauty supply store, but without the stickiness. Sweet fragrance aside, the antioxidant-rich mask can recover even the driest and cracked lips, so you better stick up for winter now. The only struggle you'll have is deciding which flavour to buy.

Peach & Lily Transparen-C Pro Spot Treatment

Our current must-have is this vitamin C treatment. It is perfect for delivering results you want to see for stubborn spots while keeping it gentle for your sensitive skin.

AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Nectar Cream

Pro tip: Apply this cream in front of a vanity mirror while you’re wearing a silk robe and feel like a movie vixen from the '20s. The silky formula stays firm when applying and covers every inch without needing to go in for a second round for pesky dry patches.

Soon Skincare Micro-Hole Hydrogel Collagen Mask

A flimsy and slippery sheet mask has got to be one of the biggest pet peeves in skincare (besides a broken serum pump). If you haven’t had the honour of using a gel mask over a sheet mask, pick up a few of these collagen infused masks, because you’ll never go back to the paper thin mess that you’ve probably torn in the past.

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm

Hypothetically speaking, if you also found yourself insanely nostalgic after finding out that Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande were cast in the upcoming movie adaption of Wicked the Musical, and then you decided to paint your entire face with a lime green cream paint courtesy of Danessa Myricks, you might be wondering how to get it all off without sacrificing a layer of skin. Long-winded “hypothetical” aside, Banila’s cleansing balm will get rid of the toughest glitters, paints, and eyelash glue without clogging pores or irritating your already sensitive skin.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

Glow Recipe has made a very valid point for watermelon products, thanks to their award-winning favourites containing a summer-favourite snack. The Vitamin A and C-enriched watermelon combined with the skin texture-improving niacinamide are no match for our enlarged pores every time we use this serum.