Beauty & Fashion

Korean skincare products that beauty experts love- 2024

Korean beauty more popularly referred to as ‘K-beauty‘ is something almost all of us are familiar with by now and it revolves around products made in or originated in Korea.

Korean skincare is all about combining traditional Korean ingredients like snail mucin, ginseng, mugwort, green tea, etc. with today’s cutting-edge technology to create high-quality products that don’t burn holes in our pockets.

With its ‘skin-first’ approach, Korean beauty prioritizes attaining healthy and good-looking skin rather than applying layers of heavy makeup. Their skincare products aim at providing hydration to the skin and making it as luminous as is humanely possible, thereby creating a shiny and healthy base.

In this article, we’ll be talking about Korean skincare products that are loved, cherished, and used by beauty experts themselves.

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1. Korean Oil-based cleanser

Korean oil-based cleansers are oil soluble and can easily dissolve and break down the oil, make-up, and excess sebum from your face, unlike traditional gel-based cleansers that are water-soluble. Oil-based cleansers contain vitamins that help improve your skin conditions without being too harsh.

Using harsh cleansers can do more harm than good, it can strip away your skin’s natural oils, leading your skin to produce more oils which can lead to acne and break-outs. Oil-based cleansers being lipophilic, easily attract oil and sebum to gently clean your skin without irritating it. One of the best Korean oil cleansers is the:

The Face Shop 미감수 (migamsu) Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil – korean skincare products 2024

The Face Shop Rice Water Cleansing Oil is based on the old-age Asian technique of using rice water on your skin. It contains fermented rice water and vitamins A, B, and E along with essential oils like Jojoba and Moringa. 

When brought in contact with water, it turns into a milky foam. It is suitable for dry to oily skin types and leaves your skin healthy and hydrated. 

2. Korean Water-based cleanser

After the oil-based cleanser has removed impurities like makeup, oils, and sebum, it’s time for water-based impurities like sweat, and that’s where Korean water-based cleansers step in.

Water-based cleansers are of three types –

Foam-based
Foam-based Gel-based,
Cleansing waters.

You can choose one of these depending on your skin type. Here’s a water-based cleanser loved by many:

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam – korean skincare products 2024

The Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam works best for people with oily skin types or enlarged pores. It contains Jeju volcanic clusters that leave  you with skin that feels exfoliated and deeply cleansed.  

HOW TO USE: Apply an appropriate amout onto wet hands and work into rich lather. After massaging , rinse off witha Lukewarm water.

3. Toner

Applying toner is an important that a lot of people skip but should not! Toners will help you prep your skin for everything you apply on top of it. They do so by balancing the pH of your skin and restoring any lost nutrients. Toners come in a wide range of variety, from exfoliating to hydrating and you can choose one depending on your skin and needs. 

Toners in the 90s and 2000s were just strange, alcohol-containing liquids that nobody knew the purpose of but were still used anyway. But that was until K- K-beauty came along and toners finally got recognized as an essential skincare step. Here’s a toner that dermatologists swear by: 

 DearKlairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner – korean skincare products 2024

The DearKlairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner contains hyaluronic acid and natural plant extracts. The hyaluronic acid helps attract moisture and keeps the skin hydrated, while the natural plant extracts provide nutrients essential for the skin.

It is also paraben-free, alcohol-free, vegan, non-greasy, and non-irritating. It does fall slightly on the expensive side but the quality makes it worth it!

4. Treatments

This process step is completely personalized and depends on your skin concerns. People with dehydrated skin go for hyaluronic acid serums, and those with dull skin and dark spots opt for Vitamin C serum, salicylic acid serums work great for skin with acne and breakouts, and niacinamide helps improve the texture of the skin.

The concentrated and active ingredients in a serum penetrate deeply into the skin to provide it with essential nutrients and help restore the skin barrier. You can choose up to three serums that work best for your skin and help get that Korean glass-like skin. Here’s a serum you would love:

Klairs freshly juiced Vitamin C drop 

The Klairs freshly juiced Vitamin C drop serum contains 5% Vitamin C and feels super gentle on the skin.

Vitamin C is known to help with dull skin, dark spots, and pigmentation. It is also known as ascorbic acid and has anti-aging properties.

Regular use of this serum will cause your fine lines to fade away and give you a more youthful glow.

5. Moisturizer 

Applying moisturizer is a very crucial step and should not be skipped under any condition, even if you have an oily skin type. Choosing a moisturizer depends upon your skin type or the season.

If you have combination skin or oily skin, try using gel moisturizers since they get absorbed easily without leaving any oily residue.

Cream-based moisturizers work best for dry skin since they contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin that help attract moisture. This moisturizer is the holy grail of a lot of K-beauty experts: 

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 

The Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence contains 96.3% snail secretion that helps the skin feel hydrated and bouncy immediately after application.

This moisturizer changed the game when it blew up globally since snail mucin is and was not a common ingredient in Western skin care products. 

6. Sunscreen

Applying sunscreen is as important as doing skin care in the first place. You can forget breathing but NOT SUNSCREEN! Sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun and regular use of it prevents wrinkles and fine lines from appearing early on your face. Sunscreen also prevents you from tanning and hyperpigmentation. Here is a sunscreen that is in the ‘personal favorites’ of a lot of beauty experts.

→ Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

This broad-spectrum SPF 50 formula contains a lot of active ingredients like Rice extract, niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis leaf extract, Uvinul T 150, and Uvinul A Plus that are rich in antioxidants and deliver probiotics to the skin. It leaves no white cast and sits transparently on all skin types. It best suits sensitive skin types and makes the skin feel hydrated and soothed after application. It is also paraben-free, Sulphate-free, Oxybenzone-free, and cruelty-free. 

FAQS about korean skincare products:

1. How do I know my skin type?

Knowing your skin type is very important for choosing the right skincare.

Wash your face with a mild cleanser and don’t apply any skincare.
Observe your skin after 20-25 mins
If it feels dry, scaly, and tight then you have dry skin.
If your skin feels shiny and oily despite not applying anything, then you have oily skin and your skin will exhibit both oily as well dry areas
If you have combination skin. If your skin seems normal, without exhibiting any of the concerns mentioned above then you have normal skin.

2. Why are Korean skincare products better than other skin care products?

Korean beauty is known to have a “Skin first” approach and prioritizes attaining healthy skin over applying layers of make-up.

Korean skincare uses traditional and non-cliche ingredients like snail mucin, ginseng, and mugwort which are known to tackle more than one skin problem at the same time. Korean skincare goes beyond the Western approach to skincare and is not too expensive. 

3. Do I need to follow all the 10 steps to achieve the desired results?

No. While we would suggest adopting the entire skincare routine, you can work just as fine with a ‘5-step’ or a ‘7-step’ skincare routine. It all depends on your skin type and preference. 

4. Can I use Korean skincare as a male?

Of course! Skincare is never gender-specific or ethnicity-specific. Skincare can be used by anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or nationality. 

5. Can I combine my non-Korean products and Korean products in my routine?

Yes. Even though Korean skincare offers products for every step of your routine, you can always combine your holy grails with Korean skincare products to make a routine that is just right for your skin. 

6. How long does it take for Korean skincare to work?

It all depends on how long your skin takes to adapt to the new formulae. It usually takes anywhere between 4 to 7 weeks for your skin to get used to the products and for them to start working. 

7. In what order do I apply my products?

The order in which you apply your products is very important for them to be easily absorbed. Applying products in the order of their viscosity (most fluid products go first) makes absorption easy.  

Conclusion:

In conclusion, following a 10-step Korean skincare can help you achieve healthy, glowing, and clear skin. The Korean skincare market offers a huge variety of skincare products that cater to the needs of different skin types and can deal with several different skin problems.  Follow Aarvy Palette for more skincare tips !