I’m Obsessed with K-Beauty, Here Are 5 Of The Best K-Beauty Products My Skin Is Loving
Sarah Tarca is a beauty journalist, writer and co-founder of Australia’s first dedicated beauty newsletter, gloss etc. Her skills involve applying lipstick without a mirror, bullying people to wear sunscreen and procrastinating washing her hair. She loves her kids, skincare and potatoes in equal measure — almost as much as she loves SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. Almost. Find her on socials @tarca
I’m going to go right ahead and make a big assumption: since you’re here, I’m willing to bet you like beauty products.
Did I pass go, and collect $200? Thought so.
And since you love beauty products, you probably also worship at the altar of K-Beauty — right? Because K-Beauty (founded in Korea) is the pinnacle of beauty.
Pioneers of the 10-step beauty routine, K-Beauty has always focused on beautiful skin: glass skin, dewy dumpling, glazed donut — all of it is K-Beauty.
The very core of K-Beauty/Korean beauty is getting it right with your skincare (think: hydration and glow goals) so you then don't have to mask the face with heavy coverage (foundation, concealer) and I am VERY into that.
A quick look at my beauty stash also confirms that I am, in fact devout — there are at least five K-beauty products I'm repping at any time.
I try, literally hundreds (maybe even thousands) of products a year as a beauty editor, so those that make the cut into my permanent collection you know are keepers.
Here are a few that live, rent-free in that space.
1. Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturiser.
What:
She’s an icon, she’s the moment, she IS the product — and now she’s been reformulated to be even more magic.
K-beauty really defined how we all felt about step two (essences, toners).
Before the world was initiated into K-beauty land, toners were a “nice to have”, but now, they’re a must.
Laneige cream skin works like a skincare primer: it preps, it hydrates and it somehow makes all other skincare just work harder.
The ingredient roll call is downright brag-worthy: White life tea extract and vitamin E for antioxidant protection, glycerin and meadowfoam seed oil for hydration, it lays down like a dream, just milky and hydrating and and as simple as patting onto your skin post-cleanse.
For those on the oilier side it can also cut out a step and be used as a toner/moisturiser, but if you lean towards dry or are on the more… mature side like me, then you’ll want to follow with a moisturiser.
2. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.
What:
Speaking of icons, this is another one you do not want to, err, sleep on.
Laniege basically invented the lip mask category with these little pots of wizardry that are a global best seller.
Like a lip balm on guarana, it’s a deeply moisturising and hydrating combination of plant oils and butters that nourish the lips while you sleep, plump them out and soothe them into submission.
While there is a standard collection of flavours, they also bring out cult seasonal collections (flavours like pumpkin spice or choc strawberry) and all I can say is when you see these — RUN.
3. BEAUTY OF JOSEON Dynasty Cream.
What:
When I first tried this brand I immediately loved it; unboxing the cream was like unwrapping a gift from the Queen, it had a rice paper dressing inside the box and an application spoon… it was luxe.
On the skin it was deceptively nourishing for its lightweight texture and incredibly, shockingly hydrating.
This was the first product from Beauty Of Joseon to launch and they went in big with a product that’ll bring life back to any dehydrated, dull skin.
The key ingredients are all there for hydration: 29% rice bran water, a traditional Korean ingredient full of amino acids, minerals and vitamin E, squalane, niacinamide, and ginseng root water, an iconic Korean herbal ingredient that helps energise and strengthen the skin.
With all this, I was probably shocked to learn that this cream is only $39. That was not a typo.
4. BEAUTY OF JOSEON Ginseng Cleansing Oil.
What:
I love an oil cleanser, especially in winter.
They are the elite choice for a first cleanse that actually removes sunscreen and makeup, while also leaving your skin supple and bouncy rather than “discarded leather bag”.
And they’re not just for dry, or mature skin either; oily skin types can also use because it removes excess sebum and is non-comedogenic too.
What I loved about this was how lightweight the oil is — K-beauty products are excellent for keeping it nourishing without overloading the skin.
The key ingredients are soybean oil (conditioning, smoothing) and ginseng seed oil (antioxidant protection, strengthening), but I think the most important thing here is that it does its job - and well.
5. innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask.
What:
It would be criminal for me to write a K-Beauty faves list and not include the first Korean product I ever fell in love with.
This is a deep, deep, deep clean for your pores. It’s got a mix of AHAs and volcanic clusters from the Jeju-do island in Korea that just get rid of all the gunk and leave your skin feeling fresh.
If you’re on the drier side I like to back this up with a nourishing mask so put some moisture back into the skin.
Can you tell I’m a K-beauty fangirl?
If you’re not already part of the club, now is the time. Glass skin awaits.
Adore Beauty is home to some of the best K-Beauty brands. You can check out more of our K-beauty reviews and recommendations below:
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