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From K-Pop to kimchi, Americans can’t seem to get enough of Korean trends. And that especially applies to skincare. Some of the most popular and cutting edge treatments are coming out of Korea and changing the game for U.S. beauty lovers (we’re looking at you, snail mucin).
It’s not just skincare fans that are reaching for these products — a number of K-pop stars are now also helping to spread their love of Korean beauty to the masses, with artists like ENHYPEN, Jin, SEVENTEEN’s S.Coups and Ive’s Wonyoung all promoting K-beauty brands in the last few years. The best part: while many of these products used to only be available in Korea, all of the brands on our list are now officially available in the U.S. and can be easily ordered online on sites like Amazon and Ulta.
So take a break from debating the best Blackpink solo album in the comments (they’re all so good!!) and add some of these Korean beauty bests to your cart.
EDITOR’S PICK
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
With almost 50,000 glowing reviews on Amazon, Laneige’s lip mask may very well be one of the world’s favorite beauty products, and it just so happens to come from Korea. The overnight leave-on lip mask hydrates while you sleep, so you can wake up to softer lips. And with new flavors like Grapefruit Pamplemousse and Peach Iced Tea, it’s a must-try. Amazon says more than 20,000 people have purchased this Lip Sleeping Mask in the last month alone with shoppers giving it an average 4.6-star review (out of five). Laneige also makes a great sleeping mask and plumping lip treatment. Need more proof of its popularity: BTS’ Jin is the latest celebrity ambassador for the brand.
FAN FAVORITE
Mediheal Vita Collagen Under Eye Patches
Minnie from from (G)I-DLE is an ambassador for Mediheal, and the brand says boyband TWS, and even members of BTS have been fans of Mediheal’s eye patches, toner pads and sheet masks while on tour. Super Junior’s Eunhyuk, meantime, recently went viral for his appearance on Lee Young Ji’s Rainbow TV show in Korea, after sharing that he uses a Mediheal sheet mask every day to achieve his youthful appearance. The brand is known for its affordable K-beauty products that tackle everything from blemishes and breakouts to irritated skin, while providing boosts of hydration and collagen.
BEST CLEANSER
ETUDE Soonjung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser
A new product from beloved K-beauty brand ETUDE (LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha was a brand ambassador), this mild, soft-bubble cleanser with a whipped cream texture lathers into soft and soothing bubbles to gently cleanse the skin without causing irritation. Plus, it’s unscented and free of animal-derived ingredients, mineral oil, synthetic pigment, fragrance, polyacrylamide, silicone oil, imidazolidinyl urea, triethanolamine, PEG surfactant and parabens, making it the ultimate clean beauty product. A favorite among Korean shoppers, Etude products are now available in the U.S. on Ulta.com.
BEST SUNSCREEN
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36
A great SPF is the foundation to any skincare routine, and this one from Innisfree is a K-beauty fan favorite. By combining ingredients like green tea for soothing hydration and sunflower seed oil for moisture, this product is more than sunscreen, it’s skincare. Plus it has no white-cast, so you don’t have to worry about that embarrassing, “I think there’s something on your face” moment. A ton of K-pop stars use Innisfree, including Seventeen’s Mingyu and Wonyoung of IVE.
BEST TONER
Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Toner
Packed with a high concentration of Birch Tree Sap and Vita Hyaluronic Acid, this toner hydrates the skin to create a dewy glow and long-lasting moisture. The ingredients work together to leave skin brighter, smoother and softer. Once only available in Korea, this product is now available officially in the U.S. through Ulta and ships across the country.
BEST MOISTURIZER
belif Aqua Bomb – Daily Niacinamide Hydrating Moisturizer
This bestselling moisturizer claims to boost skin hydration levels by 231.4% and deliver hydration to ten layers of the skin in as little as ten seconds. Sign us up! The gel-based formula is cool and soothing and doesn’t leave behind any sticky residue or greasiness. The water-based texture is also super lightweight, making it ideal for those with oily, sensitive or combination skin.
BEST SERUM
Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum Rice + Alpha-Arbutin
If you struggle with inflammation or enlarged pores, this serum is for you. With ingredients that target dullness, uneven skin tone, and texture issues, it’s an important step to add into your glass skincare routine. There were lineups around the block when Beauty of Joseon opened their house and their LA store last year and for good reason: this stuff actually works! Girls’ Generation members-turned-solo star Tiffany Young is an ambassador for the now cult favorite Korean skincare brand.
BEST EYE CREAM
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Under Eye Cream with Ceramides
Every beauty junkie needs an eye cream and this one is *chef’s kiss*. Just look at the ingredients: Ceramidin NP and Panthenol support the eye area’s skin barrier for water retention, while Blumilight diminishes the look of fine, dry lines. The rich cream instantly absorbs into the skin and leaves no greasy feeling behind. Plus, it primes the skin with a hydrating base for makeup. ENHYPEN were named the first-ever global ambassadors for the Korean beauty brand and like all of the picks on our list, this is a great unisex product for all skin types.
BEST ESSENCE
COSRX Snail Mucin Repairing Essence
It’s a classic for a reason. Snail Mucin took social media by storm a few years ago as influencers dabbed the sticky stuff all over their faces. Turns out they were right. This powerful product uses nutritious, low-stimulation filtered snail mucin to give skin a natural glow from the inside out. Use it as one of the first steps in your skincare routine after cleansing and toner.
Amazon says more than 100,000 people have purchased this COSRX essence in the last month alone, and the brand now also makes a bestselling moisturizer lotion, eye cream and sunscreen as well. See their full line of picks here.
BEST FACE MASK
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Ginseng Collagen Mask
While there’s only one, one-time-use mask in each package, this mask packs enough of a punch to make it worth the return trip to the store. It plumps, hydrates and smooths thanks to its ingredients, including an entire 40g serum bottle and 25 additional potent ingredients all in one face mask. The formula is cooling and hydrating and certified vegan and cruelty-free. And while some sheet masks leave behind a sticky feeling, Peach & Lily’s formula absorbs quickly into the skin with no mess.
BEST SKINCARE DUO
Glow Recipe Glass Skin Essential Korean Skincare Kit
Glass skin is everyone’s ultimate goal right now, and this two-pack of products from Glow Recipe is the secret weapon to achieving it. After washing your face, pour the Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner into your palms before pressing it into your skin. After it’s fully absorbed into your face and neck, apply a pump or two of the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops to achieve the ultimate, long-lasting glow. The pale pink bottles are great for your next bathroom #shelfie too.
