I know, this post has been much awaited by a ton of you. The reason it took me so long to come up with this list is because there are SO many makeup products and brands to pick from! I really wanted to have an opportunity to think about and research what I felt were Korea's Must Have / Cult Favorite Makeup Products. I know these might not be the same for everyone, or you might have other products you love, but this is just meant to be a good starting place for those of you looking into buying Korean Makeup. Oh and if you haven't checked out the first part, which is all the must have Skincare Products, don't forget to check that out too!
I know when I started buying Korean makeup, I was so overwhelmed by everything. All of these products are makeup items I've personally used, researched and would recommend to anyone! Plus, these are pretty popular in the Asian Beauty World in general, so you know these have to be good ;)
Now enough rambling! Let's get to the breakdown....
Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur: Boy, this is my holy grail primer. I did a full review of it and showed you guys how photoshopped this makes my skin! It truly makes my complexion look brighter and my skin flawless. Since it does have a brightening effect, try to get your hands on a sample if you're worried your skin is too tan/dark to use this!
Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly BB Cream: This is a very well-known BB cream in the Asian Beauty World. It's even loved by Michelle Phan! Seriously, this BB cream glides onto your skin, gives your face a soft glow and is very comfortable to wear. Beware, the shades to run light and there's not much of a color selection. So if your skin tone matches this, you're very lucky!
SkinFood Red Orange Makeup Finish: This is a very popular makeup setting mist that does a nice job of preserving your makeup throughout the day. Plus, it comes in 2 options: matte and glossy. This is nice because not everyone likes a matte makeup look but not everyone likes a glossy makeup look. So you can choose which one you prefer!
Etude House Precious Mineral Any Cushion: If you're planning on trying some new Korean Makeup, you must try at least one cushion foundation. These are awesome because they're easy to carry in your purse and give your skin a natural look. I like this one from Etude House and know most people that have tried it like it as well.
SkinFood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer: This little creamy pot of concealer does wonders on the skin. Since it has a peachy undertone to it, you can use it to cancel out the blue tones of dark circles. However, it's not overly peachy, so you can still use it to cover spots on your face! It's a great multi-tasking concealer!
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder: Ok, so this one was a weird one for me to mention because at the moment, I don't actually own the product. I've owned it in the past but used it up! So I'm showing you this one because the No-Sebum version comes in the same exact packaging except mint green. It's an awesome dupe for the Makeup Forever HD Setting Powder, but is much more affordable. I've never heard anyone complain or have any issues with this powder!
Holika Holika Jewel-Light Waterproof Eyeliners: These babies come in a variety of shades, colors, and finishing and are altogether amazing. Not only are they super affordable so you can try different colors, but they're also long-lasting and waterproof when they set!
Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer: I discovered this eyeliner when I noticed a ton of Korean beauty gurus using it in their tutorials! Then I heard it was a good Urban Decay Eye Primer dupe, and I was sold! It really does make your eyeshadows last longer and look more vibrant. Plus, like a lot of items on this list, it's much more affordable :)
Tony Moly Petit Bunny Gloss Bar: This is on this list really for the cute factor. Every haul I've watched or read from Korea has had one of this in it. It's a nice, slim balm to keep with you when you need a little moisture to your lips or a light wash of color. It's also just fun to use because it's just so dang cute!
SkinFood Tomato Cool Jelly Tint: BEST TINT EVARRRRRR! I love this tint from Skinfood. It looks so natural on my lips and doesn't cling to the dry patches. It goes well with every makeup look and has really earned it's spot in my purse. I personally use this almost everyday, which says a lot considering the amount of lip tints I own!
RUNNER UPS!
I mentioned this at the end of my video, but there are a couple runner ups I wanted to mention that didn't make it into the video! These are just as good and are simply my personal recommendation to check out as well :)
Etude House Drawing Show Creamy Liner: I've tried a ton of gel eyeliners from Korea and have really enjoyed this one from Etude House. It's nice and creamy like the name implies and also lasts all day. I've used it a lot in my recent makeup tutorials, so if you want to see this in action, check those out on my channel, The Beauty Breakdown!
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura Goddess Maker: WHY KOREA?! Why do the names of products have to be so long and repetitive?! Despite this, this product is awesome for achieving that dewy skin Korean girls always seem to have. It's great because there's actually no glitter or shimmer to this product. Just pure, glossy awesomeness!
Tony Moly Panda's Dream Eye So Cool Stick: This is another popular product from Korea. I actually think this is one of Tony Moly's best sellers! Love the packaging of this, of course, but the product itself is great for smoothing on puffy, tired eyes. A quick fix to rejuvenate and relax the eye area!
Well, there you have it! The second part to my list of Korean Must Have Makeup Products! I know there are so many more makeup products to mention, so if you have any personal suggestions, let me know in the comments below! I always love to hear your suggestions! Hope this was helpful for those of you who were like me and completely overwhelmed by all the makeup products Korea has to offer! :)
So you're new to Korean skincare or you're just looking to try out some new products... I bet you're OVERWHELMED. When I first started looking into Korean skincare, I couldn't believe how many options there were. Between the different brands, lines, and products, I didn't know what to think! I knew I wanted to try some skincare products, but I literally didn't know where to start. After months of researching, I was prepared! I knew what was popular, what people enjoyed, and what were considered "cult favorites" in the Asian Beauty World.
I then traveled the Seoul, Korea with my list in hand...
And, well, that list went out the window. I bought everything I could get my hands on. (If you want to see the haul of what I bought, here is Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Yes, I had to split it up into 3 parts!)
But for those of you who don't want to do that, I complied a list of the Top 10 Korean Skincare Products that are notoriously popular in asian skincare. These are the products that I feel are the most raved about, and are a good outline of what to buy while in Korea! All of these products are tried, tested and true, and here are my honest opinions about them. BTW, if you have you're own recommendations, please comment below and share with the rest of us! Again, this is what seems to be the most popular Korean skincare products in my own personal opinion.
So let's get to the breakdown...
So I'm listing these products off in no particular order!
Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener
This one for me was difficult. I've heard so many good things about this product and I know a lot of people love it. However, it didn't work miracles for me. This is just your average toner in my opinion. It does remove makeup residue, oil and dirt from my skin, but this didn't change the appearance of my skin. But for some people, this is a Holy Grail type of product. That's why I included it in this list.
Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel
I love this stuff when it gets hot where I live! It's nice because it's light and smells nice and fresh. It feels cooling and soothing when you apply it to your skin, which makes it great when it's hot. Since it's not super moisturizing, I usually only use this during the spring and summer, not really during the winter when my skin is more dry. Plus, you can use it on your face, skin, hair and nails so it has a ton of functions. It's also super cheap.
Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence
This is something I use twice a day and love. It's nice and light, absorbs right into the skin, and really preps the skin for your skincare routine. I've definitely noticed a difference since I started using this product! It makes my skin look brighter and smoother. It also lasts a really long time!
This product is even Waffle-approved!
Innisfree Cleansing Foams
I love both of these cleansing foams. They have a nice, thick lather and really clean your skin. It also doesn't strip the skin of its moisture. Therefore, it's the perfect cleanser for me because it doesn't leave my dry skin feeling drier, but it makes my skin feel super squeaky clean! I also love Innisfree products because they try to use more natural ingredients.
Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX
This stuff is amazing. You apply if after you've finished your skincare routine at night, leave it on while you sleep, and wash it off in the morning. It makes your skin look nice and plump and really softens the skin. This is a super famous product and Target has even started carrying this brand! So it's much more accessible, which is nice.
Innisfree Super Volcanic Clay Mask
This is the ultimate clay mask for me! Clay masks are a must-have in general, but this one is by far my favorite. It does a good job of sucking out all of the debris from your skin without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry. I know a lot of people love and enjoy this product, and it's definitely a cult-fave!
The Face Shop Rice Water Rice Cleansing Water
This is another one of those products for me that I have mixed feelings about. It does an awesome job of cleaning your skin and getting makeup and oil out of your skin without needing to wash it off after. However, for me, it does feel a little sticky after I use this. I almost feel like I want to wash my skin after I use it, even though I know technically I don't have to. However, I know this is really popular in the Korean skincare world and people have compared it to the ultra-famous Bioderma. But personally, I'd take Bioderma over this any day. haha.
SkinFood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off
Boy, I love this stuff. It really makes my skin feels smooth and I love that you can dilute the sugar to your liking. Therefore, if you like a super abrasive exfoliant, you can apply a small amount of water or if you like a more gentle exfoliant, you can use more water to help melt the sugar granules. Either way, this stuff is great. Plus, my sister, who isn't that into skincare in general, loves this stuff too. I think that shows how good this product really is!
Innisfree Sheet Masks
Now, if you're going to Korea and really any Asian country, stock up on sheet masks! In Asia, these things are so much cheaper than they are elsewhere. I personally really like the ones from Innisfree. They are a nice pick-me-up when you're skin feels like it needs a little TLC, and a cheap way to treat yourself. They come in literally every "flavor" possible too!
SkinFood Milk Shake Point Make-up Remover
Everyone who wears makeup uses makeup remover. So this is a definite must have if you're ever going to Korea. I love SkinFood in general, but this stuff is awesome! It removes the most stubborn makeup with ease, even waterproof mascara. Plus, it doesn't burn your eyes or delicate skin!
Anyways, there's my quick list of the Top 10 Korean Cult / Must Have Skincare Products. Do you agree with this list or what would you add? It was definitely difficult to narrow down because let's face it, I love Korean skincare in general. Who knows, maybe I'll have a completely different list a year from now and need to make a new list. And yes, I am working on the Makeup version of this, however, it's much more difficult for me to narrow down!
