A guide to Korean beauty products & Beauty Decoded reviews

With a flawless complexion and ultra-boosted, luminous, clear skin, welcome to the age of the K-Beauty. Reviews on the "Glass skin" effect, "Jello skin" and "skin flooding" never cease to make us dream. For the past decade Korean cosmetics has invaded our bathrooms. Their skincare rituals are sure to attract the skincare addict. Focusing on clean, natural formulas, the manufacturers draw inspiration from ancestral rituals, traditional Asian medicine and dermatology. The focus is on moisturizing+++, UV protection and skin health. So, the questions on everyone's lips: how do Korean women get beautiful skin? How to achieve the "Glass Skin" effect?

Angelic complexion, glowing baby skin: these are the secrets of the Korean beauty products and my opinion on this phenomenon.

K-Beauty brands & Beauty Decoded reviews 

There are dozens of marques South Korean cosmetics. In France, their care are available from Séphora, Nocibé and Marionnaud, as well as the e-commerce platforms Stylevana and Amazone. If you've been following me, you'll know that I appreciate certain marques from K-beauty as :

• Cosrx ;
• Beauty of Joseon;
• Dr Jart+ ;
• Instree
• Laneige;
• Innisfree;
• Klair's;
• Sioris...

I tested several Korean beauty products and my opinion on their compositions is mostly positive. Here are three emblems of skincare K-Beauty and 3 facials that I particularly like.

• Dr Jartis a brand created in 2005 by Jonk Wook Lee, an architect turned self-employed entrepreneur, and dermatologist Jung. These two friends drew their inspiration from the aerospace, microbiology, materials science and art sectors. They combine high technology and cutting-edge ingredients to develop Korean cosmetics performance. If their bestseller masks Cryo Rubber ™ so cool duo are experiencing an unprecedented craze, one of my favorite products is the Dr Jart+ Biome gel cream. This moisturizer, rich in niacinamide, glycerine and hyaluronic acid, is ultra-effective. This cream gel takes care of your microbiome by integrating streptococcus thermophilus. It is remarkable for its glass skinThe glass skin effect. I'll tell you more about this trend below. 
• Cosrx. The name comes from the contraction of the words "cosmetics" and "prescription". It's a flagship brand for fans of South Korean skincare. Founded in 2013, the company has made a name for itself with its range of snail mucin. The object of scientific study and much more than just a marketing trend, Cosrx's world-successful gastropod slime is available as a cream, essence, lotion and cleanser. So I can only recommend theAdvanced Snail 96 Mucin Power. This atypical asset is highly coveted by fans of the K-beauty. Reviews surfers The experts describe it as an excellent moisturizer, anti-aging and soothing for all skin types.
• LaNeige. Since 1994, this brand has claimed to be an expert in skin hydration. And for dehydrated skin in need of moisture replenishment, I recommend the water sleepping mask and the cica sleeping mask. Their aim is to saturate your skin with moisture while you sleep, to plump up the epidermis.

Korean beauty products: opinion on K-beauty formulas 

Korean culture and the demands of skincare addicts

According to data from Cosmetic Valley, Koreans use 39 cosmetics a month. That just goes to show the scale of domestic demand. Skincare is a way of life in Seoul! A veritable cult, beauty is a criterion of success and has a strong socio-cultural impact.

Indeed, current and traditional Korean mores place physical beauty, and more particularly facial complexion, as essential to their personal and professional success. Face and glow reflect inner well-being and good health. This cult of beauty leads Korean cosmetics to be ultra-demanding. Like the models and influencers of the K-beautythe ultimate goal is the perfect complexion.

To preserve their skin, women prefer breast-feeding, non-aggressive active ingredients in soothing galenic formulas. So it's hardly surprising that Korean demand is focused on clean, natural and organic formulas. What's more, the vision of the "land of calm mornings" often associates clean beauty with eco-responsibility and environmental protection. As a result, new concepts of K-cosmétique such as "water less beauty". These are waterless formulas with higher doses of active ingredients and better shelf life.  

The star active ingredients of Korean skincare

Close to nature, the research and development teams of the marques from K-beauty uses many natural, ancestral ingredients derived from traditional Asian medicine. They include :  

• centella asiatica, also known as tiger grass (anti-aging, healing, moisturizing and repairing properties);
• Green tea (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory thanks to its high polyphenol content);
• propolis ;
• rice extracts or fermented rice water (lightening, softening and mattifying);
• Ginseng;
• Licorice root (lightening);
• Bamboo extract (matifying, rich in antioxidants, used for exfoliation);
• snail mucin (anti-aging, brightening, repairing) ;
• numerous ferments and probiotics.

To reinforce the power of plants and guarantee the performance of their formula, K-beauty doesn't hesitate to integrate scientifically recognized active ingredients: niacinamide, retinol and retinal, vitamin C and derivatives, hyaluronic acid, aha, ceramides. 

Beauty Decoded special recommendations: Korean sunscreens

Finally, we can't talk about the expertise of the K-beauty without focusing on Korean sunscreens. Like many Asian sunscreens, their sensoriality is unrivalled in the world of cosmetics. For them, day cream is automatically a UV protection cream. Unlike in France, Asians are made aware of the need for UV protection from an early age. The whiteness and perfection of their complexions depend on constant protection from light rays. Really, if you want optimum SPF UVA and B protection with an ultra-glossy, ultra-light, moisturizing and invisible finish, I can only recommend you try Korean screens. Among them, I suggest :

• Beauty of Joseon;
• Bioré UV ;
• Inissfree.

Overall, their texture is a kind of ultra-fluid, watery milk, which on application dissolves into a rapidly absorbed water. These compositions leave no greasy, whitish or sticky finish, simply a perfect, protected and moisturized complexion. Most can be applied several times a day.

Korean facial routine: K-beauty layering with a "glass skin" effect

It's a beauty ritual handed down from generation to generation, performed in the morning and evening. Layering" is an English word meaning "superimposition of layers". By layering, we mean superimposing your different skincare products. With this technique, the skin absorbs a greater quantity of active ingredients.

The " Korean layering " in 10 steps.

This protocol is a time for oneself, an opportunity to get the day off to a good start or to soothe oneself before going to bed. It is accompanied by gentle massage and tapping to promote lymphatic drainage and blood circulation, and relieve facial tension. Purists will even use acupuncture points.

• Double cleaning + exfoliation

This isn't the first time I've talked to you about double cleansing. In my opinion, this Asian technique is the best way to optimize your beauty routine and purify your skin.

Exfoliation is performed 2 to 3 times a week, or daily depending on skin concerns. It enhances the complexion's radiance and luminosity, the absolute criterion for a healthy complexion. Korean beauty.

• Korean Beauty lotion.

It prepares your skin for the treatments that follow. It can dissolve limescale left behind by tap rinses. It balances the skin's pH, softening, moisturizing and making it supple.

• Serum, essence or ampoule.

These three types of product treat specific skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and spots. They penetrate to the dermis. Their difference lies in viscosity, texture and active ingredient concentration.

• The essence has an aqueous texture that is thicker than toners, but finer than serums. Its ultra-vapid sensoriality deposits an almost imperceptible veil of moisturizing, anti-aging and anti-spot agents.
• Serums are thicker than essences and less concentrated than ampoules. It has a more or less gel-like texture. 
• The ampoule is the most concentrated fluid of the three. It's a real boost for treating a specific skin problem over a limited period of time.

• Eye contour.

• Moisturizing cream, oil and sun protection.

To fix all the previous treatments, water and active ingredients, the treatment cream concludes the Korean skincare. You can replace it with an oil for very dry skin, or top it off with a moisturizing cream. In the morning, over this emulsion, sun protection is essential. 

More recently, with the accelerating pace of life in major Asian metropolises, the " glass skin routine "  has appeared. Faster, it offers glowing skin, with a slightly moistened look on the cheekbones.. How to get it, you will need to apply the "skin flooding. This involves superimposing a lotion, essence and/or serum in this order. Ultra-moisturizing, packed with humectants and niacinamide, their combination will saturate your skin with water. Moisture is then sealed by a moisturizing cream, a skincare cream and UV protection. The " Korean layering "The "glass skin" effect. Skin is plumped and plumped up. Skin with a moistened appearance that reflects light like never before.

The expression "beauty ritual" has never had more meaning than in South Korean beauty routines. And if you're hesitating between K-beauty cosmetics and French parapharmacy skincare, I invite you to watch the skincare battle on my YouTube channel: K-beauty versus French parapharmacy. Now's the time to comment on the marques of the K- cosmetics you're looking for!

Find out more about other marquess from the K-Beauty :

• Beauty of Joseon;
• Cosrx ;
• Doctor jart+;
• Innissfree ;
• Laneige.
• Klair's.

Sources