With so many new beauty innovations coming out of South Korea on the regular, it's no wonder that it's nearly impossible for the average person to keep up with the latest and greatest releases. You might wonder: Are essences still cutting-edge? Who's making the best sheet masks? And what about peel-off beauty — is that worth trying?
We feel you, so to help you get a grasp on what devotees are swooning over, we tapped some of our favorite K-beauty retailers to share their best-selling products. (Think: Soko Glam, Glow Recipe, Memebox, The Lot, and more.)
What they revealed will not only help you wade through the bounty of options, but give uninitiated peeps a useful jumping-off point. Like we've noted in the past, the hype surrounding Korean beauty isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so you might as well get on board if you haven't.
Ahead, top K-beauty retailers share the products you need to know about now.
Charlotte Cho started Soko Glam back in 2012, and it's quickly become one of the best places to score K-beauty products stateside. One of the retailer's best sellers is the do-everything Beauty Water from Son & Park: It's part toner, part cleanser, and an all-around skin game-changer.
Son & Park Beauty Water, $30, available at Soko Glam.
Another winner from the Soko Glam selection is this vitamin C-packed serum. It helps to fade dark spots, protect skin from premature aging, and brighten dull complexions. Our advice: Add it to your basket, then brush up on your antioxidant knowledge here, courtesy of Soko Glam's The Klog.
Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum, $23, available at Soko Glam.
These wine-soaked pads are another customer favorite. (Fun fact: Our beauty team can't get enough, either.) They smell nostalgically like grape candy and slough away dead skin cells with just a few swipes.
Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling in Wine, $27, available at Soko Glam.
Peel-off beauty products are huge, and according to Lani Chen, a Memebox representative, this is the product that kicked off the movement. Don't be intimidated: You simply apply the gel-like substance to your pout, wait for it to dry, and peel it off to reveal a colorful finish that will stay put for hours.
"People are really into the idea of not having to fix their lipstick throughout the day," Chen tells us. And with this six-pack, you might never want to pick up a tube of lipstick again. You can read our detailed take on peel-off products here.
Berrisom Oops My Lip Tint Pack Set, $20, available at Memebox.
The peel-off trend extends to skin care, and this mask is another Memebox best seller. Its charcoal extract is like a vacuum for your pores. "It's so satisfying to see impurities being pulled from the pores, and this one can be used all over the face," says Chen.
Elizavecca Hell-Pore Clean Up Mask, $11.40, available at Memebox.
Looking for that perfect foundation brush? Search no further. "This brush is best-selling because of its unique shape and effectiveness at blending foundation," Chen tells us. "The handle gives the user more control, and the dense, soft bristles leave no streaks." She adds that it comes with a sponge, which you can use to pat in foundation and pick up any excess sitting on the skin.
Etude House Secret Brush 121 Skin, $13.40, available at Memebox.
Another K-beauty online go-to is Peach & Lily, which also launched a brick-and-mortar store in Queens recently. One product the brand's customers can't seem to get enough of is this cult-favorite essence — and for good reasons. It's light enough for the summer months and sinks into the skin in a few seconds.
Cremorlab Mineral Treatment Essence, $42, available at Peach & Lily.
While worrying about the pH level of your skin definitely shouldn't keep you up at night, this toner will allow you to rest easy. It balances the skin's acid levels and oil production with soothing ingredients like botanical herbs and Alaskan glacier water.
Be the Skin Botanical Pore Toner, $25, available at Peach & Lily.
Craving a sheet mask for every occasion and skin issue? This pack covers it all. It also comes out to $4 a mask, making it a real steal. It's not available right now — we told you these were best sellers — so we advise getting on that alert list ASAP.
Various Brands Bundle Power Combo Back, $20, available at Peach & Lily.
Glow Recipe is all about natural, non-harsh K-beauty buys — like this new artichoke essence, which customers are already loving.
"Artichoke extract is great for minimizing the appearance of pores and helping with skin elasticity," cofounder Christine Chang tells us. "Customers have been raving about the results."
Yuri Pibu Artichoke Power Essence, $38, available at Glow Recipe.
A longstanding best seller for the site, this ampoule can be used by itself or you can add it to your skin care and makeup for an added boost of brightness.
LJH Vita Propolis Ampoule, $38, available at Glow Recipe.
"This was featured on Shark Tank last December, and customers can't seem to get enough of it; we've already sold out several times!" Chang tells us about this serum-moisturizer hybrid. It's more than TV hype — just check out all the five-star ratings for added proof of its goodness.
Blithe Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum, $49, available at Glow Recipe.
Nope, Sephora being on this list is not a mistake. The beauty hot spot has started stocking a slew of Korean beauty brands, including favorites like Caolion, Chosungah 22, and Too Cool for School. Dr. Jart+ has been on the roster for some time now, but one of its most recent launches has quickly risen to become a Sephora K-beauty fave. We've already reviewed the moisturizing tube (you can read our thoughts here). Spoiler alert: It's one of the coolest products you'll try this year.
Dr. Jart+ Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer, $36, available at Sephora.
Lazy girls, rejoice! Blithe has brought us all a new way to mask, without the time commitment. The Splash Mask may seem odd, but it's super-easy to use. Simply pour some in your hands during your shower, pat it into the face, and rinse it off for instant benefits.
Blithe Energy Yellow Citrus & Honey Splash Mask, $45, available at Sephora.
This tiny jar packs a powerful punch of hydration for thirsty complexions. It's the top-selling beauty product in Korean department stores, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise that it's also a winner stateside.
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb, $38, available at Sephora.
It's no coincidence that two retailers in this slideshow call vitamin C serums best sellers; it speaks wonders to the ingredient's effectiveness. This option from popular site Wishtrend is a favorite because of how powerful it is compared to many on the market. "The C21.5 Serum has always been a popular product for its highly concentrated formula that works to brighten skin tone and reduce pigmentation to get rid of any signs of dullness," Wishtrend representative Gina Myung tells us.
By Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C21.5 Advanced Serum, $24.99, available at Wishtrend.
"The Klairs Toner is a longtime fan favorite," Myung says.
"It's great for people of all skin types and has been constantly gaining popularity." She also notes that it's been featured as the number-one toner on Korean app Glowpick.
Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner, $21.99, available at Wishtrend.
Myung tells us that this mask is beloved for its unique formula: It contains 39% real honey, which both cleanses and hydrates the face.
I'm From Honey Mask, $37.90, available at Wishtrend.
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