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My Korean Beauty Product Must Haves

Note: Some products that you click on I might get some compensation from Amazon. 

I finally got the opportunity to visit Seoul, South Korea! I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the city besides possibly seeing a cosmetic surgeon on every corner. Haha… okay so that wasn’t really the reality, BUT they have cosmetic stores everywhere! And Koreans take beauty seriously!! They are probably number one in the world on their beauty routines. They say an average Korean spends around 30-45 minutes a day just on skin care. Even men! Where I’m from most girls are lucky if they get all their make up off before going to bed. (Seriously girls.. we need to step our game up!)

The first day I was a bit overwhelmed by it all. Every second shop in some places was another beauty store, and I really didn’t know what to make of it. So the first night I went back to my hotel room, and did some serious recon so I would be better prepared in the following days. After some research I got a grip on what brands to look out for, and the product direction I wanted to go. After hours and multiple days.. yes days. I finally felt like I had seen and bought it all!

Below is a list of my favorites from the trip, and a few that are still on my wishlist for next time. I have a lot of these products linked to my amazon list where you can get them shipped right to your door step.

Dr. Jart+ Rubber Mask

I chose this product on my own. Basically because of the cute packaging. (But am I right?) So this is a fancier version of a sheet mask.. and comes in different variations. Needless to say, I bought them all! Find this product and more on my list here.

HOLIKA HOLIKA Pig-nose Clear

My boyfriend and I immediately used this product when I purchased it. This is a 3-step black head removal pack. Comes in small nose and large nose sizes. (Small for me, large for him) He constantly asks me to put these on him! This takes black head stripping to a whole new level!

Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream

This cream is in my daily routine. After years of sun exposure, I feel the need to take extra care of my skin now. It feels so silky and smooth, probably due to the snail ingredients in it. This cream has been the rave all over beauty blogs, and I had to see for myself! There’s something about this cream that makes me feel good when I put it on. 🙂

too cool for school Egg Mellow Cream

This is a New York brand ‘too cool for school’, but the stores are all the rage in Seoul. This 5-1 cream claims itself as a firming moisturizer. Another all-in-one cream for you with brightening, anti-wrinkle, and collagen infused firming moisturizer is a definite go to! Click here to find this on my page.

Brown Lab Mild-S Daily Peeling Pads

There’s something special about these peeling pads for me. I love a good mild peel. Makes me feel like I just gave myself a mini facial. I have a few dark spots on my skin, some from the sun, some from acne. I feel like these daily pads are somewhat diminishing those spots for me.. and I haven’t even used the product that much. Also, I’ve NEVER actually had any peeling with these pads. Although, I think it takes a lot for my skin to peel so these might not be for everyone.

Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92%

After leaving the US I had to part with my aloe plant that I gave lots of love to. While in Seoul, I realized Koreans also share my same LOVE for aloe too! I saw lots of aloe products all ranging in different percentages. I liked the brand Nature Republic the best because it was straightforward, no frills shop, the only product they sold was aloe infused products. I also bought aloe hand cream that came in a aloe leaf shaped bottle. (I know, another packaging sucker story! Save me!!)

3CE White Milk Sleeping Mask

This beauty brand is super popular in Korea. Many of their K-Pop Superstars and beauty bloggers claim to use their products. I chose this product because it was a true sleeping mask. I also like whitening effects in products to give my skin a more even skin tone, and to help brigthen it up

HYGGEE One Step Facial Essence Fresh

Everyone loves a good facial! Why not bring that facial to your home? Is exactly my thoughts when I made this purchase. HYGGEE is the Korean minimalist product staple. This gives your skin an all over fresh feeling. Not a product I would use every day, because it’s too good to use all the time!

Mizon Sheet Mask

Village 11 factory, was one of the first beauty product stores I went into. I was overwhelmed, and confused. I went straight for the sheet masks, and bought some pimple patches and decided to go home and do some research. Low and behold, I ended right back at this store for the snail cream I listed above and more of these amazing sheet masks. Mizon is a staple in my book! You can buy many of these on my store here

KOCOSTAR Lip Mask

I’m a huge sufferer of chapped lips. I thought it was a living in the desert of Las Vegas thing. No, it’s an all the time thing… probably because I’m terrible at drinking water. But unfortunately theres, not sheet mask for rehydration hahaha… but instead I’ll settle for repairing my lips after the fact with these fun little lips masks.

too cool for school Egg Remedy Pack Shampoo

Another ‘too cool for school’ product here. I absolutely love this shampoo. I wish I would have bought the conditioner pack as well, but I didn’t. This shampoo makes my hair feel AMAZE after! Definitely, would buy this over and over.

Moonshot Jelly Pot

Koreans not only love beauty products, but they LOVE make up as well. When it comes to make up they aren’t shy about having a little fun with it. The moon shot jelly pots are a fan favorite! Gives the eyes a little shimmer, and goes on jelly like, but not sticky. Since I don’t go out on the town very often, I like to sometimes go all out, so these little jelly pots give a little extra UMP in my look. Plus their petit pots fit in just about any make up bag. 

CNP Laboratory Propolis Energy Ampule

I read to look out for this brand while in Korea. It’s considered a really underrated brand, and sort of Koreas “secret” brand as far as high end quality, but without the price tag. I love the texture of this serum. I typically put this on right after I get out of the shower, or before I put on make up if my face is feeling extra dry. I noticed within days of using this that the space between my eyebrows because not so dry and flakey which is always a problem for me. Two thumbs up on this one.

Huxley Oil Essence

Another oily like product I purchased was Huxley’s oil essence. Even in humidity my face tends to get dry just by being in the sun. I love putting on these serums right after at day at the beach or right in the morning when I wake up.

INK Peripera Lip Stains

I love me a good lip tint, and there sure isn’t a shortage in Korea. They know how to make sure lips last throughout the whole night, too! I bought a few of these tints by Peripera. They have an original, gelato, and a matte version. Personally I love their gelato line, it’s the moistest on the lips. MY lips are usually super dry as it is, so matte lipsticks and tints don’t usually work for me anyway. You can find these tints on my amazon list here.

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator Facial Mist

Even though this is made in the USA, it was all over Korea. I was pretty much sold on this product while purchasing my ‘too cool for school’ products (also made in the USA). I didn’t know much about it, but I was given tons of samples at check out. Actually I was given lots of samples at every store. It’s like Christmas every day at a beauty store in Korea. I had to go back for more of this mist once I got back home!

Mizon Bye-Bye Pimple Patch

Pimple patches are becoming increasingly popular in the US. I decided to give the patches a try, and they seemed to do their job! I’m luck that I don’t get break outs often, so I’ve only tested it once. However, I liked the results the first time. Either way they are fun way to deal with those little red bumps.

HOLIKA HOLIKA Foot Mask Sheet

At one point during my shopping spree I went a little mad and started buying everything in sight. I was like a girl in target without a motive.. that kind of mad. I started buying things like foot masks, hand mask, vline masks. My motto at one point was can’t fix it, throw a mask on it! LOL! However, I did like these foot sheet masks. A few days after wearing them the bottoms of your feet start to peel and shed the calluses. A but odd, but a good scrub in the shower and your feet will feel like a nice mini pedicure.

 

Leegeehaam HYAL B5 Toner

Leegeehaam is backed by leading dermatologist in Korea. The sleek packaging sells itself. I love a good toner since my skin isn’t in the best shape right now, and I knew I had to give this one a try, as well as a few other products not listed a try!

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream

Of course, I have to save the best for last. The holy grail of beauty creams. Sadly, I did not leave with this. This product comes with a hefty price tag, but the cream boasts leaving the skin more radiant, and silky smooth. Plus ginseng is imbedded into Korean culture.. the ginseng in this product is suppose to activate the skin to give it a more plump look. I do have my eyes on this cream.. and someday I will get it. But for now, I’ll stick to my all-in-one creams listed above.

 

If missed the link… here it is again. You can find most of these on the list I’ve created within amazon. Also note, I am NOT a dermatologist, nor did I go to esthetician school. These are simply all the products I bought, and tried and loved while I was in Korea. Happy shopping!