The Best Korean Beauty Products

Korean beauty products are all the rage, and I’ve been lucky enough to live in Korea, as well as visit this past year. If you know me, you know I absolutely love everything Korean. Living, teaching, and using Tinder in Korea, was the best experience I’ve had to date! Any opportunity I have to share my love for their culture, I jump it!

During my recent visit, my dear friend Rebecca took me to the wonderful Olive Young (a cheaper Sephora/drugstore) and showed me all the hot new beauty products that Koreans are going nuts over. As you’ll see, some of them I have used, but others I have not. There were far too many to dive into. My skin can only handle so much “self-care.” She assured me that she and her friends have used the products mentioned, and they swear by them.

Some Korean beauty products are linked to purchase. Products directed to Amazon are linked through my store, which means I will receive a small percentage of the sale. This will not affect the cost of your item. Big businesses Amazon pays me. Not you.

Korean Beauty Products I Have Tried

Clay Masks

These clay masks bring me the most joy! The green Shrek mask was gifted to me by Rebecca in 2017, and I’ve been hooked since. On my recent trip to Korea, she spoiled me with two other masks from the same company, and I love those as well! My pores clog easily, so I tend to favor the Shrek Pack. It’s a great exfoliator, and I see immediate results after each use. 10/10

Shrek Pack: Exfoliates, sebum control, pore-clearing

White Pack: Brightening, pore-clearing, pore tightening

Pink Pack: Smooths skin with the pink calamine, Rose Damascena flower water adjusts the skin balance

Foot Pads to Remove Toxins

I was skeptical about this product, but as you can see, it worked just fine. Place the sticky pads on the bottom of your feet and keep them there overnight while. It claims to pull toxins from out of your body through your feet. According to a similar product I found on Amazon, these cleanse and energize your body while promoting deeper sleep and enhancing vigor.

I can’t prove that the discoloration on the pads is toxins, but it looks toxic, so I won’t argue. I will point out that I did not sleep deeper because this made my feet tingle, which caused me to feel restless. It was a strange sensation that was uncomfortable for me, but I also have extremely sensitive feet.

Foot Peeling Mask

Of all the odd Korean beauty products, this is one of my top three favorites! It is disgusting, gross, and effective; everything I want in a purchase! This is a foot peeling mask. It claims to shed your feet of all dead layers of skin and bring out new, supple skin.

As you can see from the photos, I placed my foot in the bag, which was lined with a bleachy liquid. I don’t know what it was exactly, but it didn’t hurt. My feet remained in the bags for 10 minutes, although I should have left them in longer. I didn’t out of fear of my feet falling off.

The final result was pretty good. My feet felt softer and crustless. I didn’t experience any peeling, but as I mentioned, I cut my time short out of concern for a bleach infection.

I have linked a similar product through Amazon, and the reviews are stellar. No sign of an infection and overall happy customers. Good luck with those soft summer toes!

Blemish Cover Relief & Warm Eye Mask

Blemish relief stickers are everything! I pop one on a zit before bed, and when I wake up in the morning, the zit is either gone or has significantly decreased in size and redness. Although popular, this specific product wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t notice a big enough difference to feel satisfied with my purchase. Before my recent visit to Korea, I ordered a different brand on Amazon, and they worked better for my monster volcanoes. You can find those here.

Warm eye masks are not something I would ordinarily purchase, but my sweet friend gifted me one, and it was surprising! I used it during my flight home, and I felt relaxed. I’m a bit of a stressed flyer, and this helped calm my nerves. The warmth was distracting and comforting for my high-strung ass.

Korean Beauty Products Recommended By Rebecca

Sheet Masks

Apparently, these are the cat’s meow for skin brightening and moisturizing, She said these brands can also be purchased in the states as well. I asked her to show me masks that were specific to Korea, and she refused (LOL). According to a local, these can be found in most Korean homes; therefore, they are the best of the best.

Both products can be found on Amazon: Dr. Jart+ Dermask Skin Brightening & Medi Heal N.M.F. Intensive Hydrating Mask

Neck Care

As previously mentioned, warming patches are all the rage in Korea. I have not personally tried a neck warmer, but I assume it has the same calming benefits as the warm eye mask. It calms, soothes, and relaxes your nerves. This is most helpful in a stressful situation or after a long day. Warm patches + wine = happy Meg.

The neck lifter made me laugh. I’m not sure if this works, but I hope it does! The first sign of aging is your neck, so take care of it! Rebecca said it’s a popular Korean beauty product amongst older women, and I say why wait until you’re older? Take precautionary steps now for a full Jen Aniston look at 50.

Tangle Angel Hair Brush

When I was waiting to snap these pictures, a group of girls was taking turns styling their hair with this sample brush. Rebecca explained that the Tangle Angel is a trendy beauty product amongst Korean girls and apparently detangles even the rowdiest hair. I did not sample this, so I can’t say for sure if it lives up to the hype, but based on the crowd, I believe it.

I have a smaller American version of this and it detangles wet and dry hair. Speaking from that experience, I’m a big believer in this type of brush. It’s much more gentle on your hair than ordinary ones.

Anti-Aging Products

Hydra Shot is another popular MediHeal product. This targets fine under-eye and smile lines. The concentrated, creamy formula hydrates, replenishes, and tightens skin. The packaging claims to promote anti-aging with anti-wrinkle ingredients, which includes triple peptide and Anemarrhena asphodeloides root extract.

On the topic of anti-aging, CNP Laboratory Nutrition Serum is the best according to an Amazon review titled “I’d dip my entire body in it if I could.” This serum contains concentrated propolis extract, which is known for its antioxidant and moisturizing properties. As most moisturizing products do, this includes hyaluronic acid, which diminishes the signs of aging and promotes a healthy glow.

This is also known to pair well with sensitive skin, so keep that in mind if you have bad reactions to most products.

Warming Patch & Gel Nail Strips

It goes without saying that warming patches for your lower stomach are a God sent during your period. Want to combat cramps? Here you go. This soothes your muscles and brings GREAT relief to your aching belly.

Bonus: Korean stores stock up on disposable hand warmers during the winter, which are smaller versions of belly warmers. They are cheap and fit perfectly in your coat pockets. I highly suggest buying them in bulk on Amazon regardless of where you live. I brought them to Havasupai during our October ’19 trip, and they got me through the freezing nights.

The nail strips are similar to ones I’ve used countless times on my toes. In my experience, the gel stickers work best on toes because they are being banged up less. I’ve tried them on my fingernails, but they only last a few days (dishes, zit popping, booty scratching). Typically I get 3 weeks out of the stickers, and they look fresh and shiny the entire times.

You can pick these up from any drugstore

Have you tried Korean beauty products? If so, which are your favorite?