The Big Boom in Korean Beauty

The rising popularity of Korean beauty products – commonly called K-Beauty – is exploding all over the USA, and all over the world. And it’s easy to see why.  The South Koreans have a different perspective on how to care for their skin, and we found out all about it from Dr. Craig Kraffert, a board-certified dermatologist and president of Amarte – and also the founder of DermStore! https://www.amarteskincare.com/products

What makes K-beauty so different? According to Dr. Kraffert,  all Koreans – men too but especially women – “view the care of skin as something to savor and enjoy….When it comes to daily skincare regimens, the ‘sense of urgency’ and compulsion to hurry and finish are typically absent.”  In other words, the Koreans love to s-t-r-e-t-c-h out the skincare process, and they view it as a privileged activity of indulgence, enjoyment and respect. Quite a difference from we rushed Americans, who typically eat breakfast-on-the-go and apply lipstick in the passenger seat in the car.

Amarte is a leader in Korean skincare, and is famous for a few of its cult products. The first is the Amarte Natural Finish BB Cream, which moisturizes with argan oil, brightens with elemental sulfur, protects with broad spectrum SPF 36, and tints with fine mineral pigments.  The Koreans love to layer! Another trending Amarte beauty product is Overnight Express Therapy, which uses a silk fibroin that is a sponge-like nanomatrix, to deliver retinol and peptides to your skin while you sleep.  Sweet dreams!  The Amarte Ultra Veil is another showstopper – probably the most elegant sunscreen you will ever wear.

Another Korean line with fantastic skincare is Laneige.  Says Chinae Kim, LANEIGE Senior Marketing Manager, “Without a doubt, K-Beauty products are in high demand now and we don’t expect this trend to slow down any time soon. In addition to potent ingredients and effective products that provide multiple skincare benefits, K-Beauty products appeal to US consumers with their innovative delivery forms, creative packaging and engaging marketing campaigns.”

Furthermore, the ombre/gradient makeup category is growing fast in Korea. Laneige has brought this innovation to the US with the recent launch of Two Tone lipstick products that will be available on Sephora.com in June. The lipstick’s fashionable high gloss and semi-matte formula combines two curated shades in one sleek tube.

One of my favorites from Laneige is its Water Bank Moisture Cream, which is enriched with mineral water, Biogen technology and minerals to impart nutrients to your skin.  This remarkable product has won more than seven Global Beauty Awards.  www.LANEIGE.com/us.  I’m also in love with the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask that delivers intense doses of moisture to your dermis while you cozy up under your comforter and snooze. It’s also infused with apricot and evening primrose. (One is sold every 12 seconds worldwide.)  Last but not least, Laneige has a complementary Lip Sleeping Mask that is like putting fresh strawberries on your smackers – but also contains hyaluronic acid and minerals. You’ll wake up to wonderful, kiss-worthy lips – and who doesn’t love that?

For baby-soft skin, consider Tatcha’s Balancing Ritual for normal to oily skin.  There are four steps: Purifying with camellia oil; Polishing with rice enzyme power; Softening with anti-aging superfoods (I’m all in for that!); and Moisturizing with the water cream.  Dermatologist tested and formulated without mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, urea – and the other so called “dirty 30” you don’t want to use on your skin. www.Tatcha.com

From Catherine Jinn comes Pro Bio-Placenta Essence, a skin rejuvenating serum with five unique peptides to support thin, fragile skin. Paraben-free, this serum from Korea minimizes the appearance of expression lines and wrinkles, and mimics the benefits offered from human placenta. Try it to pamper your way to porcelain, perfect skin. https://catherinejinn.com/#s-about-us

And just when you thought you could only turbocharge your car, now comes Vitabrid C12, from Hyundai IBT Company in Seoul.  This is a transdermal Vitamin C that you mix with water or your favorite skin cream, to revitalize, brighten, and rev up your facial skin cells.  It’s also a COSMOPROF “Trendsetting Award Winner” whose Vitamin C is bound to stimulate collagen production.  This summer, the time is ripe to try it. www.vitabrid.com

Now go out there and show off your peaches-and-cream complexion!