21/06/2016

Favourite Korean Skincare & Makeup Products

If you can’t get your soul to Seoul, you might be feeling a little bit depressed! Unless you have been under a rock for the last few years, you will have heard about the rise of covetable Korean beauty products. So, why the hype, and what is it that the Korean girls are demanding that is bringing us this trend? Well, these ladies are clear – their products must be innovative, with gentle, natural ingredients, delightfully pleasing packaging; and no one wants to pay a small fortune for it. Sounds great to me – you go girls, help us all out and turn the beauty industry on its head while you’re there – ok?

When did this revolution happen?

So, when did this all happen? Eight years ago the cosmetics and beauty industry was dominated by American products, with some European ones making their presence felt. Do a hop, skip and a jump to today, and Korean products are all the rage. One of the things that women all over the world have moved toward is a holistic view of beauty, a penchant for the most natural products possible and wanting to be part of the solution to saving the earth, not the cause of it! But, don’t despair if you want yourself a little slice of this Korean beauty pie and it hasn’t come to your neck of the woods yet! COSME-DE.COM has all the Korean beauty products you could want, at great prices with free shipping to most countries, so settle in and check a few out with me, then choose your own to enjoy, delivered to your door!

A quick History lesson

It all started with the BB cream – while not a completely new invention having been around since the 1950’s, it was popularised in Korea in 2006, taking the West by storm by 2011. Following hot on its illuminating heels were CC creams, BB creams with ‘cushion’ compacts, brightening products, sheet masks, essences and oil cleansers; and plenty more followed suit.
And the Korean beauty market has grown more than the US and European markets in the last few years – why? It is the aspects I mentioned earlier that have us all going gaga over Korea – the innovation, ingredients, textures, affordability and packaging. All this is wonderful, but most importantly, do Korean products work? Well, therein lies the real secret – after all the cute packaging and fun, the products deliver results, and that is at the heart of what we all want from our beauty products!

The Beauty Balm Boom

So, let’s start with a product that has become a staple for me – the BB cream. Only this one comes as part of a ‘cushion’, meaning it is a delightful, easily transportable ‘pod’ that you can open up anytime and with a few stamps of the specially-designed ruby-cell puff you can moisturise, cover, reduce fine lines, whiten and protect against sun damage, for a flawless, glowing finish that can last up to 12 hours. What is this wonder product? Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion SPF50+ / PA+++ – you won’t want to ever leave home without it! Comes in medium pink, medium beige and light pink too.

Some biology…

So, talking about homes, which molluscs carry their shells on their backs? Yes, snails, well done – go to the top of the class! Why are you going about snails now? Yes, I know what you are thinking. Well, whether you like these slimy little critters or not, snail extract has major beauty benefits. Just try using Mask House Celebrity Series Snail Extract Moisturizing Gel Mask, and you will be so delighted with the results, you forget about any misgivings on the snail part of things!
Five regenerative ingredients include the friendly snail secretion, hyaluronic acid, acetyl hexapeptide-8, amino acids and adenosine. And if all these names sound a bit too much like chemistry class for your liking, then what you really want to know is that this will dramatically improve your skin’s hydration, stop aging in its tracks and lock in moisture day and night.

Hydration Pump System
And while we are on the subject of hydration, there is another Korean product that is amazing for this. It is Mask House Aqua Pump Instant Hydration System, a 3-in-1 product that packs a punch and doesn’t cost the earth! It can be used as a deep moisturiser in the morning and evening, a makeup base and an overnight mask if massaged into skin before sleep. The system contains Ceramide 3 (from yeast) that helps to rapidly penetrate deep into the skin to lock that moisture down and create a moisture barrier.


The essence of it all
So, one of the trademarks of Korean beauty products is the use of essences. What is an essence? It’s something in between a toner and a serum, but is neither of these things! An essence usually comes in a beautiful glass bottle, and is used after you have thoroughly cleansed your skin, to give your skin a very comforted, hydrated, nourished and cared for  feel. One of the most interesting brands coming out of Korea is The History of Whoo. The concept behind The History of Whoo, is a strong emphasis on the use of premium eastern medicinal herbal ingredients; in combinations and complexes that enable skin cell self-regeneration for powerful and effective anti-aging benefits. You also cannot help but fall in love at first sight with the regal, elegant packaging. With so many available, the choice is hard but I chose the Gongjinhyang Qi & Jin Essence. A lightweight essence that delivers a deep moisture, containing Gong Jin Dan, an ancient Korean court formula, in addition to Agilawood extract, Wild ginseng, Cordyceps Sinensis, and natural olive oil. It is best to apply gently with a massaging motion.



Keep it coming, Korea!

So, now you know why we are all rushing off to find Korean beauty products, I can’t wait to see what comes out of Korea next!

No comments :

Blog Widget by LinkWithin