From byrdie
Trends come and go, but the way things are looking, K-beauty is here for the long haul. The proof is unavoidable: Korean girls have the most #flawless skin on the globe. And here at Byrdie, we’re in a near-constant state of happy dancing as K-beauty favorites finally make their way to Sephora aisles (both virtual and brick-and-mortar).
If you’re new to the wondrous world of K-beauty, you may need some help figuring out where to start. After all, navigating an entire country’s worth of beauty products, especially a country as skincare-obsessed as South Korea, is difficult, to say the least.
But whether you’re a K-beauty novice or are already obsessed with it, we hope this list gives you some inspiration. We consulted Sephora’s best-seller stats to put together a roundup of the top-rated Korean beauty products every makeup and skincare lover needs to make room for on their vanities. From AmorePacific cushion compacts to Belief face creams, these are the best-selling Korean products worth adding to your beauty routine.
With over 250K “loves,” this overnight lip mask is a must-have. It’s made with an eight-hour time-release to ensure that lips stay perfectly hydrated all night long. What’s more, it’s available in the original scent, which is reminiscent of watermelon and bubblegum, as well as vanilla and apple-lime options.
This daily face cream contains anti-aging ingredients like antioxidants, plantin, and oat husk to protect the skin from environmental damage and seal in moisture. The product already has over 160K “loves” on Sephora, and consumers continue to fall in love with its results-driven formula every day.
This impossibly-rich moisturizer is a favorite from AmorePacific, arguably the single largest beauty brand in Korea. Thanks to an all-natural ingredients list, including goodies like bamboo leaf extract, the product supports your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid production, moisture-retention, and cell turnover.
These ultra-affordable sheet masks will make your skincare routine feel luxe AF. They come in 13 different formulas—targeted toward each and every skin type and complexion concern—all of which have earned Sephora shoppers’ stamp of approval, with a whopping 90K “loves.”
This beloved whipped moisturizer by Belif is one we’ll be reaching for every day, especially as the temperature drops. Aptly named the moisturizing bomb, the product’s hydrating and detoxifying formula (which has earned over 80K “loves”) “bursts” onto the skin to provide hydration all day long.
While it might look suspiciously similar to its sibling, The True Cream Aqua Bomb, this slightly heavier formula is better suited for normal to dry skin, whereas the lighter Aqua Bomb is ideal for combination and oily skin types.
Toner is usually formulated with distilled water, but AmorePacific’s features red ginseng extract instead. It’s great for even the most sensitive skin types, calming redness and irritation while balancing pH and prepping skin for serums.
Who doesn’t love a skincare product that delivers optimal results with little effort? That’s precisely why this overnight moisture-surge mask is so popular at Sephora. The fast-absorbing gel-cream features the brand’s trademarked Sleep-Tox formula, which helps to soothe skin to reduce the appearance of fatigue. Plus, it’s made with hydro ionized mineral water, which features six moisturizing minerals, to ensure skin is plump and dewy come morning.
This eye gel supports circulation on the microscopic level, effectively combatting our dreaded dark circles and puffiness. It also has a 24-hour time-release, meaning that the results stick around all day.
Korean women are known for their clear, bright skin. One way to achieve the look is to use this best-selling vitamin C serum. The concentrated, lightweight formula smells vaguely of pineapple upside-down cake and the results of using it are just as sweet. Before you know it, your skin will look noticeably smoother and brighter, as well as less inflamed overall.
Noticing the AmorePacific trend? There’s a reason so many of the brand’s products are best-sellers—not just at Sephora but over in South Korea. Their popularity is due to their efficacy, plain and simple. This cleanser is super gentle, stripping makeup but not skin. It’s also chock-full of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.
Whether you’re looking for a toner or a cleanser, you can’t go wrong with this gentle K-beauty fave. It’s designed to hydrate dry skin with rose flower water, lavender water, and orange fruit extract while resurfacing dull, uneven skin with smoothing and brightening papaya extract. And, like micellar water, it doesn’t need to be rinsed off.
Peels are a must in Korean skincare; after all, regular exfoliation is the key to smooth, radiant skin. When combined with water, this powder exfoliant uses papaya enzymes to gently clears the skin’s surface.
Ready to revamp your makeup routine? This all-in-one complexion-perfecting beauty balm is sold in three universal shades, including light to medium, medium to deep, and deep. It’s made with SPF and a powerful anti-aging complex to prevent environmental damage from getting in the way of a radiant, youthful-looking visage. No wonder it’s earned over 50K “loves” from Sephora shoppers.
Looking for hydration without the icky pore-clogging side effects? Consider reaching for this hydra-gel moisturizer. With nine (yes, nine!) amino acids and ginger-root extract, your skin will be soft, supple, and most importantly, clear.
With over 20K “loves” on Sephora, this cult-classic cushion compact (say that five times fast) is another of AmorePacific’s top contenders. The lightweight formula feels like air on the skin, while hydrating, brightening, and protecting with a bevy of Asian botanicals. Oh, and did we mention it has SPF 50? Yes, please.