Style
21 Odd Yet Amazing Korean Beauty Products You Never Knew You Needed
If you're new to the world of Korean skin or hair care, a few of these products might seem especially odd to you. That's because some of the most amazing Korean beauty products use ingredients and tactics that haven't yet picked up popularity in the western world. For example, smearing your face with moisturizer containing snail mucus isn't a particularly uncommon practice, nor is using a face wash with fermented rice enzymes.
As someone who's willing to try just about anything weird so long as it contains primarily natural ingredients, I'm all for these random but brilliant Korean products. In addition to using oils and extracts predominantly found in nature, though, Korean beauty is also big on combining as many possible benefits or steps into one bottle. While Americans will often use a separate cleanser, moisturizer, primer, and then foundation, it's not uncommon to find Korean products that tackle all of these things at once.
Basically, if you love convenience and practicality, it's time to overlook the weirdness factor. When you're tired of seeing the same local brands over and over again and you're looking to try something new (and I mean really new), these beauty products from Korea are well worth your time.
1. This Snail Mucin Formula To Moisturize And Prompt Cell Rejuvenation
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, $16, Amazon
This weird Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is made from actual slime from snails, but it turns out that it's wonderful when it comes to cell rejuvenation and repair. People use it as a toner or a moisturizer, and it can be worn underneath makeup without any issues at all thanks to its lightweight and non-greasy finish.
2. This Volcanic Clay Mask For Oil And Blackheads
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, $13, Amazon
When it comes to oily skin, Innisfree clay mask is one of the best options out there. That's because it's formulated with actual volcanic clay that soaks up excess oil as well as clogged pores to leave you with a clear, blackhead-free complexion.
3. This Roll-On Snail Mucus To Fix Under Eye Circles
It's Skin Prestige Yeux Ginseng Descargot, $28, Amazon
These weird tubes are basically just roll-on snail slime applicators — and that ingredient is why they're reportedly amazing when it comes to brightening, rejuvenating, and healing tired under eye circles.
4. This Weird Banana To Heal Your Skin At Night
TONYMOLY Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack + Hand Milk, $15, Amazon
With chamomile and banana extract, this bizarre TONYMOLY Magic Food banana sleeping pack nourishes your skin while you sleep. It smell great, helps to even your skin tone, and heals dry or blotchy patches to give your face a bit of a vacation in the winter months.
5. This Fermented Nighttime Serum That Users Are Calling "Liquid Gold"
Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule Serum, $25, Amazon
Made with fermented ingredients that help to repopulate your face with healthy bacteria, this Missha Time Revolution night repair ampoule serum is incredible if you want to wake up with bright and elastic skin. Reviewers have called it "liquid gold" and say that a little goes a long way to seriously help repair skin quickly and easily.
6. This Moisturizing Primer With A Bit Of Coverage
Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur, $12, Amazon
A combination moisturizer, primer, and lightweight foundation, this Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur covers all redness and imperfections for a clean starting palette. It also has some sun protection and lightens your complexion while still appearing totally natural.
7. This Weird Bran Cleanser That Balances, Nourishes, And Soothes
SRB Rice Bran Enzyme Powder Face Wash, $25, Amazon
This weird but super effective SRB rice bran enzyme powder face wash contains over fifty different kinds of nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants derived from rice bran. It's amazing for everything from evening tone and cleansing makeup to brightening and exfoliating, and it even soothes breakouts.
8. This Tiny Mascara Brush For Lashes That Look Naturally Lengthy And Lush
Innisfree Skinny Microcara Mascara, $9, Amazon
Normally mascaras boast bigger, fuller, and fake-looking lashes, but this Innisfree Skinny Microcara mascara is specifically designed to remain lightweight, subtle, and natural. If your lashes won't curl under any amount of weight, this one is great for giving them a bit of definition without clumps or excess product.
9. This All-Mineral Sun Screen That Does Wonders For Your Skin
Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk, $12, Amazon
"So for starters I'm allergic to all-chemical sunscreen," says one reviewer about this Etude House Sunprise mild airy finish sun milk. "A blogger mentioned this one as a physical screen... The verdict, I love it!" Even though it lasts a long time and blocks UV rays with only minerals, it's non-greasy, hydrating, and leaves a matte complexion.
10. This Spray-On Hair Ampoule You'd Find In A Korean Salon
Imonpro Hair Ampoules Damage Control, $16, Amazon
This Imonpro Hair Ampoules Damage Control is apparently something you'd find in a Korean salon to give you smooth, glossy, and healthy hair. It comes with three treatment jars and a spray bottle, and it supplies hair with all the necessary nutrients to strengthen, condition, and heal.
11. This Weird Fermented Powder Cleanser That Balances Your Skin With Enzymes
Su:m 37 White Award Enzyme Powder Wash, $45, Amazon
With enzymes and fermented ingredients, this Su:m 37 White Award powder wash is not your average cleanser. Still, it strengthens your skin's vitality, removes buildup and sebum with its light powdery lather, and has reviewers saying, "I love it. I've been using this powder for years, remove my make up gently,smoothly and cleanly."
12. This Contour Kit For Highly Sensitive Skin
Etude House Face Line V-Line Slim Maker, $19, Amazon
Made with natural sugar powder, the Etude House Face Line V-Line Slim Maker is a compact that comes with two colors for easy contouring and highlighting. Best of all, it's got a lightweight easy-to-blend formula that won't irritate even the most sensitive acne-prone skin.
13. This Secret Formula From The Korean Royal Court
The History of Whoo Jinyulhyang Jinyul Balancer, $41, Amazon
Made with a Korean royal court secret formula, The History of Whoo Jinyulhyang Jinyul balancer is a serum that soothes dry skin, refines texture, and leaves you with a radiant glow. It's especially great for rejuvenating skin in the winter, but it absorbs quickly without residue, so it's fine for warmer weather, too.
14. This Hair Treatment That Works Wonders On Oily Hair
Etude House Silk Scarf Hair Treatment, $10, Amazon
Even though it's formulated with oils, the Etude House Silk Scarf hair treatment heals and hydrates without leaving your hair overly greasy. It has a fresh floral scent, and really helps to tame the frizz and the dried ends.
15. This Odd All-In-One Hair Solution That Cleanses, Hydrates, And Smooths
LG Reen Yungo Hair Cleansing Treatment Shampoo, $11, Amazon
This LG Reen Yungo hair cleansing treatment shampoo uses red ginseng to cleanse hair of buildup, excess oils, and dandruff, and then hydrates it with white mulberry. It therefore takes the place of both your shampoo and conditioner, and promises to help with hair loss, too.
16. This Toner That Does It All Without Zapping Your Skin's Moisture
Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner, $22, Amazon
People are flipping over Etude House Wonder pore freshner, which is a watery substance that minimizes pores, removes makeup, tones the skin, controls sebum production, and even balances the pH of your face. "Wow, this toner makes my skin feel awesome and not super dry like almost every American toner I've tried," raves one buyer.
17. This Awesome Cream That Hydrates, Nourishes, Covers, And Highlights At The Same Time
The Face Shop Face It Power Perfection Bb Cream, $17, Amazon
BB cream is huge in the Asian skincare industry, though few Americans utilize it. The Face Shop Face It Power Perfection BB cream takes the place of a moisturizer, toner, and color corrector. It's got special ingredients that actually care for skin instead of zapping its nutrients, and it actually covers, too. "Somehow this cream creates this amazing effect like I used highlighter and toner and finisher — all from the same application," says one reviewer.
18. This Herb Steam Treatment To Transform Frizzy Hair
YUCHOO BY ME Steam Silk Hair Pack, $20, Amazon
Made with natural herb ingredients that nourish and strengthen hair, this YUCHOO BY ME steam silk hair pack comes with five packets and a hair cap that leaves your hair soft, manageable, and healthy after just fifteen minutes. "My hair was so dry and frizzy now it's so shiny," says one happy reviewer.
19. This Weird Wine Gel That Exfoliates Your Face
Innisfree Wine Peeling Jelly Softner, $12, Amazon
Red wine can actually soften skin and remove dead skin cells, and that's why Innisfree created this wine peeling jelly softner. It's got a grape-y smell and a gel-like consistency that leaves your face feeling soft, moisturized, and gently exfoliated.
20. This Nutrient-Rich Cream That's Awesome For Acne
Atomy Nutrition Cream, $23, Amazon
This Atomy Nutrition Cream has odd ingredients like basil leaf extract and grapefruit, but because it's loaded with antioxidant-rich oils, it's incredible for nourishing tired skin and improving texture. "I have acne prone, sensitive skin and this is the best face lotion I've ever used," says one pleased reviewer. "It's also the best smelling product I've ever put on my face. It's a nice light fragrance that makes you feel clean and fresh... This lotion keeps my skin matte for at least a full work day, and usually longer."
21. This Night Serum With Licorice For Balancing Your Skin Tone
It's Skin Power 10 Licorice Formula, $9, Amazon
Licorice extract, odd as it is, helps to brighten skin, even tone, fight breakouts, and reduce the production of melanin. This It's Skin Power 10 licorice formula has great reviews because it does all that and more, including hydrating and reducing redness. Reviewers also say it smells heavenly, making it an even more wonderful product to add to your beauty arsenal.
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