That skincare from Korea has taken the world by storm, is no secret anymore. They’re setting new beauty standards in beauty in self-care, while the Western skincare industry is still a little too focused on quick fixes. K-beauty prioritizes long-term skin health, using different ingredients to play into prevention, rather than fixing an existing problem. South Korea is rapidly becoming the global leader in skincare innovation, and in this short article, we will explain exactly why that is the case.
Ingredients and formulations
A cornerstone of the success of Korean Skincare, especially in the West nowadays, is its use of unique and effective ingredients that are often untraditional. Components like snail mucin, ginseng, rice water, and fermented extracts are commonly added to the products because of their hydrating, anti-aging, and even brightening properties. This also makes the skincare suitable for different skin types, as the choice of ingredients is massive and there will always be a suited option.
Prevention is the keyword
As we mentioned, we notice that the West is mainly focused on providing short-term fixes to skincare-related issues. On the other side of the coin, the Koreans focus on preventative skincare, knowing that a long-term strategy to maintain the skin (the largest organ of our body after all) is the best option. The philosophy centers around keeping the skin through a consistent daily routine, often both done in the morning and at night. With that, Korean skincare adopts a holistic approach to beauty: mindlessly using skincare products without the support of a good diet, a good sleep schedule, and a way to manage stress will have you seeing much fewer results. Make sure to not use skincare as a crutch to fix any underlying problems or inconsistencies in your day-to-day life. Remember: prevention is the keyword.
Gentle and hydrating
Korean skincare is also generally considered to be more mild and gentle compared to more traditional and, thus, sometimes harsh products. Sensitive skin types will absolutely love K-beauty’s approach to skincare–natural ingredients such as green tea, centella asiatica, and aloe vera are often used here to hydrate the skin. With the focus on hydration, the formulations help maintain the skin’s natural barrier, which gives you back that youthful glow.
Affordable & accessible
Is it often thought that because of the high quality of Korean skincare products, the prices must be outstanding. Oftentimes, the opposite appears to be true; K-beauty products are quite affordable and are growing in accessibility. Many Western retailers are now seeing the rise of the Korean branch of products, and trying to capitalize on that by importing more and more products for their assortment. While you may be tempted to buy Korean skincare from a local or known retailer, Korean stores are noticing their demand grow overseas as well–oftentimes their shipping policies have become more attractive for you to directly order with them.
