
It goes without saying that Koreans know a thing or two about good skin care. Boasting one of the biggest beauty markets in the world, some of the most innovative products of our times have come out of Seoul. Where would we be without sleep masks, cleansing oils, and BB creams, after all? And, Korean women are no strangers to intense beauty rituals—their routines often boast upwards of 10 steps—and even weirder products—lip masks are now a thing thanks to them.
But, as obsessed as Koreans are with achieving perfect skin, so too are we obsessed with the products they use to get it. Ask any beauty-obsessed American what her favorite products are and we can almost guarantee you’ll find a sheet mask or jelly lip mask in the mix. Or, in the case of some celebrities, both (we’re looking at you Kim Kardashian). But what about the newest must haves? We rounded up eight products that are sure to find a place in your medicine cabinet soon—from a travel-friendly stick cleanser to a carbonated face mask (yes, you read that right) here are 8 genius Korean skin care products you’ve never heard of.
A Carbonated Mask That Cleans Deep Down (And Looks Funny In The Process)
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask, $10.10, Amazon
That’s right, the Michelin Man memes you’ve been seeing all over Instagram are an actual thing that actually works: carbonated face masks. Now, before you go asking yourself why you’d need carbonation in anything other than your brunch cocktail, hear us out. Bubbles get deep down into your pores, cleaning out all that junk you don’t want there and clay helps to make sure it doesn’t come back.
A Velvety Smooth Lip Stain That Can Be Worn Countless Ways
Peripera’s Peri’s Ink Velvet Lip, $8.72, Amazon
Peripera products are the answer to just about every girls’ makeup dilemmas, they’re long lasting without being drying and cakey. Their In Velvet lip pots are no exception. You can wear them full coverage or ‘gradual’, they’re velvet soft with a matte finish, and they won’t budge.
The Primer That Blurs It All
Beauty Shot Face Blur, $14.90, Amazon
It may market itself as a primer, but Beauty Shot Face Blur is so much more—an SPF, a skin smoother, and a pore hider. It contains Baby Pixcel Powder (yeah, we haven’t heard of that either) and cover powder to help hide imperfections and give you that, well, baby skin look.
The BB Cream That’s Also A Jelly
Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly B.B., $13.11, Amazon
Yes, you’ve heard of BB cream, but have you heard of jelly BB cream? The newest trend to hit BB creams is here and you’ll definitely want to try it. Packed with mint water and marine jelly, this mini shot of BB cream promises to hydrate and smooth skin while evening out skin tone. Bonus: it may be small, but a little goes a long way.
The Marshmallow Maker
Nooni Marshmallow Whip Maker, $6, Amazon
This thing isn’t actual marshmallow (we’re disappointed too), but it does whip up your face wash for you and turn it into a marshmallowy texture. Not convinced? According to the brand, it makes your cleanser smooth and fluffy so there’s less friction, something we can all get behind.
The Snail Eye Cream
Mizon Korean Cosmetics Snail Repair Eye Cream, $11.98, Amazon
First there was bee venom and now there’s….snail? That’s right. Turns out the little critters’ mucus has all kinds of good-for-you ingredients in it to help lighten dark circles and smooth wrinkles and who doesn’t love that idea. Not to mention, it won’t break your bank.
The Stick Cleanser
Su:m 37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, $19.20, Amazon
You’ve heard of cleansers in just about every formula, but Su:m’s Miracle Rose Cleanser in stick form is a first of it’s kind. Not only is it huge (one of these tubes lasts almost 6 months), but it’s also packed with good-for-your-skin products to help remove makeup, oil, and dirt. You can lather it up to a foam cleanser, or apply it directly to pesky longwear makeup.
The Miracle Powder To Liquid Essence
Dr. Dream Dream Age Radiance Powder Essence, $42.41, Amazon
Powder-to-cream formulas aren’t exactly new, but this formula melts into a miracle essence for your skin. Packed with eucalyptus extract, rose water, rose stem cells, and vitamin C it helps hydrate, nourish, brighten, and smooth dull, tired skin. What more could you ask for?