CURRENT K-BEAUTY LOVES

 

- Advertisement information: this post discusses items gifted to me with no obligation to share them (marked *). In addition I have / have had a brand relationship with Pure Seoul (gifting) and Tonic 15 (affiliate code and link used below). My blog has Skimlinks and RewardStyle installed to automatically monetise purchases of products I link on my blog, therefore this post may contain affiliate links. All opinions remain my own and please refer to my Disclosure Page  for further detail -  

I've had some great Korean beauty products on heavy rotation lately, so I thought it was time to round them up and share them with you...

Ok, it's not an essential, but it's a little luxury I'm really enjoying! I hadn't come across this brand before until I got the Anillo Amber 528 Scented Hand Cream* | £18.90 | after the Pure Seoul launch event in Birmingham, but I love the packaging of this haircare and body care brand and this was a great introduction. I'm sure we all love an aesthetic scented hand cream in a metal tube, but when everything is so expensive, it's not at the top of most people's list of priorities. However, this product feels just as good as more premium options on the market but it's on the right side of £20; whilst that's not cheap, it's just a little more purse-friendly. And it still feels so luxurious; the scent is beautiful and complex (like a full-on perfume) with notes of bergamot, yuja, basil, cardamom, amber, cedarwood and patchouli. It's a gorgeous woody amber scent with spicy notes balanced with a little hint of freshness. The formula itself is nice and moisturising too (lightweight and non-greasy) and I just find myself smelling my hands throughout the day after I've applied the product!

Next, we have another new discovery in the Miguhara Green Tea Toning Essence* | £24. I know green tea toners are pretty common in the K-beauty space and a lot of brands have some iteration of it, but I think this might be my favourite. In terms of ingredients, we of course have green tea (from Jeju) which is rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from free radical damage but also hyaluronic acid (to draw hydration into the skin), panthenol (which helps the skin retain moisture and helps soothe the skin barrier) and fermented extracts for potential added skin microbiome benefits. It's fragrance-free and incredibly simple, if you have sensitive skin. This product is hydrating and never fails to leave my skin looking and feeling plump and fresh. What I really love is the texture; it's just that perfect essence consistency with a lightweight water-based formulation that still has a non-sticky weight to it so the hydration really sticks around. An essence might not be essential for everyone but if you skin tends to crave an extra layer of hydration, like mine does, I can't recommend this enough!

Ok, all Korean sunscreens are great, but the one I've been using lately is the Iunik Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++* | £16. I do have to caveat; it's a known issue that this product can separate slightly in very cold weather, so I did have to switch to something else when it was getting into the minuses and with my house not being heated 24/7, but other than that the product is pretty perfect. It's a light lotion that's not greasy and not too dewy-looking on the skin, so is going to work really well whether you're oily or dry (like me). It's hydrating and leaves my skin soft like a breathable moisturiser, so it's easy to forget that this is a high-protection sunscreen. For me, it's an under-the-makeup everyday option; it doesn't claim to be water-resistant or anything like that, and it works perfectly in that sense. It doesn't pill, it melts effortlessly into the skin and it doesn't irritate my eyes. It also has added skin-soothing extras such as centella extract and allantoin. It also has hydrating glycerin and niacinamide to help combat discolouration plus help boost skin barrier function.

Onto a product that's a revisit for me: the Dr Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence* | £28.90. Like green tea, I love to drink kombucha and I love it on my face! I even brew it myself at home. It's a fermented tea, usually made with black tea and the fermentation process can unlock a lot of beneficial bacteria which can benefit your gut microbiome when consumed, and potentially your skin microbiome when applied topically... This formula combines kombucha and green tea extract for amped-up antioxidant benefits and honestly; it just really feels great on the skin! You shake it up to combine the milky ans water-based layers and apply it to the skin. It feels so hydrating, it leaves my skin very soft and bouncy after use and it just works like a good skin day in a bottle. It also contains humectants to draw hydration into the skin and plant oils for that skin-softening benefit.

Another new brand discovery for me is the Lador La Pitta Perfumed Hair Oil* | £13. This is again a luxury-feel product without the premium price-point. This is a lightweight moisturising hair oil; it's nothing too rich but it's nice for just applying to your lengths and ends to smooth things out without adding too much weight. And it smells gorgeous! La Pitta contains notes of florals, coconut and eucalyptus to add a well-rounded soft scent to your hair. 

Finally, we have another revisit: the I'm From Rice Cream* | £31 (get 15% off with code JASMINETALKSBEAUTY (affiliate). This is a wonderfully cosmetically-elegant skin barrier moisturiser. I personally love it for AM or PM, because it applies so beautifully but still gives my skin that deep nourishment it needs. It's formulated with rice extract (as you'd expect!) which has antioxidant and skin barrier benefits, glycerin, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help strengthen skin barrier function and keep the skin nourished and hydrated. It's fragrance-free and creamy but also kind of light, so it doesn't smother the skin with richness but still leaves it soft and happy. It's a beautiful and relatively well-priced moisturiser for skin that needs a bit of nourishment.

Have you tried any of these Korean products or brands?

Don't forget to follow me on:

Bloglovin | Instagram

Read more posts from this series here!