Dull, Lacklustre Skin Is Nobody’s Idea Of #skingoals.
If You’re Suffering From Pigmentation, Dark Spots Or Lifeless Looking Skin It’s Safe To Say You’re Not Thrilled With It.
These are the best Korean beauty products for skin brightening that we’ve found, along with the ideal brightening ingredients to look out for!
Complexion Perfection
Koreans are obsessed with the perfect complexion, starting with a base of transparent, radiant skin.
Enter Korean Beauty Products and their focus on “skin brightening” (also known as “Skin Whitening”). But “skin whitening” isn’t what you think it is. If you were imagining a Michael Jackson-esque skin bleach that will wipe away your summer tan and any pigment left in your skin, you’d be wrong.
Skin Whitening?
“Skin brightening” or “skin whitening” products in the Korean Beauty world are aimed at getting rid of spots. Blotichness, pigmentation and anything else that stands in the way of a smooth, milky complexion.
Rather than covering imperfections with makeup, Koreans target the root causes of these problems to get rid of them in the first place.
Skin Brightening Ingredients
There are a whole range of different beauty ingredients in K-Beauty products that are designed to up your glow. Some of STYLE STORY’s favourite skin brightening ingredients to look out for include:
Licorice-Root
A natural plant with skin-soothing properties that is effective in improving the look of an uneven skin tone.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has many great benefits to the skin, including antioxidant and anti-ageing properties and increased collagen production. It also provides the skin with a brightening effect. This can reduce and improve the appearance of pigmentation from sun damage and post-acne scars.
Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid is a natural ingredient with excellent efficacy that helps to remove melanin. Melanin is responsible for causing age spots, dark spots, blemishes and imperfections. It also has wonderful antioxidant properties.
For more on the best Korean Beauty products for your skin type, tune into this episode of the Korean Beauty Show podcast:
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is form of Vitamin B3 that works well for overall brightening, lightening of hyper-pigmentation and acne.
Retinoids
Retinoids contain high concentrations of Vitamin A. This helps to increase skin cell turnover and enhance brightening results while reducing the signs of aging. These are the big guns of anti-aging, but you’re going to need a prescription for retinoids in Australia.
Note also that Vitamin A-based products must be avoided by pregnant and breast-feeding women, as it has been proven to cause birth defects.
Style Story’s Favourite Skin Brightening Korean Beauty Products
Some of our favourite Skin Brightening K-Beauty picks include:
Toners
SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Toner – Containing a whopping 88% of star K-Beauty ingredient galactomyces ferment filtrate, this toner brightens, hydrates and smooths skin for that glass skin glow. Rounding out the formula is 1% pure ascorbic acid (the most well-researched form of Vitamin C) for additional brightening.
Essences
Tosowoong Propolis Brightening Essence – starring propolis (a type of bee resin), this lightweight essence actively brightens, repairs and soothes irritated skin.
Serums
APLB Vitamin C Serum Ampoule – Looking for a Vitamin C serum gentle enough to apply day and night without irritating your skin? This is certified for skin brightening and wrinkle improvement. It contains a veritable buffet of skin brightening and anti-aging ingredients.
COSRX Vitamin C Serum – a lightweight Vitamin C booster that fight early signs of aging. In addition, it helps improve skin's brightness. COSRX's potent serum is formulated with a stabilized form of Vitamin C at a pH of 3.36. This assists to minimise reactions when the product comes into contact with air.
APLB Glutathione Serum – If your skin is marred with dark spots, pigmentation and has become less elastic than usual, this is the serum fo you. Glutathione is an outstanding ingredient for minimising and preventing dark spots on the skin. It makes your complexion brighter and more even.
Neogen Real Vita C Serum – Combining powerful brightening ingredients with a vitamin complex (Vitamin E, Vitamin B5), this serum works to brighten and firm the appearance of skin for a healthy-looking complexion.
COSRX Vitamin C Serum – a lightweight Vitamin C booster that fight early signs of aging. In addition, it helps improve skin's brightness. COSRX's potent serum is formulated with a stabilized form of Vitamin C at a pH of 3.36. This assists to minimise reactions when the product comes into contact with air.
Moisturiser
APLB Vitamin Propolis Moisture Cream – When the skin has been damaged by the effects of the sun, it’s time to call in the big guns of skincare. Vitamin C, Propolis, Sea Buckthorn and Niacinamide target wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dark spots and uneven skin tone.
Tosowoong Spot Whitening Cream – This rich cream is packed full of brightening Sea Buckthorn fruit extracts to lighten up dull skin tone, pigmentation, melasma and more. The beautifully thick texture imparts instant hydration to the skin, filling it with vitamins and minerals.
What are the best Korean beauty products for skin brightening that you’ve found? Let us know in the comments!
Anasiu Pomale
June 02, 2021
How can I order?