On episode 218 of the Korean Beauty Show podcast Lauren shares 4 K-Beauty brand swaps for popular western beauty brands. If you're looking to try products from Korean brands that have a similar philosophy and approach in formulation to La Roche Posay, Paula's Choice, Cerave or The Ordinary then tune in!
K-BEAUTY SWAPS FOR POPULAR WESTERN BEAUTY BRANDS 1: LA ROCHE POSAY - ETUDE SOON JUNG LINE
Fans of La Roche Posay appreciate the brand's simple, fuss-free approach to skincare. In general, the products are often well suited to sensitive and disordered skin. Fan favourites include the Cicaplast Baume and Toleriane line.
LRP is a popular brand because it’s easily accessible globally, reasonably priced and well liked.
If you enjoy these products then you may also like Etude House’s Soon Jung line. Soon Jung in Korean means “pure” and the idea for the line is "to purify the skin by providing hypoallergenic solutions". These words sound great but in reality don’t mean much, scientifically speaking.
However, the Soon Jung line does cater well for those with sensitive and irritated skin thanks to the low pH formulas and low irritant ingredients. The products are free from acids and and contain no scent/fragrance. As the line is specifically formulated for those in its teens and 20s, it's cheap too.
All the products in the Soon Jung line contain Panthensoside, a patented ingredient that combines Panthenol and Madecassoside. These are both great options for those with damaged skin barriers.
I usually recommend this line to those in their teens and twenties with damaged skin barriers and that’s because I don’t find the hydration levels to be enough for those with seriously dry skin or more mature skin types. Now, this might be different fro you if you live in a hot, humid climate or you have combination or oily skin types in your 30s and beyond.
PS. these have all just been given the 2023 Amore Pacific rebranding update so a lot of your favourites may be temporarily out of stock and may also look different when you next see them!
K-BEAUTY SWAPS FOR POPULAR WESTERN BEAUTY BRANDS 2: PAULA’S CHOICE - BY WISHTREND
Fans of American label Paula's Choice love the brand's approach to transparency in ingredients and dedication to high-strength actives. Fan-favourites include the 2% BHA Toner, 10% Niacinamide Booster and Vitamin C Serum.
If you like Paula's Choice chances are you'll appreciate By Wishtrend. The brand originally began as a K-Beauty ecommerce platform but eventually launched their own skincare lines. Because they do so well in the American market it makes sense that they have adopted an American approach to high-strength acids in their skincare.
K-BEAUTY SWAPS FOR POPULAR WESTERN BEAUTY BRANDS 3: CERAVE - ILLIYOON
People who love CeraVe say that they appreciate the brand's gentle formulas containing ceramides that don't cost the earth. Illiyoon is a Korean cosmetics brand that also loves moisturising the skin. And if you love ceramides, you're in for a treat because Illiyoon loves using them in their formulas too!
K-BEAUTY SWAPS FOR POPULAR WESTERN BEAUTY BRANDS 4: THE ORDINARY - ONE THING
By now most people have probably tried at least something from The Ordinary - after all they’re cheap, cheerful and easy to access. The Ordinary is focused on single ingredient formulas or scientifically proven chemical combinations.
Standouts from the brand include Niacinamide 10%, Hyaluronic Acid 2%, Natural Moisturising Factors + HA .
A Korean brand that follows a similar philosophy (albeit not quite as cheap by the time you get it overseas) is One Thing. Now, the difference is that although they focus on single ingredient formulas they have a decidedly K-Beauty twist.
One Thing do have a Niacinamide 10%, which sells out consistently on STYLE STORY. Other standout products include;
"By now most people have probably tried at least something from The Ordinary - after all they’re cheap, cheerful and easy to access. The Ordinary is focused on single ingredient formulas or scientifically proven chemical combinations."
Lauren Lee, Host of the Korean Beauty Show podcast
