Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of
From makeup spatulas, to sun patches, tone creams, aegyosal (애교살) pens and more, on episode 241 of the Korean Beauty Show podcast we’re doing a round up of some of the Korean beauty products you may not have heard of before.
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Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Makeup spatulas
Korean makeup spatulas are tools being used by professional makeup artists in Korea to create a sheer "no-makeup" makeup base look. They can be used for mixing foundation, blending products and for fast and effective makeup application.
They are good for beginners and professionals alike but be warned; it can take some time to work out how best to incorporate them into your routine. In my experience, they work better for creating sheer makeup looks and aren't as easy to layer for thicker coverage. I also find that they work best when my skin is clear. I find them harder to use to properly cover breakouts.
You won't be able to throw out your blenders and sponges completely; the spatulas work in tandem with them to cut down on the amount of foundation you use, which is great for less waste. To really blend your makeup out though you will need a sponge, puff or blender.
Products to try: Korean Makeup Spatula
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Tone up creams
Tone up creams are a category of Korean beauty products that are designed to cover and/or treat dull, lacklustre skin. If you’re suffering from melasma, pigmentation, dark spots or dull, uneven skin chances are you'll enjoy these products.
They come in a variety of different formulas, from creams to sunscreen and even base makeup products. The trick is to try a few different versions to work out the best fit for your cream. Some products can tend to look chalky or make you look washed out, particularly if you are very pale or conversely, if you have a lot of pigment in your skin. Keep in mind that a lot of Koreans don't mind wearing products that make them look several shades lighter than they actually are.
My personal favourite tone-up creams usually have a pink pearl base to them, which I find really lifts my dull complexion and makes my skin look more healthy and alive.
Korean Products to try: Heimish Artless Glow Base
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Hair coloured powders
Hair coloured powders are an extremely popular way to improve your hairline and cover greys. Beloved by Korean makeup artists and amateurs alike, they are commonly used as the last step in your makeup application routine to fix an unnatural or unattractive hairline or to fill in any missing patches of hair. They also work well if you need to cover a few stray greys.
In my personal opinion, they don't tend to work as well to fill in an entire part if your roots have all grown out. For bigger root retouches, spray-type products tend to work better (in my opinion).
There are lots of different applicators from sponges to brushes etc. The biggest drawback is that they tend to come in the colours most needed by Koreans - from a medium brown to black. There aren't as many options for lighter coloured hair.
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Cushion foundations
Korean cushion foundations are the most common category of BB Creams / base makeup in Korea. They offer another application technique for a traditional Korean BB formula that comes in a handy, portable compact. Usually, the compacts also have a mirror and applicator puff that's perfect for touch-ups on the go.
These days, Korean BB Cushions come in lots of different applicators, from mesh to sponge and even grinding stones (which are better for mixing and blending products). There are formulas for all kinds of skin types with different finishes. IN general however, I think they work best for those who like the illuminated glow look.
Not all westerners enjoy using BB Cushions, particularly those who prefer a more matte look or thick, heavy coverage. They are also much more limited in shade ranges than foundations.
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Aegyosal pens
Aegyosal (애교살) refers to the pockets of fat naturally found under the eyes of babies and those with a youthful appearance. The literal translation is "cute fat". Many popular Korean celebrities have. natural aegyosal, including Cha Eun Woo and Yoona from SNSD.
If you don't naturally have aegyosal (or yours has since disappeared) there are many different products on the Korean beauty market designed to help you create this look. You'll find them in palettes, pens and aegyosal sticks.
A lot of them will have two tones so you can create the "aegyosal" highlight directly under your eye to ‘highlight the fat’ and then a contouring pencil to artificially create a contour underneath it.
This is a style of makeup that is very commonly emphasized in Korean style makeup.
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Circle coloured contact lens
Cirlce lenses have been trending in East Asia since the early oughts because they not only give you a different eye colour or effect to your eyes but can also make your eyes look larger.
If you come to Korea you'll notice many stores that specialise in these kind of lenses. They tend to be common among younger girls; you don't see too many older women wearing them.
A lot of Korean makeup tutorials, particularly for idol or celebrity makeup, will incorporate the use of circle lenses.
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Gommage peeling gels
Gommage peeling gels are a type of exfoliant that is extremely popular in K-Beauty and have been for at least the last 10 years. They contain ingredients that interact with the oil on your skin, causing little balls to form when you apply friction. A lot of people mistake this for dead skin but the clumping ingredient is usually either cellulose or carbomer.
The cellulose and carbomer clumps act like the grains in a scrub, but they’re much softer and gentler on your skin. Peeling gels effectively buff off dead skin.
Korean Products to try: Beauty of Joseon Apricot Peeling Gel
Korean Beauty products you may not have heard of: Adhesive sun patches
Adhesive sun patches are a type of sun protective patch that you wear on your face to protect your skin from the sun. They are designed to block UVA and UVB rays and are marketed as an alternative to sunscreen. While they can be good for those who engage in outdoor activities like golf, they're not a perfect solution either for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, they don't cover your whole face so they are not a true replacement for sunscreen. Secondly, they're not the most environmentally friendly option and nor are they cheap.
In my personal opinion, I think these products are probably best suited to sportspeople (either professional or amateur) who spend a lot of time in the sun to spot treat areas of the face that are prone to sun damage and melasma.
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