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2024’s Most Popular Korean Makeup
Which makeup products captured the attention of Koreans in 2024? Stick around to find out. On episode 256 of the Korean Beauty Show podcast, Korean beauty expert Lauren Lee is coveringthe most popular Korean makeup products of the year, from foundations, to cushions, concealers, lipsticks, highlighters and more. These are the products people couldn’t get enough of.
The data for this episode was taken from Glowpick, a leading Korean beauty website for reviews in Korea. I have not included every product because there were simply too many to cover in a single episode.
Matte:VDL Cover Stain Perfecting Foundation
I've previously discussed my love for this foundation - I think it's a great option, especially for people who don't love Western foundations or find them too heavy. If you're looking for something more akin to traditional foundation than a lot of typical Korean BB Cushion formulas then this strikes the right balance. It feels beautiful on the skin; like you're not wearing anything at all.
Glow:Espoir Protailer Glow Foundation
I don't love this foundation for my skin personally but I can certainly see why it's popular.
Matte Cushion Foundation:Hera Black Cushion Foundation
Glow Cushion Foundation:Bbia Eau Glow Cushion
This cushion gives your skin the "my skin but better" look. The unique cushion applicator has a shape that is designed to fit under your eyes better.
Cream Foundation:The Saem Cover Perfection Triple Foundation Balm
This color-correcting foundation palette features formulas in peach, green and beige. It blend out easily to conceal dark circles, redness and blemishes while promoting more even-toned skin.
Peach conceals dark circles; green neutralizes redness and the beige colour can be used as a foundation to improve your overall skin tone.
The set also comes with a dual-ended brush (with a flat end for foundation application and rounded end for concealer application) making it great value for money.
Powders can be harder to find in Korea than in many other western countries and a lot of this has to do with the Korean climate (and how dry it is for most of the year - powder only accentuates dryness on the skin) and the fact that many Koreans prefer the glowy look compared to a matte look.
The two most popular powder products in 2024 were:
Finish Powder:Makeup Forever UHD Pressed Powder - this is not technically a Korean beauty product but is a popular brand in Korea.
Loose Powder:Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder - this is a globally popular K-beauty product that's widely regarded as the perfect powder for controlling oiliness in younger skin.
Concealer: Luna Long Lasting Tip Concealer
This classic tip concealer covers redness, spots, and dark circles with a thin layer. It's good for brightening under eye bags and suitable for "no foundation" makeup.
Stick Concealer: The Saem Cover Perfection Concealer Pencil
The Saem is well known in the concealer category, having won multiple awards across several concealer products. This product enjoys enduring popularity, having also won Allure's Best of Beauty in Korea in 2022. It's a pencil-type product that provides easy coverage even without professional skills. It is well known for its ability to cover dark circles.
Pot Concealer: The Saem Cover Perfection Triple Pot Concealer
Another product from The Saem, this pot style concealer has also won multiple beauty awards (Glowpick Awards, Allure). It's a balm type product that adheres well to the skin and covers pimples, dark circles etc
Makeup Base:Yunjac Skin Perfecting Protective Base Prep
I've mentioned this product on the show before and how it is responsible for most of this brand's sales. It is extremely well-loved in Korea and offers multiple benefits:
BB Cream: Glow Breathable BB Cream
This is a really interesting product because it's made by a small brand that went viral. They couldn't afford to offer a large shade range so they instead launched with a trio of products in white, beige and brown that are designed to be mixed and customised by customers to reach their perfect shade.
The white version can be used on its own for a brightening effect or mixed with the darker bases to adjust and brighten; beige and brown create different BB creams that can be mixed together or with the base shade.
Customers say they love the lightweight feel of these BB creams as they feel just like a serum. It has buildable coverage and a semi-matte finish.
BB Cushion:Lara Clara Bio Cover Balm
This product went famous on Naver Shopping Live and is well known among Korean makeup artist and beauty creators as their "인생쿠션" (basically lifetime favourite cushion). It doesn’t break down throughout the day and maintain’s your skin tone. It is not uncomfortable on the skin even if you’re wearing it all day.
Lipstick:Hera Sensual Powder Matte Lipstick
Hera is a brand that doesn't get much air time outside Korea but is extremely popular in Korea itself. It is definitely more of a luxury brand and has price tags to match. These come in 7 shades with a velvety texture and matte finish.
Lip Pencil:Banila Smudging Lip Pencil
This cheap and cheerful pencil by Banila Co creates a full and defined pout. It doubles as lipstick and lip contour. It's perfect for creating a soft blurred lip look, and prevents lip colour from feathering and bleeding. It has a creamy formula that comes in various colors.
Lip Liner: Clio Velvet Lip Pencil
This lip pencil creates a plump and full-looking pout that guarantees long-lasting colors and clear lines. It has a velvety matte finish, with a creamy, smudge-proof formula that applies smoothly and prevents lip color from bleeding.
It comes in 6 different colours and helpfully also comes with its own sharpener.
Lip Gloss:Hera Sensual Nude Gloss
Another popular lip product from Hera, this nude gloss comes in 6 shades and leaves a sheer, glossy finish. It has a hydrating formula in really beautiful packaging that looks ultra luxe.
Eyeshadow:Holika Holika My Fave Piece Eyeshadow
This was one of the biggest hit makeup products of 2024, and is the one everyone is raving about as a dupe for the Dior Blush. That specific product is the shade Chew, which is essentially a pink and gold glitter.
There are 47 single shades in total and they come in little rectangles so that you can make up your own palette with your favourite shades.
They have a great range of shadows for base makeup, aegyosal, point makeup and lighter pinks, which are a favourite for creating typical Korean style makeup.
Liquid Eyeshadow:3CE Eye Switch
These are eye glitters with a really thin paint brush applicator. They are another favourite for doing korean style makeup, and are usually used for doing glitter under the eye for aegyosal.
Palette:Clio Pro Eye Palette
There are10 shades in each palette and it comes in a a few different styles. In the brown palette there are lots of muted colours - sand, glitter, mauve, light brown. In the pink palette there are lots of muted and natural pinks including light pink glitters
Brows:Espoir The Brow Balance Pencil
Another very popular domestic makeup brand is Espoir, which is well known for offering higher end products. This one is certified by Eve Vegan and comes in really cool packaging with a triangular shaped tip.
The shade range caters to the kind of colours that Koreans prefer, like classic brown, cool grey, soft brown, ash brown, light brown, light taupe
Powder Brow:Skinfood Choco Eye Brow Powder Cake
This product is easily accessible all over the world with accessible pricing to match.
It has two shades that are easy for non-professionals to blend as they aren't particularly bold but they are long-lasting. They'll give you a classic brow look and they also double as eye shadows and makeup highlighters as well.
Mascara:Etude Curl Fix Mascara
I've never loved this product but have admittedly not tried the latest version, which was developed in conjunction with 400 consumers. It's also a winner of Glow Pick awards so take my opinion with a grain of salt because many others love this. This version of the product claims to offer intense volume, is waterproof and smudgeproof and has a bending brush type. It's also vegan.
Powder Blush
Many of the products on the list were western, however the Korean one was 3CE's Mood Recipe Face Blusher. This is one of 3CE's classic products and comes in a relatively small shade range. It is well loved in Korea and has been awarded the Dong A Ilbo Editors Pick and a Glowpick Award.
Cream / Sticker Blusher:Vidivici Mineral Glow Cream Blusher
This is a cream blush that has a melting style formula that's easy to apply.
Liquid Blusher: Nuse Mousse Care Cheek
Nuse has really beautiful packaging that looks very high end. The product itself gives cheeks a natural flush and the formula is infused with Ectoin and Black Cica.
The mousse like texture offers buildable coverage and comes in natural shades. I would say this is one to try if you like Korean style cheek makeup.
Blusher Palette:Dasique Rose Milk Tea Collection
This is a palette with 9 shades in very muted pinks, mauves and browns.
It has various texture - soft and creamy matte, glitters with finely milled shimmer particles, pressed glitter that makes the eyes pop, and wet type glitter with a vaseline-like glow.
This is definitely one for the minimal makeup look.
Lip & Cheek: Braye Lip Sleek
This is a really interesting looking product that has two products in one in a sliding metallic case. It's perfect for on the go application for both lips and cheeks.
This is the ideal product if you’re the kind of person who ends up doing makeup on the train or in the car at school drop off. It comes in 10 shades and is PETA approved.
Cream / Stick Shading:Etude Reborn Maker
This is Korean makeup at its best - cheap and cheerful that's easily accessible worldwide. It's a classic contour stick developed by Hyojin Cho - a popular influencer who is well known for collaborating with Korean makeup and skincare brands. It has a creamy texture and comes in warm and cool shading options
Powder Shading: Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin
This is a classic Korean beauty product that has been around for years. There are now 3 styles - classic, neutral and modern. It's really easy to use and was one of the first contouring palettes I ever tried.
It used to be a staple in my routine but i’ve since moved over to a cream based concealer that works better with my BB Cushions.
Powder Highlighter: Glint by 비디보브
These come in really beautiful glittery shades in little squares. They still manage to look quite natural given how glittery they are. The colour range is pinks, gold and beiges.
Cream / Stick Highlighter: Hince True Dimension
These are stick highlighters in really beautiful packaging. They have moisturising formulas that are very natural looking. I would say it is more of a shine or sheen than a true glitter.
Highlighter Palette:Glyf Illuiette Highlighter Palette
This is the Jeon Somi highlighter palette. Coming in at 43,000 won the price is a bit high.
The shade range is icy blue, champagne, pink lilac and a bright pink shade that could double as a blush. Dare I say it but to me this looks like one that's more for the young people :p
STYLE STORY - Your Go-To for K-Beauty Since 2014
Some of our Show Notes include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links we may earn an affiliate commission. This helps offset the costs associated with producing the podcast.“If you're looking for something more akin to traditional foundation than a lot of typical Korean BB Cushion formulas then this strikes the right balance. It feels beautiful on the skin; like you're not wearing anything at all.”
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