Login

Register

Subscribe to our newsletter?

.product_section .product_form, .product_gallery { opacity: 1; } .multi_select, form .select { display: block !important; } .image-element__wrap { display: none; }

Products

Product Categories

Brands

Shop By Brand

K-Beauty Scams 2025: Are You Buying the Hype or Real Results?

October 10, 2025

K-Beauty Scams 2025:

Are You Buying the Hype or Real Results?

Korean skincare has exploded globally but not every “K-Beauty miracle” lives up to the marketing. You might have seen our founder Lauren Lee on ABC News, where she explained how Australians are now the 2nd highest per capita spenders on K-Beauty in the world.

Lauren Lee on ABC News discussing rise of K-Beauty and skincare trends

With K-Beauty hype reaching new heights, it’s easy to fall for viral fads. Let’s separate the K-Beauty scams and skincare myths from the science-backed formulas that actually deliver results.

PDRN / “Salmon DNA” Cream – Real or Fake?

Promise: Stimulate fibroblasts, boost collagen, and regenerate skin using “Salmon DNA.”
Reality: PDRN skincare is one of the biggest K-Beauty fads of 2025. The molecule is too large to penetrate the skin and must be injected to work.
Why It Sells: “DNA repair” sounds high-tech, but topical PDRN creams can’t mimic injectable effects.

Spicules – The “Microneedling in a Bottle” K-Beauty Scam?

Promise: Tiny microneedles that deliver actives deep into the skin.
Reality: Spicules skincare uses crushed sponge particles not true microneedles. There’s no clinical evidence that spicules enhance transdermal delivery.
Why It Sells: The “if it stings, it’s working” myth sells products fast.
Verdict: A classic K-Beauty fad. More marketing than science.

Spicules skincare close-up texture of prickly sponge particles

Exosome Skincare – Revolutionary or Just Another K-Beauty Scam?

Promise: “Stem-cell level results” from exosome creams.
Reality: Korean regulators banned human-derived exosomes in 2025. Most products now use exosome-inspired ingredients...not actual biologics. They sound high-tech, but they’re not equivalent to medical exosome therapy.
Why It Sells: Biotech buzzwords and influencer hype drive this K-Beauty trend.
Verdict: Another overhyped K-Beauty scam that confuses biotech with skincare.

NAD+ Skincare – Futuristic or Fluff?

Promise: Recharge cells, repair DNA, and reverse aging with NAD creams.
Reality: NAD+ is too unstable and polar to absorb through skin. Most NAD skincare products degrade before they can work.
Why It Sells: The “biohacking” and longevity hype from supplements spilled into beauty.
Verdict: Skip the NAD+ creams. Use proven actives like niacinamide that feed the same pathway and are approved by the Korean MFDS.

Viral K-Beauty Ingredient Cycles – Why the Trends Never Stop

(Snail mucin, bee venom, propolis, heartleaf, probiotics, PDRN, exosomes, NAD...)
Reality: Ingredient cycles are the engine of the K-Beauty market. Novelty sells fast, but the science rarely keeps up.
Verdict: Don’t chase every K-Beauty trend. Stick with actives that have real evidence and regulator approval.

What to Choose Instead

Korean Regulator Approved Ingredients

Niacinamide (2–5%) - improves barrier, tone, and fine lines. Found in:
• Sleeping Mask
• Moisturiser

Adenosine - clinically recognised for wrinkle improvement. Found in:
• Serum
• Mask
• Cream