Looking to give your skin care routine a makeover for the new year? Luckily, there are so many exciting new products to choose from... particularly in the world of Korean skin care and beauty. We asked K-beauty experts like Charlotte Cho (founder of Soko Glam and Then I Met You), Sarah Lee and Christine Chang (co-founders of Glow Recipe) and Alicia Yoon (founder of Peach & Lily) about all the new products they've been curating, creating and testing lately.
According to these pros, there's a lot to look forward to this year: "We see 2019 being a big year for K-beauty," says Chang. Similarly, Yoon says she's expecting to see even more "innovative ingredients and textures and delivery formats" moving forward.
So, if you want to stay on the cutting edge of Korean beauty, keep on reading to see some truly awesome expert-approved picks — from fog mists to blanket masks.
Image via @private.doctor
Newly curated at Soko Glam, Cho says that this popular emulsion is great for giving skin "a burst of moisture." Adding that "it's also versatile for oily to dry skin types and keeps your skin barrier hydrated and protected during the cold, frigid winter months."
"There is a huge trend in double serum-ing, where Korean women are layering different serums to treat multiple skin concerns," Chang says. And that's where the team's newest venture comes in: The Sweet Chef line, which launches on Glow Recipe and at Target at the end of January, includes three different serums meant to be mixed and matched, combined and layered.
"The Sweet Chef Ginger + Vitamin C Serum Shot helps with brightening, the Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot is great for hydration and the Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot assists with refining pores," explains Lee. "The textures of each serum are different, ranging from being essence-like to jelly or milky in texture."
Yoon predicts that micro-spicules — a new technology that's often compared to micro-needling — will start to gain popularity in 2019, explaining that they "help enhance absorption and also cell renewal." As for this particular product, she notes, "The reviews are unparalleled when it comes to helping to improve all manners of scarring, including ice pick marks."
And though the term "micro-spicules" might sound scary, there's really nothing to fear. "The formula looks just like a serum — you can't visibly see the spicules — but upon application, it's tingly and then sinks right in," she says. "The tingling lasts just for a short while, but it's very active and you can tell it's working hard for your skin."
Lee agrees that micro-spicules will be big this year, noting the "clinical trend" making waves in Korean skin care lately. "It's all about preventing aging in a very new approach," she says, citing Sephora newbie brand Private Doctor as an example of this trend. Of the line's Minus Serum, she says, "It has a really interesting blend of ingredients, including micro-tingling spicules, which help to create pathways into the skin to aid penetration of the formula. It also has sodium dexoycholate, which is an active that's been used in in-office slimming procedures and we've never seen it used in skin care before."
