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."
Have you heard of glass skin? As Yoon explains, the term refers to "poreless, luminous, translucent skin like a pane of pristine glass, that really reflects what skin looks like when it's at its healthiest" — in other words, it means the radiant complexion of your favorite K-pop star. Her new line includes a serum, designed for the express purpose of making "achieving glass skin super easy." This is thanks to its "clinically proven ingredients" and "super clean formula" that includes skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid and more.
"A product category we see expanding in Korea is the fog mist," says Chang. Fog mists are pretty much exactly what they sound like: As Chang puts it, "They do all the heavy lifting of a regular mist but in this ultra-fine spray that envelops you."
Another bonus? This spray mechanism makes fog mists extra ideal for setting and touching up makeup. "Sarah and I like to mist the Make P:rem Safe Relief Mist right over your makeup because it just gives you that perfect dewiness without messing anything up or smudging," says Chang. She also notes that this particular mist is laudable for its "very clean, short ingredient list."
Looking for another great face mist option? This one, which builds on the success of the Acwell Licorice Toner (which once boasted a 2,000-person waiting list), is quite the treat. "I love this multi-functional hydrator because it brightens, refreshes skin and also is a great way to set your makeup," says Cho. And since it's made with brightening licorice extracts, you get plenty of skin care benefits too!
This multi-tasking product serves as a serum, moisturizer and sleeping mask — which means Yoon's description of it as "cosmetic wizardry" couldn't be more apt. She says that the "thin transparent veil" is more than capable of "locking all the moisture and ingredients into skin overnight."
