The Korean beauty rituals Westerners have grown to love are mostly rooted in all-natural and crazy popular ingredients. Their benefits are a paradox of sorts. They’re among the gentlest and softest, but somehow pack the power of a product that’s been engineered with heavy-duty man-made materials. It’s why I’ve never had a problem trying any and everything that I discover on popular sites like Soko Glam and Peach & Lily.
However, as the K-beauty sector continues to grow, so does the number of under-the-radar, completely left-field ingredients being used in our essences, serums, and cleansers. It’s a fun, but exhausting process if you’re dedicated to staying in the know and getting that “glass skin” glow. Since it’s a pain to keep up with, I went straight to two experts for a shortlist of the ones we should be paying attention to right now; snail slime included.
Ahead, a breakdown of each ingredient, its benefits and of course, a product recommendation to match.
Savor Beauty.
Aloe Vera
This succulent plant is said to harness a host of benefits, from diminishing scarring to treating sunburn. According to Angela Kim, founder of Savor Beauty, it’s also a cooling power player in the K-beauty club since it calms redness.
The Savor Beauty Champagne Cleanser harnesses this all-natural skin soother, in addition to champagne grapeseeds for exfoliation and rosemary extract for tightening pores.
Savor Beauty Champagne Cleanser, $52 at Savor Beauty
Femmue.
Centella Asiatica Extract
Alicia Yoon, CEO/Founder of Peach & Lily and licensed aesthetician, says Centella Asiatica extract is another botanical that should be on everyone’s radar. According to Korean folklore, tigers would heal their wounds by rolling around in it.
If you want to give it a go, she recommends Femmue Flower Infused Fine Peel, as it’s great at soothing and gently exfoliating the skin.
Femmue Flower Infused Fine Peel, $42 at Peach & Lily
Atoclassic.
Coptis Root Extract
Yoon cites coptis root extract as another K-beauty-approved herbal miracle. “It’s known to really help reduce inflammation, which is key, as inflammation can lead to hyperpigmentation, collagen breakdown, and reactive skin,” she says.
Atoclassic’s Real Tonic Soothing Moist Mist includes a healthy dose of coptis, so you can stay cool and irritation-free this spring and summer.
Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Moist Mist, $19 at Peach & Lily
Savor Beauty.
Ginseng Extract
Kim’s Pearl Cleansing Cream contains ginseng extract, an ancient beauty remedy in Korea. Because it’s an antioxidant, or a compound that delays damage, it can effectively protect pores from free radicals and promote a brighter glow.
Savor Beauty Pearl Cleansing Cream, $52 at Savor Beauty
Eco Your Skin.
Marine Solide Micro-Needles
When we think of skin care that tingles, acid-infused formulas, or microneedling, are usually the first things that come to mind. The all-natural version of the latter according to Yoon are micro-needles made of marine solide (freshwater sponges). They help stimulate collagen and tingle slightly, but that means it’s working!
Use Eco Your Skin’s Meso Ampoule one or two times a week as the last step in your regimen to experience it for yourself.
Eco Your Skin Meso Ampoule, $130 at Peach & Lily
Savor Beauty.
Honey
According to Kim, honey has been a staple in the K-beauty industry for years. “The natural antibacterial properties clear skin for a deep detox and lock in hydration for glow,” she says.
The Savor Beauty Manuka Honey Mask also contains papaya and apricot enzymes for sloughing away dead skin cells so you’re getting moisture to the next level.
Savor Beauty Manuka Honey Mask, $64 at Savor Beauty
The Lotus.
Lotus Extract
Lotus extract is derived from the lotus flower, whose leaves are chock-full of natural antibiotics and known for their self-cleaning properties. Yoon says they’re also jam-packed with flavonoids, which are teeny plant compounds known to be anti-inflammatory.
The Lotus Essence is made with 89 percent of this stuff instead of water, ensuring that acne-prone skin will get the healing it needs.
The Lotus Essence, $64 at Peach & Lily
Savor Beauty.
Truffle
“Truffles are a prized ingredient that can cost from $6,000 to 10,000 per pound,” says Kim. Today, they’re being infused into the K-beauty products for their glow-boosting vitamin B, which restores the skin’s radiance and luminosity.
We can personally vouch for Savor Beauty Truffle Face Cream, which feels like a warm, juicy blanket over dry skin.
Savor Beauty Truffle Face Cream, $74 at Savor Beauty
Frudia.
Pomegranate Extract
Another way to give your skin a huge blast of antioxidants is through pomegranate extract. Yoon says it’s “so nourishing, hydrating, and firming without being heavy.”
Frudia’s Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Toner contains 87 percent of it so your skin doesn’t get the watered-down version.
Frudia Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Toner, $14.49 at Peach & Lily
Peach & Lily.
Snail Mucin
The thick liquid derived from the slimy snail is chock full of hyaluronic acid peptides that deliver hydration. Believe it or not, it’s also a natural source of glycolic acid, one of our go-to alpha-hydroxy acids for exfoliating dead skin cells for a brighter complexion.
This snail mucin-heavy cream also includes a dose of snail filtrate, another active ingredient renowned for its ability to blur fine lines.
Mizon Snail Repair Perfect Cream, $27 at Peach & Lily
Peach & Lily.
Green Tea
Derived from the Camellia Sinensis leaves found primary in China, green tea isn’t just for sipping. When applied to the skin by way of topical treatment, its catechins (aka antioxidants) guard against inflammation.
This heavy duty sheet mask combines green tea with sea salt and bentonite clay to soothe as well as draw impurities out of the skin.
JJ Young by Caolion Lab Green Tea Sheet Mask, $4.99 at Peach & Lily
Peach & Lily.
Egg White
The clear liquid inside an egg, derived from all kinds of animal species, controls oil, reduces puffiness, and contains proteins that can blur the appearance of pores.
This gentle cleanser harnesses all of those benefits, in addition to AHAs and enzymes that provide a safe level of exfoliation.
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