Best K-Beauty Grails
Evaluated's top choices for quality and affordable Korean skincare products.
I remember the very first time that I tried Korean beauty products (often referred to as K-Beauty) and it was one of the best out-of-my-comfort-zone things I’ve ever done for my skin.
I’m one of those who grew up being told I had to use all the harsh, drying products to treat my problem skin and of course as I got older realized that I was damaging my skin and making all the issues worse. I still struggle with the idea of heavy, rich products that feel oily, greasy, or heavily scented- even though I know some of the most legendary beauty brands in the world meet that description.
That is why I love Korean skincare products. While they do also have a lot of heavy and very effective products that I can recommend without hesitation, such as the Amore Pacific Time Response line, there are even more many gel and water-based lines that won’t weigh you down.
Everyone on the Evaluated team has a favorite Korean skincare product (or five, because multi-step skincare works) and when comparing notes, we had a lot of “me tooooo” moments. During the pandemic we’ve had a LOT of time on our hands to try out over 150 products, and many of these we’ve tried out over months and even a year period, not just a few days or weeks. It was hard to narrow down our favorites.
Here are a few the Evaluated staff cannot live without.
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OBSESSED: THE NEW COSRX FORMULAS
When these formulas arrived for our evaluation, I was immediately intrigued, they reminded me of The Ordinary and The Potions. We all love them. The niacinamide was very popular with everyone but it is frequently out of stock, so get it when you can- if you’re like me you’ll start getting anxiety when the bottle runs low. The Vitamin C is just as effective than the hundred-dollar serums I’ve tried.
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This regimen works well for all skin types and can be layered or used alone. The formulas absorb quickly and are good for daytime or nighttime use. Users needing a heavier level of moisture (such as during winter) may want to augment with a cream, like the COSRX Snail Repair, COSRX Moisture Power, or my favorite when in a hot climate, the COSRX Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel.
NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: PEACH & LILY!
An essence is often a little more watery than a serum, but easier for the skin to absorb. Peachy and Lily's flagship essence Wild Dew can enhance the skin barrier for users with sensitive or irritated skin and help the products you apply afterward absorb better. This flagship product from the Peach and Lily line was one just about all of us agreed was a must-have. The glass skin serum is another amazing product. Did my skin look like glass after using this? No, not really, because most of us don’t actually look like a social media filter. Except one of our staff members, but *whispering* I think she bathes in the blood of her enemies to look that good at her age.
Want to try this in a smaller size with some accompanying products? Try the Glass Skin Discovery Kit.
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BEST SKII DUPE AROUND! AND THE LEGENDARY SNAIL SERUM!
Our SKII purist who would never use anything else tried the COSRX Glactomyces serum and we haven't heard much from her since about how it would never be as good. COSRX's famous snail mucin has racked up tens of thousands of positive reviews. Snail mucin? Ew? No. If you want to learn more about the benefits of this amazing ingredient and what it can do for your skin... go ahead. We'll wait. And propolis extract is a mild, versatile product that does well as a standalone or layered. This formula is one of the best we've tried.
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ELEGANT, SIMPLE, AND EFFECTIVE: AROMATICA
Aromatica is an underrated brand that we were so excited to try out when we read the ingredient lists and saw how beautiful the recycled packaging is! With several product lines for your skin, hair, and body, there is a great line-up for everyone. These are lightly scented or not at all, so they are great for sensitive skin. The Aromatica organic Aloe Vera gel is one I will never travel without again if I am going somewhere where I'll see a lot of sun. Kakadu is a rich cream that goes on heavy before bed- but makes you wake up feeling like the fairy godmother visited you overnight!
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MORE FAVORITES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS:
There are so many amazing Korean products out there and it's so hard to narrow it down otherwise you'd be overwhelmed! Some other brands we really wanted to share include Mizon, Elizavecca and the famous "Piggy" products, and of course, TonyMoly.
Mizon is similar to COSRX with lightweight, easy-to-use skincare regimens and products that do well alone or when layered. We love Elizavecca for the same reason. Their Cer-100 hair treatment is creeping up on Olaplex as far as effectiveness although it may not be as good for those with fine/thinning/oily hair. And don't be scared by the Piggy on the packaging.
TonyMoly is SO much fun, with creative, colorful packaging that just puts a smile on your face. While I gave up my watermelon Kissing Koolers lip balm years ago, I still love a good watermelon-scented lippy, and bonus- the Dewy Watermelon skincare line is just as juicy-delicious and good for your face.
Got any others you'd like to see us evaluate? Let us know!
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