The popularity of Korean beauty products – known collectively as K-beauty – has sky-rocketed in recent years. And market research suggests it’s poised to become even bigger within the skincare market.
In fact, according to data from Straits Research, Korean skincare is growing at the rate of 9.2% each year, and is expected to be worth £14.5 billion by 2030.
But what’s the reason for this incredible growth – and are the products as exceptional as their fans claim?
The rise of Korean skincare
One of the first things to note is that Korean skincare is formulated according to a routine involving multiple steps, which fans say has a transformative effect on skin – although the most widely-known 10-step routine is said to be a myth!
Many also find a multi-product approach more believable and reassuring than one product claiming to have several benefits.
With so many products in the beauty arsenal, Korean skincare can target specific skin concerns, and make sure that skin is thoroughly cleansed, hydrated, and nourished. In fact, these three factors are key in Korean skincare, contributing to skin that looks dewy, plumped, and rejuvenated.
Did you know there’s even a phrase – chok, chok! – for this luminous, moist skin type that K-beauty products aim to create?
The Korean beauty industry also invests heavily in developing new products – carrying out innovative research into the efficacy of natural ingredients such as tiger grass, snail mucin, rice water, ginseng, and bamboo extract.
The use of such ingredients has a double appeal. They’re unusual enough to gain attention – especially via channels such as social media – but they also appeal to those wanting to avoid harsh chemicals in their skincare regimen.
Affordability is another factor – because manufacturing costs are cheaper in Korea than in many Western countries, it helps to keep product prices down. Added to this is the sheer number of products on the market, which heightens competition, to the benefit of consumers’ wallets.
So, now that you have the lowdown on why K-beauty is having such a moment, let’s look at how it can benefit mature skin – and what products to look out for.
Korean skincare FAQs
1. Are Korean skincare products suitable for mature skin?
With many influencers and Korean celebs (think K-Pop stars, such as girl band Blackpink) being so youthful, some might think that K-beauty is only for the young – but, fortunately, that’s not the case.
In fact, because one of the cornerstones of Korean skincare is deep hydration, it’s ideal for mature skin, as it can help restore radiance and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
And if you need further proof that Korean beauty is for everyone, just look at actress Kim Hee-ae, who’s 56!
2. Which ingredients should you look out for?
Snail mucin
Snail mucin – the mucus from a snail’s back – has attracted plenty of attention for its use in Korean skincare products. While this might sound a little icky, it’s been shown to have numerous benefits, many of which are ideal for mature skin.
For example, it’s rich in hyaluronic acid – a powerful humectant which retains the skin’s moisture, promotes even skin tone, and can smooth out lines. It’s also believed to be rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which help to maintain skin health and radiance.
Currently, COSRX is one of the most popular Korean skincare brands using snail mucin in their products if you’re looking for somewhere to start. Their Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is made with 96% snail mucin.
Note: The majority of companies use snail mucin extraction processes that are said not to harm the snails in any way.
For example, according to the snail mucin skincare brand, Corsyx, “Snails are placed over a mesh net in a dark and quiet room. As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about. After about an hour, the snails are transferred back to their homes while the mucin is collected and processed for use.”
Ginseng
When it comes to mature skin, ginseng is another star ingredient in Korean skincare products.
Ginseng contains saponins (also found in foods such as spinach and lentils), which studies have shown to boost elasticity and improve the appearance of fine lines, as well as hyperpigmentation.
Galactomyces
Look out, too, for galactomyces, which is a type of yeast extracted from the sake fermentation process.
Containing lots of amino acids and minerals, it has the potential to brighten the complexion and tighten pores, which can sometimes become enlarged as the skin matures and elasticity is lost.
Bee venom
It sounds almost as wacky as snail mucin, but bee venom is another prized ingredient in K-beauty’s anti-ageing arsenal. Studies have shown that it can reduce the depth and area of wrinkles.
Why? It’s thought that by fooling the skin into thinking it’s been stung, the body responds by boosting blood flow to the area, and collagen production is stimulated.
Note: The bee venom extraction process is, thankfully, believed to cause no harm to bees. You can read more about the process on Manuka Honey Direct’s website here.
Green tea
Green tea may be a familiar healthy choice for those looking to cut down on their caffeine intake, but it’s also very useful in skincare: full of antioxidants and with calming properties that can reduce redness.
Additionally, it contains polyphenol, which is believed to slow the ageing process, boosting brightness and fading dark spots and pigmentation.
3. Is Korean skincare time-consuming?
When Korean skincare first started moving into the mainstream, there was a great deal of talk around the number of steps involved in the routine – as many as 10, which, it was said, needed to be followed twice daily for best results!
Fortunately, for anyone who has a life outside of the bathroom, these myths have, over time, been debunked. Indeed, many skin care specialists say that layering so many products on the skin could ‘overload’ the skin and compromise their efficacy.
In fact, some beauty specialists advise that you can condense your routine to around four or five steps.
The four-step routine is nothing different from what many of us have been told for years: cleanse, tone, moisturise, and apply SPF. The difference is that the products recommended are K-beauty ones and are, therefore, seen as more effective.
For example, cleansing and toning products might be green tea-based, while the moisture elements come from snail mucin.
If you have time for five steps, you could add an eye cream – but first, clean your face with the much-celebrated ‘double cleanse,’ which we’ll discuss below.
4. What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing isn’t unique to Korean skincare, but the popularity of K-beauty has certainly helped to bring it into the spotlight. The premise is, essentially, that your skin is more effectively purified by cleansing it twice.
The first step involves using an oil-based cleanser which – because oil attracts oil – is designed to draw impurities from the skin. These impurities can include makeup, sunscreen, or sebum production, which can affect all skin types if left to build up.
This double-cleansing step also helps to prime the skin for the next steps, so that the products used are better absorbed and, therefore, more effective.
With the pores unclogged, the next step involves a water-based product, which can – thanks to the first step – get deeper into the skin for a perfectly thorough cleanse.
It’s widely believed that you need to double cleanse morning and night, every day. However, beauty experts generally agree that the night cleanse is probably the more important of the two, as it will remove the effects of a day’s pollution, toxins, makeup, and sunscreen.
Additionally, if you rarely wear makeup or don’t live in an urban environment, you can likely reduce the double-cleanse process to once or twice a week.
5. Is SPF necessary?
There’s no getting away from this one, whether your skincare routine is based on Korean principles or French ones! SPF is key for good skin, no matter what your age, because of the damaging — and indeed, ageing impact – that UV rays have on the skin.
Korean brand Missha has an SPF 50 PA++++ ‘All Around Safe Block Waterproof Sunmilk’, which claims to keep skin hydrated and nourished, and protected from sun damage.
Neogen Dermalogy’s Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen SPF50+ is also popular because it’s quickly absorbed and doesn’t leave any greasy residue.
It also contains a whole host of plant extracts, including acai, aloe, and avocado, which can reduce redness and soothe skin irritation.
6. Do I need a serum?
Because of its emphasis on deep hydration, many fans of K-beauty swear by adding a serum to their skincare routine.
Because a serum is lighter than moisturiser, it should be applied beforehand. Like double-cleansing, this is another example of doubling up in Korean skincare.
Serums can smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and boost collagen production, helping to create a smooth, radiant appearance. Serum ingredients that are particularly useful for mature skin include snail mucin, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid.
Propolis, which is produced by bees (not to be confused with bee venom) is also a star ingredient, thanks to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
7. What is Glow Recipe?
If you’ve only heard of one Korean skincare brand, then it’s likely to be Glow Recipe. Founded by Sarah Lee and Christine Chang in 2014, the company is known for its fruit-based formulations and colourful packaging, featuring clean lines. It looks appealing before you even smell it.
And with ingredients such as strawberry, papaya, pomegranate, and plum, you can rest assured that these products smell great! Avocado, cloudberry, and guava are delicious examples of the fruits the brand employs.
One of the most appealing things about Glow Recipe is that its website is incredibly easy to navigate. With so many products on the skincare market, claiming to do such a range of things, the transparency offered by Glow Recipe is reassuring and informative.
For instance, you can search by specific concern – fine lines and wrinkles, for example, or dullness and uneven tone, and the site will direct you to the products best suited to the results you’re looking for.
Another highlight is its Skin Quiz, which helps you to better understand your skin’s needs before committing to any purchase. Trial kits and value sets also allow you to test products before committing to any.
Of course, one of the factors which has added to Glow Recipe’s success is its commitment to ‘clean beauty’ – the brand avoids the use of harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, as well as being a cruelty-free brand and offering many vegan options.
Finally, for those unfamiliar with many of the ingredients and extracts used in K-beauty, Glow Recipe provides detailed information about each of their benefits, which helps customers feel secure and informed about their skincare choices.
Overall, if you’re interested in trying Korean skincare, Glow Recipe is a great place to start.
Final thoughts…
While anything that seems to suddenly take the world by storm can often be dismissed as a fad, Korean skincare has its roots in traditional methods. Korean women have been making their own formulations for beautiful skin for centuries!
The difference is that these time-honoured methods are now being blended with modern technology and contemporary science. Plus, of course, the power of social media and advertising has thrust Korean skincare firmly into the spotlight.
Ultimately, however, K-beauty is grounded in good sense: that cleansing is key, and hydration and sun protection are essential.
All of this, plus a belief that skincare should, as far as possible, be preventative rather than reactive – and, above all, be gentle on the skin, combines to explain the popularity of K-beauty.
Add to this products that look great on your bathroom shelves and you can see why Korean skincare is here to stay!
Have you tried any Korean skincare products? Or are you thinking of trying any? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.