These brands are REAL Korean skincare that are actually popular in Korea.
I was recently asked a question on Instagram: what are some truly noteworthy Korean skincare products? Here’s the deal: most of the brands that we associate as the most popular Korean cosmetics are either absolutely unknown in Korea, or are simply found there, they aren’t the superstars. Korean cosmetics are not radically different from “ours”, but it is indeed possible to find some real gems that are not yet distributed/present in our country (Korea is several years ahead in terms of personal care). In today’s post I will introduce you to some of the Korean brands that:
- are well known and loved in Korea
- have introduced innovative concepts in their products
- can be ordered to Poland (and I will give you links)
I won’t bring up all the companies I find interesting here, because there are too many of them. However, included here are almost all of those that I find interesting enough to buy.
SOORYEHAN
Hanbang is a traditional Korean skin care method, based on high-quality extracts of traditional medicinal plants like Asian Centella, ginseng and licorice, among others. Today we know that these plants contain different kinds of active ingredients, thanks to which they exert their effects on the skin (madecassoside and asiaticoside, ginsenosides or glycyrrhetinic acid, respectively). The extracts produced using Hanbang methods are several times more active than what we usually get in cosmetics – for example, ginseng for high-quality extracts must be of the right species, it must be harvested when it it old, and the extraction steps are traditional and complicated, not industrial. Sooryehan combines Hanbang with modern technology, and the culmination of this is, for example, the Black serum, which is distinguished by the combination of black licorice extract and yeast exosomes. I reviewed it HERE.
You can buy Sooryehan products on AMAZON.COM (duty is paid when ordering)
CENTELLIAN24
Owned by Dongkook Pharmaceutical, a skin care brand focusing on Centella Asiatica. Not surprising, since Dongkook was the first lab to isolate TECA – its active metabolites, which we can now find in many products – from Centella. Fortunately, they left for themselves something special that you won’t find in other brands – they recently released a new encapsulation of TECA in triple liposomes with amino acids, which can be found in the new version of the iconic Madeca cream. Their soothing or anti-pigmentation serums are also great!
SULWHASOO
A luxury Hanbang brand that stands by ginseng and traditions. Their products have a kind of je ne sais quoi that quickly makes the skin feel calm. They simply restore comfort to the skin. On top of that, they offer a wonderful sensory experience – beautiful packaging, aromatherapeutic scents of the herbs used, and some of the most pleasant textures I’ve tried. For me, the hits are the First Care Activating Serum, for use immediately after washing, and the ginseng cream. If someone wants to make me a gift – with Sulwhasoo you can’t go wrong. And how wonderful they look in the bathroom!
DONGINBI
Another ginseng brand, this one a bit more towards high-tech – their encapsulation of ginsenosides is something of a standout here. I recently bought a Capsule Ampoule serum with these encapsulated ginsenosides, for use as an antioxidant serum in the morning. You can combine it with vitamin C, you can put it together with retinoids, it’s a good companion to use as an all-around well-aging prevention. It may not have the luxury of Sulwhasoo, but the price is nicer too.
DR BELMEUR
This brand is interesting mainly through its Youth Biome line – meant to rejuvenate the skin’s microbiome. It was created based on studies of the differences in the microbiome of younger and older people – this serum is inspired by the bacterial composition of those younger people. I’m currently using it in my skincare routine as a multi-tasking hydrating serum – it contains humectants, antioxidants, soothing ingredients and lots of microbiome support. All in a light, pleasant and gel-like base. The cream from this line is also interesting!
IOPE
This brand is here mainly for didactic purposes, as I often hear that ‘Koreans don’t use retinol’. This is not true, and the IOPE brand has been making cosmetic retinol since 1997 – it is the number one retinol in Korea. Their Super Bounce serum has free retinol, encapsulated retinol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, lactobacillus exosomes, and a retinoid booster. I haven’t tested it, but overall I would consider it if I were looking for a gentle retinoid.
That would be enough for part one – let me know if you would like to see part two!
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
