What is K-beauty?

K-beauty, short for Korean beauty, refers to the skincare and cosmetics products, techniques, and trends that originate from South Korea. It gained significant popularity worldwide for its innovative and multi-step skincare routines, unique ingredients, and emphasis on achieving healthy, radiant skin.

Key aspects of K-beauty include:

1. Multi-step skincare routines: K-beauty routines often involve multiple steps, sometimes up to 10 or more, including cleansing, toning, exfoliating, treating, moisturizing, and protecting the skin.

2. Emphasis on hydration and moisturization: Hydrated and moisturized skin is a fundamental principle in K-beauty. Products like essences, serums, sheet masks, and moisturizers are commonly used to achieve and maintain well-hydrated skin.

3. Use of innovative ingredients: K-beauty products often incorporate unique and natural ingredients like snail mucin, ginseng, green tea, rice extracts, and various botanical extracts, which are believed to provide various skincare benefits.

4. Sheet masks and ampoules: Sheet masks are popular in K-beauty routines for their convenience and effectiveness in delivering concentrated skincare ingredients. Ampoules, highly concentrated serums, are also widely used for targeted treatment.

5. Sun protection: K-beauty emphasizes the importance of sun protection to prevent skin damage, premature aging, and pigmentation. Sunscreen is considered an essential step in skincare routines.

6. Innovative techniques and trends: K-beauty often introduces new techniques like "glass skin" (a trend focusing on achieving exceptionally smooth and radiant skin) and "slugging" (using petroleum jelly as a final occlusive layer in the skincare routine).

Korean beauty products have gained a global following due to their effective formulations, focus on skin health, and the results they offer. The K-beauty industry continues to evolve, introducing new products, trends, and approaches to skincare and makeup.