Asian health & beauty products, specifically Korean, are on a totally different wave length from the western cosmetics we are all used to seeing. Many of the current beauty trends such as BB and CC creams, foundation cushions and eyebrow mascaras are all derived from Asian products and are currently thriving in the western cosmetics market. But there are so many more interesting beauty trends to be found in Asia and I'm here to give you the 101 on the Korean make-up industry. cosmetic companies in SOuth koreaWhen adventuring the epicentre of Korean shopping, Myeong-dong, the question first asked is always "where to first?". With so many skincare and make-up brands to choose from you really can be spoiled for choice, but every brand has their own unique style and specific consumer demographic. A few of the more popular ones are: Etude House: One of my personal favourites, Etude House gives off a very feminine, young, cutesy vibe. With the tag line "Wanna be sweet?" Etude's range of products will make you feel exactly that. They are well known for their colourful lip and eye products as well as their cushion foundations. Innisfree: A company renowned for their natural ingredients derived from Jeju Island (the Hawaii of South Korea). Unlike Etude House, Innisfree's range is based on a more natural look, focusing on cosmetics that can be worn for everyday styles. Two other brands that are quite similar to Innisfree are Nature Republic and The Face Shop. Missha: This particular brand caters for more mature skin and cosmetic styles. They are well known for their selection of BB creams that come in a wider range of shades than most other brands. Missha also have a popular range of skincare products. Tony Moly: Similar but not quite as over the top as Etude, Tony Moly is a brand most suited for the younger demographic. The main focus of this brand in the adorable packaging, from animal shaped hand creams to face masks that come inside eggs, Tony Moly products make great gifts for those curious about Asian cosmetics. Banila Co: In-between the interests of Etude House and Missha is Banila Co. Sponsored by ex Girls' Generation member Jessica Jung, Banila Co are well known for their radiant BB cushions and gentle make-up remover cleansers and cc creams. What's different?An understandable question to ask is, what makes Korean make-up so different to what we already have? What makes it so special? To answer this for you I would have to say that Korean make-up definitely caters for Asian beauty trends and Asian skin types, but you can also use products as a part of your own specific beauty routine. What I personally believe sets Korean make-up apart from whats available to me in Australia is that the range of products is so much bigger and more advanced. There are so many interesting and weird products to try and using these has really changed my outlook on cosmetics use. For your faceIn South Korea you aren't limited to just foundations for facial coverage, there are a variety of BB creams, CC creams and cushions available. BB and CC creams don't have the greatest coverage but most of them are suited for light, everyday make-up, so if you have any visible blemishes you'll need to dab on a little concealer after you apply. There are so many different types of BB creams, Matte, Dewy, pore control, whitening, brightening just to name a few, so you shouldn't have any issues finding one for you, unless you have extremely sensitive skin. I find that foundation/BB cushions are not the best if you have oily/combination skin. The majority of them are very moisturising and give off that sought after "Dewy" look. Many cushion type cosmetics have a creamy to watery consistency which is the worst enemy of my evil T-Zone, so I try not to include cushions in my daily make-up. Recently I have found a great method to get a dewy look for the combination/oily skin type and I will be sharing a tutorial later on! For your eyesAnother infamous trend currently circulating the Asian beauty market is making your eyes appear bigger and brighter. For those who are not comfortable wearing circle lenses, eyeliners are the next best option. Liquid liners, gel liners, kohl liners and pencil liners are a few of the popular eyeliners available, with each ranking in levels of difficulty. If you are just beginning to use eyeliner I would recommend a liquid eyeliner pen (pictured on the far left). Similar to a calligraphy pen and liquid pens dispense the perfect amount of liquid eyeliner gradually. Some more experienced make-up users are into using gel pot liners (pictured on the top) as they give a great finish and can be used for creating sharp wings. for your browsAs a half asian girl I am sad to admit I have inherited my mother's sparse asian eyebrows and have spent time experimenting with eyebrow products so my brows can be "on point" (which is yet to happen). Korean cosmetics stores have so many eyebrow products (way more than what's available in Australia) which gave me a great opportunity to find something perfect for me. Starting with the basics are the typical eyebrow pencils, most of the Korean brow pencils have that wind-up mechanism with a small brush on the other side. Pretty easy to use but can be a pain when they start getting blunt. If you're a little more confident with your brow drawing abilities you can use brow gels, which can either be liquid or come in a pot similar to the eyeliner pots. I'm not as fond of eyebrow gels as they can really gunk up if you over apply. Brow mascaras don't really give your brows any shape but can be used to fill in after pencil applications so I use them if I don't want to have full on eyebrows. My recent fav brow product are brow tints, specifically the Etude House "My Brows Gel" (pictured on the far right). This product is a peel off brow tint, sounds really scary but has provided me with great results! If you would like a review I can upload one :) That's it for my Part 1 of Korean beauty 101! if you're liking this post please let me know and I will get on to making part 2! and also please feel free to leave me any comments, tell me your thoughts whether they are good or bad, I'm all ears :) Until next time, stay healthy and beautiful guys! J.jade
4 Comments
Taylar
9/20/2016 05:00:12 pm
Damnnn GURL. This is good! Please get into making part 2! Xx
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Kate
9/20/2016 09:07:48 pm
Great blog!! I will definitely be looking out for your oily/combination skin tutorial!
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10/29/2020 05:54:56 pm
Informative and helpful post! Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.
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10/29/2020 05:55:30 pm
Great Post! You are sharing a wonderful post. Thanks and keep sharing.
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J.JadeJust your average girl who loves South Korean culture and Korean health & beauty products. Categories
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