By Andi Douglas, nwaMotherlode.com beauty editor and mama of 3
The Winter Olympics are starting this week and as the athletes begin arriving in South Korea, I can only imagine the amazing toiletries stocked in their hotels.
Yup, that’s the kind of thing I aspire to, not winning the gold or competing against world class athletes, but shamelessly shoving as many tiny bottles of free shampoos and body washes as I can in my suitcase.
There’s a specific reason I’m envious during these Olympics though; Korean beauty products have a cult following in the beauty world for their unique ingredients as well as low prices.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to score the K-beauty favorites thanks to the ease of online shopping, mostly Amazon. Some products are even starting to appear on shelves at stores like Target and Walmart, which is a blessing if you’re like me and too impatient even for Prime delivery.
The fact that most of the labels are printed in Korean can make choosing products daunting, so here are some of the tried and true favorites from the K-beauty world:
K-Beauty Routine Kit (Target $13-$25)
The fact that this line is both paraben and sulfate free make it appealing enough, but the affordability of the travel sized kit makes it a no-brainer. Currently the kit is available in Youthful Glow, Hydrated Glow and Oil be Gone regiments so you can test out the products before investing in full size bottles.
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask (Amazon $10)
I have actually mentioned this product before but would be remiss if I ignored the delightfully bubbly mask that is a staple in my routine. If you can get over the funky texture, the carbonated mask digs deep to clean out your pores.
Dermal Korea Collagen Facial Essence Facial Sheet Mask, 16 pack (Amazon $10)
I am a bonafide face mask junky, y’all. I rarely leave the store without one in my cart and like to buy them as special “thinking of you” treats for my friends. I recently gifted this bargain pack to my hardworking sister for her birthday and can’t wait to hear about her favorites. And I’m a sucker for anything with collagen!
Jeju Volcanic Lava Pore Mud Pack (Amazon $12)
I’m all for a DIY mask to save money, but I can’t imagine that a trip to an actual volcano to pilfer some of its essence would be cost effective. Made from the ash of Jeju Island’s volcano, this mask is said to draw out impurities. I don’t know where they go but I assume that this is some kind of ritual to prevent an eruption.
TonyMoly Panda’s Dream So Cool Eye Stick (Amazon $12)
When Korean products first starting gaining popularity, it was the propensity for adorable packaging that drew buyers in. Then everyone realized that those adorable pandas were actually holding breakthrough beauty innovations. The So Cool Eye Stick, for example, provides a cooling effect to help with puffiness while adding moisture to minimize lines.
Missha Signature Essence Cushion BB Cream (Amazon $17)
If you are a fan of BB creams then you will love this new method of application. The creamy texture and gel pad make for a smooth texture and this cream is packed with SPF protection.
Mizon All-In-One Snail Repair Cream (Amazon $15)
I guess, technically you could DIY this one too, but please never tell me about it. The ick factor aside, snail cream soothes acne scars, wrinkles and even sunburns and is getting a lot of buzz in the beauty world right now.
Do you have a beauty question or catastrophe to share with Andi? Send it to mamas{at}nwaMotherlode{dot}com and we’ll get it too her ASAP!
