Experimenting with Korean Beauty Products

Happy Friday to you all! One of my favorite activities to do on the weekend is dive into a really great book with a glass of wine in hand and a beauty mask on my face. Since you read my post last month on experimenting with face masks, you know that they are my go-to beauty product for relaxation. However, this month I decided to expand my knowledge and test out a variety of beauty products {including face masks} within the Korean beauty industry.

Although it is on my very long list of things to do, I have yet to visit Korea. In the meantime though, I keep up with several beauty blogs each week and I'm well aware of the current craze surrounding Korean beauty products. A few weeks back, I read an article about this insane, 10-step Korean beauty routine that a blogger followed for a month straight. I remember thinking, "I can barely convince myself to remove my makeup at night before bed. How could anyone rationalize adding a 10-step beauty program into their everyday routine?" 

This blogger, and many others in the beauty industry, have explained that typical Korean beauty products vary greatly from the US beauty products we know and use. Korean beauty products are generally more affordable while remaining high quality, incredibly innovative, include natural ingredients {like green tea, bamboo sap, and fermented yeast}, and are aesthetically pleasing. Many of the bloggers that have dipped their toes into this particular beauty industry have been very pleased and have noted that their skin has drastically improved over time.

While looking more in-depth at the Korean beauty industry, I discovered a company online that met all of my requirements for this experiment, and was able to keep the costs reasonable for a #20Something college student. That company is SOKO GLAM!, created by Charlotte Cho, a beauty expert that launched the company in 2012 after a 5-year stint in Seoul, Korea. Charlotte scours the beauty market, looking for only the best and most popular products to bring to the U.S.  She personally tests and reviews every individual item that crosses her path.

To preface my results I must tell you that, to my knowledge, I had never used a Korean beauty product before this. Not even BB Cream. Gasp! I know. I hadn't even realized what I was missing out on until I made the decision to review these products. So, without further ado, below I am giving my personal, totally unbiased review and input for 6 Korean beauty products that I picked up and tested out:

1. CAOLION Blackhead Steam Pore Pack Premium $23.00
Ew, blackheads and pores. What a way to start out a blog post, right? I get it, I get it. I really do. But, hear me out. We all have them; from the Victoria Secret models to Kim Jong-Un, Beyoncé, and beyond. It's not glamorous. But, we can solve this; there is a solution. Instead of violently ripping them off each week using those painful Biore nose strips, you can use this spa-like facial. 

This CAOLION Blackhead Steam Pore Pack, I must say, may be the strangest beauty product I've ever used. But... not exactly in a bad way. It is a purifying active-charcoal steaming mask that exfoliates, hydrates, and deep cleanses impurities. I would describe it as a mix between a thick exfoliant scrub and a face mask. I can't put my finger on the smell of it either. It clearly doesn't mirror vanilla or pumpkin or the typical U.S. products I use. Once you begin exfoliating and applying the mask, the warming effect kicks in. After that, I kept the mask on for approximately 10 minutes and, once I washed it off, my face was burning. Like, on fire. Within 5 minutes, the sensation ceased and my face felt softer and smoother than it ever has before. So, if you can handle a little bit of heat, this product may be perfect for you. For me, it has become a part of my morning routine 2 times per week. 

2. KOCOSTAR Hair Therapy $7.00
Ever since I was 10 years old and my Mom spared me a hideous mullet in favor of my sister instead, I've taken great pride in my thick {and previously lengthy} mane. It's a wonder that I've never tried a hair mask before. But, as I've warned you, I try not to partake in beauty routines that I don't feel I desperately need. On a typical morning, I apply heat to my hair in the form of a large curling iron or straightener. However, I never blow-dry my hair, opting to air dry, unless I get a salon blow-out {which I LOVE, thanks to Meg at Bombshell Salon}. In addition, I get my hair highlighted every couple months to keep it from appearing dull. So, why am I telling you all of this? Well, aside from wanting to share every detail of my life with you, I'm showing you what I should have picked up on years ago: I desperately need hair masks.

I chose the perfect time to try out this mask, too. It was immediately after I soaked in a fresh water quarry all day in the sun. This, in turn, left my hair coarse and matted. I have to tell you, this mask was a little tricky to put on by myself because you have to wrap all of your hair up into this plastic bag then use an adhesive to keep it tightly in place. I kept the bag on for about an hour (because I was watching Bachelor In Paradise, and clearly I wasn't going to miss a moment of that crying mess). Once I eventually removed the mask and rinsed in the shower, my hair was SO smooth and soft and just truly magical. I was a little worried that my hair would be greasy the following day when it fully dried. However, I was glad that I had been proved wrong. I would definitely use this hair therapy mask once a month to revive the shine and smoothness of my hair. 

3. THE FACESHOP Lovely Me: Ex Design My Eyebrow 02. Dark Brown $8.00
I'm very picky when it comes to purchasing eyebrow products because I've found that the products that use pigmented wax are clumpy and difficult to apply, and the hard pencils are too harsh for a natural appearance. Before testing this product out, I had been using the MAC Eye Brow Pen in Brown and enjoyed it. The only issue I was having is that they don't last very long {about a month or two} and for that duration, a price of $16.50 is a bit much. Before purchasing THE FACESHOP Lovely Me Eyebrow pencil, I had read several customer reviews swearing up and down that this product is better in comparison to the Anastasia Beverly Hills brand which is very popular with beauty bloggers in the U.S.

One of the reasons that I enjoy this eyebrow pen is because of its permanently slanted applicator. The slant on the pen allows you to fill in your eyebrows with practically no effort at all. I'm no artist when it comes to perfect eyebrows but, with this pen all you need to do is quickly trace the outline of your natural eyebrow shape on each side while pointing upward. I was finished in 2 minutes flat. Success. The product itself was extremely easy to apply. So much so that you have to be careful not to use too much pressure or the result will be too dramatic. However, it did not clump up or break like the MAC pen I was previously using. In addition, I have been using this eyebrow pen for the past 2 weeks and have not had to twist the cap up at all to access more product. I believe that this product will last much longer than the MAC pen.

4. TONYMOLY Panda's Dream Eye Patch $3.00
To be totally honest, I initially added this product to my shopping cart because the packaging was cute and it was cheap. But, I was also pretty intrigued having never used an "eye patch" before. {Arrg!} So, I figured I'd give it a go. 

The purpose of this product is to revive the bags and dark circles from under your eyes. Although I did not see a noticeable difference in the appearance of my eyes after using it just once, I wore it for approximately 20 minutes and it was extremely calming {mainly because I wasn't able to do anything}. Applying the eye patch is a little difficult, especially if you are alone, because it removes all visibility completely. It is a seaweed-like, slimy consistency that kept very cold the entire 20 minutes. I would use this eye patch if I were traveling or had swollen or puffy eyes from a lack of sleep.

5. BANILA CO It Radiant Lace Hydrogel Mask Sheet - Calming $5.00
Okay, we're all aware here how utterly fixated I am on face masks by now. Practically every other time I walk down the stairs, my face is a different color {and I'm carrying a glass of wine, but, that's beside the point}. For this product, you are actually placing an entire sheet over your face. I gotta warn you - it looks prettyyy freaky. You apply the mask in two parts, the eyes and the mouth. It has lace inside which I'm assuming is supposed to appear chic but, it actually just ends up looking like you're wearing someone else's skin. Silence of the Lambs style. Like I said....just, don't go outside.

The texture was slimy and breathing out of the nose opening was quite trying so, I wore the mask for approximately 20 minutes and removed it to find that my skin was very smooth and some of the redness on my cheeks had subsided. That being said, I'm not sure that I would use this product again because I believe that it was more effort than it was worth.

6. MISSHA Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++ #23 Natural Beige $22.00
Next, to give you a little perspective, before purchasing this product my prior beauty routine included MAC's Pro Longwear NW25 Foundation. I found MAC's foundation to be great in terms of coverage but, pretty awful at blending well unless you use a ton of product. So, I found myself caking MAC's foundation on every time I even wanted a thin layer of coverage so that I wouldn't be blotchy. I've been introduced to BB Creams all over the web from beauty bloggers who swear by it and, since it originated in Korea, I thought that it would be very improper of me to forego it.

My first impression is that this foundation is light and airy. Which I love. It covers the majority of my blemishes but, it does so without appearing caked on or blotchy. In short, it allows my true skin color to come through while also applying coverage and leaving my skin soft to touch. This BB Cream is ideal for my day-to-day routine when my makeup is natural and light. I have used this foundation in place of my MAC product for the past 2 weeks and have not had any complaints or issues.

After putting these 6 Korean beauty products to the test, I have come to the realization that, although I don't need to commit myself to a 10-step program, I will be a fan and follower of the Korean beauty industry for the long-haul. Side note: that means that this definitely won't be the last of my reviews on Korean beauty products. I can't wait to try out more!

I hope you enjoyed this post on Experimenting with Korean Beauty Products! Have you tried any Korean beauty products that you enjoy or use in your everyday routine? Which ones would you recommend that I try next?

Don't forget that you can always keep up with me during the week and get the first peek at new AEE content via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

XO Anna Elizabeth