As we head into 2017, we’ll see Korean skin care focusing more than ever on several key natural ingredients that not only make your skin look younger and healthier by themselves, but that are formulated in a special way to guarantee the most optimal results you have ever seen! Here are the K-beauty ingredients that will be taking center stage in 2017!
Yuza
Yuza (also known as yuja or yuzu in Japan) is a citrus fruit grown mainly in Asia, and has a very high concentration of vitamin C. The citrus extract not only helps brighten your skin and protect it from signs of premature aging, but it also has an invigorating natural scent that will perk you up every single time you use it.
The Erborian Yuza Double Lotion uses yuza as its star ingredient for brightening and nourishing effects. They’ve formulated this innovative ingredient with a bi-phase lightweight liquid that will spread thinly and evenly on your skin for maximum absorption. After cleansing and toning, this lightweight lotion with a slightly milky texture can be applied onto a cotton pad or applied directly onto the skin, then tapped into the skin with your fingertips for maximum absorption.
+ Read the full review of Erborian’s Yuza Double Lotion.
Birch Juice
Put some extra TLC into your skincare routine with hydrating birch juice. Birch juice is being tapped as the next “coconut water” for the skin thanks to it’s abundance of amino acids, sugars and minerals. Tapped directly from birch trees, helps your skin retain moisture and maintain a positive oil-moisture balance in the skin, and it’s increasingly replacing water in many Korean beauty products.
E Nature Birch Juice Hydro Sleeping Pack has over 74% birch juice in place of water, as well as chamomile and safflower extracts. It’s light enough to soak into your skin instantly, to prep and nourish your skin. Use this as the last step in your skincare routine, and wake up to bouncy, hydrated skin.
Royal Honey
Your favorite natural humectant, honey, just got an upgrade! Korean brands are doubling down on honey, by focusing on fermented or aged honey in their skincare products. It is different from regular honey because it goes through a 60-day fermentation process after being secreted by worker bees. Royal honey has less water filler and more vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, which gives your skin an extra dose of nourishment and hydration.
The Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Essence has a whooping 50% black bee propolis extract, 20% royal jelly extract and 10% royal black honey extract. That’s a lot of honey—but does not feel like slathering sticky honey or propolis on your skin thanks to Korean skin technology that has made it into a light, gel-based consistency. Using the dropper, you can dispense a few drops directly onto the skin to easily and quickly spread it to the areas you need it most.
+ Read about Skinfood’s Royal Honey line.
Bamboo
The benefit of a water-based mask formulated with bamboo sap is compelling because this ingredient has been known and used in Korea for its medicinal properties to heal skin for centuries. Bamboo has everything it takes to become a trend in skin care in 2017 not only because it has a natural way of mimicking the skin’s natural moisture but acts as a humectant by drawing moisture to the skin and instantly plumping it up.
Erborian saw the benefits of a mask that harnesses the power of bamboo through their Bamboo Waterlock mask. It’s a refreshing gel mask made out of bamboo extracts and fibers, which act like an invisible net to keep your skin mingling with the ingredients for as long as possible. Slather on a thick layer after cleansing and toning, leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off. Or you can use it as a lightweight power moisturizer by applying a thin layer on the skin, too.
Natural Color Formulations
Korean brands have been working hard to provide the most natural skincare they can—that is, without adding artificial colorings and fragrance. Sometimes this means leaving the extracts in its natural state in the formulation process, no matter how unconventional it may be.
A good example is the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream, which uses guaiazulene, a plant-based ingredient extracted from chamomile. Guaiazulene gives the formula its blue coloring, which may look artificial, but is actually it’s natural state and is an effective treatment to soothe and calm extremely irritated, sensitive skin.
+ This article was first published by Charlotte Cho on Popsugar.
