Read the product review of Son & Park’s Beauty Water and see what makes this product a cult-favorite amongst Koreans and now, Americans, too!
Getting products from overseas can be a real challenge. Sometimes you have to go through crazy wait times and shipping fees, not to mention the worry of getting a fake from a non-official distributor (yeah, it happens more often than one would think!). One of our goals at Soko Glam is to cut all of that out, and it’s really important to start with a relationship with the brand. So we’re so super stoked to be the official retailer for Son & Park and bring you Beauty Water!
Back in 2015, I was getting my headshot taken by Cha Hye Kyung, a well-known Korean fashion and beauty photographer who regularly shoots spreads for Vogue Korea. My makeup was done by the talented Lee Ja Won, who’s also had her fair share of career highs—she’s worked with the top Korean celebs like Song Hye Gyo, Lee Hyori, and Lee Na Young.
Getting ready for the shoot. Moments before my life changed with Beauty Water.
It was an insane experience that I was lucky to have. But more than the photoshoot itself, I couldn’t wait for my chance to hang out with them so that I could bombard them with a million questions. They were insiders in Korea’s fashion and beauty industry—I knew I was sitting on a potential goldmine of knowledge about Korea’s latest cult products.
Before I had the chance to pounce, the makeup artist started prepping me and asked me if I used any makeup before I came in. I hadn’t, so I told her I did my morning skin care routine and of course finished it off with sunscreen.
She doused a cotton pad with something in this perfect little container and started to gently sweep it across my face. When I say “perfect little container,” I mean a super sleek and gorgeous bottle. The words “Beauty Water” were emblazoned in silver on the front. My eyes widened with curiosity. She was prepping my face with this magical solution and it left my skin clean, soft and hydrated.
“What is this? What did you just put on my face?” I asked (hmm…maybe “demanded” is more accurate). “It’s Beauty Water,” the makeup artist said.“I’m using it to prep your skin. It cleanses like a toner, and it also gently exfoliates and hydrates before I put on your makeup.”
This piqued my curiosity even more because I had been looking for a type of cleansing water that could do more than cleanse. Not to mention I’ve gotten a lot of requests for them, and they’ve been trending in Korea!
That day, I grabbed a bottle to start testing it. Since then, I absolutely had a “THIS-IS-A-HOLY-GRAIL-PRODUCT” moment, and that’s why we had to have it on Soko Glam!
Here’s more about why it made the list.
What is Beauty Water?
Beauty Water is a multi-tasker! It is a toner and exfoliator in one that has cleansing, brightening, softening, and hydration effects on the skin. It is gentle enough for daily use and good for all skin types.
How To Use
After your double-cleanse, douse a cotton pad with the formula and sweep it across your face gently. Since this is a very liquidy product, you can also just splash your hands with the formula and pat, pat, pat with your fingertips to help it absorb into your skin. Don’t forget the neck too! I personally like using a cotton pad because I like to add a boost to the exfoliation properties of this product plus, see all the impurities (a brown streak) stuck on the pad. Makes me feel accomplished, somehow. Ha!
Follow up with your essences, serums, treatment products and don’t forget to moisturize.
What Ingredients Do What?
・⠀Cleanse: Ingredients you can find in your own kitchen! Coconut, corn, potato, and wheat gently cleanse the skin.
・⠀Exfoliate: Willow bark and papaya extracts lift impurities and dead skin cells. Without that extra layer of dead skin cells, you’ll see improvements to your skin tone and texture. Say hello to brighter, smoother skin.
・⠀Hydrate: The second ingredient is rose water. Couple that with lavender and orange fruit extracts, and you’ve got intense hydration for the skin that will keep it healthy and happy.
More of What Makes This Product So Special
1. The packaging. Super sleek design. It looks beautiful on my vanity and in my bathroom. Haven’t seen anything this sophisticated in a while!
2. The pH. A gentle 5 is perfect as your skin is naturally a 4.5-5.5, so it will cleanse, tone and exfoliate without any irritation. See photo below…
3. The scent is very faint and smells natural. It reminds me of the Missha First Treatment Essence.
4. Made by artists, for artists, and now for everyone! The makeup masters and creators of Son & Park have always believed in creating a smooth, clean and hydrated canvas for the dewy, fresh look with and without makeup. I love how this product was conceived by professionals that know the importance of good skin care and makeup!
5. Price! $30 a bottle for a multi-tasker and ingredients your skin will love? Love affordable Korean skin care!
Skin has a natural pH level of about 5.5, slightly acidic. After using an alkaline cleanser, Beauty Water will help reset to its natural balance
Additional Uses
You can also use this multitasker like this:
・⠀Put some in a travel spritzer and use it to hydrate on the go as a facial mist. At the office or on a flight.
・⠀Reach your Beauty Water to quickly cleanse and hydrate your skin pre and post workout.
・⠀Use Beauty Water to tone after a sheet mask sesh.
・⠀Going out at night and want to refresh before makeup? Use the Beauty Water to reset your face and start fresh and set the canvas before applying makeup.
・⠀Or soak a Q-tip to fix badly drawn eyeliner (we all have those days).
For those of you who are wondering, this product does not cut out my double cleanse as I feel like a proper cleanse using oil and water based cleansers is the foundation for good skin.
When I Use It
I’ve been reaching for the Beauty Water day and night, especially when I don’t have the time to do each step in my routine. Total holy grail status! I thank it for the bright, hydrated, and healthy skin I’ve got going now.