We finished out the year with our round up of Soko Glam’s Best of K-Beauty award winners™, but what products are the hidden gems that didn’t make the cut? Let Charlotte walk you through the five most underrated K-beauty products of the year…
I’m all about the underdog. Whenever I’m caught up in a sports game (that I know nothing about), my immediate reaction is to root for the underdog team, even if it means going against the fan favorite.
The same goes for my skin care products. Although I may sing my praises for my tried-and-true favorites, there are definitely some gems that don’t get the fanfare I think they deserve. Because my daily routine actually features a few products that are underrated (either in reviews or general awareness) I thought I’d spotlight them here in a quick roundup!
The Sleeping Pack That Does Way More Than Hydrate
The My Skin Mentor Dr. G Brightening Peeling Cream is something I use as a treatment at night because it contains a triple whammy of skin loving acids: AHAs, BHAs and PHAs. The trifecta of acids are put together in a cream by a reputable Korean dermatologist (whom I’ve met and had the pleasure of picking his brain on about his skin care tips).
I know this might not suit everyone, but I love how it smells slightly medicinal, thanks to tea tree in the formula. It’s creamy, hydrating for the winter, and it leaves my skin clearer with regular use. I love it so much—my biggest gripe is that I wish they’d make a bigger size!
The Jumbo Cleansing Oil That Dave and I Fight Over
While I love the Hanskin Skin Hyaluron Essence, I was pleasantly surprised to fall in love with it’s counterpart, the Hanskin PHA Cleansing Oil, because it emulsified so well, didn’t sting my eyes, and removed even the most stubborn makeup. I can’t really put my finger on the fragrance, because it’s so light that it isn’t memorable enough to note.
After cracking this one open, it’ll take a while to actually finish because of the sheer size of this hefty bottle, which was a good thing since Dave loved it too and kept sneaking pumps in while I wasn’t looking. One thing to note is that, despite boasting PHAs in the formula, I wouldn’t expect too much exfoliating action since acids don’t really work super well in an oil-based format.
The Milky Toner That Makes My Skin Glowy & Supple
It might be the slightly higher price point that scares people away, but the Klavuu White Pearlsation Revitalizing Pearl Treatment Toner is a gorgeously formulated toner that has a nourishing, milky consistency that absorbs quickly into my skin.
While I love the Acwell Licorice Toner and the Son & Park Beauty Water for their ability to cut through impurities, I’ve also been gravitating towards milky toners these days in my morning routine because they add the extra hydration that I desperately need this winter. Dry skin types, take note.
The Perfect Light, Exfoliator That Doubles As A Water-Based Cleanser
Exfoliating still ranks low on my priority-list when I get lazy about my skin care routine. Thankfully, the Acwell Aqua Peel Soft is a gentle, peeling exfoliator that’s the perfect way to incorporate a water-based cleanser with exfoliating benefits into my routine. By gently rolling off impurities like dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother skin, this peel is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. It also uses some of my favorite ingredients: licorice, centella asiatica and fig extracts.
The Sleeping Pack That Contains My Favorite Ingredient: Birch Juice
It speaks volumes when a brand places the best ingredient in a product on the very top of the ingredient list. So kudos to Enature, which happens to put 74% birch juice in its Birch Juice Hydro Sleeping Pack. This allows for better results and a bigger impact on your skin (versus a product that’s made with mainly water).
That’s why I’m so into slathering this all over my face and my neck on evenings when I need to see next-day results of glowing, radiant skin. It’s one of my favorite sleeping packs, right up next to the forever popular Laneige Water Sleeping Pack.
+ What are some underrated K-beauty products you wish more people knew about? Let me know in the comments!
