From attaining ‘glass skin’ to the benefits of gentle exfoliation, here’s how to integrate the biggest trends in Korean beauty into your summer skincare routine.

Over the last few years, the world has caught up with the burgeoning world of Korean beauty. K-Beauty has found a cult status among skincare aficionados, thanks to its plethora of ingredient-packed, accessibly-priced products, which focus on results. We have K-Beauty to thank for growing trends like ‘glass skin’, sheet masks, the rise of toners, and the focus on barrier repair, and the movement shows no signs of slowing down. Here, we round-up four key trends to help you integrate Korean beauty into your own routine.

In South Korea, the skincare goal of women everywhere can be captured in two words: glass skin. With a focus on smooth texture and a soft, effortless glow, “glass skin” is all about luminosity and hydration. Pore tightening is essential, which is why toners, like this Glow Recipe Pore Tightening Toner, available at Mecca, are so popular. Snail mucin, a secret weapon ingredient in K Beauty, is another must-have for the desired ‘glass skin’ effect. Cosrx’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, available at Nudie Glow repairs damaged skin, improves skin elasticity and maintains day-long hydration. High ingredient ampoules (sealed capsules) are also popular in K-Beauty, whether in serum (like the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Empoule at W Cosmetics or collagen pad form (Mediheal Collagen Ampoule Pads at W Cosmetics), offering to restore balance to the skin, creating that smooth, glassy effect.  

When it comes to a solid skincare routine, exfoliation is a major (and often overlooked) step. In K-Beauty, the approach to exfoliation is gentle. K-Beauty exfoliants are usually either chemical or light physical exfoliants, with hardworking ingredients that offer smooth texture without damaging the skin’s barrier. Case in point? Innisfree’s Volcano Pore Cleansing Foam, available at Sephora, a cleanser that doubles as a gentle exfoliant, packed with AHAs and BHAs. For something more intense, Dr. G’s Brightening Vita Peeling Pads, available at W Cosmetics are best used after a gentle oil-based cleanser, and perfect for removing stubborn dirt and blockages like blackheads. Beauty of Joseon’s Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel (Chemist Warehouse) has a gommage-like gel consistency, and is infused with plant-derived cellulose that removes dead skin cells without harsh scrubbing. If you’re looking for something really potent, Cosrx’s aptly named ‘The Retinol’ oil at Chemist Warehouse features 0.5% pure retinol, mixed with hydrating vitamin E.  

In Korean beauty, moisturisation is key. Even serums (layered after cleansing and before traditional moisturiser) are full of hydrating ingredients, like the Arencia Deep Water Surge Serum (Nudie Glow), pumped with three different types of hyaluronic acid. Follow that up with a thick, rich cream like Glow Recipe’s Cloudberry Moisturiser, a whipped formula that leaves the skin feeling nourished day-long (Mecca). If your skin needs a little more TLC (and whose doesn’t during the summer months?) Dr. Jart+’s Intensive Soothing Repair Cream (Mecca) works to repair the skin barrier and calm visible redness, while Medicube’s Collagen sheet mask (W Cosmetics) will zap your face full of moisture, and look cute too (it’s pink!). 

One of the greatest contributions of the K-Beauty movement is a renewed focus on lipcare. While most of us know the importance of a great eye cream, few of us include lip masks in our evening beauty routine. But in summer, your lips need more TLC than ever. Reach for the cult-status Laneige Lip Sleeping mask (Sephora), in a delicious shade like ‘Berry’, or Tatcha's Kissu Lip Mask, the perfect jelly formula to plump and hydrate lips, available at Mecca. Achieving a plump, fuller lip look (sans injectables) is another K-Beauty mainstay, like the Judydoll Lip watery essence lip glaze (W Cosmetics) and VT Cosmetics Lip Plumper Expert (Nudie Glow), both made with hydrating formulas to reduce the appearance of lines and add natural volume.