The expert edit: K-Beauty products that are actually worth the hype

Allow our pros to guide you towards the best...

Editor / October 11 2022

Many K-Beauty products have A+ reputations, particularly when it comes to skin care. The country has a knack for combining interesting ingredients with quirky textures and unconventional methods made to help us glow.

From 10-step routines to jello skin, there’s always a new Korean beauty trend to try. But if you’re stuck knowing where to start (there's a lot of K-Beauty skin care in Australia now), that’s where our panel of experts comes in.

Our lineup of pros spend day in and day out testing the latest and greatest beauty has to offer. So you can take their word as bible that these are the best K-beauty products they’ve come across…

Delaney Loane, Beauty Editor at BEAUTYcrew

@delaneyloane

Innisfree Aloe Revital Sleeping Pack

“My reactive skin type never let me get in on the 10-step K-Beauty action, so instead I turned to a sole formula (also hailing from Korea) that does the work of several hydrating steps in one hit. Said wunderkid? This soothing aloe sleeping mask. I apply (alarmingly generously) on the dreaded ‘my skin is physically hurting’ nights (AKA after one too many days of wearing/applying a full face of makeup have been strung together). It takes away the sting of a broken-down barrier, feels like a cooling dream going on and manages to get everything back on track by morning.”

$20 at Sephora

Aja, Editor at BEAUTYDIRECTORY

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in 'Gummy Bear' 

@aja_rose 

"Come winter, my lips are as dry as the Sahara Desert. Dramatic? Maybe. But the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a must-have in my skin care rotation for good reason. With added vitamin C, coconut oil and shea butter, the formula has been designed to keep lips hydrated, all while you catch up on that important beauty sleep. Come morning, it’s as though my lips have just had a big drink of water. They feel (and look) plump, smooth, and healed. With one sold every three seconds worldwide, it’s a firm K-Beauty favourite.”

$31 at Adore Beauty

K​im Pham, Makeup Artist

@kimkpham

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

“The best K-Beauty product hands down is the Laniege Sleeping Lip Mask. But a sneaky second-place contender and an unsung hero in my beauty routine is the Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum. Every time I use this, I notice the biggest difference in hydration and fading of redness in my skin. Scars heal a lot faster too, especially from acne.” 


$32 at lilabeauty.com.au

Ruby Cotton, Content Producer at BEAUTYcrew

@rubycotton

AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Cleansing Oil

"The first time I ever purchased this cleanser in MECCA, the shop attendant gave it to me straight: “it’s a splurge, but you won’t regret it.” Four years and at least 12 bottles later, she’s completely right. Though the product has undergone one small packaging change and a minor tweak to the name, the formula has remained the same: gentle, hydrating and damn effective at removing any and all makeup. Don’t be discouraged by the fact that it’s an oil, either. As an acne-prone girl myself, this lightweight cleanser only ever leaves my skin clean, glowing and smooth."


$75 at MECCA

Neha Prasad, Content Creator

@neehaaa_ 

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

“My ultimate favourite K-Beauty product has to be the COSRX Snail Mucin Essence. If you’re looking for a top-tier hydrator, you have to check this product out! I love using this alone or mixed with my moisturiser to release a new level of hydration and overall glow. This bottle of magic is not only amazing for hydration but also assists in repairing the skin barrier and overall skin texture. The perfect addition to anyone’s Winter skincare routine!" 

$38 at Adore Beauty

Briar Clark, Content Producer at BEAUTYcrew

@briarclark

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

“I’ve been obsessed with K-Beauty skin care for a few years now and currently the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream has my full attention. This lightweight, silky face cream is infused with a revolutionary and deeply penetrative form of ginseng that boosts skin resilience to promote firmer skin and minimise the appearance of wrinkles. Sulwhasoo is the K-Beauty equivalent of La Mer, and the luxurious feel and herbaceous scent of this stuff is enough to mentally transport you to the relaxing atmosphere of a Korean day spa. Heaven.”  

$359 at Sephora

Diandra Malivindi, Beauty Writer at ELLE Australia and marie claire Australia

@diandramalivindi

Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm 

“K-Beauty is *full* of must-have products, but a go-to for me has to be Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm. Perfect for when I need a deeper clean, the canary yellow balm turns into a silky oil when emulsified to melt away any unwanted makeup or build-up — and yes, it even works on my most persistent mascaras. Made with vitamin E and olive oil, it leaves my skin feeling super hydrated and soft after a cleanse, which is a must for me!”


$73.26 at Cult Beauty

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Samantha McMeekin was BEAUTYcrew's Editor from January 2020 to June 2023. She has worked as a journalist in the beauty and lifestyle industry for over 10 years. In 2019, she was nominated for Best Digital Writer at the BSME Awards for her work on GLAMOUR UK. If you ever meet her in person, she'll probably try to guess which fragrance you're wearing (she's got a humble 60% strike rate).