During my last (and only) visit to Seoul, I had quite a few firsts. I traipsed around in a greet tea field filled with snakes, tried actual high-quality soju, and thwarted a meerkat’s persistent efforts to steal my earrings (long story). But most memorably, I wandered into dozens of beauty shops on every corner, and for the very first time, skincare left me speechless. Products with textures I’d never felt and ingredients I’d never heard of stocked the shelves, and shoppers stocked up on serums and creams at all hours of the night. I was in the beauty capital of the entire world, and I nearly shed a tear for it.
That said, you don’t have to go to Seoul to discover these innovative products anymore (though I would absolutely recommend it when we can travel abroad again). Nowadays, K-beauty is a skincare staple here in the U.S., and for very, very good reason. The beauty tech in South Korea is years ahead of our country’s, and that’s made clear by every essence, moisturizer, and sunscreen that appears on the market. And if there’s one thing Koreans know best, it’s how to mask like a pro. From sheets soaked in snail mucin to jars topped off with bouncy exfoliating gels, K-beauty’s got every skin care concern covered. Here, we’ve rounded up the most effective, innovative, and just plain playful options for your next self-care session.
Lip Sleeping Mask
$22.00
Shop Now
This lip mask is legend, even in Seoul, the unofficial beauty capital of the world. Slather on a thick layer before you hit the sheets and you’ll wake up to bouncy, hydrated lips that are more pillow-soft than, well, your pillows.