When I say “Urban Decay,” you say “Naked Palette.” When I say “Yves Saint Laurent,” you say “Touche Eclat.” Not for nothing, it’s a game beauty junkies could easily play. But if you’ve just barely figured out the difference between an essence and an ampoule, then decoding the world of Korean skincare brands (there are estimated to be a cool 2,000) might seem a daunting task. Not to worry though, we’ve got curated picks from the coolest and most impressive K-beauty entrepreneurs.
Here, we’re taking a peek at what to buy on Glow Recipe.
Sarah Lee and Christine Chang make natural beauty more glamorous and less granola with their tightly curated group of products sold on Glow Recipe — you’ll only find seriously effective skin care here. Even the most Instagrammable k-beauty moments (think: seaweed sheet masks) are science-backed. Lee and Chang tend towards homegrown brands with great history, strong stories and stellar botanical ingredients. Read on for some of the latest, greatest, must-add-to-cart-now items from Glow Recipe. They also schooled us here at Beauty Riot with the ultimate K-Beauty 101, for which we are forever grateful.
Glow Recipe
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Glow Recipe #1
By Sara Spruch-Feiner
Sarah Lee and Christine Chang make natural beauty more glamorous and less granola with their tightly curated group of products sold on Glow Recipe -- you'll only find seriously effective skin care here. Even the most Instagrammable k-beauty moments (think: seaweed sheet masks) are science-backed. Lee and Chang tend towards homegrown brands with great history, strong stories and stellar botanical ingredients. Read on for some of the latest, greatest, must-add-to-cart-now items from Glow Recipe. They also schooled us here at Beauty Riot with the ultimate K-Beauty 101, for which we are forever grateful.
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Glow Recipe #2
Blithe Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum, $49
Though clickbait-y headlines may have led you to believe that Korean beauty is a bigger-the-better sort of game (i.e. 18 steps > 10), the truth is that the marketplace for multitasking products is expanding. This “pressed” serum is a case in point. It stakes its claims on the tundra chaga mushroom (60% extract), which manages to live (and thrive!) in, well, the tundra. Combined with fermented oils + super-ingredient Argan oil, this little jar can pack the punch of a serum and hydrate like a moisturizer—making it perfect for tossing in your overnight bag.
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Glow Recipe #3
Blossom Jeju 100% Camellia Seed Dry Oil, $30
This is good entry into the world of face oils. It's a dry oil that absorbs quickly. The precious camellia flower grows on Jeju island, a burgeoning destination for K-beauty and is antioxidant rich. In fact, Glow Recipe co-founder, Christine Chang notes: “locals have been using this oil to heal wounds forever.” She recommends this one for right now, as the seasons begin to change.
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Glow Recipe #4
Dr. Oracle The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash, $25
This travel-friendly cleanser is equal parts foaming and exfoliation. It’s gentle, but contains powerful fruit enzymes. You can determine your level of foam or exfoliation with a bit of the simplest chemistry ever: how much water you add. As its just powder, and a small container, this one’s a gym bag essential.
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Glow Recipe #5
Goodal Anti-Wrinkle Want Night Sleep Cream Pack, $32
This sleeping pack is a tried-and-true fave. Scented with calming lavender, it’s perfect for bedtime. As for its texture: It’s goopy, but in a good way, and works overtime (aka all through the night while you sleep) to provide extra hydration.
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Glow Recipe #6
Isoi Bulgarian Rose Blemish Care Serum, $40
Bulgarian Rose is the selling point here -- plain and simple. The Bulgarian rose is one of the most desired varieties and only the highest quality (government certified!) are imported for making this serum. As Glow Recipe states on their site, it boasts “20 times more vitamin A than a tomato and 17 times more vitamin C than a lemon.” Vitamin C is brightening and toning, making it a top-choice for acne prone skin.
Finally, extra points for rose because the flower is one of those scents that, in a natural state like this, is tolerable (and pleasant!) even for those of us who aren’t crazy about fragrances.
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Glow Recipe #7
The Lotus Lotus Leaf & Lemon Mist, $33
A special line with ingredients native to the aforementioned Jeju island, The Lotus is made with, yes, lotus, which is grown on a hilltop temple. The lotus flower has soothing properties making this fine mist a great choice for anyone with redness or irritated skin. If you don’t already have a mist, bedside, ‘bagside,’ and ‘deskside,’ you’ll soon find yourself buying in bulk. Fun fact: the gorgeous packaging design come from painting by the brand owner’s mother.
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Glow Recipe #8
Lindsay Modeling Rubber Mask -- Vitamin, $6
The trend du jour in Korean skincare is rubber masks. This one is an affordable, cup of soup-like version of the modeling mask -- aka rubber masks, named so because they dry like, well, you know what.
Chang recommends the vitamin variety, which is clarifying, and notes that these masks truly make the “peel-off” variety for everyone.
If you have sensitive skin and find the ripping action in peel-off masks too harsh, the cooling effects and hydrating properties of rubber masking will be a welcome change.
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Glow Recipe #9
LJH Vita-Propolis Ampoule, $38
This little ampoule is Glow Recipe’s #2 bestseller, and boasts and impressive repurchase rate. Why? We’ve discussed the glow-boosting, skin-soothing properties of propolis before (50% extract). This small little bottle, from one of Korea’s top cosmetic dermatology clinics is like making sure your skin is taking all the right vitamins.
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Glow Recipe #10
Soyedodam Organic Ginseng Hydrogel Sheet Mask, $9
Ginseng is a major hero ingredient in Korean skincare and this hydrogel sheet mask features its most antioxidant, nutrient-rich strains. Add aloe and honey, and you’ve got a trifecta of goodness making for a hydrogel you won’t be watching the timer on.
Plus, they’re not kidding when they say this packet contains a “full bottle” of serum -- chances are you’ll be able to use the extra liquid as a full-body treatment.
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Glow Recipe #11
Whamisa Organic Sea Kelp Facial Sheet Mask, $14
This popular mask isn’t just in it for the Instagram. While the seaweed sheet is totally photogenic (if you’re into that kinda thing), Chang is quick to note that it’s also been clinically tested and found to provide upto 72 hours of hydration, brightening, skin-tone evening, and anti-aging properties. Sometimes, we’ve really just gotta hand it to nature.
