If you’re even vaguely interested in beauty, you’ll have heard about K-Beauty – an umbrella term for skin care products from South Korea. The K-Beauty phenomenon has gained traction worldwide and now we’re able to purchase some of the best K-Beauty brands online in South Africa.
Korean beauty is really all about customization and understanding your skin’s own unique needs. The products contain mostly natural ingredients and the formulations are really gentle on the skin. I always read through ingredients and have been impressed with the high levels of actives found in most products – much more than is usually available in regular, main stream skincare. Add to that is the competitive pricing (even here in South Africa) and one starts to understand why K-Beauty is taking the world by storm. The reason the products are so affordable is because the competition among beauty brands in Korea is fierce, which helps keeps prices down and quality at a premium.
If you think K-Beauty is another passing fad, consider this: Sheet masks, BB creams and Essences all originated in Korea. Korean women are BIG on skincare, and it’s a well know and documented fact that your average Korean women has at least 10 steps in her beauty routine (that’s morning AND evening). The typical regime starts with a double cleansing ritual, winds its way through a series of sheet masks, essences, serums and moisturisers, and wraps up with a good SPF of at least 30. Come evening, the same routine is followed, except the sunscreen is swapped out for a thick, intensely nourishing sleep cream.
Simply put, Koreans are some of the most demanding beauty consumers in the world, so you can rest assured that their beauty products are nothing short of incredible.
Below are my favourite K-Beauty products and a little overview of each.
From www.mykoco.co.za
Charmzone Albatross Powder Sun SPF 41 (R370)
This is essentially a sunscreen and make-up base in one. It is a cream that, on application, leaves the skin feeling soft, dry, matte and smooth – a bit like when you’ve applied a powder. It has and SPF of 41 so effectively protects the skin against the sun’s damaging UV rays. The formula also contains hyaluronic acid that continuously supplies the skin with moisture, keeping it hydrated without any sticky feeling. If you have combination or oily skin, you’ll LOVE this!
Charmzone Control Cream Self Massage (R360)
A true cult-classic in the K-Beauty market, this Control Cream was launched in 1994 and has sold over 20 million tubes since inception.
Essentially this is an exfoliator that doesn’t use any acids or granules. It relies on a Purifying Complex that includes Moringa seed, Gluconate, broccoli and sprout extract to purify the skin. The cream works by dissolving dead skin cells, while drawing out sebum and other impurities.
You apply a little product onto the skin – much like you would a mask – and leave it on for around 5 minutes. You then massage your face until the product turns into oil. Continue massaging until you can feel gritty particles, which is literally dead skin peeling off! You do not need to remove it with an additional cleanser as the product emulsifies in water.
Charmzone Ginkgo Cleansing Foam (R260)
If you like a foaming face wash, you need to try this one that contains a Gingko energy complex along with herb extracts. The complex purifies the skin, effectively removing any pollutants while the Jeju Herb extract works to soothe. The formula also has moisturising benefits thanks to extracts of Mountain Goat Milk and milk protein. Do be aware that this is a cleansing foam, not a makeup remover!
This article is written and accepted reposting by Candice-Lee Kannemeyer – Blogger & freelance fashion & beauty stylist & writer
You can visit her site www.inmybag.co.za