When it comes to skincare, Korea has always led the way. From snail mucin, mochi and glass skin, to ginseng, toner pads and sheet masks. I’m here for it all. It looks like we’re going to experience a lot more Korean skincare in 2025 (thank you, trends). I am squealing on the inside, trust me. Like the rest of the planet, I’m forever chasing soft, bouncy, glowy skin. And I have no doubt that these five latest K-beauty trends will help us on the way to that dream.
Toner pads
Toner pads are so easy to use and are a gateway to maximum hydration, and they are everywhere in Korea. What’s even more alluring is that you can use a few and create your own DIY sheet mask. I recently tried Mediheal’s Watermide Toner Pad and it changed the game for me. My skin always feels dry and tight after cleansing, so swiping a cooling pad over to soak it in toner goodness is my new favourite thing. Mediheal is a great brand to start with because they have toner pads for every skin concern you can think of – hydrating, brightening, calming, firming, repairing.
Spicules
The second of our K-beauty trends is a little further left of field. When I first heard of these, I thought Korea was on another planet. Spicules are needle-like structures that come from sea sponges (adorable, I know). Their aim, similar to micro-needling is to create micro-channels in the skin so that other products can penetrate more deeply. This will then increase their absorption and efficacy. Beauty Within talked about VT Cosmetics’ trending Reedle Shots that contain spicules, and I hopped straight onto Stylevana to pick mine up. The review is coming.
Skinified makeup
Korean girls always manage to look so effortless and airbrushed, and ‘no-makeup’ makeup has something to do with it. (And a killer skincare routine, of course.) The skinification of makeup is adding beneficial skincare ingredients to makeup formulas to improve skin and deliver a more natural looking finish. Korean lip-cheek duos have a mousse-like and bouncy texture and give a blurry look to the skin. An example of a hybrid skinified makeup product is House of Hur’s Moist Ampoule Blusher, infused with an essence that makes up 50% of its formula.
PDRN treatments
In Korea, procedures and injections that firm and improve the skin are all the rage. There’s been a new development in this realm involving salmon sperm (yikes), called PDRN. Kim Kardashian has now clocked on, and it’s going viral in the western world. That’s all it takes now. So what does this salmon sperm do? PDRN treatment is designed to boost skin regeneration and stimulate collagen production. Because these injections are, on average, $500 a pop, skincare brands have started incorporating this ingredient into their products to make it more accessible, like Anua’s PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum. As it turns out, there really is nothing women won’t do to look younger.
Korean sunscreen
Although sunscreen is nothing new, Korean sunscreen is rising in popularity because of its extremely lightweight texture, innovative ingredients, and affordability. I’d actually never tried a Korean sunscreen until about six months ago. I’ve always preferred mineral (it’s better for my conscience), but I thought I’d see what all the fuss was about. I picked up the ever-popular Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum. I absolutely love the texture and the way it just sinks in to the skin. For me, even though I have an oily skin type, I am a big fan of the dewy finish that it gives.
Yours,
Kait x
Cover photo by Harper Sunday