Everything You Need To Know About K-Beauty

What is Korean Beauty?

Originally, Korean beauty was a blanket term for all beauty products made in South Korea. In recent years, the world has taken note. And it's not just Korean skincare brands and products that have become hugely popular, but the Korean approach to beauty itself. Shaped by age-old rituals, the routine additions are not just effective, but also encourage you really understand your skin and to slow down with mindful daily moments.

"At its core, Korean skincare is all about putting skin first,” says Charlotte. "It’s not about quick fixes but about consistency, care, and long-term results. That means focusing on hydration, protecting the skin barrier, and choosing formulas that work with your skin, not against it."

With overnight masks, skin-transforming toners, and glow-boosting essences, K-beauty follows an extensive (but highly customisable) routine to achieve glowing skin. From holistic skincare by Then I Met You to makeup-skincare hybrids from Erborian, K-beauty brands prioritise hydration and barrier health by blending innovative Korean ingredients like plant-based centella asiatica, snail mucin and green tea with recognised powerhouse actives like ceramides and AHAs.

Why is Korean Beauty So Good?

Over the past few years, many of us have gone heavy on potent ingredients such as BHAs and retinol, which are great for treating specific concerns, but are not always gentle on the skin barrier. Korean skincare takes a softer, prevention-first approach which focuses on nurturing long-term skin health with hydration and barrier support at every step. "Hydration is the foundation for healthy, glowing skin," says Charlotte. "It improves elasticity, calms sensitivity, and supports the skin's barrier. Even with acne-prone skin, the solution is often to support the barrier with moisture rather than strip it away.” So instead of slathering on one heavy cream to keep skin hydrated, K-beauty favours layering lightweight, hydrating formulas throughout your skincare routine. How do they do it? With their next-generation ingredients. and extra routine steps. Expect to find barrier boosters like Korean fermented ingredients, moisture retaining ceramides, hyaluronic acid and honey in their ingredient list, all working to gift that dewy glow.

Who is Korean Beauty For?

Glass skin is for everyone’s taking, and all skin types can nurture long-term skin health. Due to the hydrating, barrier-boosting principles, K-beauty routines naturally lend themselves to those who have dry and sensitive skin, including rosacea. If you’ve been a little too heavy-handed with your retinol serums or other actives, it’s a failsafe skincare routine to follow to help soothe and repair skin. It goes without saying that if you enjoy taking a more ritualistic approach to your morning and evening routines, the 10-step K-beauty method will be right up your street. But if you're short on time (or patience), Charlotte explains "The 10-step routine is more of a philosophy than a rule,". “Even if you simplify it down to 3–5 steps, what makes it powerful is the intention behind each product and how they work together to nourish skin long-term.”

Inside our Soko Glam Edit

Our Final Thoughts on K-beauty

K-beauty is for you if you’re a skincare aficionado and love a multi-step routine. But it is also a great approach to take inspiration from if you are new to skincare and are looking to optimise your skin's health. With products that are super nourishing and focus on strengthening your skin barrier, they are a safe bet for anyone looking to expand their skincare routine. What we love most about the K-beauty method is that you can personalise it and make the approach work for your skin.