My top 5 K-Beauty products of 2018

I have to admit, my skincare game was NOT strong in 2018. A busy job combined with running Beauty & Seoul, an unhealthy diet and social plans pretty much whacked my life out of equilibrium. I found myself literally crawling to get through to the end of December – the promised land of January where I vowed to myself to make some changes. I’m not one for resolutions as such but I do like the idea of thinking about what small changes I can make and this year I want to go back to what was making me happy – my skincare routine being one of them! That 10 minutes every morning and evening that relaxes me. That said, I wanted to take a look back at 2018 and talk about the five products I either discovered or found myself reaching for the most; products that I know will remain staples in my collection.

Yes, I know I go on about these a lot on Instagram but I truly believe for good reason! Plus, every person I have gifted these to or who has purchased them also raves about them. Containing Niacinamide and hydrating rose water, these handy little eye patches soothe and brighten the under eye area. Simply, place under each eye, leave on for 20 mins, remove and then pat in the remaining essence.

I use these when I'm tired, hungover or having a pamper sesh but honestly, now I keep them on my bedside table and the first thing I do when my alarm goes off is to put these on each morning. I’ll wear them whilst I potter around making my breakfast or drinking my coffee and then remove – the perfect start to the day!

When I was at the KBeauty Expo in Seoul in October 2017, I remember discovering the brand Jumiso. What struck me first was the packaging – I mean, the dog is just too cute plus the barcode is in the shape of a dogbone!

I spoke with Si Heon and the passion he had for the brand and the meticulous details in creating a great, affordable sheetmask were abundantly clear. I tried a sample of the sheetmask on my hand and honestly, for the rest of the expo I had one super bright left hand. The sheetmasks are made from a material called cupra that really adheres to the skin whilst ensuring the skin soaks up all of that lovely essence containing Black Ginseng and Argan Oil. This is my go to sheetmask if my skin is looking dull, before an event when I want to achieve that ‘glow’ or after a flight when my skin is feeling dehydrated.

I have long been a fan of the original Klairs Supple Preparation toner so when Klairs came out with an unscented version designed specifically for those with sensitive skin, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. If there’s one product that was a gamechanger for my skincare routine, it was toner. I previously wrote a blog about my experience with toners, my discovery of hydrating Korean toners and my favourites here. Deeply hydrating, this toner retains all the benefits of the original cult classic formulation but is also free from essential oils. The fragrance is also removed and the product has a lighter texture for faster absorption. WIN.

Pre-soaked toner pads were a big thing in Korea. Exfoliating pads such as the original Cosrx Clear Pad were a huge success, paving the way for this alternative – a hydrating version.

Quick and easy to use, these pads containing propolis extract and hyaluronic acid whisk away impurities, add hydration to the skin whilst acting as a very gentle exfoliant leaving skin feeling smooth and soft. I will either use these in the place of my toner post cleansing, post a gym workout, in the morning if I’m in a rush or on the plane.

Jumiso Have a Good Day Cream

Yes, it’s another Jumiso product. Fast forward to the KBeauty Expo 2018 in Seoul, I was so happy to see Si Heon again and the team and was lucky enough to receive samples of their new moisturiser. Still retaining the cute packaging of their sheetmask range, this cream contains centella, squalene and snail – talk about soothing! This was the moisturiser I found myself reaching for when my skin was distressed and needed help to calm it down. Super lightweight, this cream has a citrusy scent that really helps lift you up in the mornings! 

What were your finds for 2018? Any discoveries you'd recommend?