When shopping for K-beauty products, you’ll come across hundreds of buzzy, all-natural ingredients. Sheet masks alone come in different variants from rice, pomegranate, red ginseng, honey, snail slime, pearl, and the list goes on. While it’s fun to have a lot of options, it’s also hard to keep up with it all.
So to make shopping a little easier, we’ve rounded up the only K-beauty ingredients you need to watch out for—that is, if your main goal is to have clearer, smoother skin!
5. Snail Mucin
Source: @cosrxSnail mucin is the slime secreted by snails to shield their exposed bottoms from bacteria and cuts. Now, it may seem icky to slather this slimy juice on your face, but here’s why Koreans are doing it: the secretion is extremely hydrating! Loaded with proteins, glycolic acids and elastin, it can deeply moisturize the skin, even out the complexion, and fade acne scars. You’ll mostly find snail mucin in Korean sheet masks, creams, and serums.
4. Propolis
Leegeehaam Vita Propolis Nutri Mask, PHP 100, Beauty MNLDealing with acne? Propolis is the pimple-fighting K-beauty ingredient your skin needs, stat. Otherwise known as “bee glue”, it is a sticky mixture produced by bees to keep their hives from unwanted intruders. It works the same way when applied on the face—propolis gets rid of dirt, grime, and bacteria that cause blemishes.
3. Honey
Source: @skinfood_officialIf your skin is dry and patchy AF, look for products containing honey! Its rich, thick consistency helps retain moisture in your skin, giving you the natural, dewy glow of your dreams.
Honey’s benefits don’t stop at hydration; it has antibacterial properties, too. Although it doesn’t work as hard as traditional acne-fighting treatments like Benzoyl Peroxide, it can soothe the redness and swelling of pimples, making it look less “angry” and noticeable.
2. Green Tea
Source: @innisfreeofficialGreen tea can soothe not only your soul but also your skin! Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, the powerful ingredient can calm down redness caused by acne, which is beneficial for sensitive, acne-prone skin types. Bonus points: green tea is also rich in powerful antioxidants. It’ll fight sun damage, plump up wrinkles, and boost blood circulation.
1. Rice
Source: @thefaceshopphFor Asians, rice isn’t only a staple food—it’s also an ancient beauty secret. Fun fact: Koreans would wash their faces with rice water, a.k.a. the water obtained from rinsing rice grains, to brighten their complexion, prevent skin aging, and moisturize their skin. Luckily, you don’t need to cook yourself a pot of rice to reap the grain’s benefits; the high-nutrient ingredient is found in many K-beauty cleansers and face masks.
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