A Guide to Natural K-Beauty Skincare Brands #AD

K-Beauty has become an increasingly popular trend among beauty product lovers over the last couple of years. With high-quality ingredients, effective formulas and a reasonable price tag to boot, it's no wonder that people are going crazy for K-Beauty skincare. 

The Korean skincare routine has also gained a lot of attention with 10 definitive steps on keeping your skin looking hydrated, supple, tight and younger-looking. In this short guide, we take a look at the leading natural K-Beauty skincare brands. There are no harsh chemicals or nasty fillers in these products, and many are also vegan and cruelty-free. 

The Top 4 K-Beauty Natural Skincare Brands

Innisfree

K-Beauty UK

Innisfree has been around for 20 years and claims to be the first natural K-Beauty brand. The company focuses heavily on natural ingredients sourced from the magical and fertile island of Jeju. This tiny volcanic island that enjoys a plethora of natural ingredients, is situated off the coast of South Korea and has rapidly become one of the most famous islands on the planet.

Innisfree provides a wide range of skincare products including facemasks, cleansers, moisturisers, serums, sunscreens and more. The brand is well known and loved for creating effective formulas that leave your skin healthy, glowing and defying age. 

This popular natural K-beauty brand is also serious about its commitment to the environment and the people who source their ingredients. They strive to reduce their carbon emissions where possible, use eco-friendly packaging and one per cent of all their profits goes to the local community.

Benton

K-Beauty UK

Benton uses only high-quality, natural and skin-friendly ingredients with zero synthetic chemicals or parabens. Everything you put on your skin from Benton is pure and natural, which is why it has gained such immense popularity and a massive number of loyal customers.

The natural ingredients used in their formulas are carefully chosen and are 100% sourced from Korea. Benton is also PETA-approved as a cruelty-free, vegan brand and uses Ecocert-certified natural preservatives in all their products.

Benton's line of skincare products includes soothing gels, serums, cleansing foams, eye creams, toners, face masks and much more. 

ACWELL

K-Beauty UK

ACWELL is famous for combining 400 years of natural Korean medicinal knowledge with modern cosmetics. This brand focuses on high-quality natural ingredients for its entire range, fusing ancient and modern healing formulas.

All ACWELL products are free from parabens, artificial dyes and mineral oils. The brand formulates skincare that effectively reduces skin irritation and protects from environmental aggressors like dirt and pollution. 

Each skincare product from ACWELL is designed to repair and restore your skin's balance — helping hydrate your skin, make it supple and tauter. Those with sensitive skin have become loyal customers of ACWELL, with its Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner the cult favourite. 

Purito

K-Beauty UK

The name Purito is a combination of the words "Purify" and "To", taken from the Chinese symbol meaning "Soil". Purito formulates products using natural and pure ingredients. 

The brand has gained a lot of attention in recent years for its simple but effective skincare that does exactly what it says — and for a fair price. The From Green Cleansing Oil is the favourite among loyal customers of Purito, harnessing the power of olive oil, vitamin E, jojoba oil and more to remove dirt and grime deep within your pores. 

Purito has a straightforward outlook on skincare — to create simple products enriched with safe and clean ingredients. You won't find parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and dyes, phenoxyethanol or triethanolamine in any of their products. 

What's more, the brand is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly and all their products come in eco-friendly packaging that’s recyclable and biodegradable.

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - July 2018 review

This month's LoveLula beauty box is an absolute corker and my favourite box from them this year so far! Worth £53, it features a fantastic selection of organic and natural skincare and haircare. 

Here's what's inside:-

CHOBS Aloe Sheet Mask (RRP £4.10)

I love a sheet mask every now and then for an indulgent pampering session, and I was pleased to come across this new skincare brand called CHOBS when they recently launched on LoveLula. They're one of the few properly natural and organic Korean beauty brands that I've come across and their sheet masks are amazing! This Aloe one is incredibly soothing and ideal for sensitive or irritated skin as it helps to calm down any redness, and makes your skin feel really soft and smooth afterwards.

Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Hemp Oil (RRP £19)

Ooh! are a regular brand that features in the LoveLula beauty boxes and they have a great range of all-natural facial oils, many of which I've tried in the past and enjoyed using. Their Hemp Oil is a new one to me and although I've only been testing it out for a week, I'm really liking it so far. It contains just 100% pure hemp oil which is packed full of natural fatty acids but maintains an ultra-low comedogenic index, so it's a good choice for acne and oily skin types. Nicely balancing, it gives the skin a good dose of hydration without going overboard and won't clog pores.

Apple & Bears Bergamot & Green Tea Hair & Body Wash (30ml travel size)

Next up, I found a travel size bottle from Apple & Bears and this is their Bergamot & Green Tea Hair & Body Wash. It has a lovely citrusy fragrance which smells very fresh and summery to me, and although I usually like to keep my shampoos and body washes separate, I could definitely see myself using this on a weekend trip away to save space in my hand luggage.

Infuse My Haircare Colour Treat Conditioner (RRP £18)  

I've had my eye on this conditioner since I tried out the Infuse My Colour Washes (read my review on those here), so I was was very happy to see a full-size bottle included in this month's box! Specially formulated for colour treated hair, this conditioner has a unique vegan, silicone-free formula which helps to protect your hair colour from fading, and also adds nourishment and essential hydration. It gives my hair a lot of bounce and shine too so it definitely gets a thumbs up from me!

Balm Balm Face Balm (RRP £8.95)

Another full-size product is the wonderfully multi-purpose Balm Balm Face Balm and you can use this in so many different ways. It's great for any extra dry areas that need some TLC like cuticles,  nails, heels and elbows, as well as doubling up as an intensive lip balm and taming unruly eyebrows. A little goes a long way with this super thick formula so this tube will last you ages.

Finally, there are two sample sachets and I've seen a variety of these on different blogs. In my box, I received the D'Alchemy Age Cancellation Booster and John Masters Organics Rosemary & Arnica Body Milk - both of which have gone straight into my travel bag!

LoveLula Beauty Box* is a monthly subscription box priced at £13.95 with free postage in the UK. Visit lovelula.com to find out more.

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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Mid-Week Pamper Treat: Etude House Heating Eye Mask review

As I'm typing this, I'm wrapped in what seems like a million blankets and there's a steaming mug of Hot Chocolate next to my desk - can you tell that I'm not a fan of being cold?! So when I was looking through my stash of new products to try out, all I could think of was 'anything warming', and this Heating Eye Mask from Etude House shot straight to the top of the list!

Etude House are a hugely popular Korean beauty brand, who are perhaps most famous for their cutesy makeup and vast range of sheet masks. I stumbled across their Heating Eye Mask in last month's Mask Time box (check out my review here), and given this bitterly cold snap that we're currently going through in the UK, I couldn't wait to try it out. I've used a similar product from Optrex in the past (reviewed here), so I was curious to see how it would compare. 

Etude House's Heating Eye Mask has been designed to bring 'comfort and gentle warmth to tired eyes', and the soft, cushiony texture of the mask has been lightly infused with an aromatherapy essence which gives off a very subtle scent of lavender. It comes in a sealed packet and once opened, immediately self-activates and starts to warm up. The mask has stretchy sides that you slip over your ears to keep it in place, and it can be used for up to 20 minutes to relax sore and tired eye muscles.

Overall thoughts?

Wearing the mask was really comfortable and it forces you to close your eyes and switch off from the world, which is always a good thing to do! It felt pleasantly warm throughout the 20 minutes and when I took it off, my eyes looked a lot less puffy and they felt so relaxed, like I'd just had a decent night's sleep. I think these Heating Eye Masks are ideal for travelling, especially on planes, and they would come in handy for anyone who has to stare at a computer screen all day at work - maybe keep one or two in your desk drawer and pop them on when the boss isn't looking if you have your own office room! The only downside? They're sadly one use only which isn't very environmentally friendly, but as a one-off pamper treat now and then, I don't think it's too bad. Available in packs or singularly, they're a cheaper option than the Optrex eye masks (if you can find them in the UK) and provide the same results. Plus, they are super cute ;)

 Etude House Heating Eye Mask* (around £2 each, link)

Have you ever tried a self-heating eye mask?

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Tried & Tested: Tony Moly I'm Real Sheet Masks review

Thanks to the ever-expanding beauty section at TK Maxx, I've been able to try out a whole bunch of skincare and makeup from many coveted brands this year, all at budget-friendly prices (yay!). One such brand that I've been exploring more of recently is Tony Moly and I've been steadily working my way through their popular I'm Real Sheet Mask range.

Easily recognisable by their bright, glossy and colourful packaging, Tony Moly's I'm Real Sheet Masks were one of the first 'mainstream' Korean sheet masks that I ever tried. They weren't always so easy to get hold of in the UK though, and I remember having to order them online most of the time which limited the ones that I could try out. Happily now though, most TK Maxx stores have been stocking them, and I was over the moon when my friend texted me to say that she'd just seen them on sale for £1.50 each at her local store!

Needless to say, I asked her to pick me some up and these ones below are my favourites. Each one can be applied for around 20-30 minutes and has a different purpose (though a few of them are quite similar), so it's taken me a little while to get through them all!

 Best for Congested & Blemish Prone Skin: Tony Moly I'm Real Seaweed Skin Purifying Sheet Mask 

If you have oily, congested, combination or blemish-prone skin, the Seaweed Skin Purifying Mask is the one that I've found the most effective, as many of the other masks in this range aren't really clarifying or detoxing. This one contains Seaweed extracts to help draw out impurities, but it does so gently and makes my skin feel so much more refreshed and cleansed afterwards.

 Best for Dry & Dehydrated Skin: Tony Moly I'm Real Aloe Moisturising Sheet Mask

Drier skin types will love this Moisturising Mask which is infused with Aloe Vera extract to deeply hydrate. It's perfect for this time of the year when the central heating starts to come on (a notoriously common cause of dehydrated skin) and is a great mask to use straight after a clay treatment if you're into double-masking, to restore the skin's moisture levels.

Best For Dull Skin: Tony Moly I'm Real Tomato Radiance Sheet Mask 

Whenever my skin is looking on the dull side, I like to perk it up with a brightening face mask and bizarrely enough, Tomato is one of the key ingredients that often crops up in radiance-enhancing skincare! TM's Tomato Radiance Sheet Mask utilises Tomato extract to provide a temporary quick fix solution to dull skin - perfect for special occasions, nights out and upcoming Christmas parties.

 Best For All Skin Types: Tony Moly Avocado Nutrition Sheet Mask

My favourite Tony Moly mask is the Avocado Nutrition Sheet Mask. Why? Well, this little gem seems to do a bit of everything. It hydrates, brightens, soothes and generally just makes my skin feel better and happier whenever I use it. So if you only try one TM mask, make it this one!

 Best For Tired and Stressed Skin: Tony Moly Rice Clear Skin Sheet Mask

Been burning the candle at both ends or having to deal with a stressfully busy week at work or Uni? Give your skin some TLC and use the Rice Clear Skin Mask. It's very similar to the Avocado and Tomato masks, in that it helps to brighten up the skin, but it's a bit more moisturising which is ideal for tired and stressed out skin to replenish it. 

Best For Uneven Skin: Tony Moly I'm Real Tea Tree Soothing Sheet Mask

Usually, I always think of Tea Tree in purifying treatments, but in TM's case, the Tea Tree Soothing Mask is a much more gentler affair and is brilliant for anyone who has an uneven skin texture. This mask helps to both soothe and smooth the skin, and adds a little brightening effect for good measure.

Have you tried any Tony Moly I'm Real Sheet Masks? Which ones are your favourites?

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K-Beauty: Trying Out 3 Products from YADAH - Oh My Sun Slush SPF50, All Day Cushion & Self Care Collagen Sheet Masks

K-Beauty has been hugely popular over here (especially products like sheet masks and cushions), and more and more brands are now shipping to the UK to meet the consumer demand. I've tried only a small handful of Korean beauty brands so far, and YADAH have been my latest discovery. 

YADAH (which stands for Young Adults with Determination to Achieve Happiness) are one of the more 'green'/natural K-Beauty brands, and they've become well known for their botanical based skincare that's primarily aimed at teenagers and young adults. Their formulas are said to be gentle and kind to young skin and so their products are free from harsh chemicals, artificial colouring, preservatives, mineral oil and sulphates. In addition to their skincare, they also have a makeup range with cushions, powders, lipsticks, cheek stains etc, so there's lots to explore from them. 

I've been trying out these three products from YADAH that caught my eye when I was having a browse on BBcosmetic.com.

 YADAH Oh My Sun Slush SPF 50 Sunscreen* (50ml, $18.20 (about £14.88), link)

Just like Japanese beauty brands, it's very easy to find high factors of facial sunscreens within practically all K-Beauty skincare ranges - in fact, I don't think I've come across a single K-Beauty skincare brand that doesn't have at least one sunscreen available! I was attracted to the vibrant green packaging of this one from YADAH and loved the name so I had try it.

Sun Slush is like a sunscreen/after-sun hybrid because it gives you SPF 50 protection, but it also feels wonderfully cooling on the skin when you apply it. The ingredients are interesting because it's formulated with 56% Organic Prickly Pear Cactus extract and is free from alcohol, parabens, mineral oil, talc and tar. I love the texture of this sunscreen because it's light, doesn't feel sticky or greasy, and instead applies like a regular face moisturiser with a fresh, clean scent. It also didn't turn me into Casper which is something that I struggle with when it comes to higher factor sunscreens, and it applies nicely underneath makeup too, almost like a moisturising primer. I'd highly recommend checking this out if you're looking for a new facial sunscreen!

 YADAH All Day Cushion with SPF 50* (15g, $23.10 (about £18.89), link)

If you haven't tried a cushion foundation before, I strongly urge you to pick up a K-Beauty one first before trying out the Western equivalents because they have a lot of differences, especially in terms of colour and performance. YADAH's All Day Cushion is a bestseller and features a range of natural plant extracts to provide all day moisture and anti-aging benefits. It's also formulated with SPF 50 and has a clever anti-bacterial sponge puff applicator with an extra tight seal to keep the foundation fresh for longer. The All Day Cushion promises to provide full coverage with a non-oxidising, long-lasting satin finish and with claims like that, I couldn't wait to try it.

For those who haven't used a cushion before, I think they're one of those makeup products that people either love or hate. I personally think they're pretty fun and they're great for travelling with. To use a cushion, you simply press your brush/fingers/beauty blender into the sponge and the liquid is then drawn up to the surface.  It's oddly satisfying to play with! 

There are some pros and cons to the YADAH All Day Cushion though. I loved the smooth, satin finish and the medium-to-full coverage definitely covered up any blemishes and old acne marks. It gave my skin a glow to it, but it also accentuated any dry areas like around my nose and made these parts look very cakey and you have to blend it fast because it dries very quickly. I got around this issue somewhat by making sure that I used a hydrating primer underneath, but after 6-7 hours of wear, it would start to look a little cakey again. I imagine this would be a great cushion to try if you have oily skin and I'm sure I'll get better results from it during the Summer months when I'm naturally oilier, but if you have dry skin, you'll want to try something else. It also only comes in one shade (Light Beige) so it's not suitable for anyone darker than that.

 YADAH All Day Cushion in Light Beige

YADAH Self Care Collagen Sheet Masks* (pack of 6 masks, $9.99 (about £8.17), link)

Sheet masks are of course massive in Korean skincare and I've had some really positive results from the K-Beauty brands that I've tried them from in the past. YADAH have a lot of different sheet masks available for various skin concerns and they're all sold in packs of six which work out at about £1.30 each - bargain! I decided to try out the Collagen ones which are infused with Snail slime extract to keep the skin smooth and moisturised, and the sheet masks themselves are made from 100% natural cotton. 

The instructions are in Korean as you'd expect, but you all need to do is apply the mask to a cleansed face and leave it on for 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, massage in any excess serum and you're done! I loved these - they left my skin feeling super soft, smooth and thoroughly hydrated, with the effects lasting for at least 48 hours. I'll definitely be trying out some more of these!

YADAH are available from bbcosmetic.com who offer free worldwide shipping.

Special reader offer: Enter the code GRR8XCL0YGXU to get 8% off your order!

Are you a fan of K-Beauty?

Have you tried anything from YADAH?

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