Korean Beauty Gift Ideas
10 Korean Beauty Holiday Gifts That Are All Under $30
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This holiday season, POPSUGAR Beauty tapped some of our favorite influencers, including popular brand owners, bloggers, pros, and celebrities, to share the gifts they would like to receive or give. Find more gifting inspiration here.
Charlotte Cho is my go-to expert when it comes to Korean beauty trends and products. The esthetician launched her own ecommerce site, Soko Glam, which brings Korean skin care and makeup stateside. And she also has a blog of tips (The Klog) as well as a book, The Little Book of Skin Care. Whether she is showing me the latest sheet mask or telling me about the hottest ingredients (I hear it's birch juice for Winter 2017), Charlotte is in the know when it comes to getting glowing, dewy skin.
Though she is a busy woman, she still has time to pick out the perfect holiday present. Here, she shares her philosophy for gift giving:
"From a person who always has to Marie Kondo my apartment to keep it clutter-free, I believe the best gifts are always practical and useful—not doomed to sit around as coffee table clutter, collecting dust," she told me via email. "Also, my friends and I, who are all busy adulting, all abide by an unwritten rule that gifts should stay under $30 because we all know that holiday expenses do add up!"
When it comes to actually buying gifts, she sticks to what she knows best.
"Korean beauty products are a great gifting option because you're always going to need a good cleanser or a moisturizer and there are so many options and accessible price points, coupled with the most adorable packaging!" she said.
Keep reading to discover Charlotte's top 10 Korean beauty products for holiday — all under $30!
"Heads turn when I bring this cutie out of my purse. Don't dismiss the quality of the lip balm because of the cute packaging, it's made with honey extracts, a humectant that truly will keep your lips flake-free and smell sweetly and kissably of honey. Note the itty bitty wooden applicator that makes the little girl inside of me squeal every time."
"It's not just any ol' moisturizer. This is an emulsion, which means it's lighter than a cream and perfect for all skin types. Layer this on your skin as the last step in your routine and your skin will be cocooned in baobab extracts and hydrolyzed collagen that will help you beat winter."
"An all-around crowd-pleaser, no matter what skin type. This no-frills, aloe toner feels so cooling and soothing on your skin and within a few weeks of use you'll notice your skin is softer and more supple. If you have ever doubted the purpose of toners, you'll change your mind after using this one. The unisex packaging also makes it a good gift for that guy in your life."
"Believe when I say this smells faintly of natural roses—it's heavenly! This is one of those all-in-one, lazy-girl beauty products that lets you swipe away stubborn makeup, cleanse your skin before a workout without water, and hydrate your thirsty face. It's as effective as it is visually stimulating, thanks to all the pretty petals suspended in the bottle."
"Here's a secret: a solid oil cleansing balm is often the gateway to falling in love with K-beauty. I love how the balm feels on my skin as it completely melts away my makeup, pollution, excess oil—seriously, everything! The birch juice keeps my skin hydrated and the moringa is an awesome natural purifier."
"I wrote this book for that friend that wants to know more about skincare, needs help getting started on a routine, or just loves skincare in general! I had so much fun writing about my personal experiences and K-beauty secrets. Bonus: Seoul travel tips in the last section of the book!"
"Fact: You can never have enough sheet masks, especially since they are a super travel-friendly treatment for the holidays. This one is infused with whole green tea leaves so that you can get the skin benefitting ingredients straight from the source. If baby soft skin is your jam, then this is the sheet mask set that will get you there."
"I've really been into negative space nails because my nails can grow out and I'll still look put together. These nail stickers are my favorite because you can place any of the designs on a naked nail with a gel top coat and you're set for a month. I get so many compliments whenever I use these, I mean, who wouldn't want to see donuts and pizza slices on your fingertips? Nail art is such a fun way to express yourself, and these make it so easy to do!"
#OOTD Nail Stickers ($8)
"If you're into hoarding the latest beauty trends, you'll definitely need to check out this new cushion technology. Instead of the classic cushion sponge, the upgraded version includes a special net that keeps the foundation moist and helps you wick off just the right amount with your applicator sponge so that none is wasted. The coverage is perfect for daily use because it hydrates your skin in the most perfect way. READ: Dewy glow, without the shininess."
"This is the K-beauty product that went viral. All the celebs in Korea use it to cleanse, tone and gently exfoliate the skin, and it's the perfect canvas before putting on your makeup. I take Beauty Water with me everywhere and anywhere, because it's such an effective multi-tasker and I'm in love with its natural scent."
