Tired of missing out on all the K-beauty space has to offer? We've partnered with OLIVE YOUNG to share the can't-miss essentials for your stash.
It feels like only yesterday when I tried my first sheet mask, but in reality, it's been over a decade since the Korean beauty craze made its way over to the US. Since then, it's taken Western masses on a wild ride, and one that's offered hundreds of first-to-market innovations and unlikely cocktail ingredients that have forced me to rethink my routine with products I never knew I needed. From serum-soaked face masks to oil cleansers to cushion compacts, I thought I'd seen the best South Korea has to offer; that is, until OLIVE YOUNG got on my radar.
Back in June, the health and beauty store famous in South Korea finally opened up its online store, offering international shipping to its biggest stateside fans for the first time ever. Now, some of the best — and frankly, cutest — beauty products I've ever encountered are just a click away.
To sweeten the deal, OLIVE YOUNG is getting in the holiday spirit early. The online store will kick off a sitewide Black Friday sale on Nov. 24 starting at 7 a.m. PT with over 800 products up to 60 percent off. The sale will run through November, officially ending on Dec. 1 at 6:59 a.m. PT. As an added bonus, first-time shoppers receive 10 percent off their purchase, and if you spend over $50, you'll qualify for free international shipping.
With the sheer volume of new products you may have never heard of before, finding exactly what you want might be a challenge. That is why I'm sharing some of my biggest scores ahead. Whether you plan on keeping the entire cart for yourself or gifting to your beauty-obsessed BFF, these finds from OLIVE YOUNG will make your holiday haul that much brighter.
Peripera Ink Airy Velvet
If your lips are so dry during Winter that you avoid lipstick altogether, it's time to invest in the Peripera Ink Airy Velvet ($10) lip tints. The captivating color payoff is just one reason these flattering formulas are a must have. The second: each stain applies like a liquid lipstick but dries to a velvet finish that clings to lips for hours without flaking or bleeding, all while replenishing lips with moisture in the process. Finding your perfect color match is guaranteed with 10 options to choose from, including one your-lips-but-better shade that's universally flattering.
Dr. Jart+ Ctrl+A Teatreement Soothing Patch
No time for a last-minute trip to the dermatologist? Get instantaneous relief from a breakout with these handy Dr. Jart acne patches ($13). This set of patches is extraspecial because it includes not one but two sets of patches to heal your breakout safely and quickly. While the soothing patches reduce just-popped irritation and strengthen the skin barrier to promote a faster healing process, the cover patches offer up undetectable protection for a swollen pimple you needed to come to a head yesterday. When it finally does, the patch will absorb any pus and fluid from the blemish.
Clio Kill Cover Glow Cushion Set
Sometimes you can't avoid flaking skin, especially in the height of Winter. But just because your skin is making it impossible to wear foundation doesn't mean you can't have coverage where you need it. Trade out your usual foundation for a Clio Kill Cover Glow Cushion ($34), which focuses on creating a healthy, pearlescent glow with lightweight coverage.
Dr. Jart Vital Hydra Solution Biome Essence
Moisture is the essence of wetness . . . oh, you know the quote. The point: there's nothing your dehydrated skincare routine needs more than the Dr. Jart Vital Hydra Solution Biome Essence ($52). The silky biome-boosting formula provides long-lasting moisture and an instant glow. Think of the tiny blue booster bottle as a shot of espresso for your skin. It's up to you whether you'd like to add it into your Biome Essence or not, but if you do, expect improved skin texture in seconds.
Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum
Dull skin, be gone! Formulated with 70 percent green tangerine extract, the GreenTangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum ($45) uses high concentrations of vitamin C to brighten sallow skin, dark spots, and acne marks over time. Use it daily, and you'll be glowing by New Year's Eve. This set comes complete with a pack of not one but two serums, so your skin is in good hands for 2020.
Mediheal Tea Tree Care Solution Essential Mask
When your skin is overworked and stressed out, there's this bulk set of refreshing and soothing Mediheal sheet masks ($21) made from bamboo fibers that increase moisture retention to help. They're soaked in tea tree leaf oil and chamomile extract, so you can rely on fast hydration with these formulas that sink into skin with ease. After you apply the mask, you'll notice the material shrinking ever so slightly — this gentle and subtle effect offers natural lifting benefits you never knew you actually needed.
Neogen Real Cica Micellar Cleansing Oil
It's hard to call yourself a K-beauty purist if you don't own an oil-based cleanser. But it's the unique micellar texture of the Neogen Cleansing Oil ($24) that makes this one worth investing in without the greasy residue traditional oil-based cleansers are infamous for. Thanks to the micellar molecules, this cleanser wipes skin of makeup and dirt without stripping it of its natural oils, so you feel refreshed — not dehydrated. Containing both centella extract and asiatic acid, these two supersoothing and collagen-boosting ingredients are guaranteed to leave your cheeks plumped and complexion dewy.
Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion
Combat dry office heat with the Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion ($21), which utilizes K-beauty hero ingredient soybean ferment extract to reduce irritation in a pinch. Inflamed dry patches won't stand a chance against it. Better still, the formula doesn't just work, it's also vegan-friendly and filled with safe and natural ingredients free of common irritants (see synthetic fragrances), making it the perfect fit for anyone with sensitive skin.
