Calling All Korean Beauty Fans: Your Favorite Masks and Cutting-Edge Products Are Coming to Nordstrom
Nordstrom Vice President of Creative Projects Olivia Kim has hand-picked the best skin-changing products from the world’s biggest beauty mecca and she’s bringing them to the States.
South Korea has become a global beauty hub, thanks to its unique mix of leading edge products and treatments. Unfortunately, many of the brands are still hard to procure these days, available only in South Korea or other nearby Asian countries. U.S. fans can finally find all their favorite Korean sheet masks, BB creams and cleansers here in the States at Nordstrom’s new K-Beauty Pop-In@Nordstrom shop, which launched on February 10th (online and in select Nordstrom stores).
10 Korean Beauty Must-Haves for Flawless Skin
This ceramidin cream makes your complexion so smooth, it could double as a primer, and it works as a humectant to keep all that moisture where you want it, on your face. Basically, it’s dewy skin in a tube. DTRT Skin Saver Cermidin Cream, $39, nordstrom.com
This do-it-all product has all the benefits of an oil (nourishment, hydration) but is delivered in a lightweight formula that soothes stressed skin. Huxley Secret of Sahara Oil Essence, $58, nordstrom.com
Hanahzo’s scrub will leave your legs soft and smooth when used two to three times a week, thanks to the combination of Korea-sourced sea salt and tea tree oil. Hananhzo Lime Tea Tree Salt Scrub, $28, nordstrom.com
The oxygen-heavy serum in this charcoal sheet mask activates upon opening, and the resulting bubbles draw out impurities for a better balanced complexion. Plus, it looks pretty cool, too. VANT36.5 Bubbling Mask, $6, In-Store Only nordstrom.com/pop
Get ready for sandal season with this foot treatment, which will make your feet baby soft. Just make sure to plan ahead: while the alpha and beta hydroxy blend takes only thirty minutes to apply, your feet will start to peel several days later. And then, voila! A’Pieu Soft Foot 30-Minute Peeling Socks, $5, In-Store Only nordstrom.com/pop
South Korean ID dermatology clinic formulated their product line for their post-op patients, and now it’s available for all of those with sensitive skin. This cleanser is especially soothing, thanks to ingredients like aloe vera. ID.AZ Foam Cleanser, $25, nordstrom.com
This mineral sunscreen has a hefty dose of SPF (50!) and a green tint that evens out any redness in your skin. As an added bonus, the brand’s patented ice apple water formula keeps any shininess at bay. IPKN Big Apple Sun Cream, $28, nordstrom.com
Cotton sheet masks are everywhere these days, but foil masks are still a rarity. They’re worth a try: the brand Me Factory suggests that the metal helps prevent active ingredients like cheollasoo fruit extract from evaporating during a treatment, leaving skin plump and radiant. Me Factory White Flower Cheollasoo Foil Mask, $15, nordstrom.com
Makeup removal is essential for clean, clear skin. But it’s an easy step to skip. This travel-friendly pack, which removes eye and lip color with the twist of a swab, fits in your purse, so there is no longer any excuse. Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Magic Wand, $8, In-Store Only nordstrom.com/pop
This mist duo prevents damage caused by both pollution and the sun, thanks to an outdoor mist that offers sun coverage and an indoor option which is chock full of moringa seed extract to keep skin clear. Start your routine with the latter, and end with the former for total protection. 24/7 In+Out Conditioning Mist Duo, $28, nordstrom.com
The second in Nordstrom’s three-part, Korean-themed Pop-In series, curated by Vice President of Creative Projects Olivia Kim (the first was an eyewear shop by Korean eyewear label Gentle Monster), the K-Beauty shop includes more than 500 products from a variety of men’s and women’s brands (with prices ranging from $2.50 to $82) like Too Cool for School, Cool Enough Studio, DTRT, Huxley, ONEOSEVEN, IPKN, and more. While some of these brands are already internationally renowned, others will make their U.S. debut at Nordstrom.
IPKN Big Apple Sun Cream. *Photo by Felix Kim. Produced by Biel Parklee.*
Such an extensive selection can get a little overwhelming, especially for the uninitiated. What are some of the can’t-miss products? First, a K-Beauty shopping trip isn’t complete without buying at least a mask (or a dozen). The Me Factory White Flower Cheolsoo Foil Mask and the VANT36.5 Bubbling Mask are both W editor-approved.
Me Factory White Flower Cheollasoo Foil Mask . *Photo by Felix Kim. Produced by Biel Parklee.*
There are also cult beauty favorites like the Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Magic Wand makeup remover sticks, which are essential for getting off lip and eye makeup, especially when you’re traveling. And, because Korea is making some of the best facial mists out there right now, try the 24/7 In+Out Conditioning Mist Duo, which offers double anti-pollution care. (This is another item that is extra important for frequent flyers.)
24/7 In+Out Conditioning Mist Duo. *Photo by Felix Kim. Produced by Biel Parklee.*
If you want to try out something more experimental, there’s plenty on offer, from hydrating jelly eye shadow to 24-karat gold-infused swabs to masks fortified with extractions from volcanic islands. (Korean masks are more advanced than ever right now, targeting very specific skincare issues with just the right treatments.)
Look out for the K-Beauty Pop-In@Nordstrom shop at select Nordstrom stores – The Grove in L.A., Downtown Seattle, NorthPark Center in Dallas, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver, CF Toronto Eaton Centre and Bellevue Square in Bellevue – and online at Nordstrom.com/pop starting February 10th and running through March 26th. The K-Beauty Pop-In will be followed by the final installment of the series—a Korean fashion shop—on March 31st.
