Ready to achieve your best skin yet?
June 1st is Skincare Education Day.
The biggest skincare trend of the moment? K-Beauty. Our friends in South Korea have been using specialist ingredients for hundreds of years to achieve globally envied, youthful, healthy skin. While K-beauty has entered the UK beauty space, lots of questions remain about the ingredients inside. What do they do? And how do they work? LOOKFANTASTIC are here to guide you through the ancient ingredients that are new to us, so you will have glowing, glass-like skin in no time.
Shop LOOKFANTASTIC's full range of K-Beauty here.
Snail Mucin
Yes, like garden snails. Snail mucin is literally snail slime. While it might be off-putting to learn this, hear us out:
Snail mucin’s purpose is to keep snails hydrated and moving smoothly, so that is what it will do for you, too. It is naturally rich in proteins, enzymes, and hyaluronic acid. Could we consider it to be Mother Nature’s moisturiser? We think so.
It gently exfoliates skin due to its glycolic acid content, and it has been shown to promote wound healing. It can help to produce collagen, which helps skin maintain its elasticity and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
So yes, those garden critters are actually coated in the hottest skincare ingredient on the market. Snails are not slimy – they are hydrated!
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Centella
Also known as cica, centella is similar to snail mucin with its almost too-good-to-be-true abilities. A herb native to Asia, it has been used in cosmetics and traditional medicines for centuries, and appears in skincare for its ability to soothe irritation, hydrate, and reduce redness. Historically, it has been used to treat wounds and scars, so it also may help to reduce acne scarring. Studies also suggest it can boost collagen and help to repair the skin barrier.
Propolis
Propolis is the ingredient that you haven’t heard of, but you’ve probably used before. Collected by bees, its naturally antimicrobial properties make it ideal for use in cosmetics, as well as healthcare, food supplements, and can even be used as a varnish. When it comes to skincare, propolis helps to protect skin from pollution and sun damage, and promotes wound healing and skin regeneration, as well as being hydrating and soothing on the skin.
Niacinamide
Suitable for all skin types, niacinamide (or vitamin B3) works to help with many skin complaints. From minimising pores to evening skin tone to managing acne, this vitamin brightens skin and strengthens the skin barrier, protecting your skin on a deeper level.
Shop Niacinamide Skincare
Rice
Yes, the rice in your cupboard has been used in Korean skincare for centuries. Rice water can be used to protect and soothe skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and bouncy, and it is a key ingredient in achieving the coveted glass skin look.
About Korean Skincare
“Korean skincare” has a whopping monthly search volume of 49,500. Top K-beauty brand LANEIGE boasts a monthly search volume of 60,500, with Erborian and Beauty of Joseon following closely behind. This “trend” is not slowing down, and we are sure K-beauty is becoming a permanent part of the Western skincare industry. Korea's worst kept secret is finally at our fingertips.
Click here to shop LOOKFANTASTIC's full range of K-Beauty.
