Korean Beauty 101 and Shopping Tips with Beautytap

Are you a skincare addict or a beauty fan? If you are, then you’ve probably heard of Korean beauty, aka K-beauty. Thanks to great products and great PR, K-beauty is a fixture in fashion and beauty publications. The media does a great job of promoting brands and shopping sites. But splashy K-beauty features rarely answer the most basic question: “How do I get started with K-beauty?”

Here at Beautytap, we love helping our customers find the answer to that question. There’s a lot of information to take in; here are the basics, condensed.

What are the best K-beauty products?

Korean beauty brands excel in both skincare and makeup, but skincare is the real star. The basis of the famous Korean beauty look is a beautiful complexion, radiant even without makeup but also a perfect canvas for the latest trends and innovations in BB creams, cushion foundations, lip tints, and more. It stands to reason that K-beauty offers some of the best skincare products in the world.

What’s so great about Korean skincare?

Hands down, the best thing about Korean skincare is the variety. Korean beauty consumers of both genders and just about all ages and budgets demand products capable of achieving ultimate #skingoals. That universal demand puts pressure on beauty brands to create effective and attractive products for every skin type, every skin concern, and every price point.

The incredible variety of Korean beauty can be lost on shoppers used to the very limited (“curated”) selections available on US-based K-beauty sites. It’s not lost on Beautytap’s staff of skincare experts and industry insiders. We keep Beautytap stocked with thousands of products from a huge range of brands.

Looking for inexpensive basics that marry scientifically backed formulations with sensitive skin-friendly simplicity? Look no further than COSRX. Want nature-based, eco-friendly products that nourish your skin without breaking the bank? Check out Purito or Innisfree. On the other end of the spectrum, renowned high-end brands like Sulwhasoo and The History of Whoo combine traditional Korean herbal recipes with luxurious textures and heavenly scents. You can learn more here. 

And if none of those is exactly what you’re looking for, rest assured that you can find what you want with just a bit of browsing.

Is Korean skincare safe?

Yes! In fact, Korean cosmetics are some of the most highly regulated in the world thanks to the efforts of the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The KFDA carefully enforces strict labeling, quality, and safety regulations. The KFDA also conducts regular safety, efficacy, and quality testing to ensure continued compliance.

What Korean skincare products should I try first?

The answer to this question is entirely up to you. Everyone’s skin is different. So are everyone’s budgets and priorities. But we understand why a K-beauty newbie would ask this question. With so many brands and so many products to choose from, the world of Korean skincare can be an overwhelming place.

That’s what Beautytap’s editorial section is here for! This is no shop blog full of advertorials. We offer a full-fledged, professionally edited beauty content site full of honest reviews, practical advice, and beauty articles from a diverse squad of K-beauty experts and top influencers. So if you’re not sure how to begin, pull up a chair and check out “Ask the K-Beauty Squad: I’m Overwhelmed; Where Do I Start?” Then, for more guidance, read “The Essential K-Beauty Skincare Kit for Newbies.”

When you’re done, check out our Special Deals , Bestsellers, and even Behance. We’re sure you’ll find plenty to love!

On behalf of the team at Beautytap, welcome to K-beauty!