Beauty of Five: The 5 Best Korean Beauty Products for Black Skin

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The first time I heard about the rise of Korean beauty products, I wasn’t sure they were suited for me as an African-American woman.

It wasn’t until a chance Glow Recipe pop-up in Los Angeles last year that I not only got to dabble in the Korean beauty product scene, but also see first hand how many women of all ethnicities love K-beauty products (especially cult-fave Glow Recipe) and why they keep coming back for more.

K-beauty products aren’t just for Korean women. The products work for all skin types, and are geared towards anti-aging, moisturizing the skin, protecting it from the sun’s rays, and keeping the skin supple, soft, and luminous. The products mainly focus on three things – hydration, exfoliation and sun protection – but can also help fade dark acne spots and reduce hyperpigmentation.

Sheet masks are one of the most popular items on the K-Beauty scene, but there are also sleeping masks, moisturizers, cleansers, and more that transform the skin.

Now that the K-beauty scene has gained popularity in America and more brands are popping up stateside, it can be tough to narrow down which products shine above the rest. To help, we’re breaking the top five K-Beauty products on our list for black women.

Source: Glow Recipe / Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, $45.00

Consider this the product that put Glow Recipe on the map. When the company launched its brand and this sleeping mask in 2017, it became a cult fave. The mask has sold out seven consecutive times and attracted 5,000-person waitlists, according to Business Insider. It was also one of Sephora’s best selling products in 2017, and for good reason.

Formulated with amino-acid rich Watermelon Extract, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and pore refining AHAs, Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask ($45.00, glowrecipe.com) smoothes skin and works to perfect it overnight. The luxe, breathable sleeping mask works while you sleep to gently exfoliate and clarify, and gives the skin a glow.

Source: Rael / Rael

Rael Vitamin C Sheet Mask, $14.99

When it comes to Korean beauty, sheet masks are one of the products that reign supreme. Rael’s Vitamin C Sheet Mask (($14.99, getrael.com) enhances the skin’s radiance and visibly brightens and revitalizes the look of your skin.

Created with bamboo yarn, infused with botanical ingredients like pomegranate, fig, and mulberry,  and soaked in a skin-brightening serum, the mask brings out skin’s natural glow. It is good for all skin types, specifically anyone who wants to brighten and clarify their skin.

Source: Glow Recipe / Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser, $34.00

The gentle 3-in-1 Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser ($34.00, glowrecipe.com) works as a makeup eraser, cleanser, and deep clarifying mask that hydrates the skin without stripping it, and helps combat blemishes and breakouts over time. The cleanser is formulated with blueberry extract, hyaluronic acid and AHA which helps refine pores, deeply moisturize, minimize discoloration and fight free radicals.

As a bonus, it also helps other skincare products work better.

Source: Rael / Rael

Rael’s Collagen Sheet Mask, $14.99

Designed for anyone who is looking for refreshed, glowing skin, the Rael Collagen Sheet Mask is an anti-aging weapon. The mask is infused with hydrolyzed collagen, licorice root and amino acids for youthful and plumper looking skin. It is good for all skin types, and helps restore skin’s natural elasticity and the appearance of fine lines with just one use.

Source: Glow Recipe / Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser, $39.00

The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser ($39.00, glowrecipe.com) is so popular that it sold out within two hours of being made available for pre-sale, according to businessinsider.com.

It gives skin a major glow, thanks to its skin-boosting ingredients like  vitamin- and amino acid-rich watermelon extract, plumping hyaluronic acid, and soothing botanicals like peony and jasmine extracts. this cooling gel-emulsion absorbs instantly to seal in hydration and prep skin for the day ahead. Antioxidants guard against free radicals and repair damaged cells along the way.