Louise McSharry: From snail essence to crayon liners, the K-beauty products worth buying

Irish Independent

15-05-2025

It started with the occasional product, then people were developing elaborate multi-step skincare routines entirely based on Korean practices. These days, most people have simplified their routines, but Korean products are still incredibly popular, as evidenced by Boots's recent launch of a curated selection of skincare brands from the country in store and online.
It's an impressive gathering of products — a couple of my favourites are Cosrx's Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (€31 via boots.ie), a quickly absorbed fluid which delivers intense hydration; and Erborian's CC Crème (€52 via boots.ie), a sheer, glowy and ultra-natural skin tint.
The reality is, though, that the influence of Korean beauty, or K-beauty, goes far beyond skincare. In fact, K-beauty products are influencing product development right across the cosmetics industry.
These days, social media comment sections on almost any new category of product will include several people pointing out an existing Korean product which is virtually identical. Good examples of this are Hailey Bieber's brand Rhode's launch of Lip Shape Lip Liners (€32 via rhodeskin.com) and, similarly, Refy's Blur Liner (€20 via brownthomas.com).
Unlike traditional lip liners, these are thick, crayon-like products which deliver a blurred line around the lip as opposed to a sharp one. The blurred lip trend is relatively new to western beauty lovers, but it's been around for some time in… you guessed it, Korea!
As a result, there are lots of existing K-beauty products which achieve this look, and most of them are significantly less expensive than the previously mentioned launches. Personally, I'm a fan of Romand's Lip Mate Pencils (€9.73 via stylevana.com), which achieve the same look and include a beautifully cool-toned brown, a shade that can be hard to find in this part of the world.
Another example is Victoria Beckham's Contour Stylus (€40 via brownthomas.com), an excellent product which allows you to precisely contour the face, especially around the nose, thanks to it being significantly slimmer than other popular contour products in this part of the world. There is, however, a similar Korean product: the Colorgram Contour stick (€10.09 via yesstyle.com), which is significantly less expensive.
It's worth noting, though, that Korean shade ranges tend to work well on fair skin, with lots of cool-toned options. However, you may find that if your skin is dark, the shades simply won't work for you.
If you like 4. Milk Makeup's Jelly Tint (€28 via spacenk.com), you'll probably love 5. Fwee's Lip & Cheek Glowy Jelly Pot (€17.64 via stylevana.com), which is not only a beautiful product but also adorably packaged.
I could list more examples, but you get my drift. Korean beauty products are generally excellent, and there is no doubt western beauty companies are being inspired by them.
If you want to be ahead of the game, follow some Korean bloggers or reddit threads which focus on Korean trends. They'll probably be the next big thing here too.
Lost in translation
You may already know about peptides, but what of copper peptides? These short chains of amino acids bind with existing copper ions in the body to help stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Increased collagen and elastin leads to plumper, firmer skin, which improves the skin's overall texture and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Copper peptides also have antioxidant properties which protect the skin from environmental damage. Thus, you'll see this ingredient in all sorts of skincare products, from serums to moisturisers.
Something old…
I'm a big fan of American brand Kosas, which is all about creating products that bridge the gap between skincare and make-up. One of my absolute Kosas favourites is Wet Lip Oil (€21.40 via cultbeauty.com), although I have to say I think it's been misnamed. While they may call it an oil (and ingredients include avocado oil and evening primrose oil), I find it functions like a lip gloss, although not like the lip glosses of old. Rather than being sticky and uncomfortable, this product is moisturising and comfortable to wear. Hyaluronic acid delivers hydration, peptides stimulate collagen production, and it looks absolutely gorgeous thanks to it being packed with pigment. There are eight shades available, including a rosy red and several nude options. My personal favourite is Unbuttoned, a gorgeous mauve. Products like this are ideal for holidays or nights out, as they deliver a full look in one swipe, and won't leave your lips dry.
... Something new
Appropriately for this week's column, our 'something new' comes from Korean brand Laneige. Most people will know Laneige for its incredibly popular Lip Sleeping Mask, a rich lip balm. However, the brand has a full range of skincare products, including Bouncy and Firm Serum, a personal favourite of mine. Its latest launch pushes Laneige beyond the parameters of skincare into the beginnings of make-up. Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum is infused with 95pc skincare ingredients, which means its deeply hydrating and comfortable to wear while also delivering shine. It's pigmented, delivering a sheer but significant tint to the lips across eight shades, from rosy pink to deep brown and berry. This won't be for everyone, though, as each shade is individually scented with fruity and sugary fragrances.