K-beauty products have been enjoying immense popularity in recent years and it’s no wonder that SQ girls, who are already familiar with Western and Japanese beauty products, have also embraced K-beauty and incorporated products from Korean beauty brands in their beauty routines.
Wonder what's their secret to flawless skin? Ahead, we've rounded up some of the most popular K-beauty products well-loved by SQ girls.
As told to the Her World team by former SIA cabin crew.
Mediheal masks have been really popular recently, and their Watermide Essential Masks in particular are super hydrating and calming. They're great for infusing your skin with much-welcomed moisture, especially after long flights.
Also available at Amazon
Formulated with rice and grain fermented extracts, Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics sunscreen is a lightweight and nourishing formula that's not only great for its SPF50+ PA+++ protection.
This viral sunscreen also applies like a moisturiser and can be layered on without creating the dreaded white cast, or pilling and caking under makeup - making it a top pick for SQ girls who have to spend long hours with makeup on and working in a drying environment.
Also available at iHerb
Working irregular hours and spending hours on a plane means that it’s especially important to have a good skincare routine to ensure that the skin doesn’t lose its elasticity and health.
Enriched with aged ginseng, the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI is suitable for all skin types and packed with anti-ageing and firming goodness. Many of its loyal re-purchasers also love the glow that it leaves on the skin after application.
Also available at Lazada
SQ girlies are always on the go, so they always appreciate products that are quick and easy to use.
Coming in a handy and sanitary squeeze tube and packed with ceramides and panthenol, the Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream is a potent moisturiser great for rescuing dry skin by preventing transepidermal water loss and boosting its hydration - leaving you with bouncier and happier skin.
Popular for its soothing and calming properties, I’m From’s Mugwort Essence is one of the brand’s most popular products - with beauty influencers and SQ girls including the product in their “skincare empties”.
Containing mugwort extract and antioxidants, this essence relieves sensitive and dry skin and also prevents breakouts thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Also available at Shopee
Centella, also popularly known as cica, is one of the most popular ingredients in skincare now - especially when it comes to K-beauty.
With minimal but potent ingredients to soothe sensitive skin, Skin1004’s Madagascar Centella Ampoule is a hit with SQ girls for its fast-absorbing watery texture and skin-soothing effects. Try applying it before makeup to create a glowy, flawless base.
Also available at iHerb
There’s no better feeling than removing your makeup after a long day, and a good makeup remover is essential to prevent bacteria buildup and breakouts.
While it’s touted as a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip or irritate the skin, don’t underestimate Manyo Factory’s Pure Cleansing Oil for its makeup and gunk-removing abilities.
It’s very effective and many of its loyal fans even claim that it removes blackheads and those pesky sebaceous filaments well, leaving the skin smooth, glowy and squeaky clean.
Also available at Shopee
Snail mucin has been popular in many K-beauty skincare products for its skin barrier repairing and soothing properties.
Often bought together as a 4-step set consisting of a facial cleanser, toner, serum, and moisturiser, Some By Mi’s Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Line makes a trusty skincare routine with black snail extract as its core component to help restore tired and sensitive skin.
It also absorbs very nicely and doesn’t leave a sticky residue - perfect for SQ girls who are always on the go.
Also available at Lazada
Sunscreen is so important, but so notorious for leaving white casts and sticky finishes if you don’t find the right one.
For gentle and easy sun protection, check out Dr.G’s Mild Up Sunstick, a mineral sunscreen enriched with nutrients and at the same time equipped with five layers of protection from blue light, infrared light, UVA and UVB rays, and pollution.
And because it’s a sunstick, it’s so easy to toss into your bag and bring it wherever you go - making for easy reapplication whether you’re up in the air, in the office, or just out and about.
Also available at iHerb
While the Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm has been a constant favourite with SQ girls for removing makeup and cleansing the skin, this Aprilskin Carrotene IPMP Hydromelt Cleansing Balm has recently come on the radar.
Popular for being non-comedogenic and acne-friendly, it does a great job at removing stubborn waterproof makeup and removing whiteheads and blackheads without leaving your skin feeling dry.
Also available at Amazon
Eyebrows are important features that can completely change the vibe of your look - whether you’re an SQ girl rocking the airline’s iconic elegant look, or if you're experimenting with different brow styles.
The Face Shop’s Designing Eyebrows is a popular eyebrow pencil among many for its easy-glide formula and wearability.
With a rectangular tip and spooly on the other end to brush out your brows, this simple and useful eyebrow pencil also comes in a variety of shades to suit any skin tone and hair colour.
Also available at Shopee
A top-selling product of this well-known brand, this cleansing balm works its magic by removing make-up, exfoliating, and moisturising your skin all in one step.
It has a sherbet-type texture in the jar but when applied on the face, transforms into oil that removes waterproof make-up and impurities effortlessly.
Also available at Amazon
There are so many reasons why many love innisfree's highly raved original Green Tea Seed series that's been recently given a brand new look.
They're super hydrating, gentle on the skin and improves the skin's moisture barrier in just one use. For the unacquainted, the satiny elixir is packed with oils painstakingly harvested from Jeju island’s very own organic garden.
It's one of the few holy grails many can't live without and we can totally understand why it's essential for many SQ girls.
Aside from boosting your skin's moisture levels, the serum has also been said to help with temporary relief of redness which is perfect for those with trouble-prone skin. It absorbs quickly while leaving the skin feeling dewier after each application.
Flying can wreak havoc on your skin. The recycled air can dehydrate your skin, increase sebum production and exacerbate all sorts of acne. However, there are ways to calm your skin when you're experiencing a breakout.
SQ girls have a long list of skincare go-to's they usually opt for and one of them is none other than the coveted Mamonde Rose Water Toner. Made with 90.89% of Damask rose water, the toner is known for delivering a calming and moisturizing effect to the skin. Many have raved about the toner and we can clearly see why it's been a hot hit amongst the masses.
Also available at Olive Young
By now, you should be familiar with Dr.Jart's signature line of face masks, and if you're not, then it's about time to get acquainted.
SQ girls have always relied on sheet masks to save their skin after their long-haul flights. It gets really dry up in the air, and the last thing they would want is to deal with dry, patchy skin.
In this case, the Dr. Jart Dermask Vital Hydra Solution Facial Mask is formulated with Aquaxyl and Super Vital Complex that gives an instant boost of moisture to your skin. After each application, you'll notice that it visibly revitalises your skin, making it soft, supple and instantly hydrated.
Having to spend hours in the sky, the last thing an SQ girl needs is a thick foundation that weighs down heavily on already tired skin. That's why when it comes to coverage, they opt for a cushion foundation, like this one from Hera.
This medium to high coverage cushion foundation covers uneven skin tone and blemishes and also has a semi-matte finish that looks and feels like second skin. It's not overly shiny or dewy, making it the perfect pick for those with combination to oily skin. Did we also mention that it lasts all day (or all night) on the skin? This means copious touch-ups are not needed mid-flight.
Immaculate brows are key to an SQ girl’s impeccable look and using a brow mascara can help them to achieve fuller-looking brows that look neat . Not only does Etude House’s Color My Brows mascara looks natural on the brows, it also dries and sets quickly which is great for touch-ups.
Simply remove the wand and apply the mascara to your brows by following the direction of the hair and staying within the natural shape of your brows. If you need more volume, brush in the opposite direction of your hair to get thicker brows, and if you want more defined brows, use the mascara after drawing in your brows with a pencil.
Also available at Shopee
(Read also "The K-Beauty Brow Trends To Try To Look Like Son Ye-Jin And Suzy Bae")
SQ girls have to wear makeup for long hours so it is essential that they use long-lasting makeup products that will ensure that they still look fresh at the end of a long flight.
Kiss Me Heroine Make Long Stay Sharp Gel Liner has a fine tip that is easy to control and to draw precise lines. You get the same consistency of product in one stroke and the lines are super pigmented so you don’t have to keep going over the lines if you want your eyeliner to look more defined.
It also dries quickly, has excellent staying power and does not smudge easily.
Shingmulnara is one of Olive Young’s house brands and known for the natural ingredients in their skin and body care products.
This product has a light foam texture and helps to remove makeup plus deep cleanse your pores of impurities. It is mild and gentle even on sensitive skin. This is important for SQ girls who wear makeup for long hours on flight.
Not in South Korea? You can always get it online from Olive Young and Shopee.
Ah, Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask - It's like a slumber party for your skin.
This little tub of magic is designed to hydrate your skin while you catch some Z's, which is popular with SQ girls who often get dry skin due to long hours in the air.
Think of it as a big drink of water for your thirsty skin cells. It's packed with all sorts of goodies, like apricot and chestnut extracts, that work to brighten and revitalise your complexion. Plus, it's got a super soothing texture that feels like a dream (literally).
Just slap some on before bed and let it do its thing. When you wake up in the morning, you'll be all dewy and glowing, like you just spent a week at a fancy spa.
The SAEM is a beauty brand established in 2010 that focuses on natural ingredients and are known for both their skin care and makeup products. This concealer is one of their star products and boasts intensive and long-lasting coverage to cover all your blemishes or dark circles.
The formula is highly pigmented so you only need to use a little product each time to achieve maximum coverage. It also has sun protection properties to protect the delicate eye area from sun damage.
The Laneige NEO Foundation Glow is a superior foundation product that offers a wealth of benefits to its users.
With a lightweight and buildable formula, it provides exceptional coverage while imparting a natural, luminous radiance to the skin. Its inclusion of nourishing ingredients such as birch sap ensures that the skin remains healthy, hydrated, and vibrant, protecting against environmental stressors and supporting its natural resilience.
Furthermore, the long-lasting staying power of LANEIGE NEO Foundation Glow guarantees a flawless, even finish that lasts all day, providing a sense of confidence and elegance that's hard to match.
Also available at Shopee
This mask helps to rejuvenate dehydrated and tired skin in your sleep and is a convenient way to pamper your skin after a long day or flight.
The rich formula feels light and comfortable so that you can have a good night’s rest. It is infused with traditional Korean herbs to nourish and repair your skin overnight, and you will wake up with radiant and supple-looking skin.
Also available at Shopee
d’Alba piedmont is a premium Korean cosmetic brand which uses both Korean and European approaches to develop their products.
Its best-selling item is their First Spray Serum that is highly moisturising and can be used as a toner and essence in your skincare routine. With ingredients like white truffle and avocado oil, the product promises to give you a clear and bright complexion by giving your skin the nutrients it needs.
It absorbs quickly into your skin so you can spray it as and when your skin feels dry or sensitive for fast relief.
Sun protection is an extremely important part of skincare especially when you’re up in the air, and this product not only blocks UV rays with SPF 50+/PA+++ but also has anti-pollution properties to protect your skin from fine dust. The light gel-type texture sits comfortably on your skin and can also be used on your body.
IOPE was the first beauty brand to launch the game-changing cushion compact so it is no surprise that their cushion compacts are still highly sought-after. Their Air Cushion is now in its fourth generation and gives your skin a natural glow while providing high coverage. It also has moisturising properties and is suitable for quick touch-ups whenever needed.
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