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K-beauty, K-pop, K-drama. That 'K' means Korean - precisely, South Korean - and it is the signature of the 'hallyu' wave: the proud spread of Korean culture and lifestyle. Korean beauty and skincare have gained popularity and success across the globe but what is the secret of this massive success?

K-beauty is on everyone's lips and faces! Korean beauty spread and conquered the market and the public. However, K-beauty secret is beyond kawaii and colourful packages.

Photo by Polina Kovaleva, Pexels

K-beauty is about a minimal look and a radiant beauty that comes from within. Korean skincare secrets are passed on generation after generation, rooted in traditional wisdom and generous use of natural ingredients. The Korean skincare we all love is the combination of this familiar past and today's most advanced technologies. Here are the other 'K-secrets' explained for you.

Mother Nature's Gifts

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K-beauty takes the very best from Nature with botanical extracts and fermented ingredients that create enzymes breaking into new and effective substances. Of the many key ingredients, snail slime and bee venom could refrain the most squeamish of you but they are safe with visible results! Korean skincare benefits also from brightening rice, mung bean, known anti-oxidants green tea, turmeric and ginseng, and superstars mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and cica (Centella Asiatica).

Hi-tech But Affordable

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Koreans know well what goes onto their skin and they always look for the best; they are exigent customers. To satisfy their need, Korean cosmetic companies invest in new technologies and formulations to deliver what is expected and build up the result from the inside. The competition is high as the variety of products, yet the prices are never over the top. Korean skincare is for everyone's wallet.

Great Skin For All And Customisable Skincare

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It is not just a matter of money! Korean skincare is for everyone's skin type, even the most sensitive. With 56.8% of the Korean population suffering from sensitive skin, K-beauty pays a load of attention to hypoallergenic formulations with less harsh chemicals and more active ingredients from natural sources. A staple in Korean skincare is its routine made of 10 different steps. This routine would sound very long in today's hectic lifestyle but it is not as strict as it seems. These 10 K-beauty steps are not daily and can be customised to fit one's routine and skin necessities.

Effective Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Photo by Polina Kovaleva, Pexels

Constant research and powerful ingredients are at the base of Korean cosmetics effectiveness. K-beauty high performance can be explained also by these facts: K-beauty is made to prevent rather than treating skin issues when it is too late; plus, skincare products are developed to hydrate, nourish, strengthen and re-rejuvenate from within. Korean skin products are more than a trend and go beyond skincare. They are 'cosmeceuticals', beauty products with a therapeutical side.

The cultural aspect cannot be undervalued. In fact, Korean men and women - think about popular K-pop boy band BTS - learn how to take care of their skin earlier and with constancy. An early start, protection from harmful sun rays, and a religious regime prevent skin from showing ageing signs too soon.

Photo by Sunny Ng, Unsplash

Cutting-edge formulas, appealing products - like skin patches, sheet face masks and packs - and the right dose of kawaiiness in creative designs are the recipe for this skincare. K-beauty owns a lot to Mother Nature and as such tends to be very gentle with our environment with cruelty-free formulations and investment in recycled and biodegradable packaging. Sometimes, this is the case of I'M FROM, the k-beauty addict can see where the key ingredients come from.

K-beauty shows that healthy-looking skin is achievable by everyone. It is a philosophy and a way of living: slowly, with patience and respect as Nature teaches.