12 Best K-beauty Products To Add To Your Routine, Recommended By Beauty Insiders
We asked 11 beauty experts, from makeup artists to content creators, to share their tried-and-tested K-beauty picks.
By Vanessa Chia - published
From K-pop to K-dramas to K-food, it’s quite clear that the K-wave (or Korean wave) has taken over many of our lives. And of course, that includes K-beauty as well.
After all, how many times have we found ourselves wishing that we could achieve the same “glass skin” glow or mimic that angelic aegyo sal makeup look seen on our favourite Korean idols or actresses?
But when it comes to K-beauty, the choices can be truly overwhelming. And really, who has the time to sieve through everything to find what works? Fret not, because we’ve asked 10 beauty experts and enthusiasts to share their favourite K-beauty picks, and why they’ve become a staple in their stash.
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1. Fix-On Primer, $28, Code GloKolor at Guardian
“It helps improve skin texture and control excess oil where there are bigger pores and [the skin is] oilier. It allows foundation and concealer to glide and adhere better too. The formula also prolongs foundation longevity without looking patchy. It’s great for anyone with oily problematic areas, like the T-zone or even a sweatier forehead as it creates a layer of resistance to sebum and sweat.”
Pro tip: “The best way to use it would be to pump the primer onto the back of the hands, pick it up with your fingers and massage into the required areas of the face. Allow it to set for two to three minutes before applying your foundation or tinted products.”
— Larry Yeo, beauty educator and makeup artist
2. UV Daily Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++, $70, Sulwhasoo at LazMall
“The texture is a dream: it glides on smoothly, sets quickly without any residue, and doubles as a surprisingly effective makeup primer. It holds up impressively well in Singapore’s humidity, and the UV filter blend offers solid protection against our relentless sun exposure.”
— Larry Yeo, beauty educator and makeup artist
3. Essential Skin Nuder Cushion SPF50+/PA+++, $52, Jungsaemmool at LazMall
“It’s a great shade match for my skin tone, blends on effortlessly, and the texture feels genuinely skin-like without any heaviness.”
— Evonne Ng, beauty content creator
4. Reedle Shot, $39.92, VT Cosmetics at Shopee Mall
“This viral product is viral for a very good reason! I find myself coming back to it and still recommending it till this day. This product brings you the results that everyone wants to see. It’s like micro-needling in a bottle and the glow you see afterwards will get you hooked. It’s one of the most effective products for skin texture improvement.”
Pro tip: “Always start with a low level option, like 50 or 100, then work your way up. Make sure to follow the instructions to not over-use it and use a thick cream afterwards to lock in all the moisture.”
— Eunice Cho, K-beauty content creator
5. Cleansing Oil, $56.50, Sulwhasoo at Shopee Mall
“The formula is gentle yet thorough, effectively removing impurities and makeup while leaving my skin clean and refreshed without stripping away its natural moisture. The ginseng scent adds a soothing touch, making it a step in my routine I look forward to.”
— Jasmine Sokko, singer-songwriter
6. Hyaluronic Acid Deep Toner, $36, The Lab by Blanc Doux Oligo at Shopee Mall
“The formula uses ultra-low hyaluronic acid molecules (it’s 200,000 times smaller), which allows it to penetrate deep into the skin without leaving any weight! This also means there’s less residue sitting on the skin, helping makeup last longer.”
Pro tip: “I love to use it with the skin flooding method (applying a few layers of toner) or the wet compress method (drenching cotton pads with the toner then applying that to the skin like a mini mask) and my skin drinks it all up, even with the multiple layers!”
— Yeoh Mong Chin, beauty and lifestyle content creator
7. Lip Potion Steaming Milk, $9.72, Alternative Stereo at Olive Young
“This lip lotion is very interesting to me! I’ve not come across a similar product before and it’s not available in Singapore. The texture looks and feels like milk, and dries to a barely there, lightweight feel that moisturises the lips well. I applied it just once on a flight from Seoul back to Singapore, and it kept my lips well moisturised without chapping.”
Pro tip: “It also layers well as a lip primer before applying your favourite lip colour.”
— Dr Rachel Ho, aesthetic doctor, La Clinic
8. Essential Eyeshadow Palette, $35.31, Innisfree at YesStyle
“The Innisfree eyeshadows are silky and smooth to apply, with the right amount of pigmentation that is blend-able. It doesn’t crease and it’s such a versatile palette that gives me sweet demure looks to more dramatic evening looks in one!”
Pro tip: “You don’t always need to use a specific eye primer to set your eye makeup. I usually just use my face primer all over my eyelids too. And then I’d use my fluffy blending brush to do a quick layer all over with a matte/satin (no glitter) base colour of my choice before working in the other colours. It’s a quick and lazy girl makeup hack.”
— Marie Soh, makeup artist
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9. Slow Aging Superfood Oil Serum, $45, Luvum at K Sisters
“Love a product that can be used in different ways: on its own as an eye serum or with a moisturiser to enhance and retain hydration. I’ve used this in cold weather and it kept my skin hydrated throughout the day!”
— Munah Bagharib, actress and host
10. Madagascar Centella Hyalu-cica Blue Serum and Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule, $44.62, Skin1004 at Watsons
“I’ve been loving this combination! As I have sensitive and dry skin, the cica in the Centella Hyalu-cica Blue Serum helps calm my skin while the hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps. Bonus points for the ceramide that helps strengthen my skin barrier too. And when I pair that with the Tone Brightening Capsule Amouple, it gives my skin that brilliant glow!”
— Lisa Yap, content creator and co-founder of lifestyle brand, Good Maison
11. Probiotics Tinted Sun Serum SPF50+/PA+++, $45, Jung Beauty at K Sisters
“It’s a skincare-makeup hybrid that not only protects my skin from the sun’s UV rays with both physical and chemical sunscreen ingredients, but also cares for my skin with skin-loving ingredients like probiotics, niacinamide and panthenol. And its lightweight formula is also great for Singapore’s weather. Not to mention, it has a natural tone-up effect that brightens my complexion. Love that it comes in a convenient pump tube and its handy packaging, making it great for travel and also easy to carry around in my bag for touch-ups too!”
— Leanne Ho, beauty content creator
Related article: Your Complete Guide To Smarter Sun Protection In Singapore’s Weather
12. Ink Mood Glowy Tint in 12 Warm-Gorithm, $9.80, Peripera at Shopee Mall
“It’s the perfect MLBB (My Lips But Better) shade with a glossy finish that’s not oily or sticky, so no worries about your hair sticking to it. It glides on super smoothly and even adds a bit of moisture to my lips. The colour is more like a gloss than a lipstick, so it’s not too pigmented, but that’s what I love about it: it’s buildable and perfect for mixing and layering with other lip products.”
— Zenn Tan, digital creator
This article contains products independently selected by our team of editors and writers. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices listed are accurate at the time of publishing.