Korean Skincare - worth the hype or just a tiktok trend?
Korean skincare didn’t come out of nowhere. It has been around for years, but TikTok gave it a second life. Suddenly everyone is chasing “glass skin,” layering ten products, and buying anything with a cute name. So the real question is, is it actually better or just better marketed?
The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
WHY HAS KOREAN SKINCARE GONE VIRAL?
What Korean skincare does really well is consistency and user experience. It made people actually enjoy doing their skincare. Lightweight textures, easy layering, and products that feel good on the skin mean people stick to their routine. And that is where results come from, not magic ingredients.
HYDRATING INGREDIENTS
There is also a strong focus on hydration and skin barrier support. You will see a lot of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and centella. These are not new, but they are used well. The approach is more about maintaining healthy skin rather than aggressively treating it, which suits a lot of people.
KOREAN SPF
Where it really stands out, and where I do think the hype is justified, is SPF.
Korean SPF is in a different league when it comes to how it feels on the skin. The formulas are lightweight, sit well under makeup, and do not leave that heavy or chalky finish people often associate with sunscreen. That alone is a game changer because the best sunscreen is the one you actually wear every day.
At Phare, this is where we lean in. We are big fans of Korean SPF because it solves the biggest problem we see in clinic, people not wearing sunscreen consistently. If it feels good, you will use it.
Outside of SPF, it is worth being a bit more selective.
Not everything that goes viral is worth buying. Sheet masks, essences, and multi-step routines can feel nice, but they are not essential. A lot of the results people attribute to Korean skincare are really just from finally having a consistent routine.
There is also a tendency for trends to overpromise. “Glass skin” is often just well-hydrated, well-lit skin. It is not a new skin type, and it is not something everyone needs to chase.
You still need the basics done properly. Again, go back to your Core Four & Bookends - Cleanser, Antioxidant, SPF, Exfolaiting Acid, Retinoid & Moisturiser. Consistency with these steps are what will actually change your skin over time - my favourite places to turn to Korean Skincare here are SPF and moisturisers.
Some of it, yes. The textures, the focus on consistency, and especially the SPF are genuinely very good.
But it is not about switching everything you use to Korean products. It is about choosing well-formulated products that suit your skin and sticking to a routine that works.
If you are curious about Korean skincare, keep it simple. Start with SPF, then build around it.
"A lightweight sunscreen you actually enjoy wearing every day will do more for your skin than any trending routine - Korean SPFs are some of the nicest on the market right now." - Dr. Laura
We have curated the best of Korean skincare on Phare, with a focus on what works, not what is trending. Explore our Korean skincare edit and start with SPF, then build from there.
