Have you ever looked at Korean pop stars and wondered how they achieve such perfect, dewy skin? You’ve probably thought to yourself that it costs an arm and a leg to get to that level of flawless sheen. We’ll let you in on a little secret, it doesn’t. In fact, the intensely hydrated, almost wet-looking shine is one of the most coveted and attainable looks sought after by Korean women....

Once upon a time, glowy skin was glowy skin was glowy skin. It more or less looked the same and getting it usually involved some sort of makeup—foundations with optical diffusers, luminous concealers, shimmery highlighters, or some strategically-placed combination of it all. Today, thanks to skin-obsessed women in Korea whose goal it is to get a full-on “gwang” (aka glow) with skincare products alone, we’ve got a whole menu —which...

Sometimes it seems that I’m living under a never-ending to-do list of deadlines and obligations and appointments. I check one off and, like a weed, another grows in its place. Even that first-world mandate of “me time” feels like yet another item I need to satisfy before I actually get a break. And while I often feel like the only way I can legitimately “de-stress” is by paying a masseuse...

Our discovery of the Polatam Water Gel sheet masks began with our team’s group trial in our offices. As we swivelled around in our chairs and removed our respective sheets after just 10 minutes (versus the normal 20 minutes required of a sheet mask), we were delighted to find that the masks had seriously delivered on their claims: 10 minutes was all it took to top up our hydration levels...

We consistently get asked about the differences between toners, treatment toners, essence toners, treatment essences, true essences, and whether or not all of these products are required for building a comprehensive K-beauty routine. (To simplify this, think of treatment toners, essence toners, and treatment essences as one and the same.) For this blog, we’re tackling treatment essences and helping you figure out which one is right for you. While a...

We spend a lot of time thinking about how to help people make sense of Korean beauty. From all the different steps and products names to the unique textures, the K-beauty world can be difficult to navigate. That’s where our new video series #ButSkinFirst comes in. There is this preconception that K-beauty is overwhelmingly complex, or consists of a tedious and time-consuming routine. However, K-Beauty and skincare should be quick,...

We had a blast partnering with Unistella for her New York Fashion Week debut at the Creatures of Comfort show, where the phenomenon of #glassnails was re-interpreted with a NYFW spin. Glow Recipe is also excited to exclusively introduce – for a limited time only – a NYFW edition of Unistella’s glass nails stickers in celebration of her debut at fashion week. Recreate the look straight from the runway and...

We’ve made it to day 4 of our #MondaytoFridayMasking challenge! Have you been keeping up with us? Today, we show you a quick way to to make some do-it-yourself masks with products that are already in your skincare collection. It’s 3pm in the Glow Recipe offices and our skin would appreciate a little midday pick-me-up. Instead of doing full sheet masks like yesterday, we made DIY masks with soaked cotton...

It’s day 2 of our #MondaytoFridayMasking Challenge and Anna Park of Style Under Pressure show us how to make a toner-soaked coin sheet mask! Follow along this week as we blog about our masking adventures. A little about me: I have combination skin that has gotten, much to my delight, drier in the dry areas and oilier in the oily areas as I’ve gotten older. You’d think one of the...

It is day 1 of our #MondaytoFridayMasking challenge and we’re starting off with sheet mask first-timers! Follow along this week as we blog about our masking adventures. Sea Kelp sheet mask for days To me, sheet masking is a routine that is as normal as washing my face or taking a shower. Whenever my skin needs some extra hydration, I pull out a freshly chilled sheet mask from the fridge...

Our Masks 101 post has always been one of our most popular masks – as we do every year, we’ve updated this post with the newest mask innovations and tips straight from Korea. The latest buzzword in skincare have been masks. Masks are essentially at-home facials with a variety of ingredients and formats that do everything from nourishing, hydrating to deep cleansing. The best thing about masks are their versatility...

If you are familiar with Korean television dramas, then Ha Jiwon’s name should be a familiar one – she starred in the much-loved romance Secret Garden, among other titles. Besides being known for her acting chops, Ha Jiwon’s flawless skin has been the source of envy for years. Now, she is sharing her beauty secrets with her own line of skincare products that she swears by for clear, youthful, and...