10 Essential K-Beauty Products You Need To Stay Fresh This Summer

With sweet summertime upon us, ’tis the season for days at the beach, outdoor barbecues with friends and family, and catching up on your summer reading (and K-drama binging!). But hot summer weather can also cause a lot of changes in your skin. If you’re looking for some products to update your summer K-beauty routine, here are some products to help your skin look and feel fresh, even in a heat wave!

Skincare

The Face Shop – Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil

While the thought of putting oil anywhere near your face during the hot summer season may make you squirm, double-cleansing — washing your face with an oil cleanser, then following up with a foam cleanser — is important for ensuring that you get every last bit of sunscreen and makeup off of your skin.

The Face Shop’s Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil is an oil cleanser that feels light and refreshing, but it still contains all the makeup-melting power you need to ensure that your skin is clean and clear!

Klairs – Supple Preparation Facial Toner

The Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner has quickly become a K-beauty fan favorite, and for good reason: it helps to balance your skin’s pH while also providing deep moisture, thanks to its formula full of botanical extracts. The consistency is a bit thicker than astringent toners, but it’s not as heavy as a regular essence, making it the perfect toner for lightweight moisture.

I’ve been using this toner for several months now and still can’t get over how nourished and smooth my skin feels after using it. You can use 1-3 layers to help lock in the moisture and prep your skin for the remaining steps of your routine. You can also choose to use this toner for the 7-skin method, a recent trend in Korean skincare that uses seven layers of toner to deeply hydrate the skin without using heavy creams.

Nature Republic – Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel Mist

I’m not always the biggest fan of summer weather because my face tends to be more red and irritable when I’m hot and sweaty, especially in the sweltering humidity of Korean summers. So it’s no surprise that refreshing facial mists, like the Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92 Soothing Gel Mist, are my summertime saviors.

A quick spritz of this mist, which uses a formula containing 92 percent organic aloe, instantly delivers a burst of cooling, moisturizing relief. If the words “gel” and “mist” don’t seem to go together, fear not, dear Soompiers! The spray is super fine, absorbs quickly into the skin, and doesn’t feel sticky.

Missha – All-Around Safe Block Total Moisture Sun Gel SPF50+/PA+++

If you’re a K-beauty aficionado, you are probably dedicated to loading plenty of SPF onto your face — but what about the rest of your body? In the season of shorts and tank tops, it’s important to remember that the rest of your skin needs protection from the sun too, even if you’re just running errands or going out with friends.

If you’re like me and you hate the greasy feeling of sunscreen, you’ll want to snap up this new product in Missha’s All-Around Safe Block sun care line, the Total Moisture Sun Gel. It feels like a lightweight lotion, but provides SPF 50+/PA+++ protection! It leaves no white cast, doesn’t have that strong sunscreen scent of traditional body sunscreens, and it doesn’t feel greasy at all. And while you’ll probably need something more heavy duty for playing sports or a day at the beach, the Total Moisture Sun Gel is also resistant to sweat and water thanks to its Double Layer UV protection system!

Papa Recipe – Bombee Honey Mask

One of my favorite things to do at the end of a long day is slap on a sheet mask and curl up with a good book or a K-drama. In the summertime, sheet masks are a great way to help your skin feel fresh and cool while providing it with deep nourishment at the same time! The Bombee Honey Mask from Papa Recipe is a well-known favorite in the K-beauty world, and is a great option for all skin types.

The mask material is thin, clingy, and stretchy, which not only helps you get a perfect fit, but also feels more comfortable than a papery mask. My skin always feels pleasantly plump and cool after using this mask, and it also helps my skin look noticeably brighter. The light, sweet honey scent doesn’t hurt, either! Store your sheet masks in the fridge for an extra-cool treat for your skin in the summertime!

Cosmetics

Heimish – Artless Glow Base SPF50+/PA+++

If you love the Korean dewy look but struggle to walk that fine line between dewy glow and oily mess, try this popular primer from Heimish. It has a lightweight, almost watery texture that provides a smooth, non-greasy base for foundation. Plus, its pearly, slightly pink color helps to even out your skin tone and give it a radiant glow.

The primer is SPF 50+/PA+++, so it gives you an extra layer of UV protection. You can wear this base by itself, use it as a primer underneath foundation, or dot it on your cheekbones as a highlighter!

Aritaum – Pore Master Sebum Control Pact

Whether you want something on hand for when oil starts to creep up, or you’re looking for something to set your makeup and provide a matte finish, try the super-affordable Pore Master Sebum Control Pact from Aritaum. Thanks to an endlessly oily T-zone, I’ve tried a lot of different powders from all over the price spectrum, and this powder performs just as well or even better than far pricier products.

It’s a fine powder that gives a nice, soft finish without your skin looking cakey or too dry. I tested both versions — white and pink beige — before settling on the latter. Both looked pretty colorless when I tested them on my hand, but other white powders I’ve tried made my face look a bit chalky, so I decided to try the pink beige and have been happy with the results. Bonus: it smells like peaches!

The Saem – Eco Soul Rainbow Blusher

Beautiful rainbow palettes have been trending over the past year, so if you want to get in on the magical rainbow/unicorn craze, try this Eco Soul Rainbow Blusher from The Saem. You can use the pretty rainbow colors individually, blended together, or swiped on in a spectrum of all their rainbow glory.

This versatile product can also be used as a blush, a highlighter, or an eyeshadow. Not sure if you’re ready to rock a bold rainbow look? Don’t worry — the formula is sheer but buildable, so you can blend it to your liking!

Innisfree – My Palette My Eyeshadow

Customizable compacts have been all the rage in Korea these days, and what’s not to love? You can build your own palette in colors that best suit you and snap them into a convenient case that you can carry anywhere.

Innisfree recently released a massive array of components (140, to be exact) for their My Palette collection, which includes a range of eyeshadows, blushes, color correctors, concealers, highlighters, and contour shades. The shimmer eyeshadows are my favorite, and they come in a huge variety of shades, offering a lovely iridescent finish without getting glitter all over the place.

Etude House – Dear Darling Water Gel Tint

The Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint has long been a fan favorite, but look at this adorable new popsicle design that’s been released for the summer! How can anyone resist? Plus, the gel tint formula is more moisturizing than many other tints that can tend to dry out your lips.

You can also build up the color to your liking, whether you prefer a sheer gradient lip or a more bold, saturated look. I especially like the Watermelon Red shade — it’s perfect for a sunny summer day out!

Hey Soompiers, what are your favorite K-beauty products for summertime? Let us know in the comments below!