10 Of The Most Popular Korean Beauty Products To Try In 2018, Plus The Good And Bad Reviews From People Who Bought Them

Glo up, literally!

After a month-long experiment trying a Korean skin care routine, I. AM. OBSESSED!!! I'm always on the hunt for the best K-beauty products, so I hit up Soko Glam to get their customers' favorites for 2017.

Arika Sato / Via giphy.com

Of course skin care is so case-by-case. There's nothing that works for everybody, so we included a 1 or 2-star and 5-star review from verified buyers of each product. Verified buyers are customers who've made the purchase through the Soko Glam store, so you know the reviews are from people who actually own the product.

1. Try British M Organics Annatto Hair Oil if you want some shine that won't weigh your hair down.

@ming ._. seo / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $67.

5-star review: "I have very fine long hair that tends to be on the drier side. I also have a very sensitive scalp and have to use an all-natural shampoo that makes my hair rather limp and dull. I've been using the annatto oil for almost two months and love the results! My hair is super shiny and soft, and my gray hairs aren't as noticeable—an added bonus. The oil is also very gentle on my scalp, too; I haven't had any breakouts. It pairs very well with my neem natural shampoo and conditioner. I use one pump on my wet hair every night before drying, sometimes a bit more on dry spots, and my hair stays shiny throughout the day and doesn't become oily. I have tried to use this without conditioner on rushed nights but found the results to be a bit lacking. There is a musky scent (reminds me of a salon) that took some getting use to but it becomes barely noticeable once my hair is dried. I'll def order this product again." —Annabel H.

2-star review: "I received a free sample of this with my order and I read all it benefits. I hoped this product would make my curls softer and maybe tame my frizz but it did not. Immediately after applying this my hair became so dry. I thought maybe I was just having a bad hair day, but every time I applied it my hair would be so dry. I have very curly hair and although this product states it is suitable for all hair types, it did not help my curls at all." —Liz C.

2. Hyaluron Skin Essence holds 1000 times more moisture than water so YAAAAS to skin elasticity!

@hanskin_official / Via instagram.com

Get it from Soko Glam for $46.

5-star review: "I have very oily skin but in the winter I have patches of dry skin. This essence has made my skin feel smooth and soft ... No more dry patches. It has helped me control some of my oily skin. I can’t wait to use it through the summer. I’m so glad I waited [until] I came back from my vacation to add this to my routine. This is a keeper to my skin routine." —Andrea C.

1-star review: "In my opinion, the Hyaluron Skin Essence is definitely not worth the price or the hype. My skin type is combination, sensitive, hormonal acne prone. I did not see any difference in the hydration levels of my skin what so ever. I have been using this product consistently for a little over two weeks now and I see no noticeable changes in my skin. I wanted to love this product because of its claims to hydrate... but was sadly disappointed." —Rachel H.

3. Erborian Black Soap has a lot of promising reviews from people with oily skin and blackheads.

@erborian / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $15.

5-star review: "I'm halfway through my black soap bar and it's safe to say that I love it. I have oily, acne-prone skin and tend to get tiny blackheads on my forehead from working out and whatnot. This bar has reduced my overall forehead shine as well as the blackheads. I'm hooked! The price and the smell are great too :)" —Alexandra S.

1-star review: "Very disappointed. Expected it to a be natural soap with all its great quality. However, the perfume was so strong, I'm not even going to open it. When a charcoal soap gives off such strong artificial scent, I question the product quality." —Sona C.

4. COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid is packed with Vitamin C, which is great for treating hyperpigmentation.

@the_erika_project / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $27.

5-star review: "I get acne scars from my hormonal acne!! This made my skin feel tingly upon first application. The very next day when I looked in the mirror I was shocked! have been using this product for over a week now and I am SO happy I decided to purchase this. I have had this embarrassing hormonal acne scar in the middle of my nose for MONTHS and in a matter of one of week using this product, you can now barely see it!! I am a true believer in this product, just make sure you follow the instructions on how to use it and care for it!! I keep my own in the fridge and have had no problems with it. BEST investment I have made for my skin!" —Francine C.

1-star review: "I tried to love this product. I tried using it with a moisturizer to dilute it. After using it for a couple of days I started having redness and dermatitis like allergies all over my face and neck :( I guess my skin is too sensitive for serums." —Brenda G.

Here's a before and after, and the full review from a fan of the product.

@theklog . co / Via instagram.com

5. K-beauty is all about the lip tints, and Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel is the truth.

Instagram: @gazelle.beauty

Get it on Soko Glam for $5.

5-star review: "I love this tint. It's not drying at all and you can layer the color to get an intense color. I'm using the orange color but it still looks red when I layer it. Very good for after lunch and doesn't transfer very much. Good stain :-)" —Carol P.

1-star review: "I purchased three of these in a few different colors bc I love tints. But these were a mess. It took too long to dry, was all over my teeth and the coverage was spotty like I was wearing old lipstick." —Kimberly R.

6. Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream is said to be a great moisturizer, especially for sensitive skin.

@utkarshini / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $23.

5-star review: "I have combination skin that is acne prone and very sensitive, so I was a little concerned that a 'rich moist' face cream would be too much. Happily, I was wrong! It does not clog my pores and I barely need to use any product to keep my skin moisturize[d] and balanced. I wake up with a nice glow after using it at night and I LOVE the scent. Perfect combo with my Klair’s vitamin C serum—I plan to repurchase!" —Karley K.

1-star review: "I have been searching for a new moisturizer for a while now and came across this product and decided to purchase it after all the reviews and promises. I did a skin patch and it didn't seem to break me out initially therefore i tried applying it to my face and after a few days, my skin went from bad to worse. I started breaking out on my cheeks (raised bumps), jawline, and chin area. I decided to stop using it and the breakouts slowly started to disappear on its own. Sad to say but this product is definitely not for me." —Mo

7. And if you have oily skin, Missha Super Aqua Ultra Water-Full Clear Cream is the truth!

@misshaus / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $26.

5-star review: "I was super skeptical about this product because I’d never tried a water based cream before. I have dry skin around my mouth and cheeks and I’m oily everywhere else, so it’s been hard for me to find a moisturizer that sinks into my skin and gets the job done for my combo cystic acne prone skin. UNTIL NOW!!! This cream is sooooo nice to apply (I usually apply it at night). It sinks into the skin immediately, and gives your skin such a radiant and healthy glow. I could not recommend this enough!!!" —Gabbi V.

1-star review: "I'm so disappointed. I did a lot of research before buying this product and was really excited about it... I have been using it for about two weeks so far and it's more drying than any other product i have used. I have combination skin with seborrheic dermatitis on my T-zone. this product has a mattifying effect so i think it would work better for someone with oily skin. Will be returning if it keeps sucking after another week." —morgan paige

8. Double cleansing is life-changing, and Enature Moringa Cleansing Balm is a favorite step-one among K-beauty addicts, including myself!

@enatureofficialusa / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $23.

5-star review: "I never tried an oil cleanser before. Or better: I probably used some oil based products but none like the Moringa Cleansing Balm. Why? Because it literally melts on your skin and doesn't leave any residue when you wash your face! The skin is delicately cleansed, without dryness." —Chiara A.

2-star review: "This product is pretty much everything that frightens people about oil based cleansers. At least for me. While it felt delightfully silky and had a lovely, light scent, after a few days of use, my face threw a tantrum. And we're not just talking little pimples here and there, but giant cystic acne, and in really weird places too. Fortunately I was able to calm it down with large amounts of snail mucin, but I had to discontinue my use of this product immediately. I am giving it two stars instead of one because I believe a small part of the blame lies with me for not reading the ingredients closely enough. This product contains "hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine," which is a soy based product and I've had reactions to other things with soy in them in the past as well." —Shannon M.

9. Neogen H2 Dermadeca Serum Spray is like a breath of fresh air, plumping your face and minimizing aging signs.

@neogen_us / Via instagram.com

Get it from Soko Glam for $19.

5-star review: "I absolutely love this spray. I use it throughout the day and after I shower to keep my skin dewy and hydrated. I also love using it after being out in the cold air. I can’t recommend it enough!" —Patrick D.

1-star review: "I had really high hopes for this but [it] did absolutely nothing for my skin. I actually felt like my skin was drier after using this. I have sensitive combination skin and it might be the alcohol denat that my skin can't handle." —Stine

10. Klavuu Pure Pearlsation Revitalizing Facial Cleansing Foam is a great water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities after your oil cleanser.

@sokoglam / Via instagram.com

Get it on Soko Glam for $30.

5-star review: "I am relatively new to K-beauty and after reading many reviews I decided to go with this for my water based cleanser. Just a pea sized amount works into a rich lather that leaves my face feeling clean and hydrated. After just a few days of using this my face has a subtle pearly glow! I liked it so much that I also bought it for my mom, who is enjoying it as well." —Alyssa J.

1-star review: "This cleanser is very fragrant and the texture is very nice and luxurious but it dried out my skin considerably after the first wash. The skin on my finger began to peel as well. My skin is too sensitive for this but I am sure it will work better for others." —Tracy T.

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