A trip to Korea wouldn't be complete without a visit to the country's biggest health and beauty store, Olive Young. It's skincare and makeup paradise, with walls lined with countless K-beauty gems and world-famous staples. Irresistable deals and discounts are everywhere, too, so consider yourself lucky if you make it out of there with just a small bag.
Perhaps the only issue you'll run into with Olive Young's selection is how tedious it is to choose what to buy—most especially if you're a foreigner. Thankfully, it's not impossible to narrow down your choices. If you're after tried-and-true favorites, for example, you can simply look for the Olive Young Awards sticker on their products. This would indicate if something is a best-seller or recognized for its innovation, which already minimizes the risk of checking it out.
To save you from the long stroll, let's run down some of these products, shall we? Ahead, you'll find nine Korean skincare products that garnered the most sales from their categories at Olive Young in 2021. You might recognize some of them, but there's definitely a handful of new discoveries here worth adding to your collection. Shop away!
#1 Best-Selling Korean Skincare Products in Olive Young 2021
Cleansing Oil: Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
From being the second best-seller in the cleansing category for 2020, Ma:nyo's Pure Cleansing Oil successfully worked its way up to the number one spot the following year. This formula contains argan kernel oil and soybean oil, and claims to help thoroughly remove sebum and sunscreen on the skin.
Skin/Toner: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner
Next to being a best-seller in Olive Young, Round Lab's Dokdo Toner has won several beauty awards in since it launched. It's well-loved for its hydrating texture, mild exfoliation perks, and soothing properties that leave the skin plump and smooth after each use.
Toner Pads: Abib Heartleaf Spot Pad Calming Touch
Toner-soaked cotton pads are huge in Korea, but out of all the ones in the market, it was Abib's sensitive skin-friendly pads that made it to the most shopping baskets. It apparently works great for calming irritated skin and maskne, so we aren't surprised!
Serum: Isoi Blemish Care Serum
According to Olive Young, more than a million bottles of this serum have been sold in their stores. Not only that, it's been the number one essence product for nine years straight! Skincare content creator EuniUnni claims that Koreans love this serum for its mild scent and formula that still effectively brightens dark spots and dull skin.
Sheet Mask: Mediheal Tea Tree Care Solution Essential Mask Sheet
As you can already tell, soothing products were all the rage in K-beauty the past year. In the sheet mask category, Mediheal's ever-popular tea tree mask reigned supreme because of how well it adresses inflammation and breakouts.
Cream: Dr.G Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream
Dr.G is one of the buzziest Korean skincare brands at the moment thanks to their mastery of sensitive skin-friendly formulations. The Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream couldn't be a better example, containing a blend of centella asiatica, beta-glucan, and cathecins that's infused into a lightweight, non-comedogenic gel.
Pimple Patch: Olive Young Care Plus Scar Cover Spot Patch
If you love pimple patches, you can't go wrong with these affordable best-seller from Olive Young's in-house line. One pack contains two differently-sized sets of patches so you won't need to cut them to fit your zits!
Sunscreen: Dr.G Green Mild Up Sun+
Dr.G has not one but two number one best-sellers in Olive Young for 2021. In fact, you've probably already seen the Green Mild Up Sun+ around if you follow Korean beauty vloggers like Song Ji Ah—it's just that popular. That said, people love about this sunscreen for its gentle formulation, high SPF rating, and soft, weightless finish.
Men's Skincare: Ideal for Men Perfect All In One Milk
For the guys, this multi-benefit lotion from Ideal For Men topped the list. You'll love it too if you're looking for a balancing moisturizer with skin barrier-enhancing perks and chic packaging to match.
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