Where to buy Korean beauty in London
Looking to buy K-beauty skincare or J-beauty make-up in London? Scroll down for the latest in Far East products and spa services in the capital
K-BEAUTY
Since 2014 when the K-Beauty trend hit mass hysteria and the 10-step Korean skincare, triple cleansing, sheet masks and snail serums hit our shores and became the norm, we’ve been a little obsessed about the best brands you can find right here in London.
Fast-forward to 2019 and now with the emergence of the other Eastern-inspired movements like the J-Beauty (Japanese Beauty) on our radar too, and an emphasis on sophisticated skincare and ritualistic regimes for a flawless and a softer dermis, it looks like all eyes (and faces) are on the East. After all, a bright, glowing and spot-free complexion is seen as the ultimate status symbol in Asia, (and admired here too) and they’re also apparently ten years ahead in R&D for treating specific skin concerns.
However, there’s no need to take a flight as we’ve found the best in K-beauty right here in the capital. There are the major players like Erborian, Dr.Jart+ and Suqqu at Selfridges; Shiseido at Harvey Nichols and Sensai and Decorté at Harrods, along with Shiro stores in Covent Garden, Kings Road and St Christopher’s Place. Or visit the cute and kitsch shops in Soho and Chinatown, or now also (and excitingly) in a Boots near you.
Too Cool For School, Boots
Before its launch on Ulta in the US, Too Cool For School had a waiting list of 25,000, with over 9,000 consumers asking for it to be brought to the UK - and now here it is, in a Boots chemist near you.
Inspired by home remedy ingredients like skin-refining egg white (all without the mess) and packaged in a delightful way, the products are fun, cute and deliver too.
The line-up includes masks, moisturisers, hair and body products - we love the Egg Mousse Body Oil, £24.50 that goes from a lovely whipped formula and dissolves quickly into a glow-giving serum for limbs. There's something called the Egg Mellow Cream, £29.50 which is a serum, mask and intensive collagen-boosting cream in one, while the Egg Cream Mask Hydration, £22.50 – is a sheet mask you leave on for twenty minutes and has risen to cult status - the brand is currently selling one product every ten seconds - so if you fancy any of these, you’d better act fast!
Click here
Nature Republic UK
64-66 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH
Korea’s best-selling beauty brand, Nature Republic has just launched the first UK stand-alone store. Hero products include: Snail Solution Skin Booster, Ginseng Royal Silk Toner, Super Aqua Max Watery Cream and their Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera Gel, which is so popular, it sold one million tubes in a single day on launch in China. Plus, make-up stations, a sheet mask wall and plants galore make for a beautiful and blissful shopping space.
Click here
Oseyo Soho
73-75 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0NE
From kimchi to K-pop you can get everything you need to satisfy your Far East fancy. Tucked away is a little beauty section that offers brands like Chobs Sheet Masks, and Bellca, the No.1 cosmetics company in Korea, plus lots of other serums, lotions and potions. The plus? Most have English translation (crucial if Korean isn’t your first language and want to use the products properly).
Click here
P2BUS [Proud To Be Us]
21 Newport Court, London WC2H 7JS
Amongst the restaurants and bubble tea cafes in Chinatown, there’s also the cute and kitsch P2BUS. It’s floor to ceiling with racks of fun K-cosmetics, 10-step skincare regimes and playfully packaged sheets masks. Along with Korea’s No.1 selling eyeliner and lip balms, and sweet treats of matcha-infused cookies and cartooned candy packets, all in one happy place. Plus the sales staff are super helpful too.
Click here
Chi Yu Wellness Centre
36 George Street, London W1U 7DR
They stock the legendary Chidoriya, a Japanese natural & organic skincare range from Kyoto, using traditional Eastern ingredients such as camellia oil, green tea and rice bran to give softer, younger-looking skin. Along with facial treatments that incorporate jade rollers, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage and acupressure to lift tighten and tone naturally.
Click here
Oh and if you’re feeling peckish? Then check out Culture Whisper’s guide to the great Korean foodie places in London – Click here.
Fast-forward to 2019 and now with the emergence of the other Eastern-inspired movements like the J-Beauty (Japanese Beauty) on our radar too, and an emphasis on sophisticated skincare and ritualistic regimes for a flawless and a softer dermis, it looks like all eyes (and faces) are on the East. After all, a bright, glowing and spot-free complexion is seen as the ultimate status symbol in Asia, (and admired here too) and they’re also apparently ten years ahead in R&D for treating specific skin concerns.
However, there’s no need to take a flight as we’ve found the best in K-beauty right here in the capital. There are the major players like Erborian, Dr.Jart+ and Suqqu at Selfridges; Shiseido at Harvey Nichols and Sensai and Decorté at Harrods, along with Shiro stores in Covent Garden, Kings Road and St Christopher’s Place. Or visit the cute and kitsch shops in Soho and Chinatown, or now also (and excitingly) in a Boots near you.
NEW KOREAN BEAUTY ON THE HIGH STREET
Too Cool For School, BootsBefore its launch on Ulta in the US, Too Cool For School had a waiting list of 25,000, with over 9,000 consumers asking for it to be brought to the UK - and now here it is, in a Boots chemist near you.
Inspired by home remedy ingredients like skin-refining egg white (all without the mess) and packaged in a delightful way, the products are fun, cute and deliver too.
The line-up includes masks, moisturisers, hair and body products - we love the Egg Mousse Body Oil, £24.50 that goes from a lovely whipped formula and dissolves quickly into a glow-giving serum for limbs. There's something called the Egg Mellow Cream, £29.50 which is a serum, mask and intensive collagen-boosting cream in one, while the Egg Cream Mask Hydration, £22.50 – is a sheet mask you leave on for twenty minutes and has risen to cult status - the brand is currently selling one product every ten seconds - so if you fancy any of these, you’d better act fast!
Click here
WHERE TO BUY K-BEAUTY SKINCARE IN LONDON
Nature Republic UK
64-66 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH
Korea’s best-selling beauty brand, Nature Republic has just launched the first UK stand-alone store. Hero products include: Snail Solution Skin Booster, Ginseng Royal Silk Toner, Super Aqua Max Watery Cream and their Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera Gel, which is so popular, it sold one million tubes in a single day on launch in China. Plus, make-up stations, a sheet mask wall and plants galore make for a beautiful and blissful shopping space.
Click here
Oseyo Soho73-75 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0NE
From kimchi to K-pop you can get everything you need to satisfy your Far East fancy. Tucked away is a little beauty section that offers brands like Chobs Sheet Masks, and Bellca, the No.1 cosmetics company in Korea, plus lots of other serums, lotions and potions. The plus? Most have English translation (crucial if Korean isn’t your first language and want to use the products properly).
Click here
WHERE TO BUY K-MAKE-UP & KOREAN SKINCARE IN LONDON
P2BUS [Proud To Be Us]21 Newport Court, London WC2H 7JS
Amongst the restaurants and bubble tea cafes in Chinatown, there’s also the cute and kitsch P2BUS. It’s floor to ceiling with racks of fun K-cosmetics, 10-step skincare regimes and playfully packaged sheets masks. Along with Korea’s No.1 selling eyeliner and lip balms, and sweet treats of matcha-infused cookies and cartooned candy packets, all in one happy place. Plus the sales staff are super helpful too.
Click here
WHERE TO BOOK J-BEAUTY SPA TREATMENTS
Chi Yu Wellness Centre 36 George Street, London W1U 7DR
They stock the legendary Chidoriya, a Japanese natural & organic skincare range from Kyoto, using traditional Eastern ingredients such as camellia oil, green tea and rice bran to give softer, younger-looking skin. Along with facial treatments that incorporate jade rollers, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage and acupressure to lift tighten and tone naturally.
Click here
Oh and if you’re feeling peckish? Then check out Culture Whisper’s guide to the great Korean foodie places in London – Click here.
