Hello, and welcome to our new series where we play F*ck, Marry, Kill with different aspects of wellness. For our inaugural game, we’re pitting popular introspection tools against each other.
Unstable but sexy. Has a major attitude every time Mercury goes retrograde, and the new moon is either super passionate or super moody. Plus, ugh—water signs, amirite?
Marry: Enneagram
Big Aiden Shaw energy. Can’t explain it. Enneagram just gives stable and reliable vibes (but in a “still knows how to have fun” kind of way).
JK … sort of. Who has the time to answer all of those questions? Also, we’re all out here spelling “Sagittarius” on the first try, but we’ll never remember if it’s “Myers” or “Meyers”.
Over the last five years, we’ve watched skincare trends go from overly complicated to extremely simple. Gone are the days of slathering on an excess of active products every morning and night; now, we’ve seen the pendulum swing the other way, with a focus on a more curated skincare routine with products that work. For that reason, it makes sense that we’ve seen a rise in the popularity of Korean skincare (or K-Beauty, as it’s affectionately known) in the U.S.
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I first became familiar with Korean skincare because of TikTok. Everyone was obsessed with sheet masks, and from there, my curiosity grew. I explored the Korean Skincare aisle of Ulta on the regular, and the variety of products (and their affordable price point) continued to impress me. Now, they’re a staple in my daily routine—and should be in yours, too.
What Is Korean Skincare?
Korean skincare has been up and coming for years, as Charlotte Cho, the founder of Soko Glam. She explained that Korean skincare focuses less on covering up issues, and more on addressing them at the root of the cause. “Korean skincare products are incredibly innovative, gentle, and effective,” Cho said. “There are entirely new categories, consistencies, formats, and ingredients that were created in Korea.”
Korean skincare’s ingredients are much gentler than ones found in the U.S., with less of a focus on acids and scrubs than we often see on the shelves of Sephora. From snail mucin to fermented rice water to bee pollen, Korean skincare embraces simple-yet-effective ingredients that still deliver visible results.
“When you’re educated about skincare and you stay committed to a routine, you’ll see results,” Cho said. “Korean skincare is not about the number of products or steps you have, it’s about having the knowledge that will help you achieve only good (skin) days ahead.”
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Korean Skincare Products I Love
After years of testing out Korean skincare products, these are the ones that have a permanent spot in my routine:
Cho said that double-cleansing is her top skincare tip, and this oil cleanser is the perfect first cleanse in my routine. It dissolves makeup (including waterproof makeup), skincare, and dirt and oil while keeping my skin hydrated (and without leaving a residue). Its gentle, fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types—including sensitive skin.
With the help of 95% snail mucin, birch juice, and licorice, this mask targets darks spots, blemishes, dullness, and leaves my skin ultra-hydrated. Its jelly-like texture also gives a cooling effect, which is a welcome treat in the summer months.
This viral product was completely sold-out earlier this year, and the results it delivers make it easy to see why. This essence targets dryness and aging, and leaves you with nourished, plump, moisturized skin. It completely improved my texture and dark spots, and it’s become a must in my daily routine.
The name might be a mouthful, but this affordable sunscreen is the best I’ve tried in a very long time. It boasts UVA/UVB protection of SPF 50+, and blends in flawlessly to be worn alone or under makeup. If you’re in need of motivation to apply SPF every day, the gorgeous glow this sunscreen gives will provide it for you.
This lightweight moisturizer is my go-to in the summer months. Its fast-absorbing gel texture is ultra-hydrating for the skin, but soaks in quickly, which ensures you aren’t left feeling sticky after applying it. It’s a total game-changer for dull, dry skin.
After years of caking our lips with drying, opaque liquid lipsticks that made us look like a corpse after a couple of hours, it’s no secret that what’s considered the hot thing in lip products has done a 180. Gone are the days of the word “matte” being the most sought-after thing in lips, and instead, hydrating, juicy products have taken their place.
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There’s nothing quite like a pout that looks hydrated, dewy, and coated in a sheen that captures the overall clean,low-maintenance beauty look that everyone’s been trying to achieve over the past few months. Having lips that get you compliments doesn’t require a trip to the injector—all it takes is having a few products you can turn to to make yours as plump and juicy as possible.
These tried-and-true products will make your chapped lips a thing of the past and will make a full, hydrated pout your present and future.
If you want juicy, moisturized lips with a hint of color, this product will be your new holy grail. It’s a hydrating, melting, glossy balm that leaves lips with a high-shine, plump finish. Let’s just say there’s a reason it was sold out for months after it was released.
Finding a non-sticky gloss used to be next to impossible, but not anymore. This lip oil comes in four shades (including a clear) that gives lips lightweight hydration and a completely non-sticky shine. If it’s TikToker Mikayla Nogueira’s favorite lip oil, you know it must be good.
If you’ve been on TikTok lately, odds are you’ve seen this product (likely dozens and dozens of times). This gloss-balm hybrid nourishes, hydrates, and plumps lips while delivering the color payoff of a lipstick. It’ll leave you with a dewy, high-shine pout with a wash of color that’ll make it your new favorite lip product for fall.
If you’re looking for a treatment that’ll make your lips have a lasting plump, look no further. This overnight lip-plumping treatment supports natural collagen production and uses hyaluronic acid so you wake up with lips that look bigger (and will stay that way with continued use). In both a soft pink and cherry shade, you also can use it over a lip liner for a gloss alternative that’ll treat your lips all day long.
When Hailey Bieber’s skincare line, Rhode, dropped, everything sold out almost instantly and has been getting rave reviews ever since. Their Peptide Lip Treatment is a restorative balm for plump, soft lips, and has over 6,000 reviews and a 4.7-star rating. After a month of use, I can vouch that it’s by far the most hydrating lip product I’ve ever used. A future me is stocking up, but lately, I’ve been taking the one I have everywhere I go.
Another TikTok-viral product, this is a gloss and treatment in one that will give you immediate, lasting hydration. With just a couple of swipes, you’ll get the same shiny payoff as a gloss with a sexy wash of color.
We’re living in a world where lip treatments aren’t reserved exclusively for at-home use. Putting on your favorite mask and heading out of the house can look just as good as a gloss, but with added benefits. This treatment has a rich, buttery formula packed with fatty acids and lip-boosting actives for your healthiest-looking lips ever.
This cult-favorite lip product has racked up a perfect five-star review, and when you experience it, you immediately understand why. It’s a rich, buttery lip balm formulated to not cause more dryness and deliver a sheer, buildable wash of color. Not only does it increase lip volume and firmness, but it hydrates deeply every single time you put it on.
If there’s one lip product our editors can’t live without, it’s Langeige’s famous Lip Sleeping Mask. The ultra-hydrating, leave-on mask has won award after award, with reviews swearing that it banished dry lips for good. Overnight, it’ll transform your lips and diminish the look of fine lines, both of which you’ll see and feel the benefits of all day long.
During the summer, it’s common to scale back your makeup routine to prioritize comfort in the heat and show off your beautiful natural skin. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of opportunities to get glam, whether your calendar for the next couple of months is jam-packed with weddings or you just like to wear makeup every day regardless of the rising temps. Between dewy skin, bronzed cheekbones,glossy lips, and more, there’s so much to love about summer makeup. In need of some inspo? Ahead, we’ve rounded up some editor-approved summer makeup tutorials to try.
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An Easy, 5-Minute Tutorial
If you’re crunched for time but can’t bear the thought of leaving the house without a little makeup (trust us, we get it), this simple everyday makeup tutorial takes just five minutes to do. Seriously. YouTuber BlissfulBrii’s summer makeup routine starts with a lightweight yet full-coverage liquid foundation to stay cool and comfortable on hot days. (We love the breathable, weightless feel of the YSL Beauty All Hours Foundation, which also has SPF 30 to keep your skin protected from the sun.) She locks her foundation and concealer in place by setting it with the Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder, then keeps the rest of her makeup simple — cream blush and bronzer to warm up the cheeks, a swipe of brow gel and a coat of mascara.
Warm Bronze and Copper Tones
In this tutorial, creator Joanna Maria Kutkinademonstrates how you can get a faux sun-kissed look and add warmth to your complexion using makeup in bronze, copper, peach and orange shades. Instead of foundation, she layers SPF, tan drops and the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum for a glowy and natural-looking base. What really makes this look standout, however, are the peachy and copper shades of eyeshadow she uses on her eyelids. For a palette with a variety of sunny, orangey pigments, check out the Urban Decay UD x Smiley Naked Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Mucho Happy.
Everyday Glam
Maybe you’re the kind of person who loves a full-glam look — lashes and all — regardless of the season or occasion. We hear you. This everyday makeup tutorial keeps the skin glowy and lit-from-within while using full-coverage products. For the eyes, this YouTuber does a soft, blended-out wing and fluffy false eyelashes (our faves are the NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Lash! Vegan False Eyelashes). The creator’s look also features a full lip moment, finishing with a swipe of theL’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick.
A Colorful Monochromatic Look
Washes of bright pink on the cheeks, lips and eyelids make for a colorful and creative summer makeup look that’s still lowkey enough to rock during the day. Creator Alexandra Anele achieves this monochromatic flushed vibe by layering candy-colored blushes and blending out the same color on her eyelids. Anele uses cream blush in the video, but the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush has a silky feel and comes in stunning pink shade options.
No Foundation Summer Makeup
When the temperatures start to soar, it can be uncomfortable to layer on the foundation when you want to let your skin breathe. Enter: Naakie Nartey’s summer makeup routine to cover up scarring and hyperpigmentation without using foundation. Nartey blends out concealer and uses color-correcting techniques to cover dark spots. To try the technique yourself, invest in a concealer that matches your skin tone as well as a lighter option for highlighting and a darker option for contouring. TheValentino Beauty Very Valentino Concealer is a hydrating longwear concealer that will feel comfortable on even the hottest days.
A Cry- and Heat-Proof Wedding Guest Look
Wedding season is in full swing and while weddings are the perfect opportunity to glam it up, heat, sweat and the occasional tears can quickly undermine a makeup look. This cry- and heat-proof wedding guest makeup tutorial will be your savior this summer. Remember to start with primer to make your makeup last and opt for budge-proof, waterproof products like theL’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara.
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