GLOWPICK, one of the most credible and renowned beauty review sites in South Korea, has announced the mid-year 2024 winners of its sought-after award, the GLOWPICK Awards.
Based on real reviews from consumers, these victors deserve their titles for various reasons, whether it be cost performance, product effectiveness, a great number of returning users, or a mix of the above. Our editors at Pretties HK have compiled a list of highlighted items on the Mid-year winners’ list, so that you can shop without splurging on a flight to Korea!
Praised as the toner with the best cost performance on a Korean beauty reality TV show, this essence toner is concocted with 72.6% black bee propolis extract and 10% honey extract to nourish the skin and improve skin texture. Suitable for all skin types.
This widely awarded Korean skincare toner pad is made from Beta-Carotene extracted through steaming methods to retain as much as possible the nutrients in the raw materials. It instantly relieves redness and sensitivity and hydrates to repair the skin’s damaged barrier.
Moisturizing toner pads from the viral Korean skincare brand ROUND LAB. The 3-layered structure holds on to every drop of essence, delivering birch essence and hydrating factors deep into the skin. Promising both intensive hydration as well as cooling and calming properties, it is a godsend on hot summer days (but also all year long!).
Ranking first on not just GLOWPICK but also Hwahae and several other beauty awards, this moisturizing lotion is widely loved in Korea and around the world. It’s formulated with Ulleungdo deep seawater to replenish 72 types of nature-derived minerals and locks moisture in to maintain a healthy water-oil balance.
One of the biggest recent hits at Olive Young that brings in customers and leaves empty aisles, with accumulated sales having surpassed 3.3 million units. Working with microneedle-shaped ingredients, the Reedle Shot opens a path in your epidermis, promotes your skin’s absorption of active ingredients, and enhances skin metabolism to get rid of waste, with an anti-aging and antioxidant effect. The line covers a range of intensities from 50 to 1000, as well as functional variations (such as collagen, vitamin C, cica, and hyaluronic acid) to suit every user, every skin type, and every need.
One of the top-ranking brightening serums among Olive Young’s bestsellers, this Vitamin C goodie is concocted with 70% Vita C derived from Jeju green tangerines to effectively inhibit melanin production and fade blemishes and fine lines, working its magic in as little as 2 weeks.
Bid farewell to tired eyes with this nutritious formula of vitamin C and rich moisturizing factors! Formulated with fresh green tangerines from the Korean island of Jeju as well as elasticity-boosting peptides, this eye cream keeps dark circles at bay while providing wrinkle care.
Steeped in rich brightening and moisturizing ingredients, these eye patches contain Goodal’s viral vitamin C serum concentrated and hardened into gel. Just like the Goodal serum, the soft adhering eye patches are made with fresh green tangerines from Jeju and revitalizes tired eye-area skin in just 5 minutes.
One patch is all you need to fend off puffy eyes in the morning and fine lines at night. These collagen eye patches are enriched with plant-based collagen, jericho rose extract, and shea butter to rehydrate eye-area skin and restore elasticity – definitely one of your best allies against dark circles and eye wrinkles.
A multi-purpose skincare and haircare oil, the Huile Prodigieuse has been the French brand Nuxe’s flagship product for the past 30 years. Featuring a unique yet refreshing “dry oil” texture, it’s imbued with 30% luxurious plant oils to provide all-in-one care for your face, body, and hair without leaving any greasiness.
Over 9 million units sold in Korea! This scrub gently exfoliates with organic Brazilian black sugar and rice wine, restoring your skin to a brighter and smoother state in just 15 minutes. It promotes blood circulation and enhances absorption of subsequent skincare products for higher efficacy – plus, it also works as a body scrub!
These exfoliating and calming toner pads from the “Heartleaf expert” brand ANUA are formulated with 77% heartleaf extract. The light, airy yet hydrating pads can exfoliate and soothe at the same time, calming redness and sensitive skin whenever you need it.
The widely-awarded brand Torriden’s bestselling hyaluronic mask, formulated with hyaluronic acids of 5 different molecular weights to hydrate every inch, every layer of your skin. Proven to boost deep hydration levels by 7.57% after 4 weeks of use!
The winner of the mask category in the 2018 Hwahae rankings, this water gel mask from the TikTok-raved brand Round Lab is a favourite for dry skin types. It’s made with natural bio-cellulose for a light, seamless fit, providing intense hydration with a formula of Ulleungdo Island deep sea water formula and other humectants.
Turn to this sheet mask for help when you want to look flawless on important dates and events! Containing ultra-low molecular collagen and Galactomyces, it delivers deep nourishment and injects hydration and elasticity deep into your skin. Tackles pore problems, improves skin elasticity and smooths wrinkles and fine lines.
This blackhead nose pack enjoys its hype for good reason – not only does it remove blackheads and whiteheads and tighten pores in two easy steps, but also soothes with a skin-friendly formula of botanicals and natural exfoliators. Who said combatting blackheads had to be harsh and irritating?
This makeup fixer has enjoyed positive reviews far and wide – it was labelled the best makeup fixer on a Korean beauty TV show, and every user has acclaimed it as the finest fixing spray they’ve ever used. With a hydrating blend of mineral water, vitamin B5, and hyaluronic acid, a spritz after makeup keeps your look sweat-proof and smudge-proof for 8 hours straight.
4-in-1 double-sided makeup remover pads, with a mild hypoallergenic formula filled with nutrients and skin-friendly ingredients. Gently cleanses and removes all kinds of makeup with just one pad, perfect for using on the go while nourishing your skin.
Certified by the EU’s ECOCERT as organic, this multi-purpose aloe vera gel is purely concocted with 96% aloe vera to comfortably soothe after-sun skin. Its nutrient-rich formula protects and calms the skin from external stressors for moist and soft skin texture, while the jelly-like watery texture promises fast absorption and moisturization without stickiness.
This Japanese hair mask has claimed not just Japanese awards but now Korean ones as well, proving just how widely loved it is. Rich in hair conditioning ingredients, it quickly penetrates damaged hair to repair your strands from the core. Rinse without waiting for quick, easy hair care and emerge from your shower with post-salon quality hair!
Combating hair loss and growing lush, healthy hair starts from the root of the problem – your hair roots, quite literally. This lightweight non-greasy root enhancer can be sprayed directly on your scalp and nourishes your roots with natural essential oils and nutrients for a healthier scalp and stronger, thicker hair.
Widely known throughout the hair salon and styling scene, this argan oil-infused hair oil has stamps of approval from Hollywood celebrities. Enriched with antioxidant-rich argan oil and shine-boosting vitamins, it eliminates frizz instantly and leaves you with nourished, manageable, and smooth hair. Feel your hair growing silkier and shinier with each use.