(Photo: Sokoglam)
Charlotte Cho is the founder of the Korean beauty company, Soko Glam and author of the new book, The Little Book of Skin Care: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin ($16.46 on Amazon). Cho spent many years living in Seoul after college where she learned all about Korean beauty products and techniques. She's now a licensed esthetician and resides in NY. I just finished reading her book cover to cover. As a skincare junkie, this is exactly what I needed. A book that really talks about how to get good skin! I especially love all the insights and background stories Cho had while living in Seoul. Plus the illustrations by Gemma Correll are just too adorable! Some of the things that I have taken away from the book is to buy skincare based on your skin type, not age. It doesn't matter what age you are - you need to find the right product for your skin condition be it normal, dry, oily, etc. I also second Cho's advice on eating and drinking enough water as well as getting enough sleep -- all of this affects our skin. Cho also explains the many Korean beauty products from the common sheet masks to ampoules, essences and more. Throughout the chapters, there are "Skin Stories" featuring prominent people either in Korean beauty or influencers who give their expertise or P.O.V. With all the vast amount of information that is up on the Internet, it's nice to know that everything is in this book. Trust me, all of this is Korean beauty stuff is addictive and I'm sure in no time you'll be purchasing some skincare essence and sheet masks!
Recently, I had the chance to interview Charlotte Cho for Racked when she was visiting San Francisco. Be sure to check out that article for great tips and advice for us newbies on how to get started with Korean beauty products and what trends she is seeing for 2016!
Today on Coquette, Charlotte shares with us her top three favorite Korean beauty items.
Coquette: What are your top three Korean beauty items you can’t live without?
Charlotte: Just three?! My skin care routine changes daily because I’m testing so many products. But some of my current favorites that I tend to gravitate towards when I’m not testing are:
I’ve been incorporating some of Soko Glam’s Spring curations into my regimen and one of my favorites is the SKINFOOD Apple Mango Volume Essence Hair Mist. I never really used product in my hair beyond shampoo and conditioner, but when I went to Korea in December my hair stylist “Essence Shamed” me! Apparently all the girls in Korea have both a skincare essence AND hair essence. It’s a similar concept to a face essence in that it helps hydrate and nourish the hair to give it volume and shine. This hair essence is now an everyday staple.
Neogen Bio Peel Gauze Peeling Wine is a favorite because it involves a cotton pad that uses the latest skin care technology to create a triple layer exfoliating function that no other product has been done before. Most importantly, it’s effective, though the fact that it’s made with red wine is also pretty cool.
A real game changer for me was the introduction of the Cushion Compact, specifically, the IOPE air cushion compact. The first time I tried this - it was like *poof* mind blown. If you've never tried any Korean beauty products, this is the one you need to try. This product is a unique formula-soaked sponge that has all the benefits of a BB cream (anti-aging, moisturizing, skin-evening coverage and SPF protection). It comes with an equally innovative non-absorbing puff that wicks the formula off of the sponge and effortlessly applies evenly onto your face, for that dewy no-makeup, makeup look.
To go with Charlotte's book, I received a nice box of goodies to try from Soko Glam. I haven't tried everything yet and I will do a follow up post with full reviews. Currently, I have used both sheet masks and the Beauty Water.
The two masks I was sent were fantastic for my dry, sensitive skin. The Niveola 3D Cat Sheet Masks ($20 for box of 10) is adorable! Not only is my skin super soft and hydrated afterwards, it's just so much fun to put on. My daughter isn't afraid to look at me! The second mask in the box was the Manefit Bling Bling Hydro Gel Mask ($6). (My packaging was different than shown on the website but the gel mask is the same. I left it on for 30 minutes and it was so soothing. I really loved the cooling gel texture. The masks soothes stressed skin and contains collagen which helps to retore elasticity and plump skin (reducing your fine lines).
Will have a full review of all the products coming up later this month!
Related Stories:
Racked: Korean Beauty Guru Charlotte Cho Predicts This Year's Big Trends
Review book and products provided by Soko Glam's PR company.
