I have been using Korean beauty products ever since discovering Innisfree’s oil blotting paper as a greasy-faced teenager a decade ago. The K-beauty boom has since hit the US and gone mainstream, and with it all its glass skin, salmon sperm and milky toner innovations.
I’ve tested many of them, and a few that have truly improved my skin are on sale for Prime Day until the end of today, if you’re curious about trying them. (I always feel better getting buzzy skincare products on sale when I’m unsure they will work for me.)
Since many skincare brands only sell their products directly, you may be surprised to hear that Amazon carries top K-beauty brands such as Medicube and Biodance. Below are the four Korean skincare products I use all the time in my everyday routine, and that I personally plan to stock up on through their Prime Day sales. Bonus: a microneedling serum my fellow skincare-obsessive mom loves.
Read more: Prime Day ends today – here are the 52 best deals to scoop up before they’re gone
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Biodance Collagen Overnight Face Mask
Biodance Collagen Overnight Face Mask (Four Pack) none-selected
Every time I’ve worn these 25% off face masks, I’ve woken up with skin as soft as a baby’s butt. Having touched babies’ butts, I can confirm that while this is a cliche, it’s spot on.
Unlike many other masks, you wear this one overnight, when it gradually turns from white to translucent as its collagen and oligo-hyaluronic acid does its work to boost skin elasticity and hydration. It’s handy when you’re seeking immediately visible results, such as the night before a special occasion like a wedding. My skin is always noticeably smoother after just one use, though that instant “glass skin” texture fades after a couple days or so.
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Abib Mild pH Balancing Face Mask
Abib Mild pH Balancing Face Mask, 10-Pack none-selected
Abib is one of South Korea’s most beloved skincare brands, and this sheet mask is one of its bestsellers, now 23% off for 10. A single packet comes filled with a ton of serum – way more than your usual mask – and every time I use one, my skin feels completely soothed afterward.
The sheet is coated in albumin or egg white extract, which helps it fully mold to your face. You can keep the packet of leftover serum in the fridge overnight (there will be a lot left) and slather it on as a cooling, depuffing balm the next morning. I also like to pack a few of these whenever I travel. After a long flight, the pH-balancing face masks never fail to help soothe and rehydrate my dry skin.
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Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask
Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask none-selected
I have tried all sorts of tricks to reduce my blackheads. Biore pore strips are semi-effective but harsh on the skin, while double cleansing with facial oil is very effective but requires massaging your face for up to 10 long minutes. Medicube’s mud mask is my favorite because it succeeds in eliminating them with minimal hassle. After smearing this blue clay on my face just once, my blackheads eerily vanished, though I need to reliably apply it a few times a week to maintain that. The formula pairs salicylic acid, which dissolves the oil, dead skin and sebum trapped inside pores, with niacinamide, which helps regulate excess oil and calm redness. If blackheads and congested pores are your biggest skincare grievances, this is the 20% off Prime Day deal I’d grab.
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Medicube Zero Pore Toner Pads
Medicube Zero Pore Toner Pads (70 Pads) none-selected
Toner pads get a lot of hype, but this one’s results are real. My skin has modestly but genuinely become clearer from using Medicube’s exfoliating pads, now a huge 39% off. Every time I use them before applying makeup, my base foundation also applies more easily and looks smoother. Each dual-textured pad is soaked in lactic acid to sweep away dead skin and salicylic acid to clear out the oil and debris trapped inside pores.
You can swipe the textured side to help exfoliate oily areas, then flip to the smooth side to generally tone. I also like to spot treat my skin by leaving a pad to soak on a specific area, as if it were a mini face mask.
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Bonus: VT Cosmetics Cica Reedle Shot 100
VT Cosmetics Cica Reedle Shot 100 none-selected
My mom used to develop formulas for beauty brands as a chemist, so I tend to trust her personal recommendations, even if she probably isn’t scientifically evaluating them. She’s a fan of the VT Cica Reedle Shot 100, now 8% off. It uses tiny spicules (microscopic, skin-safe needles) to create micro-channels in the skin, which help ingredients like cica and hyaluronic acid absorb more effectively than typical serums.
After applying it, you’ll feel a strong tingling sensation on your face for a few minutes, but the payoff is more even-looking skin texture over time. My mom, who is in her 60s and has used this for months, can attest to this (though of course, it may not have been the only product to help). If you’ve been curious about this viral skincare treatment, Prime Day is a good excuse to finally see what all the fuss is about.
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
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I started using these 13 skincare products after 50, and they really work
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The 12 makeup products I swear by after turning 50, from hydrating lip gloss to the perfect mirror
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Can I pop this? 18 common skincare questions, answered by dermatologists
