Starter Pack: Korean Beauty

Like a lot of people who are obsessed with beauty products and innovations 2015 was the year that I discovered Korean beauty. Scientifically advanced, relatively cheap and mostly packaged in a cute and kitschy manner South Korean beauty products are in a league of their own. From BB cream to cushion blush and snail slime creams the countries beauty companies are always creating new products that change the beauty industry as we know it and make Seoul the stopover of choice for beauty devotees.

With all this innovation, though, often comes confusion and when combined with Korea's infamous multi-step beauty and skin routines it is often hard to know where to start with k-beauty. So, here is a little starter pack of sorts which features some of my favourite K-beauty discoveries of 2015.

1. IOPE Air Cushion XP SPF 50: Considered by some as the holy grail of K-beauty this compact was the first of its kind and IOPE claim that one is sold every 30 seconds (for comparison six YSl Touche Eclat's sell every minute). Featuring a sponge soaked in a vitamin-rich, moisturising, SPF 50 BB/foundation hybrid formula that provides a light to medium dewy finish it can re-applied throughout the day without looking heavy and unnatural. Though most K-beauty brands and some western brands have since made versions of this product, the original cushion compact is still the best.

2. Peripera Ah Much Real My Cushion Blusher: Playfully packaged this blush, like the IOPE Air Cushion, features a cushion applicator that you gently push on your cheek to release just the right amount of product. The formula itself is sheer and extremely hydrating leaving a glow to the skin (know as 'gwang' in Korean) and youthful flush of natural colour. Available in 5 shades ranging from cool pink to a bright orange this blush is sometimes hard to track down but is seriously worth the effort. If it does become too difficult to find, though, Too Cool For Schools Dinoplatz Cushy Blusher is a good dupe.

3. Koelf Gold Royal Jelly Hydro Gel Eye Patch: Soaked in royal jelly and other highly moisturising ingredients this eye patch's are the best quick fix for dry, crusty zombie eyes. Like hydro gel full sheet masks, these stick on your face making them perfect for a little morning pick up while you're enjoying a coffee. Bonus tip: keep them in the fridge to make them not only hydrating but also refreshing.

4. Laneige Water Sleeping Mask: Though some western brands offer sleeping or overnight masks (Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is one good example) it is the Korean brands that have truly set the benchmark for these overnight wonders. Far from just being highly moisturising, there is an overnight mask for basically every single skin concern from pigmentation to acne. The standout and the most famous is Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask. Ice blue with a thick pudding like texture this works as the last step of your skincare routine and is meant to help lock in the rest of your products. It is also non-greasy, absorbs surprisingly quickly and adds an extra glow to your skin.

5. Leaders Sheet Masks: Sheet masks are the bread and butter of the K-beauty world and it's not hard to see why. These little wonders take convenience to a whole new level. Inside each packet is a cloth or gel sheet soaked in skin beautifying ingredients like honey, hyaluronic acid and rice that you place on your (clean) face for 30 minutes and then discard. There are hundreds of sheet masks on the market with prices ranging from $1 to $50 but one brand continues to remain supreme: Leaders. Founded in 2004 as a post-plastic surgery skin care brand they sell over 250 million sheet masks per quarter and have a variety of different sheet mask offerings. Though every single Leaders sheet mask has its advantages the best ones by far (and the hardest to track down) are there Coconut Gel Masks, which can perfect every the most troubled skins overnight.

6. Shara Shara Honey Bomb All-in-One Ampoule: Ampoules, something almost uniquely Korean, are meant to work like super-charged serums and this honey-powered one from Shara Shara certainly lives up to that claim. Used morning or night this serum, packed with manuka honey, royal jelly and propolis, works as a 3-1 that can replace toner, serum and moisturiser. Slightly sticky upon application this serum is instantly moisturising and when used over time can help fade dark spots and reduce the appearance of pores. It also comes in a huge container and is perfect for travel.

7. Skinfood Rice Wash Off Mask: This milky rice based mask lightly buffs away dead skin cells while also brightening and softening thanks to the rice extracts. Like Skinfood's Black Sugar mask this mask is more like a facial scrub but unlike its sister product, it is extremely gentle and also hydrating making it perfect for a midweek exfoliation.

8. Whamisa Organic Sea Kelp Facial Sheet Mask: Korean beauty products are infamous for featuring some pretty out there ingredients (pigs collagen anyone?) and this all natural, organic sheet mask is one of those unique products. Made from 100% mineral-rich sea kelp and soaked in a fermented sea kelp and bamboo serum this sheet mask is like a juice cleanse for your skin and as long as you can get past the smell it will give you a brighter, firmer and just all over beautified complexion.