With Korean beauty trend continuing to take the internet by storm, we have seen an uprising in K-Beauty products on the market more than ever. From snail mucin serum to water gel-cream and rice water essence, they deliver the dewy, glow-from-within complexion fans are looking for.
As we settle into 2025, what’s the big trend in Korean Beauty? I spoke to Charlotte Cho, founder of Korean beauty Then I Met You, which their Living Cleansing Balm has amassed more than 1,500 five-star reviews online, and asked her take on “what’s new” in K Beauty.
She said: “In 2025, skin barrier care is taking centre stage in Korean beauty. With growing awareness of how external stressors —pollution, climate change, and over-exfoliation — affect the skin, more consumers are prioritising barrier-strengthening formulas over aggressive treatments.
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“Instead of harsh actives, we’re seeing a rise in barrier creams, which are rich in ceramides, peptides, and humectants to help maintain a healthy, resilient skin barrier. A great example of this is Then I Met You’s Bong2 Bounce Cream — a hydration powerhouse infused with Korean-grown Hallabong citrus and barrier-boosting ingredients like peptides and fermented extracts.
“It has a unique, bouncy gel-cream texture that delivers intense hydration without heaviness, leaving the skin plump, dewy, and balanced.”
Retailing at £46 for a full-sized 50ml and £17 for travel-sized 15ml, the moisturiser is lightweight and rich in vitamin C which is great for brightening and plumping properties. One shopper shared: “I’ve basically replaced all of my skincare with this brand. This particular cream is a little sticky but leaves the skin dewy looking and feeling super fresh. The texture means that it glides on and I only bought a small and it is lasting really well.”
Other suitable for all skin types, it is also unisex as one called it “superb for a man’s skin”, adding: “Really refreshing product that is super light, smells really fresh and not at all feminine and is packaged in a great jar. The cream is great to use after shaving and doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight or dry. Lovely product will definitely buy again.”
But one shopper mentioned that the cream might not be for everyone, explaining: “It is on the lighter side so I wouldn’t recommend for anyone with dry skin. Even for me who has oily skin I find that in the winter this isn’t enough hydration, it’s definitely more of a summer cream. I also find that it takes quite a while to sink into the skin, leaving a bit of a sticky residue.”
Elsewhere on Amazon, Aestura, another Korean beauty brand, has an “Atobarrier 365 range” that is designed to care for sensitive skins and build the skin barrier with capsulated ceramides. The bestselling Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream is currently on 10% off and reduced to £25.99.
Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream is also formulated with hydration-boosting ceramides and vitamin-derived Panthenol and it’s available at Boots for £38.