One Thing is a new indie brand that launched in Korea in 2019, with a focus on single ingredient formulas featuring the highest quality ingredients. It's been a long time since I've been this excited about a brand! Much like The Ordinary, their products rely heavily on single ingredients, though I'd say One Thing is even more minimalist than The Ordinary, both in packaging and formulation, with more of a focus on premium ingredients.
If you know that a specific skincare ingredient works well for you (Mugwort or Hyaluronic Acid for example), then One Thing allows you to choose a simple formulation featuring only that. Even better, you can choose a couple of different essences from them, and either mix them up in a mist bottle, or choose to do a more intensive treatment using their DIY sheet masks - choose which essence you'd like to use, and soak the dry sheet in it before applying to your face for 15 minutes.
All One Thing's formulations are already at the perfect percentage for daily use, so you need not worry about creating an essence that's too potent, as with other brands that sell powders and extracts intended for adding to other skincare. Please be sure to only mix One Thing products with each other though, as we of course can't know the formulations and percentages of other brand products.
I hope you love One Thing as much as I do!
xo, Tamsin
We first met with the creators behind PACKage on a 2018 trip to Seoul, and have loved the brand ever since. With high quality ingredients, whimsical packaging designed by various Korean artists, and products that do what they say they will, we're so pleased to now stock this fun indie brand. Cruelty-free and vegan friendly.
Glow Theory is an authorised retailer of PACKage products.
Many of us experience dullness, dark spots and scarring (post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation) at some point in our lives. The good news is, Korean skincare boasts many products with active ingredients that can make a noticeable difference to your skin with consistent use. Look out for ingredients like niacinamide, alpha hydroxy acids, snail mucin, and madecassoside, all of which are proven to assist in brightening skin and noticeably reducing scars and hyper pigmentation. Don't forget to use sunscreen everyday to protect your skin and ensure it stays bright and even-toned.
Purito are one of the most popular new Korean beauty brands, and the reason for this centres around their transparency and willingness to listen to customer feedback. Featuring products formulated with their customers in mind, and a focus on sustainable and skin-healthy ingredients, I know you'll love Purito.
xo, Tamsin
Introduced by the renowned Pyunkang Oriental Medicine Clinic in Seoul, Pyunkang Yul was developed to be as gentle and soothing as possible. Each ingredient used by the brand has been selected for being the most healthy and safe for skin. With a focus on maintaining the oil and moisture balance in your skin, this line includes products suitable for all skin types and concerns, but is especially great for sensitive skin, rosacea and skin recovering from acid or laser treatments. The focus is on helping the skin barrier to heal and function optimally on its own.With Pyunkang Yul, your skin will find its optimal balance for a glowing complexion. Bonus: Pyunkang Yul is a cruelty-free brand!
Glow Theory is an authorized retailer of Pyunkang Yul products.
One of the most popular sensitive skin-friendly brands in Korea, we're so pleased to introduce them to the South African market! Real Barrier products are formulated using the patented MLE Skin Barrier technology, which has been proven to help heal, repair, and protect the skin barrier, resulting in a strong shield from bacteria and healthy, radiant skin.
Developed by a caring brother to help his sister after her skin become incredibly sensitive during her cancer treatments, Rovectin have maintained their focus on sensitive skin-friendly formulas that help to rebuild and protect the skin's natural moisture barrier, as they have grown.
When I travel to Seoul, I always make sure to both see which products are popular in stores, but also to ask people I meet there what skincare products they use and love. When my lovely translator told me that Rovectin products had changed her skin, I was intrigued. But when I spotted the brand over and over again in all the popular skincare stores, I knew I had to try it. My current favourites are the Skin Essentials Conditioning Cleanser and Treatment Lotion, with the new LHA Ampoule in heavy rotation in my 'maskne'-combating routine.
Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free too, I know you'll love the brand as much as I do!
xo, Tamsin
There are several different reasons someone might have reactive, sensitive skin: genetics, medication, and overly aggressive use of acids, retinol or physical exfoliants are just some of the possibilities. Fortunately, K-beauty is known for the gentle approach to skincare. Below, you'll find a selection of well-known Korean skincare products that will thoroughly cleanse skin without irritating it, toners and moisturisers that will soothe and hydrate, and sunscreen to protect and nourish your skin.
Sheet masks are the most well-known and easily accessible of all Korean skincare products. Who doesn't love a relaxing masking session and the bright, bouncy, glowing skin that comes with it? There's a mask for every skin concern and occasion, and so many different ways to use them - check out our guide to sheetmasking here.
Known for their Centella Asiatica formulas, incredible sunscreen, and effective oil cleanser, we're so excited to bring iconic K-beauty brand SKIN1004 to South Africa!
We're so happy to be able to finally bring SkinRx Lab to South African skincare fans. A little Glow Theory behind the scenes sneak peak: this brand was on our original 'launch list' back in 2017, so you know we've admired and used their products for many years. Focusing on skin strengthening and moisturising ingredients such as Ceramide and Madecassoside, we're in love with the formulation and user experience these products provide. The lovely packaging is just an additional bonus!
xo, Tamsin
This Summer collection has everything you need for long hot days in the sun, at the pool, or on the beach. Protect your skin with high SPF sunscreen (and remember to reapply often), look cute with our lip tints while having fun in the sun, stay cool all day with our refreshing mists, and then hydrate and soothe afterwards with our cooling sheet masks and gels.
