Find out which Korean Products are Beauty Award Winners
- Jul 23, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 10
Written by Clémence Rubiella | Published on 23 July 2023 | Skin care | Hair care | Makeup
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Dearest Gentle Readers,
The Korean beauty world is nothing short of a bustling ballroom — dazzling, fast-moving, and filled with more enticing prospects than one could possibly entertain. New formulas, new textures, new marvels appear with such frequency that even the most devoted beauty enthusiast may feel delightfully overwhelmed. Alas, only a select few ever manage to secure international fame and cross distant shores.
So how, you may wonder, does one discover the true jewels before the rest of society catches on? Why, by observing what is truly adored within Korea itself, of course.
Each year, several esteemed platforms host grand ceremonies celebrating the nation’s most beloved beauty treasures — from consumer favourites and best-sellers to the most promising new arrivals destined to become tomorrow’s obsessions. Though rarely discussed beyond Korea’s borders, these awards are followed with great anticipation domestically, serving as a trusted compass for discerning shoppers seeking only the finest innovations.
Regrettably, their official pages remain almost entirely in Korean, offering little comfort to international admirers. But fear not, dear reader — for we shall uncover these coveted secrets together.
But should you wish to spare yourselves the noble but exhausting task of translating Korean webpages word by word (a pursuit that can test even the most determined beauty enthusiast), I most graciously recommend a visit to the Monodist blog. There, you shall find elegantly translated versions of all the awards we have so dutifully discussed — a most convenient shortcut, and one I assure you carries no shame whatsoever.
Korean Beauty Awards:
1. Glowpick Awards
Allow me to introduce you to Glowpick (글로우픽), a most discerning authority in the realm of Korean beauty. Established in 2014, this review-driven K-beauty platform hosts its illustrious Glowpick Consumer Beauty Awards twice yearly, unveiling the season’s most coveted trends across skincare, makeup, and a host of other beauty indulgences.
Now, unlike certain establishments that may be swayed by generous patronage, Glowpick prides itself on integrity. Their winners are chosen through a most rigorous four-stage screening process, ensuring that spam and sponsored praise are swiftly removed from consideration. A most scandal-free affair, indeed. In fact, they were the first platform to champion such transparency — a move that earned them great admiration among beauty devotees.
Should you wish to peruse the winners yourself, the official website awaits — though, I must warn you, it exists solely in Korean. Yet this small inconvenience has done nothing to diminish Glowpick’s sterling reputation. Quite the opposite, in fact. The awards are now regarded as one of the most trustworthy beauty honours in Korea, placing the power of crowning true favourites firmly in the hands of the people — exactly where it belongs.
2. Olive Young Award
One must first understand the institution that is Olive Young. Imagine, if you will, a Korean equivalent of Sephora — though perhaps more perilous to one’s wallet. Within its walls reside Korean beauty treasures, health supplements, delightful snacks, and lifestyle curiosities, alongside a modest but respectable selection of Western beauty houses such as Benefit, Bobbi Brown, and Urban Decay.
Across the Korean peninsula, Olive Young boutiques appear with astonishing frequency — particularly in Seoul, where encountering one on nearly every street corner is less coincidence and more inevitability. A most dangerous circumstance, for one may enter intending to browse and emerge several hours later, mysteriously lighter of purse and heavier of shopping bag. Matters become even more chaotic during their grand sale events, which occur two to three times a year and test even the strongest self-restraint.
With such commanding presence, Olive Young possesses something quite powerful: knowledge. Each year, they gather purchasing data from millions of customers and transform it into their very own Olive Young Awards (올리브영 어워즈 & 페스타). Held annually toward the end of November, these awards celebrate the year’s most purchased — and therefore most beloved — products.
As a trusted sanctuary for countless Koreans seeking their daily beauty essentials, Olive Young has become a reliable oracle of industry trends. Thus, the Olive Young Awards serve as an excellent barometer of the ever-changing beauty landscape — and, if one is wise, a most strategic shopping guide.
3. Powder Room
Allow me to introduce a true veteran of the Korean beauty society: Powder Room (파우더룸 뷰티 어워드). Long before glossy apps and viral beauty reels ruled the world, this community began its life in 2003 as a humble fan café on Naver, Korea’s beloved search engine. And much like a quiet debutante who later commands every ballroom, it has grown into a formidable beauty authority.
Today, with a community nearing 200 million members, Powder Room is less a forum and more a bustling digital salon. Here, users exchange wisdom on everything from daily life and cosmetics to fashion, shopping, and even food — because, naturally, beauty conversations rarely stay confined to a single topic.
This vast and loyal community has earned Powder Room its reputation as one of South Korea’s most respected and enduring online beauty platforms, offering advice, tips, and clever little hacks that only true enthusiasts could devise.
Naturally, such a knowledgeable society could not resist establishing its own beauty awards. Held every six months, the Powder Room Beauty Awards celebrate the products most adored by real consumers — not merely admired from afar, but faithfully used in everyday routines.
And in a world overflowing with fleeting trends and whispered marketing promises, there is something rather reassuring about beauty honours decided by those who actually finish the bottle.
4. HwaHae
Allow me to present yet another jewel of the Korean beauty realm: HwaHae, a community-driven platform where genuine reviews and heartfelt experiences are shared with remarkable candour. It has rightfully earned its place among Korea’s most esteemed beauty apps.
HwaHae is far more than a catalogue of cosmetic essentials. It offers comprehensive ingredient breakdowns, thoughtful guidance for choosing products suited to one’s skin type, and even convenient purchasing options — all with the elegance of practicality.
Twice each year, in June and November, HwaHae undertakes a meticulous review procedure to determine its rankings. These awards, the HwaHae Beauty Awards (화해 뷰티 어워드), are based exclusively on the votes and ratings of its 10 million devoted users — a veritable army of discerning consumers.
The results are held in the highest regard, both by everyday beauty devotees and by the industry itself, for they provide a rare and authentic reflection of the preferences, tastes, and true opinions of Korean beauty consumers. In short, one may trust these awards as a most reliable compass in the ever-shifting landscape of cosmetics.
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