Forget picky bits and winter coats: M&S has the best Korean Beauty brands on the high street right now
From Anua to Medicube, M&S has become a bit of a hidden gem for nabbing popular Korean skincare buys on the go.
M&S seems to be on a mission to become our one-stop shop for all our hair, skin and makeup needs, and with this latest K-beauty brand launch, it's succeeding.
While you likely already know about M&S' perfume collection (which is touted for featuring very luxe-smelling scents for not-so-luxe prices), the high-street giant is indeed becoming our go-to for other beauty bits too, like beauty advent calendars and, specifically, Korean skincare brands. In fact, the retailer has just announced that Anua products will be joining the likes of Biodance and Medicube on its shelves.
So next time you nip in-store for some festive-flavoured crisps or are browsing online for a chic new deer-print coat, remember you can also treat yourself to some trendy Korean toner pads and ultra-hydrating sheet masks. And in case you're not sure where to start, we've rounded up a few favourites from Marks & Sparks' line-up.
Our 9 picks from M&S' shelves of Korean beauty brands
As mentioned, Anua is the latest K-beauty brand to join M&S' collection, and this serum is one of the brand's most-loved buys. Formulated with PDRN (salmon-derived sodium DNA), hydrolyzed collagen and 11 types of hyaluronic acid, it delivers intense hydration, smoothing rough texture to leave your skin plump and dewy. It features the brand's 'smart capsule technology,' which helps the formula absorb quickly and deeply.
Milky toners are proving very popular right now, and this one from Anua combines rice water, niacinamide, ceramide (NP, AP, EOP), rice protein, hyaluronic acid, panthenol and betaine to strengthen your skin's moisture barrier, all the while supercharging it with lasting hydration. The formula is gentle and seeks to leave you with a glowing and smooth complexion - an ideal buy for those with dry skin, especially in the harsher winter months.
If you're wanting to tackle dark spots, this serum features 10% niacinamide, 4% tranexamic acid and 2% arbutin to target hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It's lightweight and non-greasy and also has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
These sheet masks are one of Digital Beauty Writer Naomi Jamieon's favourite under-£30 beauty buys, thanks to how hydrating and radiant they leave her skin after every use. They are designed to be worn for at least 3 to 4 hours - you can even wear them overnight, which Naomi prefers. As for the formula, these two-part hydrogel masks combine ultra-low molecular weight collagen and oligo-hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin, improve elasticity and help minimise the appearance of pores.
Considered to be one of the best facial sunscreens, Beauty of Joseon's Sun Relief is both hydrating and protective. It blends rice seed water with ingredients like panthenol to moisturise your skin whilst shielding your skin from harmful UV rays. The formula is lightweight and versatile; it applies well under makeup and leaves a lovely dewy finish.
If you're looking to supercharge your skin with hydration, look no further than Medicube's popular jelly cream. Its gel-like formula combines collagen and niacinamide to nourish, firm and moisturise your skin, leaving it with a glassy gleam.
Another popular Beauty of Joseon buy, this serum contains 68% rice bran water and 2% alpha arbutin, and is designed to brighten and improve the look of pigmentation and smooth uneven texture.
If you're keen to try toner pads, these one's from Medicube are designed to target clogged pores. They combine AHA, BHA, panthenol, allantoin, and sodium hyaluronate to exfoliate the skin and clear away sebum, to refine the look of visible, stubborn pores.
Centella is one of Digital Beauty Writer Sennen Prickett's favourite ingredients for calming irritation and soothing her skin's barrier. This cleansing oil blends it with 6 botanical ingredients to gently melt away makeup, sebum and daily grime. It's lightweight and non-comedogenic, so if you're hesitant to try a cleansing oil in case it's pore-clogging, this is a good option for you.
