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The following podcast is a Dear media production. Welcome to Breaking Beauty the podcast, all about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty. We're your hosts, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins. Welcome back to Breaking Beauty podcast, everyone. I'm Carlene Higgins, one of your co hosts and this is my other co host, Jill Dunn.
B
Hey, it's Gemini season. We are here in your feeds like we have been every single Wednesday for the past nine years.
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That's right. We are the show all about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty. And we have interviewed everyone from, oh my gosh, Hailey Bieber, tracee Ellis Ross, Dr. Sherene Idris, makeup by Mario. The list honestly goes on and on. We're up over 450 episodes now, over nine years. And, and once a month we do what's called our hashtag damn good episodes. And this is where we review products and we talk about what we're loving, what we have anointed kind of hashtag damn good based on our experience as editors and podcasters over 25 years.
B
That's right. So last month we did a whole roundup about the best foundations for 2026. What we're loving, what we're not loving so much. We did like festive Spring earlier this year as well. And so we have a topic today for our damn good episode that simply can't be ignored. And this is really all in honor of all of Young, the K beauty mega retailer landing here in North America. And this is going to be kind of like your one on one K beauty shopping guide to all of Young. And by the way, this is not sponsored at all. We are sitting here in Los Angeles, not in Seoul.
A
Yeah, that's right. I think the general impression is it's going to be like a Sephora, but entirely K Beauty. How exciting is that?
B
It's, it's so fantastic. So in today's episode, we're basically going to give you the rundown what all of Young is, what you can expect to see stateside, what brands are coming, what are not. We're going to give you sort of like our edit of what is popping off in K Beauty. Whether, you know, we've seen it on Tick Tock or we've tapped into other industry insiders who know what's good. And the reality is that K Beauty, it has just changed everything in, in the whole skincare world, the beauty world, people are playing catch up to the innovation, to the budget, friendliness, the affordability factor. And I'm, I just love that they are coming here planting their foot in the ground in North America. And it can only mean good things for beauty consumers.
A
Yes. We've got a lot of intel ahead. So you're gonna hear about the sunscreens that are hitting and whether you can still get the old K beauty formulas or not. We're gonna unpack that a little bit. We're gonna going to talk about some of the products that are on the top 10 list at Olive Young in Korea. And you'll want to stay tuned till the end of the episode because I have found out about a non K beauty brand that is going to be front and center at Olive Young. I'm going to reveal that at the end of the episode.
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Okay, let's do it. Save me. Forever save me. Hi, I'm Moshe Kasher and I would like you to meet my thick ass thang. I guess that's me. I'm Natasha Leggero.
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We are comedians and we're married and
B
we do a relationship and life advice show called the Endless Honeymoon Podcast. And here's the exciting part.
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We want to advise you we're a no judgment zone. So anything you want to ask about, it's all good.
B
Yes.
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Send us your questions to Endless Honeymoon
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Pod at Gmail and tune in to the Endless Honeymoon podcast on Apple and Spotify, YouTube or wherever you like to listen. So all of Young, it was founded in 1999 in Seoul by CJ Group, which is I guess a big retail giant there. It really dominates the K beauty landscape. There's over 1400 physical stores.
A
Wow.
B
So like in Canada we have shoppers Drug Mart. I believe there's about 1300 Shoppers Drug Mart. So if you compare that, the pervasiveness. Yeah, it is around every corner.
A
Absolutely right.
B
If you think about that, that's how influential it is. And of course, then there's the global online platform. So you can order Olive young to the UK, to the U.S. canada, anywhere around the world.
A
Yes, you can do that right now already.
B
Yes.
A
And then Olive Young is now opening its first store in la, where we are right now. The first store will be opening on May 29, which is later this week. And it's opening in Pasadena to start. And then there's a second one coming out quite quickly. Right, right.
B
In my. One of my favorite malls in la, which is Westfield Century City. They are gonna be opening, they said May or June. I mean, who knows what these things they could roll out a little later. But I think given the excitement and listen, if I worked for all of Young corporate, I would wanna be boots on the ground to get one off the ground and then the next and go home.
A
Yeah.
B
So I'm thinking it will be in quick succession, but the excitement is palpable. We were at dinner last night. Everyone's talking about it.
A
Yes.
B
You know, it is very exciting. There will be around 400 brands at launch.
A
Incredible.
B
And there's going to be features like they have in the Olive Young Soul locations, which is AI powered skin and scalp evaluations. There are diagnostic services and personalized recommendations.
A
And then of course, there will also be an. An online version of Olive Young that is native to the us so that's where you can order it. And it won't be. It won't take so long for shipping. There will be no tariffs. All of that. I believe that's also launching on the 29th.
B
Correct. So then I know we have a lot of Canadian listeners too, and what we can look forward to is that Sephora, they announced in January they're doing the Olive Young store in store. And that's going to be 700 Sephora locations across North America. So we are also getting it in Canada. I connected with the Sephora team this morning. They could not give me a specific date. The sleuthing that I did was later this year. I. I can't imagine that they're not going to have this up and running for a holiday.
A
Yeah.
B
At least in certain locations. My own personal opinion. And then this is also, as a concept, rolling out to the Middle east, the UK and Australia in 2027.
A
Okay. So with all of that, let's get into the top 10 list at Olive Young. On the Olive Young site globally, if you go to their site and click on best Sellers, it says, discover all of Young's bestselling products, updated D based on sales data. So, Jill, the number one brand right now, what do you think it is?
B
Torridin.
A
Not today.
B
Okay.
A
It's that it's number two. Torridin. Number two. But as of today, the day that we're recording this episode, it's Metaheal. Yeah, Metaheal's essential mask sheet set. It's a variety pack of 10 of them. And I think it's just.
B
They were an advertiser on our show a couple years ago.
A
Yeah. And it's a great way to test these products. It's really inexpensive. What do you make of Metaheal? I know you have some of it here.
B
Yeah, well, the Metaheal, their whole thing that they became famous for was the toner pads as well as these sheet masks and the ampoule sheet masks. So the sheet mask that comes in the pouch, but then you add the serum into it. And not to be confused, Metaheal is a different brand than Medicube.
A
Right.
B
Metacube came after Metaheal. But Metacube, there is no denying what a huge monster he kit Meta Cube is. So Meta Heel, I think it's really good for oily skin types because they have these peel pads that I'm holding up here. These ones are for acne skin. They're blemish pads, you know, And I think that they really appeal to the younger customer as well, because the whole toner pad category is so huge, especially with Gen Z. This is like their version of.
A
Right, right. It's that ingredient that we can never pronounce. It's the Madagascide blemish pad. So Madagascide. Isn't that cica? So I think the thing with the that ingredient is that it's meant to be calming in addition to dealing with acne. And I think that's been.
B
Yeah, it's very soothing.
A
Exactly where. I think that's where K Beauty really did come in and takes this calming approach to treating acne as opposed to just like stripping it away.
B
Right.
A
And being really harsh with the skin. I think that's kind of what they're winning there.
B
Cantella Asiatica. Y. Exactly. But certainly Meta Heel put toner pads on the map.
A
They were the pioneer, apparently, of toner pads and not just the peeling kind, like the whole soothing.
B
The ones that glow recipe just came
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out with all model after this, this whole category. So that's the number one selling product. Number two is Tor. You were right. Ding, ding, ding. So this is the Torren Divinity 50 hyaluronic acid serum.
B
Have you tried this, Jill? I have tried this. And why I think this is so popular is like, any skin type can use this.
A
Yeah.
B
It's very affordable and it's like a bestseller for five, six years, I think.
A
Right?
B
Yeah. Like, it is. It is just a staple hyaluronic acid serum, and it's very hydrating. And they have a whole line from Tord.
A
And I think that probably just came out at exactly the right time. When hyaluronic acid first launched, it was affordable. It was like a cold drink of water for your face.
B
Yeah.
A
Made it juicy and plump. And I think that's the one that popped off in K Beauty. And I used the mask this morning. This mask is actually the number two seller. Probably just like super mask. It's a sheet Mask, totally affordable, perfect for when you get off the plane. My skin loved it this morning.
B
You know what they say about that mask?
A
What?
B
That there's a whole bottle of serum.
A
Oh, right, yeah, yeah. Well, there was a lot of product. I spread it all the way to my decolete and on my arms I did.
B
Well, there you go. And do I want to also ask people if they're familiar with. And I can't pronounce. Pronounce this. I'm very sorry, but the Hwa Hae app, this is the top place for beauty reviews in Korea and they are like a Reddit but on steroids. This is, this is like where brands want to be because it's a whole app and it's just for beauty junkies. Right. And it is extremely influential. I think there was like a 18 million downloads of it in like the country. Like, and it is, it is the bible.
A
It's like Reddit where it's user generated, so it's not bought.
B
Correct.
A
Oh, interesting.
B
But they do that, the powers that be that on this app they do do awards.
A
Oh, okay.
B
And so. And so like on all of young. I'm just letting everybody know. You will see that a lot. Where it will say like that mask, it says 2022 Hale Ha. It's H W H A E. I'm so sorry, I don't know how to pronounce that. Beauty awards number one sheet mask. So these are like the most discerning beauty customers.
A
Yeah, yeah. Well, I, I loved it. My skin drank it up this morning. Now the number three bestseller in Korea, which I'm not too surprised about. Astura Auto Barrier 365 Cream. Yes, we love this brand. This is a dermatologist backed line in Korea, kind of like the La Roche Posay of Korea. And their moisturizer is a best selling product. No surprise. Two things to note on that. Number one, we have a new newly formulated one coming. And then the second thing to note is that Astura is actually not coming to Olive Young in North America. It is the number one bestseller in Korea at Olive Young. But we do know that it's at Sephora. Yeah. Number four product is called B Plain Mung Bean PH Balance cleansing foam. I'll be hon. Know nothing about it. Couldn't find the pr. Never tried it. Then we have another metaheal mask set. Number six gel. Do you know anything about the Dalba white truffle first spray serum that I've been seeing all over TikTok lately?
B
I have not, but I have tried the Dalba Essence spf, which is the one Erica Taylor also talked about our show. That one is beautiful. The Essence texture is really, really nice. And I feel like that is an under underappreciated brand in K beauty and based on the name, you almost think it's French. It's D apostrophe A L, B A.
A
That's right.
B
So I don't know about the spray serum. However, I have tried. This is a big trend. I have tried the MetaCube PDRN Collagen Glow Jelly mist serum. I really like this. And then Anua also has one like that. These mist serums are popping off. Big trends.
A
Yeah. So I actually saw Michaela makeup using this on TikTok. Again, whether it was sponsored or not, I'm not sure. It's said to be a moisturizing and firming double layering product that gently wraps the skin with a moisturizing oil that can care for and smooth moisturize give you like this skin glow. So I don't know a lot about it. It's supposed to be an oil serum mix.
B
It kind of the. For everyone who's just watching. By the way, everybody, we're not giving prices today because we don't have that information at the time of recording. We didn't want to lead anyone astray. So what the actual prices will be in store because we could get the prices at other retailers but we didn't want to lead to confusion. It kind of looks like the Caudalie beauty elixir with like the little oil on the top.
A
That's what I was thinking.
B
Yeah.
A
Yeah, exactly. Want to try? Don't have it. And then just to round it out, there's of course a makeup product. Have you tried the. I want to say romund. It's R O M ampersand Nd no, it. You know the brand I'm talking about. Okay. So it's called the Juicy Lasting Tint. And it's just one of these. Just exactly what it sounds like. It's just a really juicy kind of lip gloss. It's won a bunch of awards apparently.
B
Okay.
A
I haven't tried it, but it's. That's on the list as well. Very cute. The very last one is a sunscreen that I have never tried. It's called Round Lab Birch juice moisturizing sunscreen. Have you ever tried that one?
B
Round Lab is the top five brand in. In South Korea. I have not tried that yet, but I've heard tons about it on TikTok.
A
So that one is in the top 10. Apparently. It's won Olive Young awards for five years in a row. It's currently available at Ulta. We don't know yet whether it'll be at Olive Young in the us but it's a moisturizing juicy sunscreen and of course the beauty of Joseon Relief sun rice plus probiotics. Yeah, so you have the old one, I have the new one. Definitely a difference in the texture between all of these newer versions and the original.
B
Save Me Foreign Medicaid is one of our show partners this week. I love that we're talking all about K Beauty in this episode. Well, I have a new K Beauty inspired serum that I need to let you know about and that's from Medicaid. It's their Exo PDRN Prismatic plus serum. It unlocks the power of non invasive vegan PDRN through advanced biotechnology and it's proven to boost skin's natural rejuvenation by 50%. And you've likely heard about PDRN. It originated in Korean clinics with injectable treatments and it's often derived from salmon DNA. But this version that Medicate has come up with is actually a vegan pdrn and like the clinical treatments, it's inspired by Mexo. Medicaid's new Exo PDRN Prismatic plus serum delivers full spectrum rejuvenation results. So we're talking about improving skin health, boosting skin volume, improving skin tone, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and improving skin firmness and luminosity. It also has that triple exosome complex in the formula, so that helps to strengthen the skin barrier and promote a healthier, more radiant looking complexion. And I really like so many Medicaid products. You know, Carlene and I have mentioned many on the show before, from their liquid peptides to their crystal retinol. And Medicaid is a clinically proven British skincare brand known for age defying results. And all of the formulas are dermatologist recommended. If you'd like to try the Exo PDRN Prismatic plus serum, we have a special promo code for you. Visit Medicaid US that's Medik and the number 8 US or the new Medicaid CA that's right for our Canadian friends to discover more Once again, Medicaid US or Medicaid CA and you can use code BREAKING20 to save 20% off your first order. We'll link to this offer in our show notes and on our website.
A
Today's episode is brought to you in part by Alaia Naturals. So as A lot of you know, I'm in perimenopause now, so I've kind of doubled down on my supplements game. One of the things that I've started taking is collagen and that's because as we all know as we start getting older, our collagen reproduction really starts to slow down and it needs to be supplemented. That's what gives us that juicy skin, that elasticity that we want to keep as long as we can. And so it's not about adding collagen creams on your face and expecting them to magically help that way. It's really about what's happening from within. And that's where Alaia Naturals Multi Collagen comes into the picture. Their multi collagen includes five hydrolyzed collagen peptides, not just one or two. Plus they added in msm, glucosamine and chondroitin to round out the formula. Together these ingredients help to support that skin hydration and elasticity, healthier looking hair and nails and your body body's overall collagen production. And you know, we're always paying attention to sourcing and quality around here. At Breaking beauty, Alaia's is made with grass fed, wild caught and cage free sources which I really appreciate. I find it really easy to use as well. I add it to my three o' clock smoothie that kind of gives me that pep and I find it doesn't change the flavor at all. It's got to be really easy and over time that's when you're going to start to see a difference. If you're looking to support your skin from from within with benefits that go beyond the surface, Alaia's Multi collagen is a great place to start and they've given you our listeners a deal so you can try it for yourself. Visit alayanaturals.com beauty and enter code beauty at checkout for 20 off your order. That's a L a Y A N a T U r a l s.com beauty for 20 off your first order.
B
SA the headline here is your favorite sunscreens from Korea are not being sold at all of young in America. So ones you love Beauty of Joseon are going to be different here. And that's it.
A
Yeah, absolutely.
B
So keep ordering from Stylevana if you want.
A
Yeah, exactly. Stylevana.
B
There's this one too which I emptied and I managed to dig it out of my crates. The isn't Tree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel spf.
A
But you can get from Stylevana you can also get from. What is it? Yes too or yes, style. Yes, style. Those ones you can get because they are being shipped directly from Korea. It's going to take longer and you're going to have to pay potentially for some tariffs, but you can get it.
B
Yes.
A
Now, I personally think that K Hair is going to be the next big thing that's going to pop off. So K Beauty and hair care. And Jill, I know you have an experience that's happening correct tomorrow that you're doing right.
B
So this is actually a Japanese, Japanese brand that is rolling out to Olive Young. They came to America last year with Head Spa. It's in Los Angeles. The brand is called Yolu and it's a whole overnight system for your hair and to treat your hair. So it's an overnight rejuvenating scalp serum. There's the shampoo, there's the conditioner, and then there is a hair protectant oil. And when they entered the American market, they did the Head Spa in la and now they're bringing the product line to Olive Young and to Amazon. The range is like 32 to 38 dollars. Very, very beautiful. Like a sphere cap, these kind of like gradient. It looks like a midnight oil kind of idea. And I am so excited about this head spa treatment because I have had a head spa treatment before, but it really was not good. So this I, I and I had very high hopes.
A
Yes, I agree. I'm very sad that I won't be able to catch it. But I would say in terms of nourishment, I think that this one, I hope I'm pronouncing it right. Un of this product is huge in Korea. It's the number one selling Korean hair mask. It's called Deep Damage repair hair mask. So this is really an intensive hair repair mask, not unlike what we have from Olaplex K18. This is like the K Beauty version of that to support your hair bonds. And there's like a keratin complex and all of that. And this product is always in their top 10. And I think it leaves my hair so smooth like this one. I'm actually, I'm almost on empty. Yeah.
B
This is one that is a little controversial online. Like Young. Hate it. Hated it.
A
Oh, interesting.
B
I have used it. I thought it was super smoothing as well. What, what it reminds me of, everybody is when you used to dye your hair at home or if you still do, there's the conditioner that comes in the box. That's always the best conditioner you've ever used. In your life, except it's like a small tube. This gives that same kind of slip to your hair and super, super shiny as well. Very easy to manage.
A
Yeah. They're saying it gives you a glass hair effect. I'm not sure that it's glass hair, but, yeah, you know, we get it.
B
Yeah.
A
Anyway, it ranks really high, and that's a good one. And then I think what's more interesting and novel is the whole VT Cosmetics hair range. And Jill and I, we went to an event last night where. Yeah, I. I was not familiar with the hair. I was more familiar with the iconic. This is The Cica Hyalon rle shot 100. It's completely viral. And Jill, you. You've tried it?
B
Yeah, I did try it. So basically what this is and how it works, it's like micro needles or spicules. We've heard about spicules for a couple of years. And these are fine needle, like, substances that are actually marine derived. They're like fresh water sponges. But when you, like, pump this into your hand, you don't, like, feel anything prickly. It's just like a cream that comes. There's various stages. Like, I tried the real shot 100, that's sort of like. There's 50, 100, 300, 700 goes up from there. I think 100 is a good place to start. And basically these are meant to create little micro channels in your skin. You don't feel anything abrasive or anything. It rubs in like a regular serum. But it's creating these little micro channels in your skin that helps to exfoliate very gently. And someone like me with active acne spots, you can put them on. And then I actually layered their. They have like another. They have a PDRN serum that you can layer on top. And I really liked that combo. It's like an essence, and it's just wild. The success. They told me last night that this is almost always one of the top skincare products at Olive Young, and they've sold 87. More than 87 million units of it around the world.
A
Yeah. Unbelievable. How unbelievable. So it went completely viral. But we. There was a content creator who was at the event last night, and she was so sweet. I wish I could pronounce her name, though. But she told the story about how. Well, actually, before she even went up to talk, I was talking to her personally and she said, it's interesting that to you guys, you know this brand, VT Cosmetics, through the Riedel Shot skincare product. And she said, I only really know this brand through their hair products.
B
Right.
A
And I was like, what? What hair products? And then she went, she very sadly was dealing with cancer. She's very young, like in her early 20s and like lovely, fashionable kind of content creator. And then we went to her channel and like she had no hair obviously from going through chemotherapy. So she was using the PDRN Riedle shot hair ampoule.
B
Yeah.
A
To regrow her hair. And it doesn't really surprise me because we've talked to quite a few dermatologists and such on the show where they do recommend micro needling the forehead line to help serums work better. And there's professional treatments that have happen in offices to help with people with people's hair loss. So I'm not too surprised. This is kind of, this idea is known as liquid micro needling that you could potentially use it. And then I guess the PDRN that's in it would be the active ingredient that's going to.
B
Yeah, like the polynucleotide salmon sperm.
A
Yeah.
B
That's like known for like wound healing and skin repairing. And I will also note that Amy Chang who was on our show, she talked about the viral V.T. reedle shot, the skin care, she was there talking last night about her hair journey. And again I did not know about the riddle shot for hair, but her hair looked amazing and she used it to get thickness around her temples hairline.
A
But what I did realize, and I never would have guessed is that she was doing as a hack. She was using the VT cosmetics riddle shot, the face serum, the face serum on her hairline. And because it had, she told her audience about it and it had popped up so much that the brand created this product because of Amy's journey and because of the hack that she did. So I thought that was quite great. But I think that's the reality is that that a lot of these skincare brands that we're familiar with actually have hair care brands as well.
B
Right.
A
They just haven't launched them in North America yet. So I think what we're going to see is more head to toe beauty from K Beauty. Right.
B
I also, I also saw a headline about K Beauty fragrance. Yeah, the emergence of that.
A
That's right.
B
So I think, well that's probably going to be a platform to introduce these
A
brands, all of these categories. We're going to, we're going to get.
B
Listen, I picture everybody going into the Pasadena store literally with a cart and just like throwing it.
A
Yeah, like pretty much everything.
B
Skincare, masks, hair, fragrance, whatever is new and innovative. Right.
A
I totally agree.
B
I actually am very curious about K Beauty fragrance specifically, like, what that is about. I don't really know.
A
Any idea? We'll have to. We'll circle back on that one, so.
B
Good.
A
So speaking of makeup, I feel like cushion foundations, cushion makeup. We're going to see way more of that. You've talked about tear cheer in the past. One thing that I thought was interesting about that is that apparently tear cheer, I think I learned this from you, was became hugely popular. Popular in North America, but it actually wasn't like the number one brand in Korea.
B
Why they went viral in North America is because they sent their cushion foundations to people of color. Like, are you joking me?
A
Yeah.
B
And then they took. Took a whole bunch of influencers to Korea to get the shades right. And that's really what put them on the map because they put their money where their mouth is and they actually created diverse products because you don't really think about, you know, in. In K Beauty. It was just a blind spot for them.
A
Yeah.
B
Frankly. And so tier. Tier. I think that's what won them over with a lot of people in North America was that storyline.
A
Yeah.
B
For lack of a better term.
A
Absolutely. It was getting attention and no press is bad press, I guess. Well, definitely one of the top 10 at Olive Young is this brand, and I'm probably not going to say it correctly is Jung Sam Mool.
B
Yeah. She just opened a store in Korea.
A
Yeah. So it's a makeup artist LED brand, which I think is really cool. I'm holding the cushion compact. I'm wearing it today. And I. I really do love the finish on this cushion compact. I was wearing it the other day when we were interviewing Nikki Larose and she was asking me what makeup I was wearing.
B
Yeah.
A
So that's the thing with cushion compacts is it gives you like a very. I always say wet. I know you don't like that term, but it's like dewy. It's. Yeah, but it's a type of dewy. It's like water based. It's that cooling idea. It's like hydration without being oily.
B
Right, right.
A
And this particular one, it's like a medium finish, but it still is like juicy. I don't love using it with the pad because I feel like you get too much makeup. So I used it with a brush and I really like it. But I think that's such a great. A great product. So I'm a big fan of that already. That's a celebrity makeup brand with major expansion plans in US later this year, they just did a collab with Devil Wears Prada, too. The other thing to note to your point is that the cushion compact, they are actively expanding shades as we speak. I was watching, like, Tick Tock videos and stuff about this, and it's a whole, like, process that they're doing, so I think that's really important.
B
Then the fwee, we have to talk about them. They're so cute. By the way, it's spelled F W E E. And we're going to link to everything that we're talking about on our website and in the description on our YouTube channel. Just so you know, once we have the proper links to all of Young, we will link that. But this putting blush trend, putting makeup trend, it's like Benefit is copying it. Maybelline is copying it.
A
Yeah, absolutely.
B
These guys are the innovators.
A
Yeah. So Fui, these are the little pots. They're so cute. It looks like, like something I would have adored when I was, like, 8 years old or something. Like, almost like kid, like, makeup. And so the PR confirmed that Fu would be launching the pudding pots at Olive Young, along with the pot and something called 3D cola volume eyes and glosses, Obsession tins, Smoothie lip balms, and the silicone brushes, which is so cool. I'm holding it here. I was applying it in the back of our Uber. It's a little bit mucky, but this is so fun. This is like a Boing Boing jelly texture. And then you use this Boing Boing silicone brush. And it looks like it's not gonna work, but it actually is quite effective. And I really enjoyed using it on my lips because I'm wearing red today, but I don't like a sharp red.
B
Right.
A
You know, it looks so, like, it's such a look. It's way too much. So this blurring effect. Yeah, this soft airbrushed effect is like. It's so good for reds. And so it's meant to be used on lips or cheeks. So I'm using the. This shade on my cheeks right now. This is called nude be. And it's quite pigmented. Like. Yeah, this is quite pigmented. Like, I love these. I will continue using these, and I have some to share with you, Joe. Super perfect.
B
Yeah, I. I know that they were like. They. There was, like, lines around the block when they had their store in New York last year.
A
Everyone needs to try that immediately as soon as they can. This is another big brand in Korea. It's called Clio. This is the Kill Lash Mascara Volumizing mascara. I'm wearing it today. It's fine. It's nothing. Except I wouldn't say. But this product I had never seen before. I don't know if you've seen it. Do you have any idea what this would be?
B
Take off your mascara. Yeah, yeah.
A
Have you seen it before?
B
I've seen the concept before. I've not tried it.
A
Okay. So this is called the Kill Lash Mascara Remover by Clio. And it looks exactly like a mascara. When you open it, it's, like, more liquidy. You can tell that it's. There's something like it's obviously clear.
B
Yeah.
A
And it's designed to be used exactly like a mascara where you have your mascara on and you put it. You just, like, swipe it exactly where your mascara was. You have to use it on both sides of your lashes. Then you let it sit just like, maybe brush your teeth and then come back to it. And then you can use. I just used a Kleenex. And you. And you just press and wipe and it all comes off.
B
I'm gonna say that's a gimmick. Sorry.
A
It works.
B
Sure. But do you need it?
A
No, no. Absolutely not. To be clear, like, there's a lot of gimmicks in K Beauty. I mean, there. It's all about that.
B
Yeah. The phone, the. What's gonna pop on social.
A
Yeah.
B
I'm looking at Medicube right now. This device. Yeah, the Medic Cube Booster. Like, this is the other stuff we haven't even touched on. Like, they have so many devices and gadgets and. And the other thing about Olive Young that I personally am quite conflicted with, and I don't know how much of this they will be bringing to North America, but, like, it is rife with what they call, quote, unquote, wellness, but everything is just about losing weight.
A
Oh, interesting.
B
Thinly veiled. Yeah, very thinly veiled. And it's interesting we talked about this one other time, too, that Sephora had dabbled in that arena of supplements and
A
then completely got out. Yes.
B
But it is a big part of the beauty culture in. In actual Korea.
A
Yeah.
B
These types of. Of products.
A
Yeah.
B
Goodr is supporting our show this week. I've been a fan of Gooder sunglasses for probably eight years at this point. I love them summer after summer. They never let me down because they are functional, they are affordable. They're so much fun to wear. And there's no slip, no bounce, and they're all polarized. So you get glare reduction and you get that UV protection. And Gooder glasses, you can wear them for every day. You can wear them for more active outings like pickleball or boating or golfing, whatever the case may be. For myself for my hot girl walks in the summer, I need my Gooder glasses on my face because if I'm wearing a lot of sunscreen, I don't want to be constantly adjusting a pair of sunglasses so these really stay on your face. There is no slide, no bounce, no distraction. And I got a couple of new pairs for this summer that I'm really excited about. I got the retro GS. They are really fun because they're kind of like an aviator style. They look a little bit more like a fashion sunglass. Like I wore them the other day when I was just sitting on a patio sipping rose. And they were kind of the perfect vibe for that. I also got the Astro G. So these are more of a wrap sunglass, almost like a shield style. So I could see me wearing those when I'm going boating or I'm going for a bike ride or something in the summer. And they have an adjustable nose piece so they really hug your nose, which I appreciate. And Goodr really has something for everyone. There's timeless tortoise shell styles or really on trend colors and frames. If you're ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun and affordable, you'll want to check out Gooder. You can head to gooder.com beauty to claim $10 off your first order. That's G O O D r.com beauty. We'll link to this offer in our show notes and on our website. Website Narwhal is supporting our show this week. I need to tell everybody about something that's made my adulting easier and that is the Narwhal Flow 2, everybody. This is a robot vacuum and mop in one. And it has changed my life, I swear. So I first learned about the Narwhal brand from a salon owner who told me that it's the best robot vacuum that doesn't tangle when it's sweeping hair up off the floor. And as somebody who has long hair, I'm constantly shedding, I was like, tell me more. And I was like, okay. If it can stand up to a salon environment, I need it in my house. So what really sets it apart is the Narwhal. It's a vacuum that actually thinks it's highly intelligent. It uses cloud based AI cameras and an autonomous level chip. It learns your home or your condo's layout. It adapts to Complex environments in real time. It doesn't bump around. It's constantly learning. So you don't have to pre clean your house before it runs and you just, just kind of organize everything from an app on your phone. So even when I'm out of town, I just set the automated cleaning and it takes care of any dust bunnies while I'm not here. And not only does it keep the hair off of my floor, it also mops. So the Narwhal flow too. It solves that dirty mop problem. So instead of dragging a soiled pad across your house, the exclusive flow wash mopping system, it continuously washes the track MOP with 140°F water throughout the entire cleaning cycle. So floors are sanitized. Sanitized with a fresh hot mop from start to finish. And honestly you guys, I dropped some body lotion on my bathroom floor while I was heading out the door and all I had to do was summon the robot vacuum with my app on my phone and it cleaned it up. Like I didn't need to like waste time cleaning it up when I had to be somewhere. It was honestly amazing. It has a hybrid AI system that further empowers scenario based cleaning modes tailored to your laptop life. So they have a pet care mode if you have pets. They also have baby care mode that runs really quietly near cribs and sends notification when toys are left on the floor. So if you want to learn more, you can stop babysitting your vacuum and let AI do the work. Hallelujah. Head to narwhal.com today to check out the new Narwhal Flow 2. That's N A R W A L.com to check out the new Narwhala Flow 2 today. We'll link to this in our show notes and our website site. Now back to the show.
A
Jill, are there any other innovations that you have fallen in love with that you think are going to be like knocked off in no time?
B
Yeah, I think that the whole idea of mask cleansers. Oh and why this is top of mind is because it, it's like basically what just what Joanna Check just talked about out she makes her own.
A
Yeah.
B
Mask cleansers. So mask cleansers are just that. They are multi functional face cleansers designed to also double as wash off face masks with a wide range of benefits like pore refinement which I think is huge in k beauty hydration, improved elasticity. This brand hanu h a n y u L I grabbed the wrong one. But they have one and you probably got a two. And you might have noticed known what it was. But it came with a little brush. The dual ended silicone brush.
A
Yeah, I've used it.
B
The mask, it's. Yeah, it's a cleansing mask.
A
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
B
And then there's another brand, Orencia, that's huge. And popping off right now.
A
Okay.
B
So those. I feel like those trends haven't really been talked about here yet, but that is what everyone is super excited about. Oh, interesting. So you're getting the treatment and the cleansing, which is what Joanna was doing and talking about in her. Yeah, that episode we did. Yeah. So, yeah. Cleansing masks I think are going to be absolutely huge. I also think there's this huge trend of what they're calling Sun Sun Quid, which is like Sun Liquid together.
A
Yes.
B
And it's a new texture innovation that many Koreans are excited about with spf and they actually just approved yet another filter in Korea.
A
Interesting.
B
So it's all. They're never satisfied with the texture, the innovation. There's always room for improvement. So I think we're gonna see that they're like ultra lightweight.
A
Yeah.
B
And then there's another brand that of SPF that people are going crazy for. The brand is called from F R O M R I E R and the name of it is the EGF Sika Water Sun Ampule. So it's the epidermal growth factors and SPF 50. And it's like every TikTok from Seoul where I watch these hauls, they're all talking about that.
A
Yeah. Okay, great.
B
Yeah. Well, Sun Ampule.
A
Yeah, sounds great. I mean we know they do it the best. So as soon as we can get those filters.
B
Right.
A
That sounds like something to try or
B
just go there with a suitcase.
A
Yeah. What else? I feel like there's a whole like Derma cosmetics category that we see from K Beauty for sure.
B
Well, listen, we were just at a D. What did we see there? Yeah, we saw K Beauty brands.
A
Yeah.
B
Lining up to talk to dermatologists.
A
Yeah.
B
And some of them are pharmacy backed, like Dr. Reggiol, that is actually a Korean pharmacist who created that. And then there's brands like ANUA that are just exploding. They have their heart leaf pore control cleansing oil.
A
Yeah.
B
Which is very, very popular. My favorite product then I think has popped off is the, the azelaic acid. A new up 10 plus it's the redness soothing serum. Have you tried this?
A
I have not.
B
Okay, so it's just. It has that cooling effect. On the skin. And I, I am going to empty this.
A
Yeah.
B
Without question. I love it. I love how it. It's not sticky at all. It's just like very, very soothing. And it's. I just love it. And I love their Zero cast sunscreen from anua.
A
That is a beautiful texture. You're totally right, Jill.
B
I'm trying. You got to dig that out.
A
The anua 10 azelaic acid. 10 hyaluronic. Hyaluron. I can never say that word. What is this? Nim.
B
So that's one of the top five brands. And like, they, their, their names are hard to say, so everybody just calls them by their numbers. Like, this is the number five. This is their number one, one best selling serum. And it's like an antioxidant serum.
A
Oh, interesting. Yeah, glutathione.
B
And so it's got. Yeah, glutathione vitamin concentrated serum. Once again, we've talked a lot about glutathione on our show from the supplement brand and I know that glutathione treatments are really popular in Korea as well.
A
It's an antioxidant. Yeah.
B
It's kind of like vitamin C and.
A
Yeah, adjacent.
B
Yeah, exactly. And so everybody loves this. It's really good for, I find, for acne scars, but just brightening in general. General, yeah. And I think people are going to fall in love with this brand in North America again. It's not that well known and something new to discover. Yes.
A
Well, this is going to be my last recommendation. I was really excited to try this one. This is the centillion 24. Ooh. The Medeca cream. Have you seen this around me on Tick Tock? Yeah, I've only. I've started to see this on Tick Tock. I feel like they're seeding it. It's. It's called Medica Cream Time Reverse.
B
Ooh.
A
And to, to me, the way my read of this is, this is kind of like K pharmacy, like the way that in French pharmacy they have the embryolisse creme concentrate, you know, the, the iconic cream. And it's like you can use it five ways. It's like so thick and rich.
B
Yeah.
A
So to me, that's what this kind of is. But the K beauty versions, it's this beautiful, like barrier supporting cream. That. This is a newer version, though it has retinol in it. I tried it and I didn't have any reaction. I only used it once, but I found it felt really nourishing and lovely. If I didn't have my Own retinol appointment. I feel like this is the one that I would try. And the main thing about this one is they say it's formulated with high protein Medica. It's like this super powerful version of Centella Asiatica and really enriched with 30000 ppm of active tika. It's called Teca. So it's giving you that serious anti inflammatory properties with the retinol like.
B
Right.
A
I just love this concept. This is what I was after with Cassatt La Pomade.
B
Yeah.
A
This is a cream and it gives you like nourishment for 24 hours. I want to try the one without the retinol as well. But even this time reverse one they have sold. Sold 80 million units.
B
Yeah. That's up there with the VT RLE.
A
Yeah. And it's supposed to be like a glass skin.
B
Well this one says on it since 1968.
A
So the brand. Yeah.
B
Yes. That's the other thing I was going to say the Dr. Ridgeroll. This is Caton. This is the whole positioning.
A
Yeah.
B
Of this brand.
A
Yeah, got it.
B
And then the other product that's really new and hot up the press and this brand just launched in Sephora as well in but it's the IOPE this stem cell 3 clinical recovery serum like this is definitely verging into that dermatology thermo cosmetics very much. And like this is low key I think going to be the next big superstar brand coming out of K Beauty.
A
Interesting.
B
Charlotte Cho was talking about it. Getting them into Sephora is I think massive for the brand. What I've tried so far I really liked. They have a lot of like Retinol anti aging that's very much positioned for I would say an older demographic where a lot of K beauty skews young. Let's be honest.
A
Yeah, exactly. Well we've given you the best lay of the land that we can. We were trying to to speak speed talk but this honestly could have been two episodes. Oh yeah, that's. That's really all we could cover off. But I have to circle back to what I said Jill which is that there is a wild card brand launching at Olive Young that is not K Beauty at all. Do you want to guess what it
B
is tried and true LA brand? I have no idea.
A
Okay. So in an interesting twist, Urban Decay.
B
Okay.
A
Is going to have a big presence at all of Young us. Who would have thought? And they sent me the information. After success in the Olive Young Korea stores, Urban Decay is set to be a cornerstone of Olive Young launch in The US anchoring the store's grand opening experience in Pasadena with a branded in store pop up alongside other in store features.
B
Okay.
A
So I guess they thought because Urban Decay is so quintessentially LA that they would partner with them and yeah, they're going to be be carrying an assortment of Urban Decay.
B
Interesting. Well, I'm excited and I can't wait. I can't wait till we can actually get in there with our own shopping carts. I'm the type of person, I don't know if y' all are listening like me but like I would kind of steer clear of a grand opening myself. I just can't. It's so too over stimulating.
A
Yeah, absolutely. You know, I will have my own grand opening party online when the website launches with a glass of wine or cup of cup of green tea.
B
Yeah. I think what's interesting too is like this is one of the first times that I can remember really where a retailer is coming where we will probably see way more interest in the online versus the store. Like I remember when Sephora came to the U.S. right. And you couldn't do the online so. Or like a brand like a retailer coming to the market and people not crashing the store. I think they're going to crash the website.
A
Right. It's possible. Thank you for joining us for today's episode. Come and comment on our Instagram on our YouTube. Follow us if you like this episode, share it with a friend and give us a five star review.
B
Yes. And we will link to everything that we talked about. I know that's what you really want is just the shopping list you got. You're like stop talking already. Just give us the list. We're gonna do that in the description box on YouTube as well is in as on our website, which is breakingbeautypodcast.com and we will see you next week.
A
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Podcast: Breaking Beauty
Hosts: Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins
Episode Air Date: May 27, 2026
Episode Purpose:
A deep dive into the grand arrival of Korean beauty retail giant Olive Young in North America, with a comprehensive guide to what’s trending in K-Beauty—insider picks, cult favorites, new innovations, and shopping strategies. The hosts use their editorial expertise to help listeners navigate the overwhelming selection and share both can’t-miss products and items worth skipping.
With Olive Young, South Korea’s Sephora-style beauty mega-retailer, opening its first US flagship in Pasadena, CA, K-Beauty’s influence reaches a new high in the west. Jill and Carlene break down what the Olive Young expansion means for beauty lovers, what trends and categories to watch, and provide an authoritative, firsthand shopping and product guide, spotlighting must-have formulas and emerging innovations straight from Korea.
Quote (Carlene, 01:59):
“People are playing catch up to the innovation, to the budget friendliness, the affordability factor… It can only mean good things for beauty consumers.”
Metaheal’s Essential Mask Sheet Set (#1)
Torridin Dive In Hyaluronic Acid Serum & Mask (#2)
Astura Auto Barrier 365 Cream (#3, but not coming to US Olive Young)
BPlain Mung Bean pH Balance Cleansing Foam (#4)
Dalba White Truffle First Spray Serum (#6) & Essence SPF
Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotic SPF
Rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint & Clio Kill Lash Mascara
On K-Beauty’s US arrival:
“If I worked for Olive Young corporate, I would wanna be boots on the ground… but the excitement is palpable. We were at dinner last night, everyone’s talking about it.”
(Carlene, 05:02–05:22)
On innovation & accessibility:
“K-Beauty changed everything in the skincare world. There’s this calming approach to acne—that’s where they’re really winning.”
(Carlene, 08:57)
On Fwee’s pudding blush trend:
“It looks like something I’d have adored when I was 8… like kid makeup, but it actually is quite effective.”
(Carlene, 30:55)
On viral content and brand adaptation:
“Her hack using the VT Riedle Shot face serum on her hairline went so viral that the brand created a product for it.”
(Carlene, 26:37)
On the upcoming Olive Young US offering:
“[Olive Young] is rife with what they call, quote-unquote wellness, but everything is just about losing weight… It’s interesting, Sephora dabbled in that and then completely got out.”
(Jill, 34:14–34:28)
Jill and Carlene express excitement for US (and Global) beauty fans: Olive Young will offer both cult classics and undiscovered gems, along with a taste of Korea’s fast-paced beauty culture—innovation, accessible luxury, and now, in-store experiences with high-tech touches. Products highlighted range from affordable, function-driven skincare to blockbuster viral hits and playful, innovative makeup. They caution that for some beloved K-SPFs, shopping directly from Korean retailers may remain necessary for authentic formulas.
Final Memorable Moment ([46:33]):
Urban Decay will anchor the grand opening of Olive Young US—a surprising nod to local roots paired with global trends.
“We’ve given you the best lay of the land that we can… this honestly could have been two episodes!”
(Carlene, 46:12)
Tone & Takeaway:
Comprehensive, upbeat, and pragmatic: Jill and Carlene bring deep context as beauty editors plus hands-on testing for a thorough, trustworthy rundown. Listeners gain not just a K-Beauty product shopping guide, but also a cultural cheat sheet for this next phase of global beauty retail.