Guide to gift-giving K-beauty skincare, makeup, and other goodies

The most wonderful time of the year is finally here. We’re excited to hear the carols, enjoy the festivities, and witness the twinkling lights of this holiday season. Of course, it’s also the perfect time to hang up those stockings and exchange gifts.

Ho ho ho! We know that donning your Santa hat can be exciting, especially since there are a lot of choices out there. We’ve got you covered, however. Whether you’re looking to buy Korean skincare and need help choosing according to skin type, or you want to give makeup or other goodies and want to browse your options—call us Santa’s Little Helpers because we made you a gift-giving guide, perfect for the coming holidays!

K-beauty gifts for oily skin

Oily skin is a skin type where your sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, an oily substance whose main role lies in protecting and hydrating the surface of your skin. Too much of a good thing can be bad, however, and excess sebum leads to a greasy or shiny appearance plus clogged pores which can then lead to acne.

If you or the person you’re gifting has oily skin, then we recommend getting the following Korean skincare to help control and balance out the oil.

Hanskin BHA Pore Cleansing Balm – The first step to controlling oily skin is making sure that you properly wash and cleanse your face. This deep cleansing balm is formulated with salicylic acid which is absorbed deeply and quickly into skin to help unclog pores, target blackheads, and reduce excess oils.

 

 

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream – Say it with us: oily skin needs moisturiser. Not using any can actually push your skin to produce more oil to make up for the lack of hydration and moisture. The key is finding a non-greasy, lightweight yet moisturising product to balance everything out. This Birch Juice cream creates a vitamin moisture barrier for your skin and provides hydration that lasts until 48 hours—all without the heavy, greasy feeling you would expect from a powerhouse cream.

 

 

Isntree Mugwort Calming Clay Mask – A good mask is an oily girl’s best friend. Adding one in your giftbag is perfect for the holiday season! This mugwort clay mask, in particular, is a wash-off mask that deals with excess sebum, purifies pores, and clears out dead skin cells for a fresh and bright look that matches the holiday cheer.

 

 

MARY&MAY Specially For You Gift Set – This Gift Set includes the MARY&MAY Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum which targets and improves skin troubles all while cleaning and unclogging pores. It has a light formulation that absorbs quickly without any sticky feeling. In addition, the set also includes the Sensitive Soothing Gel Cream which is a moisturising cream that cools and calms tired skin.

 

 

🎄 Want to add more to your gift bag? Shop our complete collection, handpicked for those with oily skin HERE. 

K-beauty gifts for dry skin

As December rolls in with harsher winds and colder weather, let’s light a little candle in our hearts for our friends with dry skin—they need the support. The most wonderful time of the year is actually not great for them because the drier air and frigid temperatures can exacerbate skin concerns (scaling, flakiness, redness, etc) related to or caused by dry skin.

If you’re here for ideas to help out a loved one with dry skin, or if you want to give yourself a little treat, we’ve got you covered.

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence – This one’s a cult-fave and something you should definitely add to your wishlist. The snail mucin essence is a good fit for people with dry skin since it provides long lasting hydration and skin elasticity all while preventing moisture loss. In addition, it helps repair skin damage to help you get glowing, healthy skin.

 

 

NACIFIC Fresh Herb Origin Cream – This nourishing cream provides deep moisture without the stickiness. It is formulated to soothe skin, brighten the complexion, and lock in moisture for a youthful glow that looks and feels good. 

 

 

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Water Mask – Sheet masks are quick and fun ways to give your skin some love. This sheet mask, in particular, is great for dry skin since it contains 5 types of hyaluronic acid for deep moisture and intense hydration.

 

 

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Trio Set – If you prefer the convenience of gift sets, this trio covers the essentials when it comes to moisture and hydration for people with dry skin. The Missha gift set includes the Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Skin Essence, Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Emulsion, Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Cream, and a bonus 10-pc pack of Missha cotton pads.

 

 

🎄 Want to add more to your gift bag? Shop our complete collection, handpicked for those with dry skin HERE.

K-beauty gifts for combination skin

Having combination skin can be difficult since you are essentially caring for more than one skin type, often to the extremes—some areas are oily, you can have dry patches, breakouts, or even experience sensitive skin. It can be frustrating so if you’re thinking of getting a gift for someone with combination skin, here are some Korean skincare products to consider.

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner – This is an intensely hydrating formula which nourishes, revitalises, and heals skin—especially from blemishes and dry patches. Despite having only 7 ingredients, it is packed with minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory components, and nutrients which improve skin elasticity and gives you a healthy glow.

 

 

AXIS-Y Heartleaf My Type Calming Cream – This cream is a good gift for combination skin types since it is lightweight yet deeply moisturising. It’s formulated to target dryness without being too heavy—exactly what you need when juggling different skin concerns. In addition, the “Calming Cream” gets its name from its main ingredients: Heartleaf which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and Centella Asiatica which boosts skin’s healing.

 

 

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide – Born from the iconic Korean skincare brand, this serum is made to manage sebum production while ensuring proper hydration for your skin. While it is formulated for acne-prone skin, it’s also a great addition to your skincare kit if you have combination skin since it contains propolis which helps soothe skin, niacinamide to brighten and even out the complexion, and turmeric which helps protect the skin from free radical damage.

 

 

COSRX All About Snail Kit 4-Step – Give the gift of nourishment and care. This set from COSRX is not strictly formulated for combination skin types. However, its skincare benefits include soothing red, sensitive skin after breakouts, treating dry patches, improving acne, and zapping hyperpigmentation. The Advanced Snail set includes mini versions of the Gel Cleanser, Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, Peptide Eye Cream, and Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream.

 

 

🎄 Want to add more to your gift bag? Shop our complete collection, handpicked for those with combination skin HERE. 

K-beauty gifts for acne-prone skin

Acne is one of the most frustrating skin concerns to have. While most of us only have to deal with this from time-to-time, people with acne-prone skin are more susceptible to breakouts and pimples.

It may seem hopeless to some but healthy skin is still possible despite the frequent breakouts—it’s all about the right skincare and patience. So dear Santa, if you’re looking to gift someone who has acne-prone skin, these are the K-beauty products on our Nice List.

Mixsoon Centella Asiatica Toner – Centella Asiatica (also known as “cica”) is the queen of acne-fighting ingredients, often regarded as a gentle yet effective pimple preventer. Mixsoon utilised this to create a toner that soothes irritated and inflamed skin. Alongside its calming effects, it also offers lasting hydration for softer, healthier skin.

 

 

Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum: Green Tea + Panthenol – This is a gentle and calming serum made to moisturise, sooth irritated skin, and help reduce oil and sebum production. It contains Centella Asiatica, mugwort, and naturally derived Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine). 

 

 

AXIS-Y Spot the Difference Blemish Treatment – A good spot treatment goes a long way when dealing with acne-prone skin. This blemish treatment provides relief for breakouts by taking the approach of nourishment and hydration instead of simply drying out blemishes (a move that risks stripping and damaging skin). It is also formulated with various acne-fighting ingredients which includes tea tree extract, green tea leaf extract, and more.

 

 

ABIB Heartleaf Calming 2-Step Set – Heartleaf extract is a known and rising star in the acne-fighting department. It reduces acne, soothes irritated skin, is actually non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores, and helps moisturise skin when used as a humectant. This set from Abib includes the Heartleaf Foam which is a mildly acidic acne foam cleanser, Heartleaf Toner, and Heartleaf Emulsion which gently exfoliates skin.

 

 

🎄 Want to add more to your gift bag? Shop our complete collection, handpicked for those with acne-prone skin HERE.

K-beauty gifts for mature skin

Glowing, healthy skin is ageless—everyone deserves to feel happy and comfortable in their own skin. If you’re looking for well-aging gifts or products to counter premature aging, we’ve got great picks for you! 

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum – Retinol is a must-have when it comes to well-aging. Our pick is formulated with triple retinol (retinol + retinal + bakuchiol) to boost skin elasticity, make skin firmer, and improve the appearance of wrinkles. Retinol can be infamous in skincare circles but this serum is formulated to be gentle and moisturising.

 

 

Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Enriched Cream – Made with fermented black tea (Kombucha), this nourishing cream helps your skin feel firmer and smoother all while targeting fine lines and wrinkles. Packed with other powerhouse skincare ingredients like ginseng, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, it’s the perfect pick for a moisturiser that hydrates and revitalises.

 

 

Purito Centella Green Level Eye Cream – The delicate and sensitive skin under our eyes can often be ground zero for wrinkles. This eye cream uses a blend of 4 peptide elements to improve skin firmness and wrinkles. In addition, it uses Centella Asiatica which works wonders when it comes to calming sensitive skin.

 

 

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Special Set 5X – Start every day with balanced, healthy skin. Perfect for mature skin types, this set helps improve skin elasticity, wrinkles, pigmentation, and many more for a youthful glow. The Time Revolution set includes the Repair Ampoule 5X, Repair Ampoule Cream 5X, and the First Essence 5X per box.

 

 

🎄 Want to add more to your gift bag? Shop our complete collection, handpicked for those with mature skin HERE.

Mix-and-Match sheet masks in your gift bag

If you want a more fun and less straightforward gift, try creating a care package filled with different sheet masks to match different moods. This gift can be enjoyed for quiet, solo nights in or a relaxing spa day with friends—each with their own favourite sheet masks.

You can add in as many sheet masks as you want but here are a few recommendations to get you started.

Benton Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack – This mask is made to soothe, improve dull skin caused by blemish and dryness, and improve skin elasticity. If you like the nourishing effects of snail mucin or the calming skincare benefits of bee venom, then this mask pack is a shoo-in for your gift bag.

 

 

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Watergel Sheet Ampoule Mask – A good match for those in the throes of an active acne breakout, this mask helps skin heal and repair all while replenishing hydration levels and strengthening the skin barrier. Unlike most masks, this one uses a special fabric with natural tencel and processed bamboo-derived fibres which increase ampoule absorption and provide hydration for a longer period.

 

 

 

Missha Airy Fit Sheet Mask ALOE – Missha sheet masks are ultrathin with high adhesion so you can make sure that the product is spread evenly across your skin. The aloe extract helps improve moisture retention and strengthen skin all while providing a refreshing feeling. If aloe isn’t for you, you can find different variants under the Airy Fit sheet masks.

 

 

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Mask – A major player in well-aging is retinol—and this sheet mask is soaked in an essence formulated with triple retinol (retinol, retinal, and bakuchiol). It boosts skin elasticity and improves the appearance of pores, wrinkles, sagging, and rough skin. This sheet mask also uses patented elastic-liposome technology so active ingredients are absorbed deep into your skin.

 

 

 

Barulab The Clean Vegan Vitamin C Mask – Squeeze in some vitamins with this skin brightening and revitalising mask. It is formulated with vitamin C and niacinamide to improve dull skin and uneven skin tone so you can look livelier and more energised.

 

 

More K-beauty gift ideas to put into your stockings

We get it. Sometimes, finding out someone’s skin type (especially for a surprise gift) is not as easy as it seems or maybe you just don’t feel like giving bottles of skincare this year. If you want other fun and colourful gift ideas, we’ve handpicked some K-beauty care items that may just be what you're looking for.

Mizon Collagen Eye Gel Patch – Moisturise, brighten, and plump the under-eye area for a youthful glow that’s always ready for the holiday festivities. These hydrogel patches lock in moisture and prevent drying and sagging. Containing collagen, they improve skin elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness. No more tired and dull undereyes!

 

 

Rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint – Every makeup kit needs its own Juicy Lasting Tint. These Rom&nd lip tints are beloved staples in K-beauty circles around the world. It leaves your lips moisturised, soft, and shiny like fruit candy. It also leaves a subtle stain when applied which leaves a cute tint to your lips.

 

 

MASIL Head Cleaning Massage Brush – Gifting this is like giving a mini spa day to your loved ones. The Masil Head Cleaning Massage Brush whips shampoo into a thick foam which covers your hair roots. It helps thoroughly clean your scalp and improves blood circulation, leaving anyone who uses it happy, clean, and relaxed.

 

 

Moremo Scalp Shampoo Clear and Cool – Scalp care is skincare. This deep scalp purifying shampoo gets rid of flakes and dandruff for a clean, fresh, itch-free feeling. It is formulated with a gentle salicylic acid to deal with the dandruff, Phytoncide Complex with purifying properties to keep your scalp and hair healthy, and Peppermint oil as well as menthol to provide freshness.

 

 

La’dor Premium Morocco Argan Oil – In addition to happiness, the holidays are all about treating yourself and indulging. This hair care product contains Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Olive Oil to nourish and moisturise hair to an undeniable shine. The natural formulation also prevents any sticky feeling when used.

 

 

Needly Sensory Hand Cream – With the cold season, dry skin is widespread—especially with your hands. The Needly Hand Cream is highly moisturising with a light and soft buttery texture paired with a velvety finish. It applies smoothly and leaves your hands soft to the touch.

 

 

Banila Co Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm Original – You can never go wrong with a classic. The Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm is a hypoallergenic cleanser with a 3-in-1 function: lip and eye makeup remover, cleansing oil and foam cleanser, and a skin hydrator. It is formulated with all skin types in mind and uses a proprietary blend of actives to effectively clean your face without disrupting your skin’s natural moisture balance.

 

 

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K-beauty is the gift that keeps on giving—the more you use it, the happier and brighter your skin gets. If you're thinking of gifting some K-beauty products to yourself or your loved ones, we hope this guide gets you on the right track. Enjoy the holidays, Peaches! May you have joyful and glowing days ahead.