These 9 popular K-beauty skincare ingredients have something in common – you’d be surprised by what that is

Green tea, soybeans, camellia oil, and volcanic ash soil are probably some of the most common K-beauty skincare ingredients that many of us have come to know and love.

What you may not know is that all of these ingredients have a common thread: They all come from Jeju, also known as the Hawaii of Korea.

Keep reading to feed your beauty travel bug as we share with you everything you need to know about Jeju’s most popular skincare ingredients, and how you reap the benefits of some of these fortified ingredients.

Green tea

Like other tropical islands, Jeju’s flora and fauna are some of the heartiest and contain the most fortified ingredients – one of which is green tea, which most, if not all, of us are very familiar with.

If you don’t already know, green tea is a skincare gladiator – it’s popular for fighting environmental elements that can accelerate the ageing process, destroying acne-causing bacteria, reducing redness and inflammation, and regulating the production of sebum.

All these benefits can be attributed to its high content of polyphenols, which work as antioxidants to help the skin fight off free radicals. Out of the polyphenols present in green tea, the most notable one is catechin, an antioxidant that fights and prevents cellular damage.

In other words, you can pretty much say that catechins are the heart of green tea’s healing potential.

Green mandarin

Jeju-grown green mandarin is only harvested only for one month a year, making it one of the rarer ingredients that you can find on the island.

This citrus fruit contains an abundance of vitamins that will nurture clear and vibrant-looking skin – and compared to other tangerines, green mandarin contains a higher amount of vitamin C and more than twice the total of polyphenols and flavonoids, which lends the fruit its ability to improve skin tone and delay the onset of ageing on the skin.

This isn’t as common an ingredient you’ll come across in Korean skincare products, but you can find it in Jejuon’s Cuthera Green Mandarin line – more on this later!

Soybeans

You would’ve seen this crop a lot on many Korean skincare products, and the formulas are typically packed ingredients extracted from fermented Jeju green soybeans that strengthen the skin barrier.

That’s because fermented soybean extracts contain a natural form of lactic acid that aids in cell turnover.

Camellia oil

As the island is extremely windy, the camellia plant found there is uniquely high in antioxidants from battling the local elements.

As a result, many skincare brands aim to harvest that potent antioxidant power and combine it with delicate formulations that create a protective layer on the skin to protect it from environmental damage and premature ageing.

Camellia seed oil is considered by many to be the “olive oil of Asia” as it’s a light, easily absorbable oil that’s great for moisturising the skin.

Its bounty of benefits is largely thanks to two fatty acids present in the ingredient: oleic acid and linoleic acid. The former is an excellent occlusive moisturiser, meaning that it seals in moisture and prevents trans-epidermal water loss.

Meanwhile, the latter is great for those who have oily or acne-prone skin as linoleic acid is an integral part of our skin’s sebum. How? Well, a deficiency in this acid makes the sebum thick, which contributes to acne breakouts.

Bija seeds

Bija is essentially nutmeg in Korean, and you know nutmeg as it’s popularly used as a spice in cuisine but did you know that it also has properties that make it an effective skincare ingredient?

Nutmeg has both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, making it useful as an ingredient in both acne and wrinkle-fighting products.

And since it is gentle on the skin, nutmeg powder is also commonly used as an ingredient in facial scrubs.

Nutmeg has also been shown to increase collagen expression in some studies, and the increased production of collagen is good news for us as it can help the skin to heal and increase its strength.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a botanical that has long been used as a spice for cooking for centuries, but this spice is also a highly prized skincare ingredient because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits as well as its ability to function as a tyrosinase inhibitor to treat hyperpigmentation of the skin.

It’s the hero ingredient of Jejuon’s Cuthera Turmeric line, and the brand uses only organic turmeric grown directly with Jeju’s volcanic ash oil to cultivate healthy, moisturised skin.

Lotus

The lotus is arguably one of the sacred flowers of Buddhism and a prominent cultural symbol in Asian cultures, but it also has some serious skincare benefits.

The flower contains naturally occurring antioxidants, flavonoids, fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that not only help with hydration but also increase skin elasticity, soothe skin inflammation, exfoliate with naturally occurring AHAs, help prevent breakouts, balance oily skin, and minimise the look of pores.

Geothermal natural spring water

The island’s super fresh spring water has many brand fans, mainly because it’s famous for being rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium that can be beneficial to skin health, which helps with the skin biome.

Jeju’s spring water is also more alkaline and contains a substantial amount of silicon dioxide, which contributes to glowing and firm skin.

Volcanic ash soil

The tropical island is home to Hallasan, a large currently dormant volcano that dominates the landscape (its last eruption was some 5,000 years ago).

The volcanic eruptions at that time produced hot lava fragments that dispersed across the land, and the volcanic clusters formed are mineral-packed skincare superstars that help to draw impurities from pores while absorbing excess sebum.

That’s the reason why you see volcanic ash in many skincare ranges that target oily and acne-prone skin as the ingredient is known for its oil-absorbing properties and skin-mattifying effect that leave your face feeling squeaky clean without being stripped.

The skincare brand that lets you conveniently reap the benefits of four Jeju skincare ingredients

Now that you know the goodness of some of the popular Jeju skincare ingredients, you’re probably wondering where you can get your hands on some, if not all, of them.

Well, we can tell you how you can enjoy the benefits of three of the K-beauty skincare ingredients – psst, it’ll cost way less than a flight ticket to Jeju.

For green mandarin, you will find them in Jejuon’s Cuthera Green Mandarin line and you can treat your skin to the wonders of turmeric, lotus leaf, and green tea in Jejuon’s Cuthera Turmeric line.

Jejuon Cuthera Green Mandarin line review: Our impression of the skincare range after trying it for two weeks

Suitable for normal to dry skin types, the Cuthera Green Mandarin line comprises five products: Cuthera Green Mandarin Toner (S$34.80), Cuthera Green Mandarin Serum (S$37.60), Cuthera Green Mandarin Cream (S$37.60), Cuthera Green Mandarin Aloe Vera Soothing Gel (S$13.60 for 90ml; S$24.90 for 200ml), and Cuthera Green Mandarin Mask (S$4.90 per piece; S$39.20 for a box of eight pieces).

Apart from unifying the skin with green mandarin, the skincare range is also powered by tangerine flower honey that purifies the skin while offering skin moisturisation.

Here’s what our reviewer, Peony, has to say about Jejuon’s Cuthera Green Mandarin line after trialling it for 14 days.

Skin type: Normal, combination-dry
Skin concerns: Textured skin, dehydration

“I’m usually not a fan of Korean skincare products as I prefer a matte finish for my skin rather than a dewy look – old-fashioned, I know!

Some Korean skincare products I’ve tried tend to feel really heavy on the skin too because the Korean skincare regimen typically involves piling tons of products onto the skin, which is another reason why I stay away from them.

But to my surprise, I actually incorporated this entire series into my daily skincare routine because of how well it’s worked for me.

Although it’s a hydrating skincare range, it doesn’t feel oily at all and all the products come with lightweight and comfortable textures that absorb really easily – and most importantly, without clogging my pores.

The scent is very pleasant and refreshing, I could smell it on my skin even minutes after applying the full routine.

While I don’t exactly have very dry skin, I’ve been getting a bit of flakiness and peeling around my nose. I noticed that within a few days of consecutive twice-daily use, the flakiness actually disappeared.

I also saw a boost in my overall skin health within four days of use, and I noticed improvements in my skin tone and texture after using it for almost 12 days.

My absolute favourites from the Jejuon Cuthera Green Mandarin line are the toner, moisturiser, and sheet mask. I do wish the facial cream came with a spatula as I’m not a fan of digging my fingers into the tub of product.

The serum dropper also seemed like it couldn’t dispense the full amount, so I had to actually use it a few times to cover my entire face but it’s a small inconvenience that I can live with.

Given the affordability of this entire series, I must say this is a high-quality skincare range that is perfect for those in their 20s to 30s.”

Jejuon Cuthera Turmeric line review: Our impression of the skincare range after trying it for two weeks

Meanwhile, the Cuthera Turmeric line consists of four products: Cuthera Turmeric Toner (S$37.60), Cuthera Turmeric Serum (S$39.80), Cuthera Turmeric Cream (S$39.80), and Cuthera Turmeric Mask (S$4.90 per piece; S$39.20 for a box of eight pieces) that work best on normal, combination or sensitive skin type.

Apart from unifying the skin with green mandarin, the skincare range is also powered by tangerine flower honey that purifies the skin while offering skin moisturisation.

Here’s what our reviewer, Lynnett, has to say about Jejuon’s Cuthera Turmeric line after trying it for 14 days.

Skin type: Combination-dry
Skin concerns: Textured skin, dehydration, uneven skin tone, dullness

“I’ve used a range of Korean skincare products before and they work well for my skin most of the time due to the lightweight texture that suits our weather better.

With the Cuthera Turmeric line, my initial concern was that this skincare range would be very heavy on my skin based on my first impression of the products – but the texture of the toner, serum, and moisturiser surprised me on the first application.

They were so lightweight and literally absorbed within minutes, I could actually wear this out even during the day when it’s hot and sunny outside without worrying about it leaving an oily film on my skin.

I also feared that it may smell really strong due to the presence of turmeric but the entire range has a pleasant floral scent that isn’t overpowering at all. If anything, the aroma is really comfortable and soothing to the senses.

After using the entire range in my routine for 14 days, my skin tone has become more balanced and my complexion doesn’t look as dull as before.

Not only that, but my skin also looks healthier and feels softer, smoother, and more supple after using the products too!

My U-zone is no longer as dry as it used to be, and the best part, I did not experience any skin redness or irritation from any of the products as they’ve worked very well for my skin type.

I can safely say that my skin will only look healthier and probably younger if I continue using the Jejuon Cuthera Turmeric line.”

About Jejuon

As you can probably derive from its name, Jejuon develops all its skincare products at the Natural Products Research Centre in Jeju using natural, clean ingredients supplied directly from local farms on the island.

In fact, it’s the only brand in Korea that performs its entire process from start to finish on the island. This means that you can count on Jejuon to deliver the best skincare products that Jeju can offer without a hefty price tag.

Jejuon is exclusively distributed by Btega, one of the first online beauty stores in Singapore that made it possible for its valued customers to pay in both fiat and cryptocurrency.

You can find Jejuon online at Jejuon’s official e-store, Btega, Lazada, and Shopee.

This article is brought to you by Jejuon.