Decoded Korea

Every K-Beauty product has a list of ingredients printed on the back. Most people skip it. The names are long, confusing, and look like they belong in a chemistry exam. But that list tells you almost everything about what the product actually does. You do not need a science degree to read it. You need three rules and about five minutes. We picked five of the most popular K-Beauty products — all bestsellers at Olive Young, Korea's largest beauty store — and broke down their ingredient lists. By the end, you will know how to read any skincare label. Three rules for reading any ingredient list Rule 1: Order = amount. Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration. The first ingredient is what the product contains the most of. The last ingredient is what it contains the least of. If "Water" is first, the product is mostly water. If "Snail Secretion Filtrate" is first, the product is mostly snail mucin. Rule 2: The 1% line. Somewhere around the m...