Luciana Caramia – K Beauty x Fidenza Village

In fact, in recent years Korea has been able to set trends and redefine technologies and the boundaries of cosmetics in many ways: from active ingredients to formulations, all the way to packaging. Anything that is Made in Korea now sparks attention and curiosity because it stands for innovation. Unlike Western cosmetics, which focus on treating existing damage, Korean cosmetics place the key on prevention. That’s why sun protection is not just a fundamental step in a skincare routine but a true lifestyle, which also includes the use of umbrellas or UV-protective clothing. In Seoul, it is completely normal not only to carry one with you, but also to find large umbrellas at intersections, allowing pedestrians to wait for the traffic light while protected from the sun. Another essential aspect of Korean skincare philosophy is the health of the skin barrier. Healthy skin starts with the balance of its protective mechanisms and its skin microbiota. The goal is to maintain skin that is healthy, well cared for, and resilient. Terms like glass skin or dewy skin have now entered our vocabulary thanks to Korean cosmetics, which have successfully conveyed the desire for hydrated, radiant—indeed “dewy”—skin that is not greasy. How do you achieve this kind of skin? With soothing, hydrating, and antioxidant formulas that even out the complexion, plump the skin, and hydrate it just enough to make it glow. For this reason, I have selected some products for you that you can find at the Pinalli store inside Fidenza Village. These are products I appreciated for their formulations, textures, and also their innovative packaging. Because cosmetics should be functional but also fun to use—and Koreans know this very well!

Let’s start from the basics: for Koreans, double cleansing is one of the essential steps. This is because it helps remove sebum, dirt, pollution, and makeup, refining pores and skin texture. The chemical principle behind it is that oil-based cleansing works by affinity, as oil attracts oil—therefore sebum, sunscreen, and makeup, which are oil-based. A perfect example is this balm from Banila Co., Clean It Zero in the Nourishing version. It is a butter that you massage between your hands and then onto the face to capture every particle of dirt. Its extra-hydrating effectiveness is due to two noble ingredients from Korean tradition: royal jelly extract, rich in vitamins and amino acids, and ginseng berry oil, which improves skin elasticity. I recommend removing it either with a damp cloth or by following up with a foaming cleanser to complete the cleansing process.

If there’s one thing Koreans have gotten us used to, it’s the practicality of pre-soaked pads. How convenient and easy are they to use! These from Abib are among the most famous and loved. The secret of their success lies in the Glutathiosome, meaning glutathione encapsulated in liposomes—a very powerful antioxidant. This Korean technology allows the ingredient to penetrate much deeper into the skin without losing effectiveness. Here it works alongside other incredible actives such as vitamin C, niacinamide, and lactic acid, which together further enhance the brightening effect on spots and discoloration, whether on their own or post-acne (the classic blemish marks). To balance the brightening action, Abib has added panthenol, ceramides, allantoin, and madecassoside (a derivative of Centella asiatica), which deeply hydrate and protect the skin barrier. How do you use these pads? By sweeping them over the face like a toner until they dry, or by applying them as a sheet mask.

Another cult product of Korean skincare is the essence, a category that doesn’t belong to Western beauty philosophy. If I had to explain where an essence sits, I’d say it’s halfway between a toner and a serum. The TOCOBO Bifida Biome Essence has a distinctive feature: it’s a concentrated probiotic essence, formulated to repair a damaged skin barrier, rebalance the skin’s microbiome, and prevent the first signs of aging. It contains a triple complex of probiotics and lactic bacteria that work in synergy, together with niacinamide, adenosine, and centella asiatica to soothe and brighten. In short, a booster that strengthens the skin’s health and radiance, with an incredibly pleasant, fresh texture that isn’t greasy and absorbs in an instant. In summer, with the heat, it could easily replace both serum and moisturizer in a single step for oily skin!

If you have sensitive skin that tends to redness like mine, you’ll love this anti-redness serum by Erborian. It’s one of the brand’s latest releases, which is famous for its BB and CC Creams (the anti-redness one in particular is among my absolute favorites). This serum, with its mix of centella asiatica, bisabolol, and ectoine, aims to soothe the skin and strengthen inflamed tissues. It has a lightweight, fluid green texture that also works optically to instantly reduce localized redness. A very useful product if you have sensitive skin prone to redness.

And here it is, the must-have sunscreen, the final step of any skincare routine worth its name. My latest discovery is Matchati dal Sole by Oksu Beauty, a Made in Korea brand with an Italian heart. The perfect naming isn’t its only strength, because we’re looking at a very high protection sunscreen (SPF 50+ PA++++) that is hydrating and soothing, making both application and reapplication easy. It is infused with Jeju green tea (the famous Korean island), centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol, along with an innovative ingredient that activates the skin’s water channels to prolong hydration. It has a fresh texture that doesn’t feel greasy, leaves no white cast, and works as a perfect hydrating base for makeup.

Finally, as an extra bonus, I’d like to highlight this mask which is a real gem, especially in the summer heat: the Cryo Sorbet Icy Facial Mask by Dr Jart. It comes as a powder that needs to be emulsified with water, then it transforms into a super-refreshing gel to be applied to the face and left on for at least 10 minutes, during which it delivers an incredible decongesting effect on puffiness, enlarged pores, and discoloration. I think it’s perfect for prepping the skin for an event, especially with this scorching summer heat!