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Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting-Edge Skincare and Makeup
Kerry Thompson and Coco Park, the writers behind the influential beauty blogs, Skin & Tonics and The Beauty Wolf, come together to bring you Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting-Edge Skincare and Makeup.
With advice on how to assess your skin, build a routine, and apply and shop for a wide variety of makeup products, this guide shows you how to achieve the look of flawless, radiant skin—with makeup—and without! This guide is your gateway into the alluring and sophisticated world of Korean beauty—for all skin types and ethnicities.
From the multi-step Korean skincare routine to chic Seoul-inspired makeup looks, this full-color handbook offers product explanations, advice, tutorials, and insider information that will have you immersed in the trendsetting beauty culture of South Korea in no time.
Kerry’s blog, Skin & Tonics, has a loyal cult-following thanks to her in-depth, scientifically-informed reviews and skincare tips, with a particular focus on Korean beauty products and Asian skincare philosophies. Kerry’s enthusiasm for skincare began at a very young age and eventually grew into a passion for documenting her skincare adventures and sharing them with the world. Her mission is simple: try emerging skincare products from all over the globe, and distinguish between marketing hype and legitimately effective solutions. Kerry can often be found perusing peer-reviewed clinical research, or speaking with cosmetic chemists and industry insiders. As an early U.S. adopter of the Korean beauty philosophy, her relationships in the Korean beauty industry and continuing quest for knowledge make her an ideal guide to the unique and seductive world of Korean skincare.
Coco Park is a digital journalist, artist, and the beloved beauty writer behind the heavily followed blog, The Beauty Wolf, which features art and reviews dedicated to Korean makeup and skincare products. Coco also works as a freelance K-beauty correspondent, and is a repeat guest beauty author at XOJane. She’s been featured in numerous Korean beauty articles in a number of publications, including Fast Company and The Daily Mail. Coco, a certified esthetician and makeup artist, has lived and worked in Dallas, NYC, Toronto, and Montreal. Her lifelong immersion in the beauty industry and specific, in-depth knowledge of Korean beauty trends make her the perfect adviser to lead you through the exciting, ever-changing world of Korean beauty.
With advice on how to assess your skin, build a routine, and apply and shop for a wide variety of makeup products, this guide shows you how to achieve the look of flawless, radiant skin—with makeup—and without! This guide is your gateway into the alluring and sophisticated world of Korean beauty—for all skin types and ethnicities.
From the multi-step Korean skincare routine to chic Seoul-inspired makeup looks, this full-color handbook offers product explanations, advice, tutorials, and insider information that will have you immersed in the trendsetting beauty culture of South Korea in no time.
Kerry’s blog, Skin & Tonics, has a loyal cult-following thanks to her in-depth, scientifically-informed reviews and skincare tips, with a particular focus on Korean beauty products and Asian skincare philosophies. Kerry’s enthusiasm for skincare began at a very young age and eventually grew into a passion for documenting her skincare adventures and sharing them with the world. Her mission is simple: try emerging skincare products from all over the globe, and distinguish between marketing hype and legitimately effective solutions. Kerry can often be found perusing peer-reviewed clinical research, or speaking with cosmetic chemists and industry insiders. As an early U.S. adopter of the Korean beauty philosophy, her relationships in the Korean beauty industry and continuing quest for knowledge make her an ideal guide to the unique and seductive world of Korean skincare.
Coco Park is a digital journalist, artist, and the beloved beauty writer behind the heavily followed blog, The Beauty Wolf, which features art and reviews dedicated to Korean makeup and skincare products. Coco also works as a freelance K-beauty correspondent, and is a repeat guest beauty author at XOJane. She’s been featured in numerous Korean beauty articles in a number of publications, including Fast Company and The Daily Mail. Coco, a certified esthetician and makeup artist, has lived and worked in Dallas, NYC, Toronto, and Montreal. Her lifelong immersion in the beauty industry and specific, in-depth knowledge of Korean beauty trends make her the perfect adviser to lead you through the exciting, ever-changing world of Korean beauty.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2015
50 people are currently reading
582 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 28, 2016
I'm giving this one a 3.5. Not going to lie, I was slightly underwhelmed with this book. I'm a huge fan of both the authors (Skin and Tonics is how I got into Korean skincare in the first place) and therefore thought I would learn some new insights or tips. However, if you're a regular reader of Korean skincare/beauty blogs, then there's really nothing new here for you. Having said that, this book would be TERRIFIC for any beginners/people just starting to discover Korean beauty and skincare. If I was a dabbler myself, then I most definitely would have given this book 4 stars. I really think they should have named it 'A Practical Beginners Guide'. Overall though, this is a solid book, you can tell they've put a lot of work into it. So, well done Kerry and Coco :).
July 20, 2017
This is my second book on Korean beauty, so I'm coming into this with a little background on the subject. I still think that this book definitely still dropped some knowledge on me. Since Korean beauty routines can vary so much, it was interesting to see a different take on the process than what I'm used to. I also liked that there were pictures of products and recommendations from people that use them. I think that this book would give any beginner a decent grounding in the subject.
But it was definitely not a perfect book for me. Alright, so where I said Charlotte Cho's book didn't go into enough detail for me, this book went into TOO much detail. I don't need to know every single chemical formula's name, that is kind of a bit much. I also had no interest at all in the makeup "looks". I actually didn't think any of the combinations looked all that great, and the whole chapter felt like it was bogged down in trying to sell products rather than demonstrate their uses. It could be my perception, but that's what it was like for me.
Overall, this was a decent guide and well worth the few hours I spent reading it. I'm also going to keep my copy for future reference if I need it.
But it was definitely not a perfect book for me. Alright, so where I said Charlotte Cho's book didn't go into enough detail for me, this book went into TOO much detail. I don't need to know every single chemical formula's name, that is kind of a bit much. I also had no interest at all in the makeup "looks". I actually didn't think any of the combinations looked all that great, and the whole chapter felt like it was bogged down in trying to sell products rather than demonstrate their uses. It could be my perception, but that's what it was like for me.
Overall, this was a decent guide and well worth the few hours I spent reading it. I'm also going to keep my copy for future reference if I need it.
December 25, 2015
I liked this book quite a bit- for people who aren't familiar with Korean beauty products, I'd probably give this 4 or 5 stars. It was a 3 star for me personally because I have a routine that works well for me...I was hoping for some additional tips or tricks, but I'd already come across a lot of the material via blogs and the Asian Beauty Reddit. However, for newbies or someone who wants all of the basic info in one spot, this is the book!
January 9, 2016
It was a disappointment. 2/3 of the book is bloggers' beauty routines with no pictures of products((( For me it was useless, because only one girl has a same skin problem as mine.
August 9, 2016
This was a good read for beginners (me) and I found it very informative. One thing is that I wish I bought a hard copy (I got the ebook from my library) as there are so many names and definitions that I know I will need to reference it in the future when searching for specific brands or products they recommend using.
March 13, 2016
An excellent primer on Korean skincare and cosmetics, but needs a chapter or two featuring skincare for wrinkly old ladies who aren't, you know, battling acne.
November 3, 2016
I like how this book had real life beauty regimen examples from various women. Although I would appreciate a few perspectives from women in their thirties, forties of various ethnic backgrounds.
February 22, 2020
Enjoyed the first-half about skincare, where the book talks about Korean brands and products as well as the many ingredients and their properties. I liked how there were a wide range of recommendations from many different brands without it being over-commercialised or coming across like sponsored content. I found it informative and interesting even though I'm not new to the Korean skincare scene and have read similar books.
The book went downhill for me during the second half as I'm not much of a make-up user. I skimmed through most of it and skipped eye makeup entirely. But from what I still believe is an objective point of view, this portion is dull regardless of my non-existent habits because, like what the book repeatedly says, most Korean makeup comes only in a few shades (not including lippies and the like, of course). So it was kinda repetitive when they introduced popular foundations and concealers etc (e.g. listing the many benefits of a BB cushion before saying the only downside is the lack of shades).
I found the final portion of the photoshoots and makeovers to be very ehhh as well as it's not something I can see myself every being interested in or skilled enough to pull off.
The book went downhill for me during the second half as I'm not much of a make-up user. I skimmed through most of it and skipped eye makeup entirely. But from what I still believe is an objective point of view, this portion is dull regardless of my non-existent habits because, like what the book repeatedly says, most Korean makeup comes only in a few shades (not including lippies and the like, of course). So it was kinda repetitive when they introduced popular foundations and concealers etc (e.g. listing the many benefits of a BB cushion before saying the only downside is the lack of shades).
I found the final portion of the photoshoots and makeovers to be very ehhh as well as it's not something I can see myself every being interested in or skilled enough to pull off.
March 17, 2018
Seems more like advertising for "known" brands, and it's told from the perspective of Western users so there is no REAL Korean level knowledge of why some ingredients are better as oppose to others. This might be OK for a younger reader with basic knowledge of cosmetics or someone just starting out with K-beauty and looking for tips on what brands to begin with, however this is not a book for seasoned Korean beauty users or those who have very problem skin (since several of the brands and recommendations will make problem skin go crazy!)
April 6, 2019
It was interesting to learn about the different terms and ingredients and their uses, and also a bit on make up and how to blend stuff. I think the most that I'll ever use for make up would be the eyebrow pencil? I thought that this book serves well as a gateway into basic Korean products and ingredients.
October 24, 2022
Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting-Edge Skincare and Makeup lists K-beauty brands; describes skincare products and products like cushion makeup; explains the multi-step skincare regimen; recommends particular products; and provides a Korean to English glossary. It's a manual or reference book on K-beauty.
March 19, 2018
A beginner primer, has lists of ingredients and what they can do for your skin which I found really helpful. While the book itself wasn't super amazing in any way, they definitely give some good information and so I enjoyed it for that reason.
June 9, 2020
I love the skincare part especially a part which explains about the ingredients. The cheat sheet was also helpful. But i didn't read the part about their routine example and the makeup part, also i think some of them were unnecessary. It could be helpful for others tho.
July 15, 2021
Great book for beginners who are not familiar with Korean beauty, it’s skincare routine and ingredients. I wouldn’t recommend this to people with already good skincare knowledge. I’ve anticipated a bit more from this book, however the makeup part was new and interesting to me.
April 17, 2019
Lots of great information!
May 15, 2019
Informative. But it's nothing that you can't find on YouTube channels like Wish Trend for skincare or Pony Syndrome for makeup. Probably for absolute beginners in the Korean skincare regime.
July 24, 2023
Trochę szkoda, ale miałam wrażenie, że książka powstała głównie dlatego, żeby polecać produkty. Mimo to, fajnie było poczytać
March 12, 2024
A great overview of Korean skincare, with perhaps too much detail in the skincare and not enough in the makeup tutorial parts. The example routines were great though!
August 4, 2016
About a month ago, a good friend and I have been discussing skincare and makeup. Specifically, Korean products. She had been doing a lot of research on the subjects as had I. Although, not as extensive as her.
I stumbled upon a couple of books on K products and Kerry Thompson and Coco Park's Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting Edge Skincare and Makeup was one of them. In it, the two bloggers break down K products very easily, throughly, and coherently.
They also get bloggers, who also specialize on the use of K products, to explain their day and night beauty routines as it is a very in depth process. In America, the skincare process has usually three steps: a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Using a Korean based skincare routine adds 3 to 6 more steps depending on an individual's skin needs.
Thompson and Park also described different makeup products and techniques that are popular in the Asian culture. What I found most informative was the breakdown of which products to use depending on your skin type and what keywords to look for.
Also, the different websites and stores that carry K products was also helpful. This had been something I have been wanting to do for awhile now and Korean Beauty Secrets works really well as a reference
I stumbled upon a couple of books on K products and Kerry Thompson and Coco Park's Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting Edge Skincare and Makeup was one of them. In it, the two bloggers break down K products very easily, throughly, and coherently.
They also get bloggers, who also specialize on the use of K products, to explain their day and night beauty routines as it is a very in depth process. In America, the skincare process has usually three steps: a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Using a Korean based skincare routine adds 3 to 6 more steps depending on an individual's skin needs.
Thompson and Park also described different makeup products and techniques that are popular in the Asian culture. What I found most informative was the breakdown of which products to use depending on your skin type and what keywords to look for.
Also, the different websites and stores that carry K products was also helpful. This had been something I have been wanting to do for awhile now and Korean Beauty Secrets works really well as a reference
November 20, 2025
It was very insightful. I learned a lot about Korean Make-up brands, skincare, and even their history. Honestly, I started this new beauty regiment; after reading this book. And I have to admit, some things worked, other didn't. However, I feel that's because I had to leave room for errors and trails. And thanks to that, I was able to find out a lot about myself and works for me. Thanks to this, I found out I'm a combination skin alongside the fact that I also have really sensitive skin. And I learned, what's needed for my skin. Personally, I trust in all the books I've read about skincare and make-up that I somewhat became a beauty expert for myself and others, like my close friends. And thanks to that, I was able to help many people clear up their skin and choose out what they needed in terms of make-up when it came to their skin. Honestly, it has been a wild ride! But, I would love share all these knowledges. So #girls #loveableguys know I gotchu with this. #beautycomesinallshades
July 26, 2016
Loved it...
This little book provides a variety of options for the kbeauty product enthusiast. If you are an expert and have your skin care routine down pat I might forego purchasing this book but for someone like myself who he researched a lot but only began a skin care regime 3months ago, this was perfect.
As someone with dark skin I appreciated the three makeup looks they presented. They also showed other looks the could be duplicated with American products for darker skin tones.
This little book provides a variety of options for the kbeauty product enthusiast. If you are an expert and have your skin care routine down pat I might forego purchasing this book but for someone like myself who he researched a lot but only began a skin care regime 3months ago, this was perfect.
As someone with dark skin I appreciated the three makeup looks they presented. They also showed other looks the could be duplicated with American products for darker skin tones.
December 30, 2015
Okay, so I love this book. I'm a long-time reader of both Kerry and Coco's blogs (Skin&Tonics and The Beauty Wolf, respectively), so their joint book definitely made its way onto my Christmas list.
And then I read it all in one night after I got it. I took notes - I now have a little notebook outlining my skin type, my skin goals, and ingredients to look for in products. The section on skincare ingredients and their effects is truly enlightening. All aboard the snail and propolis train!
And then I read it all in one night after I got it. I took notes - I now have a little notebook outlining my skin type, my skin goals, and ingredients to look for in products. The section on skincare ingredients and their effects is truly enlightening. All aboard the snail and propolis train!
September 6, 2016
I love a good in-depth look into skincare and science, and it was pretty informative even to someone who has consumed a metric ton of blog posts and kept fairly up to date with corean skincare in the last five or so years. excellent advice for anyone looking to build a skincare routine or adjust parts of a well-loved one to pinpoint issues for problem-solving or achieve more of the wishlist (stable, well-moisturized, even-toned skin!).
June 29, 2016
This book teaches you the basics on Korean skincare & makeup but it's nothing special if you're more advanced in the topic. It's a good read for people who have just discovered Korean makeup as it teaches you the basics of it from skincare to the styles and applications of Korean makeup. It also provides a lot of helpful tips, tricks and advice.
December 11, 2017
A little bit of info about Korean skincare culture, lots of lists of products and manufacturers, and lots and lots of pointless pages about the routines of various beauty bloggers. Kind of a waste of space, really!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2015
This book is amazing. Beautiful photography and a lot of good science and information on different skin care products and techniques.
April 23, 2016
Pretty good beginners guide. I really liked the ingredients index and having all of the bloggers routines in the same place! This book would be good as a reference guide.
April 26, 2016
Much more on beauty than skincare. Very comprehensive.
June 9, 2016
Great intro to the topic, nothing particularly new or ground breaking, and not as charming as either's blogs.
August 19, 2016
If you want to learn about Korean beauty this book is great. It goes over brands and offers lots of incite about Korean beauty.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews