Exposing the Worst K-Beauty Products I Tried in 2025
Wed Jan 28 2026
Lauren shares the worst K-Beauty products and formats she personally tried in 2025 and explains why they failed in real-world use. This episode is a follow-through from the previous discussion on K-Beauty marketing trends that need to die in 2026, focusing on how hype, sensation and viral appeal often break down when products meet real skin.
For full show notes and resources, visit STYLE STORY
This episode covers:
The positioning of grinding cleansing balms on social media versus actual use Cheilitis (inflammation of the lips) being linked to one of Korea (and Lauren’s) most beloved lip tints Why “mineral” sunscreen marketing can be misleading and why it matters for those with sensitive skin and conditions like rosacea How K-Beauty marketing increasingly rewards spectacle and sensation over routine-friendly design Lauren also explains why these experiences are not isolated product failures, but oftentimes symptoms of a broader K-Beauty marketing problem. In the last few years a lot of products have been optimised for novelty, texture shots and performance on short form social media rather than optimised for daily use.
This episode is not about shaming brands or people who might love the products but about understanding how skincare claims, formats and ingredient choices interact with real skin biology.
Products Mentioned in this Episode
Dr. Melaxin Eyephalt Cream
Grinding cleansing balms
Rom&nd lip tints
Some By Mi mineral sunscreen
Connect with Lauren
Take a Korean style skin analysis: https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis
Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy
Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast
Work with STYLE STORY: stylestory.com.au/pages/contact-us
Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com
Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.
A Small Request If you use insights, details or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into creating these episodes.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Lauren shares the worst K-Beauty products and formats she personally tried in 2025 and explains why they failed in real-world use. This episode is a follow-through from the previous discussion on K-Beauty marketing trends that need to die in 2026, focusing on how hype, sensation and viral appeal often break down when products meet real skin. For full show notes and resources, visit STYLE STORY This episode covers: The positioning of grinding cleansing balms on social media versus actual use Cheilitis (inflammation of the lips) being linked to one of Korea (and Lauren’s) most beloved lip tints Why “mineral” sunscreen marketing can be misleading and why it matters for those with sensitive skin and conditions like rosacea How K-Beauty marketing increasingly rewards spectacle and sensation over routine-friendly design Lauren also explains why these experiences are not isolated product failures, but oftentimes symptoms of a broader K-Beauty marketing problem. In the last few years a lot of products have been optimised for novelty, texture shots and performance on short form social media rather than optimised for daily use. This episode is not about shaming brands or people who might love the products but about understanding how skincare claims, formats and ingredient choices interact with real skin biology. Products Mentioned in this Episode Dr. Melaxin Eyephalt Cream Grinding cleansing balms Rom&nd lip tints Some By Mi mineral sunscreen Connect with Lauren Take a Korean style skin analysis: https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast Work with STYLE STORY: stylestory.com.au/pages/contact-us Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com Affiliate Disclaimer Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show. A Small Request If you use insights, details or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into creating these episodes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.