Cyber Weekend Wish List: The 5 Beauty Products I Waited All Year to Splurge On

Been eyeing a moisturizer or wondering if that luxury cream is worth breaking your bank for? Covet and ponder no more because Black Friday and Cyber Monday are here, what many are calling Cyber weekend. In light of the year’s biggest shopping events, here are the five K-beauty products I’ve got on my mind and cannot wait to make mine.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday get a lot of bad rep for turning the holidays into consumerism mania. As true as that may be, there’s just no denying the irresistible steals plated prettily and handed over on silver platters.

Especially in the beauty world, these 48 hours are the golden opportunities to finally treat yourself to a splurge without going broke, to stock up and save on your favorites, and to get a head start on your gift shopping list. And personally, I like the idea of digesting over some great deals. So this year, I’ll be doing what I love most about Thanksgiving — spending time with my loved ones over turkey and all the fixings (and in true Korean style, that includes kimchi). Then I’ll also be doing what I love most about the day(s) after: Adding. To. Cart.

With news that Beautytap will be offering deals up to 50% off, there are definitely some K-beauty products that are screaming to be clicked into my virtual shopping bag. Read ahead to see what they are — you just might find something you never knew you needed.

1. The History of Whoo Self Generating Anti-Aging Essence, $165

This is one that I could only dream about because in reality, I’m not yet ready to pay $165 for a bottle of essence. Hence the reason why I’ve only had brief but glorious encounters with the luxury brand’s products through samples that I hoard whenever I can and through my mom’s collection when I visit her.

This award winner, also known as the Bichup Ja Saeng Essence, boasts anti-aging powers fit for royalty, literally. Chock full of premium hanbang ingredients, the essence is designed with three secret formulas of the royal court — Gongjin bidan, Geyong ok bidan, and Cheongsim bidan — and has been praised for promoting self-regeneration in skin. The brand promises improvement in wrinkles, moisture, and elasticity in just two weeks, and although I’m a skeptic of such bold claims, even my hard-to-please (when it comes to skincare) Korean mom raves about The History of Whoo, so I’m excited to see what all the hype is about.

2. Swanicoco Stem Cell Radiance Emulsion, $42

I’m not sure if it’s because I recently finished watching Mr. Sunshine or if it’s because I’ve always been drawn to tried-and-true traditional Korean ingredients, but here’s another hanbang-packed product on my to-die-for list.

This moisturizer is Swanicoco’s bestseller, which says something in and of itself considering the brand’s popularity amongst K-beauty insiders. Holy grail ingredients like ginseng extract, fermented rice extract, and natural polysaccharides brighten lackluster complexions, hydrate dry skin, soften uneven skin texture, and even protect the outer layers from external stressors. I’ve noticed my skin is more sensitive to the seasons and lack of sleep as I get older, so the Stem Cell Radiance Emulsion is just what my skin needs this winter … and summer. On second thought, maybe I should add two.

3. Hera Black Cushion SPF34 PA++, $49

Lately I’ve been noticing that my friend’s skin looks pretty amazing in a naturally flawless way. When I asked her about it, she shared her secret (as good friends do) — the Hera Black Cushion — and I instantly regretted not stocking up on it on my last Korea trip. Thankfully, the motherland fave is available on Beautytap, and since I can’t imagine life without cushion compacts, here it is on my list.

This exquisite black beauty is as elegant on the inside as it is on the outside. The cushion foundation utilizes an advanced Ultra Fine Powder Dispersion technology to deliver high coverage that feels light as air, while mica coated in amino acid derivatives helps the formula blend seamlessly into skin, leaving behind a seamless matte finish and the appearance of a brightener complexion — as I saw on my friend. The Double Lasting Layer, comprised of a hard layer and a soft film, ensures longer-lasting stay, better adherence, and enhanced color payoff. The cushion also offers SPF 34 PA++ protection from UV rays and comes in six shades, which is pretty extensive for a K-beauty brand.

4. Keep Cool Masks, $40 for 10

If there’s anything I need during the holiday season, it’s something to keep me calm and cool because hosting dinner parties, grubbing more than I should, running store to store to buy last-minute gifts, and staring at the glowing screen while scrolling through pages of deals can get me more than a little flustered.

Keep Cool’s sheet masks feature a special “Cool Keeper” cocktail of Asian herbal extracts that actually cools down the temperature of skin. (Read more about why maintaining your skin's temp is important here.) Natural moisturizing factors (NMF), including betaine, panthenol, ceramide, and hyaluronic acid, keep skin hydrated, comfortable, and supple. The line comes in three different varieties, each targeting a major skin concern: dryness and dehydration, dullness and dark spots, and inflammation and sensitivity.

And because buying sheet masks in bulk is always a good idea, I’ll also be checking out with JayJun Anti-Dust Whitening Mask ($36 for 10) to help my skin recover from the pollution of city life and the dark-circle-inducing lack of sleep of mom life.

5. Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX, $260

At an original retail price of $260, this would be the mother of all splurges on my list. I’m not sure if I could actually purchase this beauty, even with a special discount, and still buy the rest of this list in good conscience. But maybe I’ll just click into my cart for the thrill of it. Anyone relate?

This crème de la crème is the upgraded version of the prestigious brand’s signature Ginseng Renewing Cream and features the fruit of 50 years’ worth of labor in researching ginseng. I know, hanbang again. Call it the Mr. Sunshine effect, but a wish list full of ginseng and friends makes sense, since these high quality ingredients mean higher-end prices, which usually means onto my Black Friday shopping list they go. Plus, this better version marries technology and tradition with six times the concentration of Ginsenoside Re, a ginseng flower extract with powerful anti-aging actives. The cream is supposed to pamper and protect skin, leaving it moisturized, plump, and luminous. Priceless, if you ask me.

What beauty products will you be treating yourself to on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? If you’ve tried any of my wish list products, what are your thoughts?