About this episode

Lauren discusses the worst K-Beauty products she tried in 2025 and the broader marketing issues behind them.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Lauren

Topics covered

• K-Beauty product failures
• skincare marketing trends
• real-world product use
• sensitive skin
• K-Beauty hype
• ingredient choices

Keywords

• K-Beauty
• product failures
• skincare
• marketing trends
• sensitive skin
• cleansing balms
• lip tints
• sunscreen

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Dr. Melaxin Eyephalt Cream, Grinding cleansing balms, Rom&nd lip tints, Some By Mi mineral sunscreen

More episodes of The Korean Beauty Show Podcast

• K-Beauty Is Growing Up: What That Means for 2026 · February 18, 2026 · 40 min
• K-Beauty Marketing Trends That Need to Die in 2026 · January 21, 2026 · 33 min
• Why Korea Banned ‘Exosome’ Skincare Ads and What It Means for the Industry · November 12, 2025 · 36 min
• From Viral to Vulnerable: The Rom&nd Lip Tint Controversy Explained · October 8, 2025 · 37 min
• How K-Beauty is Transforming Professional Beauty (Expo Recap) · September 9, 2025 · 31 min
• Korea’s Biggest Beauty Retailer Just Got Sued... and Lost · August 5, 2025 · 35 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Korean Beauty Show Podcast podcast page.