According to a market study published by Global Industry Analysts, the global men’s skincare products market is to reach $16.3 billion by 2026. What used to comprise of just shampoo, soap, deodorant, face wash—if we’re lucky—and shaving cream, men’s grooming rituals now boast skin-caring steps like double cleansing, toning, moisturising and eye creams, with even some feature-defining make-up in the mix. These products not only comprise of formulas designed specially for men or unisex lines, but also those originally targeting women.
There are no concrete statistics to measure this but K-pop, K-beauty and well, hallyu (the Korean wave) in general, have had a significant impact on the burgeoning relationship between men and beauty, what with male idols sporting full faces of make-up—from eyeliner to blush and lip tints, kaleidoscopic dye jobs, and the most enviable of all, clear, glassy skin. Reports also show that South Korean men purchase 20 percent of the world’s beauty products.
Undoubtedly, BTS have played a key role in propelling make-up and skincare for men, what with millions of ARMY fawning over their beautifully sculpted miens and well, male fans wanting to emulate them, or guys in general wondering what all the fuss is about and jumping on that beauty bandwagon as well. Here, we list out some of the products our January/February 2022 cover stars have been spotted using over the years, because we know after reading our 34-page mega feature, you’ll be obsessed enough to want to use the exact lip balms, fragrances and sunscreen they love—we’re right there with you.
Forment’s For Men Signature Perfume in Cotton Hug
In a weekly “Bangtan Bomb” short clip uploaded to BTS’ YouTube channel, Bangtan TV, Suga raided Jung Kook’s pink BT21 Cooky toiletry bag and out came two perfumes—one of which was swiftly identified by Army as Forment’s For Men Signature Perfume in Cotton Hug. With a penchant for soapy, powdery, fresh laundry-like scents, this Jung Kook pick turns heads with notes of lily of the valley, jasmine, eucalyptus and amber, patchouli and musk—citrus-y, sexy and cosy all at once.
Mediheal’s Teatree Care Solution Essential Mask
In a V Live (app that connects K-idols with their fans) with Suga post-performance in 2017, j-hope said his skin was ultra dry. His solution? Sheet masks—a k-beauty staple. Both completely make-up free, they proceeded to pull out a bunch of cult favourite face masks, including Mediheal’s Airguard Foilab Mask (believed to be now discontinued) and Teatree Care Solution Essential Mask EX. While Suga applied it directly onto his skin, j-hope, however, made the pro move of spritzing a hydrating toner onto his skin first before deftly laying on the sheet mask.
AHC’s Natural Perfection Double Shield Sun Stick SPF50+/PA++++
In season three of Bon Voyage, the BTS members were spotted using copious amounts of a glide-on sunscreen—AHC’s Natural Perfection Double Shield Sun Stick to be exact. Though theirs in the blue version, the one available in Singapore is identical, formulated to thoroughly shield skin against both solar heat (IR rays) and sunlight (UV rays), and help soothe sensitised skin with gentle, naturally derived ingredients making it suitable for the entire family to use.
Teazen’s Kombucha Lemon
Back in March, a fan asked Jung Kook what he was drinking during a V Live and he mentioned “kombucha” and how he drinks two sachets a day. Fans immediately found out exactly what he was drinking, Teazen’s Kombucha Lemon, and the brand sold out a month’s worth of supplies in three days—a rise of 500 percent. Made in Korea, this is a low-calorie, certified-halal kombucha drink made from fermented tea (made by extracting black or green tea), which is packed with prebiotics, probiotics and 12 types of lactic acid bacteria, which are beneficial intestinal bacteria.. Its benefits include improving digestion, fortifying the immune system and detoxifying, while some credit it to reducing blood pressure as well. The brand Teazen went on to win the ‘2021 Brand of the Year’, and donated 50 million Korean won to Korea’s Miral Welfare Foundation as a gesture of gratitude towards Jung Kook.
Lip balms (BTS take serious care of their lips)
Let’s use the sell out king, aka golden maknae, aka Jeon Jung Kook’s selection as a guide—thanks to eagle-eyed fans who have zoomed in on five of his go-to lipcare products: There’s Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm, which is also RM’s pout moisturiser of choice; Nivea Lip Care Fruity Shine Strawberry, Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips, which Suga is said to use often too; Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15, also loved by Jin; and Bobbi Brown’s Extra Lip Tint in Bare Pink. There are also adorable clips of Jimin puckering up to a pout-shaped TonyMoly Kiss Kiss Lip Essence Balm, and RM smothering on some classic strawberry Chapstick. As for V, despite multiple attempts at trying to hide his lip balms, eagle-eyed fans have identified Mentholatum’s Lipcare Waterlip Toneup CC Pure Red and the sold out Lip Fondue Aurora 3D Pearl.
CosRX’s Acne Pimple Master Patch
If you’ve ever wondered how the BTS members keep any breakouts in check, it’s with the CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch. These hydrocolloid patches serve two functions: First to protect your zits from you picking at it or from dirt and grime, and second, to coax the sebum out of your pores in the infected site. If you stick one on before bed, it’s likely you’ll wake up the next morning with some gunk on the sticker and a reduced pimple.
Zeroid’s Pimprove Toner Balanced Care for Oily & Troubled Skin
BTS’s V has mentioned his acne-prone skin in V Lives before, as well as a beauty tip of applying cotton pads soaked in toner onto his cheeks during long haul flights. Combining these two skin situations is Zeroid’s Pimprove Toner Balanced Care for Oily & Troubled Skin. From the leading K-beauty dermocosmetic brand that Taehyung loves, this soothing elixir is powered by LHA, a form of salicylic acid that moisturises and softens skin texture without causing irritation, zinc PCA that helps regulate sebum production, ceramics to reinforce skin barrier function, and moisturising hyaluronic acid. Together, this toner helps to replenish, rebalance and gently exfoliated clogged, breakout-prone and sensitised skin.
