Hwahae Beauty Awards 2023 (Mid-Year)
Hwahae, the most popular Korean beauty platform with over 10 million downloads (source), announced the winners of their renowned beauty awards for the first half of 2023.
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What is HwaHae?
HwaHae is currently the most popular beauty app in Korea, with a record of over 10 million downloads as of 2021 (source). The name HwaHae (‘화해’), comes from an abbreviated form of the Korean phrase ‘화장품을 해석하다’ (‘To analyse cosmetics’). HwaHae was created in 2013 by CEO Lee Woong and two friends with one mission: provide users with accurate information on their favourite cosmetics to help them make more informed choices.
Today users can use the platform to find products that are suitable for their skin type, check their ingredient lists, and read honest and unbiased reviews from other users. HwaHae uses information from the Association of Korean Dermatologists (AKD) to categorise beauty products by ingredients and their suitability for different skin types and displays the hazard level for each ingredient, using the rating system created by the EWG (Environmental Working Group, a US activist group).
The app became an immediate hit and it’s recently been reported that over 80% of Korean women in their 20s and 30s are HwaHae users (source).
The 2023 HwaHae Beauty Awards:
Every year Hwahae hosts the Hwahae Beauty Awards to celebrate the most popular beauty products of the year. The event takes place twice a year (in June and November), and they’re based solely on reviews and ratings left by users of the platform.
On 24 May 2023, HwaHae announced the winners of the 2023 HwaHae Mid-Year Beauty Awards. Winners are determined based only on the reviews and ratings left by HwaHae users in the first half of the year. As a platform built around fairness and transparency, HwaHae followed a meticulous selection process to filter out untrustworthy reviews and spam comments to ensure the authenticity of the data collected. In particular, for the 2023 edition of the awards, HwaHae analysed over 10 million reviews left by users from 1 November 2022 to 30 April 2023.
Both users and beauty companies place great value on the outcome of the HwaHae Beauty Awards, as they offer an accurate and authentic reflection of the opinions of Korean beauty consumers.
(Check out my coverage of the previous editions of the Hwahae Beauty Awards)
Winners:
Best Skin / Toner:
Isntree – Ultra-low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner
![Vaseline - Superfood Freshlock Body Lotion [#Grapefruit]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Vaseline-Superfood-Freshlock-Body-Lotion-Grapefruit-150x150.jpg)
Best Lotion / Emulsion:
Vaseline – Superfood Freshlock Body Lotion [#Grapefruit]
(SHOP)
Best Essence / Ampoule/ Serum:
Dixionist – Amino Acid Ampoule
(SHOP)
Best Face Oil:
Nature Republic – Herbology Chamomile Pure Oil
Best Cream:
AllNATURAL – Houttuynia Cordata Moist Soothing Cream
(SHOP)
Best Eye Care:
Lohasys – Real Gold Collagen Whitening Eye Cream
(SHOP)
Best Mist:
Labodre – Balancing Toner Mist
(SHOP)
Best Cleansing Foam:
S.Nature – Aqua Rice Foam Cleanser
Best Cleansing Gel:
Dabo – Aloe Vera Calming Gel Cleanser
(SHOP)
Best Targeted Mask:
Jayjun – It Began Tansy Water Pad
(SHOP)
Best Wash-Off Mask:
Rootree – Mulberry 5d Pore Tightening Clay Mask To Foam
(SHOP)
Best Skin Patches:
Bye OD-TD – Spot Calming Patch
(SHOP)
![Laneige - Neo Cushion Matte SPF42/PA++ [#21n Beige]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laneige-Neo-Cushion-Matte-SPF42-PA-21n-Beige-150x150.jpg)
![Feev - Hyper-fit Color Serum [#No Makeup]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Feev-Hyper-fit-Color-Serum-No-Makeup-150x150.jpg)
![Dasique - V Cut Blending Shading [#02 Cool Blending]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Dasique-V-Cut-Blending-Shading-02-Cool-Blending-150x150.jpg)
![Clio - Pro Eye Palette Koshort In Seoul Edition [#19 Napping Cheese]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Clio-Pro-Eye-Palette-Koshort-In-Seoul-Edition-19-Napping-Cheese-150x150.jpg)
![S2ND - New Planet Tint [#04 Rich Planet]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/S2ND-New-Planet-Tint-04-Rich-Planet-150x150.jpg)
Best Lip Tint:
S2ND – New Planet Tint [#04 Rich Planet]
(SHOP)
![Nature Republic - Honey Melting Lips [#02 Fig]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nature-Republic-Honey-Melting-Lips-02-Fig-150x150.jpg)
Best Lip Gloss:
Nature Republic – Honey Melting Lips [#02 Fig]
(SHOP)
![Romand - Glasting Melting Balm [#06 Kaya Fig]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Romand-Glasting-Melting-Balm-06-Kaya-Fig-150x150.jpg)
Best Lip Care / Lip Balm:
Romand – Glasting Melting Balm [#06 Kaya Fig]
Best Body Wash:
UIQ – Biome Remedy Body Wash
(SHOP)
Best Body Lotion:
UIQ – Biome Remedy Body Lotion
(SHOP)
Best Body Cream / Gel:
Greenfinger – Panthedin MD Derma Cream
(SHOP)
Best Hand Care:
Fison – Shorea Robust Repair Hand Cream
(SHOP)
Best Foot Care:
Mediheal – Derma Layer Foot Mask
(SHOP)
Best Feminine Care:
Seedbee – Dew Feminine Wash
(SHOP)
![Boldlab - Inner Perfume [#Rosemary]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Boldlab-Inner-Perfume-Rosemary-150x150.jpg)
Best Body Product (Etc):
Boldlab – Inner Perfume [#Rosemary]
(SHOP)
![Dr.Groot - Cica+ Biome Shampoo [#For Trouble Itchy Scalp]](https://themonodist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Dr.Groot-Cica-Biome-Shampoo-For-Trouble-Itchy-Scalp-150x150.jpg)
Best Shampoo:
Dr.Groot – Cica+ Biome Shampoo [#For Trouble/Itchy Scalp]
Best Hair Conditioner / Treatment / Mask:
Hairology – Vegan Lpt Treatment With Plant Protein & Deep Sea Water
(SHOP)
Best Hair Essence / Oil:
Hairhabit – Miracle Serum
(SHOP)
Best Baby Lotion:
Nature Republic – Mild Baby Ato Lotion
Best Baby Cream / Gel:
B:Dermatic – Ultra Deep Moisture Cream
(SHOP)
Source: Hwahae App, Hwahae Blog
Translation: © 2023 Odile Monod
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