HwaHae, the acclaimed Korean beauty platform boasting over 10 million downloads (source), revealed the coveted winners of the 2023 HwaHae Beauty Awards.
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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).
Every year, HwaHaehosts the HwaHae Beauty Awards to honor the most beloved beauty products of the year. The event, held twice annually in June and November, spotlights products solely based on user reviews and ratings on the platform.
On November 28, 2023, HwaHae proudly unveiled the winners of the 2023 HwaHae Beauty Awards. For the 2023 awards, HwaHae meticulously analyzed over 10 million reviews spanning from November 2022 to October 2023. Upholding their commitment to fairness and transparency, HwaHae meticulously filtered out unreliable reviews and spam comments, ensuring the credibility of the data collected.
The HwaHae Beauty Awards hold immense significance for both users and beauty companies, offering a reliable and genuine reflection of Korean beauty consumers’ opinions.
(Check out my coverage of the previous editions of the HwaHae Beauty Awards)
First place:
essenHERB – Tea Tree 100 Oil
Second place:
T’aarre – The Origin Pure Oil
(SHOP)
Third place:
La Bonita – Vital Squalane Oil
(SHOP)
First place:
d’Alba – White Truffle First Spray Serum
Second place:
i-Recipe – Aqua-Phytoplex™ Cream in Toner Mist
(SHOP)
Third place:
UIQ – Biome Barrier Cream Mist
(SHOP)
First place:
Botanity – Makiol Water Gel Cream
(SHOP)
Second place:
It’s Skin – Power 10 Formula LI Soothing Gel Cream
Third place:
S.Nature – Aqua Oasis Gel Moisturizing Gel Cream
(SHOP)
First place:
Mediheal – Retinol Collagen Eye Ampoule Patch
(SHOP)
Second place:
Goodal – Green Tangerine Vita C Eye Gel Patch
Third place:
Dew Assome – Dual Cheek Mask
(SHOP)
First place:
Leaders Cosmetics – Milk Sponge Mask
(SHOP)
Second place:
Beplain – Mung Bean Pore Clay Mask
(SHOP)
Third place:
Dewytree – AC CTRL Deep Green Calming Clay Gel Pore Pack
First place:
Shingmulnara – Oxygen Water Ice Sun Spray SPF50+/PA++++
(SHOP)
Second place:
Daybe – Sun Mist+ Calm UV Block Sun Mist SPF50+/PA++++
(SHOP)
First place:
Kocostar – Peach Duoduo (Lip Scrub & Lip Oil in Cream)
(SHOP)
Second place:
Torriden – Solid In Ceramide Lip Essence
Third place:
Instead – Hydrating Night Lip Mask
(SHOP)
First place:
Young Clair – Feminine Foam Wash
(SHOP)
Second place:
NARD – Low pH Mild Feminine Wash
(SHOP)
Third place:
Seedbee – Dew Feminine Wash
(SHOP)
First place:
BOM – Light On In Shower Body Tone Up
(SHOP)
Second place:
Boldlab – Inner Perfume [#Rosemary]
(SHOP)
Third place:
Byphasse – Hair Removal Cream [#Aloe Vera Extract]
(SHOP)
First place:
Happy Bath – Zero Percent Bubble Hand Wash
(SHOP)
Second place:
Aesop – Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash
Third place:
Lion – Ai! Kekute Antimicrobial Foam Hand Wash [Mild]
(SHOP)
First place:
Madforcos – Milky Moisture Hand Mask
(SHOP)
First place:
8 Grow – Anti-Hair Loss Pro Vitamin B5 Hair Tonic
(SHOP)
Second place:
Dr.G – Doopi Lab Cool Salt Long-lasting Cooling Tonic
Third place:
Pulsoba – Sopung Scalp Natural Tonic
(SHOP)
First place:
Dashu – Botanik Leaf Perfume
(SHOP)
Second place:
Clean – Warm Cotton Eau de Parfum
Third place:
Mumchit – Stay Perfume [#Bombshell]
(SHOP)
First place:
Burt’s Bees – Baby Moisturizing Lip Balm [Unscented]
(SHOP)
Second place:
Bioderma – Atoderm Lip Stick
Third place:
Milk Baobab – Family Lip Balm [Fragrance-Free]
(SHOP)
First place:
Physiogel – DMT Essence In Toner
Second place:
MIBA – Ion Calcium Skin Spray
(SHOP)
Third place:
Nanodr+ – Organic Nourishing Essence
(SHOP)
First place:
Modoobareun – Kids&Mom Easy Wash Sun Cream SPF50+/PA++++
(SHOP)
Second place:
Atopalm – Zinc Mild Up Sun Cream SPF50+/PA++++
Third place:
Cerabera – Ato Mild Sun Cream SPF50+/PA++++
(SHOP)
First place:
Dr. Bio – Wrap-Up Treatment
Second place:
Ninemila – Calming Beer Scalp Serum
(SHOP)
Third place:
Modoobareun – Non-Silicone Treatment
(SHOP)
First place:
Nanodr+ – Wet Wipes
(SHOP)
Second place:
Soondoongi – Basic Wet Wipes
(SHOP)
Third place:
Hanulsoo – Premium Wet Wipes
(SHOP)
First place:
Barber501 – Shaving Booster [#Green]
(SHOP)
Second place:
Sidmool Homme – All In Shaving Gel
(SHOP)
First place:
B.Ready – Blue Hydro Sunscreen SPF50+/PA++++
Second place:
Gatsby – AI Derm Tone Up Lotion SPF50+/PA++++
(SHOP)
First place:
Grafen – Triple Handsome Lip Balm
Second place:
NOT4U – Kiss Balm For Men
(SHOP)
Third place:
B.Ready – Pride Up Eyebrow
(SHOP)
First place:
ULOS – Scalp Shampoo
(SHOP)
Source: Hwahae App, Hwahae Blog
Translation: © 2023 Odile Monod
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