About The Glow Pick

Hey, I'm Mina — and I'm obsessed with Korean skincare.

I grew up in Seoul surrounded by sheet masks, essence layering, and my mom's 12-step routine. When I moved to Seattle for college (chemistry major, because of course), I realized something: the K-beauty products that transformed my skin were nearly impossible to find — and even harder to navigate without speaking Korean.

So I started The Glow Pick.

My mission is simple: cut through the hype and help you find Korean (and Japanese) skincare that actually works for YOUR skin. No sponsored rankings. No paid reviews. Just honest recommendations from someone who reads ingredient lists for fun.

What Makes Us Different

Unlike beauty platforms that rely on user-generated reviews or algorithm-driven rankings, every recommendation on The Glow Pick comes from hands-on testing. I've spent 8+ years in the Korean cosmetics industry — including R&D work at one of Seoul's top beauty labs — so I don't just tell you what's trending. I tell you why it works (or doesn't).

How We Test

Every product featured on The Glow Pick goes through our testing process:

Ingredient Analysis — I break down the full INCI list, flag potential irritants, and evaluate the formulation logic. If the hero ingredient is buried at the bottom of the list, you'll know about it.

Real-World Testing — Minimum 2 weeks of daily use before any recommendation. I test on my own combination-leaning-dry skin, and our reviewers cover oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types too.

Comparison Shopping — I check prices across Amazon, Olive Young, YesStyle, Stylevana, and official brand sites so you get the best deal. Every purchase link is verified and up-to-date.

No Pay-to-Play — Brands can't pay for placement or positive reviews. Period. We earn through affiliate commissions when you purchase through our links, which means our incentive is to recommend products you'll actually love (and repurchase).

Meet the Team

Mina Park — Editor-in-Chief. Chemistry nerd, sheet mask hoarder, and the voice behind most articles. Skin type: combination, dehydration-prone. Current obsession: fermented ingredient layering.

Dr. Jiye — Ingredients Specialist. Our go-to for deep-dive ingredient analyses and sensitive skin recommendations. If there's a clinical study behind it, she's read it.

Sophie — Budget Beauty Editor. Proves every day that great skincare doesn't need a luxury price tag. If it's under $20 and actually works, she'll find it.

James — Men's Skincare & Luxury. A minimalist who believes in fewer, better products. Covers premium skincare and helps guys build no-fuss routines that deliver results.

Erin — Trends & New Launches. Lives between Seoul and LA, always first to spot what's blowing up on Korean beauty shelves before it hits the global market.

The Name

The Glow Pick = your curated pick for glowing skin. We're an independent beauty blog — not affiliated with any Korean beauty platform or company. Just a small team that really, really cares about helping you build a skincare routine that works.

Questions? Drop me a line at our contact page. I read every message.

— Mina