When it comes to K-Beauty, Julep is hands down my favorite. Funny thing is, I actually discovered the brand 5 years ago through their nail polish subscription boxes. Back then, they were just dipping their toes in skincare and makeup. Fast forward to this year and they now offer a wide range of skincare, body care, hair care, and makeup, including an 11-piece Korean skincare line-up that covers everything from makeup removal to sleeping masks. And guess what? You can try them all out through their new Passport to K-Beauty kit (update: this kit is no longer available, however you can check out more value sets here)!
Julep’s Passport to K-Beauty Kit
Julep’s Passport to K-Beauty 11-piece kit includes everything you need to clean, hydrate, and protect, and they’re all separated into drawers accordingly for easy navigation. There’s no exact formula you have to follow with this kit – you can choose how and when you want to use the products. Mix-and-match depending your skin concerns, time of the year, or time of the day. Pop a few in your travel bag (as many are packaged perfectly for on-the-go) or use them pre-flight to lock in hydration before a long trip. Or, incorporate all 11 in your routine. It’s entirely up to you!
Here’s the full rundown of all the products inside, along with my thoughts and review on each…
Julep Double-Cleansers
Let’s start with the bottom drawer. Here, Julep focused on the first ‘foundation’ step to any good skincare routine, and that’s cleansing. More specifically, double cleansing – a popular K-beauty method that involves using an emulsifying oil/balm to help break up makeup first so your regular cleanser can then do the real work (aka clear out gunk that’s deeper in the pores).
Julep’s method starts off with their Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil, which contains rosehip seed, grape seed, olive, pink grapefruit peel, and green coffee bean oils. It’s actually the first oil cleanser I ever tried, and honestly, I haven’t found one as good since. It manages to remove even my most stubborn eye makeup and washes away without a trace of oily or greasy residue. I also love the oil’s bright, citrus-y scent – it gives me an instant mood boost!
For a little gentle exfoliation, you can pair up the oil with Julep’s Charcoal Konjac Sponge. Or, use the sponge with the next step in the cleansing routine – the Love Your Bare Face Detoxifying Cleansing Stick. This travel-friendly stick contains a solid cleansing bar that’s rich in fruit enzymes (which detoxifies skin and gently exfoliates), plus natural oils (which keeps skin hydrated). It provides a deeper cleanse once you’ve removed all your makeup with the cleansing oil. To use, simply press and swirl it over wet skin until you work up a light lather, then continue massaging it into your skin using your fingers or the sponge.
Julep Moisturizers & Sunscreens
After cleansing and while your skin is still damp, it’s time to lock in moisture (the key to healthy, glowing skin!). The ‘Hydrate’ drawer in the Passport to K-Beauty kit is packed with products to play with, including a facial oil, facial milk, two solid dual moisturizer+serum sticks (one for mornings, and one for evenings), and an eye cream.
Let’s start with what’s probably the most unique product out of the five – the What Your Skin Needs Restorative Facial Milk. I actually received this in a Julep Maven box a few years back and it became a staple in my wintertime routine that year. I loved the feel of the milky serum on my sensitive, parched winter skin – it felt incredibly gentle, hydrating, and soothing. I also found that it worked wonders layered under my regular day and night moisturizers – it added that extra bit of hydration that tends to come in handy during the drier months.
Now, it you prefer an oil, or want something a bit more intensive, that’s where the Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil comes in. Unlike other rosehip oils that I’ve come across, this one actually contains real rosehip seed oil as its top ingredient, along with vitamin E and bergamot oil (which gives it a bright, yet calming scent).
I tried this three nights in a row so far and am already hooked. It feels especially lightweight compared to most other facial oils, and doesn’t linger forever on the skin – instead, it sinks right in. If you’re looking for a hydrating, lightweight, non-greasy facial oil (that also smells amazing!), this is it!
Next, we have two travel-friendly skincare sticks. The first is the You Got This Daily Moisturizer Pressed Serum, which is designed to cover both your A.M. moisturizer and serum in one step (a super quick and easy step I might add, as you can literally swipe, blend, and go!). Despite being a solid, the formula melts into the skin in seconds and provides instant hydration while antioxidants defend against environmental damage. Meanwhile, the Dream Big Nightly Renewal Pressed Serum replaces your P.M. moisturizer and serum, and works to help hydrate, as well as exfoliate and refine skin overnight using BHA (beta hydroxy/salicylic acid).
For extra hydration and radiance around the eye area, they’ve included the So Awake Depuffing Gel Eye Cream. It comes with the gentlest silicone tip that won’t pull, tug, or scratch your eye area when pressed directly on the skin. The formula is also impressively lightweight, and manages to soften, hydrate, depuff, and brighten the eye area using illuminating micro-pearls.
The final step is to protect with sunscreen, and that’s where the No Excuses Invisible Sunscreen Gel comes in. The peach-tinted gel formula completely disappears once massaged in, and leaves the skin feeling soft and supple while providing broad spectrum SPF 40 protection.
Julep Sheet Mask & Overnight Mask
Next, we have two must-try K-Beauty products – a sleeping mask, and of course, a sheet mask system. Both help quench, nourish, and revive skin – as you sleep. The Triple Quench Deep Hydration Sheet Mask System for starters includes a 3-step regimen (aka a mini at-home facial) that you can use 1-2 times a week for more hydrated, youthful, glowing skin.
So how does it work? You start by prepping skin with the essence gel, then you apply the sheet mask over top. The sheet is made of natural coconut pulp bio-cellulose and soaked in a hydrating serum that combines sodium hyaluronate, Shea butter, honey extract, and hibiscus fruit extract. Leave it on for a short 15 minutes, and then apply the sleeping pack to seal in nutrients from steps 1 & 2 so they can work their magic overnight!
Another great nighttime beauty formula? The Night Shift Deep Sleep Facial Mask. It contains sodium hyaluronate and rosehip seed oil to hydrate, plus a peptide blend for improved elasticity and a lactic/glycolic acid copolymer for fresher, more even-toned skin.
I’ve been using this for several years now, and to this day, it still stands as my all-time favorite overnight mask, for a number of reasons. One, it has the most amazingly silky-smooth, lightweight, non-greasy texture that doesn’t break me out like other heavier formulas I’ve tried. It also smells incredible, and best of all, it leaves my skin feeling super supple and smooth the following morning.
So that’s everything inside Julep’s Passport to K-Beauty kit! Overall, I’d recommend this kit to:
- Fans of Julep skincare who want to stock up on some faves. Instead of paying full price for 11 items, you’re essentially getting them all at a 25% discount!
- Anyone who is completely new to Julep – or K-Beauty in general – and wants to experiment with a mix of everyday essentials like sunscreen, cleansers, serums, and moisturizers, in a range of formulas.
- Anyone hunting for the perfect gift! This kit would be great for someone who is just starting to experiment with skincare (plus it comes in the prettiest package too!). You could also split up the box and use individual products as stocking stuffers!
Not ready to take the plunge on the full kit? Here are four of Julep’s top-rated products (also personal favorites of mine) that would be great to start with:
Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil – a skin-balancing, makeup-melting oil cleanser. A must-try! Available at Julep and on Amazon.
Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil – a non-greasy, lightweight, ultra-hydrating facial oil. Available at Julep and on Amazon.
Triple Quench Deep Hydration Sheet Mask System – a quick and convenient, yet super effective hydration-boosting treatment. Available at Julep and on Amazon.
Night Shift Deep Sleep Facial Mask – a lightweight, non-greasy overnight mask packed with skin-smoothing ingredients. A must-try for combination/oily skin types! Available at Julep and on Amazon.
Available on Julep.com & Amazon
Have you tried Julep’s skincare? Have a favorite product from their collection? Let me know below!
*The Passport to K-Beauty kit was sent to me by Julep as part of the #PreenMeVIP program.
