Tools
Korean words on beauty labels화장품 표시 단어
222 words from Korean boxes, shelves and receipts — dates, claims, skin types, product types, cautions and shop tags — with romanisation and a listen button. Photograph or paste a whole label in the label decoder to find them in context.
Dates and batch number
Every Korean cosmetic must show either a use-by date or a period after opening, plus a batch number. A pack that gives a period after opening must also show the date of manufacture.
- 사용기한sa-yong-gi-hanuse-by date — use the product up by this date
- 까지kka-jiuntil / by (after a date: use by this date)
- 개봉 후 사용기간gae-bong hu sa-yong-gi-ganperiod after opening — how long it lasts once opened
- 개봉 후gae-bong huafter opening
- 개월gae-wolmonths (12개월 = 12 months)
- 제조번호je-jo-beon-hobatch (lot) number
- 제조일자je-jo-il-jadate of manufacture
- 유통기한yu-tong-gi-hansell-by date (a food-label word; on cosmetics the legal term is 사용기한)
What every label must show
Korea’s Cosmetics Act lists what has to be printed on the box or bottle.
- 화장품hwa-jang-pumcosmetic(s)
- 제품명je-pum-myeongproduct name
- 전성분jeon-seong-bunfull ingredient list
- 성분seong-buningredient(s)
- 내용량nae-yong-ryangnet contents (volume or weight)
- 제조업자je-jo-eop-jamanufacturer (the company that made it)
- 책임판매업자chaek-im-pan-mae-eop-jaresponsible seller — the company legally responsible for the product in Korea
- 맞춤형화장품mat-chum-hyeong-hwa-jang-pumcustomised cosmetic (blended for you in the shop)
- 제조국je-jo-gukcountry of manufacture
- 원산지won-san-jicountry of origin
- 사용할 때의 주의사항sa-yong-hal ttae-ui ju-ui-sa-hangcautions for use
- 사용방법sa-yong-bang-beopdirections for use
- 기능성화장품gi-neung-seong-hwa-jang-pumfunctional cosmetic — reviewed by, or reported to, Korea’s drug regulator for a specific effect
- 식품의약품안전처sik-pum-ui-yak-pum-an-jeon-cheoMinistry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), Korea’s regulator
- 심사sim-sareviewed (by the MFDS)
- 질병의 예방 및 치료를 위한 의약품이 아님jil-byeong-ui ye-bang mit chi-ryo-reul wi-han ui-yak-pum-i a-nimnot a medicine for preventing or treating disease (required on some functional cosmetics)
- 견본품gyeon-bon-pumsample
- 비매품bi-mae-pumnot for sale
Functional claims
These words show what a functional cosmetic was reviewed for.
- 미백mi-baekbrightening (literally “whitening”: helps with dark spots, it doesn’t bleach skin)
- 주름 개선ju-reum gae-seonwrinkle improvement
- 자외선 차단ja-oe-seon cha-danUV protection
- 탈모 증상 완화tal-mo jeung-sang wan-hwahelps relieve hair-loss symptoms
- 여드름성 피부 완화yeo-deu-reum-seong pi-bu wan-hwahelps soothe acne-prone skin (cleansers only)
- 피부장벽pi-bu-jang-byeokskin barrier
- 튼살teun-salstretch marks
- 기미gi-midark patches (melasma-type spots)
- 주근깨ju-geun-kkaefreckles
- 이중기능성i-jung-gi-neung-seongdual-function (reviewed for two effects, e.g. brightening + wrinkles)
- 삼중기능성sam-jung-gi-neung-seongtriple-function (three effects, e.g. brightening + wrinkles + UV)
- 기능성gi-neung-seongfunctional
Skin types
- 피부pi-buskin
- 피부타입pi-bu-ta-ipskin type
- 건성geon-seongdry skin
- 지성ji-seongoily skin
- 복합성bok-hap-seongcombination skin
- 중성jung-seongnormal skin
- 민감성min-gam-seongsensitive skin
- 모든 피부mo-deun pi-buall skin types
- 트러블성teu-reo-beul-seongbreakout-prone skin
- 여드름성yeo-deu-reum-seongacne-prone
- 수부지su-bu-jioily but dehydrated skin (slang: short for 수분 부족형 지성)
Skin concerns and effects
- 보습bo-seupmoisturising
- 수분su-bunhydration (water)
- 진정jin-jeongsoothing, calming
- 탄력tan-ryeokfirmness, elasticity
- 영양yeong-yangnourishing
- 각질gak-jildead skin cells, flakes
- 각질 제거gak-jil je-geoexfoliation
- 모공mo-gongpores
- 피지pi-jisebum (skin oil)
- 블랙헤드beul-laek-he-deublackheads
- 트러블teu-reo-beulbreakouts
- 홍조hong-joredness, flushing
- 잡티jap-tiblemishes, uneven spots
- 톤업ton-eoptone-up — makes skin look brighter straight away (usually a tinted or light-reflecting formula)
- 광채gwang-chaeglow, radiance
- 윤광yun-gwangglossy glow
- 물광mul-gwangdewy “water” glow
- 피부결pi-bu-gyeolskin texture
- 속건조sok-geon-joinner dryness — skin feels tight or dehydrated underneath
- 저자극jeo-ja-geuklow irritation (gentle formula)
- 순한sun-hanmild, gentle
- 약산성yak-san-seongmildly acidic (close to skin’s natural pH)
- 쿨링kul-lingcooling
- 촉촉chok-chokmoist, dewy finish
- 산뜻san-tteutfresh, light finish
- 끈적임 없는kkeun-jeok-im eop-neunnot sticky
- 흡수heup-suabsorption, sinks in
- 밀착mil-chakadheres closely (makeup that “grips” the skin)
- 지속력ji-sok-ryeokstaying power, long-lasting
- 커버력keo-beo-ryeokcoverage
- 매트mae-teumatte
Product types
- 스킨seu-kintoner (Koreans often call toner “skin”)
- 토너to-neotoner
- 에센스e-sen-seuessence
- 세럼se-reomserum
- 앰플aem-peulampoule (a concentrated serum)
- 로션ro-syeonlotion
- 에멀전e-meol-jeonemulsion
- 크림keu-rimcream
- 아이크림a-i-keu-rimeye cream
- 수분크림su-bun-keu-rimmoisturising (gel) cream
- 젤jelgel
- 미스트mi-seu-teuface mist
- 밤bambalm (밤 also means “night”)
- 클렌징 오일keul-len-jing o-ilcleansing oil
- 클렌징 폼keul-len-jing pomfoaming cleanser
- 클렌징 워터keul-len-jing wo-teocleansing water (micellar water)
- 클렌징 밤keul-len-jing bamcleansing balm
- 필링pil-lingpeeling (exfoliating) product
- 패드pae-deutoner pads
- 마스크팩ma-seu-keu-paekface mask
- 시트마스크si-teu-ma-seu-keusheet mask
- 슬리핑팩seul-li-ping-paeksleeping mask (leave on overnight)
- 워시오프wo-si-o-peuwash-off
- 선크림seon-keu-rimsunscreen (cream)
- 선스틱seon-seu-tiksunscreen stick
- 선쿠션seon-ku-syeonsunscreen cushion
- 선스프레이seon-seu-peu-re-isunscreen spray
- 쿠션ku-syeoncushion compact (foundation in a sponge)
- 파운데이션pa-un-de-i-syeonfoundation
- 비비크림bi-bi-keu-rimBB cream
- 컨실러keon-sil-leoconcealer
- 프라이머peu-ra-i-meoprimer
- 립밤rip-bamlip balm
- 립틴트rip-tin-teulip tint
- 핸드크림haen-deu-keu-rimhand cream
- 바디로션ba-di-ro-syeonbody lotion
- 샴푸syam-pushampoo
- 트리트먼트teu-ri-teu-meon-teuhair treatment (conditioner)
- 기초gi-choskincare basics
- 색조saek-jocolour makeup
How to use
- 적당량jeok-dang-ryanga suitable amount
- 소량so-ryanga small amount
- 세안 후se-an huafter washing your face
- 아침a-chimmorning
- 저녁jeo-nyeokevening
- 밤에bam-eat night
- 얼굴eol-gulface
- 눈가nun-gaeye area
- 입술ip-sullips
- 목mokneck
- 전신jeon-sinwhole body
- 바르다ba-reu-daapply
- 펴 바르다pyeo ba-reu-daspread evenly
- 흡수시키다heup-su-si-ki-dalet it absorb
- 두드리다du-deu-ri-dapat in
- 마사지ma-sa-jimassage
- 헹구다heng-gu-darinse
- 씻어내다ssit-eo-nae-dawash off
- 미온수mi-on-sulukewarm water
- 거품geo-pumfoam, lather
- 외출 전oe-chul jeonbefore going out
- 덧바르다deot-ba-reu-dareapply
- 흔들어heun-deul-eoshake
- 마지막 단계ma-ji-mak dan-gyelast step (of your routine)
Cautions and storage
Korean cosmetics carry standard caution text. These are the words in it.
- 직사광선jik-sa-gwang-seondirect sunlight
- 피해서pi-hae-seoavoiding
- 보관bo-gwanstorage, keep
- 서늘한 곳seo-neul-han gota cool place
- 어린이의 손이 닿지 않는 곳eo-rin-i-ui son-i dat-ji an-neun gotout of the reach of children
- 상처sang-cheowound, broken skin
- 붉은 반점buk-eun ban-jeomred spots
- 부어오름bu-eo-o-reumswelling
- 가려움증ga-ryeo-um-jeungitching
- 이상 증상i-sang jeung-sangunusual symptoms (a reaction)
- 부작용bu-jak-yongside effects
- 전문의jeon-mun-uispecialist doctor
- 상담할 것sang-dam-hal geotconsult (them)
- 사용을 자제할 것sa-yong-eul ja-je-hal geotavoid using
- 눈에 들어갔을 때nun-e deul-eo-gat-eul ttaeif it gets in the eyes
- 즉시 씻어낼 것jeuk-si ssit-eo-nael geotrinse off immediately
- 영유아yeong-yu-ababies and toddlers
- 만 3세 이하man 3-se i-hachildren aged 3 and under
- 일부에 시험 사용il-bu-e si-heom sa-yongpatch test (try on a small area first)
- 고온go-onhigh temperature
- 화기hwa-giopen flame
Sunscreen words
See the full guide in Korean sunscreen labels.
- 자외선ja-oe-seonultraviolet (UV) light
- 자외선Aja-oe-seon-AUVA
- 자외선Bja-oe-seon-BUVB
- 자외선차단지수ja-oe-seon-cha-dan-ji-susun protection factor (SPF)
- 자외선A 차단등급ja-oe-seon-A cha-dan-deung-geupUVA protection grade (PA)
- 내수성nae-su-seongwater resistant
- 지속내수성ji-sok-nae-su-seonglong-lasting water resistant
- 무기자차mu-gi-ja-chamineral sunscreen (zinc oxide / titanium dioxide filters only)
- 유기자차yu-gi-ja-chachemical sunscreen (organic filters)
- 혼합자차hon-hap-ja-chahybrid sunscreen (mineral + chemical filters)
- 백탁baek-takwhite cast
Marketing words
- 무향mu-hyangfragrance-free
- 시카si-kacica — a marketing name for centella asiatica (병풀), not an ingredient name
- 무색소mu-saek-sono added colourants
- 파라벤 프리pa-ra-ben peu-riparaben-free
- 비건bi-geonvegan
- 천연cheon-yeonnatural
- 유기농yu-gi-nongorganic
- 피부과 테스트 완료pi-bu-gwa te-seu-teu wan-ryodermatologist tested
- 논코메도제닉non-ko-me-do-je-niknon-comedogenic (claims not to clog pores)
- 인체적용시험in-che-jeok-yong-si-heomtested on people (human application test)
- 무알코올mu-al-ko-olalcohol-free
- 오일프리o-il-peu-rioil-free
- 동물실험dong-mul-sil-heomanimal testing
- 동물실험 하지 않음dong-mul-sil-heom ha-ji an-eumnot tested on animals
In the shop: price tags and the till
Words on shelf tags at Olive Young and other Korean beauty shops.
- 정가jeong-garegular price
- 판매가pan-mae-gaselling price
- 할인가hal-in-gasale price
- 세일se-ilsale
- 할인hal-indiscount
- 1+11+1buy one, get one free
- 2+12+1buy two, get one free
- 증정jeung-jeongfree gift included
- 사은품sa-eun-pumfree gift with purchase
- 기획gi-hoekspecial set (a bundle, often with extras)
- 단독dan-dokexclusive (only at this shop)
- 한정han-jeonglimited
- 리필ri-pilrefill
- 대용량dae-yong-ryanglarge size
- 본품bon-pumfull-size product (not the gift)
- 미니mi-nimini size
- 테스터te-seu-teotester
- 품절pum-jeolsold out
- 재입고jae-ip-goback in stock
- 신상sin-sangnew arrival
- 베스트be-seu-teubest-seller
- 쿠폰ku-poncoupon
- 멤버십mem-beo-sipmembership
- 포인트po-in-teupoints
- 계산대gye-san-daecheckout counter
- 영수증yeong-su-jeungreceipt
- 교환gyo-hwanexchange
- 환불hwan-bulrefund
- 여권yeo-gwonpassport
- 면세myeon-setax-free
- 즉시환급jeuk-si-hwan-geupinstant tax refund (at the till)
- 쇼핑백syo-ping-baekshopping bag
Romanisation is a simplified, syllable-by-syllable form of the Revised Romanization, so you can match it to the Korean letters. Spoken Korean changes some sounds (붉은 is said bul-geun) — use the listen button for pronunciation.