When one thinks of Korea, one thinks bibimbap, soaps and beauty products. One such brand, Holika Holika, held a media event on Monday to introduce their store to the downtown Toronto area. The little boutique at 311A Queen Street West is an emporium for those obsessed with skincare and beauty, with an array of practically everything.
Just five of many BB Creams available (these are not tinted)
More BB creams! The products on the left are tinted (yes, only two colours available…for now) while the jar on the right is a primer
This brand probably has the most BB cream selection I have ever seen. As the product pretty much got its start in Korea, there are at least eight types to choose from, ranging from more “traditional” BBs to those that are slightly tinted (there are even BB compacts and rollers). Unfortunately, the BBs, CCs and foundations only come in two shades, both of which are fairly light (let’s just say that the two shades are very light and kind of very light. They’re supposed to eventually “blend in,” but most of the “darker” products still made me look ghosty. But then again, I’m “medium” (or “medium light” at Smashbox) for most North American/western brands). However, the lack of foundation tones shouldn’t stop people from exploring other products. There are plenty of other products to experiment with!
Hair colouring
Just three of many different types of face masks
Age-wise, Holika Holika appeals to just about everyone. There are acne-related products for teens as well as “anti-aging” items for women in their 40s and 50s. Holika Holika also has a small line of skincare for men, including “couples” lip balm – a package with one lip balm for females and another for males – designed just for kissing (this appeals more to teens and 20-somethings, of course). Most adorable, however, are their heart-shaped lipsticks. Besides make-up and skincare (including soaps), Holika Holika also carries beauty accessories, such as brushes, nail polish and haircare products.
Signature lipstick shape!
While this store is no Sephora or Shoppers Beauty (it can’t be – it only carries one brand), it’s definitely a place that I would suggest trying. Price points are affordable (many products are under $30) and as I noted earlier, just because you can’t find a foundation that’ll match you, doesn’t mean you can’t try their eye shadows, lipsticks/lipstains and other items! Holika Holika products are also available for purchase online and available at some suburban T&T stores. Another GTA boutique is located at Pacific Mall in Markham.
