The Washington, DC metro area is home to a large Korean community. Koreans have found a niche in dry-cleaning establishments, nail salons, and cafés that serve office workers breakfast and lunch. They have also been active in establishing church congregations. Two Korean firms Lotte and H Mart have opened large supermarkets-cum-department stores in the Washington, DC metro area to serve the Korean community.

I was roaming around the recently opened Lotte Plaza in Chantilly, VA, outside Washington, DC. I stopped at the beauty counter, where the beauty advisor graciously supplied me with samples of skin care products by Lioele.

One of the most popular cosmetics products to come out of Korea is BB Cream, a combination foundation and acne treatment. BB stands for Blemish Balm. Several Korean companies in addition to Lioele market BB Cream.

Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream

In hot, humid weather, my skin gets oily and I get pimples on my nose. Paula Begoun, in her book The Original Beauty Bible, identifies bacteria, clogged pores, and oil secretions as the culprits in forming pimples. Benzoyl peroxide lotions disinfect and BHA preparations penetrate the pore and exfoliate. I’ve found that BB Cream handles the oil problem nicely. I apply it to my nose in lieu of ordinary foundation or mineral makeup. It stays matte all day, and there’s no need to use blotting papers on my nose.