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14 Korean Beauty Brands You're Mispronouncing

From Sulwhasoo to Iope

The bubbling masks and panda-shaped face mists are a treat for the senses, but the multi-consonant names can be tongue twisters. Here, a quick pronunciation guide for some of our favorite K-beauty brands.

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laneige
Laneige

Laneige

The wrong way: Lan-age
The right way: Luh-nej

You can find it at your local Target (or tar-jay).

sulwhasoo
Sulwhasoo

Sulwhasoo

The wrong way: Sul-whaaa-soo
The right way: Suhl-ha-soo

Flows right off the tongue, doesn’t it?

amore pacific
Amore Pacific

Amore Pacific

The wrong way: A-more Pa-ci-fic
The right way: Ah-more-ay Pa-ci-fic

We’d like some (a)more of that face mist.

cho sung ah 22
Sephora

Chosungah 22

The wrong way: Cho-soong-ah Twenty-two
The right way: Jo-sung-ah Twenty-two

She’s basically the Korean equivalent of a Pat McGrath (which is to say, a BFD).

missha
Soko Glam

Missha

The wrong way: Mish-sha
The right way: Mee-sha

Makers of one of the original, and most popular, BB creams.

etude house
Soko Glam

Etude House

The wrong way: E-tude House
The right way: Eh-twee-d House

This is what happens when you put a Korean twist on a French word.

mizon
Peach and Lily

Mizon

The wrong way: Mih-zon
The right way: Mee-zohn

Purveyors of the much buzzed about snail face cream.

blithe
Glow Recipe

Blithe

The wrong way: Blith
The right way: Bly-th

We thank them for bringing splash masks into our lives.

whamisa
Glow Recipe

Whamisa

The wrong way: Wham-i-sa
The right way: Hwa-mee-sah

Thank God for online shopping, amirite?

kicho
Peach and Lily

Kicho

The wrong way: Kich-oh
The right way: Ghee-cho

Means “basics” in Korean, which makes sense given the brand’s propensity for classic, time-tested ingredients (like lanolin and argan oil).


shangpree
Peach and Lily

Shangpree

The wrong way: Shang-pree
The right way: Shah-ng-pree 

More of an “ah” (as opposed to an “ay” sound).

caolion
Peach and Lily

Caolion

The wrong way: Ca-oh-lin
The right way: Ca-oh-lee-ohn

Two words: Pore masks.

iope
Iope

Iope

The wrong way: Eye-ope
The right way: Eye-oh-peh

Welp, that’s eye opening.

belif
Sephora

Belif

The wrong way: Bee-lif
The right way: Bee-leaf

We belif in the aqua bomb gel cream.



Jenny Jin Headshot Vertical 2023

Beauty Director

  • Oversees all beauty content at PureWow
  • Has over a decade of experience in writing and editing, both in print and digital media
  • Produces 'Youngish' newsletter, a guide to beauty in your 30s and beyond