Reviewed: The Korean "Makeup Gripper" That Gave Me the Smoothest Skin Ever

As beauty editors, we get bombarded with a ton of new products every day. (We know—tough life). Reviewed is a series where we report on some of the best products we’ve tried. Whether it’s a drugstore lipstick that lasted all day or a hand cream that saved us this winter, you’ll find all of our favorites in this column. Enjoy! 

If you’ve read even just a handful of my stories here on Byrdie, you are likely aware of the fact that I am obsessed with K-pop and wish I could be reborn as a K-pop star. Mostly, I want their skin, which resembles dewy, pearly, luminescent slabs of marble. So, when Christine Chang and Sarah Lee of Glow Recipe told me about a buzzy new product from the K-beauty world created by none other than famous South Korean actress Ha Ji-won, my interest was piqued. Her product line, J.One, is all about helping your skin look plump and soft like a newborn's bottom (my words, not hers). The Jelly Pack, in particular, promises to work as both a hydrating mask and a makeup-gripping primer.

Pros + Cons

Pros:

• Firms skin
• Smoothes skin
• Makeup glides on seamlessly after use

Cons:

• Available in a select few places

Bottom Line

I am ambivalent about primers and only really ever use them when I'm having a really good skin day (read: not often) and feel like I can forgo foundation altogether. But this product is specifically created to be used under foundation, and Ji-won herself swears by it. I had to try it. 

J.One Jelly Pack $25.00

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The Feel

First is the consistency. It's a sticky, clear liquid that feels more akin to Elmer's glue than any primer you've ever tried. Instead of rubbing it all over your face, you're supposed to gently pat the goo over your skin using the pads of your fingertips. I tried this and found that the stickiness melted away and magically transformed into a semi-matte finish before my eyes. Upon closer inspection, it appeared my pores had all but disappeared. What is this sorcery?! I kept dabbing and patting until all the product had melted into my skin and then stared at my reflection in the mirror. It looked so smooth. K-pop star–level smooth. Korean actress–level smooth. My foundation glided on as smoothly as Tara Lipinski's skates on fresh ice.

The Ingredients

The best part of this innovative product is that it not only makes your skin look better, but it treats your skin, too. Made with ingredients like antioxidant fullerene, hyaluronic acid, chamomile flower water, and niacinamide, it’s a hydrating and brightening powerhouse. It’s also completely free of parabens, sulfates, and mineral oils.

The Results

Surely, as with most slippery, hydrating primers, my skin would be an oil slick by midday (thanks to pore-clogging silicones). But no—I checked my complexion around 2 p.m., and it still looked as smooth, pore-less, and oil-free as it did in the morning. Had I finally found a makeup primer that actually lived up to its claims? All signs pointed to yes. 

The Value

For $25 on Amazon, this jelly primer is well worth it. I'll be adding it to my skincare routine as a main staple.

Similar Products: You have options

Tula Skincare Firming & Hydrating Face Moisturizer: This moisturizer is loaded with prebiotics, probiotics, and smart peptides. For $58, skin is left smooth and radiating, ready to take on the day.

Our Verdict

I will be slathering—nay, patting—this mystical makeup cling wrap on my skin for years to come, reveling in the fact that it helps me fake the smoothest skin of my life. The recording contract, I assume, will come shortly after.