With the current K-Drama and K-Pop craze across the globe, it is no wonder we’re obsessed with the flawless, poreless skin of our fave Korean stars! We research their holy grail skincare products, and try our very best to get our hands on them.

But another layer of K-Beauty we’re obsessed right now is the elusive, topnotch aesthetic K-Beauty treatments that K-stars themselves swear by. These are the ones that are availed by Korean beauty addicts and celebrities themselves in South Korea, developed by skincare and beauty experts there. And Filipina beauty expert and entrepreneur Karen Alberto has been offering these sought-after K-Beauty treatments here in the Philippines for three years now.

Karen Alberto founded Korean Beauty Institute (KBI) in  2017 and opened the MAC Academy Manila in 2019. Korean Beauty Institute is a non-invasive clinic that offers famous K-beauty treatments: from Korean skincare, semi-permanent makeup, Korean nails, Korean scalp care to eyelash volumes. While MAC Academy Manila houses short professional courses on giving the same treatments offered in the clinic.

Both her clinic and beauty academy have made a seemingly quiet yet definitely growing following of K-Beauty fans in Manila. With Seoul-famous treatments available in her beauty boutique like Korean Water Shine Glow and Chanel Injection, her Filipino clientele are enjoying beautiful skin like that of Korean stars without having to visit South Korea.

“With a vision of empowering the Filipino people with Korean beauty technology and products, we built the Korean Beauty Institute in 2017. We wanted our fellow Filipinos to experience the Authentic Korean Approach of skincare treatment we mastered in Seoul,” Karen started.

After finishing a number of topnotch beauty courses in the city capital of South Korea, this beauty expert is the first ever Filipina who bagged an award at the prestigious K-Beauty Olympics held in SK in 2017. A certified permanent makeup artist and instructor by Miyong Alliance in Manila and LK Beauty Lab in Seoul, Korea, Karen has been sharing her expertise in Korean beauty through her aesthetic clinic and beauty school at the Madison Galery in Alabang Hills among her loyal clients and students.

“K-Beauty is primarily focused on enhancing your natural beauty using distinctive non-traditional methods which are proven much more effective than what we were accustomed to before. Skincare and beauty technology are constantly evolving, never stopping. And we aim to provide the means for the Filipino market to enjoy this privilege. We don’t focus much on whitening, but instead, we focus on brightening and glowing the best version of your skin,” the K-beauty expert shared.

Karen shared some of the best-selling K-Beauty treatments that she has brought here in the Philippines, and are well-loved by her loyal clients:

1.The BLACKPINK Treatment

“The treatment got its name from the rich and famous stars requesting it in Gangnam, South Korea,” the KBI founder said. “It’s designed to help rejuvenate your face by diminishing the signs of aging and skin damages. A lot of our clients are availing this sesh from us, especially before wedding and events, because they barely need makeup after having this treatment.”

Tender woman with cosmetic mask on face

The BLACKPINK Treatment is a kinder, gentler version of many other skincare laser treatments. It’s safe for all skin types, can be performed any time of the year, and doesn’t have the long downtime other laser procedures usually require.

The 30-minute treatment also corrects uneven skin pigmentation and addresses big pores, acne and scars. It’s mildly exfoliating, so you’re left with a softer, smoother skin texture–resulting in a glowing, more radiant appearance.

How does BLACKPINK Treatment Works:

First, a layer of Spectra lotion is applied to your skin. The lotion is carbon-based, so it resembles and feels like a mud mask. Once the mask is set, a laser is put over your skin. It works in two ways. First, by breaking up the pigmentation in the skin, allowing it to be naturally removed by the body; and secondly, by heating the skin, triggering the production of collagen.

“You may hear some snapping sounds as the laser moves across the surface of your skin, and you may feel some warmth or mild tingling, but the procedure is comfortable and doesn’t even require a topical anesthetic. The majority of our patients report no pain at all.”

2.Chanel Injection

Named after the famous French luxury label, the Chanel Injection is a premium anti-aging procedure that’s been so popular in South Korea among the rich and the famous. The session injects Hyaluronic Acid into your skin, which removes wrinkles, lifts the skin and literally makes your skin glow.

Woman removing eye makeup with cotton pad

“The procedure is permanent compared to Botox, ” Karen said. “In just three to five days, you can have a noticeably more young-looking, brighter skin.”

The Chanel Injection is implemented by Korean Beauty Institute’s resident medical practitioner Dr. Rey Karlo Antonio, MD.

3.Korean Water Shine Glow

“With this treatment, the famous BB Glow and CC glow serum are infused into your skin using micro-needles,” Karen said. “This is the perfect alternative to painful traditional facial sessions. This treatment will remove your dead skin cells and will make your skin healthy from within, with a touch of bright glow.”

Calm woman with face cream

“Our lash treatments are so loved by our clients too. Our Amino Lash Lift is also famous in South Korea, and it uses Amino Acids that make your lashes grow healthier with a little curl,” she said.

KBI makes sure that their clients are getting their treatments in a virus-free environment, even more so this pandemic. The clinic goes through rigorous anti-bacterial and anti-virus cleaning sessions almost every couple of hours, and a strict booking process is assured to make sure that they cater to very few clients per day for safety measures.

“We have taken it as our social responsibility to help stop the spread of the virus and encourage safety and wellness for everyone. We have first-handedly been engaged in manufacturing, developing and importing personal protective equipment and topnotch sanitizers, which we also use among our staff and facilities,” Karen said. “We became more strict in booking schedules too, so we encourage a by-appointment setup to make sure we only welcome guests under strict safety protocols in our clean, safe facilities.”

To learn more about the many K-Beauty treatments that KBI offers, check out the official website at www.koreanbeautyinstitute.com.

Korean Beauty Institute and Mac Academy Manila are located at the 3rd Floor of Madison Galeries, Don Jesus Blvd, Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa City. For advanced bookings, you may contact 09399239006, or message the center’s Facebook page at facebook.com/koreanbeautyinstitute or on Instagram @koreanbeautyinstitute.