Korean beauty brand Holika Holika opens shop on Queen West

Product hoarders, take note: this new Korean beauty boutique will likely test your resolve. Holika Holika, a popular South Korean cosmetics brand, recently launched a new downtown Toronto location at Queen and John, near the MuchMusic building. (Its first Canadian outlet opened in Markham’s Pacific Mall in 2012). The little shop carries all the components of a traditional multi-step Korean skincare routine: cleansing oils, sugar scrubs, toners, “essence” (i.e. concentrated serums) and fabric facial masks infused with ingredients like snail secretions and placenta extract. Makeup junkies will find lip glosses, BB creams and rainbow-hued eye shadow palettes, most priced on par with mid-range drugstore brands. There’s even a special BB cream for men (minus the candy-coloured packaging), because who ever said guys shouldn’t flaunt flawlessly even skin?

M-Th 10-8, F-Sa 10-9, Su 11-8, 311A Queen St. W., holikaholika.ca