5 must-have products from K Banana

Calling all beauty fans! K Banana is now open at U Village and the assortment of k-beauty products is unreal. You'll immediately be drawn to the whimsical packaging and then fall in love with the amazing prices. I've dabbled in Korean beauty products in the past, but now, after working with the K Banana team on two grand opening events, I'm a total convert. Here are 5 of my favorite k-beauty products you can get right now at K Banana.

#1 Whal Myung WM5 Hydrating Cream

I have oily skin and as a result, I always shy away from anything hydrating so this is an unusual pick for me, but I'm happy to report that my skin has really turned a corner with this product. Prior to using this hydrating cream, I was regularly stripping my skin with cleansers to control oil. Turns out, this has the opposite effect on skin and actually triggers even more oil production. K-Beauty expert Ashley Brown suggested that I add in hydration as the final step of my skincare routine by using the Whal Myung Hydrating Cream ($52, shown above) in the morning and at night. It seemed foreign to me because I'm normally just concerned with getting oil off my face and stripping it completely of moisture, but she assured me that using a pea-sized amount and distributing it evenly over my face and neck would help combat redness and balance out my skin, and it totally worked. I'm now less oily and my skin feels hydrated and calm.

#2 MadeCera Lip Balm 

Hot summer days are perfect for hydrating lip balms with a pop of color. I'm obsessed with the MadeCera Lip Balm ($12) available at K Banana because it has a sheer pop of color and fits perfectly into my pocket. The "Pop Pink" color, shown above, is my favorite.

#3 Huangjisoo Perfect Cleansing Oil

This is also an unusual pick for me but when the temps rise, I always find myself being drawn to the double cleanse method. It's literally the only thing that makes my skin feel truly clean. For newbies to this method, the double cleanse involves washing your face first with an oil-based cleanser to draw oil and impurities away from skin, followed by washing your face again with a water-based cleanser. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it's totally worth it and I swear this method makes my skin glow. I've been using the huangjisoo oil cleanser ($25, shown above) from K Banana and it's quickly becoming one of my go-to cleansers.

#4 KOCOSTAR Plump Lip Capsule Mask

Enclosed in this cute lip-shaped case, shown above, you'll find 30 Kocostar capsules filled with lip plumping serum. You twist off the tip and apply the clear serum on to your lips. It tingles a little at first and then completely transforms your pout. I already have big lips thanks to Juvederm but I LOVE these little capsules because they really make my lips pop.

#5 Dr. Jart+ Cheek & Eye Lift

The Dr. Jart Cheek and Eye Lift mask ($7) is hands-down my favorite mask of all time because it instantly defines my cheek bones (which are normally non-existent) while also de-puffing my under eyes, which we ALL need. I store these masks in the fridge and use them as my secret weapon whenever I have a special event or a photoshoot because they really work. These masks have little acupressure dots on the inside that help to lift and tighten skin. You'll look like you've just been to the spa.


K Banana is located at U Village next door to Sole Food and Amour Vert. Once inside the store you'll find a variety of curated k-beauty skincare including over 150 different types of sheet masks on the vending machine face mask wall hand painted by local artist Jesse Brown, plus a dedicated selfie wall, and a "BIY" Beauty-It-Yourself gifting station with colorful mesh pouches that you can fill with travel-sized products to create the perfect gift.

K Banana
2621 NE Village Lane
Seattle, WA
On Instagram @hellokbanana

Top photo credit: Michael Garrett

K Banana is now open at University Village

Calling all K-Beauty fans! The new K Banana store at University Village is now open! What started as a seasonal pop-up is now a year-round destination for Seattleites to get their K-Beauty fix. If you liked the pop-up, you are going to LOVE the new store.

The interior features playful, wall-to-wall murals handpainted by local artist Jesse Brown. It's literally a color explosion that begs to be Instagrammed. Designer Austin Hicks of Glass Box Gallery also worked closely with the team to create beautiful, custom fixtures for the store that showcase product and double as art installations.

"Korean beauty products are known for their bright colors and whimsical packaging, so we designed a unique, immersive experience to complement that feeling," said Yates. Shoppers will K Banana's signature vending machine face mask wall, a BIY (Beauty It Yourself) gifting station featuring travel-size K-beauty products, accessories, and candy, and a variety of new product lines including the new makeup and skincare collection by K-Pop boy band sensation BTS.

One fun fact: Korean beauty is clean beauty. All of the products carried in the store and made with the highest quality ingredients and without all of the things you hate, like parabens and gross chemicals. If you're concerned about clean ingredients in your beauty and skincare products, you'll enjoy the curated selection at K Banana.

The new store is located at University Village next door to Sole Food and Amour Vert. To celebrate the grand opening, K Banana will be offering a special gift with purchase, while supplies last. Follow the K-beauty action on Instagram @hellokbanana.

K Ba-Nana launches website + announces closure of pop-up

Seattle brand K Ba-Nana has finally launched a website and you can now shop for all your favorite k-beauty products online without ever having to leave the house. If you have yet to visit their pop-up at University Village, your last chance to check it out is this weekend. After that, K Ba-Nana will be online only under later this spring when they open a permanent location somewhere in Seattle. In the meantime, you can peruse the website for all your favorite skincare, serums, face masks, beauty accessories, and gifts. The pop-up officially closes on Sunday, January 27th. Follow along on Instagram @hellokbanana.

Here's what you missed: K Ba-Nana Women In Business Event

It seemed only fitting that at the end of my month-long celebration of Gossip & Glamour turning 8 years old, I had the opportunity to moderate the K Ba-Nana Women in Business event at U-Village. The truth is that surrounding myself with around other women in business has been critical to my success as an entrepreneur and it's something I always recommend to others who are just getting started.

The in-store event featured notable women in business including Nordstrom buyer Jillian Peterson, K Ba-Nana founder Liz Kang Yates, Sweet & Power series creator Carolyn Yuen Marino, and Marabou Design founder Brandy Brown. The conversation touched on everything from how each panelist started their careers and what strategies they employed to overcome adversity along the way.
Here are the top 5 takeaways from the discussion:

Listen - Listening is essential for clear communication yet it's often overlooked in business environments. Take the time to properly listen so that you can avoid assumptions and ensure that everyone is working toward the same vision and goal.

Ask for Feedback -As you move through your career it's important to ask for feedback from colleagues and even clients so that you can learn and grow. In the early years of my career it was difficult for me to take feedback because I always perceived it as criticism, but ultimately hearing the feedback and understanding my patterns was a game changer for my personal development. Asking for feedback continues to be a critical part of my success and an entrepreneur.

Negotiate - As a woman in business, it's important to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, especially when it comes to negotiating. The truth is, these conversations can be tricky on both sides and it's important to remember that the greatest good can only come when both sides navigate them from a place of care and confidence. Whether the conversation is about money or terms of a contract, voice concerns upfront to avoid conflict.

Schedule time for self-care - Whether it's a weekend brunch with the girls or a spa day at the Four Seasons, scheduling time for self-care is a must. "The business isn't going to prioritize you," says Jillian Peterson, "You have to prioritize yourself- the business actually improves when you do." It makes total sense because when you're healthy and ready for anything, it's much easier to get in the flow of business. Self-care can come in many forms, so pick something that resonates with you and establish healthy self-care routines now.

Enjoy the process and have fun - There isn't a singular path to career success. Everyone has a different journey and it's important to embrace the process and have fun along the way. Try new things, experience with different methods as you hone your craft, and when you find yourself in a downward spiral, just remember that Instagram is a highlight reel and not the full, messy, beautiful, story.

If you missed this event, sign up for the mailing list over at Gossip-Glamour.com to stay in the know on future Seattle women in business events and fashion activations around the city.

K-Beauty pop-up makes debut at University Village

If you're a beauty junkie like me, chances are you already love and frequently horde Korean beauty products. We're talking sheet masks, skin essences, jade rollers, gel nail strips, and all the cute accessories that go along with them. Sure you can find a K-beauty section at Sephora, but what if you could shop an entire store dedicated to K-beauty? Well, your dreams just came true, my friend.

K Ba-Nana is opening a limited-run K-beauty pop-up at University Village today at 11 a.m. and it will remain open through the end of the year. They've stocked their shelves with coveted Korean beauty brands including Aromatica, Dr. Jart, Vika, Huxley, Too Cool For School, WKND, and 107. Shoppers will find colorful walls of sheet masks, tables of makeup and beauty products, fashion accessories, gifts, and more. The store is lined with handpainted murals by local artist Jesse Brown and also features a Molly Moon vending machine that serves up Minimoon cups of ice cream for $5. Follow the K-beauty convo on Instagram @HelloKBanana.

K Ba-Nana
2656 NE University St.
Seattle, WA 98105
* Free parking available on-site. The closest parking garage is near Crate & Barrel.