The K-beauty market is projected to be worth $13.9 billion by 2027, and just a little research proves why the best Korean skincare brands are exploding stateside. They lead the charge in innovation, are sensitive skin-approved (K-beauty is focused on increasing hydration and reducing inflammation), and are sold at an accessible price point. "Korea is a leading global mecca for innovation with incredible skincare advancements emerging from Korea's labs," says Alicia Yoon, the brains behind K-Beauty retailer Peach & Lily, which sells nearly 20 K-Beauty skincare brands. "You'll see new product formats, incredible new ingredients, and new product categories coming out of the country."
Brands like Laneige, Glow Recipe, and Sulwhasoo have become cult favorites—and quickly at that. But K-Beauty experts and industry insiders will tell you that those just scratch the surface of what Korean beauty offers. There are dozens of new-to-the-US companies that sell elite Korean sunscreen formulas, glow-boosting essences, and products that use ingredients like matcha, niacinamide, and ginger to nourish the skin barrier. As such, we’ve taken the time to round up the best Korean skincare brands that deserve a spot in your routine.
The Best Korean Skincare Brands
- The Best K-Beauty Skincare Brand Overall: Lagom
- The Best K-Beauty Skincare Brand for a Double Cleanse: Then I Met You
- The Best Luxury K-Beauty Skincare Brand: Sulwhasoo
- The Best K-Beauty Skincare Brand at Sephora: Glow Recipe
- The Best K-Beauty Skincare Brand on Amazon: d'Alba
Lagom
Created by Kowon, one of Korea's most sought-after celebrity makeup artists and a team of scientists and doctors, this brand delivers an advanced take on skin hydration, explains Yoon. The star ingredient across their products is called DermaFlux. It's so effective at sealing in moisture, that the patented ingredient won the team a Nobel Peace Prize.
Bouncy, dewy skin is in your future. "The Cellus Aqualane Solution features fermented squalane for deeper hydration and acacia to focus on aquaporins for amping up hydration," explains Yoon. The essence-meets-serum instantly plumps and hydrates, while creating a stronger barrier over time.
My constantly irritated skin is chronically inflamed, which means my texture is occasionally bumpy. Regularly using this cream, which is formulated with Super Cica 4, panthenol and patented ceramides, has completely transformed my texture for the better. It calms redness and bumps down—instantly.
Then I Met You
This is the brainchild of Charlotte Cho, the brains behind K-Beauty retailer Soko Glam. The brand is marketed as an "elevated" take on Korean beauty, and features a tightly edited range of products that seek to connect you to your skincare routine. Then I Met You is committed to sustainability, packing all of their products in 100 percent recyclable boxes.
The perfect companion to the Cleansing Balm, this gel cleanser instantly soothes skin. With fermented rice water, antioxidants, and PHAs as the star ingredient, this cleanser is ideal for oily or acne-prone skin. It boasts anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to keep pimples at bay and pores decongested.
With five percent niacinamide, this essence will give your face a boost of hydration—and a brightening boost. You don't need to be shy with application; pat on as many layers as your skin could possibly need.
Sulwhasoo
Pronounced “Suhl-ha-soo," this skincare brand was founded on the principles of balance and harmony. Started in 1966, the brand is committed to melding natural ingredients with innovative skincare practices, resulting in dozens of best-selling products and a pristine reputation that's lasted through the generations.
Cleansing oils are perfect for melting away even the most stubborn makeup without stripping skin of its natural (and necessary) oils, and this option from Sulwhasoo is the perfect example. It never fails to leave skin feeling and looking renewed, and has an easy-to-use gel consistency made up of nourishing ingredients like mulberry leaf, hydra capture complex, and mountain yam extracts.
This toner has been clinically proven to moisturize and soothe skin, and I can certainly tell. In my experience, it makes skin look and feel softer in just a few weeks, hydrating it without causing breakouts or producing excess oil, which is perfect for combination skin, notes Beauty Writer Gabrielle Ulubay. A little goes a long way with this formula, so the bottle lasts for ages—through the summer days of harsh UV rays, along with the cold, harsh winds of late autumn and fall.
Glow Recipe
Christine Chang and Sarah Lee founded Glow Recipe in 2017 after working together at L'Oréal. In crafting their own brand, they decided to focus on inclusive marketing and effective formulas based in antioxidant-rich fruits like watermelon, plum, and strawberry. All of their products are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, and they boast a variety of products that cater to every skin type and concern.
This watermelon-infused formula not only looks gorgeous, but also provides a powerful burst of nourishment that’s caused the product to go viral several times over. Watermelon is packed with Vitamins C and E, while niacinamide, another key ingredient in the drops, smooths uneven skin texture and reduces the appearance of large pores.
Reviewers love the lightweight, whipped texture of this cream, which happens to come in an environmentally friendly refillable jar. Because of its consistency, it’s perfect for all skin types, whether oily, dry, or somewhere in between. The formula contains a blend of hyaluronic acids that keep skin looking and feeling plump and soft, as well as polyglutamic acid, which enhances the hyaluronic acid’s efficacy.
d'Alba
"This vegan brand has taken Korea by storm with its hero ingredient, white truffle, which is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants," says Yoon. While you typically associate the star ingredient as a topper on a pasta dish, it actually boasts a ton of skin benefits. Inside, you'll find vitamin C, B12, and amino acids, which provide top line antioxidant protection.
One of the most popular mists in Korea, according to Yoon, this silky serum delivers "a visibly calming, balanced radiance." It layers beautifully with other skin products—and under makeup. Plus, it's hypo-allergenic and dermatologist-tested, making it a vetted product for sensitive skin types.
Korean sunscreen are superior—and this particular pick is the best of the best. The silky texture is accompanied by the highest possible protection rating (PA++++). It's fast-absorbing, non-irritating, and most important, doesn't leave a white cast.
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Eco Your Skin
Korea's spa services are next-level with incredible innovative formulas and treatments. "Eco Your Skin is the largest spa in Korea loved by K-Drama and K-Pop A-listers for their dramatic results that leave you so glowy and plumped up," notes Yoon. "Their treatments come bottled for at-home use.
This is one of the brand's best-sellers—and it's easy to see why. "The serum-type formula is made with marine solide, which feels like tiny microneedles melting into the skin," explains Yoon. They enhance absorption and provide dramatic results, which visibly help with uneven skin tone and blemish scarring.
If you've historically found vitamin C irritating, I challenge you to try this gentle formula. It's designed to play nicely with other actives, so you can toss it into any skincare routine without issue. The best part: Your skin will look more even and brighter in no time.
Aestura
Aestura was founded in 1983 with the goal of delivering skincare products whose efficacy is supported by dermatological science. A part of the skincare umbrella brand Amorepacific, they've gained a reputation for supporting healthy skin through products designed for all ages and skin types.
This lightweight Korean moisturizer has become one of my go-to skincare products. It absorbs quickly, allowing me to apply my favorite sunscreen or facial oil immediately after, and it never clogs the pores on my combination skin. Though it provides quite a bit of hydration, it never makes my skin feel cakey or heavy, and because it’s free of artificial fragrances, it works great when my skin is feeling dry, irritated, or sensitive.
This lightweight, foaming cleanser is great for combining with an oil or cream face wash during a double-cleansing skincare routine. It’s been clinically tested and proven to be hypo-allergenic, and gently removes makeup and impurities without over-drying skin or disturbing your skin’s natural pH levels. And thanks to its key ingredients of green tea extract, Vitamin E, and glycerin, it’s moisturizing, too.
Laneige
The brand might have a French name, but Laneige (which translates to “snow”) was founded in Seoul, South Korea in 1994 by Amorepacific, the corporation behind several of the brands in this list. Known for their iconic sleeping lip mask, the brand has more recently branched into additional skincare items such as face moisturizers, toner, essences, and more.
The cult-favorite lip mask from Laneige is everything you could want in a lip balm, with all the sweet goodness of a lip gloss from the beauty supply store, but without the stickiness. Sweet fragrance aside, the antioxidant-rich mask can recover even the most dry and cracked lips, so you better stick up for winter now. The only struggle you'll have is deciding which flavor to buy.
This award-winning formula doubles as both a toner and a moisturizer. Lightweight and hypoallergenic, it’s formulated with peptides and ceramides to moisturize skin and promote elasticity without causing blackheads or breakouts.
Amorepacific
Luxury Korean skincare brand, Amorepacific is the namesake brand of the Amore Pacific corporation, which operates well known Korean beauty brands Laneige, Sulwhasoo, Innisfree, and more. With a focus on ingredients enriched with green tea, Amorepacific seeks to provide skincare that penetrates skin with natural, moisturizing formulas.
This unbelievably soft, luxurious-feeling moisturizer is made to have a plumping effect, so it’s perfect for tired, sagging, or aging skin. It has a lightly dewy finish that’s made to prime skin perfectly for makeup application, and it promises to improve the appearance of skin both in the short- and long-term.
This eye essence promises to de-puff, lift, and brighten the under-eye area noticeably and is especially potent because its key ingredient, green tea, is fermented for added efficacy. It also includes caffeine, which aids in anti-aging and lifting, as well as hyacinth extract, which promises to protect this delicate area from environmental pollutants and aggressors.
Banila Co
Founded in 2006 in South Korea, Banila Co. isn’t new to the Korean skincare game. In fact, their ever-popular cleansing balm is purchased every 3.1 seconds. The brand champions a simplified, less-is-more routine in order to make premium skincare easier, faster, and more accessible to consumers worldwide. Plus, it's sold at an affordable price point, making it the dewy skin possible for people of all budgets.
This bestselling formula is made to simplify your cleansing routine. Not only does it take off even the most stubborn makeup (including eye makeup, lash glue, and glitter), but it’s also able to cleanse the skin of impurities, grease, and pollutants. It’s formulated with natural ingredients like hot spring water, and it contains soothing Vitamin E and brightening Vitamin C, making it suitable for even the most sensitive, tired skin.
A peel-off mask is a great way to inject a bit of pampering into your week, and this one from Banila Co. is infused with vitamins in order to brighten your complexion. It does this by exfoliating with mandarin orange extract (which is packed with Vitamin C), eradicating dead skin and revealing the fresher, smoother layer beneath.
The Crème Shop
The Crème Shop is beloved for its adorable packaging, which often features popular characters like Hello Kitty, Trolls, and BT21, but they're products are more than just cute—they're also packed with nourishing ingredients handpicked to support long term skincare. With this brand, you can look after your health and have fun while you're at it.
These cow print eye patches are a delight to wear and are packed with ingredients that are clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark circles and under-eye sagging. Squalane, for instance, hydrates the area, while peptides heal damaged skin by promoting the production of collagen, which makes skin look younger and more elastic.
I go through cotton pads constantly, using them for taking off nail polish and eye makeup alike, or for applying my favorite toner. Not only is this set adorable, but it’s way more sustainable than single-use plastic. The jar can be refilled or repurposed easily, while the pads themselves promise to be gently exfoliating.
Mediheal
One of the best known steps in the Korean skincare routine is the sheet mask, which is infused with a nourishing essence meant to strengthen the skin barrier. For many Mediheal is the place to go for all things sheet masks, but since their 2009 inception, they've expanded into other skincare items, such as toner pads, haircare items, and skin patches. To produce these premium products, the brand actively works with scientists, dermatologists, and other skin experts to ensure that their ingredients are as safe and effective as possible.
No matter your skin concern, Mediheal is bound to offer a sheet mask for you, and this variety pack proves it. The combo pack includes a collagen, tea tree, vita, placenta, madecassoside, and watermide mask—perfect for keeping on hand so that you always have something to reach for as the needs of your skin change with the seasons, your lifestyle, or your hormones.
Korean skincare doesn’t just focus on moisture— it also offers products that address acne, unclogging pores and diminishing the appearance of pimples and blackheads. This Madecassoside Blemish Pad, for instance, calms redness and reduces not only acne, but also uneven skin tone and post-blemish dark spots. The pads are hypoallergenic, too, making them suitable for damaged or sensitive skin.
Cosrx
Cosrx's name stands for Cosmetics + Rx, highlighting its emphasis on creating thoughtful, effective, and scientifically backed-up products for skin. Officially launched in 2013 by Jun Sang Hun, the brand is known for its no-nonsense ingredients and packaging, as well as for its highly effective ingredients like cica, snail mucin, and propolis.
One of the worst parts about having acne is dealing with the scars or dark marks it leaves behind, so Cosrx’s clear pads seek to help with just that. The pads contain panthenol, which soothes and heals the area while encouraging the regeneration of skin so that those pesky marks can fade away. Meanwhile, willow bark cleanses pores in order to discourage any new blemishes from popping up, and betaine salicylate improves skin’s tone and texture so that you can move one major step closer to a smooth, even complexion.
This is one of Cosrx’s most famous products, in part because its debut was one of the first times many Americans had heard of snail mucin. The thick yet easily spreadable essence does wonders in moisturizing skin and evening one’s complexion—I know, because every time I use it in my rotation, my skin is visibly smoother and firmer, and I always get compliments on how I look without makeup. The essence’s effectiveness is due, in part, to its potency, as it contains a whopping 96 percent pure snail mucin.
Dr. Jart+
When you ask someone about their favorite Korean skincare brand, chances are they’ll probably mention Dr. Jart+. This brand bridges the gap between art and dermatological science, which is where its name comes from—it's an abbreviation of “Doctors Join Art." Now a part of the Estée Lauder umbrella, Dr. Jart+ sticks to its founders' goals of creating innovative products destined to become staples in anyone's skincare routine.
One of Dr. Jart+'s many cult-classic formulas, this product boasts the inflammatory ingredient centella asiatica (also known as cica). With over 200,000 glowing reviews on Sephora, this formula is a miracle worker for those who tend to suffer from redness and don’t want to worry about finding the right foundation shade to cover it up. Plus, it boasts SPF 30, protecting your skin from harmful UV rays and preventing further redness, too.
This moisturizer has a lightweight, gel-like consistency that I personally love. It dries quickly and the finished product looks matte, making it perfect for makeup application or for adding more layers of skincare (like sunscreen during the day or facial oil at night). But just because it’s light, doesn’t mean it’s not hydrating: This formula is packed with hyaluronic acid and with Pentavitin, Dr. Jart+’s trademark ingredient that promises to fortify the skin barrier so that you can hold onto all of that hydration.
Venn
In less than 10 years, Venn has developed a devoted cult following. Their ethos revolves around balancing the skin’s microbiome so that, rather than applying skincare reactively, users can proactively stay on top of their skin health. The result is fewer breakouts, episodes of dryness, and instances of dullness—something that the brand achieves by creating formulas packed with skin-strengthening nutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics.
If you’re struggling with uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation (or both), consider this resurfacing mask, which is clinically proven to improve the appearance of one’s skin tone. It uses phyto-retinols to clarify and exfoliate skin, removing layers of dead cells that may be responsible for an uneven appearance. In addition, the mask’s formula features deeply nourishing ingredients like aloe leaf extract, squalene, cica leaf extract, and more.
I’m a huge sucker for an anti-aging product—especially a highly concentrated, effective option like this one from Venn. It improves the appearance of sagging or dull skin and it reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Safe to use on both the face and neck, it uses peptides to deeply hydrate and Ginsenoside Compound K to firm and brighten. Participants in clinical trials overwhelming said it improved their skin’s elasticity. Plus, unlike other concentrates that cause irritation or peeling, this one is safe for use both morning and night.
Meebak
If redness is your primary skin concern, then Meebak, which launched in 2019, should be on your radar. One of the primary ingredients in their line is cica, which has unmatched soothing and skin-evening powers.
"We don’t add heavy premiums like many brands out there, and instead focus on delivering our brand promise of younger, brighter, happier skin,” brand founder Heeji Kim said in a press release shared with Marie Claire.
Sensitive skin? Dry skin? Irritated skin? Allow us to introduce you to this super rich, super soothing cica-powered moisturizer. It helps strengthen your skin barrier, reduce dryness, and leave your complexion with a gorgeous glow. It is on the thicker side, though, so you may want to save it for your nighttime skincare routine. While you sleep, it’ll work to lock in moisture and heal tired skin so that you can wake up with a soft, healthy complexion. The brand says it’s especially great for damaged, flaky, or dry skin.
I absolutely love acne patches. They isolate and target blemishes, pulling puss and excess oil out from whiteheads without impacting surrounding skin or over-drying the blemishes in question. These affordable options by Meebak come in packs of three, with 18 patches per sheet—a fabulous value. Plus, they not only triage pimples but cover them up, so you can wear your patches all day and all night without anyone knowing you’re wearing them. They’re infused with cica and centellla asiatica, which go a long way in diminishing the appearance of zits while nourishing skin so it doesn’t scar.
Peach Slices
Chances are you’ve seen the brand’s “Snail Rescue” line go viral on TikTok. If you’re unfamiliar, allow us to give you a crash course: It leverages Korean-loved skincare ingredients like snail mucin, along with honey and yuzu to gently exfoliate skin and control shine.
Formulated with 95 percent snail mucin, which is essentially glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid combined, this toner is perfect for treating acne without drying out your skin. Just put some of this liquid on a cotton pad and wipe it across your face after cleansing. It absorbs and dries quickly so that you can layer your favorite serum and moisturizer on top of it, and it contains cica, too, which is antibacterial and helps heal any damage to your complexion.
This is another option that contains my favorite skincare ingredient, snail mucin. It’s a perfect option for those who have uneven skin, as it promises to visibly even skin tone and calm issues like redness and hyperpigmentation. Its other ingredients, like birch juice and pine bark, also work to balance skin for an overall smooth, even appearance. Other ingredients in this formula include hyaluronic acid, which deeply moisturizes, and cica, which contains healing, antibacterial properties so that you can rid your face of blackheads and whiteheads faster.
Son & Park
Son & Park was established by two celebrity makeup artists, Son Dae-Sik and Park Tae-Yun, who established their eponymous beauty brand because of their belief that flawless makeup starts with healthy skin. The brand is best known for its Beauty Water, but it also carries products that enhance the appearance of the eyes and lips.
This product is a cross between a cleanser and a toner, making it an essential for anyone looking to simplify their skincare routine. It’s wildly popular among beauty lovers because of its ability to gently exfoliate skin (thanks to its key ingredient, papaya extract) while effectively calming redness and irritation.
If your lashes are brittle, thin, or even falling out due to regular usage or mascara or fake lashes, consider giving them some much needed TLC in the form of this eyelash serum. It has a pH level of around 7.0 (similar to that of tears), making it a comfortable, wearable option for even the most irritated eyes. A powerfully hydrating supplement, it contains biotin and collagen, which aid in thickening and promoting existent growth of lashes so that you can achieve your dream length without taking trips to the lash tech.
What Makes K-Beauty Different?
In America, you can find skincare products for almost anything. Generally speaking, we love our chemical peels, our retinoids, and our exfoliating acids. Korean skincare, on the other hand, is more focused on long-term skin health and a well-maintained barrier. "There's a deep focus on aspects that keep skin thriving—hydration, calming, and protecting ingredients," says Yoon.
Korea is the birthplace of the double cleanse, which combines an oil cleanser to dissolve makeup and SPF with a water-based cleanser to remove sweat and dirt. "This two-step process delivers clarified, deeply cleansed skin without being harsh on skin," adds Yoon.
According to Dr. Zion Ko Lamm, a board-certified Internal Medicine physician specializing in skincare, look for oil cleansers with grapeseed. Grapeseed oil is known to improve the barrier function of the skin, and it has "even more antioxidant benefits outside of just cleansing," she notes.
Cleansing is always followed by deep hydration. "Essences are a staple skincare category in Korea as they're formulated to flood skin with hydration," says Yoon. "The seven-skin method originated in Korea years ago, and focuses on hydrating skin by patting on seven layers of your essence to flood skin with hydration."
How Long Is a Korean Skincare Routine?
Most people associate Korean skincare with 12-step routines. While a lengthy regimen can be the case, it doesn't have to be. "A standard routine may not always have so many steps, but because each routine is focused on personalization and ensuring skin is cleansed well, amply hydrated, with targeted treatments, and SPFS, you typically have a multi-stepped routine," notes Yoon.
In addition to a double cleanse, essence, and SPF (K-Beauty sunscreens are elite), you'll also likely include serums or ampoules that can address specific concerns. "Some people might use one serum every day of the week while others pair two serums together. Others might switch up serums several times a week to hyper-target how their skin is feeling each day," adds Yoon.
How Expensive Is Korean Skincare?
Because Korea is one of the most competitive beauty landscapes with demanding consumers, brands are constantly challenged to level up formulas, packaging, and value. "We have avid skincare consumers in Korea to thank for many of the innovative, accessible, and exceptional products," notes Yoon. As a result, many products have a lower price point.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Zion Ko Lamm is a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician who specializes in skincare. She is known for her popular online content about skin health and Korean beauty, in particular. She is currently based in South Carolina.
Alicia's love of skincare comes from a personal place. She struggled with severe eczema and problematic skin growing up. She worried that she would always have itchy, rashy, painful skin. To take control of her skin, she attended skin school in Korea, and finally discovered the knowledge, techniques, and Korean Beauty product technologies that allowed her to transform it. For the past 20 years, she has continued to study skincare ingredients and Korean Skincare techniques while also obtaining her NY Esthetician license and cultivating my own unique and effective skincare treatments. Her personal passion—and the mission at Peach & Lily – is to empower you to transform your own skin.
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