The 18 Best Korean Skincare Brands to Start Your K-Beauty Routine

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.