12 Best Korean Skincare Brands for All Skin Types
Consider this a crash course in the best brands and ingredients.
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Coveted for its "glass skin" look, Korean skincare brands tout innovative formulations of natural ingredients like ginseng and rice water and trusted skincare staples like retinol and niacinamide that help bolster the skin barrier. From cleansers and moisturizers to face masks and serums, Korean skincare brands have something for every budget or skin type.
Our editors put together this list of the best Korean skincare brands, tapping the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann who professionally reviews skincare ingredients. We also vetted dozens of customer reviews to locate the best Korean skincare brands in the United States, plus standout products to help you achieve your best skin ever.
Whether you're dealing with dryness, acne or other skin sensitivity, we found Asian-owned beauty brands that support your skin journey. Want to dive even deeper? Keep scrolling for more tips on how to achieve glass skin. Then, check out our guides to the best Korean sunscreens and Korean haircare for further exploration of the K-Beauty industry.
All skin types can reap the benefits of Belif's Korean skincare line. The brand prioritizes hydration, utilizing tried-and-true ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane and ceramides. Boasting lightweight formulas, Belif curates a skincare line designed to support a healthy skin barrier that thus helps give skin that plump, bouncy texture.
Reviewers far and wide rave about how Belif products leave their skin feeling hydrated and balanced. For example, one GH Institute tester praised the jelly cleanser from Belif's Aqua Bomb collection (a past GH Beauty Award winner) for being "so gentle yet really works and the formula makes me actually look forward to cleansing!"
These popular Aqua Bomb products might make you a believer:
From serums to toners to cleansers, Innisfree has something for everyone, especially those looking to brighten dull skin and even out dark spots. Its skincare lineup incorporates natural ingredients like green tea while tapping powerful actives like retinol to create offerings that can be mixed, matched and cycled to suit your skin needs.
Online shoppers praised its hydrating, evening and brightening benefits. In GH Beauty Lab assessments, this Innisfree Retinol Cica Moisture Recovery Serum (a 2023 GH Beauty Award winner) was effective on sensitive and redness-prone skin, with one tester sharing that their "skin was clearer, brighter, softer and smoother, with no discomfort."
We also think these innisfree products are worth adding to your weekly routine:
When you think of lip masks, there's a good chance the viral Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is the first that comes to mind. "I haven’t found anything that compares to it," says Danusia Wnek, a senior chemist in the GH Beauty Lab. "I love how it applies easily onto lips, leaving them feeling soft and nourished without being sticky or tacky. It literally feels like a cushiony cloud on lips."
In addition to cult-favorite lip products, the Amorepacific-owned company is known for its nourishing face masks and moisturizers. Like so many K-beauty brands, Laneige is all about hydration. GH editor Jacqueline Saguin found the Laneige Water Bank Hyaluronic Moisturizer refreshing on her dry, eczema skin.
For that and more, our editors also found the most popular Laneige products under $40:
Snail mucin is the secret of CosRx's Affordable skincare solutions. According to Wizemann, the buzzworthy ingredient "promotes skin repair and hydration" — two things acne-prone skin should prioritize.
Though its Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence went viral, the Korean skincare brand offers dozens of products that can soothe skin. Our staffers also appreciate its hydrocolloid pimple patches that help reduce blemishes.
These best-selling products from CosRx can help support journeys to blemish-free skin:
Sulwhasoo's luxurious skincare line stars Korean ginseng as its hero ingredient. The brand professes a deep love for traditional Korean herbs, indicative of its botanical formulations. As a result, its products boast lightweight formulas with moisturizing benefits.
Here are a few ginseng-packed Sulwhasoo products you can add to your routine:
If you're looking for a spa-like Korean skincare experience, look no further than Amore Pacific. As the flagship brand of its parent company, the Amorepacific Group (which owns other popular K-beauty brands like Sulwahsoo, Laneige and Innisfree), it's famed for formulas made with botanical extracts like green tea, bamboo extract and ginseng.
Reviewers online love the brand's luxurious textures and formulas, like the Amore Pacific Time Response Eye Reserve Crème. It earned perfect scores in past GH Beauty Lab testing for firming and hydrating. Testers also rated it best for de-puffing.
Here are a few additional Amore Pacific products worth treating yourself to:
Affordable Korean skincare brand Cocokind is focused on supporting a healthy, hydrated skin barrier with budget-friendly formulas. And while it considers price, the brand doesn't skimp on ingredients, featuring anti-inflammatory turmeric, barrier-boosting ceramides and lipids in its formulations.
Those with eczema and other skin sensitivities can also shop Cocokind products with a National Eczema Association seal of approval, which certifies ingredients are safe and suitable for such skin types.
Some of our editors appreciate this trio of products under $30:
Fans of Korean face masks might appreciate Dr. Jart+'s collection of sheet masks. There's one for every skincare concern, including dehydration, acne, redness, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles — you name it. Dr Jart+'s hyaluronic acid-packed Vital Hydra Solution Pro Glow Face Mask performed particularly well in the GH Beauty Lab's test of face masks, earning high praise for hydrating and soothing skin.
Expand your collection with cleansers, toners, moisturizers and other everyday essentials, featuring the same key ingredients.
We found a few Dr. Jart+ staples to get you started:
If dry skin is among your top skincare concerns, Illiyoon should be on your radar. Its affordable Korean skincare products are packed with ceramides that work well for dry, sensitive and acne-prone skin. Even better, they're made without added (potentially irritating) dyes and fragrances.
The lightweight Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion is a favorite among staffers. "This product really helped with dry patches on skin," says GH manager Sophie Park. "It feels hydrating, leaves a dewy finish, has a lot of product (so it lasts a while) and is price-friendly."
These Illiyoon picks should provide similar moisturizing results:
Calm skin with Missha. The brand's products provide hydrating options for every step of your morning and nighttime routine, whether it's to prep skin for makeup or firm skin in the evening.
Missha's Time Revolution line is its most popular, largely due to innovative fermented ingredients that the brand claims target a wide array of skincare concerns. Packed with probiotics, these products help calm and soothe skin without sacrificing potent actives like retinol.
Here are our top finds from the brand:
Beauty of Joseon
Glass skin, dewy skin or glowy skin — no matter what you call it, everyone wants that super hydrated look. That's easily achieved with Beauty of Joseon. The brand combines elements of a traditional Korean herbal medicine called Hanbang with modern formulations. This ancient technique centers on the natural healing properties of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals found in herbs and teas.
For example, Beauty of Joseon products feature skincare ingredients not commonly found in the U.S., such as red bean water and propolis, a resin-like substance created by bee2222s. These ingredients are touted for their high antioxidants — studies show they help reduce inflammation.
These Beauty of Joseon bestsellers will aid you on your journey to Korean glass skin:
- Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum ($17)
- Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel Moisturizer ($18)
- Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum ($16.50)
Korean-owned brand Aestura has a decades-long reputation for creating gentle skincare products for sensitive skin types. In fact, the brand is used in Korean hospitals and is beloved by Korean dermatologists.
Its slate of moisturizers, cleansers and serums build out an entire skincare routine designed to support a healthy skin barrier. That's all thanks to skincare ingredients like ceramides and cica.
A few Aestura products that are suitable for sensitive skin:
What to look for in the best Korean skincare
Wizemann points out that "Korean skincare is known for its diverse range of products and ingredients," most of which focus on hydrating dry skin and soothing irritation to create plump, dewy skin with a glass-like finish.
That said, here are a few popular ingredients to look for in Korean skincare products:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Provides deep hydration and plumps the skin
- Snail Mucin: Promotes skin repair and hydration
- Green Tea Extract: Rich in antioxidants, soothes and protects the skin
- Centella Asiatica (Cica): Calms inflammation and supports skin barrier function
- Niacinamide: Helps brighten skin and improve uneven skin tone
- Beta-Glucans: Moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier
What is Korean glass skin?
To truly understand Korean skincare, one must first understand the "glass skin" phenomenon. "The glass skin effect is a term popularized by Korean skincare enthusiasts and refers to a complexion that appears exceptionally smooth, clear and reflective, — similar to glass," according to Wizemann.
She says that achieving glass skin involves having a well-hydrated and balanced complexion with minimally visible pores, fine lines or blemishes. It's often achieved through a diligent skincare routine that focuses on hydration, exfoliation and nourishment. "Products like hydrating serums, lightweight moisturizers and gentle exfoliants are commonly used to help achieve this effect," Wizemann adds.
Is Korean or American skincare better?
By now, you're probably asking yourself, "Why is Korean skincare so good?" While it's easy to pit Korean and American skincare brands against each other, it would be incorrect to say one country's skincare products are '"better" than the other. Instead, think of them as having different focuses and methodologies.
"Korean skincare routines usually concentrate on keeping the skin hydrated by layering multiple lightweight products and using gentle ingredients," explains Wizemann. "There's also an emphasis on achieving a glowing complexion. American skincare often prioritizes targeting specific concerns like acne or wrinkles, focusing on more potent active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid."
She also notes: "Some Korean skincare products may not be allowed in the US due to differences in regulations and ingredient restrictions. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict policies regarding the use of certain ingredients, such as higher concentrations of certain acids, botanical extracts, or novel ingredients that have not received FDA approval."
Not to mention, some Korean skincare products may also contain ingredients considered prescription drugs in the U.S., like certain types of retinoids, says Wizemann. "For this reason, it's essential to carefully examine the ingredients list and make sure that any skincare products you purchase comply with U.S. regulations," she notes.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann conducts product testing across all skincare categories and has overseen large consumer studies for over a decade. She is highly knowledgeable about skincare, including Korean skincare products, and contributed her expertise to this article.
Commerce Writer Sarah Maberry updated this Korean skincare. She has more than four years of experience researching and writing about beauty products, including Korean sunscreens. Sarah collaborated with our experts within the GH Insitute to put together this list of the best Korean skincare brands and included testing insights to inform frequently asked questions.
Catharine (she/her) is the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and Prevention, working closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to write science-backed beauty content. She was previously an assistant beauty editor at Group Nine Media and returned to Hearst in 2022 after having held editorial internships at Harper’s Bazaar and CR Fashion Book. Catharine received a B.A. in journalism from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Sarah Maberry is a commerce writer for Hearst Magazines, where she covers fashion, beauty and pop culture. A seasoned trend forecaster and fashion historian, she analyzes viral products and trends on a deeper level. When she’s not writing for Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, House Beautiful, Town & Country, Delish and other publications, she can be found roaming the Museum at FIT (her alma matter) or sewing her own couture while she binge-watches reality TV.
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