With multistep skin care routines and ingredients that are unfamiliar to Western shoppers, Korean beauty can be intimidating to explore. However, the fusion of high-tech formulas and time-honored ingredients makes K-beauty brands worth trying out. No matter your skin type or budget, the world of Korean skin care includes cleansers, toners, serums, treatments and more that deserve a place in your regimen.
Top Peach & Lily product
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
What you need to know: This cult-favorite serum helped put Peach & Lily and glass skin on the map.
What you’ll love: Peach extract, hyaluronic acid and peptides hydrate skin and help it look smoother and firmer. Niacinamide helps brighten the complexion to achieve the coveted glass-skin look.
What you should consider: Some users wished it was more effective for its price point.
Top Peach & Lily product for the money
Peach & Lily Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser
What you need to know: This gentle cleanser is packed with botanical extracts to help soothe and calm skin.
What you’ll love: Formulated to protect the skin barrier, this cleanser helps skin achieve balance and stay healthy. Anti-inflammatory chamomile calms skin and minimizes redness while cucumber and peach extracts hydrate skin and improve tone and texture.
What you should consider: A few users who struggle with acne found that this cleanser irritated their skin.
Top Cosrx product
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
What you need to know: Newcomers may raise their eyebrows at using skin care containing snail mucin, but K-beauty aficionados know that Cosrx’s concentrated serum can transform skin.
What you’ll love: Snail mucin is a time-tested and scientifically supported secret to skin cell turnover and collagen production. It deeply hydrates skin, helping to improve skin texture and reduce hyperpigmentation.
What you should consider: Some users found this essence drying.
Top Cosrx product for the money
Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
What you need to know: This gentle cleanser is specially formulated for sensitive skin.
What you’ll love: The low-pH cleanser won’t irritate sensitive skin. It’s made with tea tree oil for soothing oily or acne-prone skin, along with anti-inflammatory evening primrose and antibacterial Japanese snowbell.
What you should consider: Thanks to its acne-fighting ingredients, it’s not ideal for dry skin.
Top Dr. Jart+ product
What you need to know: These two-step sheet masks create a spa facial experience at home.
What you’ll love: These masks treat skin first with an ampoule, then a rubbery two-piece mask that boosts absorption. The four different masks treat dryness, dullness, irritation and uneven tone and texture.
What you should consider: It’s pricey for a single mask and the serum takes a long time to absorb.
Top Dr. Jart+ product for the money
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
What you need to know: This unique CC cream uses popular K-beauty ingredient tiger grass to correct redness and minimize the appearance of blemishes.
What you’ll love: It looks green in the jar, but applies beige. Along with neutralizing redness and concealing blemishes, it gives skin SPF 30 mineral sunscreen protection.
What you should consider: It’s best suited to fair skin tones.
Top Sulwhasoo product
Sulwhasoo Anti-Aging First Care Activating Serum
What you need to know: One of the luxury brand’s most popular products, this serum helps your skin absorb key ingredients from the rest of your skin care routine.
What you’ll love: A proprietary blend of five traditional Korean herbs nourish skin and support the skin barrier. It absorbs quickly, making it a great first step after cleansing before using other serums or moisturizer.
What you should consider: Along with a noticeable herbal scent, this serum has added fragrance, which can irritate sensitive skin.
Top Sulwhasoo product for the money
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover
What you need to know: An Allure Best of Beauty winner, this cleansing oil is a luxurious first step in a double-cleansing routine.
What you’ll love: This lightweight oil cleanser easily washes away all makeup, leaving skin feeling silky, not greasy. Apricot kernel oil nourishes skin while tangerine peel extract delivers antioxidants.
What you should consider: Users had mixed opinions on the scent.
Top Laneige product
What you need to know: A modern cult favorite, this lip mask works overnight to nurture dry lips.
What you’ll love: The leave-on treatment softens and repairs the delicate skin on lips thanks to shea butter and antioxidants from berries. Plus, it smells delicious.
What you should consider: If you need a lip mask as more than an occasional lip treatment, there are more affordable options.
Top Inissfree product
Innisfree Dewy Glow Jelly Cream with Jeju Cherry Blossom
What you need to know: Along with the cherry blossoms in this moisturizer, the majority of this affordable brand’s ingredients are organically grown on the Korean island of Jeju.
What you’ll love: This water-gel formula is brightening over time thanks to niacinamide. Glycerin and cherry blossom extracts soothe skin and give it a glowing appearance.
What you should consider: Some users found this formula didn’t absorb well and left their skin feeling sticky.
Top Innisfree product for the money
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
What you need to know: One of Innisfree’s most popular products, this creamy clay mask clears pores and gently exfoliates.
What you’ll love: Those with oily or acne-prone skin will love degunking their pores with this once-weekly mask. The finely ground volcanic lava from Jeju works with AHA to exfoliate away dead skin cells and absorb excess oil.
What you should consider: While it leaves skin feeling fresh and clean, it may not be strong enough to deep-clean clogged pores.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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