</p><p class=”body-dropcap”>Want to know more? Cool, because I highlighted some of the best Korean beauty products around—from brands like <strong>G</strong><strong>low Recipe, Dr. Jart+, Peach & Lily, and Saturday Skin</strong>—with the help of an expert, my own personal testing, and glowing internet reviews. </p>”/>
1
Best Korean Body Lotion
Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion
Pros
- Great for any skin type, especially sensitive and reactive-prone
Cons
- Product recently jumped up in price
This incredibly moisturizing (yet still lightweight feeling!) lotion is my holy grail beauty product that I apply from my head to my toes daily. Seriously, since finding this, I haven’t found another body lotion that quite compares—it’s super hypoallergenic, meaning it’s fragrance-free and doesn’t contain any potentially triggering ingredients that sensitive skin may dislike. It’s also jam-packed with ceramides, which are key to maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Just trust me already and add this to your cart. You won’t regret it.
- Product type: Lotion
- Size: 2.3 or 12 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E, glycerin, fatty acids
Glowing Customer Review: “I am in my early 50’s and have super dry skin and sensitive skin. I have tried so many different moisturizers over the years from drugstore to super expensive and this is by far the best I have ever tried. It keeps my face hydrated and glowing. Will continue to purchase again and again! Well worth the price tag and is inexpensive compared to many.”
2
Best Korean Growth Factor Moisturizer
Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream
Pros
- Pretty inexpensive considering the ingredients
Cons
- There’s not a ton of product for the price
My skin is patchy as hell, and it’s difficult for it to retain moisture. But, alas! I have found my cure: the Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream. The gel-like formula feels so lightweight yet still manages to pack a powerful hydration punch. But my absolute favorite part about this moisturizer? The four growth factors, which are the buzziest anti-aging ingredients right now thanks to their ability to signal your skin cells to repair and regenerate themselves.
- Product type: Moisturizer
- Size: 1.01 or 1.69 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Alaskan glacier water, Iceland moss, ferment extract, amino acids
Glowing Customer Review: “This is a favorite of mine—I have combination skin, so it’s really dry and in some places really oily. This works well for both, and it’s lightweight, cooling, and soothing. I really like this and always order it when I get the chance.”
3
Best Korean Calming Cream
AESTURA A-CICA 365 Calming Cream
Pros
- Instantly relieves dry, angry skin
Cons
- Should not put on open wounds
This K-beauty calming cream is my hack to instantly relieve, dry, irritated, and angry skin. The secret behind its magic? Skin-smoothing panthenol—i.e., vitamin B5—works to moisturize your skin, has wound-healing properties, and is anti-inflammatory. I apply this to bug bites, my eczema, (semi-healed) sunburn, and any time I’m feeling itchy and dry. It’s so soothing and truly relieves a lot of my skin issues—which, FYI can be attributed to my super-reactive, sensitive skin.
- Product type: Calming cream
- Size: 2.03 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Panthenol, vitamin E, squalane, glycerin
Glowing Customer Review: “I started using a prescribed tretinoin, and few days later my skin got very sensitive, irritating, and flaky. I decided to use this moisturizer together with the tretinoin and it worked really well. It calmed down my skin within a day. So glad I found this on the list. Now it’s in my daily routine care.”
4
Best Overall Korean SPF
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
Pros
- Leaves zero white cast
Cons
- Amazon sellers are not always legitimate, so be careful
If you’re a big advocate of SPF or are really interested in K-beauty, I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of the iconic Beauty of Joseon SPFs. They live up to their reputation thanks to the slew of antioxidant, barrier-supporting, and soothing ingredients, which all come together to make an elite sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays with a powerful SPF 50. After a few months of using this, my skin, makeup, and ~glow~ have never looked better.
- Product type: Sunscreen
- Size: 1.69 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, antioxidants
Glowing Customer Review: “I have pretty sensitive skin and every other sunscreen I tried broke me out or left a white cast. This one works like magic—it immediately soaks into your skin and leaves it feeling velvety and gives it a really nice glow. I recommend this 100 percent. Gonna buy some more pretty soon!!”
5
Best Korean Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin
Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
Pros
- Great for retinol users, especially with the “sandwich method”
Cons
- The cap is unique and sometimes testers have trouble closing it/keeping it closed
This next pick is for anyone with sensitive, dry, or combo skin looking for a moisturizer that is gentle and oh-so-hydrating without the feeling of heaviness or greasiness. I recently began using prescription-grade tretinoin, and I attribute my lack of retinol side effects (i.e., minimal dryness, peeling, irritation) to this barrier-supporting face moisturizer. It’s filled with super-hydrator, glycerin, and a series of three wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing ingredients (shout out to panthenol, madecassoside, and green tea extract).
- Product type: Face moisturizer
- Size: 2.02 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Panthenol, vitamin E, madecassoside, glycerin
Glowing Customer Review: “I was kinda stunned when I finally stumbled on this after a ridiculous amount of trial and error. Effectively and chemically, it’s a great product, especially for those of you with dry, acne-prone, and/or sensitive skin. Not only did it pass my ingredient decoder test with flying colors, but it actually followed through on its claims in practice.”
6
Best Korean Color Corrector
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
Pros
- Contains SPF 30 and helps to neutralize redness
Cons
- Some testers had a hard time blending it in
We at Cosmo have a long history of lovin’ Dr. Jart’s Cicapair Tiger Grass line (we tested it, after all!). If you haven’t seen the TikTok review videos of the product, you’re in for a treat. Once I apply it to my skin and blend it out, the treatment totally neutralizes my redness and gives me a super-even skin tone. Plus, it’s got SPF 30, so win-win.
- Product type: Color-correcting treatment
- Size: 0.50 or 1.69 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Centella asiatica (tiger grass), SPF, niacinamide, glycerin
Glowing Customer Review: “I have some redness and hyperpigmentation I’m not too thrilled about. For the longest time, I was self-conscious about this; so much so, that I used to always feel the need to wear foundation. This product perfectly helped me transition to going foundation-free a majority of the time. The color-correcting element blends perfectly into my skin and blurs the redness around my nose.”
7
Best Korean Luminous Serum
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Pros
- Layers super well with makeup and other skincare products
Cons
- If you want more hydration, you need to layer with a moisturizer
If you want glass skin (i.e., smooth, luminous skin that gives off the appearance of glass), there’s no better way to get it than with the cult-favorite Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum. This formula does everything from fading dark spots (thx, niacinamide!) to reducing redness to hydrating the skin. Need I say more?
- Product type: Serum
- Size: 1.35 or 2.36 oz
- Key ingredients: Peach extract, niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid
Glowing Customer Review: “It has everything I was looking for in a serum. It’s not aggressive or irritating, and I have very sensitive skin. I love that it’s fragrance-free and it feels like they really invested in the actual formula…it sinks in beautifully and layers well with my moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup.”
8
Best Korean Product for Blackheads
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
Pros
- Chemical exfoliants smooth, brighten, and clarify your skin
Cons
- Can dry out your skin if you use it every single day
Blackheads: No one likes ’em, no one wants ’em, yet everybody seems to have ’em. But do you know the absolute best way to clear them up? Chemical exfoliants, my friends. This one by COSRX uses BHAs to fight those pesky blackheads and control oil all in one gentle, moisturizing formula.
- Product type: Chemical exfoliant
- Size: 3.38 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Willow bark water, betaine salicylate, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide
Glowing Customer Review: “I struggle with severe cystic acne, oily/combo skin, blackheads, etc., but now, for the first time, I don’t want to cry in the morning when I look in the mirror. My pores look smaller, my blackheads much less, and my face no longer looks like an oil slick!”
9
Best Korean Essence Mist
Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist
Pros
- Glycerin hydrates while antioxidants protect your skin
Cons
- If you have oily skin, it’s probably too hydrating to use on top of makeup
“If you’re looking to add hydration to your routine or need a quick midday pick-me-up, this essence mist will do the trick,” says Korean skincare expert, Charlotte Cho. She explains that this spray delivers the finest mist and is packed with brightening ingredients, such as licorice water and root extracts. Finally, glycerin is added for hydration, and centella asiatica leaf extract soothes your skin.
- Product type: Essence mist
- Size: 3.38 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Licorice water, bamboo water, centella asiatica leaf extract, glycerin
Glowing Customer Review: “This pH Balancing mist keeps my skin so plump and supple, I use it when I need some deep hydration on those dry days or just before my time of the month will come which is when my skin is the most sensitive. Also having PCOS, it has helped to have it in my skincare routine.”
10
Best Korean Sheet Mask
Mask Science Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Sheet Mask
Pros
- Calms the skin without drying it out
Cons
- The physical sheet may dry out rather quickly, some reviews say
“Mediheal masks are a go-to of mine,” says Cho. “These are packed with ingredients that will help soothe the skin and treat acne.” Willow bark, rosemary, and tea tree oil help to soothe, exfoliate, and target breakouts, while chamomile works to calm redness, she explains.
- Product type: Sheet mask
- Size: 4- or 10-pack
- Key ingredients: Willow bark, rosemary, tea tree oil, chamomile
Glowing Customer Review: “I really swear by this sheet mask. It’s my go-to for any acne/redness or onset of breakouts. I’m not sure I’ve noticed a reduction in acne marks, but my skin definitely looks much calmer the next day.”
11
Best Lightweight Korean SPF
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Light Sun Essence
Pros
- Super lightweight formula that doesn’t feel greasy
Cons
- May take a moment to fully absorb into the skin for that lightweight feel
Skin health and protection are at the forefront of the Korean skincare philosophy, so you can bet there are some pretty damn good K-beauty SPFs on the market. This broad-spectrum sunscreen leaves a semi-matte finish so your skin will look glowy yet not greasy. It also uses hero hydrator, glycerin, as well as aloe vera to soothe your skin and reduce redness. The best part? It’s a super lightweight formula.
- Product type: Sunscreen
- Size: 1.4 or 4.22 fl oz
- Key ingredients: SPF, aloe vera extract, glycerin
Glowing Customer Review: “I have sensitive combination skin, and I have tried dozens of sunscreens—this takes the cake every time. It is lightweight, but moisturizing, and rubs right into the skin like a dream. It doesn’t leave a cast and it doesn’t pill under makeup. I don’t break out while using this either. It feels like a second moisturizer.”
12
Best Korean Toner
Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner
Pros
- Gentle enough for daily use due to a slew of hydrators
Cons
- You may run out of product rather quickly
“I’ve suffered from hormonal acne for years, and since incorporating the Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner into my routine every day, I’ve seen my acne disappear,” says Cho. It’s formulated with hydrating milky birch juice and the optimal 1 percent AHA/PHA that can be used daily without over-exfoliation or drying out your skin. As a result, breakouts will be minimized, and your skin will feel smooth and soft to the touch.
- Product type: Toner
- Size: 3.38 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycerin, squalane, sodium hyaluronate
Glowing Customer Review: “The other day I walked into a sandwich shop and the woman at the front counter said, ‘Your skin is literally glowing.’ That’s how I know this line is the best—I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that endured a lot of sun damage during my teen years. Then I Met You + sunscreen and two years later…my skin is like new.”
13
Best Korean Snail Mucin Moisturizer
Peach Slices Snail Rescue All-In-One Oil Free Moisturizer
Pros
- Hygienic due to the tube dispenser
Cons
- If you have drier skin, you may need something with more emollient ingredients
If you haven’t heard all the hype about superstar skincare ingredient snail mucin, where have you been? Though there’s not a ton of research behind it, it’s been said to contain hyaluronic acid, allantoin, antioxidants, zinc, manganese, glycosaminoglycans, and growth factors, which are all great for hydrating and plumping your skin.
- Product type: Moisturizer
- Size: 2.82 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Snail mucin, sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid
Glowing Customer Review: “I absolutely love this moisturizer for my dry/sensitive/acne-prone skin. That combination is not necessarily normal, so finding a moisturizer to meet those needs is hard to come by. This hits every mark! I do not have any breakouts from using this product, I gain moisture in the areas I need it, and I do not get any reactions.”
14
Best Korean Glow Serum Drops
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
Pros
- Multi-purpose product that can be used as a serum, highlighter, or primer
Cons
- May feel slightly tacky until it dries down
Another viral Tiktok beauty find is this lil guy from Glow Recipe. The best part about these dew drops? They can be used as a serum, highlighter under or over makeup, or even as a primer. Plus, humectant ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and sodium hyaluronate give your skin a big dose of hydration. Remember that glass-like glow that we were talkin’ about? This is the perfect product to deliver.
- Product type: Glow serum drops
- Size: 0.5 or 1.35 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate
Glowing Customer Review: “This stuff is literally one of my favorite skincare products ever. I’ve gone through like five bottles! Makeup blends flawlessly with this as your base.”
15
Best Healing Korean Product
I’m From Mugwort Cream
Pros
- Won’t feel tacky upon application
Cons
- Not a super mattifying formula, if that’s what you prefer
So! “Mugwort cream” may not sound the most…appealing? Clean? Like something you want to slather all over your face? But before you toss it aside, mugwort is a plant—not a slimy creature (yet don’t rule that out, see: snail mucin)—and it’s used traditionally in K-beauty thanks to its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. This cream also contains hydrating glycerin and soothing panthenol for some extra skin-loving benefits.
- Product type: Moisturizer
- Size: 1.69 fl oz
- Key ingredients: Mugwort extract, glycerin, panthenol
Glowing Customer Review: “So, I have been looking for a new moisturizer forever. I have a combination/sensitive skin with eczema. This cream has satisfied all areas [of my face] I have had no issues. It feels light like a gel cream, but absorbs easily and feels like normal skin. No redness, sensitivity, stickiness, or sudden dryness – my skin is just happy.
16
Best Korean Cleanser
Zelloid Foaming Cleanser
Strong Points
- Deeply cleanses without damaging the skin
Cons
- Sometimes we don’t have stock
Foaming cleansers are notorious for drying out the skin because they contain surfactants (active foaming agents that penetrate the skin). Removes dirt and debris from pores very Quick. What makes this foaming cleanser so different is that it balances the skin’s pH and hydrates it thanks to ceramides, so you don’t have to worry about lack of moisture.
- Product Type: cleanser
- size: 8.12 fluid ounces
- Main Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, plant extracts, ceramide, orange extract
Glowing Customer Reviews: “This is truly a mild cleanser for sensitive and dry skin. Who knew it actually does what it says on the bottle?! This cleanser that cleanses without making your face feel dirty is my vote. [my skin is stripped]Two votes for honest marketing. Does anything like that exist today or ever?”
17
The best healing Korean products
Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel
Strong Points
- Contains the calming ingredient allantoin
Cons
- It may feel a little sticky when first applied.
As you’ve probably heard from your mom, grandma, and countless others, aloe vera is amazing. This fragrance-free gel moisturizer: It soothes irritated skin (from sunburn), fades acne scars, brightens the skin and provides intense hydration.It’s a miracle product, isn’t it?
- Product Type: Soothing Gel
- size: 3.38 fluid ounces
- Main Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Allantoin
Glowing Customer Reviews: “This is a great aloe product. It’s odorless! It absorbs well into the skin so I keep it in the fridge. I put it on after being in the sun all day, especially in the summer. It’s so soothing!”
18
Best Korean Clay Masks
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
Strong Points
- Lactic acid deeply exfoliates pores
Cons
- Avoid using this product if you have dry skin.
Do you have oily or acne-prone skin? You may have heard that clay masks are a must-have beauty product. Perfect for oily skin. Absorbs excess oilReviewers especially love that this mask also contains AHAs, which chemically exfoliate the skin, giving it a double whammy against pores and blackheads.
- Product Type: mask
- size: 3.38 fluid ounces
- Main Ingredients: Vitamin E, lactic acid, glycerin
Glowing Customer Reviews: “It cleanses the face, removes excess oil and leaves skin feeling smooth. This is not a one-time use product and I 100% recommend it. I’ve used this face mask 5 times so far and I’m not even using a quarter of the bottle yet.”
19
best korean lip mask
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Strong Points
- Rich in moisturizing and hydrating ingredients
Cons
- No place to store your lip applicator
No Korean beauty list would be complete without the OG Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (I mean, it doesn’t even need an introduction, right?). This cult-favorite lip mask uses a mix of moisturizers Formulated with emollients (glycerin, sodium hyaluronate) and emollients (coconut oil, shea butter, murumuru seed butter) to provide plenty of moisture and hydration.
- Product Type: Lip Mask
- size: 0.7 fluid ounce
- Main Ingredients: Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Murumuru Seed Butter, Vitamin C
Glowing Customer Reviews: “This is hands down the best lip mask on the market! Great price and even better products! I bought this time last year and am almost out of it so I’ve been using this every night!”
20
Best Korean Eye Cream
Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb
Strong Points
- Very refreshing and cool
Cons
- Doesn’t necessarily work on dark circles under the eyes
Do you suffer from bags, fine lines and puffiness under your eyes? Yes you do. That’s why you need a highly effective eye cream. Belif’s formula is Incredibly moisturizing (squalane) and highly hydrating (glycerin)but it’s also super refreshing. It’s like taking a cold shower to wake you up, but it actually… feels good. You know what?
- Product Type: eye cream
- size: 0.84 fluid ounces
- Main Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin
Glowing Customer Reviews: “I love this eye cream. For a long time I have had very dry skin around my eyes and this cream really soothes the skin around my eyes. It’s super hydrating and a must have before I go to bed.”
Siena Galliano is cosmopolitanmainly covers beauty, fashion, travel and lifestyle. Want to know how to get the best brows of your life? OK, fine. What about the best fashion deals of the season, how to find the softest sheets on the market, or exactly how to use retinol without irritating your skin? Check, check, check. Before you join cosmopolitanSienna was a writer The hustle and bustle and several other media outlets. For her goal for 2024, she vows to find the best (extra) dirty martini in NYC. And yes, that means trying to sample all the cutest cocktail spots around the city (give her some recommendations). Follow Siena on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at magazine life.
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