21 Fan Favorite Korean Beauty Brands For Flawless Skin

When it comes to smooth and creamy skin, no one does it better than Dr. Jart. This is one of the best Korean brands for overall skincare, especially if you want to feel like you’re wearing nothing on your face at all.

Winter is tough on pale complexions. The Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment is insanely effective at spot repair and evening out skin tones. Plus, as an added bonus, it has SPF30 to prevent any redness from a stray winter sunray. 

The Tiger Grass Cream is a dream for dry winter skin, and can be used twice a day for clear, glowing skin that will leave you in a post-facial glow everyday.

Saturday Skin’s packaging alone is enough to make you want to buy everything they’ve got. Still, their product is even better. Their goal is to serve up a “weekend in a bottle” for that effortless, relaxed look from a Saturday by the pool. They definitely deliver as one of the top Korean beauty brands. 

The Waterfall Glacier Water Cream is a scientific anomaly with its anti-aging, anti-wrinkle technology. This concoction of minerals and plant extract will clear away any lingering signs of stress from 2022 while hydrating your skin. 

Peach and Lily is all the rage right now as one of the best Korean skincare brands due to their focus on clear, smooth skin for all skin types and complexions. 

The Peach and Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum won the 2022 best of K-Beauty Award, so you can trust it’s kind of a big deal. This completely clear, gentle serum is packed with hyaluronic acid, East Asian mountain yam, and peach extract for a tightening effect that smells fantastic. 

For more of an exfoliating, deep cleaning product, Peach and Lily has you covered. The Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask uses a textured agave moisturizer to get deep into pores to clear out dirt and dead skin.

K-Beauty is more than just skincare. Makeup by K-Beauty brands is so good for a light, effortless look that will last all day. PeriPera is one of the best Korean makeup brands.

The Ink the Velvet Lip Tint lasts a ridiculously long time, and comes in 23 bold colors. It’s a must for staying out late on a girls night or a first date when you can’t risk a lipstick smudge. 

Add a little shimmer beneath your bottom lid with the Sugar Twinkle Duo Eye Stick. It comes in multiple colors and will give you the Euphoria glitter look without the hassle. They’re one of the top cosmetic brands in Korea for a reason!

Besides PeriPera, Kaja is also one of the best K-beauty brands for makeup. Their makeup is made to be user-friendly both in how easy it is to use, and how easy it is on your skin. The name “Kaja” literally means “let’s go” in English, so this is the perfect makeup for quick touch ups.

The Beauty Bento Box is a convenient stack of multi-tinted, shimmering eyeshadows. The packaging alone is worth the money. The eyeshadows come in all different skin tones and are anti-creasing to last the whole day (or night).

Then I Met You is all about clean ingredients and soft skin. I don’t think there’s a way to lose when those are the goals. 

The Milk Refining Toner is a vegan toner that is especially good for acne prone skin types. 70% of the base of this toner comes from the sap of birch trees. They definitely aren’t messing around with the “all-natural” vibes, and you’ll see the results in bright skin and smaller pores. 

There’s almost nothing worse than coming home from a long day at work or a night out and realizing you still need to take off your makeup. 

That’s where the Living Cleansing Balm comes in. It’s a completely organic blend of olive oil, grapeseed oil, and permission extract that will leave your face makeup-free and softer than it was before.

If you’re looking for something a little pricier to splurge on for the best Korean skincare routine, Amore Pacific is for you. While the price is a bit steeper, it’s worth it for the very best Korean skincare routine.

This green-tea infused enzyme cleanser is slightly more expensive for just above 4 oz, but it will last you a long time. Just one dot will give you all you need with this water activated cleanser. 

Tiny blue amino acid beads work to get rid of any lingering dirt and dust, and the green-tea works to refresh and rejuvenate. 

It’s too early in 2023 for dark stress circles. The Water Glow Base Color Corrector should help. This color correcting treatment will do the trick on pesky dark circles or any other discoloration this year has thrown your way. 

In the spirit of preventative skincare, think about your lips! They’re the often forgotten part of your facial routine, but are oh so important. 

The Lip Sleeping Mask from Laneige works overnight to keep your lips moisturized and smooth despite low winter temps with shea butter and antioxidants.

Besides having a fun name, Tony Moly is also a bestseller on Ulta Beauty. And for good reason! This brand is all about product quality and fun. 

For an everyday face lotion, The Chok Chok Green Tea provides a deep hydration without being too heavy or sticky. 

I’m a sucker for adorable packaging, especially when its adorable packaging on an awesome product. The Peach Punch Sweet Cleansing Sherbet Balm not only removes makeup and moisturizes your face, but comes in an irresistible peach bowl with its own sherbert scooper. I mean. Come on. 

Speaking of fun packaging, Holika Holika’s Aloe Facial Cleansing Foam is as fun as it gets. Not to mention, the Amazon ratings are insane! 

This gel cleanser comes in 150 ml and is almost entirely made up of aloe juice, which is a known deep hydration plant. This product is particularly well-suited for sensitive skin. It’s super gentle, and super effective.

3CE makeup is all about style, ease, and quality. Start with the Multi Eye Color Palette. 3CE is known for being experimental with their fun colors and glitter inclusion-attitude, so this look is best for a night out or maybe even a date. 

Brows are the frame of the face. 3CE can help tame any situation with their Easy Brow Designing Pen. It’s super convenient, with both the pencil and the brush built in! 

Skip eye cream when shopping at Soon Skincare, and go straight for an eye patch!

These Blueberry Hydrogel Eye Patches are incredible for increasing skin elasticity and preventing wrinkles. They minimize dark circles too, so there’s only upside here. 

To complete the spa night, and make yourself a human smoothie, do yourself a favor and try the Strawberry Collagen Lip Mask, too. Not only do these moisturize your lips, but they are formulated to protect from sun exposure as well! 

All of the brands on this list could be considered “anti-aging” (whatever that means), as they prevent wrinkles. Still, Sulwhasoo takes the cake as the best K-beauty for wrinkles. 

Start with the Anti-Aging First Care Activating Serum. It’s right there in the name! But seriously, this serum is your first line of defense to tighten skin and pores against whatever your day brings. Put it on first to boost absorption of all other skin products in your routine. 

For nighttime protection, the Overnight Vitalizing Mask will take care of any unevenness or dryness in your complexion. Made with traditional Korean herbs, this is a classic that will do all the work while you sleep. 

Dear, Klairs is an amazing brand for many reasons, chief among them their commital to vegan-friendly, animal cruelty free products. 

For sensitive, irritation prone skin, the Daily Skin Softening Water Klairs Toner is a great layer before applying makeup. This will keep your skin moisturized and even throughout the day. 

Nothing says beauty quite like snails. 

Seriously though, snail mucin is an excellent way to naturally moisturize your skin and leave it moisturized for days.  It’s an “active ingredient,” meaning that it is working on your skin from the moment it touches your face. The Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, Acne Pimple Master Patch are asome Korean skin care favorites. 

 For a spa night, this Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Sheet Mask is the perfect treat. Sit back, relax, and let the snail mucin do its work to leave your skin softer than it's ever felt!

For starters, Banila Co makes an amazingly light face lotion that should be used every morning and night. As with most of their products, skin hydration is the first step.

The Dear Hydration Balancing Moisturizer is perfect for everyday use. It’ll keep your skin moisturized all day, and the price point is super reasonable on Amazon (if you’re a prime member, shipping will be free too!). 

The best form of skincare is preventative! Dermatologists recommend applying daily sunscreen even in the winter. Banila Co is fantastic because their sunscreen is super lightweight and grease-free. 

[A couple other sunscreens to consider: THANK YOU FARMER Sun Project Light Sun Essence and the NEOGEN Day Light Protection Airy Sunscreen.]

The Hello Sunny Sun Stick offers soothing sun care that will smoothen skin with apple mint ingredients. If speed is what you're looking for then this’ll be your best friend. Just throw the sun stick on before adding your first layer of makeup, and you’ll be good to go! 

This brand blew up on Tik Tok last year for the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA. While this super gentle pore tightening toner is well worth the hype, there are a couple other products that should definitely be on your radar. 

The Mini Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer is one of the best Korean moisturizer products you can find. With two different types of hydration acids and a plum infusion, you’ll smell like a smoothie and look like you’ve never been stressed a day in your life. 

If complexion dullness is what’s bothering you this winter, try the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. Just a couple of drops spread evenly on your face will bring your complexion back to life. 

Matcha, carbonated water, and glacial water. Doesn’t that kind of sound like the start of an awesome cocktail?

Some By Mi uses those ingredients as their base for the Super Match Pore Tightening Toner. The goal of toner in general is to refresh and tighten skin without stripping it of its natural oils. Some By Mi is known for being gentle on sensitive skin, and their toner fits the bill. 

If  you’re more interested in a deep scrub, the Bye Bye Blackhead 30 Days Miracle Green Tea Tox is a natural buy. 16 tea ingredients combine to gently remove blackheads, dirt, and dust. 

I love the name of this Etude House best seller: The Soonjung Hydro Barrier Cream. There’s just something so comforting about putting up a barrier between the outside world and my skin. 

This cream is completely fragrance free and hypoallergenic, so it is perfect for all of the sensitive skin people out there. The pH levels have been carefully constructed to make sure that this moisturizer does nothing but– well, moisturize!

A well-rounded skincare routine is nothing without a little UV protection. Dermatologists recommended daily sunscreen protection to prevent melanoma as well as wrinkles. The problem is, the classic sunscreen you’d bring to the beach can be oily and heavy to wear everyday.

That’s where Round Lab comes in. Think of this more as a sun cream than a sunscreen– it’s going to be actively preventing dryness as it protects from the sun. The Birch Juice Sun Moisturizing Sunscreen is a God sent for everyday protection. 

The key ingredients here are the birch tree juice and the amino acid minerals– that’s what’s going to keep you feeling soft but clean all day long.

One of the best things about K-beauty products are the natural ingredients. The emphasis on clean products is so important and the difference that makes shows up in the quality of the products.

Innisfree has a Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask that uses all natural ingredients (including Jeju volcanic clusters!) to help tighten pores, even out skin texture, and wipe away debris. So pretty much, everything you’d want in a face mask!

Once you’ve let the mask sit for 15-20 minutes, stick with Innisfree to get it off. Their Green Tea Cleansing Oil will strip away anything from your face that shouldn’t be there without drying your skin or removing natural moisture.