We can all agree that K-beauty is more popular than ever. Take on TikTok, for example, where hashtag #kbeauty has racked up over 2.5 million posts. Google reflects a similar trend too, where K-beauty searches are up 23% versus last year, according to our data. These record numbers reflect both the fascination with South Korean beauty products and the region’s unmatched care for skin—delivering glass skin via gentle, yet exfoliating solutions that create a ritual out of cleansing, moisturizing, and treating.
In Korean, skin-care is an act of self-care and wellness, a philosophy rooted deep in their daily lives; from which the best Korean skin-care brands draw inspiration—infusing cultural best practices and heritage ingredients with traditional medicine. This is reflected each skincare formulas, which are often enriched with fermented active ingredients or plants such as ginseng and centella asiatica beloved for centuries for their regenerative properties.
Vogue’s Favorite Korean Skin-Care Products
The Cleansing OilSkin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing OilJump to review$17
AMAZON
According to the Cosmetics Observatory (CosmeticOBS), South Korea is “the country whose inhabitants consume the most cosmetics in the world. Every month, women use an average of 27 products and men 12.” That said, its no surprise so many stellar products—think: BB creams and sheet masks—or skin rituals (like double cleansing) originate in Korea. Not to mention, Korean skincare has become so popular that there are even retailers dedicated to it, like Yesstyle, Stylevana, and Soko Glam.
For those looking to discover some of the K-beauty treasures to brighten, firm, smooth, and nourish, we’ve compiled the leading Korean skin-care brands to know below. Read on to discover each label, along with a curated edit of its bestsellers we’d actually recommend.
Beauty of Joseon
Recognizable by its sleek minimalist packaging, Beauty of Joseon is best known for its sunscreen, beloved for its lightweight, yet nourishing texture that instantly sinks into skin. The history of this brand is quite symbolic: its name is directly inspired by the Joseon dynasty, whose beauty rituals were handed down through the generations. Its compositions enriched with traditional Korean ingredients, such as ginseng, fermented rice, honey, and camellia oil are a reflection of this heritage. While the Relief Sun SPF is a bestseller, the propolis and niacinamide Glow Serum is also incredible to brighten and smooth.
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Cleansing Oil
$20 $18 (10% off)
AMAZON
Vogue’s Kiana Murden tests the Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen.
Erborian
CC Cream Color Correcting
$46 $37 (20% off)
AMAZON
Erborian
BB Cream with Ginseng
$26
AMAZON
Laneige
Lip Sleeping Mask
$24
AMAZON
Skin1004
Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
$19 $15 (21% off)
AMAZON
$25
ULTA
Skin1004
Zombie Pack
$12
AMAZON
Dr. Jart+
Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
$20
AMAZON
Dr. Jart+
Dermask Porecting Solution Face Mask
$10 $6 (40% off)
AMAZON
Yepoda
The Calm Balm Cleansing Balm
$28
AMAZON
Yepoda
The Depuff Eyespresso Eye Patches
$32
AMAZON
CosRx
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
$25 $19 (24% off)
AMAZON
CosRx
Advanced Snail Mucin Face Mask
$15
AMAZON
Belif
The True Cream
$40 $38 (5% off)
AMAZON
Belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb Hydrating Sunscreen
$38
AMAZON
Innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme PHA Toner
$24
AMAZON
Innisfree
Daily UV Defense SPF 36 Sunscreen
$18 $14 (22% off)
AMAZON
Innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum
$32
AMAZON
The Six Essential Steps of a Korean Skin-care Routine
To achieve that famous “glass skin”, Korean women follow a very precise skin-care routine—here’s the breakdown.
- Double Cleansing: Combining cleansing with oil and gentle milk, double cleansing has multiple virtues. By gentling removing makeup and impurities, it primes skin for a targeted foaming or gel cleanser to ensure the complexion is clean while maintaining moisture levels.
- Exfoliation: K-beauty prioritizes exfoliation at lease once a week to unclog pores and revive skin radiance.
- Double Moisturizing: This involves first applying a lotion, followed by an emulsion—layering very gentle, lightweight skincare products that work in synergy to enhance their absorption. This step makes the skin more supple and radiant.
- Targeted Treatments: Choose a potent serum or spot treatment according to your skin’s specific needs, be it acne-fighting, wrinkle smoothing, or radiance boosting.
- Eye Cream and Moisturizing Cream: These provide targeted moisture for glowing skin on the eyes and face.
- Sheet Masks: Sheet masks act as a complement to our usual skin-care routine, saturating the skin with moisturizing active ingredients.
We can all agree that K-beauty is more popular than ever. Take on TikTok, for example, where hashtag #kbeauty has racked up over 2.5 million posts. Google reflects a similar trend too, where K-beauty searches are up 23% versus last year, according to our data. These record numbers reflect both the fascination with South Korean beauty products and the region’s unmatched care for skin—delivering glass skin via gentle, yet exfoliating solutions that create a ritual out of cleansing, moisturizing, and treating.
In Korean, skin-care is an act of self-care and wellness, a philosophy rooted deep in their daily lives; from which the best Korean skin-care brands draw inspiration—infusing cultural best practices and heritage ingredients with traditional medicine. This is reflected each skincare formulas, which are often enriched with fermented active ingredients or plants such as ginseng and centella asiatica beloved for centuries for their regenerative properties.
Vogue’s Favorite Korean Skin-Care Products
The Cleansing OilSkin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing OilJump to review$17
AMAZON
According to the Cosmetics Observatory (CosmeticOBS), South Korea is “the country whose inhabitants consume the most cosmetics in the world. Every month, women use an average of 27 products and men 12.” That said, its no surprise so many stellar products—think: BB creams and sheet masks—or skin rituals (like double cleansing) originate in Korea. Not to mention, Korean skincare has become so popular that there are even retailers dedicated to it, like Yesstyle, Stylevana, and Soko Glam.
For those looking to discover some of the K-beauty treasures to brighten, firm, smooth, and nourish, we’ve compiled the leading Korean skin-care brands to know below. Read on to discover each label, along with a curated edit of its bestsellers we’d actually recommend.
Beauty of Joseon
Recognizable by its sleek minimalist packaging, Beauty of Joseon is best known for its sunscreen, beloved for its lightweight, yet nourishing texture that instantly sinks into skin. The history of this brand is quite symbolic: its name is directly inspired by the Joseon dynasty, whose beauty rituals were handed down through the generations. Its compositions enriched with traditional Korean ingredients, such as ginseng, fermented rice, honey, and camellia oil are a reflection of this heritage. While the Relief Sun SPF is a bestseller, the propolis and niacinamide Glow Serum is also incredible to brighten and smooth.
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Cleansing Oil
$20 $18 (10% off)
AMAZON
Vogue’s Kiana Murden tests the Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen.
Erborian
CC Cream Color Correcting
$46 $37 (20% off)
AMAZON
Erborian
BB Cream with Ginseng
$26
AMAZON
Laneige
Lip Sleeping Mask
$24
AMAZON
Skin1004
Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
$19 $15 (21% off)
AMAZON
$25
ULTA
Skin1004
Zombie Pack
$12
AMAZON
Dr. Jart+
Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
$20
AMAZON
Dr. Jart+
Dermask Porecting Solution Face Mask
$10 $6 (40% off)
AMAZON
Yepoda
The Calm Balm Cleansing Balm
$28
AMAZON
Yepoda
The Depuff Eyespresso Eye Patches
$32
AMAZON
CosRx
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
$25 $19 (24% off)
AMAZON
CosRx
Advanced Snail Mucin Face Mask
$15
AMAZON
Belif
The True Cream
$40 $38 (5% off)
AMAZON
Belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb Hydrating Sunscreen
$38
AMAZON
Innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme PHA Toner
$24
AMAZON
Innisfree
Daily UV Defense SPF 36 Sunscreen
$18 $14 (22% off)
AMAZON
Innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum
$32
AMAZON
The Six Essential Steps of a Korean Skin-care Routine
To achieve that famous “glass skin”, Korean women follow a very precise skin-care routine—here’s the breakdown.
- Double Cleansing: Combining cleansing with oil and gentle milk, double cleansing has multiple virtues. By gentling removing makeup and impurities, it primes skin for a targeted foaming or gel cleanser to ensure the complexion is clean while maintaining moisture levels.
- Exfoliation: K-beauty prioritizes exfoliation at lease once a week to unclog pores and revive skin radiance.
- Double Moisturizing: This involves first applying a lotion, followed by an emulsion—layering very gentle, lightweight skincare products that work in synergy to enhance their absorption. This step makes the skin more supple and radiant.
- Targeted Treatments: Choose a potent serum or spot treatment according to your skin’s specific needs, be it acne-fighting, wrinkle smoothing, or radiance boosting.
- Eye Cream and Moisturizing Cream: These provide targeted moisture for glowing skin on the eyes and face.
- Sheet Masks: Sheet masks act as a complement to our usual skin-care routine, saturating the skin with moisturizing active ingredients.
