Get "Glass Skin" With the Best Korean Skincare Brands (2024)

Dry skin, oily skin, combination skin — all skin types can reap the benefits of Belif's Korean skincare line. The brand considers itself an expert in all things hydration, utilizing tried-and-true ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane and ceramides that are commonly found in American skincare products. Lightweight and layerable, Belif products support a healthy skin barrier and help give your skin that plump, bouncy texture you're after.

Reviewers far and wide rave about how Belif products leave their skin feeling hydrated and balanced. For example, one GHI tester praised the jelly cleanser from Belif's bestselling 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 will make anyone a believer:

• Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb ($65)
• Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Jelly Cleanser ($30)
• Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner ($30)

From serums to toners to cleansers, the Korean skincare brand Innisfree has something for everyone, especially those looking to brighten dull skin and even out dark spots. Products incorporate natural ingredients like green tea while also tapping into powerful actives like retinol to create a diverse set of offerings that can be mixed, matched, and cycled to suit your skin needs.

Reviewers praise how hydrating, evening and brightening many of the products are — all while being lightweight and low-cost. In Beauty Lab assessments, this Innisfree Retinol Cica Moisture Recovery Serum (a 2023 GH Beauty Award) winner was found to be suitable for sensitive and redness-prone skin, with one tester sharing that their "skin was clearer, brighter, softer and smoother with no discomfort." Here are a few additional innisfree products worth adding to your weekly routine:

• Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36 ($18)
• Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask ($16)
• Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum ($30)

When you think of lip masks, there's a good chance the viral Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is the first to pop into your mind. "I haven’t found anything that compares to it," says GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. "I love it 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. Here are a few products under $40 that anyone will love:

• Laneige Lip Glowy Balm ($19)
• Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Moisturizer ($23)
• Laneige Water Sleeping Mask ($32)

Affordable skincare solutions are at the heart of CosRx, as is a unique Korean skincare ingredient: snail mucin. According to Wizemann, this celebrity slugging secret "promotes skin repair and hydration," two things acne-prone skin should prioritize.

Though it's CosRx's Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence that went viral, the budget-friendly Korean skincare brand offers dozens of other products that can help achieve balanced, soothed and bright skin. Chock-full of actives and hydrating ingredients, these CosRx bestsellers support blemish-prone skin without leaving it feeling stripped:

• CosRx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream ($16)
• Master Patch Blemish Cover 240-Pack ($35)
• CosRx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner ($25)

If you're looking for a luxurious 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 its focus on botanical extracts like green tea, bamboo extract and ginseng.

Reviewers love the brand's luxurious textures and formulas, like that of the Amore Pacific Time Response Eye Reserve Crème, a bestselling product and a winner in Beauty Lab testing. It earned perfect scores for firming and hydrating, and testers ranked it best for de-puffing. Here are a few additional Amore Pacific products worth treating yourself to:

• Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder ($68)
• Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion Compact Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ ($75)
• Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence ($175)

Sulwahsoo's luxurious line of skincare products stars Korean ginseng as its hero ingredient. The brand has a deep love for traditional Korean herbs and includes several botanicals in its careful formulations. As a result, its products are incredibly lightweight with effective moisturizing benefits. Here are a few ginseng-packed Sulwahsoo products to add to your routine:

• Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum ($89)
• Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover ($40)
• Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream ($145)

Filled with soothing skincare favorites like cica and ceramides, Dr. Jart+ products are great for fans of Korean face masks. The brand's hero sheet masks come in variations for every skincare concern: 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 Beauty Lab testing, earning high praise for soothing and calming skin.

Once you've found a Dr. Jart+ face mask that suits your skincare needs, you can expand your collection with cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and other everyday essentials featuring the same key ingredients. Here are a few Dr. Jart+ staples to get you started:

• Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream ($48)
• Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Face Sunscreen SPF 50+ ($44)
• Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 ($54)

The affordable Korean skincare brand Coco*kind is focused on hydration and skin barrier support for sensitive skin. Its affordable offering features anti-inflammatory turmeric, barrier-boosting ceramides and lipids and other effective K-beauty ingredients that won't cause irritation.

Individuals with eczema and other skin sensitivities should keep an eye out for Coco*kind products with a National Eczema Association seal of approval, as they'll be the most gentle. This trio of under-$30 products will treat your skin right:

• Coco*kind Daily SPF 32 Mineral Sunscreen ($25)
• Coco*kind Coco*kind Chlorophyll Discoloration Serum ($20)
• Coco*kind Ceramide Barrier Serum ($19)

If dry skin is among your top skincare concerns, then 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 dyes and fragrances that can cause irritation.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion, a lightweight moisturizer, is a GH office favorite. "This product really helped with dry patches on skin," shares Sophie Park, Commerce Content Strategy Manager. "It feels hydrating, leaves a dewy finish, has a lot of product (so it lasts a while), and is price-friendly." These Illiyoon bestsellers are equally as moisturizing:

• Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Body Cream ($25)
• Illiyoon Ceramide Ato 6.0 Top to Toe Wash ($19)
• Illiyoon Fresh Moisture Lip and Eye Makeup Remover ($26)

For soothed skin, try. The K-skincare brand provides 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, owning largely to innovative fermented ingredients that target a wide array of skincare concerns at once. Here are our top picks from the brand:

• Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule Cream ($27)
• Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Rx ($31)
• Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream with SPF ($10)

Glass skin, dewy skin, glowy skin — no matter what you call it, everyone wants that super hydrated look right now, and everyone can achieve it with Beauty of Joseon products. The brand combines elements of a traditional Korean herbal medicine called Hanbang with modern formulations and skincare technologies. Packed with ingredients you won't find often here in the U.S., such as red bean and propolis, 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 skincare products, especially those formulated by Aestura, have a reputation for being particularly sensitive skin-friendly. Developed to support a healthy skin barrier, the brand's gentle moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and other skincare upgrades can help minimize redness, increase hydration, and soothe irritation and acne inflammation. Here are a few Aestura favorites that are suitable for sensitive skin of every age and skin type:

• Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream ($32)
• Aestura Atobarrier365 Ceramide Hydro Soothing Cream ($34)
• Aestura A-Cica365 Blemish Calming Face Serum ($40)

By now, you're probably asking yourself why is Korean skincare so much better? 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. There's also an emphasis on achieving a glowing complexion. American skincare often prioritizes on targeting specific concerns like acne or wrinkles, focusing on more potent active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid," explains Wizemann.

She also notes, "Some Korean skincare products may not be allowed in the US due to differences in regulations and ingredient restrictions. In the US, 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. Some Korean skincare products may also contain ingredients that are considered prescription drugs in the US, like certain types of retinoids. For this reason, it's essential to carefully examine the ingredients list and make sure that any skincare products you purchase comply with US regulations."

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. Here are a few popular K-beauty 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

GH Institute Beauty Lab director Sabina Wizemann, who conducts product testing across all skincare categories and has overseen large consumer studies for over a decade, contributed her expertise to this article. Wizemann is highly knowledgeable about skincare, including Korean skincare products.

This Korean skincare guide was written by Hearst Magazines commerce writer Sarah Maberry, who has more than four years of experience researching and writing about beauty products, including Korean skincare and sunscreens. Her picks for the best Korean skincare brands were based on personal testing, market research, customer reviews and insights from experts at the GH Institute.