South Korea has been gifting the world awesomeness in the past decade through K-pop and fantastic K-beauty and skincare products.
Korean skincare gained progressive popularity from Europe to the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa. Their top products are well-known for being gentle, calming, hydrating, and, more importantly, potent.
If you are reading this, you want to know the best Korean skincare brands for radiant skin to buy. So, let’s get right to it!
1. AMORE PACIFIC
Amore Pacific is one of the top Korean skincare brands across the globe and definitely one you should look out for. The brand’s existence, which began in 1945, is founded on harnessing the potency of antioxidants of premium green tea planted on the super fertile, volcanic Jeju Island in Korea.
Today, the brand, which boasts an extensive team of scientists, explores various Korean botanicals as the primary ingredient in numerous skincare products.
“I have used the Amore Pacific line for four years, and I’m really pleased with it! I have extremely sensitive skin; I frequently break out in rashes and discolour easily. Therefore, I’m very careful about the products I choose because I cannot use makeup to cover up imperfections. I use the time release line. At 43, most people think that I’m in my early thirties due to my perfect skin.” – excerpt from The Derm Review.
Mission: The brand aims to be the top Asian Beauty Creator, providing anti-ageing solutions across the globe with its collections, including the Youth Revolution and Time Response collections.
Philosophy: Ethical product development, social contribution, and environmental protection as pathways to becoming the most respected global company in Asia.
Best products from AMORE PACIFIC
Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder
- Contains green tea probiotic-derived enzymes and Hyaluronic Acid
- Suitable for all skin types
- Gently removes dead skin cells and dirt and unclogs pores to reveal more radiant and smooth skin.
Colour control cushion compact broad spectrum SPF 50+
- Control cushion contains botanical extracts, octinoxate, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide
- Provides light to medium coverage for skin against UVA and UVB rays.
Marketing tip from Amore Pacific
Transparency is one thing that sets Amore Pacific apart in the industry. They are reasonably open about their processes, including how they test their products and if it’s not suitable for people from a given region. This, alongside global market penetration, pushes their brand right to the top.
2. COSRX
COSRX, established in 2013, operates from Seoul, Republic of Korea.
As a company, Cosrx is a blend of cosmetics (Cos-) and pharmaceuticals (-RX). Its products are a result of longitudinal research and experiments on ingredients and prescriptions, often focusing on customer concerns, product types, and ingredients’ effects in the course of research.
Since its establishment in 2013, Cosrx has won over 100 awards and established presences in over 100 countries.
Mission: Enabling individuals to find solutions according to their skin conditions.
Philosophy: A strong belief that cosmetics should provide more than outward beauty.
Best products from Cosrx
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
- The COSRX's repairing essence contains 96.3% skin-boosting ingredient snail secretion filtrate and 1,000 ppm sodium hyaluronate
- A famed fast-acting lightweight essence that gives the skin a natural glow.
Advanced Snail 92 all-in-one cream
- It contains 92% Snail Mucin and 1,000 ppm sodium hyaluronate
- An all-in-one solution cream that repairs and soothes irritated, sensitized skin after breakouts.
“Works better than I thought.” – a review from a customer.
Marketing tip from Cosrx
Cosrx is not afraid to provide an avenue for customer reviews on its official website. With nearly 15,000 reviews generally amounting to about 4.5 stars, it is easy to see why Cosrx is effortlessly building trust across the globe.
3. Dr. Jart+
Dr. Jart+ is inarguably one of the pioneers behind the globalization of Korean skincare products.
The company started its unexpected rise to fame in 2005, when the founder, Leeo Lee, left his job to explore the potential of a potent, local blemish balm.
If you are a little bit familiar with K-beauty, you likely have come across products from Dr. Jart+ Cica and Ceramidin collections.
Mission: To create high-performance derma skincare with a playful twist that brings a smile to your face.
Philosophy: Dr. Jart+ believes in drawing inspiration from everything and explores breakthroughs in microbiology, culture, material sciences, and art in creating its formulas. As a matter of fact: Dr. Jart+ = dermal care joined with artful experiences.
Best products from Dr. Jart+
CicapairTM Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF30
- The active ingredient is extracted from Tiger Grass.
- Reduces redness, calms sensitive skin, and soothes irritation.
Ceramidin™ Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
- The active ingredients are five ceramides plus panthenol
- A moisturizing skin touted for strengthening skin barrier and boosting skin elasticity.
“This product is an amazing instant hydrator under makeup. It’s lightweight but seriously moisturizes without a greasy residue.” – customer review on website.
Marketing tip from Dr. Jart+ The minds behind Dr. Jart+ believe that there should be no limit to where skincare brands should draw inspiration. For Dr. Jart+, good skincare products are a blend of skin, science, and art.
4. Dear, Klairs
Dear, Klairs is one of the best Korean skincare brands for all skin types. The brand, which was established in 2010, dedicates its services to producing skincare products that are as natural and as clean as possible.
Mission: They aim to be the simple but enough, mild but powerful, and basic but ultimate vegan-certified skincare product for all skin types across the globe.
Philosophy: The brand holds a strong belief in ethical production and practices. Their 3-part philosophy entails no harsh ingredients, no animal testing, and the manufacture of high-quality products at reasonable prices.
Best products from Dear, Klairs
Gentle black deep cleansing oil
- Contains seed oils and extracts from natural black grains.
- Perfect for mild, deep cleansing.
Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask
- Active ingredients are niacinamide, adenosine, and botanical oil extracts.
- Suitable for skin hydration
- Enhances the effects of vitamin C products
- It can also serve as a gel-type moisturizer
“This moisturizer is literally everything. The jelly-like consistency sinks into your skin, giving you a smooth and glowy look…” – excerpt from an Amazon review.
Marketing tip from Dear, Klairs
Dear, Klairs is an indication that brands that are ethically conscious and embed corporate social responsibility in their processes from the onset can also make it at the global level. Often, it is assumed that such brands stay small.
5. Neogen Lab
Neogen Lab is a high-performance skincare brand based in Korea. It is one of the leading brands in the K-beauty scene.
They take pride in applying high technology in their products’ research, manufacturing and testing to create suitable products for all skin types and concerns.
Mission: dedicated to delivering skin solutions with real results for your every skin concern
Philosophy: Using advanced biotechnology for ultimate skin benefits. Advanced formula and plant stem-based products backed by science while enhancing neo-nature sustainability.
Best products from Neogen Lab
DERMALOGY by NEOGENLAB Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Pads
- Exfoliating pads with Lemon extracts, Hyaluronic Acid, and PHA.
- Helps keep the skin pure and vitalized
Real Cica Tree Micellar Cleansing Foam
- Active ingredients are cica and tea tree extracts
- It is soothing, hydrating and balancing.
“Neogen’s Lemon Peel Gauze deserves every bit of a 5-star rating and more! These convenient and easy to grab and use gauze pads work brilliantly, almost immediately freshening my skin after a full day’s work…” – excerpt from a customer review on Neogen Lab website.
Marketing tip from Neogen Lab
Neogen Lab pushes advanced research into the skincare field, ensuring that end products bear the most intrinsic benefits of the active ingredients. BioConversion and Greentoxing technology are two technologies powering the company’s ability to deliver high-performing products that customers across the globe love.