11 Best Korean Skincare Brands of 2023

Affordable skincare solutions are at the heart of this brand. With innovative products like the famed $25 Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (for glass skin!), balanced, soothed and bright skin is in reach. The line features several products chock-full of actives to support blemish-prone skin, like retinol, AHAs, BHAs and more.

STAR PRODUCT: Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch, a set of hydrocolloid bandages that protect blemishes from being picked at. “These pimple patches are a classic — I’ve been using them for over seven years,” says GH Product Reviews Analyst Grace Wu. “I appreciate how these patches help protect my pimples from bacteria, scratching (especially at night) and myself.”

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If you’re looking for a luxurious skincare experience, look no further than Amore Pacific. The flagship brand of its parent company, the Amore Pacific Group, it’s famed for its focus on botanical extracts like green tea, bamboo extract and ginseng. Users love the luxurious textures and formulas.

STAR PRODUCT: Amore Pacific Time Response Eye Reserve Crème, a best-selling product and a winner in Beauty Lab testing. It earned perfect scores for firming and hydrating, and testers ranked it best for de-puffing.

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Owned by Amore Pacific, this luxurious line also stars Korean ginseng as a hero ingredient throughout its products. Its history is in Korean herbs and the brand continues to include several botanicals throughout, providing lightweight yet effective moisturizing benefits.

STAR PRODUCT: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, a cult-favorite serum that can be used as the first step after cleansing or can be used on its own as well. “I find that the serum feels plumping and moisturizing,” says GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. “It absorbs into skin like a cooling gel and leaves skin taught and supple with a clean and satiny feel, as if no product has been applied.”

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Filled with soothing skincare favorites like cica and ceramides, the Dr. Jart line is a great pick for those with sensitive skin. Its popular Cicapair products are a particular favorite among customers for their natural color-correcting abilities, and their sheet masks are loved for their hydrating, non-irritating formulas.

STAR PRODUCT: Dr. Jart Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution, a facial sheet mask that performed well in Beauty Lab testing, including the second highest score for soothing/calming skin. It earned good scores for not being irritating or causing redness, not leaving an unpleasant residue, not interfering with makeup and for staying in place during application.

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Well-priced and offering a selection of products safe for sensitive skin, Cocokind is focused on skin barrier support and hydration. The brand includes products that feature anti-inflammatory turmeric, barrier-boosting ceramides and lipids and so much more.

STR PRODUCT: Cocokind Daily SPF, a mineral sunscreen and also one of the brand’s best sellers. “This is the only facial sunscreen that I use,” says GH Product Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine. “It doesn’t leave a white cast or cause flashback (for me), hasn’t caused my acne or eczema to flare up and doesn’t burn my eyes.”

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“This brand is like the Korean equivalent to Cerave,” says Sophie Park, a content strategist at Hearst, GH’s parent company. The affordable brand is great for dry and acne-prone skin, as it’s packed with ceramides.

STAR PRODUCT: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion, a lightweight moisturizer. “This product really helped with dry patches on skin,” shares Park. “It feels hydrating, leaves dewy finish, has a lot of product (so it lasts a while) and it’s price friendly.”

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For soothed skin, try the Missha product line. They provide hydrating skincare options for day and night, whether it’s to prep skin for makeup or firm skin in the evening. Its Time Revolution line is one of its most popular franchises.

STAR PRODUCT: Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence, which customers claim is a dupe for the popular but pricey SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.”I wanted to try it out when my acne was terrible,” says Park. “It didn’t disappoint me — it felt really light but hydrating on the skin. I’m not sure if this exact product was the reason for less visible acne scars, but I felt happy with the product, especially in terms of affordability!”

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Glass skin, dewy skin, glowy skin — no matter what you call it, everyone wants that super hydrated look right now. Achieve that with the Beauty of Joseon line, which features Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine).

STAR PRODUCT: Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum, a serum that lives up to its name and gives skin a healthy glow. “This serum is great for my night routine — it’s consistently made my skin feel soft and smooth the next day,” says Wu.

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