Korean Skincare Brands

Acwell focuses on sensitive skin, but its fan base is – everybody! Here's why: the products are free from parabens, dyes or mineral oil. Ingredients are mostly natural, to reduce inflammation, brighten, improve hydration and even out skin tone, with a big emphasis on pH friendly products at the 5.5 level.

Jerry Kim founded AROMATICA in 2004, and helped establish a new era of clean skincare in South Korea by developing products with plant-based and herbal ingredients. Today, Aromatica is one of the most popular brands in South Korea, known especially for their nourishing face and body oils.

A game-changing company, Banila takes a skin-first approach based on the philosophy that you look your best, and your make-up looks its best if your skin is at its best. Banila is famous for the Clean It Zero solid oil cleanser, which melts into the skin to clean it without stripping the natural skin barrier. A jar of Clean it Zero is sold once every 3 seconds globally! Banila also has lovely hydration products, and make-up designed to work with its skincare line.

This is a really clean brand that uses simple, natural ingredients to help skin breathe and look its best. Think calming, all natural Ingredients like chamomile, centella asiatica and plant-based  squalane oil. Ingredients are also sustainably harvested to reduce environmental impacts Their packaging is also eco friendly, using ingredients like sugar cane to make them biodegradable. They have the best tagline - don’t worry, be plain!! 

A relatively new brand using plant-based ingredients to create beautiful products that look and feel calming and zen. Ingredients like azulene, hibiscus, heart leaf and coconut form the basis of luscious anti-aging serums, gels and creams. Bellflower is one of only a few Korean brands creating gentle products with retinol, a powerful wrinkle reducing ingredients.

Be the Skin spent five years creating best-in-class formulas based on powerful, nutritious herbs and botanicals. The result is balanced and luxurious natural products with different lines for sensitive, dry, normal and hyperpigmented skin. Ingredients like royal jelly from honey create a lovely texture. I use Be the Skin Nutrition Power Toner and Serum and they're two of the best, most effective products I have ever tried. The consistency is like liquid silk, and they are so, so hydrating! These are beautiful, aromatic products that leave skin luminous.

Inspired by women from the Joseon Dynasty, who focused on creating a clean, clear skin canvas with all natural ingredients, rather than make-up, which can smother and damage skin. The Beauty of Joseon brand combines the effectiveness traditional herbs and natural ingredients like ginseng, rice and probiotics with scientifically-backed up modern formulations. All products are vegan and cruelty-free.

Blithe's products are innovative, fun to use, and gloriously luxurious; A patting splash mask to tone and exfoliate in the shower! Toners derived from beans to give skin vitality! Time-saving hybrid serums and moisturizers! Anti-polluaging (anti-pollution and anti-ageing) products that eliminate toxins and grime from city living - or just living! No matter your postal code, you will appreciate how beautiful your skin looks after using Blithe products. 

This is a Japanese cosmetics brand that  is also cruelty-free. It is known for making effective skincare as well, especially sunscreens that keep skin fresh, dewy and hydrated while also offering great protection.

What. A. Company!

Created in 2015, COSRX has significantly impacted the skincare industry with minimalistic, natural and safe ingredients that offer profound benefits to the skin. The COSRX Low PH Good Morning Cleanser is a category leader. Developed with extensive customer consultation and known for its skin-friendly, non-stripping pH level of 5.5. Toners and essences meet a range of different skin needs without irritating. Targeted ampoules are inexpensive and some of the best on the market due to their simplicity and small ingredient list. I'm looking at you, COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Ampoule!

Created in 2000, this brand is yet another example of South Korea's cosmeceutical approach to skincare - with science-based formulas and clinical research to create natural skincare products that are healthy and good for skin. Using botanicals like centella asiatica (tiger grass), propolis (bee and tree sap resin), tea tree oil and fermented Kombucha, Dr. Ceuracle products are in high demand, effective and lovely to use. The brand's packaging has also been recently re-designed to look clean, spare and environmentally sustainable, just like the products within! 

Dr. G. is a cosmeceutical company from South Korea, known for its medical and scientific approach to skincare. Their tag line is “My Skin Mentor”, referring to the education/teaching approach the brand takes to providing you with skincare formulas based on science.  

One of South Korea’s most popular skincare brand, Elensilia is known for incorporating natural and active ingredients such as snail mucin, collagen and caviar extracts, to moisturize and revitalize skin. The brand promotes a simple skincare line that works, and is free from all parabens, artificial fragrance and mineral oils. Their eye creams are a staple in all great skincare routines!

A sister brand to Clio make-up brand, this Korean company centres its products on fermented ingredients like plant-based and herbal extracts. Its differentiator is that its products are good for all skin types. This brand is getting buzz for its Vitamin C products, derived from unripe green tangerines that contain a stable and potent source of Vitamin C to brighten dull skin. 

A lifestyle brand that uses natural ingredients like fermented black rice, honey and antioxidant-rich berries to create beautiful brightening, anti-aging and hydrating products. Their black rice toner has amassed a huge following in a short period of time. Vegan and cruelty-free, and 95% of its ingredients are all natural.

Modern, chic and effortless Heimish uses a curated list of luxurious ingredients to maximum effect. I love their Rose line. The Bulgarian Rose Hydrogel Eye Patch and Bulgarian Rose Satin Cream are to die for. Dare I say it? Yes, I dare! It is even better and less expensive than Fresh Rose. Plus, their All Clean Balm smells like a coconut grove, dissolves make-up instantly and luxuriously clean skin.

Huxley is a brand that formulates skincare products with natural ingredients found in harsh environments - such as Prickly Pear Cactus extract that survives in the Sahara Desert. These seeds are carefully sourced from Morocco and are cold pressed to extract the best possible benefits. This cactus extract is nourishing, hydrating and rich in antioxidants to keep skin healthy and protected from environmental stressors.

Yet another company which prioritizes clean and natural ingredients to formulate all of their products. Products are safe and effective, yet luxurious. Think warming masks and toners and essences derived from botanicals and fruit extracts. Packaging is straightforward, to highlight the natural forumulations.

A minimalist skincare brand using natural ingredients and hypoallergenic, vegan and cruelty-free formulations. The brand also supports reasonable pricing. Iunik’s motto is “finding happiness through minimalism in an era of excess.” Exactly!

This brand has such a great philosophy - no "pernicious" ingredients, all natural, proper pricing, quality assurance and eco-friendly packaging. It makes me want to carry all of their products! Happily, Isntree products are beautifully formulated - their serums, toners and masks are right up there with the best of the best. 

When my passion with South Koren skincare began, Klavuu was the first product line I tried. This company burst onto the scene three years ago with fresh products like cleansing waters and cushion compacts and unique formulations that used marine botanicals and pearls. Klavuu's cleansing oil and foam deeply nourish and hydrate. Light yet decadent face creams and gel moisturizers remind me of La Mer, minus the hefty price tag. Pearlization products make the skin luminous upon application.

This company harnesses the vitality of plants and flowers for its products. Ma meaning my, and Monde meaning world, the company name translates to My World, to symbolize each customer. The company hires botanists to transform powerful natural ingredients into superstar products for skin health. Roses, hibiscus, lavender, and other botanicals are turned into gentle and effective natural toners, beauty waters, serums and creams. Pure luxury!

Have you noticed how many sheet masks are on the market? How do you know which ones are good? It's overwhelming, no? Keep calm and get your self-care on, because MEDIHEAL is the answer. This is South Korea's #1 sheet mask brand. Some believe that for every pot, there is a lid. MEDIHEAL thinks that for every skin type, from anti-ageing to hydrating, to brightening, to blemish control, there is a mask. Made from natural fibres and bio-cellulose to help the skin absorb the essence, emulsion or serum in each packet. Sheet masks are a great way to pamper yourself while addressing specific skincare needs. MEDIHEAL is the go-to for those in the know.

The grande dame of South Korean skincare, MISSHA's high quality, affordable products have been around since the early 2000s. Their essences, derived from fermented ingredients, are top-notch, penetrate deeply into the skin but cost less than competitors like SKII. MISSHA's Time Revolution series has a strong following, and many feel it outshines SKII's essence. I prefer the MISSHA product as I find it more hydrating. I could not believe how good my skin looked after just one application. You do not - I repeat, do not need to spend $200 for an essence. MISSHA's is in the $40-60 price range. Reviewers find MISSHA's Time Revolution Night as as good or better than Estée Lauder's Night Effects Serum, but it is much less expensive. Their milky sunscreens and luxurious BB creams are game-changers, too. Skin transformation at reasonable prices! Sign me up.

NEOGEN uses biotechnology to produce safe and innovative products that are also wildly popular, well-priced and effective. Gentle exfoliants, foamy cleansers, essences and serums work wonderfully together. Their Vitamin C serum is second to none, and their Daily Sunscreen (SFP 50 ) is one of the best on the market. I wear it every day. NEOGEN is on top of every innovation, from calming CICA (centella asiatica) for sensitive skin, to fermented essences for plumping. What a great company! I cannot keep their products from flying off my shelves!

I heard about Pyunkang Yul from the popular skincare influencer, Gothamista. Since I'm a fan of her and she's a fan of Pyunkang Yul I had to give it a try. I started with their toner - a Gothamista favourite. Wow. With just seven ingredients, it instantly soothes and resets the skin. The whole Pynkang Yul line, from toners to moisturizers to eye creams, contain the same healing and soothing ingredients. Hello to healthy and refreshed skin!

This is an organic brand from NEOGEN, a global skincare company from South Korea. Re:p stands for "Real, Elemental Practice" and showcases very pure skincare, with completely biodegradable packaging. These products are insanely good! Nourishing botanicals, fresh and natural herbal scents - they are an absolute treat to use.

This is a Japanese pharmaceutical company that also formulates innovative, cruelty free skincare. Many products are based on their patented mentolatum ointment, which they acquired in 1988. They also own Hada Labo, which is a global cult favourite with its collection of hydrating lotions, cleansers and toners.

This brand was started by in 2011 by a brother who wanted to create non toxic skincare for his sister whose skin was severely damaged from chemotherapy. He created formulas to heal damaged skin barriers and severely dry skin. Rovectin products are created without additives only contain the most gentle ingredients sourced from nature. Their treatment lotion and Barrier Repair Ultra Cream has been lauded by dermatologists, patients and skincare experts. And now they are accessible to everyone who values gentle, hydrating and soothing skincare. 

A relatively new brand from Korea that uses only the gentlest of natural and organic ingredients. Its philosophy is “safe + fresh + honest”. Their natural ingredients are then harvested in peak season for optimal freshness and effectiveness. It is a cruelty-free brand.

Devoted to natural ingredients, Some by MI has amassed a global following of skincare enthusiasts. Their unique name is a combination of the words "something," "by a miracle," and the Korean word for beauty—"mi." The AHA. BHA. PHA. 30 Days Miracle line exfoliates and brightens. Its cleansing bar, toner, serum and cream are suitable for all skin and may be of particular benefit to acne-prone skin. Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C toner and Glow Serum are also favourites. I love these products for what they don't contain—parabens, sulphates and colourants. EWG approved. 

This company was created by Korean beauty artists who wanted the perfect products to prep and tone skin before make-up. Their signature product, Son & Park beauty water, is a refreshing and toning product that hydrates and gently exfoliates skin, making it a perfect canvas for make-up application. Plus, who doesn’t want a product called a beauty water? So glamorous. We all need beauty waters in our lives! 

A sub brand of Etude House, a hugely successful Korean skincare and cosmetics brand. Soon Jung uses 93% natural ingredients and focuses on strengthening and healing skin’s protective barrier and protecting sensitive skin. Vegan, hypoallergenic, fragrance and cruelty-free.

This is a luxurious company with products usually at a higher price point than the other products on this site, but if I find a good price I jump on it! This is one of the key companies in South Korea that studies natural fermentation in skincare as a way to intensify skin healing. It runs a natural fermentation institute in Gangwon-do province of South Korea, where seasonal plants are aged in barrels under strict conditions, to ferment ingredients for essences, emulsions and lotions which penetrate deep into skin to make it more resilient and glowing. Their all natural products are also beautifully packaged, to give you an even more luxurious user experience. Double bonus!

This top SK brand is my latest obsession! Swanicoco uses fermented ingredients, plant stem cells, and a natural protein molecule called Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), to reduce damage and promote healing. Moisturizers are like delicious puddings that absorb beautifully and leave skin resilient and bouncy. Swanicoco eye creams are among the best on the market. Toners made with plant extracts like sea buckthorn, and supplements including vitamin C, refresh and brighten. Products are generously portioned. Bonus!

Created in 2015, Thank you Farmer uses natural ingredients derived from plants and grains and formulated to be effective on skin. Its products are EWG approved, vegan and cruelty free, and non irritating. This brand is known for its highly effective and hydrating sunscreens. 

Urang is a beautiful wellness brand from South Korea. Its founder, Jina Lee and her husband suffered from atopic skin conditions and wanted to use products with natural ingredients that would not aggravate their skin. But the all natural products on the market were very expensive, as in thousands of dollars per month, therefore not accessible to most. So she jumped in and created her own brand! She has also paid close attention to the image of her brand - they are packaged and presented in a way that makes one feel calm and zen, just for having them on your vanity! But that zen image is not false - these products are as effective as they are beautiful to look at. Once you try them you will never go back!

A Korean brand that make natural ingredients the focus of its skincare, like honey, centella asiatica, marine collagen, to create unique and innovative formulations, like it’s beautiful sunscreen cushion compact.