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If you can think back to the first Korean skincare product you’ve ever tried, what was it? For me, it was an overnight sleeping mask—scroll down to find out which one (hint: it’s best overall)—and it changed the way I viewed and treated my skin.
“The world of Korean skincare brings a lot of awareness and excitement when it comes to caring for your skin,” says Marisa Garshick, MD a board-certified dermatologist at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in NYC. “It also offers exposure to a variety of ingredients that can give you a glowing complexion.”
The K-beauty market also gave us some of our most popular trends of all time, including sheet masks, BB cream, the 10-step routine, and more. But, like all skincare, regimens and products should be tailored to each person. “What works [for] one may not work for others, so when building a skincare routine, it’s important to introduce new products slowly to your skin,” says Garshick.
And when it comes to the best Korean skincare products on the market, we’ve rounded them up right here.
Best Overall
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
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Courtesy of Laneige
Quick results
Non-greasy
Cooling
Unhygienic container
Who else recommends it? Oprah Daily and Good Housekeeping also selected the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.
What do buyers say? 89% of 700+ Amazon reviewers gave it 4 stars or above.
With a cooling gel texture, this light overnight mask is just what’s needed after a long day. As the last step in your nighttime skincare routine, your skin will quickly drink it up before bed. Plus, the formula will deliver major moisture all throughout the night.
Benefits: Hydrates, boosts radiance, smooths skin | Active Ingredients: Probiotic-derived Complex, squalane | Skin Type: Balanced, dry | Size: 2.3 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
What Our Testers Say
"I felt a sense of relief. I had finally found a product that hydrated my dry skin and fought against potential breakouts." — Celeste Polanco, Product Tester
Best Essence
Primera Miracle Seed Essence
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Courtesy of Primera
Lightweight
Layers well under other products
Bottle indicates how much to use
Pricey
Right after you cleanse, swipe on this super potent formula to prep your skin and allow it to absorb the serums and creams that follow. Reviewers find that it’s hydrating immediately after use and brightening over time.
Price at time of publish: $47
Active Ingredients: Lotus seeds | Skin Type: Combination, dry, balanced, oily | Benefits: Hydrates, boosts radiance | Size: 5.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Toner
Son & Park Beauty Water
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Courtesy of Soko Glam
Chic packaging
Can use throughout the day
Bottle lasts a long time
Strong smell
This gentle cleansing water is a cult favorite—and not just because of its chic, minimal packaging. It’s laced with papaya extract and hazel water meant to help brighten and smooth your skin. Use it all throughout the day whenever your skin needs a quick refresh.
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: Rose flower water, witch hazel water, papaya fruit water | Skin Type: Balanced, oily, dry, combination | Benefits: Cleanses, exfoliates, soothes skin, boosts radiance, hydrates | Size: 11.49 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Gel-Cream
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
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Ulta Beauty
Cooling
Lightweight
Non-greasy
Unhygienic container
Described as a gel-cream, users report that the texture feels more like a plush serum. And all you need is a small amount to hydrate your entire face.
Price at time of publish: $38
Active Ingredients: Lady's mantle, malachite, plantin, oat husk | Skin Type: Balanced, combination, oily | Size: 1.69 oz. or 3.38 oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
What Our Testers Say
"Belif's The True Cream Aqua Bomb definitely delivers on the promise of a hydration burst. It glides onto the skin, melts in quickly, and has a cool, gel-cream finish. It’s bouncy but not sticky, and works really well under makeup." — Emily Algar, Product Tester
Best Cream
SkinRx Lab MadeCera Cream
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Courtesy of Cosco
Non-greasy
Reduces redness
Travel-friendly
Strong smell
This handy, bright tube is easy to tote around, and the formula inside helps to target redness, sensitivity, and dryness. Reviewers also find that while it’s ultra moisturizing, it doesn’t leave a heavy, greasy residue behind.
Price of time of publish: $36
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramide NP, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, asiatic acid, adenosine, madecassoside | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.51 fl. oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Eye Cream
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream
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Courtesy of Sephora
Quick results
Smells good
Absorbs quickly
Pricey
This formula, with star tightening ingredient red ginseng, works to strengthen and firm the delicate skin around the eyes while reducing puffiness. Pro tip: Stick your eye cream in the fridge overnight for extra depuffing.
Active Ingredients: Japanese honeysuckle, Licorice | Benefits: Firms, reduce wrinkles, improves elasticity, plumps | Dosage: 1 pump | Size: 0.67 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Cleanser
Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam Cleanser
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Courtesy of Ulta
Ideal for double cleansing
Removes tough makeup
Pump bottle
Strong smell
Get a double cleanse in one product. Apply this rose-infused oil all over dry skin, then add water to transform the formula into a foam that effectively cleanses away impurities.
Active Ingredients: Damask rose oil, soapberry extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 5.9 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Cleansing Balm
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm
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Then I Met You
Removes tough makeup
Smells good
Softens skin
Unhygienic container
Key Ingredients
Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin and oil often found in anti-oxidant blend topicals or moisturizers. It also helps soothe the skin and protects the lipid barrier.
What starts off as a balm quickly turns into an oil as you massage it into your skin. The thick and powerful formula—with ingredients like vitamin E and olive oil—melts makeup and debris. Add warm water to emulsify the product and wash off.
Price at time of publish: $38
Active Ingredients: Sea buckthorn, persimmon extract, olive oil, vitamin E | Size: 3.17 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
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Byrdie / Faith Xue
Runner-Up, Best Cleansing Balm
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Purifying
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Courtesy of SokoGlam
Includes a spatula
Removes tough makeup
Award-winning formula
Unhygienic container
Get nourishing hydration and a relaxing cleanse all at once. Scoop out the luxurious balm with the included spatula and apply all over the face—it’s even gentle enough to remove stubborn eye makeup.
Price at time of publish: $19
Active Ingredients: Centella, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, Asian knotweed extract, Chinese liquorice extract, green tea extract, rosemary leaf extract, chamomile extract, vitamin E, hot springs water, vitamin C | Size: 3.38 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Cream Skin
Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer
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Courtesy of Laneige
Lightweight
A little goes a long way
Fragrance-free
Can feel sticky
Key Ingredients
Amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins and have a role in virtually all the biological processes that occur in our bodies, including the reparation of skin.
Streamline your beauty routine with the newest K-beauty trend. “Cream skin combines a toner and moisturizer, so it offers lightweight hydration that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin,” says Garschick. This one is packed with amino acids meant to boost the skin’s barrier. Simply shake the product onto your hands and lightly pat into the skin.
Price at time of publish: $33
Active Ingredients: Amino Acids, antioxidants, white leaf tea water | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Benefits: Hydrates, softens skin | Size: 5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Cushion Compact
Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion Compact SPF 50+
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Amazon
Provides sun protection
Hydrating
Travel-friendly
Pricey
One of my favorite trends to come from K-beauty is the skincare and makeup hybrid. This compact fits the bill—it provides some serious skincare benefits that hydrate and brighten, while it delivers seamless coverage that looks and feels like your skin.
Price at time of publish: $75
Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: 5 | Finish: Dewy | Size: 1.05 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Exfoliating Pads
Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling in Lemon
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Easy to use
Fades discoloration
Smells good
May be too strong for sensitive skin
Hate to choose between a physical and chemical exfoliation? With these exfoliating pads, you don’t have to. Lactic and glycolic acids provide the chemical exfoliation, while the innovative 3-layer pad delivers the physical component.
Price at time of publish: $27
Type: Pads | Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, lemon fruit extract, sodium hyaluronate, papaya fruit extract | Size: 30 single-use pads | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Brightening Serum
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
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Courtesy of Ulta
Lightweight
Absorbs quickly
Fragrance-free
Some may prefer something more hydrating
This gel texture slides on to give you that coveted “glass skin” complexion—a poreless, clear, and radiant look. The formula—a mix of peptides, hyaluronic acid, and peach extract—promises to give you firmer, brighter skin over time.
Price at time of publish: $39
Benefits: Smooths skin, boosts radiance, firms, calms irritation | Skin Type: Dry, balanced, oily, combination | Dosage: Apply liberally | Size: 1.35 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Hydrating Serum
Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum with Green Tea Seed
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A little goes a long way
Affordable
Pump bottle
Can feel sticky
Don’t let this small bottle fool you—it’s packing a powerful punch of Jeju green tea that essentially creates a layer of protection over your skin. All it takes is one pump for the product to work its magic on your complexion.
Benefits: Hydrates, replenishes skin barrier | Skin Type: Oily, combination, dry, balanced | Dosage: 2 to 3 pumps | Size: 2.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Overnight Mask
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
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Courtesy of Glow Recipe
Smells good
Absorbs quickly
Quick results
Unhygienic container
Garshick gives this mask her stamp of approval. “Not only does it include hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin, but it also contains alpha-hydroxy acids to help exfoliate, so it leaves my skin looking renewed and refreshed,” she says.
Price at time of publish: $44
Benefits: Exfoliates, plumps, hydrates | Active Ingredients: Watermelon, hyaluronic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, pumpkin extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.01 oz. or 2.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
What Our Testers Say
"This stuff works! Whether overnight or just for 10 minutes, it 100% plumps and brightens the skin." — Emily Algar, Product Tester
Best Chest Mask
WHEN Beauty and the Breast Bio-Cellulose Breast Mask
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Courtesy of Lucky Vitamin
Eco-friendly
Easy to use
Affordable
May need two pairs for larger breasts
Formulated with firming and brightening properties—like fermented coconuts—this mighty mask is an essential pick-me-up. Simply place over each breast and let the serum work for 30 minutes for the best results.
Benefits: Hydrates, firms, boosts radiance | Active Ingredients: Volufiline, pomegranate extract, hydrolyzed marine collagen | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 fl. oz. (single pair) or 4 fl. oz. (4-pair boxed set) | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Ampoule
MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule
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Potent
Quick results
Absorbs quickly
Can feel sticky
An amplified version of a serum, ampoules contain higher concentrations of active ingredients. This one in particular contains 10 probiotics and promises to improve the look of wrinkles, strengthen skin’s elasticity, and smooth skin’s texture.
Price at time of publish: $23
Benefits: Firms, hydrates, strengthens, boosts radiance, reduces fine lines | Active Ingredients: Bifida ferment lysate | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.69 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Makeup Primer
Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum
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Sephora
Lightweight
A little goes a long way
Great for no makeup makeup
Glow could last a bit longer
Here’s another hybrid to fall in love with. It works as both a hydrating serum and lightweight primer to repair dullness and dryness. Smooth over skin right before you apply makeup.
Price at time of publish: $32
Benefits: Hydrates, boosts radiance, makes makeup last longer | Active Ingredients: Diamond mineral powder, ceramide hydration gel | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Lip Mask
TonyMoly Kiss Kiss Lovely Lip Patch
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Courtesy of TONYMOLY
Hydrating
Plumps lips
Smells good
Can be hard to put on
“It’s important to remember to take care of your lips, and this patch definitely emphasizes that,” says Garshick. Infused with vitamin C, strawberry extract, and collagen, this super cute lip mask helps to soften and plump your lips. Apply after cleansing and remove after 30 minutes for a strong pout.
Active Ingredients: Collagen, witch hazel extract | Size: 2 patches | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
What to Look For in a Korean Skincare Product
Steps
The traditional Korean skincare routine includes 10 steps: an oil-based cleanser, water-based cleanser, exfoliant, toner, essence, serum, sheet mask, eye cream, moisturizer, and SPF. Based on your skincare needs (and time constraints!), you can shorten to a five-step routine that includes an oil-based cleanser, water-based cleaner, toner, moisturizer, and SPF for the day.
Morning vs. nighttime routines
Morning and night-times routines do not need to be the same and you can tailor your routine to your needs. Not everyone has time for a longer routine before starting your day, so it’s okay to focus on hydrating and SPF protection. A night time routine can be more extensive and prioritize products like exfoliants and face masks.
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