21 Best Korean Skincare Products of 2023 (Tested & Reviewed)
Want to know more? Cool, because I highlighted some of the best Korean beauty products around—from brands like Glow Recipe, Dr. Jart+, Peach & Lily, and Saturday Skin—with the help of an expert, my own personal testing, and glowing interview reviews.
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Best Korean Skincare Color Corrector
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
Pros: Contains SPF 30
Cons: Some testers had a hard time blending it in
We at Cosmo have a long history of loving Dr. Jart’s Cicapair Tiger Grass line (we tested it, after all!). If you haven’t seen the TikTok review videos of the product, you’re in for a treat. Once I apply it to my skin and blend it out, the treatment totally neutralizes my redness and gives me a super-even skin tone. Plus, it’s got SPF 30, so win-win.
Key ingredients: Centella asiatica (tiger grass), SPF, niacinamide, glycerin
Product type: Color-correcting treatment
THE REVIEW: “I have some redness and hyperpigmentation I’m not too thrilled about,” one tester notes. “For the longest time, I was self-conscious about this; so much so, that I used to always feel the need to wear foundation. This product perfectly helped me transition to going foundation-free a majority of the time. The color-correcting element blends perfectly into my skin and blurs the redness around my nose.”
Best Korean Skincare Luminous Serum
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Pros: Layers super well with makeup and other skincare products
Cons: If you want more hydration, you need to layer with a moisturizer
If you want glass skin (i.e., smooth, luminous skin that gives off the appearance of glass), there’s no better way to get it than with the cult-favorite Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum. This formula does everything from fading dark spots to reducing redness to hydrating the skin…need I say more?
Key ingredients: Peach extract, niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid
Product type: Serum
THE REVIEW: “It has everything I was looking for in a serum,” writes one reviewer. “It’s not aggressive or irritating, and I have very sensitive skin. I love that it’s fragrance-free and it feels like they really invested in the actual formula…it sinks in beautifully and layers well with my moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup.”
Best Korean Skincare Product for Blackheads
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
Pros: Chemical exfoliants smooth, brighten, and clarify your skin
Cons: Can dry out your skin if you use it every single day
Blackheads: No one likes them, no one wants them, yet everybody seems to have them. But do you know the absolute best way to clear them up? Chemical exfoliants, my friends. This one by COSRX uses BHAs to fight those pesky blackheads and control oil all in one gentle, moisturizing formula.
Key ingredients: Willow bark water, betaine salicylate, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide
Product type: Chemical exfoliant
THE REVIEW: “I struggle with severe cystic acne, oily/combo skin, blackheads, etc., but now, for the first time, I don’t want to cry in the morning when I look in the mirror,” one review reads. “My pores look smaller, my blackheads much less, and my face no longer looks like an oil slick!”
Best Korean Skincare Mist
Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist
Pros: Glycerin hydrates while antioxidants protect your skin
Cons: If you have oily skin, it’s probably too hydrating to use on top of makeup
“If you’re looking to add hydration to your routine or need a quick midday pick-me-up, this essence mist will do the trick,” says Cho. She explains that this spray delivers the finest mist and is packed with brightening ingredients, such as licorice water and root extracts. Finally, glycerin is added for hydration, and centella asiatica leaf extract soothes your skin.
Key ingredients: Licorice water, bamboo water, centella asiatica leaf extract, glycerin
Product type: Essence mist
THE REVIEW: “This pH Balancing mist keeps my skin so plump and supple, I use it when I need some deep hydration on those dry days or just before my time of the month will come which is when my skin is the most sensitive,” one tester writes. “Also having PCOS, it has helped to have it in my skincare routine.”
Best Korean Skincare Cooling Gel-Moisturizer
Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream
Pros: Fragrance-free formula is ideal for sensitive skin
Cons: There’s not a ton of product for the price
My skin is patchy as hell, and it’s difficult for it to retain moisture. But, alas! I have found my cure: The Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream. The gel-like formula feels so lightweight yet still manages to pack a powerful hydration punch.
Key ingredients: Alaskan glacier water, Iceland moss, ferment extract, amino acids
Product type: Moisturizer
THE REVIEW: “This is a favorite of mine—I have combination skin, so it’s really dry and in some places really oily. This works well for both, and it’s lightweight, cooling, and soothing. I really like this and always order it when I get the chance,” reads one tester’s review.
Best Korean Skincare Mask for Acne
Mask Science Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Sheet Mask
Pros: Calms the skin without drying it out
Cons: The physical sheet may dry out rather quickly, some reviews say
“Mediheal masks are a go-to of mine,” says Cho, adding, “these are packed with ingredients that will help soothe the skin and treat acne.” Willow bark, rosemary, and tea tree oil help to soothe, exfoliate, and target breakouts, while chamomile works to calm redness, she explains.
Key ingredients: Willow bark, rosemary, tea tree oil, chamomile
Product type: Sheet mask
THE REVIEW: “I really swear by this sheet mask,” writes one reviewer. “It’s my go-to for any acne/redness or onset of breakouts. I’m not sure I’ve noticed a reduction in acne marks, but my skin definitely looks much calmer the next day.”
Best Korean Skincare SPF
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Light Sun Essence
Pros: Super lightweight formula that doesn’t feel greasy
Cons: May take a moment to fully absorb into the skin for that lightweight feel
Skin health and protection are at the forefront of the Korean skincare philosophy, so you can bet there are some pretty damn good K-beauty SPFs on the market. This broad-spectrum sunscreen leaves a semi-matte finish so your skin will look glowy yet not greasy. It also uses hero hydrator, glycerin, as well as aloe vera to soothe your skin and reduce redness. The best part? It’s a super lightweight formula.
Key ingredients: SPF, aloe vera extract, glycerin
Product type: Sunscreen
THE REVIEW: “I have sensitive combination skin, and I have tried dozens of sunscreens—this takes the cake every time,” one tester’s review reads. “It is lightweight, but moisturizing, and rubs right into the skin like a dream. It doesn’t leave a cast and it doesn’t pill under makeup. I don’t break out while using this either. It feels like a second moisturizer.”
Best Daily Korean Skincare Toner
Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner
Pros: Gentle enough for daily use due to a slew of hydrators
Cons: You may run out of product rather quickly
“I’ve suffered from hormonal acne for years, and since incorporating the Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner into my routine every day, I’ve seen my acne disappear,” says Cho. It’s formulated with hydrating milky birch juice and the optimal 1 percent AHA/PHA that can be used daily without over-exfoliation or drying out your skin. As a result, breakouts will be minimized, and your skin will feel smooth and soft to the touch.
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycerin, squalane, sodium hyaluronate
Product type: Toner
THE REVIEW: “The other day I walked into a sandwich shop and the woman at the front counter said, ‘your skin is literally glowing,'” one tester writes. “That’s how I know this line is the best—I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that endured a lot of sun damage during my teen years. Then I Met You + Sunscreen and two years later…my skin is like new.”
Best Korean Skincare Moisturizer with Snail Mucin
Peach Slices Snail Rescue All-In-One Oil Free Moisturizer