The hashtag #koreanskincare alone generates 1.3 billion views on TikTok (at the time of writing), with rows and rows of videos on how to achieve glass skin, what products are great for hyperpigmentation, and which sunscreens won’t leave a pasty white film behind. Everyone is on the hunt for smooth, filter-like, glass skin and we have the rise of K-Beauty brands and education surrounding Korean skincare practices to thank. Scroll through enough videos and you’ll learn the number one rule of K-Beauty: skin comes first.
“K-beauty has a ‘skin-first’ philosophy, which [prioritizes] caring for your skin and getting to the root of the condition, instead of covering it up with makeup. K-beauty has gained so much popularity in the US in recent years because of its high-quality ingredients, innovative products, accessible price points, and the fact that it is based on a lifestyle that is focused on having good skin care habits,” Charlotte Cho, esthetician and founder of popular K-Beauty e-tailer Soko Glam tells ELLE.com.
With the help of e-tailers like Soko Glam, healthy, clear skin is not only attainable but accessible. Now, skincare obsessives have an arsenal of products to choose from to help them achieve their skin goals—but which ones are actually worth it? Below, the 25 best Korean skincare products to add to your cart, plus some of Cho’s favorites.
1
Best For All Skin Types
Then I Met You
Living Cleansing Balm
2
Best Soothing Mask
Dr. Jart+
Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask
3
Best Snail Essence
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
4
Best Gentle Cleanser
Sulwhasoo
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
5
Best Lightweight Serum
PEACH & LILY
Glass Skin Refining Serum
6
Best Powder Cleanser
AMOREPACIFIC
Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder
7
Best For Stressed Skin
MISSHA
Time Revolution Artemisia Treatment Essence
8
Best For Waterproof Makeup
Banila Co
Clean It Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm
9
Best For Inflamed Skin
Beauty of Joseon
Glow Serum
10
Best Glow Serum
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Brightening Serum
11
Best For Mature Skin
Sulwhasoo
Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream
12
Best Pimple Patches
COSRX
Acne Pimple Patch
13
Best For Damaged Skin
MISSHA
Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream
14
Best Lip Mask
LANEIGE
Lip Sleeping Mask
15
Best For Textured Skin
The Klog
Snail Mucin Energy Essence
16
Best For Makeup Prep
belif
belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb | Gentle Eye Cream Boosts Elasticity | Soothing & Hydrating Herbs Reduces Fine Lines & Puffiness for Dark Circles | Anti Aging with Comfrey Leaf & Tiger Grass | .84 Fl Oz
17
Best Daily SPF
innisfree
Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36
18
Best For Oily Skin
Hanskin
Pore Cleansing Oil – BHA
19
Best For Deep Moisture
Klairs
Rich Moist Soothing Serum
20
Best Calming Sheet Masks
#17VDerma
PibuWang Mask – Rest
21
Best Gel Exfoliator
Saturday Skin
Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
22
Best For Combination Skin
Schwanen Garten
Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser
23
Best Sunscreen For All Tones
NEOGEN
Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen
24
Best Soothing Cleanser
Then I Met You
Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel
25
Best Matte Sunscreen
Thank You Farmer
Sun Project Light Sun Essence
26
What products are in a typical korean skincare routine? (AM and PM)
Charlotte Cho, the founder of popular K-Beauty online retailer Soko Glam, suggests following the SG 10-step Korean Skincare routine, a process she coined in 2012 which focuses on targeted treatments and ingredients instead of a lengthy list of products. When it comes to Korean skincare, quality takes precedence over quantity.
Cleanse
– Oil cleanser
– Water-based cleanser
Prep
– Toner
– Exfoliator
Treat/Nourish
– Essence
– Sheet Mask
– Serum/Ampoule
– Eye Cream
Protect
– Moisturizer
– Sunscreen
27
How does Korean skincare routine differ from others?
“The number of steps is truly personal as it depends on your skincare goals and concerns,” Cho says. In a Korean skincare routine, it’s really the products that set it apart from others. “The idea of the Korean 10-step skincare routine is to carefully pick and choose products that are going to give maximum benefit. Every step has a purpose. It’s about having the right products that are doing the right things and using them in the right order,” she explains.
28
What are the benefits and main goals?
One of the main benefits of Korean skincare is providing results without using harsh ingredients or practices to achieve healthy skin. Cho says the step you can benefit from the most is double cleansing.
“When I first started skincare, I barely even washed my face, so the thought of using two cleansers was daunting, to say the least. But after incorporating an oil cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser into my routine, my skin started to clear up and glow. The results spoke for themselves, and now I’ll never look back,” she says.
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Why trust ELLE Beauty?
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.
Nerisha Penrose
Beauty Commerce Editor
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music).
