The Best Korean Skin Care Products (2025)

Starter set for two-step cleansing: Then I Met You Double Cleanse Duo

“Double cleansing” is the Korean skin-care term for removing makeup, sunscreen, and general grime with an oil-based product, and then washing away residual dirt and sweat with an ultra-gentle, water-based froth. And the jar of juicy balm and tube of tenacious gel that make up the Then I Met You Double Cleanse Duo take the guesswork out of pairing disparate products. Loaded with nourishing olive and grapeseed oils, the sunshine-hued cleansing balm leaves skin smooth, clean-feeling, and makeup-free. The gel combines antioxidant rice ferment filtrate (aka sake) with hydrating glycerin, which gives the cleanser its stretchy, gooey texture, and then it foams up nicely with water. “It really makes it easy to figure out the double-cleanse,” said beauty consultant Michelle Lee, the former editor-in-chief of Allure. “It’s a good gateway to K-beauty.”

Two-in-one cleanser: Heimish All Clean Balm

If you don’t have time for a two-step routine, the Heimish All Clean Balm works as a quick two-in-one replacement for double cleansing. “It does an excellent job of removing stubborn waterproof mascara. And the citrus scent is lovely and fresh,” Lee said.

A doppelgänger for an Italian ice—right down to its cute little spoon—this cleanser is chockablock with emollients such as shea butter and coconut extract, as well as natural bacteria-busters like eucalyptus and tea tree oils. Plus, since it’s a balm formula, it’s easy to travel with: You can toss it in your bag without worrying about spillage or TSA size limits for liquids.

Gentle exfoliating cleanser: CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

If you come from the “bubblier is better” school of face-washing, an oil-forward, skimpy-on-suds cleanser like the Heimish balm might be a turnoff—especially if you have acne-prone skin. But the CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is just the thing to turn you into a Korean skin-care believer: When it’s mixed with water, this tenacious clear gel foams up beautifully and has a pH of 5 to 6—a near match to skin’s natural, slightly acidic levels—so it won’t throw your oil levels out of whack. While traditional acne washes often contain exfoliating salicylic acid (which can dry out and irritate some complexions), the CosRX cleanser relies on the milder tea tree oil. (Be warned, though, that some reviewers have been turned off by the medicinal smell.) This is the only cleanser both gentle and effective enough for supervising editor Hannah Morrill’s hormonal adult acne. “It seems to keep breakouts at bay without scorching my skin,” she said.

Mellow and moisturizing cleansing gel: Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cleanser

A friend in Seoul tipped Hannah M. off tothe Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cleanser, which looks nearly identical to the CosRX cleanser—a clear, colorless, and oomphy gel. While the CosRX cleanser goes after acne, this one babies dry complexions and leaves no tight-skin aftereffects, thanks to moisture-enriching ingredients: Glycerin, birch sap, and hyaluronic acid leave skin supple, smooth, and hydrated.

“This might be the most neutral-scented, gentle—but still effective—cleanser I’ve tried in a long time,” said senior newsletter strategist Brittney Ho. “It’s both cleansing and moisturizing, so when I rinse it off, I’m left with happy, bouncy skin that’s fresh and clean.” Also, more than one tester commented on the matte-finish, illustrated packaging, which seemed more in line with that of luxury products, not a cleanser that costs less than 20 bucks.

The purist’s snail mucin: CosRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

You can’t wade too far into the waters of K-beauty TikTok without encountering gleeful, goo-full demos of products containing snail mucin. Yes, this is the sticky stuff secreted by live snails; it’s then filtered into a slimy gel that studies suggest may improve skin’s overall hydration, texture, and elasticity. Since snail mucin comes from an animal, vegans may want to avoid such products altogether. The CosRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is 96% snail-secretion filtrate, and it’s the key to achieving “glass skin,” the smooth, radiant, and dewy K-beauty complexion ideal that’s gorgeous on its own but also a flawless base for makeup. “I’ve been using this on and off for years,” Lee said. “It’s thicker than a watery essence, more like a serum. It’s a great hydrator and doesn’t pill under makeup.”

Our testers similarly loved that the thick emulsion sank in quickly, leaving skin looking practically poreless and feeling soft, especially in conjunction with harsher treatments like retinol. Admittedly, a few testers were expecting this essence to stretch more dramatically—when you see people using it on TikTok, it almost looks as if they’re playing cat’s cradle. Our testers could never achieve more than a rubber-band-like expansion.

Glassy without gooeyness: Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum

Some of our testers craved lacquer-sleek skin but wanted an animal-free alternative to snail mucin. Those testers lavished gold stars on the . This product is water-based, and it gets its gooey dewiness from a sugar derivative and the antioxidant niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that has been linked with improving skin’s tone and texture.

I’ve been using this serum for four years: A few drops feel cool and refreshing as you massage the product in, and it creates a sheer, silky finish. Boosted with hyaluronic acid, this moisturizing serum has notable staying power, although not on my counter. My 15-year-old beauty-obsessed daughter always steals my bottle; she says it almost “reactivates” when she washes her face at night.

Refreshing exfoliant for acne-prone skin: Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner

Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner has three exfoliants—surface-buffing citric acid (AHA), pore-excavating salicylic acid (BHA), and brightening lactobionic acid (PHA). Yet you wouldn’t know it from the finish, which is “extra clean but not crackly and tight,” according to contributing editor Patricia Tortolani. That might be due to the inclusion of gently soothing components like witch hazel and niacinamide: The former removes dead cells, while the latter infuses moisture.

If you prefer acne-fighters with a strong smell and skin-firming aftereffects, this toner may be too gentle. But the low-key Some By Mi formula still delivers impressive brightening results. “I loved the slightly tingly sensation and the subtle candy cane scent,” Patricia said.

The prettiest, giftiest cult-fave balm: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask had more fans among Wirecutter’s staff than any other item on this list—and many of us didn’t even realize this nightstand staple is made by a K-beauty brand. Granted, “sleeping mask” is a bit of a double misnomer: It makes for a yummy, luscious daytime gloss, and its smooth, satiny texture strikes us as too sheer to earn mask status. Fragrance is a huge part of this balm’s allure, and it comes in a handful of irresistible, playful scents, such as Gummy Bear, Eggnog Latte, and Berry. Ingredients like soft, hydrating shea butter and antioxidant vitamin C round out the aroma and the overall appeal. A little goes a long way. A staffer who is a longtime user said it’s not sticky, and she often uses it in place of lipstick because it adds moisture and a pretty pinkish cast.

Lightweight everyday go-to: Aestura Atobarrier365 Lotion

Imagine a brick wall built without mortar. When you encounter the term “skin barrier” (as you inevitably do while clicking around K-beauty offerings), it essentially refers to your skin cells (bricks) and the fats (mortar) that hold them together, keeping your skin protected, supple, and resilient. The mild, milky Aestura Atobarrier365 Lotion “contains ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol for repairing and restoring the skin,” Dr. Hall said. “This is my go-to whenever my skin barrier is compromised.” Our testers, meanwhile, loved the bottle’s clean, convenient pump and the sheer formula’s dewy results. (If your complexion craves something even heartier, consider a tube of the bodacious cream.)

Bouncy gel for oily skin: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

A little goes a long way. A small dab of Belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb disappears into skin to give it a subtle glow and a light layer of lasting moisture, thanks to glycerin and featherweight silicones. This juicy gel’s sheer texture made it a top pick among our testers with oily and acne-prone skin (those with dry skin, meanwhile, gravitated toward the creamier Aestura lotion we recommend). “It’s one of my all-time faves. I have supremely acne-prone skin, and this stuff is so light, it doesn’t clog my pores,” supervising editor Hannah Rimm said. The refreshing, herbaceous fragrance was also a plus because “it just smells cold and clean,” Hannah said.

The True Cream Aqua Bomb is undoubtedly on the pricier end of Korean skin-care products—ounce for ounce, it’s more than triple the price of Aestura’s Atobarrier365—but our testers considered its results to be worth the splurge.

Elegant, invisible formula: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics

In the US, sunscreens are considered an over-the-counter drug, subject to FDA approval. But the agency hasn’t approved a new UV-filtering ingredient in more than 20 years. In many other countries, including South Korea, ingredients are regulated as cosmetics and “are often more advanced, offer better technology, and make more elegant products,” said dermatologist Jeannette Jakus, MD. That may explain why some American sunscreens can still feel so gloopy, sticky, and stinky in comparison with the chic K-beauty formulas. And the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics is one of the most elegant—Lee refers to the fan favorite as “the holy grail of K-beauty products.” The SPF 50+ formula has a hearty dose of soothing rice extract rounding out its five UV-filtering ingredients (four chemical and one mineral).

Our staffers specifically love this formula for its sheer, liquid texture, which truly disappears into skin without a hint of tackiness, tightness, or white tinge. “It goes on so clean and vanishes,” said senior writer Joshua Lyon. The vapor-weight formula does require frequent reapplications, “but I don’t mind because it makes my skin kind of glowy,” Joshua said. And the little, minimalist-chic tube stashes easily in a bag, so reapplying is easy.

The company recently launched Daily Relief Sunscreen specifically for the US market, with FDA-approved ingredients, but, as Jakus pointed out, the best formula “is the one you actually wear.” Jakus continued, “I’m all for foreign products when it comes to sunscreen.”

Creamy, fragrant lotion: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36

In contrast to the milky sheerness of the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, the Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36 is thick and hearty at first squeeze and then quickly disappears into skin. The cream’s top three ingredients are a mighty trio of chemical UV filters: avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate. But it also contains botanicals that “make you look glowy,” said editorial director Leta Shy.

The worst you can say about the Innisfree lotion is that it has a very subtle sunscreen smell—but to be honest, some of our testers noted that as a positive. “It made me believe it wasn’t a placebo, because it otherwise feels and behaves so much like a lotion,” Patricia said. “I live in Miami, and that sunscreen-y top note assured me it was safe to go outside at noon.”

An SPF stick to swipe on over makeup: Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF50+

Korean skin care prioritizes sun protection—not just in the morning, not just at the beach, but all day, every day, with faithful reapplication. Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF50+ “is the best thing I’ve found to use for reapplication throughout the day,” said dermatologist Christine Hall, who carries the clear stick with her everywhere. Despite being packed with five chemical UVA and UVB filters, “it still works over makeup, doesn’t pull on the skin, and won’t leave a film,” Hall said. Essentially, it removes every hurdle to reapplication.

If you prefer mineral sunscreen ingredients, which create a physical sunblock on the skin, be aware that the protective ingredients in this stick are all chemical sunscreens, which means they absorb the UV rays and convert them to heat. Some people find chemical sunscreens more irritating, though we didn’t have any problems with this stick, which also includes a few gentle botanical extracts like tea, aloe, and cucumber.

Many of the Korean-beauty brands with items featured here are stocked at familiar US retailers, such as Sephora (Belif, Innisfree, Laneige) and Ulta (CosRX, Peach & Lily). Others have dedicated US-facing e-commerce sites. But some, like Aestura, aren’t available either way.

For the best and most reliable experience, aim to purchase directly from the company’s website or an authorized Amazon seller. Copies and dupes are a problem across Amazon, and popular beauty products are not immune; if you plan to buy there, take the extra step of checking reviews and scrolling through product details. On the Some By Mi toner page on Amazon, for instance, the company includes side-by-side photos of its authentic product (with a logo-embossed cap) and a dupe (with a smooth cap and bigger label).

Over the years and throughout our work on this article, we’ve ordered harder-to-source items from Stylevana, an Asian-beauty specialty site headquartered in Hong Kong. Although the interface is somewhat dizzying, and shipping took three weeks, we’ve always been satisfied with the quality and authenticity of the products. Other, similar stores include Olive Young and YesStyle, but we haven’t personally tried them.

Patricia Tortolani contributed reporting. This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

1. Christine Hall, MRCGP, dermatologist, email interview, August 13, 2024

2. Michelle Lee, beauty brand consultant, Monologue, phone and email interviews, August 13, 2024

3. Sarah Chung Park, beauty retail consultant, Landing International, phone and email interviews, August 14, 2024

4. Elisa Less, founder of @sokobeauty, email interview, August 14, 2024

5. Jeannette Jakus, MD, dermatologist, email interview, December 4, 2024