Best Korean Skincare Products by Category
K-beauty has been making waves for many years now, and rightfully so. From high-quality makeup to jaw-dropping skincare, Korean brands have changed the global consumer perception of what exactly to expect from your self-care.
But, how did they manage to do so? The answer is simple; innovation, building products that actually work, and above all, a deep and practical focus on skin health.
Whether its lightweight sunscreens that protect from harmful UV rays, or serums infused with microneedles that help with better product absorption, Korean skincare continues to change the game and set the bar very high.
Today, we’re talking about the best Korean skincare products by category, so you know which ones deserve a spot in your routine.
What Makes Korean Skincare So Darn Good?
What truly sets Korean skincare apart are their innovative, clean formulations that deliver long-term results, instead of quick fixes. They prioritize the simple things; hydration and protection for all skin types, which are key factors that other skincare industries tend to largely underestimate.
While Korean skincare emphasizes simplicity, it does not shy away from constant innovation. Brands and companies research, test, and come up with new formulations, setting global trends before anyone else.
For the Korean skincare industry, it’s more than about becoming a trending topic or five star product reviews, it’s about bringing to market multi-taskers, formulas that deliver results, and improving our skin health for the better.
If that’s not all, what should make you join the hype is the fact that Korean skincare is super accessible. Some of the best Korean skincare products are affordable, so your wallet and your skin are both well taken care of!
The next section explores the best-sellers and best-reviewed Korean products, arranged in the order used in a standard skincare routine.
Best Korean Cleansers
One trend you’ll see in almost all Korean skincare routines is double-cleansing. It simply means to use two types of cleansers when washing your face; one of an oily or balmy formula and the other, a gentle gel or cream cleanser.
Double-cleansing is not just fantastic to get the grime off your face after a long day, i.e., sunscreen, dirt, makeup, but also, to smoothen the texture of your skin over time. Rubbing and massaging the oil into your skin melts away blackheads and sebaceous filaments, leaving behind soft, supple skin.
Best Korean Oil Cleansers
The top Korean oil cleansers are rated for their ability to remove makeup and sunscreen, compatibility with various skin-types, and affordability.
Users love this because it is lightweight, eye-friendly, and cleanses skin without stripping it. The vegan formula doesn’t irritate the eyelids, making it a great product to remove stubborn eye makeup.
Thanks to its hero ingredient Centella, this cleansing oil, cleans and hydrates the most irritated, sensitive skin without damaging the barrier. Also, it’s only 5 bucks!
Best Korean Cleansing Balms
Cleansing balms are buttery balms that become oily as you massage into the skin. They melt away sunscreen, makeup, and impurities without leaving your skin feeling tight, something that oil cleansers can do for many.
A cult favorite, this cruelty-free and vegan cleansing balm has a sherbet-like texture that melts away even the most stubborn waterproof mascaras. It leaves the skin feeling hydrated yet, clean as ever.
Best Korean Gel Cleansers
Gel cleansers are lightweight, best suited for oily, combination, or acne-prone skin types. They’re super gentle on the skin and clean your face thoroughly without dehydrating it
This won’t be the first time you read about this brand. One of its best-sellers, this gel cleanser has proven to be fantastic for all skin types. Infused with plum and mung bean extracts, the formula deeply cleanses and hydrates without disrupting the skin barrier.
Best Korean Cream or Foam Cleanser
Cream or foam cleansers pair greatly with cleansing oils and balms, making them perfect for the second step in double cleansing. These suit dry and sensitive skin types best.
A low-pH cleanser that gently cleanses the skin without irritating the barrier. It has panthenol which deeply moisturizes the skin and madecassoside to calm while cleansing.
Best Korean Essences
After you’ve double cleansed, the next step in a classic Korean skincare routine would be to add the hydration back into your skin, with an essence. These are lighter than serums but more concentrated than toners and help prepare your skin for the next step by boosting hydration and absorption.
We’ve listed some top Korean essences below. These suit most skin types.
Few products have broken the internet as much as snail mucin, and for good reason. This cult-fave garnering over 98,000 reviews is packed with 96% snail mucin, which has proven to repair, hydrate, and soothe the skin barrier and improve tone and texture.
We told you you’d see this name again, and here we are. BOJ’s Ginseng Water became an instant hit thanks to its gentle, yet hydrating and glow-enhancing niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ginseng-powered, cruelty-free formula.
Best Korean Serums
In Korean skincare, serums are largely used to treat targeted concerns such as brightening dull skin, smoothing texture, anti-aging, and fading acne marks. They usually contain active ingredients and go deep into the skin.
While we can’t mention every single serum for every problem out there, here are the top Korean serums that support overall skin health while improving on almost every major concern.
And another one! This BOJ hit has a massive fanbase for its ability to glow up dull and irritated skin. Formulated with propolis that heals the barrier and niacinamide, which controls sebum production, this lives up to its name by delivering the ultimate glass skin glow.
A hybrid between a serum and an essence, this serum is infused with microneedles, as we mentioned earlier. It has tiny spicules (needle-like particles derived from silica) coated in centella and hyaluronic acid, for mechanical exfoliation and to improve absorption of products.
Best Korean Moisturizers
No skincare routine is complete without a moisturizer, and in Korean skincare, a moisturizer is a multi-faceted icon. Whether it’s a 10-step or 2-step routine, Korean moisturizers are formulated to not just lock in all the products used prior to it, but to further hydrate and nourish your skin.
Let’s look at the top Korean moisturizers best suited for different skin type,
- For Oily Skin: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
This fan-favorite is a refreshing gel cream that hydrates the oily skin without making it look greasy. It balances moisture while controlling sebum production.
- For Dry Skin: Etude Soonjung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
This gentle and scent-free cream is one of the best Korean moisturizer for dry skin 2025. It has panthenol for extra hydration and madecassoside to calm any irritation caused by products or environmental stress.
- For Sensitive Skin: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
This is a rich and creamy moisturizer made with ceramides and glycerin, making sensitive skin feel soothed, hydrated and luxurious. Its cruelty free and vegan formula is rich enough to use on the body as well.
- For Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream
Formulated with rice-bran complex, niacinamide, ginseng, and hyaluronic acid, BOJ’s dynasty cream lives up to its name by giving the skin a lightweight yet deeply hydrating finish.
Best Korean Sunscreens
A non-negotiable in any skincare routine, Korean sunscreens have been all the rage for their unbeatable chemical and mineral formulas. With lightweight feel, high UV protection, zero-white cast formulation, and suitability for most skin types, their global acclaim is very well deserved.
Below we’ll take a look at the top Korean sunscreens, all vegan and cruelty free, available in both chemical and mineral formulas, and suited for most skin-types,
By now you shouldn’t be surprised to see BOJ make the list. With a super lightweight, glow-inducing, and invisible formula, this chemical sunscreen protects the skin from damaging UVB and UVA rays with its PA++++ rating. This sunscreen is free from any harsh chemicals, making it one of the top Korean sunscreen recommendations for sensitive skin.
This mineral sunscreen is another holy grail, with centella asiatica to soothe the skin while protecting from the sun’s UVB and UVA rays. A lightweight and moisturizing formula, this sunscreen is beloved for a reason.
Conclusion
Korean skincare has no doubt rightfully earned their global fanfare, impressive product reviews, and long-standing reputation. The industry’s consistent approach to combining innovation with powerful ingredients, all while making affordable products, is an inspiration for cosmetics industries around the world.
And if you haven’t given Korean skincare a try yet, what are you waiting for? Pick up any of the products mentioned in this guide and give your skin the glow-up it deserves!