All the Best Korean-Beauty Products (That We’ve Written About on the Strategist)
In 2015, Charlotte Cho, the founder of Soko Glam, told our colleagues at the Cut that Korea’s beauty products were emerging as one of the country’s top exports. Since then, K-beauty has only grown in popularity, becoming a major movement not only Stateside but also in the global skin-care industry. Many Korean-made products focus on treating (and preventing) concerns such as dullness, dryness, or acne, Cho says, while incorporating gentle ingredients like healing snail mucin and moisturizing ginseng. Complexion-first practices such as double-cleansing and “glass skin” — which refers to a luminous, poreless finish, says Peach & Lily’s founder, Alicia Yoon — also originate from Korea, as do many Strategist-favorite brands, including CosRx, Laneige, and more.
Since the start of the K-beauty boom, we’ve written about many staples, from the best vegan ones to vlogger and blogger favorites to spa mitts for baby-soft skin. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best Korean-beauty products that have appeared on the Strategist, as recommended by dermatologists, drag queens, and makeup artists plus our own writers and editors. And because K-beauty runs the gamut from serums to sheet masks, this list covers a range of skin-care (and hair-care) categories.
Updated on July 21, 2026
We still stand by all of these K-beauty picks, which have been updated with the latest pricing and availability. Several are heavily discounted at Soko Glam right now (and Amazon is price-matching several of those sales).
Best Korean-beauty cleansing balms
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Mild-scented formula that leaves skin thoroughly cleansed but not stripped.
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Gentle yet strong enough to remove heavy-duty eye makeup.
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Deeply nourishing balm packed with fermented grains.
Best Korean-beauty cleansers
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Oil-free cleanser for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
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Oily skin–approved for a deep clean without harsh stripping.
Best Korean-beauty serums and essences
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Creates a visibly brighter appearance and targets dark spots.
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This Centella asiatica serum has all the same peptides as a $76 serum from Biologique Recherche.
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Do-it-all essence (and an excellent dupe for SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence).
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Thick and nourishing essence for mature skin.
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Toner-and-essence set described as “wedding skin in a bottle.”
Best Korean-beauty moisturizers
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The moisturizer chef Melissa King uses morning and night.
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Aesthetician-approved cream that keeps the skin barrier calm and protected.
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Fragrance-free cream for extremely sensitive skin.
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Viera-Newton-recommended CosRx cream.
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Aloe-vera gel to soothe inflamed, dry, or irritated skin.
Best Korean-beauty sunscreen
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Enriched with hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
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Ego Nwodim’s favorite dewy and non-pore-clogging sunscreen.
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Lightweight formula that feels more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen.
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Nonsticky sunscreen stick for quick application on the go.
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Mineral SPF featuring cooling eucalyptus extract.
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Zinc-based formula with a color-correcting green tint.
Best Korean-beauty acne treatments
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Pure-hydrocolloid pimple patch for standard whiteheads.
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Calming and soothing spot cream to reduce redness and inflammation.
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Sheet mask for serious cystic acne or deep, under-the-surface pimples.
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Infused with centella to soothe any kind of painful blemish.
Best Korean-beauty lip products
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Yowie founder Shannon Maldonado’s favorite lip balm.
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Hybrid lip oil and tint with buildable coverage that lasts up to 12 hours.
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