News

Oct 27, 2024

Cosrx, Dr. Jart, and More of the Best K-Beauty Skin Care Products

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Including Cosrx, Dr. Jart, and more from $13. Amazon / Sephora / TIRTIR / InStyle When Korean beauty first arrived stateside your

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Including Cosrx, Dr. Jart, and more from $13.

Amazon / Sephora / TIRTIR / InStyle

When Korean beauty first arrived stateside your options, though impressive, were quite limited. But the situation has done a literal 180. A search for K-beauty products on Amazon showcases more than 4,000 options, while retailers like Peach and Lily and Soko Glam sell nothing but Korean brands, and stores like Sephora have dedicated sections.

The only downside to such variety is that it can be hard to parse through. But luckily, my colleagues and I have all the products we could want at our fingertips and an important part of our jobs (and hobbies) is testing them. I present to you this list of nine K-beauty skin care products we use and love.

Sephora

After using a gentle retinol serum for a few months, I started seeing some encouraging results—my fine lines and hyperpigmentation were fading, and my skin was noticeably smoother—so I decided to turn up the intensity with a prescription-strength tretinoin. Big mistake. This serum from Dr. Jart soothed my dry, irritated skin, and helped repair my damaged skin barrier. It contains niacinamide—which reduces inflammation—and the brand's proprietary Cica Complex to stabilize and start repairing skin within an hour. Plus, it's lightweight, fragrance-, alcohol-, and paraben-free, so it won't cause any additional irritation. — Bronwyn Barnes, Commerce Vice President

Amazon

I've been using this toner for about a year now and love how gentle it is. It's been the perfect addition to my skin care routine to help calm down redness and breakouts. Plus, it also helps prep my skin to better absorb my other moisturizers and serums. — Hannah Freedman, News and Deals Strategy Director

Peach & Lily

Everybody raves about the Glass Skin Serum, but my go-to product from Peach and Lily is the Volufiline15 Eye Essence. The results I get are comparable to those of a friend who gets under-eye filler. It hydrates and plumps the under-eye area, smoothing out crow's feet and fine lines, and pulls double-duty as a makeup primer that keeps concealer from creasing or caking. The brand doesn't make this claim, but I swear the serum practically erases my dark under-eye circles. You can even use it to fade forehead and neck lines. — Bronwyn Barnes

Amazon

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence Serum is my cheat code to glass-like skin. At this point, I’ve gone through three bottles of the ultra-hydrating formula—the smooth, plump results are just that good. For a noticeable difference in my complexion, I apply the serum when my skin is still damp from toner, and lock it in with my go-to moisturizer. As the temperature drops, I know I’ll be relying on my holy grail K-beauty pick to fend off fall and winter dryness. — Kyra Surgent, Commerce Writer

Amazon

I always need some sort of toner/essence/mist in my routine. After going through many that were sticky, tacky, and downright unsatisfactory, I finally found the one with this SeoulCeuticals Essence Mist. Made with good-for-your-skin ingredients like tamarind and cucumber extracts, aloe vera, green tea, and more, this mist leaves my complexion glowy, bright, and perfectly prepped for my next skin care step. — Christina Butan, Senior Commerce Editor

Amazon

I've become so obsessed with cleansing oil recently, especially as a pre-wash to get off all my makeup, and this Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil is easily one of the best I've tried. It gets off everything but doesn't leave my skin feeling overly tight or stripped of moisture. It also feels so luxurious, and while it's a bit pricey, a little goes a long way, so this bottle will last you a while. — Eva Thomas, Senior Commerce Writer

Amazon

My skin is oily and breaks out easily, but it’s also dehydrated. It’s a cursed combination that makes finding the right moisturizing products almost impossible. The solution was not only in my purview the entire time (Cosrx is truly omnipresent) but also just $13.

This mixture of bee propolis and honey instantly soothes and sterilizes blemishes, and makes my skin soft, smooth, and bouncy. — Tamim Alnuweiri, Senior Beauty Commerce Writer

Peach & Lily

Peach and Lily’s Peptide Pro Moisturizer is an unsung hero for glowy, baby-soft skin. With a blend of 12 (!) peptides, hyaluronic acid, and polyglutamic acid, my dry/oily combo skin is hydrated, refreshed, and smooth. It's been my go-to all year, but I find that it's been especially apt at soothing my dry patches now that the weather is cooling down. — Alyssa Morin, Senior Commerce Editor

Amazon

I love this cleaning balm because it thoroughly removes all my makeup! I even used it after I had my makeup professionally done and it melted everything away, which is much gentler on the skin than using makeup wipes. — Melissa Chavez, News and Deals Strategy Director