18 Best Korean Skincare Brands for "Glass Skin"
Get to know all the best brands and ingredients in Korean skincare.
Reviewed by Sabina WizemannBeauty Lab Director
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K-Beauty offers the perfect holiday skincare gifts, featuring innovative formulas with natural ingredients like ginseng and rice water alongside potent actives like retinol and niacinamide. Focused on strengthening the skin barrier, these products suit all skin types and budgets, from cleansers to serums.
Our beauty editors, along with Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann, have curated a list of the top Korean skincare brands available in the U.S., highlighting standout products to kick-start your skincare journey. "Just make sure you're purchasing Korean skincare from reputable sellers and brands," Wizemann advises. Ahead, discover our favorite Korean skincare brands to shop, gift and enjoy.
TonyMoly brings fun and accessibility to skincare with affordable prices and charming collaborations with brands like Squishmallows. With a wide collection of offerings, from face masks and undereye patches to toners and neck creams, there's something for everyone here. Plus, the cutesy packaging makes these oh so giftable.
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Fruit-forward skincare line Glow Recipe has gone viral several times over for their glowy skincare products. Both teens and adults alike rave about the line, which includes items like toners, serums, cleansers and more, and all of which are designed to boost glow and dewiness.
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Inspired by flowers, the luxurious and sensorial brand is already a GH Beauty Lab favorite. "I love that the products smell like natural rose water," says GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. Inspired by both Korean and Japanese skincare rituals, the focus is on "relaxing and treating yourself well with your routine," she says.
SHOP BESTSELLERS:
- Femmue Rose Infused Toning Pads ($31)
- Femmue Camellia Facial Oil ($49)
- Femmue Rose Sleeping Mask ($32)
RELATED: Best Asian-Owned Beauty Brands
Who said skincare can't be fun? Like many other Korean skincare brands out there, Chasin' Rabbits looks beyond just efficacy and also focuses on attractive, colorful packaging that is sure to draw you in. Essences, balms and even ice rollers are all options you can choose from with this brand. The brand's popular Mindful Bubble Cleanse (linked below) is a purifying face cleanser ideal for oilier skin types.
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Classic and recognizable, Etude's skincare line is by no means new to the United States. Some of the brand's most widely-loved products are focused on skin barrier care, which is essential all times of year but especially in the cold, dry winter.
SHOP BESTSELLERS:
- Etude Surprise Sunscreen SPF 50+ ($18)
- Etude Soonjung 2x Barrier Intense Cream Set ($19)
- Etude Soonjung Hydro Barrier Cream ($26)
RELATED: Best Korean Sunscreens
Korean American skincare brand Peach & Lily is synonymous with gentle yet effective skincare. One of the pioneers in the glass skin trend, the brand uses familiar ingredients like peptides, antioxidants and more to deliver the lit-from-within glow so many people crave. Founder Alicia Yoon, an esthetician, has endeavored to create a line full of active ingredients (retinol, acids, vitamin C) that is still gentle enough for sensitive skin.
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If you've seen people putting toner pads on their face on TikTok, you likely know Mediheal. Though it's gone viral several times over for the toner pads, the brand is much more than just that hero product. You can find face masks, serums and other products while shopping as well. But if you're shopping for the toner pads, know that there's a solution for every concern, including brightening, texture, breakouts and more.
SHOP BESTSELLERS:
- Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pads ($24)
- Mediheal Phyto Enzyme Peeling Pads ($24)
- Mediheal Teatree Trouble Pads ($24)
RELATED: Best Korean Hair Care Products
All skin types can reap the benefits of Belif's Korean skincare line. The brand prioritizes hydration, utilizing tried-and-true ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane and ceramides. Boasting lightweight formulas, Belif curates a skincare line designed to support a healthy skin barrier that thus helps give skin that plump, bouncy texture.
Reviewers far and wide rave about how Belif products leave their skin feeling hydrated and balanced. For example, one GH Institute tester praised the jelly cleanser from Belif's Aqua Bomb collection (a past GH Beauty Award winner) for being "so gentle yet really works and the formula makes me actually look forward to cleansing!"
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From serums to toners to cleansers, Innisfree has something for everyone, especially those looking to brighten dull skin and even out dark spots. Its skincare lineup incorporates natural ingredients like green tea while tapping powerful actives like retinol to create offerings that can be mixed, matched and cycled to suit your skin needs.
Online shoppers praised its hydrating, evening and brightening benefits. In GH Beauty Lab assessments, this Innisfree Retinol Cica Moisture Recovery Serum (a GH Beauty Award winner) was effective on sensitive and redness-prone skin, with one tester sharing that their "skin was clearer, brighter, softer and smoother, with no discomfort."
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When you think of lip masks, there's a good chance the viral Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is the first that comes to mind. "I haven’t found anything that compares to it," says Danusia Wnek, a senior chemist in the GH Beauty Lab. "I love how it applies easily onto lips, leaving them feeling soft and nourished without being sticky or tacky. It literally feels like a cushiony cloud on lips."
In addition to cult-favorite lip products, the Amorepacific-owned company is known for its nourishing face masks and moisturizers. Like so many K-beauty brands, Laneige is all about hydration. GH editor Jacqueline Saguin found the Laneige Water Bank Hyaluronic Moisturizer refreshing on her dry, eczema skin.
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Snail mucin is the secret of CosRx's Affordable skincare solutions. According to Wizemann, the buzzworthy ingredient "promotes skin repair and hydration," two things acne-prone skin should prioritize.
Though its Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence went viral, the Korean skincare brand offers dozens of products that can soothe skin. Our staffers also appreciate its hydrocolloid pimple patches that help reduce blemishes.
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Sulwhasoo's luxurious skincare line stars Korean ginseng as its hero ingredient. The brand professes a deep love for traditional Korean herbs, indicative of its botanical formulations. As a result, its products boast lightweight formulas with moisturizing benefits.
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If you're looking for a spa-like Korean skincare experience, look no further than Amore Pacific. As the flagship brand of its parent company, the Amorepacific Group (which owns other popular K-beauty brands like Sulwahsoo, Laneige, Innisfree and more), it's famed for formulas made with botanical extracts like green tea, bamboo extract and ginseng.
Reviewers online love the brand's luxurious textures and formulas, like the Amore Pacific Time Response Eye Reserve Crème. It earned perfect scores in past GH Beauty Lab testing for firming and hydrating. Testers also rated it best for de-puffing.
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Fans of Korean face masks might appreciate Dr. Jart+'s collection of sheet masks. There's one for every skincare concern, including dehydration, acne, redness, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles — you name it. Dr Jart+'s hyaluronic acid-packed Vital Hydra Solution Pro Glow Face Mask performed particularly well in the GH Beauty Lab's test of face masks, earning high praise for hydrating and soothing skin.
Expand your collection with cleansers, toners, moisturizers and other everyday essentials, featuring the same key ingredients.
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If dry skin is among your top skincare concerns, Illiyoon should be on your radar. Its affordable Korean skincare products are packed with ceramides that work well for dry, sensitive and acne-prone skin. Even better, they're made without added (potentially irritating) dyes and fragrances.
The lightweight Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion is a favorite among staffers. "This product really helped with dry patches on skin," says GH manager Sophie Park. "It feels hydrating, leaves a dewy finish, has a lot of product (so it lasts a while) and is price-friendly."
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Calm skin with Missha. The brand's products provide hydrating options for every step of your morning and nighttime routine, whether it's to prep skin for makeup or firm skin in the evening.
Missha's Time Revolution line is its most popular, largely due to innovative fermented ingredients that the brand claims target a wide array of skincare concerns. Packed with probiotics, these products help calm and soothe skin without sacrificing potent actives like retinol, making it ideal for more mature skin.
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Glass skin, dewy skin or glowy skin — no matter what you call it, everyone wants that super hydrated look. That's easily achieved with Beauty of Joseon. The brand combines elements of a traditional Korean herbal medicine called Hanbang with modern formulations. This ancient technique centers on the natural healing properties of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals found in herbs and teas.
For example, Beauty of Joseon products feature skincare ingredients not commonly found in the U.S., such as red bean water and propolis, a resin-like substance created by bees. These ingredients are touted for their high antioxidants — studies show they help reduce inflammation. In addition to the brand's ultra-viral sunscreen, these other Beauty of Joseon bestsellers will aid you on your journey to Korean glass skin.
SHOP BESTSELLERS:
- Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum ($17)
- Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel Moisturizer ($18)
- Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum ($16)
Korean-owned brand Aestura has a decades-long reputation for creating gentle skincare products for sensitive skin types. In fact, the brand is used in Korean hospitals and is beloved by Korean dermatologists.
Its slate of moisturizers, cleansers and serums build out an entire skincare routine designed to support a healthy skin barrier. That's all thanks to skincare ingredients like ceramides and cica.
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What to look for when shopping
Wizemann points out that "Korean skincare is known for its diverse range of products and ingredients," most of which focus on hydrating dry skin and soothing irritation to create plump, dewy skin with a glass-like finish.
That said, here are a few popular ingredients to look for in Korean skincare products:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Provides deep hydration and plumps the skin
- Snail Mucin: Promotes skin repair and hydration
- Green Tea Extract: Rich in antioxidants, soothes and protects the skin
- Centella Asiatica (Cica): Calms inflammation and supports skin barrier function
- Niacinamide: Helps brighten skin and improve uneven skin tone
- Beta-Glucans: Moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier
What is glass skin?
To truly understand Korean skincare, one must first understand the "glass skin" phenomenon. "The glass skin effect is a term popularized by Korean skincare enthusiasts and refers to a complexion that appears exceptionally smooth, clear and reflective — similar to glass," according to Wizemann.
She says that achieving glass skin involves having a well-hydrated and balanced complexion with minimally visible pores, fine lines or blemishes. It's often achieved through a diligent skincare routine that focuses on hydration, exfoliation and nourishment. "Products like hydrating serums, lightweight moisturizers and gentle exfoliants are commonly used to help achieve this effect," Wizemann adds.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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