Want Glowy, Glass Skin? Try These K-Beauty Products

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Korean skincare: It's been poppin' up all over your IG feeds and TikTok FYPs, and the products have become bestsellers—but what's the idea behind it, and why now? "K-beauty is more than just a trend. It’s a skincare philosophy and way of life," says Charlotte Cho, co-founder of the incredibly popular Korean beauty site Soko Glam and Korean skincare line, Then I Met You. "It’s more than just steps or sheet masks—it’s how you think about skincare and what works best for your unique skin needs."

As an emphasis on skin health and early prevention continues to rise in beauty, consumers have flocked to Korean skincare because its traditions and practices align with these ideals. And as the beauty space evolves, the market has been growing quickly. Products for double-cleansing, powerhouse ingredients like snail mucin, and acne-blasting magic known as pimple patches may have been gracing your screens as of late, but many of these are part of Korean beauty rituals that have been passed down for generations. After speaking to Cho and personally testing and reviewing Korean skincare products on the market, I found the very best to try now, below.

Want to know more? Cool, because I highlighted some of the best Korean beauty products around—from brands like Glow Recipe, Dr. Jart+, Peach & Lily, and Saturday Skin—with the help of an expert, my own personal testing, and glowing internet reviews.

Ceramide Ato Lotion

This incredibly moisturizing (yet still lightweight feeling!) lotion is my holy grail beauty product that I apply from my head to my toes daily. Seriously, since finding this, I haven't found another body lotion that quite compares—it's super hypoallergenic, meaning it's fragrance-free and doesn't contain any potentially triggering ingredients that sensitive skin may dislike. It's also jam-packed with ceramides, which are key to maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Just trust me already and add this to your cart. You won't regret it.

• Product type: Lotion

• Size: 2.3 or 12 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E, glycerin, fatty acids

Glowing Customer Review: "I am in my early 50's and have super dry skin and sensitive skin. I have tried so many different moisturizers over the years from drugstore to super expensive and this is by far the best I have ever tried. It keeps my face hydrated and glowing. Will continue to purchase again and again! Well worth the price tag and is inexpensive compared to many."

Waterfall Glacier Water Cream

My skin is patchy as hell, and it's difficult for it to retain moisture. But, alas! I have found my cure: the Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream. The gel-like formula feels so lightweight yet still manages to pack a powerful hydration punch. But my absolute favorite part about this moisturizer? The four growth factors, which are the buzziest anti-aging ingredients right now thanks to their ability to signal your skin cells to repair and regenerate themselves.

• Product type: Moisturizer

• Size: 1.01 or 1.69 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Alaskan glacier water, Iceland moss, ferment extract, amino acids

Glowing Customer Review: "This is a favorite of mine—I have combination skin, so it's really dry and in some places really oily. This works well for both, and it's lightweight, cooling, and soothing. I really like this and always order it when I get the chance."

A-CICA 365 Calming Cream

This K-beauty calming cream is my hack to instantly relieve, dry, irritated, and angry skin. The secret behind its magic? Skin-smoothing panthenol—i.e., vitamin B5—works to moisturize your skin, has wound-healing properties, and is anti-inflammatory. I apply this to bug bites, my eczema, (semi-healed) sunburn, and any time I'm feeling itchy and dry. It's so soothing and truly relieves a lot of my skin issues—which, FYI can be attributed to my super-reactive, sensitive skin.

• Product type: Calming cream

• Size: 2.03 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Panthenol, vitamin E, squalane, glycerin

Glowing Customer Review: "I started using a prescribed tretinoin, and few days later my skin got very sensitive, irritating, and flaky. I decided to use this moisturizer together with the tretinoin and it worked really well. It calmed down my skin within a day. So glad I found this on the list. Now it’s in my daily routine care."

Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics

If you're a big advocate of SPF or are really interested in K-beauty, I'm willing to bet you've heard of the iconic Beauty of Joseon SPFs. They live up to their reputation thanks to the slew of antioxidant, barrier-supporting, and soothing ingredients, which all come together to make an elite sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays with a powerful SPF 50. After a few months of using this, my skin, makeup, and ~glow~ have never looked better.

• Product type: Sunscreen

• Size: 1.69 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, antioxidants

Glowing Customer Review: "I have pretty sensitive skin and every other sunscreen I tried broke me out or left a white cast. This one works like magic—it immediately soaks into your skin and leaves it feeling velvety and gives it a really nice glow. I recommend this 100 percent. Gonna buy some more pretty soon!!"

SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

This next pick is for anyone with sensitive, dry, or combo skin looking for a moisturizer that is gentle and oh-so-hydrating without the feeling of heaviness or greasiness. I recently began using prescription-grade tretinoin, and I attribute my lack of retinol side effects (i.e., minimal dryness, peeling, irritation) to this barrier-supporting face moisturizer. It's filled with super-hydrator, glycerin, and a series of three wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing ingredients (shout out to panthenol, madecassoside, and green tea extract).

• Product type: Face moisturizer

• Size: 2.02 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Panthenol, vitamin E, madecassoside, glycerin

Glowing Customer Review: "I was kinda stunned when I finally stumbled on this after a ridiculous amount of trial and error. Effectively and chemically, it’s a great product, especially for those of you with dry, acne-prone, and/or sensitive skin. Not only did it pass my ingredient decoder test with flying colors, but it actually followed through on its claims in practice."

Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30

We at Cosmo have a long history of lovin' Dr. Jart's Cicapair Tiger Grass line (we tested it, after all!). If you haven't seen the TikTok review videos of the product, you're in for a treat. Once I apply it to my skin and blend it out, the treatment totally neutralizes my redness and gives me a super-even skin tone. Plus, it's got SPF 30, so win-win.

• Product type: Color-correcting treatment

• Size: 0.50 or 1.69 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Centella asiatica (tiger grass), SPF, niacinamide, glycerin

Glowing Customer Review: "I have some redness and hyperpigmentation I'm not too thrilled about. For the longest time, I was self-conscious about this; so much so, that I used to always feel the need to wear foundation. This product perfectly helped me transition to going foundation-free a majority of the time. The color-correcting element blends perfectly into my skin and blurs the redness around my nose."

Glass Skin Refining Serum

If you want glass skin (i.e., smooth, luminous skin that gives off the appearance of glass), there's no better way to get it than with the cult-favorite Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum. This formula does everything from fading dark spots (thx, niacinamide!) to reducing redness to hydrating the skin. Need I say more?

• Product type: Serum

• Size: 1.35 or 2.36 oz

• Key ingredients: Peach extract, niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid

Glowing Customer Review: "It has everything I was looking for in a serum. It's not aggressive or irritating, and I have very sensitive skin. I love that it's fragrance-free and it feels like they really invested in the actual formula...it sinks in beautifully and layers well with my moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup."

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Blackheads: No one likes 'em, no one wants 'em, yet everybody seems to have 'em. But do you know the absolute best way to clear them up? Chemical exfoliants, my friends. This one by COSRX uses BHAs to fight those pesky blackheads and control oil all in one gentle, moisturizing formula.

• Product type: Chemical exfoliant

• Size: 3.38 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Willow bark water, betaine salicylate, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide

Glowing Customer Review: "I struggle with severe cystic acne, oily/combo skin, blackheads, etc., but now, for the first time, I don't want to cry in the morning when I look in the mirror. My pores look smaller, my blackheads much less, and my face no longer looks like an oil slick!"

Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist

"If you’re looking to add hydration to your routine or need a quick midday pick-me-up, this essence mist will do the trick," says Korean skincare expert, Charlotte Cho. She explains that this spray delivers the finest mist and is packed with brightening ingredients, such as licorice water and root extracts. Finally, glycerin is added for hydration, and centella asiatica leaf extract soothes your skin.

• Product type: Essence mist

• Size: 3.38 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Licorice water, bamboo water, centella asiatica leaf extract, glycerin

Glowing Customer Review: "This pH Balancing mist keeps my skin so plump and supple, I use it when I need some deep hydration on those dry days or just before my time of the month will come which is when my skin is the most sensitive. Also having PCOS, it has helped to have it in my skincare routine."

Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Sheet Mask

"Mediheal masks are a go-to of mine," says Cho. "These are packed with ingredients that will help soothe the skin and treat acne." Willow bark, rosemary, and tea tree oil help to soothe, exfoliate, and target breakouts, while chamomile works to calm redness, she explains.

• Product type: Sheet mask

• Size: 4- or 10-pack

• Key ingredients: Willow bark, rosemary, tea tree oil, chamomile

Glowing Customer Review: "I really swear by this sheet mask. It's my go-to for any acne/redness or onset of breakouts. I'm not sure I've noticed a reduction in acne marks, but my skin definitely looks much calmer the next day."

Sun Project Light Sun Essence

Skin health and protection are at the forefront of the Korean skincare philosophy, so you can bet there are some pretty damn good K-beauty SPFs on the market. This broad-spectrum sunscreen leaves a semi-matte finish so your skin will look glowy yet not greasy. It also uses hero hydrator, glycerin, as well as aloe vera to soothe your skin and reduce redness. The best part? It's a super lightweight formula.

• Product type: Sunscreen

• Size: 1.4 or 4.22 fl oz

• Key ingredients: SPF, aloe vera extract, glycerin

Glowing Customer Review: "I have sensitive combination skin, and I have tried dozens of sunscreens—this takes the cake every time. It is lightweight, but moisturizing, and rubs right into the skin like a dream. It doesn't leave a cast and it doesn't pill under makeup. I don't break out while using this either. It feels like a second moisturizer."

Birch Milk Refining Toner

"I’ve suffered from hormonal acne for years, and since incorporating the Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner into my routine every day, I’ve seen my acne disappear," says Cho. It’s formulated with hydrating milky birch juice and the optimal 1 percent AHA/PHA that can be used daily without over-exfoliation or drying out your skin. As a result, breakouts will be minimized, and your skin will feel smooth and soft to the touch.

• Product type: Toner

• Size: 3.38 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycerin, squalane, sodium hyaluronate

Glowing Customer Review: "The other day I walked into a sandwich shop and the woman at the front counter said, 'Your skin is literally glowing.' That’s how I know this line is the best—I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that endured a lot of sun damage during my teen years. Then I Met You + sunscreen and two years later…my skin is like new."

Snail Rescue All-In-One Oil Free Moisturizer

If you haven't heard all the hype about superstar skincare ingredient snail mucin, where have you been? Though there's not a ton of research behind it, it's been said to contain hyaluronic acid, allantoin, antioxidants, zinc, manganese, glycosaminoglycans, and growth factors, which are all great for hydrating and plumping your skin.

• Product type: Moisturizer

• Size: 2.82 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Snail mucin, sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid

Glowing Customer Review: "I absolutely love this moisturizer for my dry/sensitive/acne-prone skin. That combination is not necessarily normal, so finding a moisturizer to meet those needs is hard to come by. This hits every mark! I do not have any breakouts from using this product, I gain moisture in the areas I need it, and I do not get any reactions."

Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

Another viral Tiktok beauty find is this lil guy from Glow Recipe. The best part about these dew drops? They can be used as a serum, highlighter under or over makeup, or even as a primer. Plus, humectant ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and sodium hyaluronate give your skin a big dose of hydration. Remember that glass-like glow that we were talkin' about? This is the perfect product to deliver.

• Product type: Glow serum drops

• Size: 0.5 or 1.35 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate

Glowing Customer Review: "This stuff is literally one of my favorite skincare products ever. I’ve gone through like five bottles! Makeup blends flawlessly with this as your base."

Mugwort Cream

So! "Mugwort cream" may not sound the most...appealing? Clean? Like something you want to slather all over your face? But before you toss it aside, mugwort is a plant—not a slimy creature (yet don't rule that out, see: snail mucin)—and it's used traditionally in K-beauty thanks to its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. This cream also contains hydrating glycerin and soothing panthenol for some extra skin-loving benefits.

• Product type: Moisturizer

• Size: 1.69 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Mugwort extract, glycerin, panthenol

Glowing Customer Review: "So, I have been looking for a new moisturizer forever. I have a combination/sensitive skin with eczema. This cream has satisfied all areas [of my face] without any problems. It feels light like a gel-cream, but my skin absorbed it and it feels like normal skin. No redness, no sensitivity, no stickiness, no random dryness—just happy skin."

Foaming Cleanser

Foaming cleansers are notorious for drying out your skin because they contain surfactants (i.e., the active foaming agent that penetrates your skin) that work to lift dirt and debris from your pores quite rapidly. What makes this foaming cleanser so different is that it balances your pH and blasts it with a shot of moisture thanks to the ceramides, so you won't have to worry about it lacking moisture.

• Product type: Cleanser

• Size: 8.12 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts, ceramides, orange extract

Glowing Customer Review: "This is actually—and truly—a mild care cleanser for sensitive and dry skin. Who knew it actually does what it says on the bottle?! This gets my first vote for cleaning my face without making me feel like [my skin is stripped]. Second vote for honest marketing—is there such a thing nowadays, or ever has been?"

Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

You've heard it from your momma, your grandma, and a million others, but aloe vera is just that damn good. This fragrance-free gel moisturizer is great for soothing irritated skin (see: sunburn), fading acne scars, brightening your skin, and adding loads of hydration. It's a miracle product, amiright?

• Product type: Soothing gel

• Size: 3.38 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Aloe vera, glycerin, allantoin

Glowing Customer Review: "This is a great aloe product—it doesn’t have a scent! It absorbs nicely, and I keep it in my refrigerator, and especially in the summer, I apply it after being in the sun all day. It's very soothing!"

Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Are you someone with oily or acne-prone skin? Then you may have heard that a clay mask is a product you should have in your beauty arsenal. Clay is great for greasier skin types due to its ability to absorb excess oil. Reviewers love this mask specifically because it also includes AHAs that chemically exfoliate your skin, so it does a double-whammy on those pores and blackheads of yours.

• Product type: Mask
  

• Size: 3.38 fl oz
  

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, lactic acid, glycerin
  

Glowing Customer Review: "It cleans my face, gets rid of excess oil, and makes my skin feel smooth! I would 100 percent recommend this mask because it is not just a one-use wonder, so far I have used this face mask five times and I am not even a quarter of the way through the jar."

Lip Sleeping Mask

No K-beauty list would be complete without the OG Laneige lip sleeping mask. (I mean, does it even need an introduction?) The cult-favorite lip mask uses a mix of humectants (glycerin, and sodium hyaluronate), and emollients (coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter) to deliver major doses of hydration and moisture.

• Product type: Lip mask

• Size: 0.7 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, coconut oil, shea butter, murumuru seed butter, vitamin C

Glowing Customer Review: "The best lip mask on the market, hands down. The price is great, and the product? Even better. The one I bought this time last year is about out and I use it every night!"

Moisturizing Eye Bomb

Got yourself some bags, fine lines, or puffiness?! Same. That's why you need an eye cream that packs a punch. Not only is Belif's formula incredibly moisturizing (hi, squalane), hydrating (hi, glycerin), but it is also extremely refreshing. It's like jumping in a cold shower to wake you up, but, actually feels...nice. Feel me?

• Product type: Eye cream

• Size: 0.84 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin

Glowing Customer Review: "I love this eye cream—I’ve had dry patches around my eyes for so long and applying this cream makes the skin around my eyes feel so soothed. It’s so hydrating and a must-have before bed."

Real Ferment Micro Essence

An essence is a staple in Korean beauty, but it's a bit hard to claim they are just one thing because each brand can define them differently. In this case, if you have dry or combination skin, you can totally benefit from this naturally fermented essence, which provides great hydration (three cheers for niacinamide and hyaluronic acid!). Simply pat it on after your cleanser/toner.

• Product type: Essence
  

• Size: 3.88 or 5.07 fl oz
  

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
  

Glowing Customer Review: "I [have] cystic hormonal acne, eczema, and combination skin. I use both the serum and liquid two times per day. Both of these add moisture deep into the skin without irritating acne or other skin conditions. They also fade marks from past acne fast."

Gentle Cleansing Oil

Double-cleansing means washing your face twice—generally once with an oil-based cleanser and once with a water-based one—and it is a staple K-beauty ritual. This process is said to result in cleaner skin that absorbs products more effectively. Need a great place to start? Try this cleansing oil by Sulwhasoo, which is a fan favorite.

• Product type: Cleansing oil
  

• Size: 1.69 or 6.76 fl oz
  

• Key ingredients: Apricot-kernel oil, squalane
  

Glowing Customer Review: "This is a great cleansing oil when I use it as part of my double-cleanse routine at night! I love it. I have sensitive, reactive, normal to dry skin, and this oil is really nice for taking off basic makeup/sunscreen. No stinging, super gentle, and doesn't strip the skin."

Glow Serum

If you have acne-prone skin, the last thing you probably want is anything that will make you shinier. But you can't deny that it would be amazing to have a product that makes your skin glowy without that dreaded oil-slick look, right? Well, your search for that *magic* product ends right here with this glow serum, which is specially formulated for acne-prone skin. The product calms and heals flare-ups while also using brightening ingredients for that glass glow.

• Product type: Glow serum

• Size: 1.01 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide

Glowing Customer Review: "I use this in the morning and my skin has really evened out. I’ve tried many products, but this one works the best for my skin and hormonal breakouts."

Red Body Wash

Skincare should never stop with the face—that body of yours needs just as much love, especially if you struggle with body acne. This body wash by Medicube includes a sh*t ton of powerhouse acne-busting ingredients (aka chemical exfoliants and niacinamide) that exfoliate the skin gently while also locking in moisture.

• Product type: Body wash

• Size: 14.1 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide

Glowing Customer Review: "This has cleared up any slight breakout problems I would get and prevents them as well. My esthetician even complimented how good my skin looks. It’s not harsh on my skin and I have slightly sensitive skin."

Acne Pimple Master Patch

There are pimple patches and then there are these pimple patches. These hydrocolloid patches are made with a moisture-absorbing material that's been used forever for wound healing. In this case, once you've got a pimple that has been freshly popped, these bbs will help to absorb pus and oil while protecting the open wound from bacteria.

• Product type: Pimple patch

• Size: 3-, 4-, 5-, or 10-pack of 24 patches

• Key ingredient: Hydrocolloid bandage

Glowing Customer Review: "So, here's what's up: You have a juicy pimple that you're dying to pop but don't want to risk digging in your nails and/or skin tool and you know you're going to pop it? Yeah, this patch is for you."

Why is Korean skincare so good?

Korean skincare is so good because K-beauty brands embody a skin-first philosophy. "At a young age, Korean children are taught the importance of moisturizing, exfoliating, cleansing the skin thoroughly, and protecting their skin with SPF," says Charlotte Cho, K-beauty expert. The more time you invest in taking care of your skin and understanding what products and ingredients work for you, the better results you will see, she explains.

K-beauty is also about accessibility. "The most innovative Korean skincare products do not break the bank—you can get effective ingredients and cutting-edge formulas that everyone can afford," Cho says. This philosophy ensures that everyone— regardless of budget—gets to prioritize the health of their skin.

How to choose the best Korean skincare products

Evaluate the ingredients

"Innovation and effectiveness have become synonymous with K-beauty; Korean skincare products are always searching for the best, most beneficial way to help treat and prevent concerns," Cho explains. Because this is the case, K-beauty brands are often pioneering a ton of new and exciting ingredients, textures, delivery systems, and categories (snail mucin! sorbet soft cleansing balms! cushion compacts! essences!).

"Also, many of the ingredients that we’ve come to love and associate with Korean skincare come from hanbang, or in other words, traditional Korean medicine—ginseng, green tea, and lotus, all have long histories of being used in Korean remedies," Cho says.

Understand that a 10-step routine is not necessary

Each and every person's skin is unique, meaning some may benefit from a 10-step routine, and others may not. Cho agrees, "Learning about the 10 steps is a great educational resource and tool for you to understand what possibilities there are, but I firmly believe that the number of steps in your routine is up to the individual lifestyle, budget, and skin goals."

Start slow

After reading and learning about all of the kick-ass K-beauty products, I can understand why you may want to jump in and pop each and every one in your cart. But slow down! (1) Adding too much too soon can freak your skin out, and (2) let's be real, that's a sh*t ton of money. Start slow and begin with a ritual that can be easily incorporated into your skincare routine. Cho's advice? Double-cleansing.

"One of my favorite parts of my skincare routine is double-cleansing; it’s the foundation of any skincare routine—the first step removes oil-based gunk, like sunscreen and makeup, and the second step ensures the remaining water-based gunk, like sweat and dirt, are gone," says Cho. She explains that this method is the best way to remove bacteria and oil that can lead to breakouts and premature aging.

Meet the expert:

• Charlotte Cho is the founder of the skincare line Then I Met You and co-founder of the incredibly popular K-beauty site Soko Glam, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.

Why trust 'Cosmo'?

Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty, and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She's an expert at writing skincare stories that range from the best lip balms to the best organic sunscreen. She's an authority in all makeup categories, but after speaking to—and learning from—Korean beauty brand owner, Charlotte Cho, regarding K-beauty products, she feels especially knowledgeable on the topic. Her Korean skincare products include only Korean brands and ones she personally tested and reviewed herself.

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