The Best Korean BB Creams for Every Skin Type

A BB cream is one of the latest additions to my makeup routine.

I usually use concealer for a no-makeup makeup look, or to cover some blemishes or discoloration if I am not in the mood to wear a lot of product.

But when I just want to even out my skin, while still looking natural, that’s where my BB cream comes in.

BB creams are great for giving the skin light to full coverage plus added skincare ingredients. As opposed to heavy foundations, BB Creams are usually light and feel like moisturizers, which makes them simple to put on and go after doing your skincare routine.

{RELATED POST: The Top 7 Best-Selling Korean Skincare Products}

Fun fact: Although we have come to associate BB creams with Korean beauty, they were actually developed in Germany.

Initially used as a treatment for patients with skin sensitivity issues, the German formula was perfected in South Korea as the beauty product we now know. It then became popular in places like Europe and the United States.

So on days when you want a little coverage, but don’t want a full face of foundation, BB cream is the way to go! It gives a natural finish and protects your skin from the sun with UV protection.

Today, I’ve compiled a list of the 5 best Korean BB Creams for various skin types, all including SPF. So take a look to see if you can find your next beauty product staple.

Related reading: 5 Best Korean Cushion Foundations for All Skin Types

5 Best Korean BB Creams

• Best for All Skin Types – MISSHA Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42
• Best for Combination Skin – PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream
• Best for Acne-Prone Skin – MIZON Snail Repair Intensive BB Cream
• Best for Oily Skin – Erborian BB Creme Au Ginseng
• Best for Dry Skin – Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 40

1. MISSHA Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42

For the first BB Cream on the list, we’ll start by talking about MISSHA. A Korean beauty brand founded in 2000, MISSHA has now become a global beauty brand that goes beyond the K-beauty space.

I appreciate that they make it a point to listen to the skin concerns of their customers when choosing the ingredients for their products. Taking their consumers’ thoughts into consideration is an amazing way for a brand to gather what’s working and what’s not.

Today we’ll be discussing the brand’s Perfect Cover BB Cream, my pick for the best overall Korean BB cream on the market today.

This product is magic — it has very high coverage for a BB Cream, yet it also offers a natural, dewy finish. While you’d think it might be heavy, it’s actually light enough to feel like you aren’t wearing makeup. Since it works for all skin types and has UV protection, this is a great everyday BB cream. Plus it’s so lightweight that you make forget you are wearing anything on your face!

• SPF: SPF 42 PA+++
• Skin Type: All Skin Types
• Coverage: Medium to High Coverage
• Finish: Natural
• Ingredient Callouts: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramide, Rosemary leaf extract, and Chamomile flower extract
• Cruelty-free? No

Recommended For: If you are trying a BB cream for the first time or you just want a good alternative to foundation, I highly recommend MISSHA’s BB cream. It works for all skin types and so long as you don’t mind a scent with your makeup products, it’s an excellent option.

This BB cream contains moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and has UV protection, all for an affordable price.

This BB Cream is for those looking for medium to high coverage and a dewy natural finish. If you need something that provides coverage, but still can be used for an everyday look, pick this up.

Note, the product is not cruelty-free. So, if that is a factor in your buying decisions, look for another BB cream product.

2. PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream

PURITO is a Korean Brand that tries to be conscious about what ingredients they use in their products, as well as working to be sustainable and earth-conscious. In short, these are products you can feel good about buying.

Their Clearing BB Cream is the most affordable cream on this list and is very lightweight to apply and wear all day.

With skincare ingredients like Niacinamide, this BB cream helps hydrate and soothe your skin. It’s also fragrance-free which sounds great to me since scented products can bother me. For UV protection, there is SPF 38 PA+++. Even better, it is also cruelty-free.

This is a great everyday option. Honestly, you can quickly put this on and go. Just be aware that some reviews say it takes a bit for it to blend into the skin and may look grayish in tone before it blends in fully.

• SPF: SPF 38 PA+++
• Skin Type: Combination
• Coverage: Light
• Finish: Natural
• Ingredient Callouts: Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Allantoin and Panthenol
• Cruelty-free? Yes

Recommended For: If I was heading out for the day and was debating doing my makeup, I’d usually reach for something lightweight, maybe just concealer if I didn’t want to go bare-faced. But this BB cream is a great quick option if I just want a hint of coverage that looks totally natural.

The product gives light coverage, so it’s not the best choice if you’re looking to cover lots of blemishes or discoloration. It is fragrance-free and cruelty-free, which are great bonuses. It helps even out your skin tone and texture.

This is a go-to product if you are looking for little coverage, but don’t want to not wear a lot of makeup.

3. MIZON Snail Repair Intensive BB Cream

Next on the list is a BB Cream from the Korean brand Mizon. The first skincare brand in Korea to introduce a CC cream, Mizon does extensive scientific research to formulate each product. They also use minimal ingredients and strive to use as many natural ingredients as possible.

Mizon’s Snail Repair BB Cream is a product that is gentle on skin, so it’s great for acne-prone and sensitive skin types! The cream is meant to stay in place, while also maintaining the skin’s moisture levels and offering high coverage. It also has SPF 50+ protection.

Just note, you may need to add your own moisturizer underneath since this isn’t as hydrating as other creams on the list. And even though the product is cruelty-free, it isn’t vegan as it uses animal-derived ingredients.

• SPF: SPF 50 PA+++
• Skin Type: Acne-Prone
• Coverage: High Coverage
• Finish: Radiant
• Ingredient Callouts: Snail mucin, Niacinamide, Adenosine
• Cruelty-free? Yes

Recommended For: If anti-aging benefits are what you want in a product, this BB Cream is a great option as it helps with wrinkles. It is also lightweight to wear and helps make skin more radiant. And it doesn’t have fragrance either if you like unscented products.

However, some cons to this one. First, the coverage is heavy so if you want light or medium coverage, look elsewhere. Also, it’s not as moisturizing as others, so you may need to use a moisturizer prior, especially in the drier and colder months. And the product is cruelty-free, but not vegan because of the animal-derived ingredients.

4. Erborian BB Creme Au Ginseng

Erborian is a French-Korean Brand that launched in 2007 with the goal to create innovative and impactful products. Their BB Cream is one of their staple beauty products.

The BB Cream claims to help heal skin with a selection of herbs used traditionally in Korean skincare. It claims to even skin tone, moisturize, and nourish skin, giving a natural and breathable finish. Also, it is cruelty-free.

Aside from all the benefits, there are some cons. It is medium coverage so not full face coverage, but it is buildable. The product is matte, so not very hydrating. This product has a fragrance too. Finally, it is one of the more expensive options on this list.

However, if you want an even complexion; matte, buildable coverage; SPF; and skincare benefits, then take a look at this BB Cream.

• SPF: SPF 20
• Skin Type: Oily
• Coverage: Medium Coverage
• Finish: Matte
• Ingredient Callouts: Ginseng, Licorice, Ginger, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide
• Cruelty-free? Yes

Recommended For: Since it is a matte finish, this product is great for oily skin types. (If you have dry skin, you may want to find a more hydrating product than this.) The SPF rating is okay, but not that outstanding, especially for a BB Cream. Bonus points for the BB Cream being cruelty-free, especially if that is important in your decisions of beauty and skincare products.

This cream has the perfect amount of medium coverage and it is buildable. Plus, it’s a great option if you want skincare benefits in your makeup products and love the idea of traditional Korean ingredients.

If you want a more affordable price, look elsewhere, though, since the largest size for the product is $45.00 — the most expensive on this list.

5. Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer with Niacinamide and SPF 40

Dr. Jart+ is a Korean brand that believes in using skincare’s best ingredients and innovations when making its products. Founded in Seoul in 2005, Dr. Jart+ is inspired by things like aerospace, microbiology, and material sciences in the creation of their products.

Their Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer shows the brand’s attention to packaging and active ingredients. With Niacinamide and SPF, you know this cream will help your skin!

Because this is a multi-purpose product, you can use it as a moisturizer, base, and sunscreen in one. However, I am wary of products that claim multi-purpose, so if you are too, you can always layer this with additional moisturizer and sunscreen.

Dr. Jart+ is a premium brand, and as such, this product is not very affordable ($44.00). And note it’s not cruelty-free. It also requires up to a minute to dry down so it can blend into your skin. If you don’t mind those caveats, then pick this up, especially if you have dry skin!

• SPF: SPF 40
• Skin Type: Dry
• Coverage: Light Coverage
• Finish: Natural
• Ingredient Callouts: Glycerin, Niacinamide, Mineral and Chemical Sunscreens
• Cruelty-free? No

Recommended For: This cream is a lightweight product that contains niacinamide and chemical sunscreen to hydrate and protect skin from the sun. This is not full coverage, but it does offer light coverage for a natural finish and to conceal minor skin issues like discoloration or blemishes.

However, a caveat to point out is this is not cruelty-free. And the product is pricey at $44.00 — the second more expensive on the list. However, if you want something nice and hydrating and are willing to pay the premium price, this is an excellent BB Cream.

What Do You Think Of Our Picks For The Best Korean BB Cream?

Have you tried Korean BB Creams before? If so, which are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!