With K-Beauty becoming more popular than ever, it seems like everyone we know has tried at least one type of Korean skincare product. So we have some great picks to recommend, whether you want to add a moisturizer and vitamin c serum to your routine or dive headfirst into a Korean 10-step skincare routine.
Want to try Korean skincare but aren’t sure where to start? This post will help. From facial masks to sunscreen to pimple patches, we have compiled our 7 favorite best-selling Korean skin care products on the market today.
Table of Contents
7 Best Selling Korean Skin Care Products
- Best Selling Korean Facial Mask: DERMAL Korean Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet
- Best Selling Korean Makeup Remover: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil
- Best Selling Korean Sunscreen: ETUDE HOUSE Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+
- Best Selling Korean Exfoliator: SKIN FOOD Black Sugar Mask Wash Exfoliator
- Best Selling Korean Pimple Patch: COSRX Acne Pimple Patch
- Best Selling Korean Snail Moisturizer: SeoulCeuticals Korean Skin Care Snail Repair Cream
- Best Selling Korean Vitamin C Serum: SeoulCeuticals 20% Vitamin C Hyaluronic Acid + CE Ferulic Acid Serum
1. DERMAL Korean Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet
I’m always on the lookout for new sheet masks, and these are some of the best selling Korean sheet masks on the market. The best part? These are very affordable as far as K-beauty goes! (You can get a 16-pack for $11.99!)
The Dermal brand has tons of sheet masks for all skin types and skin issues. There are so many masks to choose from and they’re all affordable and available on Amazon. I definitely recommend stocking up on these.
- Benefits: Hydrating, moisturizing, soothing, and revitalizing
- Active Ingredients: Hydrolyzed Collagen, Peptides, Vitamin E
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Cruelty-free? Yes
Recommended For: A Dermal sheet mask is a perfect quick mask to put on after a stressful day. The brand claims different skincare benefits based on which sheet mask you use. Even better, the sheet masks come in a 16 count, so you have a lot to choose from depending on how your skin feels that particular day. The pack is also quite affordable ($11.99).
One caveat is that the masks have fragrance, so if that is a dealbreaker, avoid these. And remember that there will be excess product to rub in after you remove the mask. Also, sheet masks don’t always fit every face shape, so expect some tugging and adjusting when you put them on.
Pros:
- For all skin types
- Affordable ($11.99 for a 16-pack)
- Very moisturizing
- Has skincare benefits like revitalizing and hydrating
- Brand is cruelty-free and uses natural ingredients
Cons:
- Masks have a fragrance
- Sheet masks can be annoying to apply and are not one-size fits all
2. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil
The Face Shop is the leading Korean natural skincare brand and has products in cosmetics as well. Their bestselling Rice Water Bright Face Wash not only hydrates skin and offers a brightening effect but is also excellent for makeup removal and double cleansing since it is an oil.
The natural ingredients in this wash help to remove impurities and leave skin softer after use. Rice water has picked up in popularity, and one of its known benefits is to help make skin healthy and supple, so this is a great buy as we go into the dry winter months.
- Benefits: Moisturizing, brightening
- Active Ingredients: Rice Water, Moringa Oil, Soapwort
- Skin Type: Oily to combination skin
- Cruelty-free? No
Recommended For: Need a moisturizing cleanser that can help remove makeup too? Well then, this is a great option! It removes impurities, and you can get it at a decent price ($15.42). It’s even affordable to buy the oil and foam cleanser together — they’re bundled for just under $30.
However, the product is not cruelty-free, and this has a floral fragrance. So if those are deal-breakers, skip this one. And also, note that this cleanser has a pump-dispenser-style spout, which can waste product.
Pros:
- Moisturizing and brightening
- Combines a foam and oil cleanser together
- Removes impurities
- Good for makeup removal
Cons:
- Not cruelty-free
- Has a fragrance
- Has pump-style spout
Related reading: The Best Korean Moisturizers for Dry Skin
3. ETUDE HOUSE Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+
Etude House is a popular Korean Brand famous for its makeup and skin care products, and this Sun Milk is cute in both name and packaging. This is a sunscreen that is SPF50+ and has ingredients that are good for sensitive skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid for hydration.
Again, this product does have fragrance, so skip it if you’re sensitive. (I struggle to get products sometimes since some scents can be too strong.) But, if you don’t mind a scent and want a sunscreen with skincare benefits, give this one a try!
- Benefits: Hydrating
- Active Ingredients: SPF 50, Carex Humillis Root Extract, Acerola (Barbados Cherry), Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid
- Skin Type: Sensitive
- Cruelty-free? No
Recommended For: This best-selling Korean skin care product claims to be suitable for those with sensitive skin since it uses mineral ingredients. However, scents can bother people with sensitive skin. Steer clear if you don’t want products with fragrance. That being said, this is an excellent skincare sunscreen. Also, it is decently priced and also comes in a lightly moisturizing version for a little more.
Pros:
- Good for sensitive skin
- Ultraviolet protection
- Non-sticky
- No white cast
Cons:
- Has a fragrance
- Mineral sunscreen
- Have to shake before use
- Not cruelty-free
4. SKIN FOOD Black Sugar Mask Wash Exfoliator
Skin Food is a cosmetic brand that’s core roots lie in using food for its beauty and skincare products. And the Black Sugar exfoliator sticks true to its message. With its active mineral ingredients, it is hydrating for the skin. And the included Black Sugar buffs away dead skin cells to reveal healthier and softer skin.
But remember, this is a physical exfoliant. So that means it can be messy to apply and wash off, and it can be easy to over-exfoliate, too. So if you are looking for an exfoliator and are experienced with physical exfoliators, give this a shot.
- Benefits: Exfoliate, hydrate
- Active Ingredients: Black Sugar, Minerals like Calcium and Magnesium, Vitamins like Niacin
- Skin Type: Normal
- Cruelty-free? No
Recommended For: This is for someone who wants a physical exfoliant. The product uses granules of black sugar to buff away dead skin cells and minerals to improve skin tone and texture. Personally, I prefer a chemical exfoliant to a scrub but I know many others disagree with me. Just be aware that this can get messy.
Pros:
- Lots of active ingredients
- Hydrating
- Black sugar nourishes and rejuvenates
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Can scrub too hard since you are physically buffing away dead skin
- Not cruelty-free
5. COSRX Acne Pimple Patch
COSRX is a K-Beauty Brand with 8 product lines, and one of their most well-known products is their acne pimple patches. I had seen many YouTubers in skincare routine videos talk about these, so I picked them up recently. They’re the best to use when I have a pimple appear randomly.
I also love these patches for keeping me from picking at the pimple on my face since it’s covered. I’ve also noticed that when I use these, I don’t get a post-acne mark since using the patch creates a moist environment, so it heals faster. There are patches in three sizes (you can get more patches, too!): small, medium, and large. And the patches contain skin-friendly ingredients to help alleviate irritated skin.
- Benefits: Anti-acne
- Active Ingredients: A.D.F dressing hydrocolloid
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Cruelty-free? Yes
Recommended For: This is a put-on-and-go product for someone who wants to have something to cover a breakout. You have to cleanse the problem area and then put the patch on, but even so, that is still quick. Some people even put makeup over the patches since they are clear.
One caveat — the patches can be easy to forget, so make sure not to leave for a long time; otherwise, it will hurt taking off. (I made that mistake once!)
Also, one thing to note is that the brand is cruelty-free but uses animal-derived ingredients like snail mucin in some of its products. So not all of its skincare is entirely vegan—something to note if you want to check out their other products.
Pros:
- A.D.F dressing hydrocolloid patch
- Parabens and sulfate free
- Different patch sizes for various size pimples
- You can get a lot of patches
- They don’t irritate the skin
- Keep the problem area moist to help the healing process
Cons:
- Sometimes patches come off partially
- It can be hard to stick the patches on without some pressure, which can be painful
- Can be painful to remove if left on too long
6. SeoulCeuticals Korean Skin Care Snail Repair Cream
SeoulCeuticals creates products using top Korean advisors and innovative K-beauty components. Their Snail Repair Cream is among their most famous. As you can see, the key ingredient in this is snail mucin, but it also uses green tea. The company claims these have high concentrations to deliver more results in less time.
Though that sounds great, I have to issue a quick warning: Be careful and do patch tests when introducing new products into your routine since you don’t know how your skin will react, especially to highly concentrated products.
The Snail Repair Cream comes in a 2 oz jar and, besides anti-aging, it doesn’t offer many other benefits. It’s great as an anti-aging moisturizer if you want to try snail mucin. However, look elsewhere if you need more benefits in your moisturizer.
- Benefits: Anti-aging, stimulates collagen production
- Active Ingredients: Snail Mucin Extract, Organic Green Tea, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E
- Skin Type: Dry, Combination, Sensitive, Acne Prone, Aging
- Cruelty-free? Yes (Not vegan, however, due to the snail mucin.)
Recommended For: I’d recommend this if you want a moisturizer or are looking to try snail mucin for the first time. However, besides the anti-aging properties, this doesn’t offer much else. If you need more benefits in your moisturizer, look elsewhere.
A caveat is that although the product and company claim to be cruelty-free and vegan, they use animal-derived ingredients in some of their products too, and some consider that not vegan. Again, in this case, we’re talking about snail mucin extract. If that’s important to you, pass on this one.
Pros:
- Promotes brighter and healthier skin
- Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
- Improves cell turnover
Cons:
- Although it is cruelty-free, it isn’t vegan
- Not that affordable ($20.00)
- Only one size
- Has a fragrance
7. SeoulCeuticals 20% Vitamin C Hyaluronic Acid + CE Ferulic Acid Serum
For the last product on our list of best-selling Korean skin care products, we are looking at the Vitamin C Day Glow Serum from SeoulCeuticals. This best-selling serum helps to fade sunspots, shrinks pores, clears up acne, prevents breakouts, and minimizes the appearance of acne scars. The company guarantees that this will help make skin brighter and healthier.
Although the benefits sound great, remember to spot test like with the repair cream above since SeoulCeuticals products use a high concentration of active ingredients. And this has a scent, so avoid it if you don’t like scents with your skincare products.
- Benefits: Anti-aging, fades sun spots and acne scars
- Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Cruelty-free? Yes
Recommended For: If you like products with multiple benefits, this one is amazing! It helps with anti-aging like wrinkles and fine lines and has vitamin c to help acne scars and sun spots.
It’s also a facial serum that helps shrink pores, clear up acne, and prevent breakouts. That sounds incredible, and since SeoulCeuticals uses more concentration, results will likely come quickly.
However, some drawbacks are that it is not the most affordable ($20.00) and has a fragrance too. That said, if none of those are issues for you, I say pick it up!
Pros:
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- It helps fade sun spots
- Minimize the appearance of acne scars
- Cruelty-free
- Protects against free-radical damage
Cons:
- Not that affordable ($20.00)
- Has a fragrance
What Do You Think Of Our Picks For The Best Selling Korean Skin Care Products?
For more Korean beauty, see our post on the best Korean BB creams for every skin type.
Have you tried any of these skin care products before? Do you have some products you use that are not on the list? Let us know in the comments below!