I Spent 3 Months In Seoul Searching for the Best K-Beauty Products–Here’s What I Loved

“I’m a strong believer in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of ginseng root,” says Christina Chung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Pennsylvania. “This formula is fabulous for sensitive skin types. My sister can’t tolerate most moisturizers and has never had a problem with this one. I particularly like this product because it’s super moisturizing, which is perfect for cold, dry winters like this one. The price point may shock you, but a little goes a long way.”

Best Eye Cream: Superegg Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution

Superegg’s Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution was a Glamour editor pick for best Korean eye creams. Loved by celebrity makeup artists, K-beauty experts, and editors alike, it’s formulated with powerful hydrators like hyaluronic acid and tremella mushroom, along with caffeine and niacinamide (a popular brightening ingredient). Because it’s so lightweight and smoothing, it layers well under makeup. “This eye cream is all about hydration and bounce,” says Cho. “The gel-cream texture is lightweight yet deeply nourishing, and I’ve noticed my under-eye area looking fresher and more awake since I started using it. It absorbs quickly, so it works well under makeup, but it also has lasting hydration that keeps fine lines looking smoother throughout the day.”

Wu loves layering the subtly brightening formula under makeup. “There’s a sprinkle of diamond powder in this formula, which you won’t detect just by looking at it,” she says. “It’s so subtle that the gel still goes on clear, but it makes my concealer look extra dewy and lit-from-within.”

Best Sunscreen: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45 with Hyaluronic Acid Color

Korean sunscreens are known for being more lightweight and comfortable than most of what’s on offer Stateside. That’s due to their use of sunscreen filters that aren’t on the short list approved by the FDA. The Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen is a rare example of a Korean sunscreen that uses FDA-approved filters and still wears comfortably. “This is a popular eco-friendly brand that I saw everywhere when I was in South Korea last summer,” says Dr. Chung. “I love this product because of how it goes on and the finish it leaves on the skin. What makes this really special is there is a slightly green tint which helps to offset any redness. This is my go-to product for my patients with mild rosacea.”

This formula also won a spot on our list of best Korean sunscreens. “I have combination skin and sometimes get red around my cheeks. The green (though it’s more like jade color) diminishes any redness. But, you do have to rub it in pretty well to avoid any white cast since it’s a thick consistency. Apart from the color correcting sunscreen I also use Innisfree’s Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 36 Sunscreen (seen in this video)” says Jenifer Calle, Glamour’s senior commerce editor. Calle ranks this among her favorite sunscreens because of its “glowy finish.”

Best Tinted Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen

Beauty of Joseon’s famous Relief Sun might be TikTok’s most viral Korean sunscreen. While that formula is no longer available in the US, the brand recently launched the FDA-compliant Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen, which uses zinc oxide for its SPF 40 broad-spectrum protection. It feels surprisingly lightweight and fast-absorbing for a mineral sunscreen and comes in 12 sheer tints made to double as your daily tinted base.

Going off the texture alone, I would never guess that this is a zinc oxide formula. It feels so fluid and weightless, and I’m obsessed with the natural finish it leaves. The tinted sunscreen is sheer and forgiving—more like an IRL filter for your skin than a full-on foundation. On days when I don’t feel like wearing makeup but still want to even out my skin tone and give it a beautiful glow, I always reach for it. It makes my skin look amazing.

Best Face Mask: Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask

If you want to know how popular Medicube’s Collagen Night Wrapping Mask is, the brand says it’s been counterfeited so many times, they’ve recently updated the packaging from translucent to opaque to avoid fakes. (If you have an old version, don’t panic: Just check that it matches the brand’s official product images.) It made our list of best Korean face masks thanks to its innovative peel-off format and glass-skin effect.

Dr. Chang says the formula is great for hydration with its lineup of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, as well as antioxidants like vitamin E and niacinamide. This overnight mask goes on as a clear gel and dries down in 15 minutes, “wrapping” your skin in moisture as you sleep. “It should be applied with a brush or spatula,” she says. “You can peel it off in the morning and rinse your face. It’s comfortable to sleep in and leaves skin feeling softer and smoother.”

TikTok got me again with this one. It balls up as I peel it off so I don’t feel like I’m taking a layer of my skin with it, and makes my skin look more hydrated and glowy the next morning. Sometimes I leave it on overnight—you really can sleep with this one without noticing it since it dries down—and sometimes I peel it off after half an hour. It’s definitely the most fun face mask I own.

Best Lip Treatment: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask is an iconic celebrity favorite. Even Twice’s Nayeon, one of South Korea’s most popular K-pop stars, is obsessed with the thick, cushiony formula that stays on overnight and smooths chapped, peeling lips. “I tried many different ones but ultimately I always come back to this,” she previously told Glamour. “It takes me a while to finish one but I always get a new one so that I don’t run out of it.”

Dermatologists approve too. “The formula’s shea butter and berry complex formula applied with the tiny spatula is both luxurious and really hydrating,” says Dr. Chung. “I usually pair this at night with a humidifier on cold nights and I wake up with dewy lips!”

I have a pot of the vanilla flavor on my nightstand right now that I got in Seoul. I apply it nightly so my lips stay plush and smooth while I sleep, and it smells like cupcakes. It’s sadly not one of the flavors available in the US, so I highly recommend collecting all the exclusives if you visit South Korea. They also have a custom flavor-mixing service at their flagship store that everyone should add to their Seoul beauty itinerary.

Best Body Lotion: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel

If you want to expand your Korean skin-care routine to body care, start with Illiyoon. The brand is known in South Korea for its gentle Ceramide Ato line, which you can find in every supermarket. Formulated with ceramide NP, a popular ingredient for hydrating and supporting your skin barrier, the Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel can be used on both your face and body for nourishing moisture. The fragrance-free formula is designed with sensitive skin in mind, so it’s also a great choice for skin that’s irritated or inflamed.