Whether its sheet masks or double cleansing, the beauty industry owes a lot to Korean skincare products, which tend to be backed with years of scientific research and formulated with only the best ingredients.
Advocating multi-step routines, what makes South Korean skincare brands so amazing is their focus on hydration. Every product has a distinct role but they all come together to help create the ultimate glow.
Although getting to grips with K-beauty’s renowned 10-step regime could be a little overwhelming for newcomers, the important thing is to tailor every regimen to your skin type and start slow, so as to not overwhelm your skin.
To make the process easier when it comes to diving into the world of Korean skincare, we’ve picked out some luxury and budget-friendly products that’ll slot easily into your existing routine.
With so many great options out there, narrowing it down wasn’t easy, but these are the Korean skincare products that really impressed me. From moisturisers to snail mucin, each one left my skin feeling smoother, plumper, and that bit closer to the glowing complexion K-beauty is known for.
The best Korean skincare products for 2025:
- Best overall – Laneige lip sleeping mask: £21, Lookfantastic.com
- Best moisturiser – Dr Jart+ ceramidin skin barrier moisturising cream: £38, Spacenk.com
- Best serum for oily skin – Glow Recipe watermelon glow niacinamide dew drops: £32, Amazon.co.uk
- Best make-up product – Erborian CC creme: £19, Boots.com
- Best face mask – Innisfree super volcanic pore clay mask: £17, Cultbeauty.co.uk
How I tested
Over the course of a few weeks, I tested a total of 38 products from 12 brands, before choosing my favourites. I looked at how each helped protect the skin barrier, the results immediately and after long term use, and the overall impact of each product. You can find my full testing criteria below.
