- Korean skincare focuses on prevention and maintenance versus correction.
- Korean skincare brands are constantly innovating new product formulations.
- Korean formulas are typically lighter-weight and perform well on many skin types.
- Korean skincare is often multi-purpose, combining SPF with anti-aging ingredients.
American skincare is like a revolving door. Popular brands cycle through trending ingredients and reformulated products, then replace them faster than we can actually use them. That’s not the case with Korean skincare. Between the advanced formulations and the modern ingredients, Korean skincare brands don't simply recycle and rebrand the same products with different buzzwords—they pioneer new skincare solutions.
Far from a passing fad, Korean skincare is now a fixture on social media and a must-have on every skin-lover’s shelves, including my own, as well as my clients! Explore the differences that set Korean skincare apart from popular U.S. skincare, from the revolutionary ingredients to the superior formulas.
Different Priorities (and Fresh Trends) in Korean Skincare
If there’s one thing that Korean skincare values, it’s skin that’s healthy from the inside out. Rather than put a bandaid on the symptoms of unhealthy skin with high percentages of (often drying and irritating) active ingredients, Korean skincare is designed to soothe and replenish the skin barrier. It works to penetrate the upper layer of skin and prevent issues, rather than simply treat symptoms like dryness or flaking.
Take the latest trend of Korean glass skin, for instance. This beloved skincare approach is a savior for folks with inflamed, irritated, or straight-up dry and dull skin. The glass skin routine, which layers ampoules and watery elixirs with lightweight moisturizers, infuses the complexion with a deep layer of hydration that not only leaves a dewy finish, but also helps maintain a healthier, more glowing skin barrier.
In other words, Korean skincare brands have different priorities, focusing on prevention and maintenance versus correction. These principles are evidenced in popular products like Korean sunscreens, which combine daily sun protection with skincare ingredients like peptides. Even better, these products have been designed with all skin tones in mind, performing beautifully on non-white skin.
Advanced Ingredients and Formulations Lead to Innovation
Walking through a Korean skincare store looks very different than a store in America or Canada. Want to know why? Because these products condense multiple Korean skincare steps—like cleansing and hydrating, or sun protection and anti-aging—into one convenient, high-quality product! Korean skincare products often serve two, three, or more purposes, all with the same priority: ultimate skin health.
You’re likely to see a daily cleanser that infuses the skin with pro-vitamin B5 for moisture, or a sunscreen that combines broad-spectrum SPF with oil-regulating niacinamide and light pigment to be worn as makeup. Korean formulas are often far gentler than their Western counterparts, and most are water-based instead of oil-based. So, they sit more lightly and flatteringly on the skin, especially mature skin.
Speaking of mature skin, Korean skincare is leading the pack for advanced ingredients in anti-aging skincare. Korean skincare was the first to introduce poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a naturally occurring chemical that stimulates the body’s own collagen production for smoother, tighter skin. It also pioneered the use of snail mucus filtrate for promoting cell renewal and even fighting acne with natural antibiotics.
I can’t explain how much I love innovative Korean skincare products. In fact, here are some of my all-time faves:
Favorite Cleanser and Skin Prep
There’s a common misconception that if an American product has been around forever, it has to be good. A quick stroll down the skincare aisle in Sephora or your local drugstore will likely take you past products you remember from 5, 10, or even 15 years ago—because they aren't looking to make updates based on new research. That’s not the case with Korean skincare!
Korean skincare brands actually innovate year-over-year, bringing new formulas to the shelves. Some of the newer Korean skincare products that have quickly made their way into my daily routine include these ultra-hydrating, multi-purpose items:
- The HOUSE OF PLLA® HOP+ Pro Volumizing Mousse-Daily Foaming Cleanseris a Korean skincare cleanser with an ultra-luxurious formula infused with PLLA and gentle anti-aging ingredients that leave the skin feeling denser and more hydrated than ever before. (Pro Tip: I break down the ingredients in this cleanser for you here!)
- The HOUSE OF PLLA® HOP+ Pilleo Skin Prep is a PLLA-infused daily refining complex that helps gently remove stubborn oil and debris that remains on skin after cleansing, without stripping skin of its healthy microbiome. Designed for all skin types, it leaves the skin looking dewy, plump, and healthy-looking.
Estie-Approved Korean Sunscreens
Remember how I mentioned that Korean skincare brands pioneer new products? That drive for innovation stands out most in Korean sunscreens. The United States strictly regulates sunscreen formulas, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved a new ultraviolet (UV) filter for sun protection since the 1990s. Meanwhile, Korean skincare brands are constantly creating new research-backed sunscreens.
Korean sunscreens feature the latest and greatest UV filters, continuously experimenting with new technology that offers superior sun protection that’s more lightweight, applies more evenly, and leaves no white cast. My ultimate favorites include:
- Dr esthé Sun Protection Mild SPF 50 for oily and acne-prone skin.
- Dr esthé Sun Protection Ultra Repair SPF 50 for sensitive skin.
- DR esthé Sun Protection Cream SPF 50 for dry, dehydrated skin.
- HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ SPF50 All Mineral Multi-Protection Face & Body Sunscreen for an all-mineral, all-over option.
- House of PLLA HOP+ Skin Repair Sun Cushion for SPF, skincare, and makeup all in one.
Explore the Best Korean Skincare Brands Through My Club
After more than 24 years as a licensed master esthetician, I can tell you: Korean formulations are the future of skincare! And now is the time to explore what Korean skincare brands have to offer. If you’re looking for one place to shop, find personalized skincare support, and score exclusive savings on my favorite Korean products, join me in the Christine Byer Beauty Club.
The Club is your one-stop shop for expert support on your skincare journey—you’ll even have the opportunity to win a FREE consultation with me, Christine Byer! Sign up today to access a complimentary 14-day preview with full Club access to see just what you’ve been missing.