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Korean skincare is a major clean beauty trend right now.
Clean Korean skincare brands account for an entirely new category in beauty and are often referred to as K-Beauty.
K-Beauty has quickly become an international phenomenon because of its hyped 10-step Korean skincare routine, with each step placed explicitly for optimal product absorption and skin health benefit. But, have no fear if you don’t want to do the 10-steps. There are many ways to incorporate clean Korean skincare brands into your life.
Korean beauty is all about having healthy, youthful-looking skin. Korean beauty focuses on caring for the skin rather than relying on makeup. It does this through promoting skincare knowledge, educating on clean ingredients, and identifying personalized ways to care for your unique skin. Korean beauty also has many multi-tasking or hybrid products that pull double-duty for your skin without sacrificing efficacy.
Clean Korean skincare brands are here to stay, and their products are becoming more widely available every year. There are hundreds of clean Korean skincare brands on the market, but these ten brands are our absolute favorites.
1. I Dew Care
Seriously Fun Skincare
Based | San Mateo, CA
Launched in | 2018
Ethics | cruelty-free
Price Range | $5-$30
If you can’t get enough cute packaging, you have to add this Korean Beauty brand to your wish list. Inspired by Korean Beauty and founded by MBX, they believe that everyone deserves to feel their best every day.
I Dew Care’s uplifting, light approach to skincare is bright and fun, and they reveal this through their packaging, but they don’t sacrifice quality or performance for that cuteness. They are 100% cruelty-free and free from Talc, d5/ Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, & Petro Chemicals. They have unique, uplifting names for all their products designed to make you happier after using them instantly.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 06:25 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Fans can look out for the hugely popular Magic Kitten series of peel-off masks, which can be applied alone or as a combination of different masks for a customized skin care experience that targets and tackles all your skincare concerns. Be warned; you might have a hard time resisting the urge to #selfie and share your shimmering facial therapy on your Instagram.
Is I Dew Care Vegan?
With I Dew Care, not all of their products are vegan. But they have some products that are suitable for vegans.
Is I Dew Care Cruelty-free?
Yes, I Dew Care is cruelty-free.
2. Glow Recipe
Clean. Fruit-Powered. Unapologetically fun.
Based | New York City
Launched in | 2017
Ethics | cruelty-free, sustainable
Price Range | $10-$50
As one of the buzziest Korean beauty-inspired brands on the market, Glow Recipe has made its way into the skincare routines of countless people around the world. It creates natural, fruit-powered skincare designed to help bring out your inner glow.
Two skincare fanatics (Sarah Lee and Christine Chang) who share over 20 years of experience in the global beauty industry founded it. They first sought to build Glow Recipe as an e-retailer for Korean brands in the US to bridge the gap between Korean brands and the US consumer.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 06:25 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Glow Recipe advocates natural products that pair super fruits with proven ingredients. So far, these include nourishing fruits like avocado, banana, blueberry, and watermelon paired with hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide, and retinol, to name a few. When paired together, these create resurfacing, hydrating, and soothing benefits.
Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner is Glow Recipe’s most popular product for creating hydrated, pore-free skin. Besides being alcohol-free, it’s formulated with PHA and willow bark (a natural PHA that helps to unclog pores). It also contains hyaluronic acid and cactus water, which leave skin looking bouncy and radiant. Just gently press the product into your face and neck until fully absorbed and wait for the glow skin magic to happen.
Is Glow Recipe Vegan?
Yes, all the products are vegan except for the Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask with Manuka Honey.
Is Glow Recipe Cruelty-free?
Glow Recipe is cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
3. OhK!
Masks made for your ‘skindividuality.’
Based | London & Korea
Launched in | 2016
Ethics | cruelty-free, sustainable
Price Range | $3-$10
When you combine great skincare ingredients with showy packaging- I mean pandas on facemasks, what’s not to love?! Based on a love for South Korea, Oh K! sheet masks embody all that is great about Korean skincare.
Its mission is to create high-performing, sustainable, and affordable everyday beauty and skincare experiences. They make their biodegradable masks from plant-based fibers, which biodegrade more quickly than regular fiber sheet masks.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 05:38 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Community powers them, and they believe in celebrating ‘skindivduality’ because every skin type is unique. They believe in keeping it real and embracing imperfections, never retouching skin on their photography.
They have a popular 3 in 1 mask containing a cleansing wash, moisturizing serum, and a bamboo charcoal fiber face mask. The charcoal acts as a magnet, drawing impurities from the skin and the Fibre Mask helps keep three times more hydration than regular creams masks do.
Is Oh-K Vegan?
Some animal-derived ingredients include Honey, beeswax, caviar, pearl, snail serum, collagen, and many others.
Is Oh-K Cruelty-free?
Yes, Oh-K is a cruelty-free brand.
4. Purito
Find your Inner Green.
Based | Korea
Launched in | 2014
Ethics | vegan, cruelty-free
Price Range | $5-$25
Like so many Korean skincare brands, Purito has this charming quirkiness of it you have to love. Purito is a combined word of “Purify” and “To.”
They believe in purifying their natural ingredients to create safe and clean products, and they go back to basics to strengthen and repair collapsed skin barriers. Purito complies with the EWG “green level” system and donates a portion of profits to Best Friends Animal Society.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 05:38 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
One popular product is the Centella Green Level Calming Toner. They all contain very high amounts of Centella extract, so they’re great for treating damaged skin, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, fading sun-induced pigment, and post-acne hyperpigmentation. The products also calm down irritated and inflamed skin and prevent oxidative free radical damage.
Is Purito Vegan?
Yes, all products of Purito are vegan.
Is Purito Cruelty-free?
Purito is a cruelty-free brand.
5. Otzi
A community of undefined shakers and movers who want to shape the next generation.
Based | San Mateo, CA
Launched in | 2020
Ethics | Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Recyclable
Price Range | $25-$35
Otzi is a five-product skincare line launched by MBX and Sephora. Otzi is a play on the Korean word 우리, meaning “us.”
The brand is part of the Clean at the Sephora program and pairs unique Korean ingredients, like bamboo water and ginseng berry, with tried-and-true hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, without sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, and mineral oil. Otzi has a clean beauty seal since its products contain less than one percent synthetic fragrances and no undisclosed synthetic fragrances.
One of their most popular products is the exfoliating kaolin clay mask called Dough Therapy. It’s made of soothing rice ceramides, calming oat, and pearl barely that keep the skin adequately moisturized as it sloughs away dead dull skin.
Is Otzi Vegan?
Yes, all products of Otzi are vegan.
Is Otzi Cruelty-free?
Otzi is a cruelty-free brand that does not test on animals and is recognized as a PETA Business Friend.
6. Sweet Chef
Be the Chef for your skin.
Based | Korea
Launched in | 2018
Ethics | vegan, cruelty-free, sustainability
Price Range | $4-$30
Sweet Chef is cooking up vegan, nutrient-rich skincare to freshly boost your skin’s vitality and deliver a healthy radiance. It was created by Glow Recipe and is inspired by all things natural, healthy, and fresh-pressed. They focused the concept behind Sweet Chef around giving your skin what it craves by creating skincare recipes based on your skin’s daily needs. Whether it is a green juice or a protein-packed salad, vegetables are one of the best ways to nourish and detoxify your body and skin.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 05:38 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The brand launched with three different plant and vitamin serum shots and fresh-pressed sheet masks in various veggies and vitamins.
Is Sweet Chef Vegan?
Yes, all products of Sweet Chef are vegan.
Is Sweet Chef Cruelty-free?
Yes, Sweet Chef is cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny certified.
7. Whamisa
Obsessed with flowers and cosmetics.
Based | Korea
Launched in | 2014
Ethics | Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Sustainable
Price Range | $20-$50
A passionate, young Korean entrepreneur living in Australia in the 1990s found Whamisa. He saw a need for natural skincare brands using ingredients and thought this would be a great niche market for Korea.
Whamisa has set a high standard for clean beauty manufacturing in Korea and innovative products. Two of these standards were replacing sheet mask fabric with real kelp and using a natural preservation system to keep petals, and their leaves, within the formula.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 05:38 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
These include replacing sheet mask fabric with real kelp and using natural preservation system to keep petals or leaves within the formula.
Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich is one of the most popular items. With a subtle rose scent and soft waterlike texture, just using this tone makes you feel like you came from a 10-step facial.
Is Whamisa Vegan?
Yes, all products of Whamisa are vegan.
Is Whamisa Cruelty-free?
Whamisa is a cruelty-free brand that does not test on animals and is recognized as a PETA Business Friend.
8.TonyMoly
Fun Effective Skincare.
Based | Seoul
Launched in | 2006
Ethics | cruelty-free
Price Range | $5-$30
TONYMONY is all about fusing fun ideas with effective yet affordable products. It offers premium skincare products with an eco-friendly focus on natural and organic ingredients. Since starting in 2006, it now has 825 stores in 15 countries.
Last update on 2023-03-29 at 05:38 UTC / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
We know the label for innovative face masks with simple ingredients like rice and broccoli. For all their hair and hand masks, they also come in unique plastic cases, such as resembling an egg, mango, and even a squid.
Is TONYMONY Vegan?
No, not all of TONYMONY products are vegan.
Is TONYMONY Cruelty-free?
Yes, TONYMOLY is Peta-certified and 100% Cruelty-Free.
9. Krave Beauty
#PressReset
Based | Korea
Launched in | 2017
Ethics | cruelty-free, vegan
Price Range | $16-$30
Liah Yoo created Krave Beauty out of an epiphany. It exhausted Yoo looking for miracle products to solve her skin issues, and she realized she probably wasn’t alone. This encouraged Yoo to create Krave Beauty on the concept of #PressReset.
#PressReset advocates for customers to minimize their skincare products and listen to what the skin actually craves. Krave Beauty currently has two major product categories, the Core (3 products) and Supplement (2 products). Its philosophy is simple: first, its less is always more, and second, to stop buying brands that advertise ‘quick fixes’ and promise perfection. Perfection is an empty concept, and instead, we should celebrate beauty in its simplest form.
Is KraveBeauty Vegan?
Yes, all products of KraveBeauty are vegan.
Is KraveBeauty Cruelty-free?
Yes, KraveBeauty is a cruelty-free brand.
10. Sioris
Simple + Original
Based | Korea
Launched in | 2017
Ethics | cruelty-free, vegan
Price Range | $10-$40
Sioris is a Korean vegan skincare brand with seasonal ingredients sourced only within Korea. The cruelty-free products are made with plant extracts only harvested when they are in season. This allows for peak efficacy when you can manage the shelf life of local in-season ingredients.
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We know Sioris as a gentle skincare brand as their products include minimal ingredients and no unnecessary additives or harmful ingredients. It comes with minimalist nice looking white and beige packaging and easy-to-use hygienic pump bottles. The brand is a haven for sensitive skin types, troubled skin, irritated skin, rosacea, and redness.
Is Sioris Vegan?
Yes, all products of Sioris are vegan.
Is Sioris Cruelty-free?
Yes, Sioris is cruelty-free.
