The Best Korean Skincare Brands

Centellian24

53 products · Centella & barrier repair

Dongkook Pharmaceutical's skincare arm, built on madecassoside from centella asiatica. The Madeca Cream line is where most people start; the range extends into PDRN, peptides and acne care.

Mary&May

42 products · Vegan single-ingredient serums

Vegan formulas organised one active at a time, so you can add a single ingredient to a routine instead of a whole system. Strong in niacinamide, peptides, collagen and idebenone.

Sungboon Editor

32 products · Pores and texture

Green tomato is the signature: a pore and sebum line that runs from cleansing oil through to ampoule. Also where to look for silk peptide firming and astaxanthin.

Celimax

24 products · Noni and dual barrier

Noni extract runs through most of the range, alongside the Dual Barrier line for skin that reacts easily. Retinol and glutathione for tone and firmness.

SKIN1004

18 products · Madagascar centella

One plant, sourced from Madagascar, carried through the whole range. Short ingredient lists aimed at calming and barrier support rather than fast results.

ViveLab

11 products · Scalp, hair and lashes

The only range here that is not for the face. Scalp serums, anti-hair-loss shampoos and lash and brow ampoules, built around biotin, peptides and spioxyl.

Dr.Althea

18 products · Dermatologist-led actives

Clinical formulas at accessible strengths: peptide creams, azelaic and vitamin serums. Made for people who want an active without a long routine around it.

Purito

12 products · Minimal formulas

Short ingredient lists and no essential oils or artificial fragrance. Centella, niacinamide and vitamin C at everyday concentrations.

Arencia

12 products · Handmade cleansing bars

Cleansing bars and mochi-textured cleansers made in small batches. The gentlest first step in the catalogue.

Vionine

5 products · Retinal night care

Our own line, focused on one thing: retinal and retinol paired with cica and PDRN so the actives stay tolerable overnight. Sold as sets rather than single steps.

Anua

9 products · Heartleaf and mild acids

Heartleaf runs through the calming side of the range; the rest is mild acids and hydration. Best known for its toners.

Medicube

8 products · PDRN and collagen

Clinic-adjacent formulas around PDRN, collagen and tranexamic acid, aimed at firmness and dark spots.

Beauty of Joseon

3 products · Hanbang, rice and ginseng

Traditional Korean herbal medicine reworked into modern textures. Rice, ginseng and propolis rather than high-strength actives.

Biodance

5 products · Overnight collagen masks

Built around one product idea: a bio-collagen mask worn overnight that dissolves into the skin. Short range, single purpose.

Dr.Melaxin

5 products · Spot and texture care

A small clinical range aimed at post-blemish marks and uneven texture.

Eqqualberry

8 products · Bakuchiol and NAD

Newer actives at gentle strengths: bakuchiol as a retinol alternative, NAD peptide serums for dullness.

Numbuzin

4 products · Numbered ranges

Each numbered line does one job, so you pick the number rather than reading the formula. No.3 for tone, No.5 for hydration.

Kikibouba

1 products · Vitamin A radiance

A single product for now: a vitamin A matrix cream for dullness and early fine lines.