Elevate your K-beauty routine by splurging on products from the top luxury Korean skincare brands.
The Korean beauty industry is all about innovation—while there are many budget-friendly brands, it’s fun to occasionally treat yourself to high-end products.
Click the images below to shop the best luxury Korean skincare brands:
If you’re going to spend your hard-earned money on skincare products, it’s crucial to find formulas that will work on your skin.
Instead of gambling on expensive products, I’ve compiled this guide to luxury Korean skincare brands so you can feel confident investing in your daily regimen.
To make things easy for you, you can shop for these products by clicking directly on the images, the shopping buttons, and the text links.
These are my affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission when you purchase using my links (at no additional cost to you!), and I greatly appreciate you shopping with my links!
Browse my favorite products from luxury Korean skincare brands by clicking below:
11 Luxury Korean Skincare Brands Worth Splurging On
1. Sulwhasoo
Sulwhasoo is a famous luxury Korean skincare brand known for its anti-aging formulas.
Since the 1950s, Sulwhasoo has been at the forefront of research on the skincare benefits of ginseng, which is the star ingredient in the brand’s top products.
You may be familiar with the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, a unique solution to combat signs of aging like dehydration and wrinkles.
The Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream and Essential Comfort Balancing Water are other bestsellers.
While Sulwhasoo isn’t a cheap brand, its high-quality products are worth every penny. You can read my full Sulwhasoo review here.
2. Laneige
A conversation about the best luxury brands based in South Korea would be incomplete without Laneige.
Laneige champions water-based body care products, including the iconic Water Sleeping Mask.
The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is another top product that provides deep, long-lasting hydration.
Besides the brand’s unique water skincare technology, Laneige is also known for its fun and eye-catching packaging.
You can read my full Laneige review here.
3. Innisfree
Innisfree is a one-of-a-kind K-beauty brand that sources natural ingredients from Korea’s stunning Jeju Island.
Jeju Island’s rich and fertile environment contributes to the effectiveness of Innisfree’s formulas in treating common skin concerns.
The Pore Clearing Clay Mask 2X is a star product—it uses volcanic clusters from Jeju and AHA to remove dead skin cells and cleanse clogged pores.
This luxurious Korean brand makes exceptionally high-quality products for oily and acne-prone skin.
Read my in-depth Innisfree review here.
4. Amore Pacific
One of the best luxury Korean skincare brands for a youthful appearance is Amore Pacific, which specializes in green tea-based skincare solutions.
Amore Pacific has spent decades studying the beneficial properties of green tea ingredients in preserving your skin’s youthful appearance.
The K-beauty brand carefully crafts its products to ensure maximum effectiveness—as a result, Amore Pacific is considered a high-end company.
If you’re considering Amore Pacific and have mature skin, start with the firming and balancing Vintage Single Extract Essence.
Despite being an expensive anti-aging product, the Amore Pacific Vintage Essence is worth adding to your Korean skincare routine.
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5. Donginbi
Another Korean skincare brand worth splurging on is Donginbi, which was established in 1899.
For over 100 years, Donginbi has specialized in the power of red ginseng to transform skin from the inside out—its products are dedicated to skin rejuvenation and anti-aging.
K-beauty newbies will love the Donginbi 1899 Signature Oil, which provides a luminous glow and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The 1899 Watery Oil Essence is also a top Donginbi pick to boost your natural radiance for younger-looking skin.
6. Banila Co
Since 2006, Banila Co has been a leading pioneer of simple yet effective Korean beauty innovation.
Banila Co is one of the top luxury Korean skincare brands and has become a worldwide phenomenon with its natural formulas.
The Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm is the perfect addition to any double-cleansing routine, effortlessly melting away makeup and grime.
All skin types, even sensitive skin, can benefit from Banila Co products since they’re free of parabens, alcohol, and mineral oil.
7. Peach & Lily
For 100% vegan and cruelty-free skincare, consider Peach & Lily, which is based in South Korea.
Peach & Lily’s mission is to make products free of toxins without compromising quality or effectiveness—many of its serums, toners, and cleansers are gentle enough not to cause redness or irritation.
One of the most iconic Peach & Lily products is the Glass Skin Refining Serum, which smooths and softens your skin barrier for a semi-translucent and glassy complexion.
While a bottle of Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum isn’t cheap, it lasts a while, so you get plenty of bang for your buck.
8. IOPE
IOPE is a Korean company specializing in scientifically backed skincare solutions for mature and damaged skin.
The K-beauty brand has championed plant-based formulas and technology to treat common skin concerns for years.
The IOPE Stem III Ampoule is a bestseller for revitalizing and conditioning aging skin prone to undereye circles and dark spots.
Meanwhile, IOPE’s Retinol Expert 0.1% is a powerful retinol-based product that minimizes the appearance of wrinkles in just two weeks.
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9. Dr. Jart+
If you’ve explored my beauty content before, you know I LOVE the Dr. Jart+ brand!
From restorative facial creams to refreshing face masks, Dr. Jart+ offers an impressive selection of products for all skin types.
Dr. Jart+ creates innovative skincare solutions, like the Vital Hydra Solution Water Cream Glow Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid.
Pick up a Hydrate & Glow Skincare Gift Set to sample Dr. Jart+’s best products for damaged, dehydrated skin.
10. The History of Whoo
The History of Whoo is a top choice among luxury Korean skincare brands, combining ancient principles with modern technology.
This K-beauty company aims to add a touch of indulgence to daily life—all of its products feature a patented Gonjinbidan Complex blend of medicinal herbs that balances your skin.
While History of Whoo is a high-end brand, it works wonders at transforming skin to preserve youthfulness.
Treat yourself to the Gongjinhyang Seol Radiant Brightening Peeling Gel to rejuvenate and smooth dull skin.
11. SK-II
Lastly, I want to highlight SK-II, a South Korean company that’s been revolutionizing skincare for decades.
SK-II formulated PITERA, a proprietary ingredient that delivers vital nutrients to soften and clarify rough skin texture.
Each SK-II product contains amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that enrich and strengthen your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
SK-II’s top-selling product is the Facial Treatment Essence, which reverses signs of aging with moisturizing hyaluronic acid.
These luxury Korean skincare brands will give you the best skin of your life!
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Check out my beauty content for more Korean skincare guides.
10 Best Korean Skincare Brands
In-Depth Coreana Skincare Review
Beauty of Joseon Review + Top Products to Try
FAQs
Expensive Korean skincare brands are often worth the investment for their high-quality products.
Korean skincare companies are famous for their natural formulas that effectively target common skin concerns.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
