Korean Beauty, often called K-Beauty, is a skincare-led approach to beauty that focuses on keeping your skin healthy, balanced and naturally radiant. Originating from South Korea, it is known for its gentle, layerable formulas and innovative ingredients like Snail Mucin, Centella Asiatica and fermented extracts. Rather than quick fixes, K-Beauty is all about hydration, prevention and building a routine that supports your skin over time, helping you achieve that smooth, fresh ‘glass skin’ finish.

K-Beauty is packed with standout brands, each with its own focus. COSRX is known for simple, results-driven formulas using ingredients like BHA and Snail Mucin. Beauty of Joseon blends traditional Korean botanicals with modern skincare for a healthy glow, while Skin1004 specialises in soothing Centella Asiatica-based products.

Some By Mi targets breakouts with exfoliating acids, Medicube takes a more clinical, high-performance approach, and Mixsoon keeps things minimal with single-ingredient essences. Biodance focuses on hydration and barrier care, Haruharu Wonder uses fermented ingredients for deeper nourishment, Purito is loved for gentle, sensitive skin-friendly formulas, and TirTir is best known for its radiant base makeup and cushion compacts.

If you're new to K-beauty, the key is to start simple. A gentle cleanser, a hydrating essence, a good moisturiser, and an SPF are all you need to begin. Here are our top picks for each step.

Cleanser: The Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil melts away makeup and impurities without stripping the skin, while the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel offers a gentle, pH-balanced cleanse that leaves skin soft and calm. Both are ideal for sensitive skin.

Essence: This is where K-beauty really shines. The CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Firming Essence is a cult classic, deeply hydrating and brilliant for barrier repair, while the Purito Wonder Releaf Centella Serum soothes and strengthens with Centella Asiatica, perfect if your skin leans sensitive or reactive.

Moisturiser: Lock it all in with the Beauty of Joseon Renew Dynasty Cream, a lightweight yet nourishing formula rooted in traditional Korean hanbang ingredients, or the Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream for a brightening finish that targets dullness and uneven tone.

SPF: The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF50+ PA++++ sits beautifully under makeup, while the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturising Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ doubles as a hydrating skin prep step. Daily SPF is non-negotiable in any K-beauty routine.

Start with one product from each step and layer up as your skin adjusts.

K-beauty is one of the best places to start if you have sensitive skin. The focus on gentle, barrier-supporting ingredients means harsh actives are largely avoided in favour of soothing heroes like Centella Asiatica, Snail Mucin, and oat extracts, all designed to calm rather than irritate.
For a simple, sensitive-friendly routine, the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser gently purifies without stripping the skin, the I'm From Rice Toner softens and balances, and the Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream, hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, locks in moisture without overwhelming reactive skin. Add the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask once or twice a week for an overnight barrier boost that leaves skin noticeably calmer and plumper by morning.

Snail mucin is a K-Beauty favourite known for its ability to deeply hydrate, repair and smooth the skin. Rich in naturally occurring proteins and moisture-binding ingredients, it helps support the skin barrier, improve texture and boost radiance.

You’ll find it in cult favourites like CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Firming Essence, a lightweight essence that hydrates and improves skin elasticity, and the K-Secret Seoul 1988 Essence: Snail Mucin 97% + Rice, which combines high levels of snail mucin with brightening rice extract for a clearer, more even complexion. The CosRx Advanced Snail Mucin Glass Glow Hydrogel Sheet Mask delivers an instant boost of hydration and glow, perfect before events, while Jumiso Snail Mucin 95 + Peptide Face Essence pairs snail mucin with peptides to help firm, smooth and support skin repair over time.

Centella Asiatica, also known as Cica or Tiger Grass, is one of K-beauty's most celebrated ingredients, valued for its ability to soothe, heal and strengthen the skin. Rich in naturally occurring compounds that support collagen production and reduce inflammation, it's a go-to for anyone dealing with redness, sensitivity or a compromised skin barrier.

You'll find it in cult favourites like the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule, a lightweight ampoule that delivers pure Centella extract to calm irritation and deeply hydrate in one step, and the CosRx Centella Blemish Calming Cream, which targets redness and blemish-prone areas while reinforcing the skin barrier. For something more advanced, the Haruharu Wonder Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream pairs Cica with five peptides for barrier repair and firming, while the Mixsoon Centella Asiatica Sheet Mask offers an instant soothing boost perfect for flare-ups or pre-event prep. Complete the routine with the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++, a lightweight, calming SPF that's ideal for sensitive skin year-round.

PDRN is one of K-beauty's most exciting next-generation ingredients, derived from salmon DNA and widely used in professional skin treatments before making its way into everyday skincare. It works by stimulating skin cell regeneration, boosting collagen production and accelerating repair, making it particularly effective for dullness, fine lines, uneven texture and post-blemish scarring.

You'll find it in innovative formulas like the Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, which combines PDRN with peptides to visibly firm and smooth the skin, and the Dr. Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream, a nourishing moisturiser that supports skin renewal and restores bounce and elasticity. The Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Toner Pads make it easy to layer PDRN into your routine early, prepping and hydrating while encouraging cell turnover with every swipe. The Some By Mi PDRN Spirulina Soothing Sherbet Mask pairs PDRN with spirulina to calm and revitalise tired skin in one step, while the VT Cosmetics PDRN Essence Stick Balm delivers a concentrated, portable hit of PDRN exactly where your skin needs it most.

Glass skin, that impossibly smooth, luminous, light-reflecting complexion, is the ultimate goal of K-beauty. It's all about layering the right products consistently to build deep, lasting hydration and a healthy, glowing skin barrier.

Start with a double cleanse. The Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil melts away makeup and SPF, while the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Cleansing Gel Foam follows up with a gentle, brightening cleanse that leaves skin perfectly prepped.

Next, exfoliate with the Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner to smooth texture, refine pores and encourage the cell turnover that gives glass skin its signature clarity.
Then layer your hydration. The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence floods skin with fermented moisture, while the Medicube Triple Collagen Serum adds a firming, plumping finish that visibly smooths and bounces the skin.
Lock everything in with the CosRx Advanced Snail92 All in One Moisturising Cream for a nourishing, dewy finish that holds hydration in place throughout the day.
Finally, protect your glow with the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++, lightweight, hydrating, and the step you never skip.

Korean Suncreams are a game-changer for oily skin with lightweight, non-greasy formulas that protect without clogging pores or leaving a heavy, shiny residue. The Medicube Zero Pore Moisture Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ is a brilliant choice for oily skin, minimising pores in a serum-light texture that never feels heavy, while the Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++ is perfect for on-the-go touch-ups with a velvety, shine-controlling finish. The Mixsoon Centella Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ offers a calming, lightweight option with soothing Centella Asiatica, and the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Light SPF30 PA++++ delivers a barely-there finish that won't block pores. For those who prefer a mineral formula, the Axis-Y 6+1+1 Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ provides broad-spectrum protection without the heavy white cast.

A cushion compact is a K-beauty innovation that changed the way we apply base makeup. Instead of a traditional foundation bottle or tube, the formula is soaked into a sponge cushion inside a compact, applied with a soft puff for a lightweight, buildable finish, perfect for on-the-go touch-ups and a natural, dewy result. The TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation is one of the most viral K-beauty products around, delivering skin-perfecting coverage with a luminous finish, while the TirTir Mask Fit Aura Cushion takes the glow up a notch with a radiant, lit-from-within base that enhances rather than masks. Just press, pat and go.

The Korean 10-step routine is the skincare philosophy that put K-beauty on the map. Rather than a rigid set of rules, it's a framework for building skin health through layering, each step adding hydration, treatment or protection.

Start with a double cleanse:

Oil-based cleanser - dissolves makeup, SPF and excess sebum. Try the Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Cleansing Oil.

Water-based cleanser - removes any remaining impurities for a thorough, gentle cleanse. Try the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Gentle Cleansing Milk.

Exfoliator - smooths texture and clears congestion. Try the CosRx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid a few times a week.

Toner - balances the skin and preps it to absorb what follows. Try the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner.

Essence - a lightweight layer of targeted hydration and repair. Try the Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence.

Serums - concentrated treatment for your specific skin concerns. Try the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule.

Sheet mask - an intensive boost of hydration and actives, two to three times a week. Try the Biodance Hydro Cera-Nol Real Deep Mask.

Eye cream - targets fine lines, puffiness and dark circles with delicate care. Try the K-Secret Seoul 1988 Eye Cream: Retinal Liposome + Fermented Bean.

Moisturiser - seals in all the hydration and keeps the barrier protected. Try the Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream.

SPF - the non-negotiable final step every single morning. Try the Beauty Of Joseon Rice & Probiotic Sunscreen PA++++ SPF50+.

K-Beauty and vegan beauty are a great match, with loads of your faves being cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

Rely on Skin1004, Haruharu Wonder, Torriden, Purito, and Mixsoon for fully vegan and cruelty-free products, so you can shop their ranges without having to second-guess a single thing. Don't hesitate to reach for Some By Mi, Beauty of Joseon, Jumiso, and CosRx, which are 100% cruelty-free but offer a mix of vegan and non-vegan lines, all clearly labelled so you only use the right products for you.