If you’ve read any of my other writing, you’d know that I’m a big K-beauty fan. There are some really great K-beauty products out there for irritation- and acne-prone skin, and one of my absolute favorite brands is Beauty of Joseon. I first fell in love with the brand when (like many others) I discovered its viral sunscreen on TikTok and it has become a staple in my routine ever since. The formula is so creamy, lightweight, hydrating, and most importantly, didn’t cause new breakouts for me. Naturally, that led me to want to try a slew of other things from the brand and let me tell you, they did not disappoint. I gave a handful of Beauty of Joseon’s best offerings a whirl for a month. For all my thoughts on the brand, keep on scrolling. I’m breaking it all down ahead.
Beauty of Joseon
Relief Sun
Of course, I have to start with my favorite offering from the brand, Relief Sun. Containing broad=spectrum SPF 50+ PA++++ to shield against both UVA and UVB rays, this is a great option for all day wear. It contains organic ingredients like rice extract and probiotics to provide a lot of hydration to the skin without leaving a white cast. Honestly, this is one of my favorite non-mineral sunscreen options on the market. Mineral-based formulas can be tricky because some leave an orange tint or stain your clothes, but this one doesn’t do that. It also doesn’t contain questionable filters like oxybenzone or octinoxate. I just love how light it is on the skin and it even works great as a makeup primer too.
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Essence Water
I discovered both this and Relief Sun on TikTok since many users reported loving using the two together. Folks were raving about how hydrating this essence is and boy, were they right. The brand utilizes a variety of anciently revered ingredients like ginseng to kickstart its formulas. This essence contains 80% ginseng root water to revitalize dry skin but also helps those who are oily or acne-prone by controlling excess sebum secretion. My skin tends to get pretty dehydrated and this really did the trick. I usually like to keep things simple when it comes to my skincare routine since my skin is highly sensitive, but this was such a nice addition to my routine and kept my skin super moisturized throughout the day.
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Cleansing Oil
I know I keep saying this, but this became another fast favorite from the brand. Honestly, there isn’t a product I’ve tried from the brand that I didn’t like, but this particular cleansing oil stands out. I’m picky about my cleansing oils because some of them leave a greasy residue and don’t emulsify well, but this one has such a light texture and a nice glide to it. It’s infused with Beauty of Joseon’s hero ingredients ginseng seed oil and soybean oil. It isn’t too thick or too runny—it provides just the right amount of slip to remove makeup and sunscreen. Even if I’m not wearing makeup, I like to use it as a first step cleanser before I go in with my water-based cleanser to really remove any dirt and oil from the day. There’s also a light herbal scent to it that I absolutely love.
Beauty of Joseon
Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask
You can never have too many face masks IMO and this one is such a nice addition to my weekly rotation. It contains kaolin clay to clarify any blemishes, but it also contains hydrating ingredients like glycerin and antioxidant-rich pear and strawberry fruit extract to protect the skin from free radical damage. I’ve been dealing with some breakouts and this is a great mask to keep handy to refresh and deep clean my pores without exfoliating. Anyone who has dealt with acne knows how easy it is to go overboard on the AHAs and BHAs when you’re skin is really struggling, clay masks like this one are great to use as an alternative and I didn’t find Beauty of Joseon’s to be too drying. It just refreshed, hydrated, and clarified my skin.
Beauty of Joseon
Radiance Cleansing Balm
For those who like more of a balm-textured product to remove their makeup, this one’s for you. Rice bran water and extract are the star ingredients in this formula o gently cleanse the skin while improving hydration levels. I really loved how soft, and velvety this was on the skin. It’s hard to choose between the Ginseng Cleansing Oil and this formula for makeup removal because they’re both that good. I thought this one might be a bit greasy since it has a thicker texture, but it isn’t at all. It leaves skin soft and moisturized (even after a second cleanse) without leaving an oily or thick feeling on the skin.
Beauty of Joseon
Revive Serum
If you’re dealing with moisture-barrier damage, this serum is a must. It’s designed specifically for skin damage and contains 63% ginseng water and 3% snail mucin to help repair the barrier and provide an extra boost of hydration to the skin. It also contains other plant-based brightening extracts to give the skin a youthful glow. Honestly, it was hard to wrap my head around the fact that this serum delivers serious, luxury-level results while only being $12 a bottle. Now that I’m older, I realize skincare should be simple and less really is more. Serums like this from BOJ offer a lot for the skin without costing you a fortune. I started to notice results after using this product for a week. My skin was a lot more hydrated and old acne scars were beginning to lighten. I can’t recommend this one enough.
Beauty of Joseon
Centella Asiatica Calming Mask
As someone who deals with breakouts and inflammation, centella asiatica extract has worked wonders for me. If you have angry, red, inflamed pimples it calms them almost instantly. In addition to containing 15% centella asiatica extra, these hydrating masks are also packed with three types of hyaluronic acid and nourishing plant oils. They’re now my go to masks for when my skin is dehydrated and feeling extra sensitive or irritated.
Beauty of Joseon
Glow Serum
Dull, dry, dehydrated skin—who is she? You truly won’t know once you incorporate this glow-giving serum into your routine. This one’s infused with 60% propolis and 2% niacinamide to calm inflammation and give the skin an other worldly glow. It has a rich, honey-like texture but it never leaves your skin feeling sticky. Instead, your skin will be dewy, radiant, and hydrated. It also works to lighten hyperpigmentation, something I’ve struggled with for a while.
More K-Beauty Products I Love
IUNIK
Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen
Besides Relief Sun, this is my favorite Korean sunscreen. Like I said above, centella asiatica extract calms redness and irritation almost instantly. This formula happens to contain 49% of it. Other hydrating ingredients like beta-glucan and adenosine top off the formula, giving it a rich, creamy texture that applies easily and never leaves a white cast.
CosRX
The 6 Peptide Skin Booster
I haven’t actually tried this formula from CosRx yet, but I love the brand’s snail mucin and hyaluronic acid serum so I know it’s got to be good. An array of skin-firming peptides smooth fine lines while niacinamide and hyaluronic acid hydrate and calm the skin.
This is a great moisturizer for the winter months because it’s rich, soothing, and provides skin with long-lasting hydration.
Purito
From Green Cleansing Oil
As a beauty editor who tries tons of products a month, it’s rare I actually use a product until the last drop, but this cleansing oil from Purito is one of them. It’s so so good and the formula is extremely simple, making it great for acne-prone skin. I also love that most K-beauty products are extremely affordable so you’re not spending a fortune on your essentials.