Korean skin care has always been that girl. Whether you religiously double-cleanse or swear by hydrating, cast-free Korean sunscreens, there’s so much to thank K-beauty for. Amazon Prime Day—or anytime, if we’re honest—is our favorite time to restock on our faves and discover a few new-to-us brands.
Best Cosrx
We’ll vouch for anything Cosrx any day, but we’re fist-pumping especially vigorously as Prime Day deals hang around.
Cosrx
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Yes, we know not all viral products live up to the hype for everyone—but what else is new? We adore Cosrx’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence because it helps brighten our complexions and helps our subsequent heavy-hitters, like our expensive serums and creams, absorb better. It’s simple math, really.
Cosrx
The Niacinamide 15 Serum
Niacinamine is one of our favorite brightening, tone-evening, and acne-curbing ingredients—after all, it does a bit of everything. Drop The Niacinamide 15 Serum into your cart and then dispense a few drops (ha) onto your face every day and night to reap the benefits.
Cosrx
The 6 Peptide Skin Booster
What’s better than one peptide? Six, of course. After thoroughly cleansing your face, add a few pumps of this impossibly lightweight fluid into your palms and press into your skin for an intense boost of hydration, plumping, elasticity, etc.
Cosrx
Snail Peptide Eye Cream
Can’t get enough snail? Us either. Treat your delicate undereyes—and the dark circles and puffiness that annoyingly accompany them—to this brightening, fine-line-firming concoction of snail mucin, niacinamide, and peptides.
Best Korean Sunscreens
Korean sunscreens are in a league of their own. Unfortunately, a lot of them can’t be sold on Amazon due to FDA regulations but there are a few special cases. Naturally, they are shopping priorities.
Haruharu Wonder
Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen SPF 50+
The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen is super creamy and hydrating while delivering high protection against UV rays. Soothing niacinamide sweetens the deal.
Isntree
Hyaluronic Acid Daily Sun Gel SPF 30
Isntree’s ultra-hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Natural Sun Cream is an editor favorite, especially for drier skin. “I can usually skip moisturizer when I reach for this because my combination skin would find it a bit heavy otherwise, but it makes my skin look so fresh and radiant,” says Allure commerce editor Sarah Han.
Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, agrees that it’s “super lightweight, elegant, and great under makeup.”
Cosrx
Daily Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+
Cosrx’s Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen has you covered with SPF 50+ and an antioxidant-rich formula featuring soothing cacao, cotton, and vitamin E blend. And “no white cast” basically goes without saying at this point.
James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles, is a fan. “Free radicals can contribute to premature aging, so the presence of vitamin E may help maintain the health and vitality of maturing skin,” Dr. Wang explains. It also contains mattifying silica and cotton extract, which curbs excess oil.
Best Korean Moisturizers
At the heart of Korean skin care is hydration, hydration, and more hydration. So when we find Korean moisturizers packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane on sale, we’re stuffing our carts.
Beauty of Joseon
Red Bean Water Gel
Beauty of Joseon’s Red Bean Water Gel is an editor-favorite Korean moisturizer, especially for combination skin. “It’s so lightweight yet packs a punch of hydration and the gel texture gives my skin an immediate cooling/calming effect every morning,” says Allure commerce editor Sarah Han.
You can thank red bean and its saponins (the ingredient’s naturally occurring compounds) for imparting antimicrobial benefits and excess sebum absorption. Shout out to the consistency of the moisturizer, which goes on super smooth and glowy—it’s the perfect base for your makeup.
Innisfree
Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream
Jeju cherry blossom is the key player in Innisfree‘s Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream, which amps up glowiness with the help of niacinamide and betaines, a hydrator derived from sugar beets. “I love how hydrating yet deeply moisturizing Innisfree’s Dewy Glow Jelly Cream is,” Allure associate beauty editor Annie Blay says. “The clear gel doesn’t evaporate on the skin but hydrates with a cooling lightweight feel that lasts all day.”
Beauty of Joseon
Dynasty Cream
We also love the super gentle, dewy Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, which is perfect for dry skin. A dream team of rice bran water, ginseng root water, niacinamide, and squalane boosts moisture levels, curbs sebum secretion, and leaves skin feeling oh so cushiony. “This is a great pick for my skin come the colder, drier months,” Han notes.
Medicube
Collagen Jelly Cream
Medicube is known for its rejuvenating beauty tech devices, but they make a darn good cream, too. The Collagen Jelly Cream uses (you guessed it) collagen to firm and brighten and niacinamide to boost hydration.
Mixsoon
Bean Cream
Korean fermentation practices are critical to the power of the Mixsoon Bean Cream—we’re talking a fermented lineup of bean extract, Korean pear, pomegranate, and barley. The result is a complexion-balancing, hydrating cream, perfect for morning and night application sans greasiness.
Illiyoon
Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
“I love this straightforward, effective, gentle, thick, and creamy moisturizer. I can use it on my face and body, which is a huge perk,” says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. “The generously sized bottle is worth every cent.”
Best Korean Toners and Essences
Mixsoon
Bean Essence
We love Mixsoon’s Bean Essence for its never-harsh exfoliating properties that hydrate all the while. The non-sticky, fast-absorbing formula uses fermented beans to boost moisture and support the development of softer, more resilient skin. “Korean makeup artists apply this on clients—some of which, K-pop stars—as a makeup prep step because it gently sweeps away any gunk or residue, leaving behind a smooth slate,” Han shares.
I’m From
Rice Toner
Then, there’s the I’m from Rice Toner, which illuminates and strengthens the moisture barrier using goami rice extract (sourced from Yeoju, South Korea). This extract contains hemicellulose, an anti-inflammatory that supports healthy skin microbiota growth.
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Essence Water
Indulge in a ginseng moment with this Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water. This gentle, astringent formula is a good fit for oily and dry skin alike, helping to unclog pores and strengthen the skin barrier.
Numbuzin
No.5+ Niacinamide Concentrated Toner Pad
Toner pads are a huge Korean skin-care category, and The No.5+ Niacinamide Concentrated Toner Pads by Numbuzin will show you why. 70 pads are saturated with brightening smooth glutathione jelly (with an assist from niacinamide) on one side and exfoliating cotton gauze on the other. They work to target blemishes and hyperpigmentation.
Best Korean Cleansers
Aestura
Atobarrier365 Bubble Cleanser
“I have mild rosacea and a lot of dry patches on my midface, and I immediately swap to Aestura’s cleanser when they flare up,” says Allure contributor Sarah Y. Wu. “From a practical standpoint, it’s easy to coat my entire face evenly because of the bubbly texture, but it also just feels really nice. More importantly, this cleanser always leaves my skin incredibly smooth, soft, and soothed.”
Anua
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
We’re all about Anua’s Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil. This silky, lightweight formula removes makeup and excess sebum like a dream—a go-to first step in your double-cleansing routine. As always, the heartleaf extract is soothing, and despite the “oil” of it all, the formula is totally compatible with sensitive, acne-prone skin.
Torriden
Dive-In Cleansing Foam Face Wash
Follow up with Torriden’s Dive-In Cleansing Foam Face Wash, which employs eight types of hyaluronic acid molecules for a deep dose of moisture. This combo makes for an ultra-hydrating, free-radical-neutralizing power couple.
CNP Laboratory
Deep Cleansing Perfecta
The milky CNP Laboratory Deep Cleansing Perfecta washes away makeup and sunscreen, hydrating using birch tree sap and allantoin. It’s non-irritating and well-suited for all skin types.
Best Korean Eye Cream Deals
Beauty of Joseon
Revive Eye Serum
Think eye creams are expensive? Think again: Beauty of Joseon’s Revive Eye Serum is on and that’s not even the best part. The key ingredients in this lightweight formula are retinal (a more effective form of retinol that’s also gentler on skin), ginseng, and niacinamide to smooth fine lines, boost elasticity, and brighten your undereye area. Han vouches for this gel-like formula because it’s non-irritating and absorbs in seconds.
Mizon
Snail Repair Eye Cream
Snail is back in action with the Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream. In this little brown jar, you’ll get a treatment that firms, hydrates, tightens, and softens fine lines. No fragrances or artificial dyes necessary.
Goodal
Green Tangerine Vitamin C Eye Cream
We love a citrus moment, and that’s what the Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Eye Cream delivers. Vitamin P, vitamin C, and green tangerine extract go to work on dark circles while adenosine and peptides firm and amp up elasticity.
Best Korean Mask Deals
Biodance
Real Deep Mask Duo
Sometimes, life calls for a sheet mask, and post-Amazon Prime Day calls for a Biodance Real Deep Mask—a duo, in fact, with a couple of the Bio Collagen version and a couple of the Hydro Cera-Nol. You can wear them overnight for peak essence-soaking.
Hanyul
Yuzu Vitamin Sleeping Mask
If you’d rather reach for a mask that comes in a jar, the Hanyul Vitamin Sleeping Mask is a winner. Packed with the benefits of the superpower citrus fruit, you’ll get a dose of vitamins C, E, B, A and P that results in brighter skin over time.
Best Korean Hair-Care Deals
K-Beauty puts as much TLC into its hair care as skin care—and much of the magic starts at the scalp. “[Scalp care is] ultimately what will save your hair,” Los Angeles-based hairstylist Cherin Choi tells Allure. So when you spot skin-loving ingredients like cica, niacinamide, ceramides, and salicylic acid on the back of the bottle, know that it’s part of a grander plan.
Elizavecca
CER-100 Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment
A dream for damaged hair, Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment. Whether your hair has been fried from hot tools or excessive time spent in the sun, this treatment coats every strand using ceramide 3 and collagen.
“My hair, which I dye ruby wine once a month, was a dry, tangled mess when I hopped in the shower,” shares former Allure editor Devon Abelman. After shampooing, I saturated my hair in this protein treatment, and it effortlessly unraveled every knot in about a minute flat. I rinsed it out after about three minutes, and my hair felt like cashmere.”
Unove
Deep Damage Hair Treatment Mask
Unove’s Deep Damage Hair Treatment Mask is another help for damaged hair, using silky keratin-PF and 31 collagen, amino acids, and plant extracts to tackle roughness and frizziness.
Mise en Scene
Perfect Serum Original
Mise En Scene makes some lovely hair-care products, like the Perfect Serum Original. This formula uses argan, olive, coconut, apricot, Marula, jojoba, and camellia oils to boost sleekness and softness, cutting down on frizz all the while.
Mise en Scene
Perfect Serum Original Shampoo
The Perfect Serum Original Shampoo is the ideal match for the straight-up serum, powered by a blend of Moroccan argan oil and jojoba seed, well-suited for curly hair. It lathers up into a fluffy foam and rinses out to leave behind a silky, coated feeling.
Best Korean Makeup Deals
We think Korean makeup boasts some of the latest and greatest in cosmetics, and Amazon happens to agree. From lip tints to eye shadows to mascaras, the selection is pretty vast, so let’s dig in.
Peripera
Ink Velvet Lip Tint
Han’s desert island lip stain might have to go to Peripera’s formulas. They’re incredibly affordable (you can build a collection without feeling too guilty!) and last the entire day. “Touchups are very minimal even after heavy meals,” Han attests. “The wear is super comfortable, despite how long-lasting the formulas are,” she says, though she notes that she preps her (very dry) lips with a clear lip balm and wipes away the excess before applying the lip tint.
Peripera
Ink Airy Velvet Lip Tint
Lip tints are the (affordable) pinnacle of Korean makeup, so you don’t really have a reason to not pop one (or more!) into your cart. Peripera is an editor-favorite option for its wide range of lightweight, fresh-looking hues, lush finishes, and non-sticky formulas.
Hera
Sensual Nude Gloss
Whether you’re going for a sensual look or something low-key, this gloss from Hera should do the trick. It’s high shine without stickiness and leaves behind a lovely wash of color. Han isn’t normally a gloss girlie, but Hera’s luxurious, nonsticky formulas have sold her.
Peripera
Eyeshadow Stick
Peripera is known for its lip tints, but it makes a darn good eyeshadow stick too. It’s cheap, cheerful, on sale, and comes in a ton of shimmery hues.
BBIA
L’Eau Tint
There’s something so sweet about the Bbia L’Eau Tint bottle, but the results are sweeter. We’re talking about a glossy, lightweight, moisturizing, shade-ranging, and high-payoff product you’ll want in at least five colors.
Etude House
Marker Tint
Etude House’s Marker Tint became an instant classic for Blackman. “This tint never leaves my purse. I love the unique shape and applicator, subtle color payoff, and subtly sweet taste.” She adds that it layers perfectly with lip gloss.
K-beauty Amazon Prime Day deals are slipping through our fingers as we enter the post-sale haze, but keep an eye on this page as we’ll be uncovering and adding more recommendations. Since Amazon is the main—and legit, but stay alert—retailer for many overseas brands, there are always hidden discounts to take advantage of. Happy shopping!