The Korean skincare brand has mastered the art of making traditional ingredients feel modern. But which products are actually worth adding to your routine?
Beauty of Joseon has become one of the most recognisable names in Korean skincare, thanks to a formula for success that feels distinctly K-beauty: traditional Korean ingredients, modern skincare technology and textures that make you actually want to use your products every day.
Ginseng, rice, green tea, mugwort and propolis feature heavily throughout the range, alongside familiar skincare ingredients such as niacinamide, retinal, alpha-arbutin, vitamin C derivatives, peptides and ceramides.
But beautiful ingredients and clever packaging only tell part of the story.
The real question is: which Beauty of Joseon products are worth your money, and which ones are best suited to your skin?
We've gone through the range to look beyond the marketing and work out what each formula actually brings to your routine, who should use it and where it makes the most sense.
Because when it comes to skincare, the best product isn't necessarily the most popular one.
It's the one that makes sense for your skin.
SUNSCREEN
Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh: Rice + B5 SPF50+ PA++++
The sunscreen for people who don't like sunscreen.
Beauty of Joseon's Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh is designed to feel lightweight, fresh and comfortable enough for everyday wear, with rice seed water and panthenol adding a hydrating skincare element to the formula.
But let's give credit where it's due. The rice water isn't what makes this an effective sunscreen. That job belongs to the modern UV filters, including Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid and Uvinul A Plus.
The result is a formula that can provide high-level UV protection without relying on the thick, heavy texture that can make some sunscreens difficult to wear every day.
Best for: Normal, combination and dehydrated skin
Skin concerns: Dehydration, dullness, daily sun protection
Our verdict: One of the easiest Beauty of Joseon products to recommend if you want an SPF that feels more like skincare than sunscreen.
Ginseng Moist Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++
This is sunscreen with a skincare complex.
The formula combines modern UV filters with 30% ginseng extract, niacinamide and other supporting ingredients. Ginseng gives the formula antioxidant and conditioning properties, while niacinamide adds brightening and barrier-support benefits.
It's an appealing option if you want your morning SPF to contribute more than just sun protection.
However, we wouldn't treat this as your primary anti-ageing treatment. The main job of this product is still protecting your skin from UV exposure. The additional skincare ingredients are a welcome bonus.
The formula also contains alcohol relatively high in the ingredient list, which may be worth considering if your skin is particularly reactive or easily irritated.
Best for: Normal, combination and mature skin
Skin concerns: Dullness, dehydration, early signs of ageing
Our verdict: A smart choice if you want a moisturising sunscreen with antioxidant and brightening support, but sensitive skin may prefer a simpler formula.
Matte Sun Stick: Mugwort + Camellia SPF50+ PA++++
The SPF stick for your handbag.
Sun sticks are primarily about convenience, and Beauty of Joseon's version is designed to make reapplication easier, particularly when you're out and about or wearing makeup.
The matte finish isn't simply a result of the mugwort and camellia. Silica and polymethylsilsesquioxane help absorb oil and create the smooth, less shiny finish.
Mugwort and camellia bring additional skincare appeal, but the real selling point is the format.
Best for: Oily and combination skin
Skin concerns: Shine, oiliness, sunscreen reapplication
Our verdict: A useful reapplication product for oily skin, but we'd treat it as a convenient top-up rather than relying on a stick as your only sunscreen application.
SERUMS
Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin
If uneven pigmentation is your main concern, start here.
This formula combines rice-derived ingredients with 2% alpha-arbutin and niacinamide. Alpha-arbutin works by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production, while niacinamide can help reduce the transfer of pigment within the skin.
That combination makes sense for people dealing with post-breakout marks, uneven tone and general dullness.
The important thing is to keep expectations realistic. Brightening ingredients work gradually. This isn't a serum that will make a dark spot disappear overnight.
And because pigmentation can be made worse by UV exposure, this is one formula that makes even more sense when paired with a good daily SPF.
Best for: All skin types
Skin concerns: Hyperpigmentation, post-acne marks, uneven tone, dullness
Our verdict: One of the strongest choices in the range if pigmentation is your priority and you want a targeted brightening serum without an overly aggressive formula.
Light On Serum: Centella + Vita C
Vitamin C without the drama.
Traditional L-ascorbic acid can be brilliant for brightening and antioxidant protection, but it can also be acidic and irritating for some skin types.
Beauty of Joseon's Light On Serum takes a gentler approach, pairing a high proportion of centella asiatica with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a stable vitamin C derivative.
Centella brings a soothing element to the formula, while the vitamin C derivative provides brightening and antioxidant benefits without relying on the low-pH environment associated with traditional L-ascorbic acid formulas.
Best for: Sensitive, normal and combination skin
Skin concerns: Dullness, uneven tone, post-acne marks
Our verdict: A particularly appealing vitamin C option for anyone who wants brighter-looking skin but finds traditional vitamin C serums too irritating.
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
For skin that wants glow without completely forgetting about breakouts.
Propolis sits at the centre of this formula, supported by niacinamide and betaine salicylate. Together, they give the serum a nice balance between soothing, hydration and gentle pore care.
The formula also contains tea tree extract and tamanu oil, giving it an additional skin-calming and blemish-focused angle.
It's especially interesting for combination skin that can be both oily and dehydrated at the same time.
Best for: Combination, oily and blemish-prone skin
Skin concerns: Breakouts, congestion, excess oil, dullness
Our verdict: A good choice for combination skin that wants hydration and glow without giving up its focus on pores and blemishes.
Calming Serum: Green Tea + Panthenol
For when your skin has had enough.
This is the serum we'd reach for after an overenthusiastic week of acids, retinoids and trying every new skincare trend at once.
The formula centres around green tea and panthenol, with mugwort and centella adding further soothing support. Panthenol is a humectant and barrier-supporting ingredient, while green tea provides antioxidant benefits.
There are no dramatic treatment claims here, and that's part of the appeal.
Sometimes skin doesn't need another active. It needs a break.
Best for: Sensitive, dry and dehydrated skin
Skin concerns: Redness, irritation, dehydration, compromised barrier
Our verdict: Not the most exciting serum in the range, but potentially one of the most useful if your skin is irritated or simply needs a calmer routine.
Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin
Think hydration, bounce and healthier-looking skin.
The formula combines ginseng root water with snail secretion filtrate, supported by niacinamide, adenosine, sodium hyaluronate and centella asiatica.
Snail mucin is best understood as a hydrating and conditioning ingredient rather than a miracle wrinkle treatment. It helps support a smoother, more hydrated appearance, while ginseng and adenosine add antioxidant and skin-conditioning benefits.
This makes the serum particularly appealing for skin that looks tired, dehydrated or lacking in bounce.
Best for: Normal, dry and dehydrated skin
Skin concerns: Dehydration, dullness, fine lines, loss of bounce
Our verdict: A lovely all-rounder if your skin needs more hydration and softness rather than another aggressive active.
Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal
This is where Beauty of Joseon gets more serious about visible signs of ageing.
The formula combines ginseng with retinal, a retinoid that is one conversion step closer to retinoic acid than retinol. The retinal is delivered through a liposomal system, while niacinamide and moisturising ingredients help support the formula.
Retinal can help improve the appearance of fine lines and texture over time, but it is still a retinoid. That means irritation and dryness are possible, particularly if you're new to retinoids.
Start slowly and don't assume that because it's labelled an eye serum, you can use it aggressively.
Best for: Normal, dry and mature skin
Skin concerns: Fine lines, texture, early signs of ageing
Our verdict: One of the most treatment-focused products in the Beauty of Joseon range and a better choice for fine lines than simply adding another generic firming cream.
Pore Firming Serum: Red Bean PDRN + Peptide
Pores don't actually disappear, but they can look less noticeable.
This formula combines red bean extract with sodium DNA, peptides, niacinamide and adenosine, targeting elasticity, texture and the appearance of pores.
It's worth being realistic about what this kind of formula can do. Skincare cannot permanently shrink the physical size of your pores. It can, however, help with oiliness, congestion, hydration and the overall appearance of texture.
Best for: Combination, oily and mature skin
Skin concerns: Visible pores, uneven texture, loss of firmness
Our verdict: An interesting choice if your concern is the appearance of enlarged pores and reduced elasticity, but don't expect it to literally erase your pores.
MOISTURISERS
Dynasty Cream
The Beauty of Joseon classic.
Dynasty Cream brings together rice bran water, ginseng, squalane, niacinamide, honey and ceramide NP to create a nourishing formula with the dewy finish Beauty of Joseon is known for.
This is not a lightweight gel moisturiser. It is designed to leave skin feeling moisturised and looking glossy, which makes it particularly appealing for dry or dehydrated skin.
If you're chasing glass skin, this is the texture that makes the aesthetic make sense.
Best for: Dry, normal and dehydrated skin
Skin concerns: Dryness, dehydration, dullness, fine lines
Our verdict: A classic for a reason. If you like a richer moisturiser and want that soft, dewy finish, this is one of the first Beauty of Joseon products we'd consider.
Red Bean Water Gel
The lightweight answer to Dynasty Cream.
Red Bean Water Gel is designed for oily and combination skin, using red bean extract in a lightweight gel formula that hydrates without the richness of a traditional cream.
This is particularly useful for oily skin that is also dehydrated. Skin can produce plenty of oil while still lacking water, so adding an extremely rich moisturiser isn't always the answer.
Best for: Oily and combination skin
Skin concerns: Dehydration, excess oil, visible pores
Our verdict: Probably the easiest moisturiser in the range to recommend for oily skin, particularly if you want hydration without a heavy finish.
Revive Firming Moisturizer: Ginseng + Retinol
A moisturiser that doubles as a gentle retinoid step.
This formula combines ginseng with retinoid technology and barrier-supporting ingredients including ceramide NP, squalene and macadamia seed oil.
The richer base is useful here because retinoids can sometimes cause dryness and flaking. Supporting the skin with moisturising ingredients can make a retinoid routine more comfortable.
However, if you're already using a dedicated retinoid treatment, you may not need another retinoid-containing product on top.
Best for: Normal, dry and mature skin
Skin concerns: Fine lines, dryness, loss of firmness
Our verdict: A nice option for someone who wants to introduce a gentler retinoid into their evening routine, but we'd avoid doubling up on retinoids unnecessarily.
CLEANSERS & EXFOLIATORS
Ginseng Cleansing Oil
Your first cleanse, not your treatment serum.
Beauty of Joseon's cleansing oil uses soybean oil as its main carrier oil to dissolve makeup, sunscreen and oil-based impurities before being emulsified and rinsed away.
Ginseng seed oil adds a nice botanical touch, but don't expect a cleansing oil to transform your skin through its treatment ingredients. It's on your face for a relatively short period of time.
Its real job is simply to remove what needs removing without leaving your skin feeling stripped.
Best for: Normal, dry and combination skin
Skin concerns: Makeup removal, sunscreen removal, excess sebum
Our verdict: A practical first cleanse that does exactly what we want a cleansing oil to do.
Radiance Cleansing Balm
If you prefer a balm to an oil, this is the one to look at.
The sherbet-like texture melts into an oil, using emollient ingredients to dissolve makeup and sunscreen before rinsing away.
The formula is also free from synthetic fragrance and essential oils, which may make it appealing if you prefer your first cleanse without added fragrance.
Best for: Normal, dry and sensitive skin
Skin concerns: Makeup removal, sunscreen removal, dryness
Our verdict: A straightforward cleansing balm with a comfortable texture, particularly appealing if your skin doesn't enjoy heavily fragranced cleansing products.
Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
A cleanser doesn't need to make your skin feel squeaky clean to be effective.
This low-pH cleanser uses mild surfactants, alongside plum water and mung bean extract, to remove everyday impurities while aiming to maintain the skin's natural acidic environment.
That makes it a sensible everyday option for anyone who finds stronger cleansers leave their skin tight.
Best for: Normal, combination and sensitive skin
Skin concerns: Everyday cleansing, dehydration, barrier support
Our verdict: A sensible daily cleanser for anyone who wants clean skin without the stripped feeling.
Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel
The satisfying peeling gel deserves a reality check.
The formula uses cellulose to create the little rolls that appear when you massage it over the skin. Those visible clumps are not simply piles of dead skin cells. Much of what you're seeing is the cellulose itself gathering together.
That doesn't mean the product does nothing. It provides physical exfoliation and can leave skin feeling smoother. Just don't mistake the dramatic pilling effect for evidence of dramatic skin shedding.
Best for: Normal and sensitive skin
Skin concerns: Roughness, surface texture, dullness
Our verdict: A gentle-feeling exfoliation option if you prefer physical exfoliation, but the pilling effect is more about the formula than a satisfying visual of your dead skin leaving the building.
TONERS, ESSENCES & MASKS
Ginseng Essence Water
This is hydration in its simplest form.
With ginseng root water making up most of the formula, alongside glycerin, niacinamide and adenosine, this is best thought of as a hydrating essence rather than a heavy-duty treatment.
It's ideal for people who enjoy layering lightweight hydration.
If you're trying to keep your routine minimal, however, you can probably live without it.
Best for: Dry, dehydrated and normal skin
Skin concerns: Dehydration, dullness, rough texture
Our verdict: A lovely addition for hydration lovers, but not an essential step if your moisturiser and serum are already doing the job.
Green Plum Refreshing Toner: AHA + BHA
For skin that needs a little more polishing.
This exfoliating toner contains glycolic acid and salicylic acid, giving you both water-soluble and oil-soluble exfoliation.
Glycolic acid works primarily at the skin surface, while salicylic acid is particularly useful for oily and congested skin.
The concentrations are relatively low, but we'd still treat this as an active product. If you're already using retinoids, exfoliating serums or other acids, more isn't necessarily better.
Best for: Combination and oily skin
Skin concerns: Congestion, rough texture, blackheads, dullness
Our verdict: A useful exfoliating toner, but one to introduce thoughtfully rather than automatically using every day alongside a cabinet full of other actives.
Glow Replenishing Rice Milk
A toner for skin that can't decide whether it wants hydration or oil control.
The bi-phase formula combines a rice-based liquid phase with kaolin clay, alongside ingredients such as panthenol, ceramides and centella.
Shake it up and you get both sides of the formula at once.
The result is particularly interesting for combination skin that can feel dehydrated but still becomes shiny through the day.
Best for: Combination and dehydrated skin
Skin concerns: Shine, dehydration, dullness
Our verdict: One of the more interesting formulas in the range, particularly for combination skin that doesn't want to choose between hydration and oil control.
Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask
For the occasional deep-clean feeling.
Kaolin clay helps absorb surface oil, while red bean extract supports the formula. The physical particles provide additional exfoliation during rinsing.
This makes it much more appropriate for oily and combination skin than for a dry, irritated complexion.
And as with all clay masks, occasional use makes more sense than trying to turn your bathroom into a clay-mask spa every night.
Best for: Oily and combination skin
Skin concerns: Excess oil, congestion, rough texture
Our verdict: A good occasional clarifying treatment, particularly when excess oil and congestion are your main concerns.
Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask
This is the comfort-food version of exfoliation.
Rice lees, honey and ground rice come together in a wash-off formula that provides gentle physical exfoliation while honey adds humectant and conditioning benefits.
It is much more suited to dull, dry-looking skin than to someone looking for a serious pore treatment.
Best for: Normal, dry and dehydrated skin
Skin concerns: Dullness, rough texture, dehydration
Our verdict: A lovely choice when you want softer, brighter-looking skin without reaching immediately for a stronger acid.
SO, WHICH BEAUTY OF JOSEON PRODUCT SHOULD YOU ACTUALLY BUY?
With such a big range, choosing one product can feel harder than it should.
Here's where we'd start.
If your skin is dry or dehydrated
Start with:
- Dynasty Cream for richer moisture and a dewy finish.
- Revive Serum for hydration, softness and bounce.
- Ginseng Essence Water if you enjoy layering lightweight hydration.
- Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask for occasional gentle exfoliation.
- Our pick: Dynasty Cream if you want one product that makes the biggest difference to a dry routine.
If your skin is oily or combination
Start with:
- Red Bean Water Gel for lightweight hydration.
- Glow Serum for hydration, pores and blemish-prone skin.
- Green Plum AHA + BHA Toner for congestion and texture.
- Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask for occasional oil control.
- Our pick: Red Bean Water Gel if you're looking for an everyday moisturiser that won't feel heavy.
If pigmentation is your main concern
Start with:
- Glow Deep Serum for alpha-arbutin and niacinamide.
- Light On Serum for a gentler vitamin C approach.
- A daily SPF to prevent UV exposure from continuing to drive pigmentation.
- Our pick: Glow Deep Serum for a focused brightening step.
If your skin is sensitive
Start with:
- Calming Serum for panthenol and green tea.
- Light On Serum for a gentler vitamin C derivative.
- Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh for lightweight daily sun protection.
- Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser for a mild daily cleanse.
- Our pick: Calming Serum when your skin needs less stimulation and more support.
If you're concerned about fine lines and ageing
Start with:
- Revive Eye Serum for retinal.
- Revive Serum for hydration and skin conditioning.
- Revive Firming Moisturizer for a moisturising retinoid step.
- Daily SPF because preventing UV damage remains one of the most important things you can do for your skin.
- Our pick: Revive Eye Serum if you're ready to introduce retinal and want a targeted treatment.
Beauty of Joseon gets a lot right.
The brand has found a compelling way to take traditional Korean ingredients such as ginseng, rice, green tea and mugwort and pair them with modern skincare ingredients that consumers already know and understand.
But you don't need the entire collection.
In fact, we'd argue that buying fewer products is probably the smarter approach.
If your skin is dry, you don't need the same routine as someone struggling with excess oil. If pigmentation is your concern, a hydrating essence isn't going to replace a targeted brightening treatment. And if your skin barrier is unhappy, adding another exfoliating acid because it happens to be trending is unlikely to end well.
The trick is to stop shopping by product category and start shopping by skin concern.
Because the best Beauty of Joseon routine isn't the one with the most bottles.
It's the one that gives your skin exactly what it needs.
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