The best Korean skincare brands you can actually find in the US
From Biodance collagen face masks to Medicube exfoliating toner pads, these are our favorite Korean skincare products easily available in the US
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I have been using Korean beauty products ever since discovering Innisfree’s oil blotting paper as a greasy-faced teenager a decade ago. The K-beauty boom has since hit the US and gone mainstream, and with it all its glass skin, salmon sperm and milky toner innovations.
I’ve tested many of them, and a few that have truly improved my skin are easily accessible in the US. Unlike the fairly recent past, stocking up on skincare from top Korean brands such as Medicube and Biodance no longer depends on specialty websites, gargantuan shipping fees or a full trip to South Korea.
Yes, you’ll find far more options on Korean beauty sites such as Yesstyle, but here are four of the best products that you can conveniently nab from bigger retailers such as Amazon or Sephora. Bonus: a microneedling serum my fellow skincare-obsessive mom loves.
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Biodance Collagen Overnight Face Mask
Every time I’ve worn these face masks, I’ve woken up with skin as soft as a baby’s butt. Having touched babies’ butts, I can confirm that while this is a cliche, it’s spot on.
Unlike many other masks, you wear this one overnight, when it gradually turns from white to translucent as its collagen and oligo-hyaluronic acid does its work to boost skin elasticity and hydration. It’s handy when you’re seeking immediately visible results, such as the night before a special occasion like a wedding. My skin is always noticeably smoother after just one use, though that instant “glass skin” texture fades after a couple days or so.
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Abib Mild pH Balancing Face Mask
Abib is one of South Korea’s most beloved skincare brands, and this sheet mask is one of its bestsellers. A single packet comes filled with a ton of serum – way more than your usual mask – and every time I use one, my skin feels thoroughly soothed.
The sheet is coated in albumin or egg white extract, which helps it fully mold to your face. You can keep the packet of leftover serum in the fridge overnight (there will be a lot left) and slather it on as a cooling, depuffing balm the next morning. I also like to pack a few of these whenever I travel. After a long, drying flight, the pH-balancing face masks never fail to help rehydrate my skin.
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Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask
I have tried all sorts of tricks to reduce my blackheads. Biore pore strips are semi-effective but harsh on the skin, while double cleansing with facial oil is very effective but requires massaging your face for up to 10 long minutes. Medicube’s mud mask is my favorite because it succeeds in eliminating them with minimal hassle. After smearing this blue clay on my face just once, my blackheads eerily vanished, though I need to reliably apply it a few times a week to maintain that. The formula pairs salicylic acid, which dissolves the oil, dead skin and sebum trapped inside pores, with niacinamide, which helps regulate excess oil and calm redness. If blackheads and congested pores are your biggest skincare grievances, this is the one thing I’d grab from this list.
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Medicube Zero Pore Toner Pads
Toner pads get a lot of hype, but this one’s results are real. My skin has modestly but genuinely become clearer from using Medicube’s exfoliating pads. Every time I use them before applying makeup, my base foundation also applies more easily and looks smoother. Each dual-textured pad is soaked in lactic acid to sweep away dead skin and salicylic acid to clear out the oil and debris trapped inside pores.
You can swipe the textured side to help exfoliate oily areas, then flip to the smooth side to generally tone. I also like to spot treat my skin by leaving a pad to soak on a specific area, as if it were a mini face mask.
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Bonus: VT Cosmetics Cica Reedle Shot 100
My mom used to develop formulas for beauty brands as a chemist, so I tend to trust her personal recommendations, even if she probably isn’t scientifically evaluating them. She’s a fan of the VT Cica Reedle Shot 100. It uses tiny spicules (microscopic, skin-safe needles) to create micro-channels in the skin, which help ingredients like cica and hyaluronic acid absorb more effectively than typical serums.
After applying it, you’ll feel a strong tingling sensation on your face for a few minutes, but the payoff is more even-looking skin texture over time. My mom, who is in her 60s and has used this for months, can attest to this – though of course, it may not have been the only product to help. If you’ve been curious about this viral skincare treatment, the smallest 50ml version is a low-commitment way to finally see what all the fuss is about.
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
I started using these 13 skincare products after 50, and they really work
The 12 makeup products I swear by after turning 50, from hydrating lip gloss to the perfect mirror
Can I pop this? 18 common skincare questions, answered by dermatologists
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