Over the past few years, Korean beauty brands have become a mainstay in bathroom shelves as more and more people outside of Asia discover the power of Korean products. And as many industry experts will tell you, K-Beauty has always very much been about a skin-first ethos, utilising skin-loving, anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide, yuzu, snail mucin, birch, and ginseng, all designed to give glass skin-like results.
If you're looking to dip a toe into the K-Beauty pool, we've compiled a list of all the best of the Korean beauty brands to shop from in Australia right now (and where to get them).
First, What is Korean Beauty or K-Beauty?
K-Beauty is shortened version of Korean Beauty. This simply refers to the unique and advance-style of produced found and produced by South Korea. Beauty is big business in Korea and its citizens gravitate to a porcelain, glassy, hydrated look with a skincare-first approach to makeup. For this reason, many Korean brands are heralded for their innovations in delivering ultra-hydrated results with a glass skin finish.
Best Korean Beauty and skincare brands
1. Sulwhasoo
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Sephora, Lotte Duty Free, and BONIIK. Amazon and Beauty Amora.
Pronounced “Suhl-ha-soo," this skincare brand was founded on the philosophy of balance. Utilising Korea's finest natural ingredients, Sulwhasoo is one of the best selling Korean brands on the market. In keeping with the brands holistic approach, you won't find any nasties or overpowering scents.
2. Laneige
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Sephora, Beauty Amora, Kanvas Beauty, BONIIK, Nudie Glow.
Not for nothing, this cult favourite brand has most of beauty TikTok in a chokehold. Have you really tried Laneige if you haven't dipped into one of their Lip Sleeping Masks? It is one of the highest selling on the market for a reason. But it doesn't stop there, its serums laden with goodies like niacinamide are genuine skin savers.
3. Peach and Lily
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Where to shop in Australia: Peach & Lily, Amazon, Skincare4less, and Heartdrops.
Founded by Alicia Yoon, the brand has been going from strength to strength since its launch in 2021. Recently, they've grown their offering to include skincare-infused makeup, beginning with the Glass Skin Luminizing Stick. Yes please.
4. Tamburins
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Where to shop in Australia: Tamburins, Koriah, Momoko Cosmetics, Jasso beauty, Dodoskin.
There's still skin on our hands and lips. Tamburins is responsible for elevating the fragrance, balm and lotion game in Seoul and beyond. It's also incredibly chic (and beloved by one Jennie Kim).
5. Glow Recipe
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Where to shop in Australia: Mecca and Amazon.
The Watermelon Glow Drops have a cult following, and for good reason. After working together for L’Oreal, Christine Chang and Sarah Lee founded the fruit-infused brand in 2017. What started as a Korean skincare market place has evolved into what is now referred to as Glow Recipe, which each product highlighting the benefits of a singular fruit.
6. Innisfree
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Where to shop in Australia: Innisfree website, Adore Beauty, Sephora and Kanvas Beauty.
What can we say? Any brand inspired by a Yeats poem can only be poetry in motion for us. Innisfree is a holistic skincare brand, using the natural ingredients found on Jeju island to enhance skin in the cleanest way possible. With an array of moisturisers, clay masks and serums, they truly have everything covered.
7. Some By Mi
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Kanvas Beauty, KBeauty Australia, STYLE STORY, Nudie Glow, and BONIIK. SomeByMi products are also available at Myer, W Cosmetics, and NF Beauty.
There are not enough hours in the day to praise this brand. Using a truly innovative array of natural ingredients, the AHA serum is certifiably insane for how rebalancing it is; evening out the skin and giving it an extra boost of hydration.
8. Dr. Jart+
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Where to shop in Australia: Mecca, Kanvas Beauty, STYLE STORY, Oz Hair & Beauty, BONIIK, Lila Beauty and Amazon.
Since it was founded in 2004, Dr. Jart+ has fostered a prolific presence in the land of beauty. The name is an abbreviation of "doctor joins art," which captures the way the brand aims to marry dermatological science and art. If you're looking to ease your way into its product range, we suggest starting with one of the popular Rubber masks, before proceeding onto its Cicapair line infused with soothing tiger grass.
9. Saturday Skin
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Where to shop in Australia: Sephora, REVOLVE, Beauty Amora and Amazon.
As its name suggests, Saturday Skin's philosophy is all about the relaxed, stress-free pace of the weekend. Every product works hard, so you can take the day off. Formulated with seven potent peptides, we're big fans of the Waterfall Glacier Water Cream and its affordable price point.
10. Then I Met You
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Where to shop in Australia: Then I Met You and Space NK.
The brainchild of Soko Glam co-founder, Charlotte Cho, Then I Met You was born in 2018 and is loosely based around the Korean concept of jeong which, put simply is the rapport, affection and attachment born between two people or a community. The range is small and carefully curated with hero ingredients like persimmon, ginseng, and fermented rice.
11. Beauty of Joseon
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Chemist Warehouse, Kanvas Beauty, Myer, Amazon, KBeauty Australia, Priceline Pharmacy, Beauty Amora, BONIIK, and NF Beauty.
As is a common theme in K-beauty, Beauty of Joseon operates on the belief that skin-healing is achieved through application of traditional herbal ingredients and plants. The serums are a crowd favourite and the Dynasty Cream is a holy grail product for a close friend, who has replenished her stock four times. We're eyeing off the newly-introduced Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen, the brand's first 100% mineral tinted sunscreen that hydrates and conceals as it protects.
12. Abib
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Where to shop in Australia: Amazon, Stash Beauty Co, STYLE STORY, and Lila Beauty
Abib stands for "the first month", a sentiment that strives towards pure cosmetics from the very foundation of your skincare regimen. With external pollutants and general wear and tear, Abib aims to return the skin cycle back to its prime, natural complexion. It's minimalist, thoughtfully-designed packaging is a drawcard, and the high-efficacy products are enough to keep you refilling, time after time.
13. Isntree
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Where to shop in Australia: Glam Raider, Oz Hair & Beauty, Kanvas Beauty, Keoji, Cosme Hut, KBeauty Australia, shop cosy, BONIIK, Kiko & Beauty, and style story.
The brainchild of skin-blogger turned entrepreneur, Jinwoo Kim, Isntree looks to science to formulate products that centre pure and clean ingredients. With eco-friendly packaging and a focus on green ingredients, Isntree products are designed for all skin types, especially the more sensitive among us.
14. Klairs
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Salon Style, Chemist Warehouse, Oz Hair and Beauty, BONIIK, Kanvas Beauty, and Nudie Glow.
An affordable brand with high-quality formulations, Klairs is loved by dermatologists and refuses to test on animals. Founded in 2010, Klairs originally set out to create thoughtful products for people with sensitive skin. All these years later its skin-soothing qualities have hit cult status.
15. Belif
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Where to shop in Australia: Kanvas Beauty, Nudie Glow, Amazon, BONIIK, Stylevana and eBay Australia.
Favouring anti-inflammatory naturally-derived ingredients, Belif ,finds its way on the yearly lists of beauty favourites for good reason.
16. Cosrx
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Chemist Warehouse, Myer, Amazon, BONIIK, Keoji, Nudie Glow,
COSRX Snail Mucin Essence. Famed for its use of snail secretion to repair and hydrate skin, all products provide the skin with a wonderful glow and bounciness. Apart from calming and relaxing the skin, it's also an excellent form of hydration. Check out the sunscreen collection when you have another moment.
17. Banila Co
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, STYLE STORY, Kanvas Beauty, NF BEAUTY, Pharmacoo Wholesale, BONIIK, W Cosmetics and Amazon.
A Korean beauty brand that's amassed a cult-like following, Banila Co. has revolutionised the art of the cleaning balm. After all, the first step to good application of make up is good skin. Equal parts smoothening oil and cleansing balm, there's a 3-for-1 purpose in a singular disc.
18. I'm From
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, Nudie Glow, BONIIK, shop cosy, and Dubuypk.
Transparency, honesty, and a Korean philosophy of minimalism, these are all touchpoints of skincare brand I'm From. The Honey Mask and Ginseng Toner are sell-outs, and for good reason. Fine line reductions and rejuvenation, we're all about.
19. Amore Pacific
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Where to shop in Australia: Mecca.
AMORE PACIFIC wants 'to send its love out to the West'. Antioxidant rich, most of the skincare line draws from green tea extracts with a native botanical focus. The extracts are sourced singularly from plants in private gardens of the brand's. Signed, sealed and delivered. When winter rolls around, lather us in the Time Response Skin Reserve Intensive Cream, please.
20. Skin1004
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Where to shop in Australia: Chemist Warehouse, Amazon, La Cosmetique, Lila Beauty, BONIIK, KBeauty Australia and shop cosy.
Skin1004 is bursting with 100 % Centella Asiatica Extract, offering intense hydration and complexion-toning for dark spots. Perfect for sensitive skin, the brand is a pioneer of mild skincare.
21. A'Pieu
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Where to shop in Australia: Style Story, Nudie Glow, Stash Beauty Co, Pharmacoo Wholesale and shop cosy.
With a focus on calming balms, toners and Mulberry extracts in their range of skincare, A'Pieu is the latest in the game revolutionising Korean skincare. Masks, sunscreen, lipbalms and tinted SPF foundations are all enhanced with their top-tier list of natural ingredients.
22. Heimish
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Where to shop in Australia: STYLE STORY, Kanvas Beauty, KBeauty Australia, BONIIK, Kiko & Beauty, NF Beauty and Lila Beauty.
Heimish has mastered the art of everyday skincare with a minimalist sensibility. Best known for its cult-favourite All Clean Balm, the brand champions gentle, effective formulas that put skin health first, all while leaning into a clean aesthetic that feels more self-care than skincare.
23. Aestura
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Where to shop in Australia: Nudie Glow Australia and Beauty Amora.
Rooted in dermatological science and wrapped in sleek, clinical cool, Korean skincare brand Aestura is all about barrier care. Known for its skin-soothing formulas that cater to sensitivity and hydration, Aestura blends pharmaceutical-grade research with a minimalist approach to beauty. It’s the brand you reach for when your skin is in SOS mode, but still want your routine to feel like a ritual. Clean, calm, and quietly powerful.
24. Medicube
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, W Cosmetics, Lilia Beauty, La Cosmetique, and BONIIK.
Chances are, you've seen Medicube splashed across your social media feeds. And yes, it lives up to the hype. From glass-skin giving toner pads, to that viral peel-off mask, there's a product to solve just about every skincare woe.
25. TIRTIR
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Where to shop in Australia: Adore Beauty, KBeauty Australia.
TIRTIR first caught our attention for its skin-perfecting cushion foundation, but the brand is also responsible for some incredible skincare products, too. From eye creams to serums, there's lots to love courtesy of TIRTIR.
Is Korean Beauty really better?
Of course, there is no single best beauty brand. It's all about personal preference.
But for many who are looking for smooth, bouncy and ultra-hydrated skin, Korean Beauty brands can offer something different from products in Western markets which often focus on exfoliation, regeneration and mature skin solutions.
Some people find that Korean Beauty works very well for their skin and skin type. Others could prefer skincare that targets different aspects.
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Feature images: one, two.
Featured products are selected editorially. Our opinions are our own. Occasionally, we may receive a standard affiliate partner fee if you make a purchase using the links we feature.
