Some of the best Korean Beauty products for every skin type:

• Acne: When it comes to the best Korean skincare for acne, the starting point is to determine what type(s) of acne you have. Pustules and cystic acne generally respond well to acid exfoliant cleansers, such as Some By Mi's AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam. However, if the acne is occurring on sensitive and inflamed skin, a low pH cleansing routine (such as Purito's From Green Cleansing Oil and Deep Foaming Cleanser) would be more suitable, followed by the relatively gentle COSRX's BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. For treating both general acne AND acne scars, it's hard to get past the Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum from AXIS-Y. For a more comprehensive discussion on acne treatments, see our helpful guide here.
• Hyperpigmentation: Hyperpigmentation is an extremely common issue, so the K-Beauty world has long been addressing it with both herbal and clinical ingredients. When it comes to more established methods like vitamin C and acid exfoliants, we love SKIN&LAB's Vitamin C Brightening Serum as well as By Wishtrend's Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water.For an anti-aging bent, Mary & May's 6 Peptide Complex Serum also works a treat. Kbeauty has been espousing arbuting for a while, which usually comes in gentle formulas suitable for sensitive skin. The Beauty of Joseon's Glow Deep Serum (2% Arbutin) and T'IAM's Vita B3 Source (2% Arbutin) are both fan favourites for post-inflammatory hypigmentation (i.e. acne scars), as they also use niacinamide. A more buzzy ingredient such as tranexamic acid is present in Jumiso's All Day Vitamin Glow Boost Toner which serves to hydrate as well. It's also the right choice for someone who has skin on the sensitive side and doesn't want a potent serum, as is Dr. Althea's Power Brightening Glutathione Cream which acts as a moisturizer as well. For all the where's and how's of hyperpigmentation, check out our guide here. 
• Redness: One thing that Korean skincare is an absolute authority on is repairing a damaged skin barrier, which can be a huge factor in several associated conditions - including redness and rosacea. There are so many products out there for taming redness and inflammation that it can leave your head swimming! But with our beauty editor a rosacea sufferer, we've tried a LOT of them and here's what worked for us. For overexfoliation redness and that uncomfortable burning sensation, Purito's B5 Panthenol Re-Barrier Cream and TIA'M's Vita B5 Toner were our undisputed go-to's. Panthenol is a boss at barrier repair, which can dramatically reduce redness as well as boost your skin's ability to maintain moisture. Both are set in simple, fragrance-free formulas that suit virtually anyone. Ready to introduce a serum into your routine? Start with Beauty of Joseon's Calming Serum. For oilier skin, Purito's Oat-In Calming Gel is one of the best. When it comes to acne-related redness, some of the stars include Jumiso's Super Soothing Calming & Relief Teca Solution Cream and ISNTREE's Spot Saver Mugwort Ampoule.Both are underrated brands that leave us scratching our heads as to why they don't have more fans. A best-seller on the immediate redness-coverage front is the famous Dr Jart's Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment.To find out mo re about how to get that redness under control, read our helpful guide here.
• Anti-Aging: Innovation is key when it comes to fighting the signs of ageing in Kbeauty world! In fact, some of the most famous (and expensive) products out there have been using ingredients long espoused by Korean beauty gurus. Try Missha’s Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule for one of the OG treatments using fermented probiotic ingredients, which also underpin products by SKI-II and Estée Lauder. Laneige’s Perfect Renew Youth Generating Eye Cream is one of the best-sellers in the premium space, while those looking for ingedients like retinol and bakuchiol will love By Wishtrend's Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream (also our pick for retinol beginners). Pair that with the Neogen’s Dermalogy Real Bakuchiol Firming Serum. A no-fuss but still luxe overnight plumping treatment would see us reach for ISNTREE’s Hyaluronic Acid Water Sleeping Mask, while the best all-rounder moisturizer would probably be the buzzy (and TikTok viral)  Dr. Althea’s Resveratrol 345NA Intensive Repair Cream. For all things anti-aging including some of the best ingredients to try, click on our guide here.
• Oily Skin: Although it may appear so much of K-Beauty focuses on hydration and barrier repair, there is plenty of Korean skincare for oily skin. Oily skin is caused by a number of factors: it could be stress, hormonal changes, the general environment or a reaction to harsh skincare. For example, if your skincare is too drying, your skin may think it needs to compensate by pumping out more oil (thereby producing more blackheads). In fact, some of the best products for oily focus on rebalancing to prevent your oil glands from taking corrective action. We love Beauty of Joseon's Red Bean Water Gel Cream and SKIN&LAB's Tricicabarrier Calming Ampoule for those reasons. If you're looking for immediate blackhead and shine control, try Purito’s Bentolin Pore Clay Mask. ISNTREE’s Real Mugwort Clay Mask is even better when that oily skin is teamed with redness. The Niacinamide 15 Serum (with Zinc PCA) from COSRX harnesses the power of vitamin B3 and zinc pca for less irritation, less dehyration and better sebum-control on acne-prone skin. Another product with active ingredients is Jumiso's Pore-Rest LHA Sebum Control Facial Cream, which works a teeny bit of LHA in its formula. A gentler but still effective formula is Acwell's No2 Refreshing Fluid, which uses ingredients like Portulaca Oleracea and Witch Hazel extract to regulate excess sebum. And if you're a makeup wearer, look no further than innisfree's No-Sebum Blur Primer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some uniquely Korean creations?

Did you know BB Creams were a K-Beauty brand? That’s right, they are originally a creation of Dr Jart+. So are CC Creams, Essences and Cushion Foundations (the latter first brought to the market by IOPE).

What is the difference between the first and second cleanse?

We think EVERYONE should use double cleanse! Your first cleanse should consist of an oil or balm cleanser. Oily and acne-prone skin benefits from their ability to dissolve sebum. Meanwhile, dry skin will love its ability to clean without stripping, as well as adding additional moisture to your skin before the second cleanse. Plus, it removes makeup and thick SPF like a pro, without excess tugging. Now, your second cleanse generally consists of a foaming cleanser, whether gel or water-based. This will remove any residue from the first cleanse, as well as clean water-based dirt from your skin (i.e. sweat) that the oils may not pick up. After your double cleanse, your skin will be perfectly primed for the rest of your routine.

Can cleansing oil replace cleanser?

A cleansing oil CAN replace a cleanser on extremely dry skin, but it's not something we'd recommend - generally the best results require an oil-based cleanser first, followed by a water-based cleanser. If your skin is very dry and has a tendency to feel stripped after water-based cleansers, look for water-based cleanser with a skin-matching pH of 5.5. These are ultra-gentle.

What is the difference between a toner and an essence?

A toner is used immediately after cleansing. It is meant to correct the skin’s pH after washing your face, remove any leftover residue and preps it for the remainder of your routine. An essence meanwhile, comes after your toner. It usually has a specific function (brightening, moisturizing, treatment etc). Generally, most essences hydrate, refine and soothe skin at the cellular level. A simple skincare routine might just involve a cleanser, toner and a moisturizer, but someone looking to address specific skin concerns (or who loves the KBeauty multi-step routine) will typically use an essence as well. 

What is the difference between a serum and an ampoule?

A serum is a targeted and concentrated treatment that comes after cleansing and toning (and an essence, if you're using one). An ampoule meanwhile, was made famous in the K-Beauty multistep routine, and comes after your serum. It's basically a serum on steroids - it's meant to be even more potent and usually works on one area of concern. An example is the ISNTREE Spot Saver Mugwort Ampoule, which would just be applied on highly inflamed or acne-prone areas.

What is the difference between a moisturiser and a sleep mask?

A moisturiser is an essential step in any skincare routine, and can come in a variety of forms to suit different skin types: gel, water-based, oil-based, creamy, you name it. It can also be occlusive (i.e. acts as a barrier to keep moisture and other goodies in, as well as keeping environmental aggressors out) semi-occlusive or not occlusive at all. The latter tends to be best for oily skin or skin prone to pore-clogging as it lets skin breathe. Sleep masks meanwhile, tend to be more on the occlusive side. Many can be worn as a moisturizer, although they're usually designed to be worn over one in the evening. They will help protect your skin during the night from drying out (particularly if you sleep in dry or air-conditioned climates) and can encouraging faster healing and repair. 

What is the number one skincare brand in Korea?

It changes every year and it depends if we’re going by the value or number of products sold, but some of the most consistently popular K Beauty brands year in, year out are innisfree, Missha, Dr Jart+, Purito, Some By Mi, COSRX and Laneige.

What is a good Korean oil cleanser?

Which Korean oil cleanser is the best for you is subjective. It depends on the needs of your skin and what your key concerns are. A good all-rounder is something like Purito’s From Green Cleansing Oil. Those preferring a balm consistency and something that can remove makeup easily will love Heimish’s All Clean Balm. A good Korean cleansing oil for oily skin would be innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Cleansing Oil. And those who want a touch of luxe and natural exfoliating properties should try I’m From’s Fig Cleansing Balm.

Where can I buy Korean skincare online?

Now you should already know the answer to that! From Sydney, to Perth, to Auckland, you can find all the best K Beauty brands at Kanvas Beauty (I mean, no brainer). Forget the long wait times from ordering from overseas websites! We source directly from the brands themselves and accredited suppliers, and dispatch your order within 24 hours from our Melbourne warehouse so you can get it in your hot little hands ASAP.

Plus within Australia, enjoy free standard shipping with any purchase over $50, and free express shipping with any order over $99. If you’re new to Kanvas Beauty, take an additional $20 off your first order with us (use code WELCOME20 at checkout).

Happy shopping! If you have further questions on Korean skincare or any of our other brands, drop us a line on: hello@kanvasbeauty.com.au.

Have you tried any K-Beauty products? What do you think? Leave a review under your favourite products and give us the deets!