Korean skin care has always had a special place in my heart and on my bathroom shelf for a few reasons. Aside from the innovative formulations, often featuring ingredients that are ahead of the curve, Korean products almost always have accessible price points. But with the Trump administration’s newly imposed tariffs, K-beauty may not be so affordable anymore.
Trump announced on Wednesday that there will be a 90-day reduction in tariffs on all countries except China, which means now is the optimal time to save on all your favorite Korean goods to avoid what might eventually be a 25% increase in duties.
Although it was tough to choose, we gathered some of the internet’s most adored K-beauty products to stock up on, several of which are personal and reader favorites like the Iope PDRN serum that many say plumps the skin and fills in fine lines.
If you're not always on TikTok, then you might not be familiar with this powerful Korean serum that's been trending for its use of a unique ingredient not commonly found in American skin care formulations: PDRN. It's an anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing proprietary drug that is normally injected to help improve the overall skin appearance and skin firmness of the recipient. The Iope serum uses a plant-derived version of this ingredient to help with everything from volume loss, the appearance of fine lines and even helps with acne.
At this point, the Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence has reached cult-like status and is probably one of the best-known products in Korean beauty. This skin-softening serum contains six types of concentrated snail secretion (yes, snail) that can help improve a damaged skin barrier, offer deep hydration and even promote wound healing. The formula also contains allantoin, which can be great for soothing inflammation and irritation.
This unique and lightweight moisturizer by Medicube features capsules of salmon DNA-derived PDRN suspended in a rich jelly that promises to be residue-free. PDRN, the latest ingredient for targeting volume loss and reduced elasticity, is accompanied by collagen to plump the skin and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture, leaving behind a complexion that's bright, glowing and "glass-like."
You may or may not have known this, but the brand behind this cult-favorite lip mask is Korean and it's adored for its cushiony formula and intensely moisturizing capacity. It's a great way to smooth parched, flaky lips and minimize the appearance of dry, exaggerated lip lines. Available in several scents like gummy bear (my favorite), mixed berry, or peach iced tea, the Laneige lip mask uses a berry mix complex to boost moisture and deliver antioxidant benefits while you sleep, while a blend of shea and seed butters nourishes lips.
Dermatologists have previously told HuffPost that certain peptides can boost collagen production and elastin, which in turn can improve skin texture, firmness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This skin booster serum by Cosrx — the makers of the famous snail mucin essence — is packed with six different peptides to plump and renew the skin. The lightweight formula targets other skin concerns, like hyperpigmentation and dryness, and contains a unique ingredient called adenosine, which might have anti-aging benefits.
Beauty of Joseon is a revered Korean beauty brand with a huge cult following and tons of viral goods, like this corrective eye serum packed with ingredients to create a firmer, brighter and more awake undereye. A 2% concentration of retinal helps synthesize collagen and reduce the appearance of fine lines, while a 10% concentration of ginseng extract promises to deeply hydrate and nourish. This lightweight and fast-absorbing treatment is also rounded off with niacinamide, a well-studied antioxidant that can brighten and protect the skin from damage.
Calming and hydrating, this daily defense sunscreen by Innisfree offers broad-spectrum SPF 36 protection and a completely white-cast-free finish. Unlike other sunscreen formulas that you might be used to, this product performs and feels closer to a fresh and lightweight lotion and contains soothing green tea extract and centella asiatica, which can help address irritation and redness. This is my current daily sunscreen of choice because I love how it absorbs into the skin rather than just sitting on top, and the slightly dewy finish layers seamlessly under makeup.
Parched and compromised skin will benefit from this comforting, shea butter-based facial cream that's packed with skin barrier-strengthening ingredients like panthenol and an oil-based complex. The pH-balancing formula also contains madecassoside to soothe and repair irritated skin.
Anyone with sensitive, compromised, or sun-damaged skin should keep this gentle cream in their skin care arsenal. The cooling formula features chamomile oil extract to calm irritation and centella asiatica, a traditional Korean ingredient that is known for soothing skin and reducing redness. Great for after-sun care, this Dear Klairs cream may promote skin recovery and offer instant relief from sunburn.
Most Korean skin care routines start off with an oil-based cleanser to effectively break down and remove sunscreen, makeup and impurities from skin before following up with a more traditional cleanser. This cleansing oil by Anua was made popular for targeting clogged pores and those stubborn nose blackheads, while claiming to help balance sebum production over time. This irritation-free formula contains a nourishing blend of vitamin E, plant extracts, seed oils, and, like most of Anua's products, heartleaf extract to help soothe red, troubled or acne-prone skin.
Like many Korean sunscreen formulations, this hydrating daily sun cream by Round Lab is lightweight, non-greasy, fast-absorbing and doesn't leave a white cast. A recurring favorite in my sunscreen rotation, this broad-spectrum SPF 50 formula feels cool and refreshing on the skin and contains both birch tree sap and hyaluronic acid to help keep skin moisturized throughout the day. It leaves behind a natural finish so this is a good option for people who don't like their skin too dewy or matte.
I've been a longtime fan of this comforting milky rice toner that aims to boost moisture and add radiance. The emulsive formula has antioxidant-rich niacinamide and 77.78% goami rice extract, a nourishing ingredient that brightens dull skin and addresses rough texture, without irritating. It's the perfect weight for a toner — not too thin and not too thick — and sometimes I'll apply it in between layers of my skin care to ensure the best absorption possible.
Amore Pacific's powder-to-foam enzyme treatment can help deeply exfoliate and renew the texture of skin without irritation. A combination of two green tea-derived exfoliating enzymes helps to lift away dead skin cells, soften the appearance of fine lines, while hyaluronic acid hydrates and comforts. I have personally been using this treatment about three times a week for the past several years, and I love the way it improves my skin texture without stripping the surface or making it feel tight.