Korean skincare products that are trendy and effective

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If you’ve ever doomscrolled on TikTok or wandered through a beauty shop lately, you’ve likely noticed the rise of Korean beauty. Once a niche trend defined by multi-step routines, it’s now firmly established thanks to innovative formulas and a focus on healthy, luminous skin that reduces the need for heavy makeup.

We’ve rounded up some of the best Korean skincare finds available in Canada for each skincare step, from cult classics to new standouts, that actually live up to the hype.

Best Korean skincare products, summary

Best oil-based cleanser: Innisfree Hydrating Green Tea Amino Acid Cleansing Oil
Best water-based cleanser: Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Jelly Cleanser
Best exfoliator: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Best mist: AESTURA Moisturizing Cream Mist
Best essence: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Best serum:Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
Best moisturizer: Hanyul Red Rice Hydrating Cream
Best SPF: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50

Best Korean skincare products, explained

Best oil-based cleanser: Innisfree Hydrating Green Tea Amino Acid Cleansing Oil

The first step in a Korean skincare routine is always oil-based, since oil attracts oil. Double cleansing is considered the most effective way to lift stubborn sunscreen, makeup and other daily build-up. Innisfree’s Cleansing Oil famously uses green tea from Jeju Island, with added amino acids and lightweight oils to melt impurities with a silky texture rather than abrasive scrubbing.

Suitable for all skin types, an oil cleanser helps prepare your skin for the next step in your skincare routine.

Price: $32.50
Where to buy: Amazon | Sephora | Stylevana

Best water-based cleanser: Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Jelly Cleanser

If you’re following the K-beauty double cleanse method, a foaming cleanser is a must, and this hydrating cleanser seals the deal. A bouncy gel that transforms into a soft foam, Belif’s Jelly Cleanser makes the second step of a double cleanse both gentle and moisturizing, gently sweeping away any remaining oil, makeup, or grime without leaving your skin feeling stripped.

Powered by the same moisture-boosting botanicals as their global favourite Aqua Bomb cream, this cleanser is gentle yet effective in keeping skin feeling clean, soft, and balanced.

Price: $40.50
Where to buy: Amazon | Sephora

Best exfoliator: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner

Inspired by the famous Korean aqua peel facial, Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow has bottled the benefits of chemical exfoliation, making it suitable for daily use. With a blend of PHAs and BHAs, this formula helps smooth texture, clear pores, and boost glow.

It avoids the harshness of physical scrubs, while fruit-derived extracts keep skin balanced. A true fan favourite product, it remains one of Glow Recipe’s best sellers for good reason. 

Price: $50.50
Where to buy: Sephora

Best mist: AESTURA Moisturizing Cream Mist

Before Western beauty caught on to the hype of milky mists and ceramides for barrier repair, Korea was already ahead of the curve, and the AESTURA Cream Mist was leading the charge. Known for being the number one dermatologist-recommended brand in Korea, the combo cream-toner combines the lightweight feel of a toner with the nourishing qualities of a cream that can be worn on bare skin or over makeup.

Price: $29
Where to buy: Sephora | Stylevana

Best essence: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Debatably the most well-known K-beauty product in any market, the COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Essence helped popularise the “glass skin” trend with its ability to instantly smooth and plump. The secret? Snail mucin, a naturally secreted filtrate that is collected without harming snails and is packed with proteins, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid.

Don’t let the star ingredient fool you, though. The texture is light and absorbs quickly, without leaving a slimy residue.

Price: $29
Where to buy: Amazon | Kiokki and… | Sephora | Stylevana

Best serum: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

Drawing on Sulwhasoo’s roots in traditional Korean herbal medicine, the First Care Serum boasts an impressive 500-hour aged ginseng extract that strengthens the skin’s barrier and improves radiance, all while combating visible signs of aging. 

Plus, the addition of a vitamin C derivative provides brightening benefits in a gentler, less sun-sensitive form than traditional vitamin C.

Price: $120
Where to buy: Amazon | Sephora 

Best moisturizer: Hanyul Red Rice Hydrating Cream

Newly launched in Canada, Hanyul’s Red Rice Hydrating Cream is a rich hydrator that utilizes Korean fermented red rice known for its nourishing and strengthening properties. Three different types of ceramides work together to reinforce the skin barrier, while a plant-based collagen targets firmness.

Packaged in a glass jar for easy recycling, the container itself offers both a sensorial weightiness and a sustainable touch to your vanity.

Price: $54
Where to buy: Amazon | Sephora 

Best SPF: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50

SPF is a non-negotiable in any skincare routine, and K-beauty has long emphasized the importance of sun safety. Beauty of Joseon’s SPF 50 has its own icon status because it marries UV protection with skincare benefits. The texture is light and creamy, sinks in effortlessly, and leaves skin supple with no ashiness or white cast.

Price: $22.30
Where to buy: Stylevana

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