The 11 Best Korean Beauty Products For Glowing Skin – 2023
Brighten your skin and give it a natural glow with these bestselling Korean products.
Catie WiggyLicensed Esthetician
Expertise: Clean Beauty
Experience: 15 years
Catie Wiggy has over 15 years of experience as a Licensed Master Esthetician and natural product formulator. She is the founder of Creative Beauty Collective and has worked behind the scenes with a wide variety of brands throughout her care... more
Shiboli Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 3 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with three years of experience. As an editor, she ... more
Amp up your skincare game with K-beauty products. These products are known for their unique and effective formulae. If you are looking for a skin brightening product, add the best Korean skin whitening products to your skincare routine. They contain potent ingredients that help reduce skin blemishes, evens out skin tone, spots and offer a radiant look to the skin. In addition, they are known for addressing several skin concerns and restoring skin health. In this article, we have listed the 11 best Korean skin whitening products that will give you spots-free clear glowing skin. Scroll down and check them out.
In This Article
The 11 Best Korean Beauty Products For Glowing Skin – 2023
1. Best Overall: SkinFood Rice Mask Wash Off
Image: SKINFOOD
The SkinFood Rice Mask Wash Off is infused with 20% cheorwon odae rice bran water that cleanses away the dead skin while brightening, smoothening, and softening your skin tone. It also contains 5% cheorwon odae rice that combats free radical damage and promotes skin cell regeneration. The bouncy-mochi-like formula gently adheres to the skin and reveals fresh, glowing skin. This formula also targets aging and textured skin and delivers a luminous, youthful glow.
Skin Type: All skin types
Key Ingredients: Cheorwon Odae rice water, Cheorwon Odae rice, Vitamin E, and Sodium hyaluronate
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Pleasant scent
- Lightweight
- Soft texture
Cons
None
2. Best For Mature Skin: APLB Glutathione Brightening Tone Up Cream
The APLB Glutathione Brightening Tone Up Cream maintains skin health while enhancing skin elasticity. The innovative 4 leaf complex of tea tree, camellia sinensis, centella asiatica, and artemisia extracts combined with glutathione to preserve the natural moisture barrier while instantly brightening the skin. The cream is enriched with niacinamide and vitamin C to smooth uneven patches, fill in fine lines, and strengthen the skin’s surface. It is fortified with hyaluronic acid to deep-moisturize the skin, witch hazel, and lotus flower extracts to tighten the pores and reduce irritation.
Skin Type: Oily, Combination, Sensitive, Dry, Normal
Key Ingredients: Glutathione
Pros
- Lightweight
- Anti-aging
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Synthetic dye-free
Cons
None
“Glutathione is known as a premium antioxidant that helps improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It also promotes moisture retention by protecting the outer layer of the skin so you stay hydrated for longer periods of time”, says Catie Wiggy, a licensed esthetician.
3. Best Moisturizing: Hiyady Glutathione Cream
The Hiyady Glutathione Cream is formulated with a combination of glutathione and hyaluronic acid to provide the skin with an instant moisture boost while visibly reducing pigmentation. Hyaluronic acid helps retain hydration, enhance the lipid barrier, and strengthen the skin surface to combat environmental pollutants. The anti-aging properties of the product boost skin elasticity, leaving a silky, smooth texture. Glutathione reduces dark spots and freckles, revealing a brighter skin tone and neutralizing free radicals.
Skin Type: Acne-prone
Key Ingredients: Glutathione and Hyaluronic acid
Pros
- Little goes a long way
- Value for money
Cons
- May feel sticky
4. Best Gentle: AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum
Image: AXIS-Y
The AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum is formulated with 5% niacinamide, which treats hyperpigmentation and improves skin tone and texture. This lightweight formula also contains plant-derived squalene that protects your skin from free radicals and moisturizes it, papaya that brightens your skin, and sea buckthorn that eliminates dark spots. The serum is lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin, providing a smooth, matte finish. With regular use of this serum, you can achieve a more even, glowing complexion free from dark spots.
Skin Type: All skin types
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Squalene, Papaya, and Sea buckthorn
Pros
- Lightweight
- Gentle
- Non-irritating
- Vegan
Cons
None
5. Best Value Added Set: BERGAMO Pure Snail Brightening Ampoule Set
The Pure Snail Brightening Ampoule Set from Bergamo harnesses the benefits of snail secretion filtrate to provide an instant boost of hydration to the skin to protect the natural barrier. Snail mucin is loaded with anti-aging benefits and helps fade dark spots, aids skin regeneration, and promotes collagen production. The product contains allantoin, an important part of snail secretion, that has anti-inflammatory properties to calm irritation. This set of 20 ampoules effectively fades acne scars and hyperpigmentation to leave the skin brighter and firmer.
Skin Type: All skin types
Key Ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate
Pros
- Non-sticky
- Easy-to-apply
Cons
None
6. Best Non-Comedogenic: Seoul Ceuticals Snail Repair Cream
Image: Seoul Ceuticals
The Seoul Ceuticals Snail Repair Cream contains 97.5% snail mucin extract that promotes brighter and healthier skin. It is also infused with shea butter, aloe, jojoba oil, green tea, and vitamins E and B5, which stimulate collagen production and promote cell turnover. Additionally, this non-comedogenic formula eliminates wrinkles, reduces dark spots, and reverses dullness. This cruelty-free formula is 72% organic.
Skin Type: Sensitive, Dry, Acne-prone, and Combination skin
Key Ingredients: Snail mucin extract, Vitamin E and B5, Green tea, Shea butter, Aloe, and Jojoba oil
Pros
- 97% natural ingredients
- Cruelty-free
- Non-greasy
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Thick consistency
7. Best Lightweight: Pure Block Tone Up Sun Base
Image: A’pieu
The Pure Block Tone Up Sun Base provides the benefits of a primer, sunscreen, and tone-corrector in the same formula. It is a non-greasy product infused with Tahitian vanilla that protects your skin from sun damage. It also contains six flower extracts that revitalize your dull skin and papaya and grapefruit extracts that control excess sebum and smoothen the skin. This smudge-proof formula contains SPF 50+ and PA+++ that protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. It quickly absorbs into your skin and delivers a silky matte finish to your face. Additionally, this formula combats the signs of aging and promotes an even skin tone.
Skin Type: All skin types
Key Ingredients: Tahitian vanilla, Papaya, Grapefruit, and Berry blossom complex
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Gets absorbed quickly
- Non-sticky
- Non-drying
- Matte finish
- Lightweight
- Smudge-proof
- Offers sun protection
Cons
- Strong fragrance
- Leaves a white cast on the skin
8. Best For Dark Spots: Blithe Pressed Serum
Image: BLITHE
The Blithe Pressed Serum is a multitasking cream that comprises the benefits of hydrating serums and moisturizers. It is infused with 31.27% apricot oil extract that inhibits the occurrence of spots and freckles, repairs sun-damaged skin, and illuminates your skin tone. The formula’s beta carotene and niacinamide hydrate and heal damaged skin while eliminating the appearance of dark spots. The serum also contains turmeric, neem, strawberry, blueberry, and sunflower seed oil extracts that boost your skin’s radiance.
Skin Type: Dry and Normal skin
Key Ingredients: Apricot oil extract, Beta carotene, Niacinamide, Turmeric, Neem, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Sunflower seed oil extracts
Pros
- Non-greasy
- Lasts all-day
- Lightweight
- Absorbs quickly
- Cruelty-free
- Pleasant fragrance
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Gluten-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Mineral oil-free
Cons
- Might cause breakouts
9. Best For Dry Skin: SNP Diamond Brightening Ampoule Mask
The Diamond Brightening Ampoule Mask from SNP uses finely-ground diamond particles to provide gentle exfoliation to revitalize dry and patchy skin. It removes dead and damaged skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion. The hyaluronic acid in the mask naturally moisturizes the skin and promotes elasticity and firmness, while niacinamide minimizes the appearance of pores, redness, and reduces hyperpigmentation and sun damage. This natural cellulose sheet mask fits the face contours and allows the skin to absorb all nutrients.
Skin Type: Acne-prone and dry skin
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, and Diamond powder
Pros
- Anti-aging
- Mineral oil-free
- Silicone-free
- Artificial color-free
Cons
- Strong fragrance
10. Best Unscented: SeoulCeuticals Ultra Glow Turmeric Face Cream
Image: Seoulceuticals The SeoulCeuticals Ultra Glow Turmeric Face Cream is a hydrating face moisturizer for dull and dry skin. This unscented moisturizer contains active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin E, and glycolic acid for restoring moisture and glow. It also contains turmeric that helps exfoliate, brighten, and even tone the skin. This product works as an anti-aging cream and helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Skin Type: All skin types
Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Shea butter, Organic aloe, Glycolic acid, and Salicylic acid
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Cons
- None
11. Best With SPF: Nella White Snow Brightening Tone-Up Sun Cream
The lightweight White Snow Brightening Tone-Up Sun Cream from Nella offers powerful UVA and UVB protection as it boasts a broad spectrum SPF50 and PA+++ ratings. It forms a protective layer on the skin to keep it hydrated and moisturized for long. This non-greasy formula naturally brightens the skin while concealing blemishes and minimizing visible pores. The sun cream also works as a makeup base to give the skin an all-day translucent glow.
Skin Type: Normal skin
Key Ingredients: Grapefruit oil, Lemon extract, Cardamom seed oil, and Sandalwood oil
Pros
- Lightweight
- Works as a make-up base
- Non-greasy
- Non-sticky
Cons
- Not suitable for dry skin
K- Beauty products can do wonders on your skin when it comes to skin whitening. However, you cannot select any skincare product only based on reading their pros and cons. For detailed research, check out the buying guide that we have curated for Korean skin whitening products.
Things You Should Consider Before Buying Skin Whitening Products
- Skin Type
It is very important to select skin whitening products according to your skin type. If you have normal skin, go with the vitamin-rich formulas. For oily skin, you must go for lightweight creams that can control excess sebum production and keep your skin well-nourished. If you have acne-prone skin, opt for formulations with ingredients including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid that prevent pore blockage and improve your skin’s texture.
- Ingredients
Check the ingredients listed in the product’s bottle before purchasing it. Look for ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid, hydroquinone, and licorice extract that help brighten the skin. Vitamin C helps in depigmentation of hyperpigmented spots and inhibits melanin production. If you have sensitive skin, avoid kojic acid since it causes rashes, itches, and dry patches. No matter what your skin type is, products with artificial fragrances, parabens, and sulfate-based ingredients should be avoided.
- Reviews
People who have used the products can offer better feedback. Check e-commerce websites to know more from the customers who have already purchased the skin whitening products. These reviews can be very helpful in shortlisting the right formulations for your skin. Compare the reviews and ratings of multiple products from any trustworthy website and make your choice accordingly.
- Affordability
Many skincare products, especially creams, are expensive, but some offer good value for the money you spend. The best skin whitening products are budget-friendly, clean, and long-lasting. It is important to choose products that would offer great results without burning a hole in your pocket. Opt for reasonably-priced products from trusted brands that offer toxin-free formulas.
Infographic: Things To Consider Before Buying Korean Products For Glowing Skin
Using Korean skin care products is the best way to brighten your complexion and get the even-toned skin of your dreams. They are made to suit all skin types and formulated with safe and tested ingredients that improve your skin’s appearance. But how do you know which is the product for you to buy from the above list?
Check out the infographic below to learn a few tips that you should keep in mind when buying a Korean product for glowing skin. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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Level up your skin care game by investing in K-beauty products. These products are uniquely formulated to address several skin concerns. They brighten up your dull and lifeless skin. The Korean skin whitening products contain ingredients that moisturize the skin deeply, even out the skin, help in reducing blemishes and fine lines, and give you spotless healthy glowing skin. Most of the products on our list are lightweight, non-greasy, and paraben-free. However, some might have a strong fragrance and may cause breakouts in certain skin types. Read the product reviews carefully before investing in one that addresses your skin needs.
Why Trust Stylecraze
The author of this post, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach. After thorough research and checking many different products, she recommends these best Korean skin whitening products. The products are skin safe and effectively reduce blemishes, evens the skin tone, and brighten skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most effective Korean skin whitening product?
The most effective Korean skin whitening product is quick-absorbing, improves skin elasticity, and offers a naturally radiant glow. You can try the Nella Oneday Whitener Magical Whitening Lotion, which is non-greasy and offers excellent moisturization.
Are Korean whitening products safe?
Yes, most Korean whitening products are safe to use. However, while choosing the right one, go for a product that suits your skin type, addresses specific skin issues, and is free of toxic ingredients.
Do Korean skin care routines lighten the skin tone permanently?
No, skin care routines cannot lighten your skin tone. However, when used regularly, effective regimes can improve your skin texture, nourish your skin, and offer a youthful glow.
Does the Korean skin care routine work on brown skin?
Yes. Korean skin care routines primarily focus on exfoliation, sun protection, and hydration. Therefore, it is suitable for people with brown skin who are experiencing issues like hyperpigmentation and sun damage.
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