31-01-2025
22 Of The Best Korean Makeup Brands You Should Know About
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
From affordable staples to luxury brands that are definitely worth the splurge.
So you're ready to dive into the world of Korean makeup?? Or you just want to find some new brands to expand your collection??? You're in for a treat!
The good news? There are TONS of Korean brands to explore, specializing in everything from bold lip colors to gorgeously pigmented blushes.
FreenJoy/Interscope
The less good news? Many of the shade ranges for complexion products like concealers and foundations are fairly limited and do not include options for deeper skin tones. Fortunately, some brands (Hi, Clio and Joah!) are starting to expand their ranges, and hopefully others will follow suit. Because of that, we'll be sticking to products recommendations that should work for a variety of skin tones — now let's get started!
1. The Saem might just be the brand to turn to if you're looking for drugstore-priced staples. From lip colors to setting powders, you can basically upgrade your entire routine without spending a fortune.
The Saem
2. Joah Beauty recently went viral for their under-eye concealer — and the brand has a well-rounded lineup of superstar products to back up the hype. You'll also find a slightly larger shade selection in the complexion products compared to other K-Beauty brands.
Amazon
3. Clio has been a K-Beauty staple for decades now — so it's no surprise they have a standout product in nearly every category. They also have a slightly larger shade range, especially in the highly rated Kill Cover Cushion Foundation.
Amazon
4. Etude has been a Korean makeup staple for years now, thanks to its affordable price point and adorable packaging — and the products give some serious bang for the buck.
5. Holika Holika is a perfect one-stop-shop brand if you're looking for a little bit of everything at an affordable price — and I personally am deeply obsessed with their Jelly Dough Blushes.
YesStyle
Get the My Fave Piece shadow here and the Mellow Blurring Lip Pencil here.
What to shop: They're most known for their extensive skincare line — but I personally think their Jelly Dough Blushes are super creamy, easily blendable, and the best on the market.
6. Peripera — the ultimate brand if you're looking for long-lasting and affordable lip products. The Ink the Velvet lip tint has gone wildly viral (peep the 18,000+ rave ratings on Amazon 👀) for being highly pigmented and long-lasting.
Get the Ink the Velvet Lip Tint here and the Sugar Twinkle Duo Eyeshadow Stick here.
What to shop: Along with the lip tint, they also have eye shadows that reviewers love for their shimmery, buildable formula.
7. Kaja stands out for being one of the most accessible Korean makeup brands thanks to its availability at Sephora — and they've become beloved for their super adorable packaging and emphasis on bright, fun colors.
8. Innisfree is typically well-known for their skincare line — but they have a few makeup items that are worth raving over if you're looking for fuss-free staples.
Get the Dewy Tint Lip Balm here and the No-Sebum Mineral Powder here.
What to shop: Their small line of makeup essentials includes moisturizing lip tints, mattifying powders, and eyebrow pencils. And of course, their skincare is not to be missed.
9. Too Cool for School, as it name might suggest, certainly stands out from the pack with its artsy packaging and innovative products. They have the #1 contour palette in Korea, which many people love thanks to the three shades that are super easy to blend.
Too Cool For School
10. Sulwhasoo — a beloved luxury brand with a growing makeup line that is 100% worth the splurge if you like skincare-worthy ingredients in elevated packaging.
Sulwhasoo
11. Hince Beauty has become widely known as a go-to Korean brand if you're going for a "fun and glowy, but make it natural" look. From highlighters to blush, there are tons of mid-priced staples that give higher-end brands a run for their money.
Amazon
Get the True Dimension Radiance Balm here and the True Dimension Layering Cheek here.
What to shop: Start with their lip products, then check out the highlighters, and blush.
12. A'pieu carries everything from skin to hair care — but the blushes truly reign supreme when it comes to makeup. Including both jelly and liquid formulas, reviewers say these sheer out beautifully and stay on all day.
Amazon
13. Rom&nd was founded by beauty influencer Saeron Min — and the focus on dewy, subtle color reflects its social media origins. From soft blushes to glaze-like lip balms, these products are practically begging to be posted on Instagram.
rom&nd
14. Hera Beauty is perfect if you're ready to graduate to a ~luxury experience~ similar to what you might fight in Nordstrom or Saks. The best place to start? The lip products stand out for their super creamy formulas and eye-catching color payoff.
15. Glint should be on your radar if you're looking for that ✨glow✨ that can be seen from a mile away. If blinding highlighters and gorgeously glossy lips are your vibe, prepare to meet your new favorite brand.
16. Amuse is relatively new in the K-Beauty space, but they've made quite a splash for their vegan formulas, eye-catching packaging, and the viral Dew Tint that's lightweight yet super shiny.
YesStyle
17. Luna is most known for base products, though its small but impressive collection of blushes and eye shadows have racked up some impressive reviews.
18. 3CE excels at providing subtle, easy-to-use colors in everything from lip tints to blush, and the prices are truly *chef's kiss.*
19. Muzigae Mansion doesn't have a super extensive lineup of products quite yet, but its vegan lip tints have made quite an impression thanks to the hydrating Icy Glow Lip Tint and the blurring Objet Liquid Lip Tint.
20. Espoir has a small but mighty collection of lip and eye essentials with impressive reviews — and even more impressive prices.
21. Jung Saem Mool — founded by the celebrity makeup artist of the same name — is perfect for those looking for pro-level formulas infused with skincare ingredients. Think of this as the Charlotte Tilbury of K-Beauty — slightly pricier than other brands but worth the cost.
22. Heart Percent is the brand to turn to if you're looking for lip products with a trendy twist — from chunky lip pencils to top coats that'll give you ✨ glass lips ✨.
