Beauty of Joseon in 2026: Is the Hype Still Real? The Products Worth Buying, and Which to Skip for Your Skin
"Here's a bit of K-beauty gossip I love: Beauty of Joseon is often said to be more famous abroad than at home. Plenty of my friends in Seoul first heard of it when relatives in Europe and the US asked them to send the sunscreen, at the height of the shortages. A few years later the Relief Sun is still on every 'best sunscreen' list. So is the rest of the range as good, or just riding on one viral tube? I've used the key products for months. Here's my verdict on each."
The short answer: is Beauty of Joseon worth it?
Yes, for the essentials. The Relief Sun is still one of the most wearable daily sunscreens we stock, the Dynasty Cream is a reliable rich moisturizer for dry skin, and the Glow Deep Serum is a gentle, fragrance-free way to work on dark spots. The brand's idea is hanbang, traditional Korean herbal ingredients like rice, ginseng and green plum, in modern, gentle formulas. Pick by skin type rather than buying the whole range.
Hanbang
Traditional Korean herbal ingredients, used here in simple, modern formulas.
Rice
Rice bran water and rice extract for hydration and glow. The famous "court ladies' rice water" is folklore, but the hydration is real.
Ginseng
The brand's anti-ageing hero, used in the Revive line for tired skin and eyes.
Browse the full range in Beauty of Joseon, or compare the Relief Sun with every other SPF we stock in Korean sunscreen by skin type.
"I keep hearing about the sunscreen. Is the rest of the brand any good?"
The Icons: Relief Sun and Dynasty Cream
The two products most people buy first, and both still earn their place.
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++ (50ml)
Rice extract and grain probiotics hydrate as the filters protect, with a soft, dewy finish. If your skin is oily, choose the lighter Aqua-Fresh version instead. Fragrance-free, vegan, dermatologically-tested, pregnancy-friendly and made with clean ingredients.
Best for: dry, normal and sensitive skin; daily wear.Less suited to: very oily skin wanting matte.
Shop The Relief Sun
Dynasty Cream
The original Beauty of Joseon hero: dense but breathable, nourishing and glowy, and well-behaved under makeup. Available in 50ml and 100ml. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, dermatologically-tested, pregnancy-friendly and made with clean ingredients; contains honey.
Best for: dry, normal and sensitive skin; winter.Less suited to: oily skin; vegan routines.
Shop The Dynasty Cream"I want to work on dark spots or breakouts, gently."
The Treatments: Glow Deep Serum vs Glow Serum
Two serums with similar names and different jobs. Choose by your main concern.
Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin
Mostly rice bran water, with alpha-arbutin to help fade dark spots and post-breakout marks over time. Comes in 30ml and a 60ml size, which lasts much longer if you use it morning and night. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, vegan, dermatologically-tested, pregnancy-friendly and made with clean ingredients.
Best for: normal, dry, combination and sensitive skin; dark spots; uneven tone.Less suited to: anyone who skips daily sunscreen.
Shop The Glow Deep Serum
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide (30ml)
Propolis soothes and adds glow while niacinamide helps with oil and the look of pores. My T-zone looked calmer and less shiny within a few weeks. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, dermatologically-tested, pregnancy-friendly and made with clean ingredients; not vegan.
Best for: acne-prone, oily and combination skin; dullness.Less suited to: anyone allergic to bee products; very dry skin.
Shop The Glow Serum"What else is worth trying?"
The Extras: Revive Eye Serum and Ground Rice & Honey Glow Mask
Not essentials, but the two I'd add next.
Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal (30ml)
A gentle level of retinal with ginseng, ceramide and a peptide. Start two or three nights a week. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free and dermatologically-tested.
Best for: dry, normal and combination skin; fine lines.Less suited to: pregnancy and breastfeeding; very sensitive eyes.
Shop The Revive Eye Serum
Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask (150ml)
Upcycled makgeolli (rice wine) lees and honey gently polish and purify, leaving skin smooth and glowy after ten minutes. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, dermatologically-tested, pregnancy-friendly and made with clean ingredients; not vegan.
Best for: normal, combination and dry skin; dullness; rough texture.Less suited to: very sensitive or broken skin; vegan routines.
Shop The Glow Mask"Just tell me what to buy for my skin type."
Your Beauty of Joseon Routine by Skin Type
Three simple routines, all from products we stock.
| Skin type | Cleanse | Treat | Moisturize & protect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oily, breakout-prone | Green Plum Cleanser | Glow Serum | Light gel moisturizer + Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh |
| Dry, dull | Radiance Cleansing Balm | Glow Deep Serum | Dynasty Cream + Relief Sun |
| Mature, lines | Ginseng Cleansing Oil | Revive Eye Serum at night | Dynasty Cream + Relief Sun |
Need a pocket SPF for touch-ups? The Matte Sun Stick works over makeup.
Your Beauty of Joseon Questions, Answered
The hype, the sunscreen and the gossip.
Is Beauty of Joseon a real Korean brand?
Yes, it's a Korean brand. It's often said to be better known abroad than in Korea, which is part of its story: much of its fame grew through international fans.
Relief Sun or Aqua-Fresh?
Original Relief Sun for dry or normal skin and a dewy finish; Aqua-Fresh for oily or combination skin and hot weather.
Which Beauty of Joseon serum is best for dark spots?
The Glow Deep Serum with alpha-arbutin. For oily, breakout-prone skin, the Glow Serum with propolis and niacinamide is the better match.
Is Beauty of Joseon good for sensitive skin?
Many of its products are fragrance-free and gentle, including the Relief Sun, Dynasty Cream and Glow Deep Serum. The Revive Eye Serum contains retinal, so introduce it slowly.
Shop Beauty of Joseon
Sunscreens, serums, creams and cleansers from the hanbang brand. 100% authentic, delivered from our hubs in Switzerland and the EU to your door anywhere in Europe.
Shop The Brand
Lascia un commento