Frequently Asked Questions
How are Korean body-care products different from American ones?
Korean body-care products usually use fewer butters and oils than American ones, and the scents tend to be much more subtle, Chung Park says.
Body care is also more deeply rooted in Korean culture than in American culture. Koreans have a long history of frequenting public bath houses, like mogyoktang and jjimjilbang, and using a rough, exfoliating washcloth daily, Chung Park explains. “That history is reflected in modern K-beauty body products with lightweight body serums, mists, and lotions, as well as gentle body scrubs.”
It’s no surprise that some of the best Korean skin care, especially body products, are continuously trending on TikTok, with fans praising their elegant textures and skin-first approach. Many of these finds hail from skin-care brands known for their minimalist formulas and sensitive skin-friendly ingredients, helping to redefine what body care can look like.
Meet the experts
- Sarah Chung Park is the founder and CEO of Landing International, a B2B platform bringing K-beauty brands to American stores.
- Y. Claire Chang, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at New York City’s UnionDerm.
- Charlotte Cho, cofounder of Soko Glam, is based in New York City.
- Jane Yoo, MD, is a dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best Korean body-care products, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified derms and K-beauty experts. To learn moreabout our reporting and testing process, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Your bod deserves the very best, a.k.a. all of the products in the following stories:
