Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trust buying Korean skin-care products online?
Buying K-beauty products online can be perfectly safe, as long as you’re mindful about where you’re shopping and who the seller is. These products are widely available through online retailers, including Amazon, but it’s worth taking a moment to confirm that the seller is reputable to ensure the products are authentic. Listings, prices, and third-party vendors can change frequently, so the safest bet is to purchase items sold directly by the brand or by Amazon itself (sometimes the seller may appear under a parent company name—for example, I’m From products are sold by Wishtrend). You can also shop through trusted U.S.-based K-beauty retailers like Soko Glam, which carefully curates its selection, or Asia-based sites such as YesStyle and Olive Young. Just keep in mind that orders shipping from overseas may take a little longer to arrive and are subject to tariffs.
Meet the experts
- Hee Jin Kim, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician based in Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of beauty distributor Landing International and creator of K-Beauty World at Ulta Beauty, based in Los Angeles
- Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Refinery, based in Washington
- Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best Korean skin-care brands, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, dermatologists, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out 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 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.
Even more K-beauty favorites:
Now, watch Olympian Alysa Liu’s 10-minute rink-ready makeup routine:
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