7 Korean Skincare Brands to Look For in the UAE

K Beauty is global. With the rise of Korean Skincare, here are the top 7 Korean skincare brands to look for in the UAE.

You may have seen it in K dramas on which you’ve been hooked or on social media where famous people get to endorse. Korean skincare brands have been making loud noises worldwide and mind you, they’re effective in that almost every woman has a thing or two in their bathrooms.

It can be a basic moisturizer, mask, sunscreen, serum, and more. This immense impact on skincare is game-changing. If you are on the quest for the finest names, here are the top 7 Korean skincare brands to look for in the UAE. 

ETUDE HOUSE

Etude House Seoul was established in 2005 but its mother company Amore Pacific began in 1966. With over 200+ stores worldwide, it is in fact, the widest and most popular Korean skincare brand.

Apart from its famous line of makeup, this brand also dominates the list of sun protection creams. Etude Sunprise Mild Airy Finish SPF 50+ PA++++ 55ml is considered to be a sun milk lotion that delivers long-lasting protection from harmful sun rays. 

What people love about this sunscreen is the super mild feel and non-sticky element that is perfect for the UAE weather. Another plus point is that this product is hypoallergenic which even those with oily and sensitive skin can use it.

Formulated with Centella Asiatica, sunflower oil, and lemon, Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sunscreen is your ultimate go-to for all-natural sun protection. 

LANEIGE

Launched with the first campaign ‘Laneige Protects Women’, this South Korean brand was established in 1994 along with famous Korean actresses as brand ambassadors. Its flagship products include a sleeping mask, BB cream, moisturizer, and lipsticks.

Today, this brand is famous for its  Laneige Lip sleeping mask. This is an overnight lip mask that hydrates chapped lips and softens them by locking in moisture.

This lip mask contains berry fruit complex, coconut oil, and vitamin C. These are the key ingredients in giving you soft, smooth, and kissable lips. 

ISNTREE

From blogger to brand CEO, Isntree is an impacting success story that paved a major road for natural and transparent Korean skincare. 

Its name was coined with the following inspiration (excerpt from their website):

ISland- a nature island that is pristine and clean and not impacted by pollution

Natural- use of pure raw materials from nature

TREE– a strong tree that bears good fruit and grows with our consumers

Being committed to providing pure and clean skincare, its famous product Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel provides 8-layer protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. This sun gel has the following key ingredients, Fig Fruit Extract, Ceramide, and Centella Asiatica Extract.

These ingredients provide oil-moisture balance, gentle sunscreen protection, wrinkle protection, and skin brightening. 

Isntree is a brand that brags about its delicate ingredients and has proven to have no irritants, alcohol, paraben, Triethanolamine, Formaldehyde, and other toxic components that can harm your skin and mother nature.

Now you can enjoy outdoor strolls around Dubai and have the option to guard your skin from the harmful elements of the sun with Isntree. 

INNISFREE

Who doesn’t know Innisfree? This Korean brand is also owned by Amore Pacific and was founded in 2000. Innisfree is a more straightforward skincare brand that makes skin line products sourced from Jeju Island in South Korea. 

It was the first Korean skincare brand famous for being eco-friendly and healthy. Of course, its famous product, Innisfree Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam is still the top choice of women when it comes to facial cleansers. 

This pore-cleansing solution contains Jeju volcanic clusters that have extraordinary cleansing powers. It is known to absorb dirt and sebum efficiently, leaving your pores clean and healthy. 

Innisfree Volcanic Pore Cleansing foam is also ideal for removing makeup, and preventing blackhead and whitehead breakouts.

If you’ve been looking for a cleanser that can match your daily routine in the UAE, try this volcanic pore cleanser and feel your skin rejuvenated.

COSRX

Among the big names in Korean skincare brands, there are new and rising names that are gaining immense popularity because of giving more quality beyond outer beauty. 

One of the newest in the market is COSRX, a term minted from “Cosmetics + RX (Prescription) = COSRX”. This small Korean company began in 2013 with just a handful of products, yet each of its skin lines gained a huge following. Celebrities on different platforms were in awe of this brand’s introduction to snail mucin. 

One of the components of snail mucin is hyaluronic acid which is a humectant or water-absorbing substance, that locks in moisture and creates a barrier to keep it in resulting in more supple, firm, and hydrated skin. 

COSRX Hyaluronic Hydra Intensive Cream is one of the go-to products for people who want to defy skin aging. Adding this product to your daily skincare routine can result in a plump and youthful glow.

This intensive cream is safe to use even for those with sensitive skin types. 

BEAUTY OF JOSEON

An ideal combination of unchanging beauty using traditional methods. Beauty of Joseon is a historical brand that promotes skincare products made from ingredients used by Korean ancestors. 

Perhaps, the brand got its name from the Joseon Dynasty, the last kingdom of Korea, particularly giving emphasis to the Joseon ladies, wives, and daughters. 

The Joseon ladies swear on the virtues of beauty and dignity, thus, offering a line of products that give women confidence and elegance in different stages – 20s to 40s. 

There are two current favorites spreading across the globe. The Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis + Niacinamide and the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics. 

The Glow Serum Propolis with Niacinamide is primarily for acne-prone and dry skin types. It contains propolis, an aged beauty secret that came from bees that provides anti-inflammatory benefits and hydrates the skin.

Niacinamide, on the other hand, gives you a brightening effect and reduces large pores. When both key ingredients mix, you are sure to have that smooth and white skin. 

When looking for a natural sunscreen, Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun; Rice + Probiotics is a top choice. It is lightweight and non-sticky, with organic sun protection. It contains rice extracts and fermented grain extracts.

Rice is another traditional beauty secret that Joseon women used. Rice extracts are rich in Vitamins B, C, and E, amino acids, and minerals. Fermented grain extracts provide probiotics that are effective in supporting the skin barrier and reducing skin inflammation and sensitivity.

These products from Beauty of Joseon are sure ways to help you beat the extreme weather in the UAE.

SULWHASOO

Ginseng-led skincare brand, Sulwhasoo began in 1966. Its primary goal is to provide a holistic beauty journey for every woman. Formulated with traditional Korean herbal medicine, this brand has found its niche worldwide. 

Its famous product, Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum covers 6 of the most common skin issues which are hydration, radiance, visible wrinkles, translucency, brightness, and moisture barrier.

Made from JAUM Activator™, a blend of 5 special herbs – peony, Solomon’s seal, Rehmannia, White Lily, and sacred lotus. 

This activating serum is ideal to use with the other 3 products to achieve calm and brilliant beauty. 

Conclusion

Whether you are planning to start your Korean skincare journey or are already an enthusiast, these brands offer similar products with varying components. Make sure to check if these ingredients are safe for your type of skin. 

And of course, the key to achieving that Korean-like glass skin is consistency. Remember that beauty does not happen overnight, it takes time, patience, and some of these 7 Korean skincare brands that you look for in the UAE.