There’s something about Korean skincare we just can’t stop obsessing about, and among our favourite brands is the ever-popular COSRX. Apart from giving us a “glass skin” glow, the affordable price point is also what makes it easy for us to click “add to cart”.
Nestled on the shelves of Watsons, COSRX’s products are priced between S$5.90 and S$39.90 to go easy on our wallets. But if you want to dip your toes into other brands and can’t seem to find ones that check both the “affordable” and “effective” boxes, we’re here to help.
To take your skin to the next level without the hefty price tag, here are eight Korean skincare brands you need to know about.
1. Benton
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4wiv1cn0gD/
Inspired by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Benton aims to make you look younger as you grow older, just like Brad Pitt’s character in the movie. Launched in 2011, the Korean brand uses only natural ingredients and preservatives in its formulas to prevent topical irritation, so it’s suitable for all skin types.
The products help to hydrate your skin and address skin concerns like wrinkles and acne, so you can look more youthful over time. Benton features four different skincare lines: Aloe, Snail Bee, Honest, and Fermentation. Made in Korea, Benton’s products are not tested on animals, which is why they’ve earned a cruelty-free certification from PETA.
Benton’s products are available at Althea, iHerb, LookFantastic, YesStyle, Hush.sg, and My Beauty Moments.
Products to try
The Snail Bee High Content Essence contains snail mucin and bee venom to feed your skin with intense moisture, while aloe, collagen and other plant extracts help soothe and smooth your skin. It also contains one of our favourite ingredients, niacinamide, to reduce skin congestion and calm active breakouts.
Of the recommended stores, Hush.sg offers the best price at S$14.70 for 60ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Althea, iHerb, YesStyle, Hush.sg, and My Beauty Moments.
Benton’s Aloe BHA Skin Toner is a fragrance-free toner that contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and calm the skin. Aloe vera soothes while snail mucin brings back moisture to the skin, so you don’t have to worry about dryness when you use this product.
Of the recommended stores, Hush.sg offers the best price at S$13.20 for 200ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Althea, iHerb, LookFantastic, YesStyle, and My Beauty Moments.
2. Sioris
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8skMn2BMsS/
The name Sioris originated from the combination of words “simple” and “original”. This vegan-certified beauty brand prides itself on using natural and seasonal ingredients in their formulations. To maintain the freshness of their formulations, the ingredients used are harvested from local farms and manufactured within a year. It’s the perfect brand to look into if you want effective, clean, vegan products.
Sioris’ products are available at Fickle Beauty and COCOMO
Products to try
If you’re a busy bee, try the Time Is Running Out Mist, a multi-tasking 3-in-1 toner, mist, and serum. Made with nourishing plant oils like macadamia seed, jojoba, and sunflower seed, it delivers a boost of moisture to your skin quickly and easily. Just give it a shake and spritz for hydrated, supple skin.
Of the recommended stores, COCOMO offers the best price at S$23.24 for 100ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Fickle Beauty.
Sioris’ A Calming Day Ampoule is a lightweight treatment that soothes sensitive skin and provides lasting hydration. It contains 86% of Omija fruit extract, an antioxidant-rich adaptogen usually found in Korea, China, and Japan to fight environmental stressors like pollution. The ampoule also contains calendula and centella to calm inflamed skin.
Of the recommended stores, COCOMO offers the best price at S$39.90 for 35ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
3. Pyunkang Yul
https://www.instagram.com/p/Biv2runh7_X/
Developed by the Pyunkang Oriental Medicine Clinic in Korea, Pyunkang Yul is known for treating dry skin and dermatitis. The brand eliminates all the frills and fillers you’d typically find on an ingredients list. That means no fragrances or textural enhancers – a dream come true for those with sensitive skin.
This cruelty-free brand places emphasis on finding the right balance between oil and moisture, which is imperative to achieving healthy skin.
Pyunkang Yul’s products are available at Althea, Hush.sg, Skinx, iHerb, YesStyle, and My Beauty Moments.
Products to try
This Essence Toner is the product that catapulted Pyunkang Yul to fame. Made with 91.3% of milkvetch root extract, this hydrating toner absorbs quickly into the skin. Whether you use a single layer or multiple layers after cleansing, you’ll notice plumper, smoother skin. The antioxidant-rich essence toner also has anti-inflammatory properties to calm irritated skin.
Of the recommended stores, Hush.sg offers the best price at S$16.90 for 200ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at YesStyle, iHerb, Althea, Skinx, and My Beauty Moments.
Pyunkang Yul’s Moisture Cream is a creamy yet lightweight moisturiser that’s suitable for all skin types, especially those with sensitive, acne-prone, or oily skin. Formulated with 92% of coptis japonica root extract, an anti-inflammatory medicinal herb, the cream gives your skin a glow without feeling greasy or sticky.
Of the recommended stores, Hush.sg offers the best price at S$26.90 for 100ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at YesStyle and iHerb.
4. iUNIK
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-tS_JJnKVb/
In case you were wondering, iUNIK is an acronym for Ideal Unique Natural Ingredients Knowhow. This K-beauty brand uses only hypoallergenic ingredients for all its skincare products, from everyday skin essentials to treatment serums.
iUNIK’s products are available at YesStyle, and COCOMO.
Products to try
The iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream is a light and moisturising gel that helps refresh and relieve stressed skin. Enriched with 70% centella asiatica leaf water, 10% tea tree leaf water, and six patented sprout extracts, the cream soothes and calm acne-prone or sensitive skin while protecting it from external stressors.
Of the recommended stores, COCOMO offers the best price at S$15.90 for 60ml with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at YesStyle.
Nourishing and brightening, the iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum revitalises dry and sensitive skin. It’s made with 70% propolis to soothe irritated skin as well as sea buckthorn extract to brighten the skin. The product also contains niacinamide to smooth out wrinkles and even out your skin tone. It’s perfect for dull or tired skin that’s in need of a pick-me-up.
Of the recommended stores, COCOMO offers the best price at S$16.90 for 50ml and with free shipping for orders of S$60 and above. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Hermo and YesStyle.
5. Some By Mi
https://www.instagram.com/p/B52QB02BjHj/
A brand that offers both skincare and makeup products, Some By Mi believes that natural beauty deserves attention. The brand takes its name from the Korean word “mi” which means “beauty,” and proudly manufactures all its products in Korea.
Some By Mi products are available at Althea, COCOMO, iHerb, YesStyle, and Olive Young.
Products to try
If you’re new to Some By Mi, then you have to try the raved-about AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner. Best suited for people with oily and acne-prone skin, this low-pH toner is fortified with the anti-inflammatory goodness of tea tree leaf extract. It also uses a combination of three chemical exfoliants to slough off dead skin cells and unclog pores.
Of the recommended stores, Althea offers the best price at S$15.70 for 150ml with free shipping. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at YesStyle, iHerb, and COCOMO.
The Truecica Mineral 100 Calming Sunscreen is perfect for those with sensitive skin. The star ingredient is cica, also known as centella asiatica, which helps to repair the skin’s barrier and soothe inflammation. It’s a trendy ingredient that’s usually found in serums and moisturisers, but the brand has infused its sunscreen with it to ensure all-day protection from UV rays and aggressors.
Of the recommended stores iHerb offers the best price at S$18.84 for 50ml and with free shipping for orders over S$40. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Althea and YesStyle.
6. PURITO
https://www.instagram.com/p/B874bZcH_Z4/
Combining the word “purify” with the Korean word for “soil”, PURITO’s name aptly reflects the brand’s ethos. Eco-friendly and cruelty-free, the brand uses naturally-derived ingredients that are approved by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
PURITO’s products are available at Hermo and YesStyle.
Products to try
PURITO Centella Green Level Unscented Sun SPF50+ has climbed the ranks of popularity within the last year, and with good reason. It’s a gentle, non-sticky sunscreen that uses mineral filters to shield the skin from harmful UV rays. Centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid in the formula help to soothe the skin and restore hydration too. Plus, the sunscreen doesn’t leave a white cast on your skin, which makes it the perfect base for makeup.
Of the recommended stores, YesStyle offers the best price at S$19.41 for 60ml and with free express shipping for orders over S$110. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Care to Beauty.
Infused with 49% of cica extract, ceramides, and collagen, the Centella Green Level Buffet Serum helps to smooth out wrinkles while strengthening the skin barriers for brighter, healthier skin. It sinks into the skin quickly, feeding it with numerous nutrients all at once like a buffet.
Of the recommended stores, YesStyle offers the best price at S$19.41 for 60ml and with free express shipping for orders over S$110. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Hermo.
7. Illiyoon
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBKF1thHhbZ/
A skincare brand that specialises in restoring your skin’s moisture levels, Illiyoon offers products that are perfect for those with sensitive or dry skin. Its key ingredient is ceramide, which helps to strengthen the skin barrier. Each formula is gentle and nourishing, using hypoallergenic ingredients that are suitable for babies and toddlers.
Illiyoon’s products are available at YesStyle, Qoo10, and Olive Young.
Products to try
Illiyoon’s Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream contains little white capsules that burst as you rub the cream into your skin. Each tiny capsule actually contains a pseudo-ceramide complex gets absorbed into your skin at a deeper level, which makes them more effective for skin repair and protection. It comes in a huge 200ml tube too – a real bang for your buck.
Of the recommended stores, Qoo10 offers the best price at S$22 for 200ml with free shipping. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at YesStyle and Olive Young.
If the Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is a little too heavy for you, try the Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel. It’s a refreshing gel that hydrates and soothes the skin – great for our humid weather. It’s enriched with fermented ceramide to provide lasting hydration, while the amino acids from sugar beet calm irritated skin.
Of the recommended stores, Qoo10 offers the best price at S$22 for 175ml with free shipping. This is accurate at the time of writing.
This product is also available at Olive Young.
8. Isntree
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7UmMudgvzt/
Fusing the words “island”, “natural”, and “tree” together, Isntree’s brand name represents and guides its philosophy. The skincare label uses pure and safe ingredients derived from nature, such as aloe vera and green tea extracts harvested from Jeju. All of its products are cruelty-free and made in Korea.
Isntree’s products are available at iHerb and My Beauty Moments.
Products to try
If you have oily skin that looks dull and tired, try the Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner. It uses green tea leaves that are packed with amino acids, minerals, polyphenols, and protein to keep your skin healthy. In addition to the green tea, the toner contains hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, a humectant that draws moisture into your skin.
Reviewers have touted this product as the perfect dupe for Amorepacific’s Vintage Single Extract Essence too. Like the essence, the toner is designed to protect, brighten, and clear up your complexion, but at a fraction of the price.
Of the recommended stores, only iHerb has this product in stock at S$27.52 for 200ml with free shipping for orders over S$40. This is accurate at the time of writing.
Formulated with five types of hyaluronic acid, Isntree’s Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream is made to lock in moisture for those with oily or combination skin. The light jelly-like texture spreads easily over the skin and leaves a cooling sensation behind. Squalane and allantoin in the formula help to calm and protect your skin too.
Of the recommended stores, only iHerb has this product in stock at S$26.69 for 80ml and with free shipping for orders over S$40. This is accurate at the time of writing.
