Beauty of Joseon

Beauty of Joseon is a Korean skincare brand named after the Joseon dynasty, drawing on hanbang, the traditional Korean herbal medicine tradition. Its formulas lean on botanicals like ginseng, rice, and propolis rather than harsh actives, which is why the range reads as gentle and works for most skin types. The brand is known for keeping ingredient lists focused and pairing the old hanbang botanicals with modern ones like niacinamide.

Cleansing is where a Korean routine starts, and this collection gives you two oil-based options: the Ginseng Cleansing Oil and the Radiance Cleansing Balm. Both break down makeup, sunscreen, and the day's grime in the first step of a double cleanse. The oil rinses off easily and suits people who prefer a liquid texture, while the balm melts on contact and is a tidy option for travel. Follow either with a water-based cleanser.

For the second cleanse, the Plum Refreshing Cleanser clears away whatever the oil step loosened and leaves skin feeling clean without tightness. This is the step that removes sweat and water-soluble debris. Using a gentle water-based cleanser after your oil or balm is what makes a double cleanse work, and it keeps the routine from stripping the skin.

The Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel handles exfoliation. A peeling gel sloughs away dead surface skin without the grit of a physical scrub, so it is a softer way to keep skin smooth and help the rest of your products absorb. Use it a couple of times a week rather than daily, and skip it on days your skin feels sensitised. It is a useful step before applying treatment essences and serums.

The Glow Replenishing Rice Toner is the brand's hydrating toner, using rice extract to soften and prep the skin after cleansing. In a Korean routine, a hydrating toner is not an astringent; it is the first layer of moisture that helps everything after it sink in. Pat it in with your hands or a cotton pad, and layer it more than once if your skin is feeling dry.

For treatment, the collection includes the Ginseng Essence Water and the Glow Serum with Propolis and Niacinamide. The Ginseng Essence Water adds a watery layer of ginseng-rich hydration, while the Glow Serum pairs propolis with niacinamide to support a brighter, more even-looking complexion. Apply the lighter essence first, then the serum, working from thinnest to thickest texture.

To seal everything in, the Dynasty Cream comes in 50ml and 100ml sizes, and the lighter Red Bean Water Gel is on hand for warmer weather or oilier skin. The Dynasty Cream is the richer occlusive step that locks in the layers underneath, so it suits drier skin or night-time use. The Red Bean Water Gel gives a lighter, more breathable finish when a heavy cream feels like too much.

Beyond the core routine, the brand also spans sunscreen and masks, which round out the line. Daytime sun protection is the step that protects all the work the rest of your routine does, so a Beauty of Joseon sunscreen is worth adding as your final morning step. Masks give an occasional boost of hydration when skin needs extra care.

A full Beauty of Joseon routine runs cleanse, exfoliate (a few times a week), tone, essence, serum, then moisturiser, with sunscreen last in the morning. Start with the Ginseng Cleansing Oil or Radiance Cleansing Balm, follow with the Plum Refreshing Cleanser, then layer the Rice Toner, Ginseng Essence Water, and Glow Serum before finishing with the Dynasty Cream or Red Bean Water Gel. Because it is one brand, the textures are made to layer together.