Best Korean Skincare Products: Top Beauty Cleansers for Glowing Skin
- Kavya Goswami
- Jun 28
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 4
K-Pop, Korean Beauty, Korean Skincare — these are the global buzzwords that have taken the beauty world by storm over the last few years! And right at the center of it all is Glass Skin — the internet’s favourite skincare trend. Scroll through any feed, and you’ll see the same questions popping up:
How do you get the glass skin look?
What are the best Korean skincare products for glowing, flawless skin?
K-Beauty has undoubtedly revolutionized the beauty and cosmetic industry. People everywhere are raving about the products, the 10-step skincare routine, and the glow they promise. And let’s be honest — Korean skincare has introduced us to some incredible ingredients like Rice Water, Oat Extracts, Snail Mucin, and other Ferments, and Antioxidants that were once only known in traditional home remedies, not mainstream products.
But here’s the real question:
Is Korean skincare products suitable for Indian skin?
Does it really live up to the hype for deeper, melanin-rich skin tones?
It’s time we have a real conversation about whether these globally-loved products are actually formulated for Indian skin or skin of color.
Is it wise for today’s skincare formulators to blindly replicate international formulas without checking if they truly benefit Indian skin types and conditions?
If you’ve ever been curious about these questions—this Korean Skincare Guide is for you.
Let’s decode the truth, once and for all, and check out the best Korean beauty cleansers that you can use for skin of color.
Why Korean Skincare?
Korean skincare products are so popular because of their innovative formulas, star ingredients, and a holistic skincare philosophy that resonates well with modern-day consumers.
With Korean Beauty, the goal is to achieve naturally glowing, hydrated, and smooth skin, what we now call the "glass skin."
Use of soothing, natural ingredients like Rice Water, Snail Mucin, Centella Asiatica, Avena Sativa (Oats), Green Tea, Ferment Extracts, Ginseng Root Extract, Licorice Root Extract, and more. The skincare ingredients that are suitable for sensitive skin, making them appealing to a wide audience.
Korean Skincare is also known for being ahead of the curve for launching products that look aesthetically pleasing, and very instagrammable, that they look attractive to the eyes, and as a consumer, you might want to purchase that product instantly.
Creation of unique formulations is also one of the factors Korean Skincare Industry is doing so well, including essentials like toner pads, toner essence, sheet masks, hybrid sunscreens, unique packaging styles, and much more.
They made skincare feel like self-care rather than just a regular practice or chore. People were drawn to the idea of layering products thoughtfully for better results.
Introduction of products via celebrities, influencers, and through mesmerizing content and campaigns, they created aspirational beauty standards and made skin brightening, dewy skin look, glass skin, and skin hydration the keywords for referring to skincare around the world.
Do Korean Skincare Products work for Indian Skin?
Apart from revolutionary product lines and offerings, the one question remains — is Korean skincare truly worth using for Indian skin?
The truth is: only to some extent. It entirely depends on the formulation of the product, because some Korean skincare products may be too harsh for Indian skin, especially if they contain a high concentration of active ingredients that can cause irritation.
One concern with many K-beauty products is their frequent use of essential oils such as Tea Tree Oil, Rose Oil, and Lavandula Oil. While these may sound beneficial, they can be potential irritants for sensitive or acne-prone skin and may gradually damage the skin barrier if used incorrectly or excessively.
Most importantly, if you have oily, acne-prone skin — meaning open or enlarged pores — Korean skincare may not always be the right fit. That’s because Korean skin types typically have smaller pore sizes than Indian skin, and many of their products are not formulated with Indian climate or skin texture in mind. While pores can’t be physically shrunk, their appearance can be improved using the right products for your skin type.
However, if you're still excited about the K-beauty trend and curious to try Korean skincare, opt for gentle formulations that are milder on the skin.
We’ve got you covered in our upcoming Korean Beauty Products Series, where we’ll share the top Korean beauty products you can safely try in India — specially curated for Indian skin types.
Best Skincare Cleansers by Korean Beauty in India
If you are eager to try Korean skincare products, then here are some of the top Korean skincare cleansers that I found in India for you. These may not be highly effective if you're looking to target specific skin concerns, but they are definitely worth trying if you're curious about the feel and texture of Korean formulations.
Although most of these products come with big claims, they don’t always deliver the same results — mainly because they contain lower concentrations of active ingredients.
All the products recommended here are free from denatured alcohol, essential oils, and added fragrance. It was a bit challenging to find Korean skincare cleansers that are completely fragrance-free, but these made the cut.
Why avoid Fragrance in skincare?
So, the thing is, if you love that “good smell” and think fragrance makes a product better—then remember this: use perfumes if you want to smell good, not skincare with fragrance. That’s because the skin on your face is much more delicate compared to the rest of your body. Fragrance can cause contact dermatitis in about 3–4% of the population, and over time, it can also make your skin more sensitive to certain products or ingredients you’ve been using for years.
Best Skincare Cleansers to Buy in India:
Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser is a skincare cleanser enriched with the goodness of naturally occurring antioxidants and is made up of mild on skin, thick foaming cleansing agents that help to remove dirt from skin surface gently. It contains:
Prunus Mume Fruit Water [Moisturizer]
Glycerin
Rice Water
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea)
Houttuynia Cordata Extract [Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-bacterial]
Skin1004 Centella Ampoule Foam Cleanser is a good Korean skincare cleanser to consider if you have sensitive skin as it contains various mild cleansing agents that help to gently lift off the dirt from skin. It's a simple formula and doesn't contain too many skincare actives except for:
Centella Asiatica [Skin soothing]
Glycerin
Mixsoon Master Gentle Recipe Foam Cleanser is another great Korean Beauty cleanser you add to your skincare routine as it gentle surfactants, means cleansing agents and many other good barrier repair and skin soothing ingredients like:
Glycerin
Centella Asiatica
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Madecassoside (Medicinal plant of Centella Asiatica) [Anti-oxidant and Skin soothing]
Ceramide
Panthenol [Pro-vitamin B5, skin soothing]
Gluconolactone [PHA, gentle surface exfoliator]
LHA (another form of Salicylic Acid)
Hyaluronic Acid
Haruharu Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Gel is a decent cleanser to try if you're into viral skincare products! If you’re a teenager looking to experiment with Korean skincare, this one is a gentle option to consider. It works well as a basic face cleanser and pairs nicely with other skincare actives — making it a great starting point for your routine. It includes:
Glycerin
Rice Water
Panax Ginseng Root Extract [Has antioxidant properties, enhances skin nutrition]
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract (known as Japanese / Korean Pepper) [it's antioxidant and antibacterial in nature]
Isntree Green Tea Fresh Cleanser, this Korean skincare product contains a blend of naturally derived fruit and flower extracts traditionally used in Korean medicinal treatments. It also features gentle surfactants that effectively cleanse dirt and impurities from the skin’s surface.
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser is another good Korean skincare cleanser made with gentle surfactants and skin soothing and moisturizing ingredients like:
Allantoin
Glycerin
Panthenol
LANEIGE Water Bank Gentle Cleanser is a mild skincare cleanser that doesn’t feature many active ingredients, but it’s still a good choice for daily use — especially if you have normal or combination skin.
Celimax Dual Barrier Mild Gel Cleanser is a good skin barrier repair cleanser with the presence of mild skin cleansing surfactants and key skincare ingredients like:
Glycerin
Ceramides
Phytosphingosine [it's a type of lipid found in the top layer of skin]
Ascorbic Acid [pure, active form of Vitamin C, so it can be a bit irritating, use it with caution]
If it makes your skin drier, stop using it.
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Gel is a good hydrating cleanser enriched with powerful humectant or skin moisturizer Hyaluronic Acid, and it contains different derivatives of it and making your skin supple and soft.
Mixsoon Centella Cleansing Foam is a rich foaming cleanser that gently exfoliates the skin while effectively removing dirt and impurities from the surface. However, it contains a very low concentration of Centella, as it appears near the end of the ingredient list. It contains some skincare actives like:
Glycerin
Skin1004 Centella Tone Brightening Cleansing Gel Foam is a gentle skincare cleanser, one of the most talked about Korean beauty products. It contains skincare actives like:
Centella Asiatica
Glycerin
Apple Fruit Extract
Grape Fruit Extract
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract (skin moisturizer)
Madecassoside
Niacinamide
Vitamin C [3-O-Ethylascorbic Acid]
Round Lab 1025 Pine Calming Cica Cleanser contains different naturally occurring skincare ingredients, including fruit and flower extracts. It also contains some soothing and antioxidant skincare actives like:
Green Tea
Centella Asiatica
Hyaluronic Acid
White Willow Bark Extract [famous for containing anti-inflammatory natural Salicylates, close relative to Salicylic Acid]
LHA
Follow our ultimate Korean skincare guide to discover the best cleansers you can actually use in your routine. Don’t just follow trends — make informed decisions and choose products that truly suit your skin. It’s time to achieve the spotless, glowing skin you’ve been waiting for!
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