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Glass skin isn’t just a face-focused affair. The skin below our chin also deserves to be smooth, radiant, and crystal clear, and the best Korean body-care products can provide just that. These moisture-boosting lotions, oils, sunscreens, and body washes bring the same sensorial experiences, nourishing ingredients, and affordability you know and love about Korean skin-care products.
"Overall, I fully believe that Korean beauty is now synonymous with innovation and trust," says Charlotte Cho, cofounder of Soko Glam. "That reputation now extends far beyond skin care and is exponentially growing in the hair care, body, and fragrance categories in Korea as well. While there are the staple brands from large conglomerates, there are quite a few rising indies," she says. That expansion means more options for your top-to-toe routine.
Our top Korean body-care products
- Best Overall: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream, $29
- Best Hand Cream: Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream, $10
- Best Fragrance-Free Body Lotion: Aestura Atobarrier365 Body Lotion, $38
- Best Scented Body Lotion: Longtake Sandalwood Intensive Perfume Body Lotion, $24
- Best Sunscreen: Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+, $28
- Best Body Wash: Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Body Wash, $22
- Best Neck Cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream, $160
- Best Body Acne Treatment: Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Body Cleanser, $19
- Best for Stretch Marks: Atopalm Maternity Care Stretch Mark Cream, $24
- Best Body Oil: Derma B Daily Moisture Body Oil, $17
Best of all, “A key element of Korean body care is gentle formulations,” Sarah Chung Park, a K-beauty industry CEO, tells Allure. Several of the best Korean body-care products in the game are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and mild enough for babies. So if you have reactive, sensitive skin, consider adding these product recommendations to your body-care routine.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- How are Korean body-care products different from American ones?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
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Illiyoon
Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
Amazon
Olive Young
Allure contributor Devon Abelman applying Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream.
Devon Abelman
Why it’s worth it: If Illiyoon isn’t already on your radar, allow this all-purpose formula to be your introduction to one of Korea’s top body-care brands. The Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream provides even the most sensitive skin with moisture and irritation relief. “This product has saved my skin, even during the harshest New York winters,” says Cho. “It’s one of the most soothing body products I’ve used—gentle enough for my kids and rich enough to keep my skin from flaking. I especially love the encapsulated ceramides that support and nourish my skin barrier,” she says.
The decadent, nourishing cream contains barrier-repairing ceramides to help keep your skin feeling hydrated all day long, says board-certified dermatologist Y. Claire Chang, MD. “As we mature, our skin’s ceramide level decreases, so it’s important to replace this [loss] with ceramide-containing skin-care products,” she adds.
Tester feedback from contributor Devon Abelman
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“My legs are a hot spot for eczema, so I have to be extremely careful about the body-care products I use or I will be up all night scratching at my skin. Illiyoon’s Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is a no-brainer with its fragrance-free formula that blankets skin in comforting moisture and never annoyingly transfers onto clothes.” —Devon Abelman, contributor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ceramides, ginseng root water, soybean oil
- Who it's for: everyone, even those with sensitive and reactive skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Hand Cream: Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream
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Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream
Amazon
Nordstrom
Yesstyle
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream.
Why it’s worth it: Honestly, Korea is gatekeeping its best hand creams. Popular brands like Tamburins aren’t officially available in the US (yet). Thankfully, Haruharu Wonder’s Black Bamboo Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream is easy to shop stateside. Its chic, artsy tube is filled with moisturizing panthenol, healing vitamin E, and several components of bamboo, which are naturally rich in minerals and amino acids, to rapidly nourish dry skin. The silky, fast-absorbing texture leaves hands soft but never greasy, and it doubles as a nail and cuticle treatment.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“I’ve never seen a hand cream sink in so quickly—as you can see from my video, it was almost instant. (This makes sense, if you’ve ever tried one of Haruharu’s sunscreens.) It has a fresh herbal scent that I couldn’t stop sniffing and it left my hands incredibly soft and smooth, but not slick. I went back to typing pretty much immediately without any greasiness or residue—pretty much a dream hand cream.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: bamboo water, coconut oil, murumuru seed butter, panthenol
- Who it's for: everyone
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Fragrance-Free Body Lotion: Aestura Atobarrier365 Body Lotion
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Aestura
Atobarrier365Moisturizing Body Lotion
Amazon
Sephora
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Aestura Atobarrier365 Body Lotion.
Why it’s worth it: Aestura, Korea’s viral, dermatologist-recommended brand, made its name with sensitive-skin staples like the Allure-favorite Atobarrier365 Cream. Now, the K-beauty brand is bringing its science-backed formulas to its first body-care launch: the Atobarrier365 Body Lotion. This silky formula delivers glowing skin from head to toe, thanks to micro-fine ceramides—a proprietary complex designed to penetrate the thicker layers of body skin for deep, long-lasting hydration. Recognized by the National Eczema Association, it’s ideal for dry, reactive skin and is powered by gentle PHAs, panthenol, and glycerin to smooth rough patches and boost moisture levels.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“As someone with dry, sensitive skin, I’ve always loved the Aestura Atobarrier365 face cream, so I was excited to try the new body lotion. It’s more lightweight and less dense, which makes it super easy to spread, especially right out of the shower when my skin’s still damp. I feel like it absorbs better that way and leaves my skin soft and calm all day.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ceramides, PHAs, vitamin E, panthenol, glycerin
- Who it's for: people with dry skin or uneven texture
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Scented Body Lotion: Longtake Sandalwood Intensive Perfume Body Lotion
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Longtake
Sandalwood Intensive Perfume Body Lotion
Amazon
Olive Young
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Longtake Sandalwood Intensive Perfume Body Lotion.
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: If you’re looking for a product that will fit seamlessly into your nighttime wind-down, there are few things more grounding than a quiet (figurative) walk through the woods—fresh air, stillness, instant zen. That’s the feeling Longtake channels in its Sandalwood Intensive Perfume Body Lotion, with a fragrance inspired by deep forests and sensory rituals. The scent isn’t loud or overly perfume-y; instead, a warm sandalwood note lingers softly on the skin. Beyond the sensory moment, the formula is all about cocooning your skin in comfort: Glycerin delivers lasting hydration, while rice bran oil (a traditional K-beauty ingredient known for its lightweight nourishment) smooths and softens. Niacinamide supports the skin barrier and helps even tone, panthenol soothes, and ceramides reinforce moisture wherever dryness tends to show up most.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“Nothing motivates me to remember to put on body lotion than a well-scented body lotion—and this one is super silky and fast-absorbing to boot. (If a lotion is too heavy, it's going straight into the giveaway/donation pile—and don't even get me started on balms and oils!) I'm not your typical sandalwood fan but this weaves in notes of juicy lime, calming eucalyptus, and fresh iris to balance out any overt intensity (despite the ‘intense’ in its name) I usually experience with wood-forward fragrances.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: rice bran oil, glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, ceramides
- Who it's for: people with dry skin who want a scented lotion
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Sunscreen: Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+
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Round Lab
Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Lee applying the Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+.
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: In Korea, sun protection is all about reapplying often, not slathering on a thick layer once in the morning and calling it a day, which is probably why you rarely see oversized sunscreen bottles in K-beauty. Plus, smaller formats are easier to toss into a handbag for touch-ups, especially in a culture that also leans heavily on UPF clothing, hats, and sun-shielding accessories to limit exposure in the first place. Until we catch up to that level of sun protection, Round Lab’s Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+ remains one of the most elegant formulas we’ve tried—whether you’re applying it to your face or smoothing it over larger areas of the body. “It’s a moisturizing sunscreen formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and antioxidants to hydrate and soothe the skin,” Dr. Chang previously told Allure. The formula also features birch tree sap, panthenol, and purslane extract to help calm skin and curb inflammation, while its silky texture blends effortlessly without streaking.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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"I can’t believe it took me this long to try the Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen. Now I fully get the hype. It disappears instantly, making my skin feel hydrated, thanks to the birch sap. I find that since it’s so easy to absorb, applying it all over my body isn’t as big a chore as it is with other sunscreens." —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Key ingredients: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, birch tree sap, niacinamide, glycerin (no percentages of UV filters listed)
- Who it's for: all skin types
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Body Wash: Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Body Wash
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Medicube
Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Body Wash
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: Did you know the 60 seconds you spend rinsing off in the shower could be working a little harder for you? Medicube’s Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Body Wash—a new addition to the brand’s editor-favorite kojic acid family—treats body care with the same thoughtfulness as facial formulas. This body wash pairs kojic acid with turmeric, vitamin C, and niacinamide to help brighten dull skin and visibly even tone over time, while gentle chemical exfoliants sweep away dead skin cells and buildup. If you have rough or bumpy skin, the gel lathers comfortably, multitasking to brighten and smooth while washing away grime and prepping skin to better absorb moisturizer post-shower.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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“Uneven tone on my arms and legs is my primary body-care concern. I've had KP for as long as I can remember, and my favorite line of defense is a brightening body wash. Medicube does a dedicated ingredient line so well, and the kojic acid products are some of the brand's best. This body wash has made a nice difference in the redness on my upper arms without requiring any harsh scrubbing or stripping chemicals. The price point is also just right!” —Sarah Hoffman, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: kojic acid, turmeric, vitamin C, niacinamide
- Who it's for: people with rough and bumpy skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Neck Cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream
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Sulwhasoo
Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream
Amazon
Nordstrom
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Though it’s not specifically marketed as a neck cream, Sulwhasoo’s Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream is exactly the kind of thicker formula that’s ideal for the neck. (The skin on the neck and décolleté is thinner, has fewer oil glands, and loses moisture faster than the face, making richer, more reparative textures especially helpful.) This luxurious cream includes the brand’s special Ginseng Peptide, helping your skin to naturally restore itself. Plus, with retinol, it smooths out skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. “This is one of my favorite treat-your-neck-like-your-face picks; it’s rich, smoothing, and elegant,” says Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “It’s decadent and melts effortlessly into skin, thanks to avocado oil, which adds slip. It leaves a nourishing finish and gives the neck the same TLC your face gets at bedtime.”
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Ginseng Peptide, retinol, avocado oil
- Who it's for: people with saggy or crepey skin on their neck
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Body Acne Treatment: Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Body Cleanser
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Some By Mi
AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Body Cleanser
Amazon
Soko Glam
Yesstyle
Why it’s worth it: Inspired by the K-beauty brand’s best-selling toner and the importance of exfoliation in Korean bathing culture, the Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Body Cleanser is one of those rare K-beauty products that lives up to the buzz for blemish-prone and oily skin. “It chemically sloughs off dead skin cells,” says Chung Park, while Dr. Chang adds that the combination of salicylic, mandelic, and citric acids helps reduce clogged pores and improve texture. If body acne is the bane of your existence, this gel body wash can help visibly clear blemishes without stripping skin.
Although it’s free of artificial fragrances, neem, tea tree, and eucalyptus extracts give this body wash a refreshing herbal scent, as well as anti-inflammatory benefits to help calm and soothe skin, adds Dr. Chang.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: cica, tea tree, salicylic acid, AHA, BHA, PHA
- Who it's for: people with blemish-prone or oily skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Stretch Marks: Atopalm Maternity Care Stretch Mark Cream
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Atopalm
Maternity Care Stretch Mark Cream
Soko Glam
Yesstyle
Olive Young
Why it’s worth it: Atopalm Maternity Care Stretch Mark Cream is a pregnancy-safe, fragrance-free formula that pampers your growing belly, or anywhere else that’s itchy and dry. “Atopalm is one of the first Korean body-care brands I discovered in Korea,” says Cho. “Their patented technology mimics the skin’s natural lipids, and it’s truly a lifesaver for dry, compromised skin,” she says. This cream is loaded with hydrators like glycerin, panthenol, and beta-glucan, plus barrier-boosting ceramide analogs that help keep tight, itchy skin calm and moisturized. You'll also find plant-based oils like jojoba, olive, and sunflower, along with tremella mushroom extract (a collagen booster) to help improve elasticity. It’s ideal for sensitive, easily irritated skin—whether you’re expecting or just looking for an ultranourishing body cream.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: shea butter, olive oil, vitamin E, jojoba oil, ceramides
- Who it's for: people with stretch marks or dry, itchy skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Body Oil: Derma B Daily Moisture Body Oil
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Derma B
Daily Moisture Body Oil
Amazon
Soko Glam
Yesstyle
Why it’s worth it: The Derma B Daily Moisture Body Oil is another 2024 Allure Korea Best of Beauty pick—this time in the best body oil category. Their editors say the fig-scented formula quickly absorbs into skin while moisturizing it. The viscous liquid dispenses from a convenient, easy-to-use pump, so you can give yourself a little massage without having to deal with the bottle slipping out of your hands in the process. It gets skin glowing fast without feeling greasy or slimy. You can also mix it into your favorite lotion to boost its moisture-locking abilities.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: argan, grape seed, sunflower, and sweet almond oils
- Who it's for: all skin types, especially those with dry skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Korean body-care products different from American ones?
Korean body-care products usually use fewer butters and oils than American ones, and the scents tend to be much more subtle, Chung Park says.
Body care is also more deeply rooted in Korean culture than in American culture. Koreans have a long history of frequenting public bath houses, like mogyoktang and jjimjilbang, and using a rough, exfoliating washcloth daily, Chung Park explains. “That history is reflected in modern K-beauty body products with lightweight body serums, mists, and lotions, as well as gentle body scrubs.”
It’s no surprise that some of the best Korean skin care, especially body products, are continuously trending on TikTok, with fans praising their elegant textures and skin-first approach. Many of these finds hail from skin-care brands known for their minimalist formulas and sensitive skin-friendly ingredients, helping to redefine what body care can look like.
Meet the experts
- Sarah Chung Park is the founder and CEO of Landing International, a B2B platform bringing K-beauty brands to American stores.
- Y. Claire Chang, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at New York City’s UnionDerm.
- Charlotte Cho, cofounder of Soko Glam, is based in New York City.
- Jane Yoo, MD, is a dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best Korean body-care products, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified derms and K-beauty experts. To learn moreabout our reporting and testing process, read 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 are 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.
