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Best K-Beauty Skincare Dupes in 2024
In 2024, many K-Beauty products have a cult following for good reason – not only do they deliver fantastic results, they are beautifully packaged, contain stellar ingredients and are reasonably priced.
But some K-Beauty products also contain similar ingredients or perform similarly to much more expensive skincare products. If you’re looking to save some money this year (#costofliving crisis!) check out our list of Korean beauty products that perform similarly to more expensive ones.
Snail mucin might not have been popular in Korea since 2014 but the internet couldn't care less.
The TikTok viral COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence remains one of the most popular Korean beauty products in the English speaking world. It's even a hit among celebs like Em Rata!
Loaded with replenishing and revitalizing nutrients it helps prevent and repair damage, giving you ultimate elasticity and hydration.
However, if you're vegan or trying to avoid products that contain animal by-products then snail mucin is out. One K-Beauty product you might like to try instead is Mixsoon's Bean Essence. It's a great option for anyone allergic to dust mites (who often react poorly to snail mucin) or for anyone who finds that COSRX breaks them out (ahem, me!)
Paula's Choice makes some of the hottest products on the internet in 2024 but unfortunately they're not cheap for those living outside the US. Niacinamide is one of the most popular ingredients. It's so popular in Korea it is considered to be functional whitening ingredient by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. That's because it is ideal to help control oil. In addition, it can tackle pore size and even out a poor skin tone.
Measuring in at the same 10% of niacinamide as Paula's Choice,One Thing Niacinamide 10% (150ml) is a great, budget friendly swap.
It's much more watery which makes it more versatile. It can be used as a toner / essence to help reduce dark areas on the skin, leaving it clearer and more radiant. Alternatively, you can mix it in with other products likemodeling masks or even moisturisers. In Korea, some beauty fans like to mix it with their other toners too.
If you love Glow Recipe but want to try something else, then Axis-Y is a similar (albeit not as aesthetically pleasing) option on the K-Beauty market.
Like Glow Recipe, the formula of this breakout busting toner contains BHA, PHA, Tea Tree extract and Hyaluronic Acid. These work together to clear the pores of dirt and impurities, reduce irritation and hopefully, the severity of your breakouts.
While it doesn’t include watermelon as an ingredient or have the same adorable pink packaging, it will save you extra money that you can use towards your next Korean beauty purchase!
If you love SKII First Treatment Essence but don't love the price tag, try this instead: Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence.
This dual function essence targets the signs of aging while improving the skin's radiance. Best of all, it is made on a base of Galactomyces ferment filtrate, aka the same as SK-II.
Much like SKII's product, Starting Treatment Essence also provides multiple benefits to the skin, such as:
After using this essence, 77.96% respondents said they noticed an improvement in their moisture barrier within 4 weeks.
However, perhaps most obvious is all is that there is a giant difference in price. Whereas SKII runs into the hundreds of dollars, you can pick up Secret Key for under $30 AUD. Now that's a swap worth investigating.
People who love CeraVe say that they appreciate the brand's gentle formulas containing ceramides that don't cost the earth. The Korean equivalent is Illiyoon, a Korean cosmetics brand also specialising in moisturising that loves using ceramides too.
But that's not where the similarities end:
If you're not already familiar with Illiyoon, here's the need to know:
Now technically Korean dermatologists are more like to recommend brands other than Illiyoon, whereas I know a lot of western dermatologists recommend brands like Cerave. However, that shouldn't stop you from trying them!
Read on here to find out more about Illiyoon.
If you love Caudalie's Vino Perfect Cream but are looking for a slightly cheaper option then check out Beauty of Joseon's Dynasty Cream. Not only are they visually quite similar, they have a bunch of ingredients in common as well.
They both contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and Vitamin E. In addition, they're both suitable for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots. The formulas skip out on volatile alcohols, parabens and sulfates.
If you're a fan of TOPICALS Faded Serum to help achieve clearer, glowy skin then chances are you'll love I DEW CARE Bright Side Up Brightening Vitamin C Serum.
This jelly-textured serum stars both Vitamin C and Niacinamide to target hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, and brightening the complexion. In addition, Panthenol and Vitamin E offer skin soothing and hydration.
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All products recommended on the Korean Beauty Show podcast are personally selected by us. Some of our Show Notes include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links we may earn an affiliate commission. This helps offset the costs associated with producing the podcast.
“Paula's Choice makes some of the hottest products on the internet in 2024 but unfortunately they're not cheap for those living outside the US.”
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