Brand Comparison
Aesop vs Beauty of Joseon
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
Beauty of Joseon
Higher editor rating (9 vs 8.4)
Rating8.4/109/10
Price RangePremium ($$$)Budget ($)
Founded19872014
OriginAustraliaSouth Korea
Products1719
Best Fornormal, Combo, Dry, MatureCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyApothecary minimalism — brown bottles, botanical formulas, treat-yourself rituals that feel like architecture.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
Aesop
Retail design as skincare. The formulas are quietly good; the experience is the point. Parsley Seed Serum is the brand in a bottle.
Pros
- ✓ Iconic retail design
- ✓ Lovely textures
- ✓ Genuinely good (if not revolutionary) formulas
Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing
- ✗ Fragrance-heavy
- ✗ Light on heavy actives
Beauty of Joseon
Beauty of Joseon has quietly become one of the most impressive value propositions in K-beauty. Their Relief Sun is arguably the best budget sunscreen globally, and the Glow Serum delivers genuine results at a price that undercuts competitors by half. The hanbang angle could be gimmicky, but they back it with solid formulation science.
Pros
- ✓ Exceptional price-to-performance ratio
- ✓ Relief Sun SPF 50+ is a standout product
- ✓ Hanbang ingredients backed by real formulation
- ✓ Elegant textures despite budget pricing
Cons
- ✗ Limited product range compared to larger brands
- ✗ Hanbang marketing can feel vague
- ✗ Some products sell out frequently
