Brand Comparison
Alverde 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 7.5)
Rating7.5/109/10
Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)
Founded19892014
OriginGermanySouth Korea
Products319
Best Fornormal, Dry, SensitiveCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyCertified-natural drugstore skincare — plant-based, vegan, dm's in-house green line.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
Alverde
The dm-drogerie house brand that made organic beauty genuinely affordable. Entry-level but not embarrassing.
Pros
- ✓ Very cheap
- ✓ NaTrue-certified
- ✓ Ubiquitous in dm stores
Cons
- ✗ House-brand limitations
- ✗ No hero product
- ✗ Bare-bones packaging
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
