Brand Comparison
Biotherm 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)
Biotherm
The French pharmacy brand most people forget exists. Life Plankton Essence is a legitimate hero serum that's been consistently reformulated since 1952. Aquasource gel moisturizer is a classic. L'Oréal ownership has watered down the 'prestige pharmacy' positioning a bit. Still a reasonable pick for hydration-forward routines.
Pros
- ✓ Life Plankton has real research behind it
- ✓ Strong hydration-focused lineup
- ✓ Widely available globally
- ✓ Reasonable premium-pharmacy pricing
Cons
- ✗ Brand energy has dipped in 2020s
- ✗ Formulations less distinctive than they used to be
- ✗ Not really a pharmacy brand — sold mostly at Sephora/department stores
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
