Brand Comparison
BYOMA 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)
Rating8/109/10
Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)
Founded20222014
OriginUnited StatesSouth Korea
Products319
Best ForSensitive, teen, compromised-barrierCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyBarrier-first. Microbiome-aware. Colourful.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
BYOMA
Launched in 2022 by the founder of Revolution Beauty, BYOMA arrived with three ideas: fix the barrier first, add microbiome-friendly lipids, and make the packaging look like a Bauhaus lunchbox. Works better than it should for under $15.
Pros
- ✓ Ceramide-rich, barrier-first formulations
- ✓ Packaging is a visual punch
- ✓ Priced genuinely accessibly
Cons
- ✗ Line is still narrow — missing sunscreen, proper actives
- ✗ Marketing around the 'microbiome' is louder than the science
- ✗ Fragrance in a few products sneaks up
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
