Brand Comparison
Clio vs Banobagi
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
Banobagi
Higher editor rating (8.6 vs 8.5)
Clio
Clio is the Korean makeup brand pros use when they want full coverage and long wear. Kill Cover — the cushion and liquid foundation line — is the industry-standard recommendation for anyone whose skin-tint era has expired. Not skincare-forward. Unapologetically makeup.
Pros
- ✓ Kill Cover line is legit full-coverage
- ✓ extensive shade range for a Korean brand
- ✓ MUAs recommend it
- ✓ long-wearing formulas
Cons
- ✗ makeup-first, not skincare-forward
- ✗ more expensive than mass-market K-cosmetics
- ✗ shades still lean lighter
Banobagi
Banobagi reads like what happens when a famous Korean clinic decides their post-procedure aftercare deserves to be available to everyone. The Vita Genic Jelly Mask put them on the map, and the Milk Thistle Repair Cream became the quiet sleeper hit. Formulations skew clinical-soothing — high panthenol, niacinamide, centella — exactly what you'd expect from a brand born in Gangnam's aesthetic-clinic ecosystem.
Pros
- ✓ Clinic-derived credibility
- ✓ Excellent for post-procedure skin
- ✓ Strong barrier-repair lineup
- ✓ Great quality at mid-tier pricing
Cons
- ✗ Branding is uneven across products
- ✗ Less buzz outside Korea
