Brand Comparison

Farmacy 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)

Farmacy Beauty of Joseon

Rating7.5/109/10

Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Budget ($)

Founded20152014

OriginNew York, USASouth Korea

Products219

Best ForDry, normal, SensitiveCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry

PhilosophyFarm-to-face skincare anchored by honey from the founder's own upstate NY bee farm. Sustainability theatre done mostly right.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.

Farmacy

The Honey Potion mask is the genuine hero — warms on contact, leaves skin humming. Green Clean cleansing balm is excellent. The rest of the range is competent but less singular. The sustainability story is more substantive than most farm-branded brands but don't expect miracles.

Pros

✓ Honey Potion mask is a genuinely great treatment
✓ Green Clean cleansing balm is Sephora cult-status
✓ Farm-sourced botanicals are the real story
✓ Strong barrier and hydration lineup

Cons

✗ Premium pricing
✗ Not every product lives up to the hero items
✗ Honey sensitivities need checking

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