Brand Comparison
First Aid Beauty 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 RangeMid-Range ($$)Budget ($)
Founded20092014
OriginUnited StatesSouth Korea
Products419
Best ForSensitive, Dry, normalCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyNo-frills dermatologist-friendly formulas for sensitive and eczema-prone skin.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
First Aid Beauty
The Ultra Repair Cream cult deserves the hype. FAB skips the marketing theatrics and sticks to allergy-tested formulas — boring, in the best way, if your skin is angry.
Pros
- ✓ Sensitive-skin friendly (fragrance-free, allergy-tested)
- ✓ Actually good barrier products
- ✓ Reasonable prices for the quality
Cons
- ✗ Limited innovation — not much new since 2015
- ✗ Some formulas include low-grade alcohol
- ✗ Branding is utilitarian, not magazine-y
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
