Brand Comparison

Hada Labo 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

Larger product range

Hada Labo Beauty of Joseon

Rating9/109/10

Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)

Founded20042014

OriginJapanSouth Korea

Products1219

Best ForDry, Sensitive, Combo, Oily, MatureCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry

PhilosophySimple, hyaluronic acid-focused skincare that delivers maximum hydration with minimal ingredients.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.

Hada Labo

Hada Labo is technically J-beauty, but it's so deeply embedded in K-beauty routines that excluding it would be dishonest. The Gokujyun Lotion is arguably the most influential hydrating toner ever made — it taught millions of people what hyaluronic acid can do. Simple, effective, affordable. A desert-island brand.

Pros

✓ Gokujyun line is the gold standard for hydration
✓ Extremely affordable for the results
✓ Minimal, no-nonsense formulations
✓ Multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid

Cons

✗ Technically Japanese, not Korean
✗ Packaging is purely functional
✗ Very focused range — not a full routine brand
✗ Some versions contain parabens

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