Brand Comparison
iS Clinical 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 8.7)
iS Clinical
iS Clinical is the cosmeceutical brand dermatologists' offices actually stock — the line that sits next to ZO Skin Health and SkinCeuticals on the recommendation card. Founded in 2003 by Bryan Johns and Alec Call out of a research background in pharmaceutical and oncology applications, the brand built its reputation on the Active Serum (a multi-acid + arbutin + bilberry serum that handles acne, pigmentation, and aging in one bottle) and Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ (the post-procedure recovery formulation that aestheticians dispense after laser, micro-needling, and chemical peels). Distribution stays selective — dermatologist offices, medical spas, and authorized retailers — which keeps the brand premium but limits casual discovery.
Pros
- ✓ dermatologist-and-aesthetician channel pedigree
- ✓ Active Serum is a genuinely versatile multi-active hero
- ✓ Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ is the gold-standard post-procedure formulation
- ✓ iron-oxide mineral SPF (Eclipse) is one of the cleanest in the market
Cons
- ✗ pharmaceutical pricing tier ($95-170 per product)
- ✗ selective distribution makes purchase harder than DTC brands
- ✗ marketing aesthetic feels dated next to modern cosmeceutical brands like Augustinus Bader
- ✗ INCI complexity makes it harder for casual users to understand
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.
