Brand Comparison

Kate Somerville vs Krave Beauty

A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?

Our Pick

Krave Beauty

Higher editor rating (8.7 vs 7.8)

Kate Somerville Krave Beauty

Rating7.8/108.7/10

Price RangePremium ($$$)Mid-Range ($$)

Founded20042017

OriginUnited StatesSeoul, South Korea

Products27

Best ForCombo, Acne-Prone, normalSensitive, Acne-Prone, compromised-barrier

PhilosophyCelebrity-facialist LA clinical skincare — the ExfoliKate scrub that won't die.Liah Yoo's "press reset" philosophy: strip skincare back to what the barrier actually needs.

Kate Somerville

Kate Somerville's Melrose Place clinic is where celebrities go for facials; her product line extends that clinic energy into retail. The ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment is the signature — a polarizing enzyme-plus-physical scrub. The Goat Milk Cleanser is actually the more useful buy.

Pros

✓ Strong cleansers and enzyme treatments
✓ Clinical positioning
✓ Good results for acne

Cons

✗ ExfoliKate is overkill for some
✗ Fragranced
✗ Premium pricing

Krave Beauty

Liah Yoo built Krave Beauty the way you wish more brands would — with a skincare-fatigued YouTube audience in mind, a commitment to stripping back rather than piling on, and one genuine cult hit in Great Barrier Relief. Small catalog, specific mission, loyal fans. Not for people who want a 10-step system. Very much for people whose skin has been yelled at for too long.

Pros