Brand Comparison
KOSE 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)
Rating7/109/10
Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)
Founded19462014
OriginJapanSouth Korea
Products319
Best ForOily, ComboCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyJapanese beauty innovation spanning luxury to drugstoreHanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
KOSE
A beauty conglomerate with something for every budget — from Decorte luxury to Softymo staples.
Pros
- ✓ Wide price range
- ✓ Japanese innovation
- ✓ Strong cleansing oils
Cons
- ✗ Brand portfolio can be confusing
- ✗ Some products hard to find
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
- ✗ Some products sell out frequently
