Brand Comparison

Laneige 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 7.5)

Laneige Beauty of Joseon

Rating7.5/109/10

Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Budget ($)

Founded19942014

OriginSeoul, South KoreaSouth Korea

Products1219

Best ForDry, ComboCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry

PhilosophyWater science and hydration technology. Part of the Amorepacific corporation, with access to significant R&D resources.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.

Laneige

Laneige is a legacy K-beauty brand with Amorepacific's R&D muscle behind it. The Lip Sleeping Mask is a legitimate cultural phenomenon and genuinely effective. Beyond the hero products, the range is competent but rarely exceptional — you're often paying for the brand name and attractive packaging more than breakthrough formulations.

Pros

✓ Lip Sleeping Mask is genuinely excellent
✓ Water Sleeping Mask is a solid overnight treatment
✓ Backed by Amorepacific R&D
✓ Beautiful packaging and pleasant textures

Cons

✗ Premium pricing across the board
✗ Many products contain fragrance
✗ Hero products overshadow a middling wider range
✗ Marketing often overpromises

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