Brand Comparison
Olay 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 7.8)
Rating7.8/109/10
Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)
Founded19522014
OriginUnited StatesSouth Korea
Products519
Best ForMature, normal, ComboCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyThe democratic anti-aging brand — Regenerist and Retinol 24 make peptide and retinol formulas truly drugstore-accessible.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
Olay
Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream and Retinol 24 are sleeper-hit anti-aging picks that hold up against brands 3x the price. The body lotion lineup is forgettable.
Pros
- ✓ Peptide and retinol at drugstore prices
- ✓ Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is a legitimate cult product
- ✓ Strong R&D pipeline
Cons
- ✗ Fragrance in most products
- ✗ Dated branding obscures genuinely good formulas
- ✗ Lots of line confusion (Total Effects, Regenerist, Luminous, Retinol 24...)
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
