Brand Comparison
Plum 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 7.9)
Rating7.9/109/10
Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Budget ($)
Founded20142014
OriginIndiaSouth Korea
Products1319
Best ForOily, Combo, Acne-Prone, normalCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
Philosophy100% vegan, clean, transparent Indian skincare — sulfate- and paraben-free, Indian indie, aesthetic-forward.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
Plum
The Indian answer to The Ordinary — active-led, vegan, drugstore-accessible. Green Tea range is the starter pack for Indian skincare newbies.
Pros
- ✓ Fully vegan
- ✓ Active-led budget line
- ✓ Pan-India availability
Cons
- ✗ Limited hero products
- ✗ Fragrance-heavy
- ✗ Mass-market positioning
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
