Brand Comparison
RMK 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 8)
Rating8/109/10
Price RangePremium ($$$)Budget ($)
Founded19972014
OriginJapanSouth Korea
Products319
Best Fornormal, Combo, DryCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyTokyo-born, now Kanebo-owned. Modern Japanese everyday beauty with strong skincare-adjacent primers and tints.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
RMK
RMK sits between luxe and accessible. Their skincare-primer hybrids are genuinely good, cream foundations lean into skincare texture. Overlooked outside Japan but a cult pick for elegant Japanese makeup-adjacent skincare.
Pros
- ✓ Gorgeous textures
- ✓ Cream foundations double as moisturiser
- ✓ Mid-tier luxury pricing
Cons
- ✗ More cosmetic than treatment
- ✗ Requires Japan or specialty import
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
