Brand Comparison

Speick 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)

Speick Beauty of Joseon

Rating7/109/10

Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)

Founded19282014

OriginBaden-Württemberg, GermanySouth Korea

Products319

Best ForSensitive, normalCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry

PhilosophySpeick plant (a rare protected alpine herb) is the signature of a Black Forest skincare co-op that's been making soaps since the 1920s.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.

Speick

The Black Forest co-op you buy when Weleda feels too international. The speick plant extract (a protected species, sustainably harvested) is the genuine point of difference. Natural deodorants and soaps are the cult picks. Not a full-routine brand — but individual items earn their place.

Pros

✓ Century-old craftsmanship with German environmental ethos
✓ Protected speick plant is a real point of difference
✓ Affordable for natural skincare tier
✓ Excellent natural soaps and deodorants

Cons

✗ Not a full skincare routine
✗ Limited active skincare range
✗ Packaging looks dated

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