Brand Comparison
THREE 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 RangePremium ($$$)Budget ($)
Founded20092014
OriginJapanSouth Korea
Products319
Best Fornormal, Dry, ComboCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophyJapanese plant-based beauty — organic-leaning, essential-oil-rich, natural-material aesthetic.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
THREE
THREE is Japanese clean beauty before "clean" was a marketing term. Plant-based formulations, essential oils, a distinctly organic aesthetic. More scent-forward than other J-beauty.
Pros
- ✓ Plant-based focus
- ✓ Japanese organic angle
- ✓ Pretty brown-glass packaging
Cons
- ✗ Essential oils irritate some
- ✗ Premium pricing
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
