Brand Comparison
Tower 28 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 8.3)
Rating8.3/109/10
Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Budget ($)
Founded20192014
OriginUnited StatesSouth Korea
Products319
Best ForSensitive, Acne-Prone, redness, normalCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry
PhilosophySensitive-skin-first beauty — non-irritating, hypochlorous-acid-backed, mission-driven clean.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.
Tower 28
Amy Liu's eczema-born brand with hypochlorous-acid SOS Spray as the MVP. Skincare-leaning makeup meets genuine sensitive-skin science.
Pros
- ✓ Genuinely sensitive-skin safe
- ✓ Hero SOS Spray
- ✓ Inclusive shade range
Cons
- ✗ Young brand, small range
- ✗ Pricing above mass market
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
