Brand Comparison

Tula 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 7.6)

Tula Beauty of Joseon

Rating7.6/109/10

Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Budget ($)

Founded20142014

OriginUSA (New York, New York)South Korea

Products419

Best ForCombo, Oily, Sensitive, normalCombo, Oily, Sensitive, Dry

PhilosophyProbiotic-forward skincare from the original probiotic-in-skincare brand, founded by a gastroenterologist.Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) meets modern cosmetic science. Heritage ingredients like rice, ginseng, and propolis in contemporary formulations.

Tula

Tula invented the "probiotic skincare" category in US retail and still does it best. Dr. Roshini Raj (a practicing NYU gastroenterologist) founded the brand on the skin-gut axis and genuinely believes probiotics calm inflammation. The results are less mystical than the marketing — but the hydrating/brightening basics are legitimately good, and the signature citrusy-green scent is immediately recognizable.

Pros

✓ Probiotic-rich formulas that play nice with sensitive barriers
✓ 24/7 Balancing Moisturizer is a genuine oil-control hero
✓ Strong Sephora, Ulta, and QVC distribution
✓ Clear doctor-founder credential

Cons

✗ Probiotic science claims run ahead of clinical evidence
✗ Signature scent is polarising
✗ Pricing drifted upward as the brand scaled

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