With so many K-beauty fans on the Allure staff (with me arguably being the biggest, hi!), it’s hardly a surprise that more than a handful of Korean skin-care, makeup, and hair-care products have earned our most prestigious stamp of approval: a 2026 Best of Beauty Award. The pros are plentiful: affordable prices (everything on this list is under $40), effective and time-tested ingredients (ceramides, Centella asiatica or cica, rice water, green tea, you name it), skin care-conscious makeup, and scalp-focused hair care (because your scalp is also skin!).

However, the K-beauty industry has been expanding lightning fast, so much so that it’s been hard—even for me, who considers it part of my job—to keep up with all the new launches and product innovations. That’s where the full Allure team comes in: This list of 11 Best of Beauty Award winners—our most stacked K-beauty cohort to date—is the perfect jumping-off point for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the Korean beauty scene and chase (and actually get) glowy, dewy skin.

Our Top K-Beauty Best of Beauty Winners

• The Essence of it: Aestura Atobarrier365 Essence, $33
• I’ll Take Two: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion, $25
• And That’s the Tea: Centellian24 Madeca Matcha Toning Peeling Gel, $28
• Now That’s Growth: Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner, $66
• Lips Are Sealed: Dear Dahlia Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow, $34
• Erase the Day: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil, $20

In the coming years, I have no doubt the list of K-beauty Best of Beauty Award winners will only keep growing. For now, keep reading to discover which formulas made the cut for 2026.

Best Toner/Essence for Sensitive Skin: Aestura Atobarrier365 Essence

Why it’s worth it: Aestura has quickly become one of our favorite K-beauty skin-care brands—this is its third Best of Beauty win, after all—especially for those with dry and sensitive skin. More of a milky toner than a traditional, liquid-y essence, this formula uses ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterols (all lipids naturally found in the skin barrier) to make quick work of dryness. Also at play are the brand’s proprietary Barrier Moisturizing Factors, which—as you might be able to guess—support a stronger barrier and help prevent moisture from escaping (a.k.a. transepidermal water loss or TEWL, for short). Trust us when we say your skin will slurp this up with just a few gentle pats. Bonus points: Top it off with its Best of Beauty-winning Atobarrier365 Cream to lock in all that moisturizing goodness, and then keep a bottle of the Atobarrier365 Cream Mist handy for midday refreshes.

Best Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion

Why it’s worth it: Like Aestura, Illiyoon is another sensitive skin–friendly brand under the umbrella of Amorepacific—one of the biggest K-beauty companies, period. And when we say sensitive skin–friendly, we mean it’s safe for the whole family to use. Case in point: Our tester, who, along with her two daughters, is prone to eczema and relies on this fragrance-free formula to deliver long-lasting moisture, calm bouts of irritation, and prevent future spells of said bouts for both herself and her kids. Besides the brand’s proprietary Ceramide Skin Complex, which features encapsulated ceramides (that immediately burst and melt into your skin upon contact), glycerin and shea butter also help attract and lock in moisture. Speaking of family, this lotion absorbs very quickly, so your little ones won’t have any uncomfortable sticky residue to complain about.

The generously sized bottle is enough to last months on end, but if you need to take it on the road, Illiyoon also sells the Ceramide Ato Lotion in a carry-on-friendly 2.29-ounce tube for all of your travel needs.

Best Weekly Peel: Centellian24 Madeca Matcha Toning Peeling Gel

Why it’s worth it: If “satisfying skin care” were a dictionary entry, you’d find Centellian24’s Madeca Matcha Toning Peeling Gel listed there. After you’ve thoroughly cleansed your skin and patted it dry, you take a squeeze-full of this chemical peel and rub it all over your face. Instantly, you’ll feel and see little balls form all over your face—but what’s really at work? Cellulose is the physical exfoliant that sweeps away surface dead skin cells and results in those balls, while a complex of alpha hydroxy, beta hydroxy, and polyhydroxy acids helps further refine texture. Once you rinse it off, you’re left to revel in your baby-soft skin.

Don’t be intimidated by all these mentions of acids, because this gel is as gentle as they come. On par with the matcha theme, this formula includes soothing green tea and barrier-supporting ceramide NP to keep dry and sensitive skin happy. But, in the same vein, don’t expect the same intensity of results as, say, our Best of Beauty winner for best monthly peel, the Shani Darden Skin Care Triple Acid Signature Peel. Because it’s a lot gentler, Centellian24 can be used weekly (or even twice a week) to tackle surface-level gunk.

Best Shampoo & Conditioner for Fine Hair: Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: Dr. Groot has taken over our social media feeds over the past year, and the hype is real. Korean hair care places utmost emphasis on scalp care, and the Scalp Revitalizing Solution Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner are prime examples. They rely on soothing botanical extracts such as ginseng, rosemary, and cica to calm dryness and irritation, paving the way for a healthier scalp environment—and, so the thinking goes, hair that eventually looks and feels thicker. Also contributing to a balanced scalp is caffeine, which stimulates the scalp skin and, with continuous use, potentially encourages growth. Best of all: This duo is gentle enough to use regularly on even the finest of hair, because it won’t weigh down your strands with film-formers found in other thickening shampoos and conditioners.

Best Cream Lipstick: Dear Dahlia Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow

Why it’s worth it: It only makes sense that even Korean makeup keeps skin care top of mind. Infused with sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, jojoba seed oil, squalane, and shea butter, Dear Dahlia’s Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow feels like, well, butter gliding onto your lips. And while it goes on sheer, it’s still buildable and ramps up to gorgeously pigmented reds, pinks, berries, and corals for the bolder lip lovers among us. (Hello, me!) High-sheen lips without the stickiness that usually accompanies lip glosses? Sounds like a winner to us.

Best Cream Blush: Fwee Lip&Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot

Why it’s worth it: 35 shades. That’s how many options Fwee Lip&Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot has, across nudes, corals, pinks, reds, mauves, and roses. Impressed yet? Don’t be fooled by the small pot, either: These formulas are pigmented, so a teensy bit of product goes a long way. We also love the addictive, pudding-like texture that makes application all the more fun—a touch of novelty goes a long way!

It goes on like a cream blush but settles into a long-lasting, natural-finish powder, so you get the best of both worlds. (If you prefer a dewy finish, we’re also really into the Lip&Cheek Glowy Lip Pots—however, they don’t last as long as the Blurry pots.) While you can absolutely use your fingers to apply, Fwee offers a silicone lip brush that’s supposed to mimic your fingertips if you prefer that route. Tap and blur away!

Best Face Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin: Iunik Beta Glucan 3X Barrier Cream

Why it’s worth it: Beta-glucan is one of those unsung heroes in skin care: This humectant might not be the flashiest ingredient, but it does the work of attracting and holding moisture, repairing your barrier, and soothing irritation quietly and effectively. Also hard at work are ectoin and panthenol, which are rockstars for reducing inflammation, smoothing texture, and, similarly to beta-glucan, forming a protective seal over your skin to keep moisture in and external stressors out. This formula feels refreshing and silky, but may be a bit too heavy for oily skin—however, come winter, it could be the perfect richer moisturizer.

Best Clean Toner/Essence: Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk

Why it’s worth it: Milky toners aren’t going anywhere, and Innisfree’s makes a rock-solid case for adding one to your routine. Green tea, the key ingredient in the Green Tea Ceramide Milk, has been a staple in Asian skin care for centuries and is still widely used. Why? It’s packed with antioxidants to fend off environmental stressors such as pollutants that otherwise cause signs of aging, reduce puffiness (thank you, natural caffeine), and curb excess sebum. What’s more: Innisfree (or Amorepacific, its parent company) grows its own green tea on Jeju Island, which has especially nutrient-rich soil that produces high levels of antioxidants and amino acids, as per the brand. Skin, drink up!

Best Foam Cleanser: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser

Why it’s worth it: We may wax poetic about vitamin C serums, but brightening your skin can start as early as your cleanser step, which is where The Face Shop’s Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser comes in. Rice water has been popular in both Korean and Japanese beauty rituals for centuries because of its laundry list of benefits. Rice, which is usually processed or chemically modified in modern skin-care formulas to allow for better absorption, “brightens skin, hydrates, strengthens the barrier, and provides antioxidant protection,” Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, tells us. “It [also] soothes irritation and helps reduce oxidative stress.”

Infused with a subtle floral scent (take note if you’re sensitive to fragrance!), this The Face Shop cleanser starts as a thick cream that emulsifies into a satisfying whipped foam—from start to finish, it’s a delightful experience, which is more than we can say for most cleansers. And, instead of drying cleansing agents, it uses soapwort extract as a gentle surfactant to sweep away all of the day’s grime, leaving your skin feeling unbelievably soft and comfortable.

Best Liquid Facial Toner: Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer

Why it’s worth it: We love our Best of Beauty winners, but we love our two-time Best of Beauty winners. Take Laneige’s Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer, which is so good it won in 2023 and again this year. It’s the definition of a product we always come back to, largely due to the instant boost of hydration the ceramide and peptide complex provides. Over time, this complex also supports a stronger, healthier barrier and firmer skin. It’s also packed with butylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin—which are all reliable humectants that make it “a great option for those looking to optimize hydration,” says Carlos Vierira, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Philadelphia (No wonder it also made our list of the best toners for mature skin.)

Bonus: Cream Skin comes in two formats: a bottle that you shake to dispense the product or a face mist for anytime-anywhere refreshes. Better yet, get both and keep one in your medicine cabinet while the other goes into your bag. All-day hydration, check.

Best Oil Cleanser: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil

Why it’s worth it: If you’ve only been familiar with Beauty of Joseon for its sunscreens (the viral Korean original, or any of the US-specific reformulations), you’re missing out on so much goodness—and by that, we mean the Ginseng Cleansing Oil. No stranger to the brand’s lineup (hey, Ginseng Essence Water and Revive Serum), ginseng is a key ingredient in this formula, helping to brighten dull skin, boost circulation, and provide all the calming vibes. Yes, there is a distinct herbal scent, so take note if you’re sensitive to fragrance. Obligatory editor’s note: As with all wash-off skin care, temper your expectations when it comes to benefits!

As for the cleansing properties, there’s a hefty 50% concentration of soybean oil that provides a satisfying slip and dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum on the spot. Take an extra beat (and a bit of water) to emulsify the formula before rinsing it off for a thorough cleanse. Follow up with a water-based cleanser to get rid of any remaining grime before following up with your toners, essences, serums, and moisturizers—whatever works for your skin, of course.

Looking for more Best of Beauty winners? But, of course!

• Allure Best of Beauty 2026: Skin-Care Winners
• Allure Best of Beauty 2026: Scent Winners
• Allure Best of Beauty 2026: Hair-Care Winners
• The 9 Best of Beauty Award Winners Dermatologists Love Most for Mature Skin

Now, watch your favorite stars take you through their 10-minute beauty routines:

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