Want brighter, clearer skin? Here are the best Korean whitening products that help you get rid of pigmentation, dark circles, age spots, and promote healthy, radiant, and clear skin.
Koreans value a healthy glowing white and light skin tone above everything else. It is not to say that dark skin is not beautiful, they just concentrate to use the products which provide a whitening/ brightening effect.
- Related: Top Korean Whitening Cream
Korean skincare products are getting recognition worldwide and they are also putting way more effort in their RnD for skincare products than in the west.
In this post, we bring you, best Korean products that you can add to your skincare routine and achieve similar results of brighter, whiter skin as Koreans.
Before we get on to the detailed reviews of best Korean whitening products, here’s a quick summary of the best Korean whitening products with price.
Best Korean Whitening Products: Quick Summary
| Best Korean Whitening Products | Best For | Price |
| Jumiso All Day Brightening and Balancing serum | Brightening with overall skin nourishment | $17.00 |
| Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Mask | Overnight moisturization | $23.99 |
| Seoul-ceuticals day glow serum | Anti-aging and brightening | $16.99 |
| Cosrx Galactomyces 95 tone Balancing Essence | Whitening and brightening | $12.90 |
| Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Pads | Brightening with exfoliation | $27.00 |
| Acwell licorice pH Balancing Toner | Cleansing and improving skin texture | $23.37 |
| Hanskin Real Complexion hydrating Essence | Hydration and plumping | $39.99 |
| Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing rice mask | Moisturizing and brightening | $15.70 |
| Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence | Anti-aging and hydration | $25.59 |
| Mizon Good night white sleeping mask | Whitening and hydrations | $14.99 |
| Secret Key Snow white cream | Whitening and melalil control | $29.99 |
| The Face shop whiteseed Brightening Serum | Brightening with hydration | $18.75 |
Here are the detailed reviews of the best Korean whitening products
Best Korean Whitening Products
Nella Magical Whitening Lotion
This magical whitening lotion from Nella is a great product for anyone looking for radiant and glowing skin. I particularly love this whitening product because of its non-greasy formula that gets absorbed quickly in the skin.
Nella Magical Whitening lotion is infused with hazel and peppermint that helps in calming blemishes, dark spots, acne scars, etc. If you have dry skin then go for this as it’ll be perfect for you. It’s also water and sweat-resistant with anti-microbial properties. Anyone can go for Nella lotion as it’s good for all skin types.
Key features:
- Non-greasy formula
- Absorbs quickly
- Water and sweat-resistant
- No white cast
- Meant for all skin types
Pros:
- Fast results
Cons:
- Strong smell
APLB Glutathione Correcting Tone Up Cream
Another great Korean whitening product is this APLB Glutathione Cream, it works like magic on the skin and brings fast results to lighten the skin tone as well as remove dark spots, pigmentations, acne scars, etc.
It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan, witch hazel, and lotus flower that great for pore care as well as increasing skin elasticity. It also calms, heals and strengthens loose skin. I love it because it’s brought back my youthful skin in no time. APLB cream also keeps your skin hydrated and moisturised all day long.
Key features:
- Relieves inflammation
- Pore care
- Ideal for all skin types
- Can be used on sensitive skin as well
Pros:
- Strengthens loose skin
- Keeps skin moisturised all day
Jumiso All day Brightening and Balancing Serum.
The first one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by Jumiso.
To achieve bright and glowing skin, serums act as a catalyst and our top favorite is Jumiso All Day brightening and balancing serum. It’s a lightweight fast absorbing serum that concentrates on targeting hyperpigmentation.
It contains top of the list ingredients like Seabuckthorn, niacinamide and centella. In total it contains 5 vitamins A, B, D, K and Vitamin C.
Key Features
- Light weight formula
- Absorbs quickly
- Brightens the skin
- Suitable for anti aging purpose
- Soothes and smoothens the skin.
- Contains 5 super vitamins for skin nourishment.
Pros
- Light weight formula, suitable for all skin types.
Related: Here are safe Korean toner formulated for sensitive skin type!
Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask
Dear Klairs as a brand produces some of the best skin care products and their Klairs Freshly Juiced range is focused towards skin nourishment.
Main ingredient of this overnight mask is Vitamin E and this product is best to be used Vitamin C
Key Features
- Moisturizes and hydrates the skin’
- Has gel to cream formula
- Best to be used overnight
- Most Effective when accompanied with Vitamin C serum
- Contains Niacinamide
- Helps in brightening the skin
Pros
- Lightweight formula makes it suitable for all skin types, especially oily skin people now don’t have to run away from using vitamin E.
Check out the best Korean whitening products by Dear Klairs below!
Seoul Ceuticals Day Glow Serum
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by Seoul Ceuticals.
This serum contains the powerful anti-aging and brightening ingredients combination of Ferulic Acid and vitamin c and thus this serum is high in antioxidants and is thus known to improve the skin barrier too.
Key Features
- Helps in brightening the skin
- Ferulic Acid is full of antioxidants
- Improves skin barriers
- Provides Hydration
- Best known for its anti-aging properties.
Pros
- Helps in fading scars and improving skin texture
- Works superb as an anti-aging serum too
- An affordable dupe for the very popular Ferulic + Vitamin C serum By Skinceauticals
COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by COSRX.
In Korean skincare routine, essence is considered to be one of the most important steps. Galactomyces is a very popular ingredient in Korea.
Benefits of this ingredient includes brightening of the skin and it works effectively on reducing blemish marks and hyperpigmentation too.
Cosrx is known to provide simple products concentrating on simple but effective ingredients and ths essence is effective and doesn’t irritate the skin too.
Key Features
- Helps in skin renewal process
- Brightens and lightens the skin
- Keeps skin hydrated
- Does Not irritate the skin
- Affordable and easily available
- Does Not irritate the skin even when used with other actives
Pros
- Revitalizes the skin and leaves behind a healthy looking glow.
- Absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave any tackiness behind.
Check out the best Korean whitening products by COSRX below!
Related: Nourish your under eye skin with the best Korean eye mask for dark circles!
Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Lemon
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by NEOGEN.
All Variants from Neogen Bio-peel Gauze peeling pads are very effective but lightening and brightening effect we prefer the Lemon variant.
The glow after using these pads just twice a week is amazing. T gently exfoliates the skin, leaving behind a subtle glow but visibly brighter skin.
Key Features
- Single use exfoliating pads
- Includes brightening ingredients like – glycolic acid, lactic acid and lemon
- Contains natural Vitamin C which helps in skin brightening and improves skin renewal
- Makes the appearance of pores look smaller
- Effective but gentle exfoliators.
Pros
- When used and washed off with lukewarm water, it even works well even for sensitive skin which generally is not the case with the products that contain lemon as their main ingredient.
- Instantly smoother, softer and brighter skin.
Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is the ACWELL Licorice pH balancing cleansing toner.
Personally. I’m a huge fan of this product. If you are following Korean Skincare routine for a while, you will know the importance given to the toning process.
This is one toner that works out so well for hydration and skin whitening. It reduces redness on the skin while hydrating it. It contains Licorice extracts that are known for its brightening effect.
Key Features
- Effectively brightens the skin
- It iis a good cleaning toner as well
- Hydrates the skin and doesn’t strip off skin’s natural oils
- It has a ph level of 5.5
- Contains green tea extracts which helps in calming the skin
Pros
- With regular use,visible effect on hyperpigmentation and skin brightening can be noticed
- Works well for sensitive skin as well.
Check out the best Korean whitening products by ACWELL below!
Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Skin Essence
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by HANSKIN.
Korean skincare routine is focused towards achieving glass-like skin, meaning a skin which is super smooth, brighter, glowing and whiter. Hanskin Real complexion essence can be used as a toner too.
It is just slightly viscous than water and gets absorbed into skin easily and deeply. Hyaluronic acid which is the main ingredient of this product helps in boosting hydration and also reduces appearance of fatigue and dullness
Key Ingredients
- Super lightweight
- Helps in improving the skin barrier
- Provides intense hydration to the skin
- Texture similar to water and gets absorbed into skin quickly
- To boost hydration into the skin multiple layers of the essence can be used
- Works well with other active ingredients
Pros
- Comes in a big size bottle and little goes a long.
- Great product for sensitive and even oily skin
Check out the best Korean whitening products by HANSKIN below!
COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask
Another one of the best Korean whitening products from the Cosrx that works wonders to not just provide dehydration but to also give whitening brightening effect.
We love this overnight cream based mask. After the application you wake up the next day with smoother and brighter skin.
Rice as an ingredient in skincare is known for its umpteenth uses and hence it is also one of the most respected ingredients in Korean Skincare.
Key Features
- Overnight cream based mask
- Lightweight and moisturizing
- Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin
- Contains Rice extracts which helps in brightening and nourishing the skin
- Contains Niacinamide , which makes it suitable for oily skin type and also works on enlarged pores
Pros
- An Affordable overnight mask.
- Good for sensitive skin.
- Doesn’t leave any stickiness or heaviness behind.
Check out the best Korean whitening products by COSRX below!
Missha Time Revolution The First treatment Essence
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by MISSHA.
The First Treatment EssenceThis product doesn really need any introduction, it’s one of the most popular Korean skincare and it was my first Korean Essence.
It is known for its hydrating, anti-aging and whitening properties. This essence is also a close dupe of its Japanese counterpart SK II First Treatment Essence
Key Features
- Water-like texture – fast absorbing
- Doesn’t leave skin feeling sticky or heavy
- Gives hydrating boost to the skin
- It gives transparency effect to the skin, helping in achieve glass like skin
- Fermented ingredients are known for their anti-aging properties
- To be used after cleansing and toning
Pros
- Tightens the skin, works on fine lines and a perfect fast absorbing essence
Mizon Good Night White Sleeping Mask
Like most overnight products this mask too works while you are asleep, you wake up with fresh brighter skin. Has a slight lavender smell which makes the sleep even more calming. Works well with other active ingredients and freshly exfoliated skin too.
Key Features
- Non-sticky water based cream
- Heavy enough to provide moisturization through out the night
- Hypoallergenic formal makes it suitable for all skin types
- Lightens dark spots and blemishes
- One of the key ingredients is Niacinamide, which works wonders for pores and acne related issues too.
Pros
- An all-rounder night cream, which helps in brightening the skin too.
Check out the best Korean whitening products by MIZON below!
Related: Check out the best Korean moisturizer for acne prone skin!
Secret Key Snowhite Cream
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products by SECRET KEY.
This cream tops the charts for best brightening products from Korea, It whitens the skin immediately, leaving it look fresh, glowing and even hydrated as it contains a ton of butters and oils, along with the Key ingredient as Niacinamide, this a fantastic day cream.
Key Features
- Brightens the skin immediately
- Works on blemishes and dark spots
- Hydrates the skin well without making it sticky
- Contains Niacinamide as its main active ingredients.
- Helps in removing tan and over the time, works well on hyperpigmentation as well.
- Contains macadamia oil, jojoba oil, shea butter and sweet almond oil
Pros
- Super cream to work on brightening and tan removal
The Face Shop Whiteseed Brightening Serum
The next one on this list of best Korean whitening products is by The Face Shop.
This serum seeps deeply into the skin and works on the skin from within. It is known to give milk like skin as it provides hydration, brightens the skin and also works on the spot care. This Whiteseed brightening serum by Face Shop also fixes uneven skin tone and gives an overall radiance to it.
Key Features
- Contains white seed complex which helps in providing moisturization
- Controls the production of melanin
- Helps with already tanned skin
- Light weight and absorbs quickly
- Milky texture -moisturizes skin from within
- Works well with pigmentation and dry skin too
Pros
- Known for controlling melanin, meaning whiter, brighter skin from within.
Which is the best Korean skin whitening product?
My team and I tested 25+ Korean skin whitening product on the basis of ingredients, efficacy and results. We found The Face Shop Whiteseed Brightening Serum to be the best in the list.
The Face Shop Whiteseed Brightening Serum is formulated with niacinamide, lupine seeds as well as squalene that helps in reducing dark spots, acne scars, pigmentation etc. It also evens out the skin tone and controls the production of melanin. The Face Shop serum is lightweight, non-greasy and absorbs quickly in the skin. It moisturises the skin from within. The Face Shop Whiteseed Brightening Serum is available for sale on Amazon.
Ingredients to look for in your whitening product:
- Niacinamide
- Arbutin
- Kojic Acid
- Azelaic acid
- Linoleic acid
- Vitamin C
- Fruit extracts
- Glutathione
Ingredients to avoid in your whitening product:
- Steroids
- Alcohol
- Fragrances
- Mercury
- Hydroquinone
These products help you achieve fair complexion while not being harsh on your skin. Having said that, there are many more products that achieve wonderful results for brightening and whitening from Korean Skincare and we will keep introducing you to the new and best out there.
Let us know your favourites from the list above.
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My goal is to showcase the creativity and awesomeness of Korea and Korean products. I’m the head writer at bestkoreanproducts.com!