The K-beauty skin-first approach means that you will always find cosmetics infused with skincare ingredients – and this is demonstrated most evidently through Korean foundations that tint while leaving the complexion healthy, hydrated and radiant.
“K-beauty makeup, or Korean beauty makeup, is renowned for its emphasis on achieving a natural, glowing, and youthful appearance”, explains Dr Jinah Yoo, Consultant Dermatologist, Maylin x Dr Jinah Yoo Dermatology.
She continues, “The principles behind K-beauty makeup focus on enhancing the skin and subtlety rather than dramatic transformations. The goal is a luminous complexion that looks fresh and hydrated. BB creams, CC creams and cushion foundations are favoured for their lightweight, skin-like texture and glowy finish”.
Leading the minimalist revolution and no-makeup makeup that has dominated the latest beauty trends from Seoul to London, full-coverage formulations are far from the Korean MO. “Heavy coverage is generally avoided”, stresses Dr Yoo. “Instead, the focus is on evening out the skin tone while allowing the skin’s natural texture to show through. K-beauty base products enhance rather than conceal, aiming for a flawless, natural finish”.
Are foundations or BB creams more popular in Korea?
“In Korea, BB cream is generally more popular than foundation, although both products are widely used”, explains Dr Yoo. “The popularity of BB cream in Korea stems from its multifunctional benefits and its alignment with the K-beauty philosophy of achieving a natural, radiant look with lightweight coverage”.
What should you look for in a foundation?
According to the skin expert, “When choosing a foundation, it's important to find one that suits your skin type, tone, and the kind of finish you desire”.
She breaks it down for each skin type:
- Dry skin: Look for hydrating, dewy, or moisturizing foundations. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and oils can help maintain moisture. Avoid mattifying formulas as they can accentuate dryness.
- Oily skin: Choose oil-free, mattifying, or long-wear foundations that help control shine and reduce the appearance of pores. Foundations with ingredients like salicylic acid or powder-based formulations work well for absorbing excess oil.
- Combination skin: Opt for a balanced foundation that isn’t too hydrating or too mattifying. Some foundations specifically cater to combination skin, providing oil control in some areas and hydration in others.
- Sensitive skin: If you have sensitive skin, look for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic foundations with soothing ingredients like aloe vera or chamomile. Avoid products with alcohol, fragrances, or harsh chemicals.
Find your next skin tint icon to perfect the complexion below with the best K-beauty foundations.
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Shiseido Revitalessence Glow Foundation
Shiseido’s Revitalessence Glow Foundation has the beauty editor's seal of approval. It’s a glow-giving formula that is brimming with skincare ingredients that will hydrate and even out tone thanks to its serum-like properties.
The base product has a medium coverage and a filter effect. It harnesses the power of two prebiotics; fermented kefir which fortifies the skin barrier and niacinamide for smoothing. Offering real staying power, it will not budge for 12 hours but the moisture-enriching will live on even longer.
There are 30 shades.
Buy now £49.00, Cult Beauty
Erborian CC CRÈME 45ml
Korean beauty rarely lets us down and Erborian’s CC cream is no exception.
The award-winning product is comprised of highly concentrated CC pigments, botanical active from the Korean pharmacopoeia and lots of other good stuff (Tiger Grass, Adenosine and Vitamin B3 to name a few) – it’s no wonder it smells amazing and feels unbelievably soft on the skin.
There are multiple formulas available depending on your needs, though we think the CC Red Correct is by far the best! All versions only come in two shades (Clair and Doré) but they will eventually adapt to your skin's unique tone with enough blending and the versatility of coverage means it can be used as a primer or built up to offer more coverage.
Buy now £42.00, Space NK
Dr Jart+ BB Premium Beauty Balm SPF50
Just one pump of the Dr Jart+ newly launched BB cream is all you need for good coverage across the complexion. The brand, known for its innovative colour-correcting products, has knocked it out of the park with this latest formulation that puts niacinamide at the heart to give you a makeup-skincare hybrid product with buildable coverage. The creamy texture glides across the skin, evening out the complexion and leaving a flawless filter-like finish.
Buy now £37.00, Cult Beauty
PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream
The Cica Clearing BB Cream is a hybrid base product that combines the soothing properties of Centella Asiatica extract with a tint to enrich the complexion, while evening out tone. The beauty of this formula is its buildability.
For those days in which you’re hoping to look like you just rolled out of bed looking so flawless, you can apply a light touch, while the addition of panthenol protects the skin barrier. But for more coverage, you can double up and blend with other heroes in your makeup bag, while still retaining its lightweight feel.
There are seven shades that glide onto the skin—whether you prefer your brush, sponge, or fingers. It’s ideal for on-the-go and suitable for sensitive skin as the product is fragrance-free.
Buy now £8.89, Amazon
TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion SPF40 PA++
Cushion foundations are wildly popular in Korea for their buildability, lightweight feel and natural application. The TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion is one of the best on the market - not just because it boasts high-level UV protection with the SPF40 PA++ rating.
The product is very long-lasting, has a blurring filter-like effect on the skin and while it is semi-matte, it is lightly glowy. The coverage is good, more so than some of the other formulas in this edit but it doesn’t feel heavy or cake. There is also one of the most extensive shade offerings with 40 hues.
Buy now £18.80, Stylevana
Missha Magic Cushion Cover Lasting Foundation SPF50+/PA+++
Magic by name, magic by nature, Missha’s foundation is not like the Dream Matte Mousse spongey formula that Noughties kids will be oh-so-familiar with. It doesn’t cake onto the complexion but instead creates a light veil of colour to smooth and a little goes a long way. Boosting with hydrating ingredients, it is relished by the skin and the handy compact complete with a mirror makes on-the-go touch-ups a breeze.
The shade range is not great. In fact, there are only four pale shades to choose between but if you have fair skin, it provides a long-lasting, easy-to-apply light coverage product.
Buy now £8.68, Amazon
hince Second Skin Foundation
The hince foundation will not only be a chic addition to your makeup bag with its sphere topper and matte bottle but it lives up to its Second Skin moniker by providing a no-makeup makeup finish that is lightweight yet suitably blurring. The coverage is buildable so it can cover up pesky acne and scars without overloading the skin. Once applied, it locks in place without transferring.
Much like the product above, this foundation also has a minimal shade range. There are seven hues but they are almost indistinguishable from each other, ranging over the spectrum of neutrality to ivory, pink and warmer undertones of pale skin. If you are lucky enough to skin-match, it has an amino acid-based formula and uses intelligent coat powder technology to mimic the breathability of powder but in liquid form.
Buy now £25.27, YesStyle
CLIO Kill Cover The New Founwear Cushion SPF50+ PA+++
Lauded by the experts as one of the brands to know, Clio has formed a name for itself this way of Seoul for its Kill Lash mascara and liners that simply do not budge. The foundation follows in the same vein for all-day coverage.
The cushion texture eases application, encouraging the tint to glide over the complexion and it’s buildable too. There are seven shades but as a word of warning, the darkest Sand hue closely resembles the golden shade associated with the beach landscape. Here’s hoping darker tones will be unveiled soon.
Buy now £20.29, Stylevana
HERA Black Cushion Foundation SPF34 PA++
There is something quite nostalgic about the black compact of the HERA foundation. It reminds us of our first-ever foundation products back in the 90s and 00s - cushion applicator included. In line with the K-beauty trend in this category, the base product is very lightweight and thin, but it spreads nicely across the complexion and can be layered under bronzer for a golden finish. The formula is enriched with kind-to-skin hydrating ingredients so will not exacerbate dryness in those experiencing parchedness.
There are only nine light shades.
Buy now, Stylevana
ETUDE Double Lasting Foundation
It may not be the most aesthetically packaged foundation but a classic case of not judging a book by its cover will reveal a hard-working product with a purse-friendly price tag. ETUDE has upgraded the formula of its foundation and the result is a workhorse that is lightweight and yet effectively covers blemishes or uneven tone.
The finish is matte but it’s not drying, affixing to the skin with lasting power without flaking, caking or settling into creases. This is on account of what the brand refers to as its Double Lasting Line technology which it boasts will keep your makeup where it belongs (on the face, of course) for 24 hours. It has been put through its paces in lab tests to ensure all the above.
Buy now £14.50, YesStyle
