Best Korean Foundation: Our Top 5 Picks With In-Depth Reviews
Looking for the best Korean foundations for a totally flawless look?
I’ve got you covered!
I personally tried out each and every one of the options below.
Read on for in-depth reviews and find out which ones give you beauty hacks for flawless skin at an affordable price.
Our Top Picks
Check out the table for a quick overview of these foundations, then read on for more details!
This post contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.
Top 5 Best Korean Foundation Options for Flawless Skin
Before we jump into the reviews, here’s a “before” picture with my bare skin to give you an idea of my starting point:
#1 Advanced Real Moisture Liquid Foundation
This is my favorite liquid foundation that I tried. Tons of coverage, easy to apply, and a nice clean finish.
Let me break down how I feel about this foundation. You can wear this as you head out to work, or a night out with your friends or partner.
Features
- Lightweight feel
- Full face coverage
- Hydrating foundation
- A liquid foundation so great for dry skin
Pros
- This foundation did feel really lightweight on my skin. I found that it didn’t feel as heavy or weighed down as some full-coverage foundation can.
- Helped to cover my fine lines on my face. I am in my 30’s so having a foundation to help blur my troubled areas is very helpful.
- Did a decent job of matching my skin tone. When you shop online it can be hard to know exactly what color to pick.
Cons
- You shop online, so you don’t get to test the makeup on your skin to find the perfect match. But, I did have luck with getting the color that matched my lighter skin-tone.
- By evening I had found that it kind of began to separate a bit on my skin, working into my fine lines, and just looking more worn than I would like.
- For areas that had redness or if you had a breakout, you will need to apply extra as it didn’t fully cover in the first coating of my skin in some areas.
Who Needs This Foundation
The true answer is who doesn’t! This is a really affordable and nice quality foundation. Great for 20’s-mid 30’s age range. Full coverage for days you want to look extra put together.
Great for those who want a budget foundation that can compare to name brands.
#2 ETUDE HOUSE New Double Lasting Foundation
Etude House Double Lasting Foundation was another HUGE success for me. I really found this foundation worked wonderfully on covering my skin while not looking heavy on my skin.
I found myself reaching for this foundation a lot when I wanted to wear around the house, running, errands, and such.
Features
- Lots of color options
- Contains SPF35 for skin protection from the sun!
- Easy application
- Semi-matte finish
- Long-wear foundation
- Buildable coverage
- Great price for the quality
Pros
- A true bang for your buck here. This is a foundation I would purchase again and use for a daily foundation! I found it to be great coverage, and very affordable.
- Applied nicely to the skin. I did use a beauty blender for application, but I am sure a makeup brush would work as well.
- I really loved they have a lot of color tone options to really help customers pick a shade that will work with your tone. They have a foundation guide on color and tones to really help you pick the right color.
Cons
- You do have to apply a bit more than other foundations I have used in the past. It isn’t a ton, but it is more than other brands.
- This does dry out a bit, and I have dry skin so I found that if I didn’t top with a setting spray it would crack a bit through the day.
Who Needs This Foundation
Honestly, this foundation is a good one to invest in. If you have dry skin just be aware. But for oily or normal skin I think you would have great success with this foundation.
Check: 5 Best Primers for Acne-Prone Skin in 2021
#3 MISSHA M Magic Cushion SPF50
If you happen to struggle with dry skin this is a moisture-rich foundation that you apply with the pad that comes with it.
Dab into the foundation and then apply to the skin. A medium coverage foundation.
Pros
- Ultra-rich in moisture to help hydrate dry skin
- A nice medium-coverage foundation
- Good for acne-prone skin
- Nice it has SPF50 in the foundation to protect skin
Cons
- Minimal Korean foundation shades to choose from
- The application pad kind of smeared the foundation a bit so took more blending than other foundations
- Dewy finish
- Offers an orange ting to skin
Who Needs This Foundation
If you are on a budget and need a foundation that fits drugstore quality, you would like this one. Also, for those who have acne-prone skin, this is great at hiding any imperfections.
#4 Innisfree Mineral Stick Concealer #1 Light Beige
Talk about an incredible concealer stick. I wasn’t fully sure what to think of this concealer but after trying it a few times I am sold. I will for sure be buying this when it runs out. It glides on nicely and helps hide your tired eyes, acne, and more.
Pros
- Loved the packaging, it is like a pencil you glide on to the skin.
- Super easy application
- Ultra creamy concealer
- Hides imperfections in the skin
- Can do layers to add more coverage
Cons
- It is a pretty wet concealer so takes time to dry before applying powder
- You have to really work at applying to skin to blend, since wet it takes more time than other brands
Who Needs This Concealer
To be honest, who doesn’t want a good concealer. I used this concealer with every single one of the foundations here, and it worked really well. You will find it is a great pairing with a variety of foundations.
#5 STYLE71 Korean Beauty Foundation Compact
So I am not used to using a foundation compact. So this is something that was new to me, and I was pleasantly surprised. Here you have a Korean cosmetic brand that stands out from the rest.
A fun floral decorated foundation compact that you can pack in your purse for on-the-go makeup.
Pros
- Buildable coverage
- Super creamy foundation
- High coverage
- Wonderful price point for the quality
Cons
- You have to use the pad it comes with which you need to wash often as it gets build up.
- Takes more time to blend on the skin with the pad as compared to brushes or a beauty blender
- Not a ton of color choices
Who Needs This Foundation
This foundation is really wonderful, and I have used it a few times. I do add on a translucent powder on top, as I find it offers a dewy finish.
If you have normal, dry, or even oily skin I think you would enjoy this foundation compact.
Final Words on the Best Korean Foundation
It’s hard to choose a winner, since all of these offer something different. However, I really liked the results of Advanced Real Moisture and Etude. Both offered flawless coverage at an affordable price.
The stick Innisfree Mineral stick is fantastic for targeting smaller problem areas (like that random pimple that always pops up right before a hot date), while the compacts are perfect for on the go.
FAQS about Korean Foundation
Real quick before I send you on your merry way, let’s go over a few basic FAQs.
How do you choose the right foundation color?
Test shades along your jawline (and NOT the back of your hand or wrist) to find the perfect shade.
What is the difference between Korean Foundation vs. BB Cream?
BB cream is a 2-in-one moisturizer/foundation, so it typically provides lighter coverage overall. Foundation is thicker and offers more coverage.
Which one is your pick for the best Korean foundation? Share with us below!
…