Beauty of Joseon vs SKIN1004
Two Korean houses founded the same year in Seoul, both accessible, both beginner-friendly — and built on opposite ideas. Beauty of Joseon reinterprets hanbang heritage; SKIN1004 stakes everything on one sourcing decision.
Ratings and best-for calls are our own editorial composite: ingredient-level analysis of each brand's core formulas, each brand's stated positioning, and consensus themes from aggregated public reviews as of mid-2026. They compare these two brands to each other, not an absolute clinical grade.
Brand overview
Best for
Stars compare these two brands to each other, not an absolute clinical grade.
Pros and cons
- Wide range covering nearly every routine step
- Coherent hanbang ingredient story
- Dewy glass-skin finish
- Accessible pricing against luxury hanbang lines
- Not vegan-certified brand-wide
- Retinal eye serum is not beginner- or pregnancy-friendly
- Dewy textures can feel rich on very oily skin
- Less built around one clinical active
- PETA-certified vegan on the flagship line
- Extremely gentle, minimalist formulas
- Very accessible at the cleanser/toner end
- Strong reputation for reactive, barrier-compromised skin
- Narrow aesthetic range — mostly watery and soothing
- Fewer high-strength actives
- Centella-forward branding can feel repetitive
- Newer sub-lines have thin review histories
Hero ingredients
Both brands also run a propolis line (BoJ Glow Serum, SKIN1004 Vita Propolis) — a genuine overlap.
Product categories
| Beauty of Joseon | SKIN1004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanser | Yes | Yes |
| Toner | Yes | Yes |
| Serum / ampoule | Yes | Yes |
| Moisturizer | Yes | Yes |
| SPF | Flagship | Yes |
| Makeup | Lip tints only | No |
- Cleanser
- Yes
- Toner
- Yes
- Serum / ampoule
- Yes
- Moisturizer
- Yes
- SPF
- Flagship
- Makeup
- Lip tints only
- Cleanser
- Yes
- Toner
- Yes
- Serum / ampoule
- Yes
- Moisturizer
- Yes
- SPF
- Yes
- Makeup
- No
Texture
Hero products
- Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+
- Dynasty Cream
- Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner
- Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal
- Ginseng Essence Water
- Madagascar Centella Ampoule
- Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
- Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
- Centella Light Cleansing Oil
- Niacinamide 10 Boosting Shot Ampoule
Five most popular per brand, by review volume and retailer bestseller rankings.
Performance score
Composite score out of 10 — our own editorial rating, relative to each other.
Who each brand is for
Choose this one if you
- Want a visible glow and glass-skin finish
- Like the story behind hanbang ingredients
- Enjoy lightweight, dewy textures
- Want anti-aging support (ginseng, retinal)
- Have sensitive or reactive skin
- Struggle with redness or a compromised barrier
- Prefer minimalist, transparent formulas
- Want a lower entry price
Choose Beauty of Joseon for radiant skin, elegant textures and beginner-friendly routines built on traditional Korean ingredients. Choose SKIN1004 if the priority is calming sensitive skin, repairing the barrier and minimalist formulas centred on Centella Asiatica.
Frequently asked
Which brand is better for sensitive skin?+
SKIN1004. Its formulas are built around high-concentration Centella Asiatica and short, minimalist ingredient lists, and it takes our sensitive-skin composite 9.6 to 9.2.
Which one is cheaper to start with?+
SKIN1004. Most of its range sits at $4–20 per item and dips lowest at the cleanser and toner end, while Beauty of Joseon is mostly $10–20 per item.
Do the two brands overlap at all?+
Yes. Both run a propolis-based line (BoJ Glow Serum, SKIN1004 Vita Propolis), and both cover a full routine from cleanser through to SPF.