15 K-Beauty Products We’re Stocking Up on Before Tariff Prices Hit
From editor-backed toners to an expert-recommended PDRN serum.
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Korean beauty has taken over our skincare, makeup, and even hair care routines, from elegant sunscreen formulations that feel like a hydrating lightweight moisturizer to lip stains that last ALL day, and for a good reason. “Korean skincare is known for its advanced formulations, innovation, and affordability,” says Charlotte Cho, founder of Soko Glam, a Korean beauty retailer, and Then I Met You, a Korean skincare brand. But all of that could change if and when President Trump’s tariff plan goes into effect.
The U.S.-Korea Tariff Situation 101
A tariff is a tax imposed on products and goods imported into a country, which means an additional tax is added onto the total cost of the product…aka things will get more expensive. Before Trump’s tariff plan, South Korean beauty products were sold duty-free or tax-free under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). On April 2, 2025, the U.S. government announced its plan to impose a 25 percent tariff on South Korean imports, but that has since been put on pause for 90 days, or until July 8, 2025, to allow for trade negotiations. It is now adjusted to a 10 percent baseline tariff, so that $10 hydrating essence you swear by might be priced around $12 to $14 now. Although it might not seem like much, these additional costs are rippling through the product development and supply chain processes, which can cost companies and brands thousands of dollars, and in turn, the consumer has to pay the price.
The Impact of Tariffs on Korean Beauty in the U.S.
To find out more about how the tariffs will impact K-Beauty in the U.S., I spoke to Cho on her unique perspective as both a K-Beauty supplier (via Soko Glam) and K-Beauty brand founder and product developer (via Then I Met You).
Although the tariffs aren’t in full effect yet, she’s been facing hurdles on the supply chain side. “We have been hit with multiple tariff bills once the container of our products arrived at the port,” she says. “If these tariffs go through, costs for importers and retailers in the U.S. will increase significantly, which could lead to higher prices for consumers.”
On the product development side, Cho points out cost spikes across the board, down to raw materials and packaging components. As a result, manufacturers and retailers are trying to renegotiate terms and increase retail prices. “In almost seven years, we’ve only raised our prices [for Then I Met You] once. We don’t want to do it again, but depending on the tariff situation, there may be no choice, as it is forcing our hand,” she says.
How to Shop Korean Beauty Pre-Tariffs:
Cho reassures us that the current prices at Soko Glam are pre-tariffs (at the time of writing) and hopes to maintain them, “but the unfortunate reality is that prices are likely to go up for all products, and not just beauty products.” If you want to shop and stock up on some of your K-Beauty favorites, Cho recommends snagging the products you use consistently, whether it’s the SPF you swear by, a brightening yet gentle vitamin C serum, or toner pads perfect for spot treating. But you should also not go overboard with panic-buying. “We always recommend checking expiration dates and buying what you know you’ll use within the next year or so. Sustainable, thoughtful shopping is still key,” Cho reminds us.
Ahead, I curated the K-Beauty products to stock up on before the impending price hikes, including picks that Cosmo editors repurchase constantly and a few of Cho’s personal recommendations.
If you want your face to look revived and bright, this toner is one of my favorites, especially if you have acne-prone skin. Formulated with peony extract and licorice water, it has helped fade my dark spots without feeling too harsh on my skin. It also contains green tea extract to help calm the skin.
The Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence needs no introduction and is a viral favorite for its deeply hydrating feel and skin barrier-repairing powers. It’s made with 96.3% snail secretion filtrate, which naturally helps repair the skin and alleviate it from dryness.
“My skin looked a lot more hydrated and glowy, which is a win because as I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed my skin looks duller and less full of life. The product is naturally a bit slimy, so the texture takes some getting used to, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for good skin,” says Iman Balagam in her review.
Although Beauty of Joseon is known for its viral lightweight sunscreen, I think the Glow Deep serum is the brand’s most underrated product. It contains alpha arbutin, which is a powerful yet gentle ingredient that can help fade dark spots, and it’s comparable to hydroquinone. If you have sensitive, reactive skin like I do, this serum gets the job done and evens out your skin tone without causing breakouts or irritation. I noticed a difference in just two weeks of using it.
Glass skin overnight? The TikTok-viral mask is worth all the hype and delivers ample hydration and a dewy, glowy finish. Each hydrogel mask is doused with an ampoule of collagen, hyaluronic acid, galactomyces, and niacinamide. Once the mask turns translucent on your skin, you can take it off to reveal a smooth, glazed doughnut appearance.
Melt away waterproof makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil with this luxurious cleansing balm. Formulated with sea buckthorn oil, olive oil, and vitamin E, this cleansing balm can breakdown the day's grime without being harsh on the skin. It has a soft, silky texture that glides on and off easily.
"Then I Met You cleansing balm is the best I’ve ever used. It gets all my makeup off, feels lovely on the skin, and smells delicious,” says news editor Olivia Truffaut-Wong.
“Abib is one of my favorite Korean beauty brands of the moment. They have an amazing FDA-approved sunscreen stick that glides effortlessly across your skin with no white cast, and a new gluthathione serum that is really trending in Korea and on Soko Glam right now,” says Cho.
This sunscreen stick offers SPF 50 protection and has a lightweight, smooth texture that glides effortlessly on the skin. It’s formulated with calming ingredients like ectoine and allantoin, and it's water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Fashion and luxury commerce editor Sarah Maberry is also a fan of this sunscreen stick, noting, “It is perfect for stashing your bag for quick touch-ups. I always burn the tip of my nose so its the perfect way to prevent that without messing up my face makeup.”
Formulated with a fermented rice wine, rice bran extract, ginseng, urea, and skullcap, this toner helps to hydrate and support the skin’s barrier with its soothing properties. It has a lightweight milky texture that sinks into the skin leaving it with a radiant soft finish.
“This toner is my skincare superhero right now! I’ve been using it for a few months and it has really helped even out my skin tone and texture, particularly annoying patches of redness around my nose and mouth. My bottle is almost empty and I will be stocking up,” says deputy commerce editor Heath Owens.
I love using this cushion foundation to top up my SPF protection on days I wear makeup. It also delivers the perfect amount of coverage to cover dark spots. It has a thin, buildable texture with a dewy, skin-like finish that blurs imperfections. It comes in six shades.
Beauty editor Beth Gillette is a fan of these toner pads, especially for sensitive skin. “I plop them as a spot treatment on angry, inflamed pimples, and they bring down the swelling and redness after about 15 minutes,” she says. Its hero ingredients madecassoside and centella asiatica are known to have anti-inflammatory benefits that help calm and repair the skin.
Formulated for those with acne-prone and sensitive skin, this oil cleanser gently takes the day off while balancing the skin. It’s gone viral on Tiktok for its pore-clearing capabilities. Beauty director Lauren Balsamo is a fan.
My skin barrier cannot survive without the Aestura Atobarrier 365 Lotion. Unlike other barrier repair moisturizers on the market, this one is deeply hydrating yet practically weightless. It helps calm any and all irritation and has been a game changer in my retinoid journey. I love it so much, I also use it as a hand cream to keep my hands soft and conditioned. After all, it comes in a 5.0 oz bottle that lasts a long time!
As someone who deals with hyperpigmentation, a vitamin C serum is a no-brainer to help even out my skin tone. I’ve been using this one by Some By Mi for quite some time and love how gentle and hydrating it is on my skin without feeling sticky. I do notice a difference in radiance and overall reduction in dark spots when I use this consistently.
Our editors deemed the Neogen Real Ferment Micro Toner as the best overall Korean toner in our best Korean skincare products roundup for its hydrating benefits. It’s formulated with a balance of exfoliating acids and hydrating and calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and panthenol, in a fermented base. It helps improve the absorption of other products and delivers a smooth base.
“La’dor is making waves with their premium hair and scalp care products. It has a cult following, with ingredients that you can’t find in your regular American or European counterparts. Think snail mucin to strengthen hair strands, to get you you those silky, soft and hydrated locks, with their Keratin Hair Power Glue,” says Cho.
This leave-in treatment protects against heat damage while infusing your hair with hydration and protein to help strengthen damaged hair. It also delivers shine and a silky smooth feel.
“To shop for more higher end derm-focused K-Beauty products, IOPE is a leader in K-innovation. The PDRN serum is hardly one we can keep in stock, for its skin firming, glow-getting effects that is dubbed ‘Botox in a bottle,’” says Cho.
This serum contains a variation of hot new ingredient polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), which is usually derived from salmon sperm, but IOPE’s formula is completely vegan. It also has caffeine, probiotics, niacinamide, and beta-glucan to help hydrate and firm the skin for a more youthful appearance.
Anvita Reddy (she/her) is a Commerce Editor at Hearst Magazines. She contributes commerce content across Hearst’s portfolio, including Elle, Harper's Baazar, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Cosmopolitan, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of experience in the commerce space, including writing detailed first-person product reviews, trend and best-of round-ups, deals and sales coverage, and more. Previously, she was an assistant editor for PS Shopping, covering beauty, home and kitchen, fashion, tech, travel, wellness, and lifestyle. In her free time, you can find her catching up on everything from reality TV to reruns of classic sitcoms, testing out viral beauty products, sharpening her cooking skills, working out, or traveling.
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