Published: November 30, 2025
Korean skincare has really been making a mark on the Western world lately, with more and more people incorporating K-beauty products and techniques into their skincare routines. Why? K-beauty takes a different approach to skincare – one that has a lot of people intrigued.
Keep reading as CBGärdN compares the pros and cons of Korean skincare and Western skincare, so that you can decide which approach is best for your skin.
Prevention vs Correction
Let’s start by taking a look at the core principles behind Korean and Western skincare approaches.
Korean skincare is all about prevention. It focuses on hydration and protection, emphasizing the importance of patience and consistency to achieve and maintain a healthy complexion.
Western skincare, on the other hand, tends to be more about correction. It’s very results-driven. Problem-solving is a big focus, with Western skincare traditionally geared toward tackling various skin concerns as they arise.
Which is Better?
As the saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’, and this holds true when it comes to skincare as well. In this regard, Korean skincare wins out.
With that said, many Western skincare products are now also encompassing a more preventative approach. The CB Replenishing Serum, for instance, features a gentle formula that’s packed with natural ingredients (which, as you’ll soon learn, K-beauty is famous for). Rather than honing in on a specific visible skin concern, this serum works to keep the skin barrier feeling strengthened, which then leaves every other aspect of your skin feeling better supported.
Layered 10-Step Skincare Routines vs Skinimalism
Korean skincare is famous for its intricate skincare routines. These routines usually consist of around 10 different steps, each one layered on top of the previous.
This contrasts quite significantly with the more minimalist routines that Western skincare is known for. These routines usually only involve a handful of steps. However, unlike the gentle steps of Korean skincare, the Western skincare steps tend to feature targeted ingredients that have been proven effective at dealing with specific skin concerns. Again, the focus is on efficiency and getting good results with minimal effort.
Which is Better?
Once the Western beauty world caught wind of the elaborate 10-step skincare routines that were being followed in Korea, it didn’t take long for this to become a Western skincare trend. However, soon after that, people started realizing that these long routines didn’t come without problems…
With the skin suddenly being assaulted with a deluge of different products each day, it only made sense that the skin barrier would begin to protest. Once the Korean 10-step routine became mainstream, dermatologists started to notice a huge rise in skin concerns associated with using too many products/ingredients.
Now, skincare minimalism, aka skinimalism, has started to dominate once again. Those widespread issues are beginning to subside, with people realizing that their skin didn’t actually need quite so many products.
So, does this mean that minimalist Western skincare routines are better? Not necessarily. When it comes to the length of your skincare routine, what’s best depends on your skin’s unique requirements. Don’t aim for a certain number of steps – focus on meeting your skin’s needs instead.
Nature vs Science
Skincare plays a key role in Korean culture. There has been a heavy focus on it for centuries. This is why a large part of Korean skincare is centered around ancient ingredients. It’s largely driven by traditional remedies, with gentle natural ingredients like ginseng, green tea, and snail mucin taking center stage.
Western skincare, on the other hand, tends to take a more pharmaceutical approach when it comes to skincare ingredients. Yes, natural ingredients can be found in plenty of Western skincare products. However, on the whole, active ingredients that have plenty of scientific research behind them usually dominate.
Which is Better?
When it comes to comparing natural Korean skincare ingredients with high-tech Western skincare ingredients, it’s impossible to say which is better. Both have their benefits, and this line that separates Korean and Western skincare is becoming increasingly blurred.
For instance, as we’ve mentioned, more and more Western skincare brands are recognizing the sheer power that natural ingredients can bring to a skincare formula. Not only are they drawing from nature more than ever before, but some of those botanicals are the same as what you would find in Korean skincare products. Green tea extract, for example, is now a staple in Western skincare products. You’ll find it in several CBGärdN products, including the CB Göld Velvet Silk Crème from the CB Göld Collection.
Meanwhile, Korean skincare brands are also now starting to turn to ingredients that were previously only predominantly found in Western skincare products. Although high-powered actives are generally avoided because of how they can irritate the skin, gentler derivatives of the vitamins and acids used in Western skincare products are now making their way into the Korean skincare world too.
Innovation vs Love for the Classics
Reading the above may lead you to think that the Western skincare world is more innovative than the K-beauty sector. This, however, isn’t quite true…
Yes, Western skincare loves proven, science-backed ingredients. However, there is still a strong love for the classics. Take vitamin C as an example. It’s a classic ingredient and, thanks to the advancements in the Western cosmetics arena, there are now several cutting-edge forms of vitamin C that can be added to skincare products. The CB Illuminating Vita C Serum contains two of them!
On the other hand, Korean skincare places a strong focus on innovation. This has been the case for years. In fact, the K-beauty world is credited with inventing many of the skincare products that are now mainstays in Western skincare. From BB creams and CC creams to sheet masks and handheld laser devices, Korea’s innovative approach to skincare has resulted in big contributions to the global beauty market.
Which is Better?
Again, just like when it comes to comparing natural ingredients with science-backed compounds, it’s difficult to say whether the Korean or Western approach is better. The skincare world as we know it today would be very different if it weren’t for the additions provided by Korea’s creativity. It’s always good to embrace innovation – you never know where it may take you and your skin!
At the same time, there’s something to be said for sticking to the classics. Going with the vitamin C example we used above, this is now one of the most loved ingredients in Western skincare. The fact that there are so many different forms of the ingredient available means that it’s now accessible to everyone, no matter their skin type. Even those with sensitive skin who would previously have struggled with the more potent forms of vitamin C out there can now happily use a gentle derivative of the ingredient, still benefiting from all that it offers but without having to worry about potentially irritating their skin.
Budget-Friendly vs High-End
Another area where there is often a big contrast between Korean and Western skincare is when it comes to price. Although there are, obviously, exceptions, Korean skincare is generally more budget-friendly. Meanwhile, Western skincare brands often aim for the high-end market.
Why is this the case? For a few reasons. Firstly, manufacturing costs in Korea are much lower than those in the Western world. The ingredients often don’t cost quite as much either. This means that the resulting products can be offered at a lower price. This is enhanced by how competitive the K-beauty market is. It’s even more saturated than the Western skincare market, meaning that price has a big influence over skincare purchase decisions.
Which is Better?
The lower price tags were one of the reasons why K-beauty became so popular in the Western world. Even after being shipped across the world, these products could still often be sold at a much lower price than their Western counterparts.
However, sometimes, those pricier Western products are worth spending on. As we’ve discussed, they often contain high-performance, science-backed, patented ingredients. It takes a lot of research and development to create those ingredients, and this costs money.
In the end, when it comes to your skin, always buy the best that you can afford.
Bringing Together the Best of Both Worlds
All of the comparisons we’ve made above were particularly noticeable when Korean skincare first entered the Western beauty scene. Now, however, things are changing…
With both the Korean and Western skincare approaches offering unique benefits, many brands, both Korean and Western, are creating products that bring together the best of both worlds.
The CB Eye Serum Concentrate is a good example. It contains several ingredients that are often found in Korean skincare products, such as extracts from reishi mushroom and wild yam, both native to Korea. At the same time, it also harnesses the power of Western ingredients, bringing sodium hyaluronate into the mix for its intense hydrating capabilities.
The CB Midnight Melting Mask is another product that incorporates elements from both Korean and Western skincare. It’s filled with several fruit extracts, including pomegranate, maqui, acai berry, and goji berry. It’s a superfood roster that any Korean skincare enthusiast would approve of. Meanwhile, a Western touch is added by the likes of squalane, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin A, and acetyl hexapeptide-8. These science-backed ingredients perfectly complement the natural compounds in the formula. This results in a face mask that leaves the skin feeling deeply hydrated and replenished.
Summary
While there may be several differences that separate Korean and Western skincare approaches, bringing the two together in a way that meets your skin’s needs is always going to be more beneficial than choosing one over the other. Both have their benefits, which your skincare routine can capture.
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