Beauty of Joseon

Beauty of Joseon was founded in 2013 with a specific question: what did women of the Joseon dynasty use to maintain radiant and healthy skin? The answer lies in the Gyuhap Chongseo, an encyclopedia written in the 17th century that compiles the beauty, culinary, and household care practices of the Korean nobility of the time.

From that historical research emerged a brand that is not merely "inspired by tradition": Beauty of Joseon selects the eight key ingredients mentioned in the ancient text—rice, ginseng, red bean, mugwort, green plum, honey and propolis, green tea, centella asiatica—and integrates them into modern, effective, and scientifically validated K-Beauty formulas.

The porcelain white packaging evokes the aesthetic of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897). The result is a brand that is both authentic in its historical connection and competitive in its formulation efficacy. Cruelty-free

 

Learn more about Beauty of Joseon

Founded in 2013 in South Korea, Beauty of Joseon was born from the intersection of historical research and contemporary K-Beauty formulation. The brand draws inspiration from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) and the Gyuhap Chongseo, a 17th-century encyclopedia that compiled the beauty and skincare practices of Korean nobility.

The brand is cruelty-free and has garnered a global community of K-Beauty enthusiasts who seek products with a strong cultural identity and visible results.

The white and gold ceramic packaging is immediately recognizable and is inspired by the porcelain craftsmanship typical of the Joseon era.

Hanbang is traditional Korean medicine, a system that uses botanical and fermented ingredients to restore balance to the skin. Beauty of Joseon integrates this tradition with modern K-Beauty formulation technology: historical ingredients are extracted, concentrated, and combined with contemporary active ingredients such as niacinamide, SPF, and peptides.

The result is skincare that is neither purely "natural" nor purely "chemical": it is hybrid, in the best sense of the word. Rooted in a centuries-old tradition, validated by modern science.

The eight ingredients from Gyuhap Chongseo that guide the formulation of Beauty of Joseon:

  • Rice (extract and fermented water): brightening, evening, rich in B vitamins
  • Ginseng: antioxidant, tonic, signature of the anti-aging line
  • Red bean (adzuki): gentle exfoliant, purifying
  • Mugwort: soothing, antioxidant, for reactive skin
  • Green plum (mume): astringent, regulating, for enlarged pores
  • Honey and propolis: hydrating, antibacterial, calming
  • Green tea (matcha): antioxidant, sebum-regulating
  • Centella asiatica: healing, barrier-protective, soothing

The Beauty of Joseon range covers various needs thanks to its diverse lines:

  • Dull and uneven skin: rice and ginseng-based lines for radiance and tone uniformity
  • Sensitive and reactive skin: mugwort and centella formulas to soothe and protect
  • Acne-prone skin: propolis and green tea for antibacterial and sebum-regulating action
  • Anti-aging prevention: ginseng and peptides for tone, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction
  • Enlarged pores: green plum and red bean to purify and minimize

Absolutely! Korean skincare is all about layering and customization. Beauty of Joseon products integrate perfectly with other K-Beauty brands like COSRX , Round Lab , and SKIN1004 . The important thing is to apply them in the right order: from the most liquid to the thickest.

  • What is Gyuhap Chongseo? It is a 17th-century Korean encyclopedia that compiles the knowledge of Joseon nobility women on cooking, weaving, medicine, and beauty care. Beauty of Joseon used it as a starting point to select the key ingredients for its formulas.
  • What does Hanbang mean? Hanbang is traditional Korean medicine, based on the use of botanical, fermented, and mineral ingredients to rebalance the body and skin. Beauty of Joseon integrates this approach with modern K-Beauty formulations.
  • Are Beauty of Joseon products suitable for sensitive skin? Many lines, particularly those based on Artemisia and Centella, are formulated to be gentle. However, the brand also uses natural fragrances in some products: check the INCI if your skin is very reactive to fragrances.
  • Which line should I start with if I want to even out my skin tone? The line based on fermented rice water and ginseng is the most suitable for brightness and evenness. If you also want sun protection, the brand offers rice-based SPFs that are very popular with the international K-Beauty community.