How to Shop the Best K-Beauty at Olive Young—Without Flying to Seoul

09.05.2026, 02:06 allure.com

IYKYK: Olive Young is the most prominent South Korean beauty retailer, and soon (in early summer 2026), it will also be the newest, buzziest beauty destination in the Western hemisphere. Take it from me: I've visited South Korea four times, and with each trip, you bet I've explored and shopped multiple Olive Young stores—even more than one in a day. As a K-beauty-obsessed editor living in the US and sometimes regrettably late to discovering rising Korean beauty brands, I look to and shop on Olive Young's global website to fill that gap.

This leads me to my next question, which I've even asked myself: As K-beauty becomes more readily accessible stateside, what is actually worth buying on Olive Young's global site? Well, first of all, I'm paying close attention to the retailer's Korean bestseller list to get a pulse on what's actually trending overseas. I also regularly check out popular K-beauty review platforms such as Hwahae. It's also very apparent—whether you shop in person or online—that Olive Young offers tons of fantastic value sets that help you save many dollars. So, without further ado, let's dive into my top online Olive Young picks.

We've heard this over and over, but it's worth repeating: The US is embarrassingly behind its global peers in the sunscreen category—mostly due to the fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies sunscreens as drugs. It takes literal decades for us to approve new sunscreen filters; the last one was approved in 1990, and the next one on the docket is slated for checks notes this year (supposedly!).

Needless to say, Olive Young shines when it comes to sunscreens. Whether you're looking for the original Korean formulations of your faves—yes, some have been reformulated to meet FDA standards, but they don't usually wow me as much—or looking for next-generation SPFs, especially when it comes to thinner, serum- and ampoule-like formulas that melt into the skin in quite literally one swipe.

Fromrier

Olive Young

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Fromrier EGF Cica Water Sun Ampoule

Ever since I bought this extra cute Fromrier EGF Cica Water Sun Ampoule SPF 50+ PA++++ in May 2025, I've never been the same. Too dramatic? Don't care. This is hands-down my. Favorite. Sunscreen. EVER. There's nothing like this weightless SPF serum in my vast collection of Korean sunscreens (FDA-approved or otherwise). There's almost zero rubbing required, as you can see in my demo clip. In short, there's your typical, quick-absorbing chemical sunscreen…and then there's this disappearing act of a chemical sunscreen.

It leaves my skin looking so fresh and dewy—truly as if I'm radiating from within. And luckily, the star ingredients are right there in the name: EGF (a vegan epidermal growth factor, to be exact, which in this case is a synthetic peptide called SH-Oligopeptide-1) and Centella asiatica (often shortened to cica), an all-time skin-soothing hero.

Dr. G

Olive Young

Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Dr. G Green Mild Up Sun+ SPF 50

I haven't tried many Korean mineral sunscreens (yet!), so I'm tapping Sarah Kinonen, our beauty director, for an assist with her top pick, Dr. G's Green Mild Up Sun+ SPF 50+. "I wear this sunscreen every day—in the morning after my moisturizer, as the last step in my skin-care routine," she says. However, she caveats that, despite more elegant mineral UV filters (we'd presume), it wouldn't blend seamlessly into all skin tones. (Korean beauty standards = pale skin, after all.) “It even takes me a couple of seconds to blend out the cast. But once it's rubbed in, it looks and feels great—and makes for a pill-free base before makeup,” she says, adding that she thought this was a chemical sunscreen all along. Pretty impressive, no?

Need more convincing? It's also derm-approved. "Dr. G’s Green Mild Up Defense Mineral Sunscreen controls shine without over-drying—since overly dry skin will just produce more oil,” says Hee Jin Kim, MD, a board-certified medical doctor based in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Beauty of Joseon

Olive Young

Han applying the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50

Does this really need an intro? Many people, including me, were extremely bummed when the US banned the sale of non-FDA-approved sunscreens, and the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50+ PA++++ was the one on everyone's lips before the product listings even disappeared. Perfectly moisturizing with a delightful serum-cream texture that blended in seamlessly on all skin tones, it's a fantastic, all-in-one moisturizer and SPF step for my combo skin, so I go straight to this after my morning serum. The formula helps soften and brighten my complexion, thanks to rice extract, niacinamide, and ginseng. And the ultimate seal of approval? My boyfriend loves this chemical SPF, too.

P.S. If you're looking to stock up (which, period), you can buy this sunscreen in a two-pack for $30 or a three-pack for $39.

P.P.S. Since then, I've found a very reliable substitute in the brand's newly launched Dayscreen SPF 30. While the SPF factor isn't as high, I prefer the lighter-weight texture for my combo skin over the other FDA reformulation, Dewscreen SPF 50.

Mediheal

Olive Young

Similar to my beloved Fromrier Sun Ampoule, this Mediheal Sun Serum looks delightfully lightweight, like it will make my skin look like it's always properly hydrated. The chemical sunscreen packs not one, not two, but three forms of cica: madecassoside, 4-TECA (a titrated extract of Centella asiatica), and classic cica itself, all working to calm irritation, support the skin barrier, and help boost collagen production. It sounds like a just-right hug for my combo skin, so sign me up.

Laneige

Olive Young

If Water Bank sounds familiar, it's because Laneige has sold other products in the lineup for years. The Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer and Aqua Facial are two standout editor faves. Unfortunately for us, we're missing out on the UV Barrier Sunscreen, which is brimming with Laneige's signature blue hyaluronic acid, as well as a calming blend of bisabolol and allantoin.

Round Lab

Olive Young (3-Pack)

No shade at all here as the Round Lab UVLock reformulation is Allure-approved, but when you know the original is always topping the Olive Young and Hwahae sun-care charts, you can't help but feel a little peeved. Luckily, OY keeps us stocked with a three-pack of the fan-favorite that is often on sale and boils down to $14 a tube. Love it!

Numbuzin

Olive Young

Cica, cica, cica. I can't say enough good things about this super-soother, so this Numbuzin SPF earns its spot on my radar. (Honestly, it already had me at “essence.”) In the hot and sticky heat of NYC summers, I want nothing more than the lightest sunscreens known to humankind. Reviewers do point out a strong herbal scent, so it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I don't think I'd mind it.

Torriden

Olive Young

I love a face mist, especially when it comes to surviving the bone-dry air in my office. And as a fan of Torriden's Dive In line—the serum is my fave, as well as the cream in the tube packaging—I need this permanently situated on my desk ASAP. I just know the copious amounts/levels of hyaluronic acid are going to make my skin look its juiciest. 3 p.m. slump, who?

Aestura

Olive Young

Aestura has quickly gained traction stateside for its soothing, sensitive-skin-friendly formulas, even going as far as picking up two Allure Best of Beauty Awards for the Atobarrier 365 Ceramide Lotion (2024) and Atobarrier 365 Ceramide Cream Mist (2025).

Unsurprisingly, we don't have any Aestura sunscreens as of yet, including the well-reviewed Aestura Derma UV365 Red Calming Tone-Up Sunscreen. Allantoin is key in this hybrid sunscreen, as it helps visibly calm redness, while ceramide NP and hyaluronic acid do their thing, soothing your barrier and boosting moisture levels.

Round Lab

Olive Young

I've recently waxed poetic about mochi-like cleansers—Hanyul and Arencia have really nice ones that have made cleansing actually feel fun (gasp)—and this Round Lab Rice Cake mask-cleanser hybrid is next up—tariffs be darned! All you need is a few minutes and a gentle massage to buff away dead skin cells with a trio of almond, rice, and apricot powders. You'll smell as fresh as a bouquet, thanks to camellia flower leaves—which help boost hydration and leave skin feeling bouncy. I'm sold just writing this.

Innisfree

Olive Young

Innisfree is well-known for its Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, so hopefully, it's only a matter of time before it brings over this Black Volcanic PHA Pore Cleansing Oil to the US market. It sounds tailor-made for someone like me with combo skin and pores prone to clogging. You can't go wrong with an AHA-BHA-PHA wash-off combo, in my opinion. (Innisfree, hear my plea!)

The Devil Wears Prada x Jung Saem Mool

Olive Young

Han applying the regular-schmegular Jung Saem Mool Artist Cushion Blush in Rare Rose

K-beauty is no stranger to adapting the cushion format to blushes, highlighters, and even setting powders, to a degree, and few do it better than the Korean makeup queen, Jung Saem Mool. I'm a longtime fan of her cushion foundation (now expanded to 30 shades), but over the past month, I've been incredibly into her Artist Cushion Blushes. They're less messy to dispense and apply than typical liquid blushes, and only need a light touch from my fingers. There's a textured Mix & Touch section on the bottom side of the inner cap to help you adjust how much you apply to your skin. It's genius! If only this Devil Wears Prada 2 collab were available stateside, that'd be the aesthetic cherry on top. Blush for spring? Not groundbreaking, but lovely all the same.

Mangomee x Banila Co

Olive Young

I had no idea who Mangomee was until now, but let me tell you, they're getting their coin with the number of brand collabs (Peripera! Skinfood! ISOI!) they have at Olive Young. Created by Korean artist Yurang, this viral character gives a belove