Must-Buy K-Beauty Drugstore Essentials, Don’t Leave Korea Without These!

Stella August 12, 2025



Must-Buy K-Beauty Drugstore Essentials When Visiting Korea



Stella's Meta Description: Planning a trip to Korea? Don’t leave without these must-have K-beauty drugstore essentials! Discover affordable yet high-performing Korean skincare and makeup that locals actually buy—available at Olive Young, Lalavla, LOHBs, and more.



Introduction: Why K-Beauty Drugstore Finds Are Worth It

When visiting Korea, many travelers focus on food, culture, and sightseeing—but if you skip a trip to a local drugstore like Olive Young, LOHBs, or Lalavla, you're missing out on some of the best K-beauty finds the country has to offer. Korean drugstores are stocked with affordable, dermatologist-approved, and trend-driven beauty products that locals actually use.

Unlike department stores or duty-free shops, drugstores reflect real Korean beauty culture. From acne patches used by idols to under-the-radar skincare gems and top-reviewed sunscreens, these essentials combine function with flair.
Whether you’re a seasoned beauty lover or a K-beauty beginner, this ultimate guide will help you shop smart during your Korean adventure.



Acne Patches: Fast-Acting Skin Saviors

Best-Sellers
  • COSRX Master Patch Clear Fit
  • Nexcare Acne Patch (by 3M)
  • Acropass Trouble Cure Patch

These hydrocolloid patches are not just trend items—they're an everyday staple for Korean teens and adults alike. COSRX is cult-favorite globally, but Korean drugstores also carry lesser-known but high-performing local brands. Look for microneedle versions like Acropass for deep pimples.

To learn more on how to care for Acne skin, read Got Acne? These K-Beauty Tips & Products Will Transform Your Skin Fast


Sunscreens: Innovative, Lightweight, Non-Greasy

Best-Sellers
  • Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream
  • Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
  • Cell Fusion C Toning Sunscreen 100 SPF50+ PA++++
  • Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel

Korean drugstore sunscreens are famous for their cosmetic elegance—meaning they blend like lotion, don’t pill, and work beautifully under makeup. No white cast, no oily residue. Perfect for humid Korean summers or sensitive skin.



Cleansing Must-Haves: Balms, Oils, and Gels

Best-Sellers
  • Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (original & variants)
  • Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
  • Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
  • Round Lab Dokdo Cleanser

Double cleansing is sacred in K-beauty. At drugstores, you’ll find affordable versions of cult oil cleansers and pH-balanced foam cleansers that don’t strip your skin. ma:nyo’s oil cleanser, in particular, has a massive local fanbase.



Toners and First Essences: Hydration and Balance

Best-Sellers
  • Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
  • Isoi Bulgarian Rose Blemish Care Tonic
  • Round Lab Dokdo Toner
  • Numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner

Toners in Korea are more than just watery astringents—they’re hydration layers. The Anua Heartleaf toner is so popular it often sells out, and Numbuzin’s numbered skincare system is gaining ground for its simplicity and effectiveness.



Sheet Masks: Travel-Friendly Skincare Boosters

Best-Sellers
  • Mediheal Tea Tree/Collagen Sheet Masks
  • Abib Gummy Sheet Mask Heartleaf
  • Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Serum Mask
  • Dr.Jart+ Cryo Rubber Masks

Whether you're jet-lagged or have dry hotel room skin, sheet masks are a godsend. Mediheal and Abib dominate the shelves, but newer mask innovations like rubber modeling packs and multi-step mask kits are also easy to find.



Spot Treatments and Skin Soothers

Best-Sellers
  • Dr. G Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream
  • CNP Laboratory Propolis Ampoule
  • AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream
  • Centellian24 Madeca Cream

These are the products dermatologists and skincare addicts swear by. Whether you have sensitivity from travel or need to calm breakouts, these soothing items use propolis, cica (centella asiatica), and ceramides to rebuild the skin barrier.



Lip Tints and Glosses: Long-Lasting and Youthful

Best-Sellers
  • Rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint
  • Peripera Ink Mood Glasting Tint
  • Etude Syrup Glossy Balm
  • Amuse Dew Tint

Korean makeup is famous for lip tints that stay on all day without drying out your lips. Look for watery tints, dewy glosses, and hybrid balm-gloss formulas that are wildly popular among Korean Gen Z and influencers.



Cushion Compacts: Portable Flawless Base

Best-Sellers
  • Clio Kill Cover Founwear Cushion XP
  • Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow Cushion
  • Laneige Neo Cushion (Matte & Glow)
  • HERA Black Cushion (mini sizes available)

Cushions are a staple in Korean beauty for good reason—they’re compact, mess-free, and provide a flawless finish in seconds. At drugstores, you can find mini sizes, refills, and limited edition collabs at budget-friendly prices.

To know more on cushion foundation in detail, read Korean Cushion Foundations That’ll Make You Ditch Your Old Base Makeup



Brows, Liners, and Mascara: Detail-Oriented Color Cosmetics

Best-Sellers
  • Etude Drawing Eyebrow Pencil
  • Clio Sharp So Simple Waterproof Pencil Liner
  • Innisfree Skinny Microcara
  • Heimish Dailism Smudge Stop Mascara

Koreans prioritize clean lines and natural definition. The brow pencils and eyeliners are ultra-precise, often waterproof, and extremely affordable—making them a tourist favorite.



Tools & Accessories: Small But Mighty

Best-Sellers
  • Puff cleansers and sponge soaps
  • Facial razors
  • Eyelash curlers
  • Oil blotting papers
  • Korean cotton pads (thin multi-layer types)

Korean drugstores are treasure troves for smart beauty accessories that enhance your routine. Cotton pads are often made thinner and softer, designed for essence application or toner masking.



Bonus: Drugstore Beauty Snacks & Minis

Korean drugstores often stock
  • Travel-size kits for less than $10
  • Sample bundles with full-size purchases
  • Limited edition seasonal skincare (e.g. cherry blossom-themed toners)
  • Beauty snacks like collagen jelly sticks or vitamin C chews

Don't overlook these bite-sized goodies—they’re easy souvenirs or trial versions of bigger commitments.



Where to Shop: Top Drugstores in Korea

# Olive Young
The undisputed queen of K-beauty drugstores. Widespread, English-friendly labels, and has its own best-seller sections and exclusive collabs.

# LOHBs
A bit more curated and less crowded.

# Lalavla
Great for skincare-heavy selections and promotions.

# Boots Korea
Carries some UK/Korean fusion brands.

# Daiso
For cheap tools, cotton pads, and hidden gems under 3,000 KRW.

If you want to know more on where to shop in Korean, read Must-Visit Places in Korea for K-Beauty Shopping You’ll Regret Missing



Final Travel Tips for Smart Drugstore Hauls

# Use Olive Young’s global app to preview product ratings before your trip.
# Look out for 1+1 deals (Buy 1 Get 1 Free) and seasonal events.
# Many drugstores near Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam have tourist assistants or multilingual support.
# Bring a lightweight foldable bag for all your spontaneous hauls!



Conclusion: Bring a Piece of K-Beauty Home

Shopping at Korean drugstores isn’t just about grabbing beauty products—it’s about experiencing the heartbeat of Korean beauty culture. You’ll walk away with more than just glowing skin—you’ll take home the same trusted products that locals rely on daily.

Whether it’s a skincare savior, a makeup innovation, or a pocket-sized beauty hack, every product has a story—and you’ll be part of it. So next time you’re in Korea, make sure your itinerary includes a proper K-beauty drugstore treasure hunt.

If you cannot visit Korea but still want Korean beauty products, you always have a way. You can read more about this in detail on How to Buy Korean Cosmetics from Abroad: Safe & Easy K-Beauty Shopping!

Also, if you are new to the K-beauty and confused about how there can be so many types of beauty products to apply on, start by reading K-Beauty for Beginners: Your Step-by-Step Skincare Starter Guide.


Stella

Posted by Stella