Quick Answer
Is Beauty of Joseon worth it? Mostly yes, and mostly for one product: the Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50 is one of the best-reviewed, most-repurchased Korean sunscreens sold in the US, and it earns that reputation. The rest of the catalog — the Glow Deep Serum, the Dynasty Cream — is solid but secondary. If sunscreen and a lightweight brightening serum are what you need, it's worth it. For pore refinement, firming, or PDRN-driven treatment, it's not the brand to reach for.
Key Takeaways
- Relief Sun SPF50 is the single most-repurchased product in the brand's catalog — near-zero white cast, cosmetically elegant, genuinely wearable under makeup.
- Glow Deep Serum (rice water + alpha arbutin) supports brightening and tone but isn't a strong exfoliating or firming treatment on its own.
- The hanbok/Joseon-dynasty branding is a genuine differentiator in a crowded market, but it doesn't change the underlying formulation depth.
- The SKU range is narrow compared to full-system brands — no dedicated pore-care, PDRN, or multi-step mask lineup.
- Best paired with a treatment-forward brand like MediCube for the pore care and collagen/exosome support Beauty of Joseon's catalog doesn't cover.
Quick Links
- Full Beauty of Joseon Review write-up and product-by-product breakdown
- Full MediCube brand review
- Best MediCube products, ranked by skin concern
- Shop the Glass Glow 7-Day Skincare Set — $77
Brand Overview
Beauty of Joseon built its identity around Korea's Joseon dynasty aesthetic — traditional hanbok imagery, historical skincare references (rice water, ginseng), and a genuinely distinctive visual brand in a category where most competitors lean on minimalist, clinical packaging. That storytelling is backed by a fairly small, focused catalog: a handful of sunscreens, two or three serums, and a couple of moisturizers, most of which lean on rice water, ginseng, or probiotic ferment as headline ingredients.
The brand's breakout moment in the US came almost entirely through sunscreen. Where most Korean sun-care exports struggled with US import logistics and shelf life, Beauty of Joseon's Relief Sun became one of the first to achieve mainstream American recognition — recommended widely by dermatology-adjacent skincare accounts for its texture rather than any specific SPF technology innovation. Compared to a treatment-driven brand like MediCube, Beauty of Joseon is closer to Anua in scope: excellent at one or two specific jobs, thin on the rest of a full routine.
What Beauty of Joseon Does Well
The Relief Sun SPF50 genuinely deserves its reputation. It applies almost invisibly, layers well under makeup, and doesn't pill the way many chemical sunscreens do when combined with other actives — this is the product I recommend most often to patients who say they "hate" wearing sunscreen. The Glow Deep Serum is a reasonable lightweight brightening option, gentle enough for daily use, with alpha arbutin doing real (if modest) work on tone evenness. Pricing is accessible across the board — most products sit in the $16–$24 range — and the brand has been consistent about ingredient sourcing and formulation quality rather than chasing every viral trend.
Where It Falls Short
Beyond sunscreen and brightening, the catalog thins out fast. There's no dedicated pore-refining product, no PDRN or collagen-exosome technology, and no multi-step mask or treatment system comparable to what MediCube offers. The Relief Sun sells out frequently enough in the US that it's genuinely hard to keep in stock during summer months — a real logistics limitation, not a marketing exaggeration. Some formulas in the range (including certain serum variants) contain fragrance or essential-oil-adjacent ingredients that can be sensitizing for reactive or rosacea-prone skin, worth checking before committing to daily use. And because the brand's identity leans so heavily into aesthetic storytelling, it's easy to overestimate the formulation range based on how well-marketed the sunscreen is.
Beauty of Joseon vs MediCube
| Feature | Beauty of Joseon | MediCube |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Sunscreen, brightening | Pore refinement, firming, PDRN/collagen treatment |
| Signature hero | Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50 | Affordable Glass Glow 7-Day Skincare Set ($77) |
| Catalog depth | Narrow — sunscreen and brightening focused | Broad system across cleanse, treat, moisturize, mask |
| PDRN / exosome technology | None | Central to the brand — PDRN Pink Collagen Exosome Shot |
| US stock reliability | Frequent summer sell-outs on Relief Sun | Ships from a US warehouse, consistent stock |
| Best for | Daily SPF and light brightening | Building a full glass-skin routine with treatment actives |
Read the Other Brand Reviews
- Anua vs MediCube: honest review and comparison
- COSRX vs MediCube: honest review and comparison
- SKIN1004 vs MediCube: honest review and comparison
- TIRTIR vs MediCube: honest review and comparison
The MediCube Alternative: The Treatment Layer Beauty of Joseon Doesn't Offer
Keep the Relief Sun in your routine — there's no reason to replace a genuinely good sunscreen. But for the pore and firming work Beauty of Joseon's catalog doesn't attempt, the Glass Glow 7-Day Skincare Set ($77, compare $136.99) is the more complete option — cleanser, exfoliating pads, moisturizer, and an overnight mask sequenced into a single seven-day routine. The Zero Pore Pads ($24.80, compare $38.99) address the enlarged-pore and texture concerns nothing in the Beauty of Joseon lineup touches; read the details in the Zero Pore Pads guide. For firming and collagen support beyond what a rice-water serum can do, the PDRN Pink Collagen Exosome Shot ($28, compare $56.99) is covered in the exosome shot guide. Browse the full glass skin collection or Korean skincare collection for more. Every MediCube product on our store is authentic, ships from a US warehouse, and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee plus free shipping over $50 — see the authenticity guide before buying elsewhere. For the fuller picture, check our MediCube review, the best MediCube products ranked by skin concern, and current MediCube discount codes.
Where to Buy Authentic MediCube
Our store stocks 100% authentic MediCube products, ships from a US warehouse, and backs every order with a 60-day money-back guarantee and free shipping on orders over $50. If you're new to the brand and want the fastest way to see results, the Glass Glow 7-Day Skincare Set is the best-value starting point — it bundles the products referenced throughout this comparison into one sequenced routine. Browse bestsellers, sets and kits, or the full Korean skincare collection, and check current discount codes before you check out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun really worth the hype?
Yes. It's a genuinely well-formulated, cosmetically elegant sunscreen with minimal white cast, and it holds up under makeup better than most chemical sunscreens. It's the strongest product in the brand's catalog by a wide margin.
Does Beauty of Joseon have anything for pores or texture?
Not really. The catalog is focused on sunscreen and light brightening; there's no dedicated pore-refining exfoliant or firming treatment comparable to MediCube's Zero Pore Pads or PDRN lineup.
Can I use Beauty of Joseon and MediCube together?
Yes, and it's a sensible pairing. Use MediCube's Zero Pore Pads and Collagen Niacinamide Jelly Cream in your morning routine, then finish with Beauty of Joseon's Relief Sun as your final sunscreen step.