The Best Korean Skincare Dupes for High-End Brands

Finding effective Korean skincare dupes for high-end brands can save you hundreds without sacrificing results.

This guide breaks down K-beauty dupes and the best affordable Korean skincare alternatives that actually perform just as well as luxury products.

If you want real results without the luxury price tag, these Korean skincare dupes are worth your attention.

SK-II’s PITERA™ Facial Treatment Essence became iconic for its use of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, a fermented ingredient known for refining skin texture and boosting radiance.

However, the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence contains an even higher concentration—95% of the same ingredient—making it one of the closest K-beauty dupes for this luxury essence.

It also avoids the distinctive fermented scent often found in SK-II, which makes COSRX an ideal affordable Korean skincare dupe for those who want the benefits of PITERA™ without the fragrance.

Medicube’s AGE-R Glutathione Glow Serum includes the same core antioxidant trio found in SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic—L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and ferulic acid—making it one of the closest Korean dupes for luxury skincare.

On top of that, the formula adds glutathione, vitamin C derivatives, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid, offering a wider range of brightening and antioxidant benefits at a far more accessible price.

This is why it’s considered one of the most effective and affordable Korean skincare dupes for replicating SkinCeuticals’ results without the luxury cost.

👉 If you want to explore other products for brightening, click here!

Both products use Bifida Ferment Lysate as their core ingredient, making their formulations structurally very similar and positioning the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule as one of the strongest Korean dupes for Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair.

The texture is nearly identical as well—Missha recreates ANR’s signature silky, slightly viscous watery-serum consistency that absorbs quickly while leaving the skin firm and radiant.

Thanks to these similarities, it is often referred to as “the original K-beauty dupe” and remains one of the most trusted affordable Korean skincare dupes in the category.