Beauty of Joseon vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Beauty of Joseon and Dr. Barbara Sturm are distinct skincare lines created to nurture the complexion through considered formulations. The Korean house, established in 2016, features thoughtful serums, masks, moisturizers, and sunscreens powered by niacinamide, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to best suit dry and sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the German brand, founded in 2014, relies on scientifically advanced formulas with gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums to serve sensitive, dry, and balanced skin. While both prioritize hydration and barrier support, they differ in their heritage and specific ingredient approaches.
Beauty of Joseon is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by Goodai Global Inc. since 2019.
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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.
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This page compares some of the most popular Beauty of Joseon and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Beauty of Joseon vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “feels like a light moisturizer — Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics”
- “sinks in instantly — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water”
- “sinks in immediately — Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel”
- “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Saved my dry winter skin — Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream”
- “doesn't dry my skin like other cleansers — Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm”
- “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “no irritation at all — Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum”
- “cleansed my face gently without making my skin feel irritated — Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser”
- “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Skin Softening and Smoothing Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “skin feels incredibly smooth — Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask”
Glow and Radiance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “gives a glass skin look — Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum”
Pore and Oil Control Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “less shiny by noon — Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel”
- “pores look cleaner — Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask”
- “great for combination skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
High Price and Cost Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Ineffectiveness Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “did nothing for my hyperpigmentation — Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum”
- “saw no difference — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water”
- “result is not very long lasting — Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask”
- “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “smells a bit weird — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “smells like cooking oil — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil”
Sticky or Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Leaves a sticky film that doesn't go away — Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream”
- “looked like a greaseball — Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics”
- “tacky finish — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Questions and answers
Beauty of Joseon or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?
Beauty of Joseon and Dr. Barbara Sturm each excel in different areas, with Beauty of Joseon better for texture and absorption while Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves better results in glow and radiance. For dry skin, Lovi rates Beauty of Joseon as a High fit across multiple products.
What is the difference between Beauty of Joseon and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Beauty of Joseon focuses on traditional Korean ingredients like ginseng and niacinamide and tends to offer better texture and absorption, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm specializes in science-backed formulations that reviewers note provide superior skin softening and radiance. The products on this page for Beauty of Joseon list no fragrance, suiting dry and sensitive skin types best, while Dr. Barbara Sturm also features fragrance-free options.
Beauty of Joseon or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?
When comparing moisturizers, Beauty of Joseon is rated High for dry and mature skin by Lovi, while Dr. Barbara Sturm's Hyaluronic Serum receives an Average fit for those same skin types. Reviewers note that Beauty of Joseon excels in deep hydration and moisturization.
Which is more affordable, Beauty of Joseon or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Reviewers note that Beauty of Joseon has a high price and cost, yet it remains the more affordable brand compared to Dr. Barbara Sturm.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Beauty of Joseon or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Reviewers note that Beauty of Joseon products sometimes cause breakouts and acne, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm does not receive this feedback.
Between Beauty of Joseon and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand is better for texture and absorption?
Beauty of Joseon does better for texture and absorption compared to Dr. Barbara Sturm.
Which brand performs better for glow and radiance, Beauty of Joseon or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better for glow and radiance compared to Beauty of Joseon. The products on this page for Beauty of Joseon sometimes note a radiant glow and glass skin effect, but review themes rank Dr. Barbara Sturm higher for glow and radiance.
How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Beauty of Joseon and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Beauty of Joseon was founded in South Korea in 2016, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was established in Germany in 2014.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Safety evaluation of topical applications of ethanol on the skin and inside the oral cavity
Cutaneous photoprotection from ultraviolet injury by green tea polyphenols
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Borage Oil Treated with Immobilized Lipase Inhibits Melanogenesis
Supramolecular collagen nanoparticles for anti-wrinkle, skin whitening, and moisturizing effects
Novel beads made of alpha-cyclodextrin and oil for topical delivery of a lipophilic drug
A study of anti-wrinkle functions and improvement of cream with Phaseolus angularis
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Hippophae rhamnoides oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion improves barrier function in healthy human subjects
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Behind this comparison
Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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