beauty
How to Read Korean Skincare Labels
You don't need Korean to decode a back label — here are the five things that matter.
Published on May 11, 2026
Buying Korean skincare online or in-store, ever stared at a Hangul label and wondered what you were holding? Just learn to spot these five things.
1. Manufacture date vs. expiry
"제조" means manufactured-on; "사용기한" means use-by. The little open-jar icon with a number (e.g., 12M) tells you months after opening.
2. SPF / PA ratings
SPF50+ PA++++ is the Korean market standard for sunscreens.
3. EWG grade
Many clean-beauty brands print an EWG grade (1–2 = green).
4. Vegan / cruelty-free badges
Butterfly icon = no animal testing. The Korean word "비건" means vegan formulation.
5. Volume units
mL and g are written as-is. 50ml is the standard serum/cream size.
