I’ve been noticing more and more Korean skincare products showing up in U.S. stores, both online and in-person at places like drugstores and beauty retailers. I usually shop from Korean sites like YesStyle or Stylevana, but if I can get something faster from a U.S.-based store, I’m definitely going to choose that for the convenience.

I’m aware that sunscreens are treated as over-the-counter drugs in the U.S., so Korean sunscreens sold domestically have to use FDA-approved UV filters, rather than the newer, often more elegant filters available in Korea and other countries.

But that got me wondering. Are there any other product types, besides sunscreen, where the U.S. versions have different formulations or ingredient restrictions? For example, do toners, serums, or creams from K-beauty brands get reformulated for the U.S. market in any way?

Curious if anyone else has looked into this or noticed any key differences!