Korean skincare is hugely popular in Bangladesh, and the most loved products, like COSRX Snail Mucin, Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, ANUA Heartleaf and SKIN1004 Centella, are also the most copied. Fake K-beauty often looks very close to the real thing. This guide shows the checks that help you spot it.
Start with the right shop
Korean brands recommend buying from their official stores and trusted retailers. Choosing the right shop is the smartest first step, and it makes every other check easy.
8 checks for Korean skincare
- Korean text on the pack. Products made for the Korean market carry Korean text. Export versions are mostly English, but often still include some Korean, the manufacturer’s name and a Korean address.
- Manufacturer details. Genuine packs list the brand company and the manufacturer, often a Korean contract manufacturer.
- Barcode starting with 880. Most Korean brands register barcodes in Korea, which start with 880. See the barcode section below.
- Dates. Korean products usually print a clear manufacturing date and/or expiry date. Missing or smudged dates are a warning.
- Print and finish. Look for blurred logos, wrong fonts, spelling mistakes and cheap-feeling caps or pumps.
- Texture and smell. If your favourite essence suddenly feels watery, smells different or changes colour, stop using it.
- Price. A bestseller sold far below the usual price is the most common sign of a fake.
- Seals and stickers. Many products come with a seal or protective film. Missing seals on new products are a red flag.
Brand notes
- COSRX: one of the most copied K-beauty brands, especially the Snail 96 Mucin Essence. Check texture: the essence should be clear and stretchy. Shop COSRX.
- Beauty of Joseon: the Relief Sun sunscreen is widely copied. Buy only from shops that source from authorised channels. Shop Beauty of Joseon.
- ANUA: the Heartleaf toner and cleansing oil are popular fake targets. Shop ANUA.
- SKIN1004 and Medicube: check print quality, dates and barcode. Shop SKIN1004 and Medicube.
How to read the barcode
The first digits of a barcode show the country where the barcode number was registered (the GS1 prefix). It does not always show where the product was made, but it should match the market printed on the pack.
| Barcode starts with | Registered in |
|---|---|
| 000 to 139 | USA and Canada |
| 300 to 379 | France |
| 400 to 440 | Germany |
| 500 to 509 | United Kingdom |
| 880 | South Korea |
| 890 | India |
| 690 to 699 | China |
Search the full barcode number on Google. A genuine product’s barcode usually brings up the same product name and size on official or major retailer sites. If it shows a different product, or nothing at all, ask the seller.
Frequently asked questions
Is a product with no Korean text fake?
Not necessarily. Many brands make global export versions in English. Check the other signs: print quality, barcode, dates, price and texture.
Do Korean products have expiry dates?
Yes. Most show a manufacturing date, an expiry date or both, and sometimes a period-after-opening symbol like “12M”.
Why does the same product have different packaging?
Korean brands update packaging often. Different versions can be genuine at the same time.
New to K-beauty? Read our Korean skincare routine for beginners. Also see how to check premium skincare.
The easiest way to get the real thing
Skip the guesswork: buy from a trusted shop. At Lume and Layer, every product is sourced from trusted suppliers, packed with care and delivered to your door. You can check your order when it arrives and pay cash on delivery, so you shop with total peace of mind.
Delivery across Bangladesh: ৳100 inside Dhaka, ৳150 outside Dhaka.