18 Best Korean Moisturizers, According to Dermatologists & Estheticians

Dermatologists will always tell you that even oily skin types still need daily moisture. If you want to keep your skin’s natural oil levels balanced without stripping it of essential hydration, try Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream. It’s made with tea tree water (a popular plant extract with proven antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties), soothing centella Asiatica extract, and a gentle blend of acids to smooth and mildly exfoliate dead skin cells. It also contains willow bark extract, an ingredient that studies show can reduce sebum production and help manage oily skin.

What our reviewers say: “If you have combination skin like me, you have to try this on your T-zone,” says Wu. “Although it’s great for keeping oil in check, it definitely doesn’t dry my skin out and delivers a nice level of lightweight hydration. In the winter or when my skin feels extra dry on my midface, I’ll just pair it with something more nourishing on my cheeks and around my nose. I especially love using this layered over the Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner on my forehead and nose to refine my pores in that area and keep my skin smooth. It feels so refreshing and has a light tea tree scent that isn’t overpowering. I sometimes even apply this on my back and chest when I get post-workout body acne. It always helps breakouts go down and dark marks fade faster.”

• Key ingredients: Tea tree leaf water, centella Asiatica extract, willow bark extract, niacinamide
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Refreshing texture; layers well under makeup; great for oily and combination skin

Water creams are the ultimate invention for anyone who wants a dose of hydration without any trace of residue. Hanyul Pure Artemisia Hydrating Calming Water Cream is especially good for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin, but all skin types will love it for sweaty days. “I’m drawn to lightweight, plumping water creams like this one,” says Cho. The ingredients list features calming botanicals like mugwort that add to its refreshing feel, along with patented Artemisia-Cica, a potent form of centella Asiatica grown in South Korea’s Ganghwa province. Cho calls it a “moisture bomb that your skin will drink up…. It keeps sensitive skin deeply hydrated and happy.”

• Key ingredients: Artemisia-Cica, mugwort
• Fragrance: Yes
• Highlights: Refreshing water cream texture; lightweight hydration; intensely calming

Snail mucin is practically synonymous with K-beauty and Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream is Cho’s favorite of the bunch. The formula is infused with 70% snail mucin, an ingredient that supports cell regeneration, heals, and repairs. Its anti-inflammatory, soothing properties help it calm blemishes and redness too. “It’s highly recommended for even oily and acneic skin,” she says. According to Cho, the formula owes much of its popularity to the way it delivers an enviable bounce to your skin and an overall improvement in elasticity. While it’s deeply hydrating, it also features a lightweight texture that plays well with all skin types.

• Key ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, baobab seed extract, arbutin
• Fragrance: Yes
• Highlights: Lightweight dewy finish; heals; repairs

If your skin gets easily inflamed or irritated, add Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream to your skin-care routine. “It’s lightweight and great for people with sensitive skin,” says Dr. Kim, who loves the “gentle yet hydrating, simple yet effective” formula. Key ingredients include squalane and oat “in the form of avena sativa extract,” both of which he recommends for anyone with dry or reactive skin. The water cream texture feels like a splash of soothing moisture on contact and melts right into your skin. Even if you don’t experience flare-ups or irritation, keep this one on rotation for humid days for the noticeable calming effect.

• Key ingredients: Oats, trehalose, squalane
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Simple formula for sensitive skin; lightweight water cream texture

If you have the slightest passing interest in K-beauty, you should already be familiar with Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Prebiotics, TikTok’s most-loved Korean sunscreen. Scroll through the comments on any Relief Sun video, and you’ll see that while half sing its praises, the other half say it can sometimes feel too greasy and rich. According to the brand, that was the inspiration behind its latest launch, the lightweight Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5. Just like its more moisturizing sibling, it’s packed with skin-care ingredients and feels like a true moisturizer with SPF, as opposed to a traditional sunscreen. The formula features rice seed water (an ingredient recommended by dermatologists for its soothing, calming properties) and panthenol to keep skin soothed and hydrated without leaving a sticky, heavy finish.

What our reviewers say: “I have combination skin, and this sunscreen is specifically formulated for combination and oily skin types. I don’t know how they managed to get the formula to feel so watery and light, but it feels incredible,” says Wu. “It comes out of the tube very runny and then disappears in seconds as soon as I rub it in. There’s no white cast, no chalkiness, and not even a little bit of greasiness. I love how this doesn’t make my forehead oily but was worried it might be too drying for the rest of my face. I’m happy to report it’s not: The formula still feels hydrating while giving my skin a natural finish. This is a very recent launch so I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks, but I’ve already made a giant dent and am ready to stock up on more.”

• Key ingredients: Rice seed water, panthenol, glycerin, ceramide NP
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: SPF 50+; lightweight hydration; refreshing feel

The hero ingredient in Amore Pacific Moisture Plumping Nectar Cream Face Moisturizer is bamboo nectar, a combination of king bamboo sap and essence that floods skin with amino acids and emollients. “It gives a refreshing sensation and effectively plumps the skin, to help diminish fine lines,” says Cho. Combined with other botanical extracts like green tea seed oil and lotus flower, this fast-absorbing gel cream is so lightweight, you’ll forget you’re wearing it

• Key ingredients: King bamboo sap, bamboo essence, green tea seed oil, lotus flower extract
• Fragrance: Yes
• Highlights: Light gel cream texture; intense plumping hydration; smooths fine lines

Cho loves a nighttime moisturizer with a “juicy texture,” which you’ll find in Iope Stem III Cream. Formulated with Allanto-Liposome (a powerhouse trio of allantoin for calming hydration, spiraeoside for revitalizing your complexion, and peptides for firming), it aids in soothing and plumping. You can use this one during the day, as well, but it’s particularly effective in your evening routine if you want to wake up with a hydrated glow. Just call it beauty sleep in a tub.

• Key ingredients: Allantoin, spiraeoside, peptides, niacinamide, aminos
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Strengthens skin barrier; plumps and firms; instantly improves the appearance of fine lines

“I’ve spent a lot of time testing K-beauty launches, and I can count the number of recent retinol launches I’ve seen on one hand. You won’t often find this ingredient (known for its ability to speed up cell turnover and treat everything from breakouts to fine lines) in Korean beauty brands, but this Hanskin Vitamin A Retinol Cream is a rare exception, and one that’s worth the hype,” says Wu. Cho loves this rare retinol-based cream made by one of the trusted names in skin care. It checks all the boxes of what you’d typically look for in a retinol formulation: airless packaging to keep the ingredient stabilized and effective, an affordable price point, and super-silky texture. The triple combo of retinol, panthenol, and tocopherol create a “combo that cannot be beat,” she says.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, panthenol, ectoin, tocopherol
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Airless packaging; not drying; great for retinol beginners; helps firm and smooth skin

Venture anywhere near #KBeautyTok and you can’t miss Mixsoon’s bean-based line. The brand is most known for its viral Bean Essence, which touts a satisfying ability to slough off dead skin cells without physical exfoliants or irritation. Cho also loves the Mixsoon Bean Cream, which is enriched with fermented soybean extract to balance moisture and oil, delivering a hit of hydration where you need it most. “It cocoons your skin with moisture,” she says. The thicker cream texture makes it a popular moisturizer for nighttime routines, but you can easily wear it out during the day too. While rich and hydrating, it’s not greasy and still feels comfortable on all skin types.

• Key ingredients: Lactobacillus/soybean ferment extract
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Lasting hydration; nourishing feel

You may be familiar with Round Lab for its popular Dokdo Toner, but don’t miss out on the brand’s equally effective moisturizer, which Dr. Kim recommends for its soothing ingredients. “It’s formulated with birch tree extract, which has a calming effect and helps repair the skin barrier,” he says. “It also has glyceryl glucoside, a great humectant that keeps the skin hydrated and supple.” The fluffy cream forms a water barrier to help prevent moisture loss but still feels incredibly lightweight, so you can easily wear it whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin.

• Key ingredients: Birch tree sap, hyaluronic acid, glyceryl glucoside
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Fluffy texture; soothing and refreshing; strengthens skin barrier

Overdid it on face exfoliants? Boost your barrier with Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. Dr. Kim likes that the addition of panthenol keeps skin “hydrated and calm.” It’s also a top pick from Cho. “While Etude is first and foremost known for their makeup, their SoonJung line has become a cult-favorite formulated specifically for sensitive-skin types,” she says. This fragrance-free barrier cream is popular because of its sensitive-skin friendly formulation that cocoons and protects the complexion with the most barrier-supporting ingredients, says Cho.

• Key ingredients: Panthenol, madecassoside
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Repairs barrier function; calming; great for sensitive skin

A TikTok favorite for every skin complaint from breakouts to redness to enlarged pores, Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream has been reformulated to be fragrance-free, making it more suitable for sensitive skin. The formula features a smart mix of ingredients that target breakouts and boost your skin barrier while staying gentle on skin. The hero ingredient is resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant proven to protect skin and calm inflammation. It’s paired with some of our favorite soothing ingredients, like centella Asiatica extract, heartleaf extract, and ceramide NP. When you put them together, you get a cream designed to deliver instant relief to inflamed skin and active breakouts while keeping your face hydrated and healthy.

What our reviewers say: “I get monthly hormonal acne on my chin, and this moisturizer is perfect for helping them subside without triggering further breakouts,” says Wu. “I like to apply a thin layer whenever I’m breaking out and also when my skin just seems like it needs a reset from doing too much. It’s very gentle and fragrance-free but also feels like it’s actively soothing and treating my face. I’d say this feels kind of like an emergency treatment moisturizer that helps get my skin back to its optimal state without using harsh ingredients. I can definitely see why it’s mentioned so often on KBeautyTok.”

• Key ingredients: Resveratrol, niacinamide, centella Asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, ceramide NP
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Gentle and calming on breakouts; helps reduce redness; helps improve overall skin health

You know a moisturizer is good when it stands the test of time in an intensely competitive K-beauty market. Cho raves about this bestseller that she keeps going back to no matter how many moisturizers she tries. The fragrance-free, “no-fuss” all-in-one cream is packed with jojoba oil to strengthen your skin barrier along with other protective ingredients like yeast-derived beta glucan and ceramides. DearKlairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream is a dream on dry and irritated skin, but Cho swears by it on all skin types, including sensitive skin. Bonus points for “the perfect creamy texture.”

• Key ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil, ceramide 3, papaya fruit extract
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Recommended for all skin types; boosts glow; strengthens barrier

Visit South Korea and you’ll find the inky green mugwort in everything from Tiktok-viral lattes to traditional rice cakes. But the popular herb is also an antioxidant-rich ingredient that’s great for calming redness and inflammation. “Mugwort has long been applied topically to soothe sensitive skin in Korea, and I’m From is the leader in mugwort skin care,” says Cho. “This is the only cream on the market with a high concentration of 73.55% mugwort.” I’m From Mugwort Cream’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich properties help soothe sensitive skin, shield against environmental aggressors like pollution, and boost collagen production. “The texture is also incredibly smooth and silky and absorbs quickly, leaving your skin dewy and calm,” she says.

What our reviewers say: “Charlotte Cho recommended this plant-based soothing moisturizer to me, so naturally I had to try it,” says Wu. “It does not disappoint. While there’s no added fragrance, I can detect a subtle herbal smell from the included mugwort extract that reminds me of the delicious mugwort desserts I ate in Seoul. As for the formula, it has such a nice enveloping, soothing sensation that feels like a comfort blanket for rosacea flare-ups or days when my skin feels hot and irritated. The texture is on the thicker, more nourishing side, but it definitely still qualifies as a lightweight moisturizer. I’m also obsessed with how plumping the formula is; as soon as I apply this, my skin has an incredible dewy bounce to it that stays all day.”

• Key ingredients: Mugwort extract, ulmus davidiana root extract, evening primrose flower extract, panthenol
• Fragrance: No
• Highlights: Soothing; plumping; absorbs in a flash

This brightening gel moisturizer is making waves on social media because of its interesting appearance (a sea of golden bubbles suspended in a clear base). Look a little deeper and you’ll see that Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream has the ingredients list to back up its first-impression appeal. The “bubbles” in the cream contain encapsulated vitamin C (an ingredient Glamour editors love for its antioxidant-rich brightening benefits that boost glow and fade dark spots). Infused in this juicy gel cream, they help boost barrier function while leaving skin with a bouncy, dewy glow. The formula also contains niacinamide and high levels of sea buckthorn extract, an ingredient rich in fatty acids that studies show can help improve skin conditions from acne to psoriasis. The gel’s lightweight texture makes it ideal for layering under foundation and other makeup products.

What our reviewers say: “You can see how much I love this vitamin C cream based on the giant dent I’ve made in just a month,” says Wu. “According to the brand, the separation of capsules and gel is supposed to let you customize your ideal ratio. Personally, I just like the fun factor of seeing the formula mix together and melt into my skin. I usually do a little scoop that contains both clear gel and a piece of gold capsule and pat it in. I’ve been using this every single day for a month, both morning and night, and I’ve definitely noticed my dark spots fading faster, as well as an overall added glow. There’s something about this formula that makes my skin look so juicy and dewy, I just can’t get enough.”

• Key ingredients: Sea buckthorn extract, niacinamide, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin E, ferulic acid
• Fragrance: Yes
• Highlights: Unique capsule-cream texture; lightweight yet lasting hydration; antioxidant benefits

If you’re going to splurge on a K-beauty moisturizer, make it a worthy one like Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream. Sulwhasoo is renowned for its ginseng-rich formulas, which are said to deeply rejuvenate all skin types. “This cream lives up to its name,” says Cho. “It strikes the perfect balance—not too heavy, yet not overly lightweight—making it suitable for year-round use, both in the morning and at night.” The silky formula also contains ginseng peptide to protect against environmental aggressors. Smooth it on to plump, firm, and make fine lines fade away.

• Key ingredients: Enzyme-treated ginseng saponins, ginseng peptide, squalane
• Fragrance: Yes
• Highlights: Silky soft texture; plumps, firms, and smooths fine lines