The Best Korean Moisturizers for a Glass-Like Glow

The best Korean moisturizers are the crème de la crème of K-beauty. Unstoppably hydrating, these moisturizers make glass skin glassy, dewy skin dewy, and our bank accounts happy. (Most of these picks are less than $30! We love to see it!) And it adds up: If you continually allow your skin to get dry, signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles are more likely to form, says Choi Bo Youn, director and head dermatologist at Dr. Skinny Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul. To make finding your perfect match easy, we chatted with editors and experts to round up our favorite Korean moisturizers for your slathering pleasure. Enjoy!

Our Top Picks

• Best Korean Moisturizer Overall: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb, $38
• Best for Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel, $17
• Best for Tired/Dull Skin: Innisfree Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream, $26
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Iope Stem III Cream, $72
• Best for Compromised Skin: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream, $25
• Best for Dry Skin: Ohui Miracle Moisture Cream, $78
• Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream, $260
• Best for Oily Skin: Torriden Dive-In Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream, $27

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the difference between Korean moisturizers and other moisturizers?
• How should I choose a Korean moisturizer?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Korean Moisturizer Overall: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

Why it's worth it: Belif's True Cream Aqua Bomb is packed with the most hydrating ingredients on the block, like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and a ton of herbal goodies to soothe and cool your skin. It absorbs fast and is the perfect follow-up to your cleanser and toner. In her 2019 review of the cream, former beauty editor Devon Abelman wrote, "Imagine someone lobbing a water balloon at your face—minus the pain and shock of it popping—that's how slathering on The True Cream Aqua Bomb feels. It gives skin that kind of rush of hydration." Enough said.

Tester feedback: "The cooling jelliness of the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb was a godsend for my post-July 4, dry, red skin," says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. "It feels so comforting to rub on, and I know the hyaluronic acid is doing me favors I can't even understand yet." While it's free of synthetic fragrances, Blackman says it still smells super good, "like clean, cold water," she notes. The fresh scent can also be attributed to natural extracts in the formula, like rosemary leaf oil and lime flower oil.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, oat kernel extract, calendula | Who it's for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel

Why it's worth it: Beauty of Joseon is one of the best Korean skin-care brands for honoring (and reimagining) the traditional skin-care ingredients used in K-beauty, like red bean, ginseng root water, and rice bran water—with the Red Bean Water Gel as evidence. The formula is ideal for skin-producing excess sebum, which the body does when it overcompensates for a weak or diminished skin barrier. The red bean kicks into gear to reduce the feeling of oiliness, and the peptide complex helps maintain the skin's natural amount of growth factors, minimizing the effects of fine lines and crèpeiness.

Tester feedback: "This is the perfect summertime moisturizer for my combination skin," commerce editor Sarah Han gushes. "The formula is a clear gel with a slight cooling effect that wakes up my skin in the morning, gives me a touch of dewiness, and layers beautifully underneath my sunscreen and makeup. (Pilling, who?) I love Beauty of Joseon's Dynasty Cream for the colder months when my skin is a bit drier, so basically, this brand has me covered all year round."

Key ingredients: Haenam red bean extract (44%), peptide complex (SH-Oligopeptide-1 / SH-Oligopeptide-2 / SH-Polypeptide-1) | Who it's for: people with combination or oily skin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Tired/Dull Skin: Innisfree Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream

Why it's worth it: Jeju cherry blossom is the key player in Innisfree's Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream, which amps up glowiness with the help of niacinamide and betaines, a hydrator derived from sugar beets. The brand credits the bouncy, weightless moisturizer with helping achieve the ever-coveted glass skin look TikTok has generously couriered from Korea in recent years. Gently rub in the cooling gel-cream morning and night, after cleansing and toning.

Tester feedback: Associate beauty editor Annie Blay is among this moisturizer's legions of fans. "I love how hydrating yet deeply moisturizing Innisfree's Dewy Glow Jelly Cream is," Blay says. "The clear gel doesn't evaporate on the skin but hydrates with a cooling lightweight feel that lasts all day."

Key ingredients: Jeju cherry blossoms, niacinamide, betaines| Who it's for: people with normal, combination, and oily skin who don't want a heavy moisturizer | Fragrance-free: yes

More Korean moisturizers we love:

Best for Sensitive Skin: Iope Stem III Cream

Why it's worth it: Iope's Stem III Cream is set apart by its proprietary Allanto-liposome, a combination of allantoin, allium cepa (a.k.a. onion bulb, which has anti-inflammatory benefits), and peptide that works to soothe, firm, and replenish the skin in a single application. Not only is this complex powerful, but it's also incredibly gentle—so don't worry about eye irritation. The formula is also "9-free," meaning it's made without animal ingredients, mineral oil, fragrance, parabens, and other potentially irritating components.

Tester Feedback: "This is another lightweight moisturizer I've been loving," says Han. "It's more on the luxurious side, price-wise, but the juiciness this gives my skin is just too good. The jelly-like texture also provides a cooling effect, which is welcomed during NYC's hottest days. A little goes a long way with this one."

Key ingredients: Allanto-Complex, niacinamide, glycerin | Who it's for: people with sensitivities | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Compromised Skin: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream

Why it's worth it: Is your skin sending out an SOS? Reach for Illiyoon's Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream, which pairs plant-derived ceramides with fatty acids and cholesterol—the lipids in your skin barrier—in a formula with a low pH, matching the skin's acidic nature. It's got the numbers to back up the claims, with clinical testing showing that it increases moisture levels by 328% immediately after application and reduces signs of irritation, including redness and itchiness. Plus, the brand says it's gentle enough to use on babies.

Tester feedback: "This is my favorite post-shower moisturizer," says Blackman. "It's the right amount of thick and doesn't have any of the greasiness I'm trying to avoid after washing my body." She usually reaches for Dieux Instant Angel for her face moisturizer, but if she's too lazy to retrieve it from the other room, the Illiyoon cream (as it's safe to slather on your face and body) is a welcome substitute.

Key ingredients: ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol | Who it's for: anyone with reactive or sensitive skin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Dry Skin: Ohui Miracle Moisture Cream

Why it's worth it: From one of the best-selling brands in Korea comes the Ohui Miracle Moisture Cream, which begs the question…what's in a name? Let's get into it. The Miracle Moisture line uses a combination of peptides and ceramides to support the skin barrier and deeply nourish the skin; this cushiony formula contains the maximum amount of an exclusive ceramide complex—ceramides 1, 3, and 6, which are naturally found in the skin's barrier and help seal moisture—to moisturize for up to 24 hours. Those with dry and/or mature skin will benefit from these formula, which prioritizes hydration over harsh actives.

Key ingredients: ceramides, peptides, peony extract | Who it's for: people with dry and/or mature skin skin | Fragrance-free: no

Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

Why it's worth it: Drawing from decades of research, Sulwhasoo's Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream is infused with ginseng saponin and peptides. According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, these help boost the circulation of your skin's smallest blood vessels to promote collagen synthesis, which then improves overall elasticity. TL;DR This medicinal root is key to firming, lifting, and tightening mature complexions. P.S. Allure Korea has its own Best of Beauty Awards, and this cream was declared a winner in 2022.

Key ingredients: ginseng saponin, peptides | Who it's for: those targeting signs of aging | Fragrance-free: no

Best for Oily Skin: Torriden Dive-In Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream

Why it's worth it: One of the most talked-about moisturizers right now is Torriden's Dive-In Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream. You can find the sky-blue formula all over social media and even on the vanity of board-certified dermatologist Hee Jin Koh, MD—based in Clifton, New Jersey. Five types of hyaluronic acid of various molecular weights are joined by panthenol, AKA vitamin B5, to boost skin's moisture no matter what your skin type may be, she tells Allure. Plus, it has a featherlight gel-cream texture that doesn't weigh down skin.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, panthenol | Who it's for: people with oily skin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

Why it's worth it: Cosrx's Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream helped popularize snail mucin in the U.S. almost a decade ago—and it's still going strong. Snail mucin (often listed as "snail secretion filtrate") calms inflammation and elevates hydration levels with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid. If you're prone to blemishes, snap this up, because snail mucin also helps heal post-acne hyperpigmentation.

Key ingredients: snail mucin, hyaluronic acid | Who it's for: Anyone with active breakouts | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Redness: Beyond Angel Aqua Moisture Cream

Why it's worth it: Allure Korea editors hand-selected the Beyond Angel Aqua Moisture Cream as the winner of the Best of Beauty "moisturizing gel cream" category for how quickly it quells redness. It cools skin on the spot, dropping your skin's surface temperature to alleviate the heat associated with inflammation. You can thank bamboo juice and hyaluronic acid for the flood of moisture that locks in to hydrate and support the skin barrier. The brand recommends layering the water-based, oil-free formula over another moisturizer as an overnight hydrating mask.

Key ingredients: grapevine sap, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract | Who it's for: sensitive skin, people prone to redness and inflammation | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Fragrance-Free: Aestura A-Cica 365 Calming Cream

Why it's worth it: Cica, panthenol, and squalane power Aestura's A-Cica 365 Calming Cream for complexion-comforting hydration. To be specific, the cica is part of a complex called Cica BPM, which pairs the ingredient with beta-glucan to increase moisture, phytosterol to quell sensitivity, and madecassoside to support the skin barrier. Fans of the no-frills formula pair it with tretinoin to keep their skin from freaking out as it gets used to the retinoid.

Key ingredients: cica, beta-glucan, madecassoside | Who it's for: people looking to buffer irritation | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for a Dewy Finish: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer

Why it's worth it: Cosmetic chemist Asia Fee is a fan of Laneige's Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream, particularly in the summer. She tells Allure that the moisturizer instantly cools the skin and has a lightweight consistency, thanks to mint leaf extract. "But the real star is the 'blue' hyaluronic acid," Fee points out. "Unlike typical hyaluronic acid, it's derived through the biofermentation of sea algae, resulting in an amplified humectant." The jar is refillable—a 50-milliliter pod costs $34, saving you $6.

Key ingredients: blue hyaluronic acid, panthenol, squalane | Who it's for: people who prefer a light consistency | Fragrance-free: no

Best for a Matte Finish: Tirtir Rosemary One Cream

Why it's worth it: Tirtir's Rosemary One Cream is a favorite of former beauty editor Devon Abelman. After a particularly aggressive exfoliating facial, her chin was left flaky and raw, but this repairing formula came to the rescue with just the velvety texture her skin needed. It's spiked with rejuvenating rosemary, calming allantoin, and niacinamide-like ectoin to bring her skin barrier back to a healthy state, she says, adding that the sumptuous cream even gave her complexion a blurred matte effect that looked stunning over Zoom.

Editor's tip: The rosemary is sourced from Korea's Jeju Island, known for its rich botanicals.

Key ingredients: rosemary, allantoin, ectoin | Who it's for: those who prefer a matte finish | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Night Cream: By Wishtrend Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream

Why it's worth it: When K-beauty products bring retinol—or its plant-based alternative bakuchiol (which we've been told is ideal for acne-prone or oily skin) to the table—you can bet that the formula isn't going to wreak havoc on your skin. By Wishtrend's Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream packs a gentle combination of retinaldehyde and bakuchiol to smooth, firm, and brighten skin, as macadamia nut oil and seaweed extract immerse skin in moisture. And the color scheme of the bottle? Too cute.

Key ingredients: bakuchiol, macadamia nut oil, seaweed extract | Who it's for: those seeking the benefits of retinol without side effects | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Spot Treatment: Make P:rem Inteca Soothing Cream

Why it's worth it: Make P:rem Inteca Soothing Cream is a 2022 Allure Korea Best of Beauty winner that's packed with the most active components of Centella asiatica (cica), namely asiaticoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid, to calm and moisturize the angriest, most sensitive of skin on contact. The ingredients are nano-size to allow for deeper absorption into the skin. (And in case you were wondering, the "P:rem" in the brand's name stands for "pragmatic remedies.")

Key ingredients: asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid | Who it's for: anyone with inflammation | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Face and Body: Atopalm MLE Cream

Why it's worth it: Looking for a moisturizer that feels like butter, but not greasy? It's possible. Allure Korea editors love how this ultra-rich Atopalm MLE Cream melts into the skin, absorbing quickly, to deliver instant, intense moisture. You can also use it on your body, especially on rough areas like elbows and knees. A medley of nourishing plant-based oils and five types of amino acids—the "building blocks for collagen production," according to David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City—helps make it happen.

Key ingredients: olive oil, jojoba seed oil, grape seed oil | Who it's for: anyone with dry skin | Fragrance-free: no

Best Sleeping Mask: Hanyul Yuja Vitamin Sleeping Mask

Why it's worth it: The Hanyul Yuja Vitamin Sleeping Mask is not messing around when it comes to skin-loving vitamins. This formula is chock full of vitamins B, C, E, and P, thanks to six Goheung, Korean-sourced yuja (which you may also know as "yuzu") fruit extracts. The fruits' antioxidant properties brighten and hydrate skin, so you can wake up glassy and glowing. If you have super dry skin, layer this mask over another moisturizer.

Key ingredients: vitamin C, vitamin P, yuja extract | Who it's for: people who want an intense night moisturizer | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for All Skin Types: Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cream

Why it's worth it: TikTok has been abuzz with glowing reviews for Round Lab's Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ because it has a deeply hydrating milkiness that feels far from the chalky, uncomfortable sunscreens of the past. The best-selling Korean sunscreen also comes in fluffy gel moisturizer form, the Birch Moisturizing Cream; it's equally enjoyable to apply, drenching skin in non-irritating, antioxidant-rich birch tree sap, hyaluronic acid, and jojoba esters that offer revitalizing moisture for all skin types. If you didn't know, birch sap is packed with skin-beneficial ingredients, such as amino acids, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid—gently boosting cell turnover and bolstering the skin barrier.

Key ingredients: birch tree sap, panthenol, jojoba esters | Who it's for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes

Frequently Asked Questions

"Korean moisturizers tend to be light in texture and focus on barrier repair more than other benefits such as brightening or anti-aging," says David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Hydration and gentle formulas are critical to this philosophy, and for good reason. "Sensitive skin is a very common skin type in Korea due to high pollution levels," Charlotte Cho, aesthetician and co-founder of K-beauty e-retailer Soko Glam, previously told Allure. "As a result, sensitive-skin friendly ingredients, such as cica are frequently seen in Korean beauty products to calm inflammation, redness, and irritated skin."

While American moisturizers can include ingredients common in Korean moisturizers and vice versa, trends in Korean skin care tend to be less harsh than their stateside counterparts. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York City's Union Square Dermatology, previously told Allure that active ingredients sought after by Americans—like retinol, salicylic acid, and more—are more scarce in Korean products because Koreans are wary of their drying properties.

When picking a new Korean moisturizer, consider the skin concerns you want to address while considering what you tend to like in the moisturizers you already own. "I would focus on the texture more than anything else," says Dr. Kim. "If you have oily skin, look for a lightweight gel texture; if you have dry skin, look for a thicker, richer texture." If you're looking for extra hydration, ingredients like cica and hyaluronic acid are Korean skin-care staples. Or, if you're trying to go easy on breakout-prone skin, a moisturizer with ingredients like allantoin and niacinamide can be a big help, Shin Hae Won, a dermatologist at Korean dermatology clinic Oracle, previously vouched.

• Hee Jin Koh, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Clifton, New Jersey
• David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Charlotte Cho, an aesthetician and co-founder of K-beauty e-retailer Soko Glam
• Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York City's Union Square Dermatology
• Shin Hae Won, a dermatologist at Korean dermatology clinic Oracle
• Choi Bo Youn, director and head dermatologist at Dr. Skinny Clinic in Gangnam, Seoultk

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best Korean moisturizers, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from editors, dermatologists, and aestheticians. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Read more about the best K-beauty products:

• 21 Korean Makeup Finds You Can Add to Your Cart Right Now
• The 15 Best Cica Skin-Care Products to Seriously Soothe Skin
• Makeup Spatulas Are the Most Popular Beauty Product in Korea Right Now

Now, watch K-pop group Stray Kids break down their best music video beauty moments:

Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! And don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok—or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.