The 16 Best Korean Moisturizers for Deeply Satisfying Hydration

If you’ve ever wanted a moisturizer that feels like splashing your face in cold water, you’ve come to the right place. Whatever your preference — light and airy, or rich and buttery — there’s an innovative formula that’ll deliver the dewiness you deserve.

If I’ve learned anything about K-beauty in almost a decade of reporting on it, it’s that moisture, especially in the form of Korean moisturizers, is the key to dewy, glassy skin. In fact, Korea-based board-certified dermatologist Choi Bo Youn once told me that if you continually allow your skin to get dry, signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles are more likely to form. To avoid dryness from taking over, she continuously layers on moisturizer from the second she gets home from work to when she falls asleep at night.

But what are the best Korean moisturizers for the job? I asked experts to share their favorites, and I even share some of my own. The highly hydrating formulas below range from lightweight consistencies that feel like splashing your face with cold water to ultra-rich ones that blanket skin in buttery richness. They’re also an amazing way to incorporate trending ingredients, such as ectoin, panthenol, and ginseng, into your skin-care routine. And best of all, these moisturizers are from Korean skin-care brands you probably already know and love, like Cosrx, Laneige, and Sulwhasoo, as well as up-and-coming beauty brands that people in Seoul can’t get enough of, such as Torriden, Round Lab, and Tirtir.

Best Oil-Free Formula: Torriden Dive-In Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream

The buzziest moisturizer of 2023 is undoubtedly 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, who is 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.

Most Versatile: Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cream

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 formula also comes in fluffy gel moisturizer form that is equally enjoyable to apply. It drenches skin in non-irritating, antioxidant-rich birch tree sap, hyaluronic acid, and jojoba esters that offer up revitalizing moisture for all skin types.

Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

Over in Seoul, Allure Korea has its very own Best of Beauty awards and named the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream a winner in 2022. The rich moisturizer is infused with ginseng saponin and peptides, which help boost the circulation of your skin’s smallest blood vessels to promote collagen synthesis, according to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, which then improves overall elasticity. In the process, this medicinal root is key to this moisturizer firming, lifting, and tightening mature complexions.

Allure Korea Best of Beauty-Winning Gel Cream: Beyond Angel Aqua Moisture Cream

Allure Korea editors hand-selected the Beyond Angel Aqua Moisture Cream as the winner of the moisturizing gel cream category for how quickly it quells redness and floods skin with moisture via bamboo juice and hyaluronic acid, respectively. They even recommend layering the water-based, oil-free formula over another moisturizer as an overnight hydrating mask.

Best for Dry Skin: Atopalm MLE Cream

Looking for a moisturizer that feels like you’re slathering your skin in the finest of butter? Allure Korea editors love how this ultra-rich cream fulfills that fantasy by melting into skin to deliver instant, intense moisture. (You can use it on your body, too.) A medley of nourishing plant-based oils and five types of amino acids, “which are the building blocks for collagen production, according to David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, help make it happen.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Makep:rem Inteca Soothing Cream

This 2022 Allure Korea Best of Beauty winner is chockful of the most active components of Centella asiatica (or cica for short), namely asiaticoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid, to calm and moisturize the angriest, most sensitive of skin on contact.

Best for Long Days: Isoi Moisture Dr. Cream

The Isoi Moisture Dr. Cream is one of the most popular moisturizers on Powder Room, one of Korea’s oldest and most beloved sources for beauty product reviews. The reason is the fragrance-free gel delivers plumping hydration and skin barrier support that truly lasts all day — and night. Five varieties of hyaluronic acid alongside ceramides help lock in nourishment for the long haul, while tea tree and willow bark extracts help banish breakouts and keep skin clear.

Best for a Dewy Finish: Wellage Real Hyaluronic Cream

The Wellage Real Hyaluronic Cream launched earlier this year, and it’s already won a Glowpick award for its glass skin-like finish. For those unfamiliar, Glowpick is another go-to destination for Korean beauty product reviews, and its award winners are highly sought after. This one took the top spot for moisturizers thanks to the way it instantly absorbs into skin without leaving it sticky. Try it under makeup, and you’ll notice your skin will look delightfully dewy.

Most Soothing: Hanyul Pure Artemisia Watery Calming Cream

This Glowpick award winner in the soothing cream category has a gorgeous natural floral scent due to its inclusion of anti-inflammatory mugwort, which is known to help skin retain moisture, as King previously shared with Allure.

The Hanyul Pure Artemisia Watery Calming Cream has a luxe creamy texture that can best be described as buildable. Like foundation, you can spread it thinly onto your skin for instant, barely there hydration. Alternatively, you can easily layer on more for a moisturizing mask, especially if your skin is feeling inflamed due to sun exposure, allergies, or hormonal acne.

Most Innovative: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer

Cosmetic chemist Asia Fee is a fan of Laneige’s Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream, particularly for summer. Thanks to mint leaf extract, the moisturizer instantly cools skin and has a lightweight consistency, she tells Allure. “But the real star is the Blue Hyaluronic Acid,” Fee adds. “Unlike typical hyaluronic acid, it’s derived through the biofermentation of sea algae, resulting in an amplified humectant.”

Best for a Blurred Matte Finish: Tirtir Rosemary One Cream

My personal pick is the Tirtir Rosemary One Cream. After a particularly aggressive exfoliating facial, my chin was left flaky and raw, but this repairing formula came to the rescue with just the velvety texture my skin needed. It’s spiked with rejuvenating rosemary, calming allantoin, and niacinamide-like ectoin to bring my skin barrier back to a healthy state. The sumptuous cream even gave my complexion a blurred matte effect that looked stunning over Zoom.

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

Moisture-locking panthenol and squalene power Aestura’s A-Cica 365 Calming Cream alongside cica for complexion-comforting hydration. Fans of the no-frills formula pair it with Tretinoin to keep their skin from freaking out as it gets used to the retinoid.

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

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. The By Wishtrend Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream packs a gentle combination of both to smooth, firm, and brighten skin as macadamia nut oil and seaweed extract immerses skin in moisture.

Best for Hyperpigmentation: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Cream

Goodal’s Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum has earned its title as one of the best Korean skin-care products for diminishing dark spots and evening skin tone, and the moisturizer version (and eye cream, for that matter) of the beloved formula is becoming just as sought-after. Just like the serum, its brightening abilities come from gentle exfoliants, specifically vitamin C-rich green tangerine extract. However, in moisturizer form, the extract is encapsulated in tiny yellow beads that float in a cream of meadowfoam seed oil and algae extracts for hydrated radiance.

Best for Skin-Care Beginners: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

One of the first Korean face creams I ever used back in 2015 was none other than the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. Now, I often recommend it to friends when they ask for a recommendation for a lightweight moisturizer. It’s amazing for those who aren’t that excited about skin care but know they want to dive into better care for their body’s largest organ because it has a fun pastel aqua hue, feels like drenching your skin in a tall glass of iced water, and is easy to find at your favorite stores.

Best for Active Breakouts: Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

The Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream helped popularize snail mucin when it launched almost a decade ago. To this day, it’s one of Cosrx’s best sellers because the brand is constantly updating its packaging to make the formula more effective and accessible. Snail mucin (often labeled as snail secretion filtrate) helps this moisturizer calm inflammation and elevate hydration levels with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, which is helpful when dealing with painful blemishes and parched skin alike — making it a particularly great choice for acne-prone skin or combination skin.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.