Why should you be using a Korean Moisturizer?

Because Korea loves skincare. And it's good at it too.

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Empyri's Top Korean Moisturizers 

Top Overall	COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Repair Cream A highly concentrated moisturizer formulated with snail mucin and hyaluronic acid for long lasting hydration and skin barrier repair.	3.5 oz for $25.90
Top Budget	ETUDE SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream Gentle enough for sensitive skin while still delivering deep moisture. Use day or night for lightweight hydration and protection.	2.02 oz for $15.00
Top Lux	AHC Essential Eye Cream for Face This all-in-one cream is a game changer! Brightens under eyes and complexion, smoothes fine lines with added hydration and creates the perfect base for makeup application.	1.01 oz for $37.88

The hub of Korean skincare, called "K-beauty", is Seoul, South Korea. It's the birthplace of major beauty trends like like glass skin and innovations like sheet masks.

K-beauty is best known for layering. Routines are designed with  10 to 17 steps. No skinimalism here. We could devote an entire article to layering. Things like its history, philosophy and how to do it yourself at home. But today, let’s focus on one step. 

Moisturizing. 

You’ll hear me say this a few times: hydrated skin is healthy skin. 

I know it, you know it and K-beauty knows it. 

There are thousands of Korean skincare products out there. And lots of best sellers! It can be difficult to know where to start.

That's why we’ve rounded up the 10 Best Korean Moisturizers you need to try. And we’ll answer some share-worthy skin care questions along the way. 

Are you ready? 

The 9 Best Korean Moisturizers You Need to Try in 2023

#1 COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Repair Cream

Pros

We usually think of serums as the most potent formulations. But this cream is highly concentrated. The main ingredient is snail mucin. Yes, snail. That, along with hyaluronic acid make this cream super hydrating. It’s lightweight and leaves a silky smooth finish on the skin. 

Cons 

Well… you may need to do some mental gymnastics to get comfortable with the main ingredient. SNAIL SECRETION FILTRATE. But once you do, your skin barrier will thank you for it! The gel-cream goes on a little sticky (no surprise there!) but it does dry into a smooth texture. And of course, this product is not vegan, which may be a non-starter for some.

#2 ETUDE SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

#3 AHC Essential Eye Cream for Face

Pros

Now here’s where K-beauty’s innovation starts to show. We usually covet our tiny jars of eye cream. They’re sacred and we use them sparingly. AHC is changing the game. They’ve created this lightweight cream that absorbs well and can be used all over your face. It brightens under the eyes, and smooths wrinkles to create the perfect makeup base. Anything that is gentle enough for the eyes is gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Pro tip: it’s great on lips too! Hydrates and fills in creases & laugh lines. 

Cons

Truth be told, the only negative here is the scent. Again, may be too strong for some styles. 

 

#4 Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Cream with Green Tea Seed

Pros

We couldn’t resist kicking off the list with a product from innisfree - a beloved K-beauty brand that has really made a name for itself in North America. The star of the show here is Jeju green tea seed - both an oil and an extract. The combination ensures that skin is both hydrated and protected. It’s light enough for daily use, but intense enough to heal dry skin. 

Cons

This product does contain fragrance/parfum. For some, this is a red flag because we know fragrance formulations do not have to be disclosed and can contain many harsh chemicals. For others, the scent may just be too strong. It’s lovely, but definitely lingers. If you’re at all sensitive to scent, this is not the Korean moisturizer for you.

#5 Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream

# 6 Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream

#7 belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb

Pros

Belif it or not, The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb is clinically proven to retain moisture for up to 26 hours. It’s formulated with oat extract to soothe skin. The hydration comes mostly from comfrey leaf extract (this was a new ingredient to me!). Comfrey leaf is an herb with traditions of being used to heal dry, calloused hands. 

Cons

It’s time for a truth bomb. This isn’t a clean beauty product by most standards. And it definitely doesn't fall into the category of organic skin care. Sephora doesn’t give it its stamp of clean approval, and neither do we. One main concern is ingredients that are higher than a 2 on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep ranking. PEG-40 STEARATE for example, has concerns about toxicity and contamination. 

 

# 8 I DEW CARE Say You Dew Moisturizing Vitamin C Cream



Pros

A lightweight, gel/cream formula spreads nicely for even coverage and good moisturizing. It features lemon extract and vitamin C, both good antioxidants. That makes it a great AM moisturizer - antioxidants under your SPF is always a good idea. Say You Dew also has niacinamide, which we’re big fans of for it’s skin barrier strengthening abilities. 

Finally, this formulation does include glycerine, a go-to occlusive to lock in moisture and protect. So it’s checking all the boxes… they really dew care. 

Cons

If you have dry skin, or harsh climate conditions (winter in Canada anyone?) this is not the moisturizer for you. It’s just not rich enough. But if your skin is generally quite balanced, the added brightening of this cream is a great bonus for dull skin!

#9 Purito Deep Sea Water Cream

3 reasons for moisturizing your skin

Confession. There are about 100 reasons why you should be moisturizing your skin. But today, I’m going to share 3 big ones in hopes that you’ll remember them. 

#1 To keep skin youthful 

As we age, our skin produces less oil. We need oil to keep skin looking and feeling soft, smooth and plump. When our skin is dry or dehydrated, fine lines and wrinkles become more visible. On our arms, legs, neck and chest it can also lead to crepey skin.

#2 To prevent acne 

We don't think of moisturizers as acne treatment products, but here's the truth. Our skin produces oil naturally, but when our skin is too dry, that oil production goes into overdrive. Extra oiliness can cause acne breakouts! So while it may seem counterintuitive, moisturizing your skin helps to keep things in balance. Choosing the right moisturizer is an important part of the finding best acne treatment. If you naturally have very oily skin, you’ll want to be selective our your moisturizing products, so I’ve given some recommendations on that below. 

#3 To protect from environmental stressors

We moisturize to hydrate, but also to protect. Moisturizers help to strengthen the skin’s outer layer, called the stratum corneum. This plays an important role in preventing damages from our environment, including pollution and UV. 

How to incorporate Korean skin care into your routine

My favourite way to incorporate Korean skin care into my routine is through its philosophy. This might not be the answer you’re expecting, but it’s worth exploring. 

Korea’s 10 (or even 17!) step skin care routine is not about self-indulgence. It’s rooted in a tradition of respect for oneself and one’s body. It encourages slowing down, serving the skin what it needs so that it can thrive. 

No quick fixes here. 

Korean skincare is about understanding how the skin works naturally so that we can support its healthy functioning over the long-term. 

Traditionally, female family members would come together for long rituals of bathing. And today, women gather under the gentle authority of ajumma’s for hours of communal “self” care. 

There’s a lot to be untangled here - like the notion that beauty should be hard work - but at the core is something we can all take into our home routines. 

Just take a little more time for yourself. 

How to Use Korean Moisturizers for Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, there’s no need to fear moisturizers. In fact, Koreans treat acne a little differently than we do here in North America. Moisturizing is key to the solution. 

Moisturizing oily skin helps to promote balance. When we let our skin dry out, it overcompensates and produces more oil to try and protect itself. So the first step is don’t skip on your daily moisturizing cream. 

My final thoughts on which Korean moisturizer is best for all skin types

The truth is, your skin is as unique as you are. There isn’t ever going to be a one-size-fits-all solution for hydrated, healthy skin. 

Some trial and error will be necessary to find the right one(s) for you. Remember, just like you don’t need to limit yourself to one cookie, you don’t need to limit yourself to one moisturizer either. 

K-beauty is the global hub of skincare innovation. And many brands have the science to back up their formulations too. So grab a few, try them out and happy hydrating! 

You Are Loved. 

Author Bio: Jennifer is the president and founder of empyri.  Jennifer’s passion for formulation and product development was set ablaze in 2019, when she incorporated the healing power of cannabis roots into her long-standing three-step skin care system. Armed with scientific evidence on the actives in cannabis roots and seeds, a clean and conscious brand was born. Using her masters degree in bio-chemical engineering, Jennifer is forging a path to ...READ FULL BIO