Moisturizing is an important part of a good skincare routine. And I’ve scoured the net to find the Best Korean Moisturizer for you! Check out this best Korean moisturizer review and pick the one that suits your skin type to get that soft, dewy skin!
Best Korean Moisturizers — Quick Summary
Best Korean Moisturizers | Best For | Link |
COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap | Oily Skin | View on Amazon |
Huxley Secret of Sahara Cream More than Moist | Sensitive/Dry Skin | View on Amazon |
Innisfree Green Tea Mist Face Moisturizer | Oily Skin | View on Amazon |
Klairs Rich Moist Soothing cream | All Skin Types | View on Amazon |
Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream | All Skin Types | View on Amazon |
Mamonde Floral Moisture Cream | Normal And Oily Skin | View on Amazon |
ETUDE HOUSE SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream | Sensitive/Allergy-prone Skin | View on Amazon |
Mizon Snail Repair Cream | Anti-ageing | View on Amazon |
TOSOWOONG Super Aqua Cooling Gel | All Skin Types | View on Amazon |
IOPE New Derma Repair Cica Cream | Healing And Repairing Damaged Skin | View on Amazon |
Which is the best Korean moisturiser?
I tried and tested over 10 Korean moisturizers based on hydration and application in my quest to find the best Korean moisturizer. Most Korean moisturizers provide instant hydration and are gentle on the skin. But the COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap won the award for the best Korean moisturizer, and here’s why:
COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap feels light on application and is provides instant hydration to the skin. Since it has an oil-free formula, it’s best recommended for oily skin. However, this Korean moisturizer is also suitable for those with normal or combination skin type. This Korean moisturizer by COSRx is formulated with birch sap that is known to calm irritation.
Our Top Picks For Best Korean Moisturizer Review
- COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap – Recommended for oily skin – Get it here!
- Innisfree Green Tea Mist Face Moisturizer – has anti-bacterial properties, good for acne-prone skin – Get it here!
- Mizon Snail Repair Cream – 92% snail mucin content, good for sensitive skin – Get it here!
Top Korean Moisturizer 2023
Why should I go for Korean moisturizers?
The Korean skincare standards are really high. Korean beauty brands are known to use all-natural ingredients to help you achieve better-looking and younger skin. The ingredients used in Korean moisturizers are safe to use, gentle on the skin, and super effective.
Also, Korean moisturizers are affordable. Korean skincare products are among the best in the world and they come at an affordable price – it’s a win-win situation!
Another reason why you should pick a Korean moisturizer is that Korean moisturizers instantly hydrate the skin and have a long-lasting moisturizing effect. In fact, many celebrities swear by Korean moisturizers to keep their skin looking fresh and healthy.
How to choose the best Korean moisturizer for you?
Korean products are one of the best; now you need to understand more about Korean moisturizers. As the Koreans are deeply invested in skincare, you will be spoilt for options when you check for these, and they will all seem very good and useful.
When it comes to skincare products, especially Korean products, you should always look at the ingredients. Korean beauty products tend to have a few typical ingredients in common. If you intend to purchase a product, check if it contains one or more of these ingredients.
Ingredients To Consider
- As an external body secretion, snail mucin or snail slime is a substance similar to mucus. That sounds gross and icky, but try it and see what happens to your skin.
- There is a reason why tea tree oil has become common in beauty products. Traditionally, its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties prevent and reduce acne scars to leave your skin clear and healthy.
- As a natural component of our bodies, hyaluronic acid is also known as hyaluronan. In the connective tissues and joints, this clear, gooey substance usually forms.
- Honey bees produce propolis or bee glue, which is made from natural ingredients. K-beauty is literally blown up by this amazing ingredient because of its appearance benefits.
- There’s Aloe Vera gel in practically every skincare product, be it Korean, Indian, or any other.
- Honey skin is popularly known to hydrated, dewy and plumped up skin also that it focuses more on crystal clear skin.
Identify skin type
Your skin type will determine the problems and complications you may experience. Oily skin, dry skin, combination skin – you can all suffer from them.
Try Finding Authentic sites
Try to order Korean skincare products from reputable online retailers and be careful about imposters, since many are popping up now!
Best Ingredients For Moisturizer in Korean Moisturizers
Korean moisturizers are known for their hydrating and nourishing properties, and they often contain a variety of beneficial ingredients. Here are some of the best ingredients commonly found in Korean moisturizers:
- Hyaluronic Acid: This ingredient is excellent for hydration as it attracts and retains moisture in the skin, leaving it plump and supple.
- Ceramides: Ceramides help strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss, promoting a healthy and moisturized complexion.
- Glycerin: Glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture from the environment into the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft.
- Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a multitasking ingredient that offers multiple benefits, including hydration, brightening, and improving the overall texture of the skin.
- Centella Asiatica: Also known as “tiger grass,” Centella Asiatica has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that help calm and hydrate the skin.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties, making it ideal for dry or sensitive skin types.
- Green Tea Extract: Green tea extract is rich in antioxidants that help protect the skin from environmental damage while providing hydration and soothing effects.
- Shea Butter: Shea butter is a rich moisturizer that deeply nourishes the skin and helps to improve its elasticity and suppleness.
- Beta-Glucan: Beta-glucan is a soothing ingredient that boosts hydration and helps to improve the skin’s moisture barrier, promoting overall skin health.
- Panthenol: Also known as provitamin B5, panthenol is a humectant that attracts and retains moisture in the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated.
These ingredients work synergistically to provide deep hydration, improve skin elasticity, and maintain a healthy moisture balance. However, it’s essential to consider your skin type and specific concerns when choosing a moisturizer and to patch test new products to ensure compatibility.
Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb
A potent hydrating ingredient, comfrey leaf, is a powerful apothecary herb embedded in this highly effective moisturizer. It contains apothecary herbs and several plant extracts, including aloe vera extract.
Moisturizing can be effective for dry skin types and for those concerned about the loss of firmness and elasticity. Oat kernel extract, a potent antioxidant, helps soothe dry, itchy skin, and marigold extract contains flavonoids, which act as anti-inflammatory agents.
Korea’s True Cream Moisturizing Bomb is a top-selling product. It has been the number one seller across all categories of the Korean beauty market. This cream works best on dry, flaky, and dull skin with its supple texture that bursts when applied.
Pros
- Great for combination skin and dry skin
- Hydrating
- Unique texture
- Works as a primer too for sensitive dry skin
Cons
- Not for people with Keratosis pilaris.
Related: Best Korean Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin
AHC Essential Eye Cream for Face
It’s a cream designed to be used as an eye cream, but it’s so popular that Aesthetic Hydration Cosmetics (AHC) Essential Eye Cream for Face is sold every three seconds in Korea, which makes it the most popular Korean moisturizer.
A powerful formula that protects the eyes, hands, and chest from the signs of aging, containing a host of plant extracts, niacinamide, squalene, ceramides, five peptides, and vitamins.
Massage the product in using gentle pressure to reduce dullness and to provide smooth, dewy skin. Use as directed in the T-zone, along the undereye area, along the jaw, and around the neck.
Pros
- Gives sensorial benefits
- Has light-feeling
- Multi-functional skincare
Cons
- The scent is a bit too strong for my liking for a eye cream
COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap Moisturizer Review
Best Korean Moisturizer For Oily Skin Type
The first one our best Korean moisturizer review is the Ultra Moisturizing lotion with Birch Sap by Cosrx. This is a brand that you can go for as it is priced moderately and it’s affordable by most people, with no compromise on the amazing quality offered by most top Korean skincare brands.
This is a lightweight lotion that is heavily hydrating without making your skin feel too oily or sticky. It can be used both, during the day as well as during the night and its oil-free formula makes it best to be used by those with combination and oily skin.
It does a good job on dry skin as well. Birch sap nourishes the skin with antioxidants, calms irritations and hydrates it well. This lotion is priced at around $17.50 for a 100 ml container.
Key Features
- Lightweight formula
- Intensely hydrating
- Oil-free formula
- Contains birch sap for anti-oxidant properties
- Calms irritation
- Recommended for oily skin type
Pros
- No stickiness
- Skin doesn’t breakout after application
- Gentle formula
- Long-lasting
- Enhances skin texture
- Affordable
Huxley Secret of Sahara Cream More Than Moist Moisturizer Review
Best Korean Moisturizer Review For Sensitive Skin
If you have very sensitive skin that breaks out or burns when you apply a moisturizer, give the “More than Moist” by Huxley Secret of Sahara a try. This is made with delicate, yet effective ingredients that are gentle on the skin while nourishing and healing it.
Shea butter gives your skin the required hydration and moisture while healing it from sunburns and harsh cold weather conditions, whereas the birch sap extract does its job of pumping in antioxidants and vitamins while cooling and calming the skin.
This works wonders on dry skin as the rich ingredients add a lot of moisture. This cream comes in a small jar and is priced in the mid, affordable range.
Key Features:
- Contains birch sap
- Contain shea butter
- Deeply hydrating
- Gentle formula
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Pros
- Has an anti-ageing effect
- Strengthens skin barrier
- Cools and calms the skin – effective for sunburns as well
Innisfree Green Tea Mist Face Moisturizer Review
Best Koream Moisturizer Review For Acne-prone Skin
Innisfree is one of the most familiar Korean brands as the products are easily accessible in most cities across the world. This is a premium brand with top-notch skincare products that can be trusted and relied upon to take care of acne-prone skin.
The Green Tea Mist face moisturizer is meant for people with moderately oily to very oily skin who cannot handle thick moisturizers and creams. This is also good if you are prone to acne as green tea is known to have antibacterial properties.
This comes in a unique spray bottle, which is hygienic and easy to use. Simply spray it on your face and the Jeju green tea extracts hydrate your skin and nourish it. This may not be suitable if you have very dry skin. This Mist moisturizer is priced at around $14 per bottle.
Key Features
- Light formula
- Hydrates skin
- Contains jeju green tea extracts
- Suitable for oily, sensitive and acne prone skin
Pros
- Doesn’t make skin feel sticky
- Comes in a spray bottle
- Has antibacterial properties
- Easy to use
Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream Moisturizer Review
Best Korean Moisturizer Review For Sensitive Skin
This purely vegan moisturizer by Dear, Klairs is great for any type of skin. We find this to be a good skincare product to be used during the summer as it works on cooling down the skin, taking care of sunburns, soothes rough and irritated skin and heals it inside out.
The Shea butter, ceramide 3 and lipidure content infused in the formula improve your skin texture. Beta gluten yeast promotes growth of new cells and repairs any damaged pores. This Korean moisturizer hydrates wonderfully without making the skin too oily.
You can also use it during harsh winters where dry and rough skin is very common. Other elements like soap chemicals and fine dust can also cause mini bruises which we don’t usually realise and this cream heals all of that.
It doesn’t have too strong a fragrance and is free of colour, so it can be used every day even by those with very sensitive skin without fearing that it will set off any allergies.
Key Features
- Vegan moisturizer
- Lightweight formula
- Intensely moisturizes the skin
- Contains Shea butter
- Fragrance-free
- Recommended for sensitive skin
Pros
- Vegan product
- Skin doesn’t feel sticky after application
- Treats anti-aging lines
- Soothing effect
Cons
- Expensive compared to similar moisturizers
Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream Moisturizer Review
Best Korean Moisturizer Review For All Skin Types
Laneige is another well known Korean brand of skincare, reputed for their efficient line of products. The Water Bank Moisture Cream does not come cheap. This is an expensive moisturizer but it is worth every penny.
Like most premium products, a little bit goes a long way and the 50 ml jar can be used over a few months. The cream is light and spreads well, it gets absorbed quickly. Your skin feels plump and hydrated for the whole day without an oily texture.
Recommended to perform a patch test before use