Korean serums are super trendy these days due to their quality and effectiveness. They can prevent dryness, deeply moisturize the skin, and reduce the appearance of aging signs. Additionally, they have a lightweight and non-sticky texture that easily absorbs, preparing your skin for the products you’ll apply next.
In this article, I’ve included the best Korean serums that customers swear by, so you can find what suits your skin needs the most.
Let’s get started…
What Is The Best Korean Serum?
1- Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule
The Skin1004 Intensive Ampoule is formulated with fermented centella asiatica (Cica), ceramide, and cica to fight high levels of pollution that cause skin sensitivity, skin damage, and increase aging signs. So, those ingredients can definitely help provide extra moisture, strengthen the skin barrier, and calm the skin.
This product also contains amino acids, fatty acids, phytochemicals, and beta-carotene, leading to smoothing and firming the skin, extra hydration, damaged skin repair, and blemish and aging signs prevention.
Plus, it absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving a silky finish with no residues or stickiness. Using fermented premium cica sourced from Madagascar helped to elevate the product’s benefits by keeping the skin super calm, treating breakouts, and boosting skin barrier health.
Key Ingredients: Cica, fermented cica, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and ceramide NP.
Ideal For: acne, all skin types, even sensitive skin.
Quick Facts: fragrance-free, fights high levels of pollution that lead to skin damage, targets breakouts, improves the skin barrier health, lightweight texture, and works well on all skin types.
2- Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
This is one of the best Korean Hyaluronic Acid Serums on the market that is formulated with triple revitalizing complex (PDRN, hydrolyzed collagen, and 11 forms of hyaluronic acid). This complex helps provide deep hydration, boost skin appearance, and maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving your face looking fresh and radiant.
Using the Anua PDRN hyaluronic acid capsule 100 daily can definitely brighten, plump, and moisturize the skin. You use it day and night or blend it with foundation and primer to give your base makeup a glossier and radiant finish thanks to its watery texture.
Key Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, PDRN, hydrolyzed collagen, and glutathione.
Ideal For: Brightening and plumping.
Quick Facts: Fragrance-free, fast-absorbing formula, water-like consistency, goes well with makeup, plumps and brightens the skin, and locks in hydration.
3- IOPE Retinol Super Bounce Serum
This is the best Korean retinol serum that is especially designed for daily use to prevent sagging and promote a bouncy complexion. It’s formulated with 4 different types of retinol to firm and plump the skin, reduce aging signs, and boost skin elasticity, leaving the skin vibrant and refreshed.
Thanks to its most future-forward formula, this product is less irritating and more effective to the skin as it binds to the retinoid receptors in the skin directly without conversion, which usually causes stinging.
Plus, it promotes collagen and elastin production, which helps rejuvenate the skin, clarify pores, and enhance skin health. And more importantly, it’s ultra moisturizing and prepares the skin for the next products for better absorption.
Key Ingredients: Four retinoids (pure retinol, granactive retinoid, encapsulated retinol, and bio-seletinoid), lactobacillus ferment lysate, and squalane.
Ideal For: All skin types and aging skin.
Quick Facts: fragrance-free, provides extra hydration, melts into the skin, reduces wrinkles and fine lines, clears pores, and gives your skin a plumper look.
4- AROCELL Super Collagen Booster Bubble Serum
The Arocell super collagen booster serum enhances skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles and fine lines, alleviates sagging, and gives you a smoother skin appearance.
This product is formulated with clinically proven ingredients that promote collagen production, including topical collagen, 10 types of peptides, exosomes, and niacinamide. These ingredients work together to help plump and firm the skin, replenish collagen, fill in smile lines, increase hydration, and reduce aging signs, leaving it looking youthful and smooth.
Plus, it has bubble foam consistency, more like hand soap or cleanser, making it easier for the skin to absorb it. Surely, it’s one of the best Korean serums that you should give a try!
Key Ingredients: collagen, exosomes, peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
Ideal For: Mature skin
Quick Facts: Fragrance-free, rejuvenates the skin, smooths aging signs, boosts collagen and elastin production, provides extra hydration, and absorbs into the skin quickly.
5- Aestura Atobarrier Hydro Cera-HA Serum
This is the best Korean serum for dry skin that can deeply hydrate the skin, strengthen the skin barrier, and prevent inflammation and flakiness.
It contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, which will soften rough skin, retain skin moisture, protect the skin barrier, and create a smooth texture. This makes it a great option for those with dry and sensitive skin types!
Key Ingredients: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides.
Ideal For: dry and sensitive skin types.
Quick Facts: fragrance-free, water gel-like consistency, lightweight, prevents dullness, helps with moisture retention, reduces irritation and inflammation, and boosts hydration levels in the skin.
6- Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum
The Numbuzin No.5 helps to protect the skin against environmental damage and brighten and even skin tone without stinging or irritating the skin.
It’s made with vitamin C, glutathione (cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid), tranexamic acid, and niacinamide, which helps prevent irritation, calm the skin, keep the skin hydrated, treat post-breakout scars, and fade fine lines gently.
Its formula is non-sticky or greasy and has a non-chemical scent that most people complain about in Vitamin C serums. Plus, it is super gentle on the skin, which makes it one of the best Korean vitamin C serums for sensitive and dry skin. People with oily skin may find it too heavy!
Key Ingredients: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, Tranexamic acid, ceramide NP, and glutathione.
Ideal For: dry and sensitive skin types, targets Hyperpigmentation and pollution.
Quick Facts: fragrance-free, diminishes dark spots and fine lines, evens skin tone, prevents free radical damage, leaves the skin glowing and youthful, gentle formula, and comes in a dark container.
7-Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum
The Beauty Of Joseon serum is an ideal product for those with acne-prone or combination skin, as it helps balance excess oil production and fight acne without irritating the skin.
Thanks to its formula that contains propolis extract, niacinamide, and BHA, this product can protect the skin barrier, retain skin moisture, clarify pores, fade blemishes, soothe skin, and brighten and hydrate the skin.
Plus, it gently exfoliates the skin, promotes new skin cell production, enhances the skin’s overall health, and gives you a clearer complexion. Additionally, its formula is slightly thick to soothe and absorbs into the skin easily with no residue left, leaving skin glowy and refreshed.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, propolis extract, and BHA.
Ideal For: combination and acne-prone skin types.
Quick Facts: Fragrance-free, regulates oil production, fights acne, reduces irritation, soothes the skin, and leaves no greasy feel.
8- Abib Heartleaf Teca Capsule Serum
This soothing, cooling product is formulated with heartleaf and centella asiatica to help reduce inflammation, redness, and blemishes. It also contains niacinamide that can repair skin damage, brighten the skin, and fade post-acne marks.
Plus, this product can provide deep hydration to the skin, control excess oil production, and target acne. This makes the Abib Heartleaf Teca Capsule Serum ideal for those with sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and oily skin.
Additionally, it’s non-comedogenic and leaves the skin clearer, balanced, and healthier.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, heartleaf, and Centella Asiatica.
Ideal For: sensitive, acne-prone, and oily skin types.
Quick Facts: lightweight, non-sticky residue, fragrance-free, dermatologist-recommended, soothes irritated skin, has anti-inflammatory properties, and keeps the skin balanced and clean.
9- Mixsoon Bean Essence
This product is technically an essence, but can be used as a serum due to its great benefits.
It can slough off dead skin cells gently without drying out or irritating your skin, as it’s made with fermented soybean and other fruit extracts.
The Mixsoon Bean Essence also balances oil production, boosts skin hydration, clarifies pores, boosts skin glow, prevents pigmentation, and improves skin texture.
Moreover, it melts into the skin, has a non-sticky texture, and can be used before makeup to provide an extra smooth base.
Key Ingredients: Soybean ferment extract, fermented barley, fermented pomegranate extract, and fermented Korean pear filtrate.
Ideal For: oily skin.
Quick Facts: non-sticky, hypoallergenic, fast-absorbing, balances oil production, non-drying, leaves the skin smooth, and prepares the skin for makeup.
10- medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
If you’re looking for a product that can help you achieve the glass skin you’ve always dreamt of, you need to try the medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum.
It’s formulated with powerful ingredients, including rose PDRN, 5 types of peptides, niacinamide, and holy basil leaf extract. So, it can repair the skin, promote skin cell turnover, even skin tone, diminish dark spots, and boost elasticity.
More importantly, it strengthens the skin barrier, reduces irritation, provides long-lasting hydration, and protects the skin against aggressors. And its formula is gentle on the skin and non-irritating!
Key Ingredients: Rose PDRN, niacinamide, peptides, adenosine, and Holy Basil leaf extract.
Ideal For: skin barrier health.
Quick Facts: stimulates collagen and elastin production, fades dark spots, mild formula, gentle for all skin types, dermatologist-tested, free from gluten and artificial colors, and enhances skin’s glow and resilience.
11- REJURAN Turnover Ampoule
This PDRN-packed formula is already a dermatologist’s favorite due to its powerful anti-aging effects.
The formula is rich in c-PDRN (salmon DNA), which helps promote tissue regeneration, improve skin elasticity and firmness, and rejuvenate the skin from the inside out.
Plus, it delivers intense hydration, refines rough skin, improves overall skin texture, repairs skin damage, and visibly enhances cheek lifting.
It’s the best Korean serum that helps reduce aging signs, improve skin resilience, and provide skin glow over time.
Key Ingredients: c-PDRN (salmon DNA), adenosine, licorice root extract, and blackberry leaf extract.
Ideal For: aging signs and youthful appearance.
Quick Facts: fragrance-free, lightweight, boosts skin hydration, repairs the skin, improves skin texture, promotes skin elasticity, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and clinically proven to reduce anti-aging signs.
12- ROUND LAB Vita Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum
This lightweight, glow-giving formula is made especially to target dark spots, even skin tone, prevent dullness, and promote radiance and glow over time.
It absorbs quickly into the skin and provides extra hydration without leaving a greasy feel on your skin.
The ROUND LAB Vita Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum is antioxidant-rich, as it contains 16 vitamins (including vitamins A, C, & B), glutathione, and vita capsules, which will protect the skin against environmental stressors and maintain a healthy appearance.
Key Ingredients: vitamin C, vitamin tree extract, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, and glutathione.
Ideal For: skin glow and radiance.
Quick Facts: fast absorbing, fragrance-free, lightweight, suitable for all skin types, brightens the skin, and reduces dark spots.
13- Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
The Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum is the most luxurious product that can not only give your skin all it needs but also boost any product you layer on top of it!
It’s made with ginseng extract, ethyl ascorbic acid, and skullcap root extract, which can help support the skin barrier against external stressors, increase skin moisture by 44.6% (after one use), and stimulate skin cell regeneration by 10.2% (after 3 days).
Plus, this product reduces visible fine lines and wrinkles, prevents skin dryness, increases skin radiance and firmness, and reduces inflammation.
Key Ingredients: ginseng extract, ethyl ascorbic acid, and skullcap root extract.
Ideal For: all skin types and mature skin.
Quick Facts: Boosts skin firmness, reduces visible aging signs, hydrates the skin, supports the skin barrier health, promotes skin cell turnover, and soothes irritation and dryness.
14- Torriden DIVE IN Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The Torriden Dive In serum is formulated with super-rich ingredients, including 5 types of hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin, and ceramides. Those ingredients work on supporting the skin barrier health, preventing dry, rough skin, and soothing the skin.
It also plumps the skin, provides 48h hydration, protects the skin against damage, locks in moisture, and gives your skin a glassy glow. We can say it’s the best Korean serum for those who need instant hydration and relief against irritation.
Key Ingredients: 5 types of hyaluronic acid, allantoin, panthenol, and ceramide NP.
Ideal For: skin soothing.
Quick Facts: fragrance-free, lightweight, watery consistency, non-sticky, mild formula, all-day hydration, prevents flakiness, boosts the skin barrier, free from parabens, phthalates, coal tar, SLS, SLES, and other irritants, vegan, and suitable for sensitive skin.
What Do Koreans Use For Flawless Skin?
Koreans usually follow a skincare routine from a young age to boost skin barrier health, reduce aging signs, and provide extra hydration to the skin. Their routine includes the double cleansing method (oil-based cleanser and water-based cleanser), toner, serum, essence, moisturizer, eye cream, sheet masks, and SPF.
How Often Should I Use Korean Serum?
A Korean serum should be used twice a day if it’s for soothing or moisturizing the skin as part of your skincare routine. But serums with super-powerful exfoliating ingredients like AHAs or retinol should be used once a day or every other day to help you achieve the best results without irritating.
Which Is The Best Korean Retinol Serum?
The Iope Retinol Super Bounce Serum is the best Korean serum on the market these days due to its powerful anti-aging effects. It contains 4 types of retinol to help promote collagen and elastin production, prevent sagging, and keep the skin youthful and healthier. Remember to always patch test to avoid problems.
What Is The Difference Between Serum and Essence In Korean Skincare?
Essences are usually made to hydrate and prepare the skin for the next products you will layer on top of it, while serums are formulated with super active ingredients to target specific skin problems, including acne, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, or wrinkles and fine lines.
Are Korean Serums Better?
Yes. Korean serums are more popular and better because:
- Their innovative formulas.
- They focus on creating a product that maintains skin barrier health, not only to fix the problem.
- Use powerful ingredients, including Centella Asiatica, peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ginseng, green tea, panthenol, propolis, and licorice root extract. These ingredients are suitable for most skin types and help keep the skin barrier healthy, which will prevent many skin problems in the future.
- Formulas are fast-absorbing and super gentle on the skin.
Should You Use Separate Korean Serums For Day and Night?
This depends on your skin type and needs, meaning, if your skin needs protection and hydration, use a day serum that contains Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and licorice root extract. While for night serum, look for a formula that supports the skin barrier health, promotes skin cell regeneration, fixes skin problems, and provides deep hydration.
How To Incorporate Korean Serums Into Your Skin Care Routine?
Use your serum after applying toner, allow it a few minutes to sink into the skin, then layer on top of it your favorite eye cream and moisturizer. Serums are more concentrated to help hydrate, brighten, soothe, or reduce aging signs, while a moisturizer goes next to lock in moisture, helping your skin benefit from all the products you have already applied.
Are you new to K-beauty? Do you need more Guides? Check:
The Best 10-Step Korean Skin Care Routine To Follow
Master Day and Night Korean Skincare Routine For Top Results
Unveiling the Truth: Are Korean Skincare Products Better For Asians
Best Korean Vitamin C Serum: Top 9 Picks
Best Korean Moisturizer For Oily Skin: Most Praised 12 Picks
Best Korean Moisturizer For Dry Skin: Top 13 Picks
Best Korean Moisturizer For Acne Prone Skin: 11 Loved Picks
The Ultimate Guide To The Best Korean Skincare For Acne
Ultimate Guide: 21 Best Korean Skin Care Products
The 15 Best Korean Face Creams To Unlock Your Glow
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