The best Korean moisturizers are the crème de la crème of K-skin care for their advanced, effective, yet incredibly gentle ingredient profiles. These moisturizers are unmatched in their hydration, leaving glass skin glassy, dewy skin dewy, and our bank accounts happy. (Most of these picks are less than $30. We love to see it.) That allows for more consistent use, which can make a world of difference in your skin whether you're dealing with breakouts or dryness.

They're even helpful for mature skin types: If you continually allow your skin to get dry, signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles are more likely to form, according 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 all year round.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Aestura Atobarrier 365, $32
• Best for Barrier: Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream, $27
• Best Cooling: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb, $38
• Best for Dry Skin: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream, $49
• Best for Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel, $18
• Best for Dull Skin: Innisfree Cherry Blossom Glow Jelly Cream, $28
• Best for Compromised Skin: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream, $29
• Best Mattifying: Tirtir Rosemary One Cream, $28
• Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream, $260

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 Overall: Aestura Atobarrier 365

Why it’s worth it: At the intersection of lightweight feel and heavy-duty hydration sits the Best of Beauty-winning Aestura Atobarrier 365. Loaded with hydrating ceramides, juicy lipids, and moisture-locking niacinamide, this formula tackles all kinds of dryness while keeping your moisture barrier strong—no matter your skin type. "I've been using this K-beauty moisturizer since it first hit my desk for Best of Beauty testing," said commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann, who used it to offset the effects of retinol. "It's lightweight but works like a much heavier formula." But wait, there’s more! When your face has had its fill, don't stop there—since it’s designed for the body as well, you can share the love with your arms, legs, and anywhere else craving extra moisture.

Tester feedback: “I love Aestura AtoBarrier 365 Cream as much for what it does for my skin as what it doesn't: The rich formula is deeply hydrating without causing irritation or congestion,” says associate features director Dianna Mazonne Singh. “When I apply it before bed, my skin feels noticeably softer and smoother come morning.”

Key ingredients: ceramides, lipids, niacinamide, glycerin | Who it's for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Barrier: Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream

Why it's worth it: Dr. Althea's 345 Relief Cream is a free radical-shielding, antioxidant-packed, fine line-fading moisturizer we keep reaching for. It delivers a solid dose of resveratrol (an antioxidant bomb), vitamin E, and turmeric extract, which helps reduce inflammation and fade hyperpigmentation. Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, explains that turmeric is a time-tested anti-inflammatory and antioxidant thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin. "Turmeric can also improve skin tone, texture, and evenness if used regularly," says Dr. Gohara.

Rounding out the formula is heartleaf extract, an antibacterial oil-controller, and evening primrose flower extract, a deeply hydrating, elasticity-boosting buddy. All together, this makes it a dream formula for post-breakout recovery and any lingering redness. But even if your acne days are (mostly) in the rearview, your skin will still dig this cream's calming, cloaking comfort.

Tester feedback: “No matter what condition my skin is in, Dr. Althea's 345 Relief Cream calms down my skin immediately—thanks to the likes of ceramides, cica, heartleaf, and panthenol,” raves Han. “It's touted as a lovely moisturizer for acneic or post-acne skin but I have combination skin and I can attest that it works well for my skin—it walks a fine line between moisturizing but not too-rich or too-heavy.”

Key ingredients: ceramides, vitamin E, resveratrol, turmeric extract | Who it's for: people with redness, people with acne | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Cooling: 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. 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 jelly texture of the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb was a godsend for my 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 Dry Skin: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream

Why it’s worth it: The doctor is in, thanks to Dr. Jart+'s Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream. Cushiony, creamy, and packed with deep hydration, this formula puts ceramides front and center while panthenol steps in to strengthen the skin barrier. It also doubles as a makeup primer, helping base products apply smoothly and sit beautifully on the skin.Slather this non-comedogenic formula on, morning and night, and feel the dryness disappear.

Tester feedback: “My combination skin gets capital-d Dry from external factors, be it freezing winter weather or stale airplane air,” says contributing editor Deanna Pai. “That’s why a travel-size tube of this lives in my toiletry kit. I put it to the ultimate test—a trip to central Missouri in the dead of winter to visit my in-laws—and found that it still kept my skin radiant and comfortable.”

Key ingredients: ceramides, panthenol, glycerin | Who it's for: people with dry skin | 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 crepiness.

Tester feedback: "This is the perfect summertime moisturizer for my combination skin," commerce editor Sarah Han says. "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 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 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 thickness 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 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 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 a 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 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 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 for Glass Skin: 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, since 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 Mattifying: Tirtir Rosemary One Cream

Why it's worth it: Tirtir's Rosemary One Cream is a favorite of 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.

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

Best for Face and Body: Atopalm MLE Cream

Why it's worth it: Looking for a moisturizer that feels like butter…if butter wasn’t 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 with SPF: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotic SPF50+ PA++++

Why it’s worth it: Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun Rice + Probiotic SPF 50+ PA++++ goes the extra mile to protect your skin—in part because a minimum SPF 30 is non-negotiable year-round. This pick has probably graced your FYP more than a few times, and for good reason: The glowy, chemical sunscreen is packed with rice extract, niacinamide, grain-derived probiotics, pumpkin ferment extract, ginseng, and green tea, offering brightening benefits without stickiness or a white cast. It's super lightweight, effortlessly blendable, and a bonafide editor favorite—period, end of sentence.

Tester feedback: "Quite frankly, I might never go for another sunscreen again after the torrid affair I'm currently having with Beauty of Joseon's Relief Sun SPF 50," senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen shared. "On TikTok's recommendation, I bought an entire four-pack of this K-beauty staple and have been tearing through it all summer—which is all too easy to do, given the way it melts into skin like butter and leaves a highlighter-level glow behind."

Key ingredients: Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S, rice extract, niacinamide, grain-derived probiotics, pumpkin ferment extract, ginseng, green tea | Who it's for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Undereyes: Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: If you’ve yet to tango with snail mucin, there’s no better way to put on your dancing shoes than with Cosrx’s Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream. A quick primer on this sneaky superhero ingredient: "Snail mucin is a complex mix of peptides, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and metal ions (such as zinc, copper, iron, and manganese)," Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously told Allure. The silky (but no, not slimy) cream melts into the under eyes, blending five collagen-promoting peptides and niacinamide to help you look awake via decreased puffiness and darkness.

Tester feedback: “While the eye cream doesn't magically erase my dark circles, it does reflect the light without any sparkle, which can make you look more awake,” said content director Kara McGrath.  “It also plays super well with makeup: There's none of that dreaded pilling when I layer my go-to concealer on top. I'll still turn to something a bit heavier for my nighttime routine, but this snail mucin-based eye cream is definitely getting a permanent place in my daytime product rotation.”

Key ingredients: snail secretion filtrate, glycerin, sunflower seed oil | Who it's for: people with dark under eye circles | Fragrance-free: yes

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Korean moisturizers and other moisturizers?

"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.

How should I choose a Korean moisturizer?

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.

Meet the experts

• 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

How we test and review products

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.

Our staff and testers

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

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