The 15 Best Korean Moisturizers of 2023

Sometimes our skin can freak out despite our best preventative efforts. Whenever you're having a really sensitive skin day, opt for this pudding cream from Peach & Lily. The matcha helps with any inflammation and doesn't add to the distress on my skin. Yoon says the matcha is "a rich antioxidant, that helps combat external stressors as well as visibly calms skin."

Pros: Great for sensitive skin; Anti-inflammatory

Cons: Can feel heavy

Customer Review: "I have oily/combo skin that errs on the oily side during warm weather and dry side during cold weather—this face lotion works for all seasons and has never broken me out! I can always trust and rely on it after a facial peel or when my skin feels extra sensitive. My skin looks visibly brighter and less dull after using this product for almost a year now." — Ulta 

Dry skin needs all the moisture it can get—not just a thick formula that slides off in the middle of the night, but one that locks in all the good pore-loving hydration. "I love the Be the Skin Botanical Nutrition Power Cream," says Yoon. "It's an award-winning icon as it hydrates deeply without irritating skin and delivers beautiful, time-tested Asian herbal extracts to nourish skin."

Pros: Great for dry skin; Won't clog pores; Redness reducing

Cons: On the thicker side 

Customer Review: "This cream made my skin look and feel so skin. I felt like I was putting something nourishing on my face instead of a lot of chemicals. I would highly recommend this cream for people with dry and sensitive skin." — Peach & Lily 

For a glow that could very easily be mistaken for highlighter, lather on this K-beauty-inspired moisturizer every morning and night. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and plum, as well as plumping polyglutamic acid. And don’t even get us started on the texture—it’s a whipped consistency that’s out of this world. 

Pros: Glassy finish; Instant plumping effect 

Cons: A little bit o a sticky finish 

Customer Review: "This moisturizer has a gel-like consistency and a little goes a long way- half a pea size amount gives my entire face a boost of deep hydration and a glow without feeling heavy. Works wonderfully under makeup and doesn’t break me out. Wish you would get more product for the price but you don’t have to use much." — Sephora 

Belif heard one too many cries of exhaust from the oily skin community who have been using countless greasy creams for way too long. A water-based lightweight moisturizer you can believe in, the Aqua Bomb is a cult favorite for a reason due to its cooling effect and lightweight feel that absorbs into the skin as quickly as it's applied.

Pros: Extremely lightweight texture

Cons: Some say it feels a little tacky

Customer Review: "This product is so soothing on my skin and leaves your skin with a beautiful, natural, and hydrated glow. It helped tone down my acne and prevented it from looking red and irritated. I will be using this product for the rest of my life!!" — Sephora 

Hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides are the star ingredients in this newly-launched moisturizer. But don't let the "cream" label fool you—this product seeps into your skin like water and is great for even the oiliest skin types. 

Pros: Great hydrating ingredients; Fast absorbing 

Cons: Contains fragrance 

Customer Review: "I’ve been using this product for the past two to three years now and it is absolutely astonishing. It has truly worked wonders for me! I am acne prone skin and my skin has never been better. It’s extremely hydrating and always left my skin looking very hydrated." — Sephora

While you can purchase each of these products solo, the combo ensures some unbelievable skin brightening results. The former is going to gently exfoliate, while the latter will replenish your face with antioxidants and moisture. The star ingredient? Ginseng, a K-Beauty-loved ingredient that boosts hydration, plumps fine lines, and restores bounce. 

Pros: Brightening; Exfoliating; Antioxidant-packed 

Cons: Expensive 

Customer Review: "As a big fan of the Oil cleansing balm I tried the Renewing Duo and whoa. I mean, after the rose mask I noticed all of the white heads on the sides of my nose and on my chin were pushed out of the pores. A first for me. The results are genuinely noticeable. Work great, smell great, and clearly made from high quality ingredients." — Soko Glam

Moisturizer is the key to celebrity Korean makeup artist Jung Saem Mool's signature "natural glowing skin" looks. So it's no wonder she's formulated an intensely hydrating moisturizer featuring fermented pearl extract. It features increased absorption and a long-lasting, dewy finish, not unlike the lustrous crystalline gem.

Pros: Leaves behind a glow; Long-lasting hydration 

Cons: Heavily fragranced 

Customer Review: "The first thing noticed when applying it is the pleasant light floral scent. It’s described as a cream but is more of a liquid that goes on light and effortlessly. It doesn’t take much and leaves the skin feeling smooth, not oily or weighted down." — Amazon

"As someone with combination skin, I've found it difficult, at times, to find a moisturizer that suits all my needs—particularly as my skin changes depending on the weather, my routine, my stress levels, and my menstrual cycle. Innisfree's green tea moisturizer is one of those rare gems that's able to moisturize my skin without breaking me out, no matter what external factors are affecting my complexion. Suitable for all skin types, it stays true to its promise of evening out skin tone. Plus, it makes my skin unbelievably soft to the touch." — Gabrielle Ulubay, E-Commerce Writer 

Pros: Deeply hydrating; Builds back moisture barrier 

Cons: Some report irritation

Customer Review: "It’s creamy and light weight but makes my skin feel incredibly hydrated. I love using it under my makeup with a dewy highlighter base because it gives my face the natural “lit from within” look. Loved using it in France in the cold. My face gets really dry when temperatures drop and this made my skin feel hydrated all day!" — Sephora 

Snail extract is the star ingredient here, and while that may sound a little, well, interesting, it's actually a very powerful skincare ingredient. It's responsible for brightening and hydrating your complexion, while simultaneously repairing a broken barrier. Add hyaluronic acid to the mix, and your skin will have an added plumpness that reduces the appearance of fine lines. 

Pros: Radiance-boosting; Fast absorbing; Anti-aging 

Cons: Some say it's drying 

Customer Review: "This product is fantastic. Lightweight but moisturizes well, has minimal to no smell, and extended use has made my skin more firm and bouncy. Works great as an AM moisturizer and PM moisturizer, and can be layered with an occlusive on top for even more hydration." — Ulta 

If you're dealing with uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, or rough patches here and there, you genuinely can't go wrong with this moisturizer. It's packed with loads of hydrating ingredients (normal stuff), as well as ruby of the forest mushroom extract to create a consistent tone. 

Pros: Fragrance-free; Good for sensitive skin

Cons: On the expensive side 

Customer Review: "I really like this lotion, I have very sensitive skin with discoloration. As I'm getting older it's been hard to find products that actually improve my skin but I found this lotion, with the face masks, and cleanser have given me unexpectedly wonderful results. It's lightweight, and a little bit goes a long way." — Hanacure 

This cream is the definition of a skin pick-me-up—it’s going to plump you up and give you a youthful glow without the harsh exfoliating effects of a traditional anti-aging moisturizer. And we highly recommend staring right in the mirror when you apply this; you’ll be amazed by the skin-smoothing, texture-blurring effects. 

Pros: Blurring effect; Anti-aging; Jelly texture 

Cons: Fragrant 

Customer Review: "I like this cream as it leaves my skin soft and supple. The only downside I have is the smell--it can be too overpowering for me. Overall, I enjoyed this product because it's lightweight and doesn't feel heavy on the skin." — Neogen 

Sensitivity, irritation, and acne are no match for Klairs' magical blue cream. The not-so-secret ingredient is centella asiatica, an extract that calms skin and helps repair newly picked or popped pimples. It can also be used as an all-over sleep mask for when your acne needs some extra TLC.

Pros: Redness reducing; Can be used as a mask 

Cons: Not moisturizing enough for dry skin

Customer Review: "I loved this moisturizer. my skin drank it up. I wish there was more to this product, it's quite small for the price. I also prefer fragrance-free products but thankfully this product didn't bother my skin at all. it felt amazing on my face—leaving it well-hydrated throughout the night and when i woke up in the morning." — Soko Glam

This oil-free moisturizer reduces the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and acne scarring. The gel formula is a favorite amongst oily and acne-prone skin, but it's also hydrating enough to soften skin with eczema, rosacea, or severe dryness. Ginger, vitamin C, aloe water, and turmeric are just a few of the natural ingredients that help brighten skin and even texture, proving that non-toxic beauty is the best beauty.

Pros: Anti-oxidant protection; Fragrance-free; Great under makeup

Cons: Not a lot of product in the tube 

Customer Review: "I have very sensitive skin and so I often have difficulty using products that have high reviews and seem to work wonders for a lot of people, as many of these are too harsh for my skin. I have had 0 issues with this moisturizer though in terms of negative reactions. I love how light it is, and it has DEFINITELY made a difference in my skin texture. My skin hasn’t been this smooth in years…I will say it is not as hydrating as some products I’ve used, so perhaps those with dry skin will need a little something extra." — Amazon

Step one: Buy this eye cream. Step two: Prepare for your under eye bags to disappear. Dark circles—whether genetic or from lack of sleep—soften with the barrier protection from the avocado, while peptides brighten and plump skin.

Pros: Brightens dark circles; Plumps skin 

Cons: Great for day, but not hydrating enough for night 

Customer Service: "So far I absolutely love this product. I have the Saturday Skin lotion as well and it's amazing. This eye cream really does do what it claims to! I instantly noticed after my first use that I used considerably less under eye concealer, many days if I use the eye cream I'll just skip the concealer now. It brightens and smooths/de-puffs. Haven't been using long enough to see about the fine lines/wrinkles but so far I'm very pleased." — Nordstrom

We're convinced that this mask actually contains tiny estheticians that give your pores thousands of mini facials overnight. True to its name, this is an overnight formula that's a perfect blanket for dry skin during cooler nights.

Pros: Deeply hydrating; Luxe texture; Smoothing  

Cons: Expensive 

Customer Review: "This mask saved my skin! I don’t write many reviews but I’ve been using this for two weeks now at night and my skin is no longer dry and flaking. It’s so smooth and hydrated! Definitely recommend for the harsh winter months! Well worth the money. Only issue I had originally was the scent as I have sensitive skin, but it did not bother my skin at all." — Sephora