As a Korean skincare enthusiast, I often wonder, what products can I use to achieve that coveted glass skin glow? Don't worry at Glowii we are commited to answer that question and here are some of the top Korean skincare brands that will help you with that!

In this blog post, we’ll explore how these specialized products differ from other popular options in Korean skincare, so you can see which might work best for your skin.

1. Cleansing:

Anua Heartleaf Succinic Moisture Cleansing Foam

ANUA

This Anua Cleanser is a gentle daily facial cleanser designed to deeply purify the skin without stripping away essential moisture. Powered by succinic acid and salicylic acid, it helps control excess sebum, minimise clogged pores, and reduce the risk of breakouts. Infused with heartleaf extract, known for its soothing and calming benefits.

Foam cleanser is ideal for acne-prone skin because its lightweight texture penetrates deep into pores to remove excess oil, dirt, makeup residue, and impurities that contribute to breakouts. Foam formulas help control sebum production, unclog pores, and reduce the build-up of acne-causing bacteria, while still keeping the skin refreshed and balanced. 

✔ Pore-Clearing Acids: Succinic Acid + BHA help regulate oil and reduce breakouts
✔ Enzyme-Powered Exfoliation: Gently removes buildup with Protease and Heartleaf
✔ Barrier Support: pH-balanced and infused with Ceramides to strengthen and moisturize

Dr Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm (Oil)

DR ALTHEA

This Dr Althea cleansing balm is a vegan korean skincare oil cleanser that melts away makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while keeping skin soft and soothed. Formulated with Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Madecassoside, and Grape Seed Oil, this gentle cleansing balm hydrates, calms irritation, and supports a healthy skin barrier.

An oil cleanser is essential for deep cleansing because it effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, excess sebum, and impurities that water-based cleansers can’t remove. By breaking down stubborn residue without stripping the skin, oil cleansers help maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier, prevent clogged pores, and reduce acne and breakouts. 

✔ Cleanses thoroughly while nourishing and soothing the skin.
✔ Contains Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil and Grape Seed Oil for a gentle yet effective cleanse.
✔ Free from fragrances and artificial colorants, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

2. Toner:

TirTir Milk Skin toner (Light)

Tirtir

Tirtir Milk Skin Toner is a refreshing K-beauty toner designed to balance, hydrate, and revitalize the skin. Perfect for all skin types, it helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving the complexion soft, smooth, and radiant.

A milk skin toner is ideal for hydrating and soothing the skin while maintaining a healthy moisture balance. Unlike harsh astringent toners, milk toners provide lightweight, nourishing hydration, helping to calm irritation, soften skin, and prep the skin for serums and moisturizers.

✔ Skin Balancing: Effectively regulates skin balance to keep it hydrated and refreshed.
✔ Radiant Complexion: Soothes and revitalizes the skin, promoting a radiant and healthy appearance.
✔ Lightweight Texture: Absorbs quickly without any greasy or sticky residue, providing essential moisture and nourishment.

Eqqualberry Swimming Pool toner

Eqqualberry

The Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner is a hydrating K-beauty toner that replenishes moisture, refines skin texture, and boosts overall skin vitality. Enriched with 8-layer hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich berry extracts, it delivers soothing hydration, mild exfoliation, and antioxidant protection in one refreshing step.

A water-based toner is ideal for hydrating and refreshing the skin without feeling heavy or greasy, making it perfect for oily, combination, and sensitive skin types. It helps rebalance the skin’s moisture levels, remove leftover impurities after cleansing, and prep the skin for better absorption of serums and moisturizers.

✔ Deep Hydration – Infused with 8 types of hyaluronic acid to instantly hydrate and plump the skin.
✔ Gentle Exfoliation – Natural protease enzymes help remove dead skin cells for a smoother finish.
✔ Anti-Aging Care – Enriched with a 5 Berry Complex (including blueberry and cranberry) to nourish and protect.

Honorable Mention:

Anua heartleaf 77 soothing toner

This Anua toner is a gentle, pH-balanced Korean face care toner formulated with 77% Heartleaf Extract to calm, soothe, and hydrate sensitive or irritated skin. This lightweight, oil-moisture balancing toner helps maintain a healthy skin barrier while promoting a refreshed, comfortable complexion.

3. Serum:

Beauty of Joseon Light On Serum Centella

BEAUTY OF JOSEON

this Beauty of joseon glow serum a brightening K-beauty serum infused with vitamin C and specially formulated for sensitive, uneven or hyperpigmented skin. Enriched with 68% Centella extract, this lightweight serum soothes irritation, hydrates deeply, and protects the skin against external aggressors, while helping to brighten dull skin, even out skin tone, and promote a radiant, healthy complexion.

A cream serum combines the lightweight, fast-absorbing texture of a serum with the hydrating, nourishing benefits of a cream, making it ideal for sensitive, dry, or combination skin. It delivers active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, and plant extracts deep into the skin while locking in moisture and strengthening the skin barrier.

✔ Enriched with 10% 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a Vitamin C derivative with high stability and low irritation, to deliver a brightening effect
✔ Lightweight fast absorbing texture
✔ Airless pump container that blocks light and air to maintain product stability.

Anua Peach 70% Niacinamide Serum

ANUA 

This Anua serum is a Brightening K-beauty serum packed with 70% peach fruit extract and 5% niacinamide to help even skin tone, refine pores, and promote a radiant complexion. Enriched with the Peach Yogurt Complex, a potent blend of peach flower extract and betaine salicylate. It gently exfoliates, clears clogged pores, and improves skin texture. 

A liquid serum is ideal for deep skin absorption because its lightweight, watery texture allows active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, peptides, and plant extracts to penetrate quickly and efficiently into the skin. Unlike heavier creams, liquid serums deliver targeted benefits for concerns such as hyperpigmentation, dullness, fine lines, and uneven texture while keeping the skin hydrated, refreshed, and plump.

✔ 70% peach fruit extract and 5% niacinamide to visibly brighten and even out skin tone.
✔ Enriched with Vitamin B12, hyaluronic acid, and desert yeast oil for optimal hydration and skin nourishment.

Honorable Mention:
Anua Dark Spot Correcting Serum

This Anua Niacinamide Serum is a strong Korean skin care brightening serum designed to reduce dark spots, fade hyperpigmentation, and improve uneven skin tone. Formulated with high-concentration niacinamide and tranexamic acid (TXA), it helps brighten dull skin, minimize discoloration, and promote a clearer, more radiant complexion, making it ideal for sensitive, acne-prone, or uneven skin.

4. Moisturizer:

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica B5 cream

SKIN1004

The SKIN1004 Centella Cream is a hydrating K-beauty cream formulated with 5% Vitamin B5 and a Tea Tree & Cica complex to soothe irritated skin, strengthen the skin barrier, and provide deep, long-lasting hydration.

The centella cream is especially good as it delivering calming and hydrating effects in one lightweight cream. Unlike ordinary moisturisers, it strengthens the skin barrier, reduces redness and irritation, and supports sensitive or compromised skin while leaving the complexion smooth, balanced, and resilient

✔ Pine Tree Complex with tea tree leaf water is a natural blend that effectively treats inflammation and infection
✔ Multi-functional cream with Pro-vitamin B5 moisturization, protection, soothing, and improving skin barrier.

Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream

DR ALTHEA

This Dr Althea 345 relief cream is an antioxidant-rich relief cream that protects the skin from environmental stressors, while delivering anti-aging, brightening, and skin-soothing benefits. Formulated with resveratrol, turmeric extract, and Vitamin E, it shields the skin against free radicals and external aggressors, promoting a radiant, healthy complexion.

It gained popularity for its powerful antioxidant protection and multi-benefit formula, combining resveratrol, turmeric extract, and Vitamin E to combat environmental damage, free radicals, and early signs of aging.

✔ Protects and defends: Rich in antioxidants, resveratrol shields the skin from environmental damage.
✔ Anti-aging benefits: Adenosine helps improve fine lines, leaving skin elastic and glowing.
✔ Nourishing and soothing: Formulated with heartleaf extract, evening primrose flower extract, and propolis for intense hydration and nourishment.

Honorable Mention:
Medicube collagen Night wrapping mask
The Medicube Collagen Mask is a fan-favourite in K-beauty skincare thanks to its overnight rejuvenating formula that boosts skin elasticity, hydration, and firmness while you sleep. Enriched with collagen, it deeply moisturises, refines skin texture, and creates a protective barrier to lock in nutrients and moisture for glowy, dewy skin by morning.

5. Other:

Cosrx Master Pimple Patches

COSRX

This cosrx pimple patch is a fast-acting spot patches designed for overnight acne healing. They protect blemishes from bacteria, prevent secondary infection, and promote faster recovery of pimples, making them ideal for acne-prone skin and on-the-go spot treatment.

The cosrx pimple patches have become a staple in K-beauty and acne skincare due to their fast, convenient, and hygienic spot treatment. They work by protecting blemishes from bacteria, absorbing excess pus and oil, and reducing inflammation, which helps speed up healing and prevents scarring or secondary infection.

✔ This master in healing acne adheres to the skin strongly and do the magic by extracting impurities and reducing redness
✔ Hydrocolloid prevents secondary infection from fine dust and germs
✔ Betaine Salicylate and White willow bark prevent blemishes