FROM MORA · BEAUTY
The K-Beauty Favorites Edition
Long-time classics, clever reformulations, and the rising stars worth knowing.
Olive Young skincare best sellers aren’t all overnight sensations. These 11 K-beauty favorites include long-running moisturizers, cult-favorite serums, refreshed formulas, and newer stars that have earned a place in Korea’s beauty conversation.
Every year, the beauty world falls in love with a new ingredient. Snail mucin, collagen, peptides, PDRN—there’s always something promising to make our skin look a little more fabulous. And honestly? We love a little skincare excitement.
But walk through an Olive Young store in South Korea, and you’ll notice something interesting. Between the new arrivals and the latest viral serums, certain familiar names keep showing up.
The cream your friend has been repurchasing for years. The mist Korean beauty lovers have kept in their bags since the 2010s. The serum that gets reformulated, repackaged, and somehow finds a whole new generation of fans. And alongside these established favorites? A few rising stars that have already earned serious attention.
We selected 11 Korean skincare favorites from Olive Young’s popular skincare lineup, tracing their origins, key ingredients, updated formulas, and the little details that don’t always make it into the advertisements.
No rankings. No miracle promises. Just a closer look at the Korean skincare products worth knowing.
Find your skincare mood
Dryness & skin-barrier care — AESTURA, Torriden, Dr.G
Glow & dark spots — d’Alba, COSRX, Goodal
Firmness & retinol — IOPE, BIOHEAL BOH, primera
PDRN & skin conditioning — Medicube, REJURAN
FROM MORA / THE BEAUTY EDIT
The Soft-Skin Club
For the days when your skin wants comfort, hydration, and absolutely no drama.
AESTURA Atobarrier365 Cream
The comforting classic that made skin-barrier care a beauty obsession.
There was a time when skincare was all about getting brighter, tighter, and smoother. Then the conversation shifted toward protecting the skin barrier, and AESTURA was already well prepared.
Part of Korean beauty giant Amorepacific, AESTURA built its reputation around dermatological skincare and sensitive-skin research. Its Atobarrier story began with a hospital-channel cream in 2008, before Atobarrier365 Cream arrived at Olive Young in 2018.
The product became a familiar presence in Korea’s moisturizer category, collecting Olive Young Awards recognition over multiple years.
The ingredient magic: Ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, glycerin, and squalane help replenish moisture and support the skin’s protective barrier. Those tiny visible capsules aren’t decorative; they’re part of AESTURA’s ceramide-delivery technology.
What’s new?: The newer generation emphasizes high-density ceramide capsules and more advanced barrier-support technology, building on the formula’s original moisture-focused identity.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re dry, easily dehydrated, prone to tightness, or dealing with a compromised moisture barrier.
The little catch: It’s a substantial moisturizer. Very oily skin or anyone who prefers an almost weightless gel might find it richer than necessary, especially in humid weather. And even a cream designed for sensitive skin can cause individual irritation.
The MORA verdict: Think of it as the cozy cardigan of Korean skincare. Not the flashiest thing in your closet, but sometimes exactly what you need.
Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The little blue bottle with a very uncomplicated love language: hydration.
Torriden’s DIVE-IN Serum made its debut in 2019 and became one of Korea’s best-known hydrating serums. Its understated identity is part of the appeal: fresh blue packaging, a lightweight formula, and a straightforward message.
Your skin needs water. Here’s some help.
The Korean brand built much of its reputation around multi-weight hyaluronic acid, aiming to deliver hydration without the heavy, sticky finish people sometimes associate with moisture serums.
The ingredient magic: Five forms of hyaluronic acid, plus supporting ingredients such as panthenol, allantoin, and other humectants and soothing agents, depending on the formulation.
What’s new?: Torriden has continued updating DIVE-IN’s packaging and formula while keeping the original hydration-first identity. The upgraded serum emphasizes comfortable layering and moisture-barrier support.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re combination, oily, dehydrated, or simply looking for a lightweight serum that plays nicely with the rest of your routine.
The little catch: Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, not a complete moisturizer. If your skin is very dry, you may still need a cream afterward to help reduce moisture loss. Don’t expect a watery serum to replace every other moisturizing step.
The MORA verdict: If a ten-step skincare routine sounds exhausting, this is the sort of uncomplicated hydration hero that makes a shorter routine feel entirely reasonable.
Dr.G Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream
For skin that’s having a bad day—and doesn’t need another lecture.
Dr.G has an origin story that feels particularly Korean: the brand was founded by a dermatologist and developed around everyday skincare concerns such as sensitivity, redness, and breakouts.
Its Red Blemish line has been part of Korean skincare routines for years, becoming a go-to option for light, calming moisture care.
The Clear Soothing Cream is especially well known for its fresh gel-cream texture—comforting without necessarily feeling like a heavy blanket over the face.
The ingredient magic: The brand’s 10-CICA complex is central to its soothing message, drawing on centella-related ingredients and other components intended to help calm the appearance of irritated skin.
What’s new?: Not every update involves a dramatic new ingredient. In 2023, Dr.G introduced a tube version of its bestselling soothing cream in response to customer feedback. The Red Blemish family has also expanded with specialized products for different skin concerns.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re combination or oily, get occasional visible redness, or want a refreshing moisturizer without a thick finish.
The little catch: Despite the word blemish, this is not an acne medication. It may help keep skin feeling comfortable, but it shouldn’t be expected to treat persistent acne or inflammatory skin conditions.
The MORA verdict: A calming gel-cream that knows when to keep things simple. Sometimes less really is more.
FROM MORA / THE BEAUTY EDIT
The Glow Getters
Because a little radiance can make an ordinary Tuesday feel like a very good skin day.
d’Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum — and the New Peptide Version
The legendary Korean “flight-attendant mist” that refused to disappear.
If you know one Korean face mist, there’s a good chance it’s this golden bottle.
First introduced in 2016, d’Alba’s White Truffle First Spray Serum became famous in Korea under the nickname seungmuwon mist—literally, “flight-attendant mist.”
The story was deliciously simple: air travel can leave skin feeling parched, and this portable mist promised more than a fleeting splash of water.
The original formula combined an aqueous serum layer with a nourishing oil layer. Shake the bottle, spritz, and enjoy a dewier finish without reaching for a separate dropper.
The concept worked so well that the brand spent years refining the spray mechanism itself. What sounds like a minor detail turned out to be part of the product’s longevity: a lovely formula is much less enjoyable if the nozzle sprays like a tiny water gun.
The ingredient magic: White truffle extract sourced from Italy is central to d’Alba’s premium identity, alongside tocopherol in its Trufferol concept. The original mist’s blend of watery and oily components contributes to its glowing finish.
What’s new?: In 2026, d’Alba introduced an upgraded peptide version that adds peptide-exosome technology and emphasizes an even finer mist, hydration, and elasticity care. The original’s heritage is the selling point; the peptide version is its more ambitious younger sibling.
Your skin will probably love it if: You have dry or dull-looking skin, enjoy a luminous makeup finish, or want a refreshing step during the day.
The little catch: It’s still an oil-containing mist, which may not suit everyone who prefers a matte finish. Check the specific version’s fragrance and ingredient list if you’re sensitive, and remember that a mist cannot replace sunscreen.
The MORA verdict: Glamorous, practical, a little extra—and somehow still earning its place in the handbag.
COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum
The serious brightener in a world full of pretty bottles.
COSRX became internationally famous for problem-focused K-beauty skincare, especially its exfoliating products, acne patches, and snail mucin formulas.
Its Vitamin C 23 Serum represents the more intensive side of the brand’s approach: active ingredients, a clear concentration, and a focus on visible skin concerns.
At the center of the formula is 23% pure ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C commonly used in skincare to address uneven tone and support antioxidant protection.
The ingredient magic: Pure vitamin C is the headliner, joined by supporting ingredients such as vitamin E derivatives, glutathione, niacinamide, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid.
What’s new?: Rather than being a completely new skincare concept, the 23% serum reflects COSRX’s expansion into stronger active-ingredient treatments. The brand positions it as an intensive option for people who want more than basic hydration.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re already comfortable with vitamin C, concerned about dullness or post-blemish marks, and looking for a more potent brightening formula.
The little catch: Twenty-three percent is not a beginner-friendly concentration for everyone. Stinging, redness, or dryness are possible. COSRX also advises using the product within two months of opening. Follow the storage directions and avoid piling it into the same routine as several other strong actives.
The MORA verdict: A concentrated brightening formula with a no-nonsense personality. Less about a pretty shelfie, more about knowing exactly what you’re putting on your skin.
Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum
A cheerful little citrus-inspired classic with serious staying power.
Before every other serum seemed to promise a glow, Goodal had already made green tangerines part of its identity.
The Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum has been familiar to Korean beauty shoppers since 2018, with its sunny yellow-green packaging and focus on uneven skin tone.
Goodal, part of the Korean beauty company Clio, combines botanical storytelling with active skincare ingredients. Its branding centers on Korean-grown ingredients and measurable skincare performance.
The ingredient magic: Green tangerine extract meets brightening ingredients such as niacinamide and vitamin C-related compounds. The formulation is not equivalent to a 23% pure vitamin C serum, which makes comparing the two by the name “Vitamin C” alone misleading.
What’s new?: The Green Tangerine Vita C Alpha line launched in 2025. Its updated serum emphasizes niacinamide at 5%, upgraded dark-spot care, and improved ingredient-delivery concepts, including green-tangerine-derived exosome technology in the brand’s messaging. Goodal has also highlighted packaging changes, including recycled-content glass for the serum.
Your skin will probably love it if: You want to address a dull-looking complexion, uneven tone, or the appearance of leftover blemish marks without automatically reaching for the highest possible vitamin C concentration.
The little catch: Check the ingredient list if you’re sensitive to fragrance or citrus-related botanical oils. And no brightening serum—no matter how lovely the bottle—makes daily sun protection optional.
The MORA verdict: Sunshine-in-a-bottle aesthetics, with a considerably more grown-up ingredient story underneath.
The Bouncy-Skin Society
Firmness, softness, and a little main-character energy.
IOPE Retinol Retijection Serum
Nearly three decades of retinol research, dressed for 2026.
Long before retinol became a regular character in skincare conversations, IOPE was working on how to formulate it.
The Amorepacific brand began researching retinol in 1994 and commercialized its first retinol product in 1997. That’s a serious beauty legacy.
Its newer Retinol Retijection Serum, released in August 2025, is an example of how an established ingredient can be reimagined through modern delivery technology.
The ingredient magic: The serum uses IOPE’s proprietary Retinol RX complex and retinol-loaded spicules—tiny needle-like structures intended to improve ingredient delivery. The brand describes a formula containing three million spicules. 2% Retinol RX complex does not mean 2% pure retinol. They’re not interchangeable measurements.
What’s new?: IOPE has moved beyond its original stabilized-retinol story toward targeted delivery, emphasizing elasticity, wrinkles, and pores. Its advertising compares certain measured outcomes with professional collagen-booster care, based on a company-reported study. Those claims are interesting, but a cosmetic serum shouldn’t be treated as equivalent to an in-office procedure.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re an experienced retinol user concerned about visible signs of aging and interested in ingredient-delivery technology.
The little catch: Spicules and retinol may be too stimulating for very reactive skin. Introduce the serum carefully, avoid combining it indiscriminately with other irritating treatments, and wear sunscreen. Retinol products should be avoided during pregnancy.
The MORA verdict: The lab-minded one of the group. Fascinating technology, best introduced slowly.
BIOHEAL BOH Probioderm 3D Lifting Cream
The Korean firming cream with an Olive Young family history.
Here’s a little detail international shoppers might not know: BIOHEAL BOH isn’t simply another brand stocked at Olive Young. It grew out of Olive Young’s own beauty-brand business.
The brand’s roots stretch back to Botanic Hill BOH in 2013. It subsequently evolved through several identities, eventually focusing more strongly on bio-inspired skincare and anti-aging concerns.
The Probioderm cream family became one of its best-known successes, with an established history of Olive Young Awards recognition.
The ingredient magic: The 3D Lifting Cream draws on a patented Probioderm complex linked to selected Lactobacillus strains, alongside peptides, moisturizing agents, and other ingredients formulated for the appearance of firmness and elasticity.
What’s new?: The newer 3D concept updates the long-running Probioderm lifting story with a more targeted approach to facial contours, elasticity, and the appearance of aging skin. The brand’s marketing now leans heavily into the Korean phrase slow aging: caring for the appearance and condition of skin over time rather than promising to turn back the clock overnight.
Your skin will probably love it if: You have normal-to-dry or mature-looking skin and enjoy a more nourishing cream, particularly when firmness and dryness are both concerns.
The little catch: A topical moisturizer can improve hydration and the appearance of plumpness, but it cannot physically lift facial tissue the way a medical procedure may. The rich texture and fragrance in some versions may also be considerations for oily or sensitive skin.
The MORA verdict: A luxurious-feeling cream with surprisingly practical retail roots—and an excellent example of how Korean beauty brands evolve with their customers.
primera Vitatinol Bouncy Lift Serum
When vitamin C and retinol decide they make a pretty good couple.
Some ingredient pairings sound wonderful in theory but can be inconvenient in practice. That’s part of the story behind primera’s Vitatinol line.
Primera, another Amorepacific brand, originally launched its Vitatinol serum in September 2022, combining two familiar skincare ingredients: vitamin C and retinol.
The original concept involved mixing components before application, turning a skincare step into a miniature chemistry experiment. Charming idea? Sure. Convenient every night? Maybe not.
The ingredient magic: Retinol meets vitamin C in a formula designed to address the appearance of early aging, uneven texture, and diminished firmness.
What’s new?: In July 2025, primera introduced the Vitatinol Bouncy Lift Serum. The upgraded formula places specially coated vitamin C capsules directly inside the retinol serum, eliminating the need to mix the two separately. The brand also highlights a combination of different retinol technologies, intended to balance performance with tolerability. Its headline “2.2 times” elasticity claim comes from a specific comparison of vitamin C plus retinol against retinol alone—not proof that the bottle will make anyone’s face 2.2 times firmer.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re interested in a more streamlined approach to early signs of aging and want a retinol-and-vitamin-C combination in one product.
The little catch: Combining actives in one bottle doesn’t eliminate the potential for irritation. Beginners should introduce it gradually, particularly if using acids or other retinoids. Avoid retinol during pregnancy and check the ingredient list for your particular market and batch.
The MORA verdict: A clever formula update for anyone who loves sophisticated skincare but has absolutely no desire to become a part-time lab technician.
FROM MORA / THE BEAUTY EDIT
The PDRN Circle
Two different routes into one of K-beauty’s most talked-about skincare ingredients.
Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Ampoule
The pink bottle that helped make PDRN a beauty-world conversation.
Medicube knows how to make skincare difficult to ignore.
From its AGE-R beauty devices to brightly colored serums and social-media-friendly demonstrations, the Korean brand has become particularly visible in the global K-beauty market.
Its PDRN Pink Peptide Ampoule—widely known internationally as the PDRN Pink Peptide Serum—is a newer standout rather than a decades-old classic.
The pink formula arrived just as international fascination with PDRN, an ingredient family derived from DNA fragments, was gathering momentum.
The ingredient magic: The Korean salmon-derived version contains sodium DNA, alongside ingredients such as niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and other skin-conditioning components. Vitamin B12 contributes to the pink color.
What’s new?: Medicube has expanded its PDRN collection with additional formats and formulations, including a rose-based version marketed as a vegan alternative in certain markets. That’s an important distinction: salmon-derived PDRN and rose-derived alternatives are not automatically identical formulas.
Your skin will probably love it if: You’re looking for a hydrating serum that targets the appearance of dullness, uneven texture, or reduced plumpness.
The little catch: Topical PDRN is not the same treatment as injectable PDRN. The ingredient’s clinical promise has attracted considerable interest, but evidence for some of the more dramatic claims made about cosmetic PDRN remains limited. Also check whether you’re buying the salmon-based or plant-based version, particularly if ingredient origin matters to you. The Korean formula contains fragrance.
The MORA verdict: It’s pink, it’s famous, and it knows exactly how to get attention. Pretty, popular, and best judged by the ingredient list rather than the feed.
REJURAN Healer Turnover Ampoule Dual Effect
The clinic-inspired name with a more complicated story behind it.
Korean skincare isn’t only about what happens at home.
Professional skin treatments have shaped beauty conversations in South Korea for years, and REJURAN is a major name in that world.
Its cosmetic line brings the REJURAN identity into everyday skincare through serums, creams, and ampoules.
The Healer Turnover Ampoule Dual Effect has an established history dating back at least to clinical testing conducted in 2021.
The ingredient magic: The formula features the brand’s proprietary c-PDRN technology, derived from purified salmon DNA, alongside another DNA-derived component and sodium hyaluronate for moisture support.
What’s new?: Rather than relying solely on a trendy new ingredient story, REJURAN continues to position its cosmetic ampoules around skin elasticity, radiance, and the appearance of recovery. The Dual Effect name refers to its emphasis on different aspects of skin firmness and elasticity. Its parent company’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology background adds to this clinic-inspired positioning.
Your skin will probably love it if: Your main concerns are dryness, a less supple appearance, or a desire for a richer, more targeted serum step.
The little catch: Don’t confuse REJURAN skincare with professional REJURAN injections. They are different products used in different ways, and clinical results from procedures cannot simply be transferred to a topical ampoule. Check ingredient origin if you avoid fish-derived materials.
The MORA verdict: Dermatology-clinic heritage, bathroom-shelf convenience—just don’t mistake it for the treatment room.
So, Which Korean Skincare Favorite Belongs on Your Shelf?
Here’s the lovely thing about a truly good skincare routine: it doesn’t have to contain everything.
You don’t need three retinol products, two vitamin C serums, and a collection of creams large enough to open a boutique. You need products that make sense for your skin.
If dryness is the main issue, AESTURA offers a more substantial moisture-barrier approach, while Torriden provides a lighter hydrating step. Dr.G is worth considering for those who prefer soothing gel-cream textures.
For radiance, d’Alba brings a dewy finishing touch. Goodal offers a dark-spot-care formula built around multiple brightening ingredients, while COSRX’s 23% vitamin C calls for greater experience and caution.
For firmness and early signs of aging, BIOHEAL BOH emphasizes moisturizing elasticity care, while IOPE and primera take more active, retinol-centered approaches.
Curious about PDRN? Medicube and REJURAN offer two different brand stories—one shaped by the modern social-media beauty world, the other by a longer-standing connection to Korean professional skincare.
A Little Beauty-Counter Wisdom Before You Buy
Check the exact product version. Korean skincare brands regularly introduce upgraded formulas, alternate packaging, and market-specific editions. A review from three years ago may describe a different bottle from the one currently in your cart.
Start with your skin concern—not the trend. Hydration, pigmentation, and the appearance of wrinkles are different goals. A product that’s wonderful for one may do little for another.
Don’t build a routine entirely around powerful actives. Retinol, high-concentration vitamin C, and exfoliating acids can be useful, but overdoing them can leave skin irritated. Introduce new products gradually.
Sunscreen still gets the last word. Especially if you’re using brightening ingredients or retinoids.
A Few Questions from the Beauty Aisle
Which Olive Young skincare favorite is best for dry skin?
AESTURA Atobarrier365 Cream is the richer moisturizer in this edit, while Torriden DIVE-IN Serum is a lighter hydrating step. Very dry skin may benefit from using a serum under an appropriate moisturizer.
Are the updated formulas the same as the original classics?
Not always. d’Alba’s peptide mist, primera’s Bouncy Lift Serum, and IOPE’s Retijection Serum are newer products that build on older brand or product-line histories. Compare the exact product names and ingredient lists before buying.
Can I use the vitamin C and retinol products together?
Some routines can accommodate both ingredients, but using multiple potent formulas at once may increase irritation. If you’re new to actives, introduce one at a time and adjust based on your skin’s tolerance.
Beauty Trends Change. Great Formulas Keep Evolving.
Perhaps that’s the real secret behind Korean skincare’s enduring favorites. They don’t necessarily stay the same.
A mist gets a better nozzle. A familiar cream gains a new capsule technology. A retinol serum becomes easier to use. A classic brightening formula returns with a new generation of ingredients. And sometimes, an entirely new product catches on because it speaks to what skincare lovers are looking for right now.
Some changes are meaningful improvements. Others are simply clever marketing. The trick is learning to tell the difference.
The prettiest bottle might catch your eye, but the product that genuinely suits your skin is the one you’ll remember.
Coming next: Korean makeup favorites that have survived countless new lipstick shades, cushion launches, and changing beauty trends.
Because some beauty crushes are fleeting. Others deserve a permanent spot on the vanity.
Editor’s note: Product versions, ingredient lists, and availability may vary by country and update. Brand performance claims are not a substitute for independent clinical evidence, and cosmetic products are not medical treatments.
FROM MORA | BEAUTY — KOREAN FAVORITES, THOUGHTFULLY EXPLORED.