We’ve scoured the prestigious aisles of Olive Young, Korea’s leading beauty destination, to bring you an exclusive glimpse into the top 10 Korean skincare essence/serum products that were the bestsellers in Korea on February 2, 2024

1. VT COSMETICS CICA Reedle Shot

EFFORTLESS DAILY SKINCARE: Reedle Shot, light and fast-absorbing facial essence, efficiently delivers active ingredients to enhance skin texture. Designed for daily use with a ideal blend, it’s a breeze to incorporate into your routine. Reedle Shot 100 Essence is your go-to for gradually increasing usage frequency. Awaken your skin by simply adding it to your daily skincare routine.
FAST ABSORPTION, GENTLE STIMULATION: Cica Reedle, crafted with natural silica, gently invigorates the skin, facilitating the absorption of subsequent skincare products’ active ingredients. A tingling sensation may occur, indicating the absorption of nutrients.
SKIN BENEFITS: Enriched with Centella Asiatica Extract, Triple Hyaluronic Acid, Centella 4X Complex, and Green Propolis Extract to soothe and hydrate the skin.
FOR ALL SKIN TYPES: Suitable for all skin types, it’s especially beneficial for those looking to effectively absorb skincare ingredients, address daily skincare needs, or elevate their routine. If you’re a fan of diverse skincare products but desire noticeable results, this is the great fit for you.
Caution: Perform a patch test if you have allergies or skin issues. Avoid using with skincare devices, as it may cause irritation. Individuals sensitive to skin irritation should refrain from use. Do not apply to inflamed or wounded areas.

2. FATION NOSCA9 Trouble Serum S

DEEP HYDRATION MAGIC. Elevate your skin’s hydration levels with FATION NOSCA9 Trouble Serum S, a specially formulated hydrating serum for face. This face serum is enriched with 46% Centella Asiatica extract and 3% Panthenol to ensure deep moisture without heaviness.

3. AESTURA A-CICA 365 Blemish Calming Face Serum

A-CICA USES DIFFERENTIATED CICA INGREDIENTS: AESTURA’s proprietary Cica ingredient complex, CICA BPM, is a compound of three elements (Beta-glucan, Phytosterol, Madecassoside) for genuine calming, effective soothing and skin barrier restoration.
FORMULATED WITH POWERHOUSE INGREDIENT, NIACINAMIDE: Niacinamide is contained to brighten and reduce hyperpigmentation and minimize blemishes. Based on results of clinical tests, it reduces blemishes that do not disappear even after soothing irritated skin, when using the product for more than 2 weeks.
80% SKIN BARRIER IMPROVEMENT IN 7 DAYS: Formulated with Madecassocide and Beta Glucan, which are best ingredients for fortifying moisture environment of skin, it highly reduces the redness and strengthens damaged skin barrier. Our internal clinical test found that it improves the barrier up to 80% after 7 days of use.
COMPLETED THE TESTS FOR YOUR SKIN SAFETY: To be suitable all skin types including sensitive, acne-prone skin, it passed dermatological test, hypoallergenic test, non-comedogenic test and sensitive skin patch test. A-CICA is proven for all trouble-prone sensitive skins.
AESTURA’S PATENTED MICRO-CONE TECHNOLOGY FOR QUICK AND EFFECTIVE ABSORPTION: Micro-Cone Technology allows for deeper and quicker absorption, as it finely breaks down CICA BPM(our main ingedient) into 1/20,000 of a pore size, quickly delivering active ingredients to the skin.

4. AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Hydro Essence

30 MOISTURE CERAMIDE NUTRIENTS : A blend of 30 moisture nutrients quickly hydrates and strengthens your skin barrier to keep moisturized. The moisturizing formula is given to your skin just like the way your skin naturally hydrates itself.
STRONG MOISTURIZING : Deep hydration prevents skin tightness. It gives the skin full and long-lasting hydration.
DermaON TECHNOLOGY : The patented triple-ingredient encapsulation technology is the best fit for your skin as it effectively delivers hydration to your skin. The capsule called ‘Triple Lipid-Capsule’ is composed of Ceramide, Fatty Acid, and Cholesterol. (*Patent No. US 8546361 B2, US 8771743 B2)
GENTLE ON SKIN : It softly absorbs into the skin without a sticky texture. It refreshingly moisturizes the skin without irritation and is suitable for sensitive skin as well. Dermatologist teste. Hypoallergenic tested. Non-comedogenic tested.
9-FREE : Free of animal cruelty, mineral oil, polyacrylamide, imidazolidinyl urea, triethanolamine, artificial dyes, silicone oil, artificial fragrance, sulfate PEG.

5. Bioderma Hydrabio Essence Lotion

Hydrabio Essence Lotion hydrates your skin, making your next skincare more efficient. The patented biological complex Aquagenium® generates hydration, immediately and lastingly. As a result, the skin looks visibly smooth and radiant.
With Hydrabio Essence Lotion your dehydrated skin is perfectly moisturised.
Apply morning and/or evening on the face and neck, after cleansing with Hydrabio H2O or Hydrabio Milk.

6. SUNGBOON EDITOR Green Tomato Pore Lifting Ampoule

Formulated with high-content green tomato extracts, which replenish collagen elasticity in sagging pores instantly. It also includes Anti-Sebum P, made from all-natural ingredients with an EWG green grade, to reduce excessive sebum and dead skin cells. It has passed dermatological testing for sensitive skin and includes patented Green Tomato extract, Anti-sebum P, PHA, and Daisy flower, which help with pore reduction and lifting.
The Green Tomato line is suitable for those who are concerned about enlarged, saggy, and discolored pores. Extracted through two filtering processes, the highly concentrated Green Tomato extracts noticeably improve saggy pores by replenishing skin elasticity. Additionally, the patented Anti-Sebum P helps shrink enlarged pores due to excess sebum, while niacinamide brightens melanin-filled pores, helping improve the appearance of fine lines.
This serum has proven its effectiveness in improving pores through various beauty awards, including being the top in the skincare category at Korea’s leading Olive Young and winning 1st place at the 2022 Glowpick Awards. With over 3 million bottles sold in just 3 years, this pore-minimizing ampoule stands out as an affordable skincare essential known for its high effectiveness.
Having completed a human application test for improving pores, it reduces pore volume by 80.1% with just one use. Additionally, after 7 days of use, the pore area decreased by 59.6%, and blemishes decreased by 51.7%. Despite these remarkable effects, this gentle serum obtained a skin reaction score of 0.00 in a irritation test, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
Formulated with 5 types of Hyaluronic Acid, Trehalose, Tocopherol, Panthenol, and Glycerin, these ingredients help relieve dryness and soothe skin damage. Together, they form a highly effective moisture barrier that helps achieve the water-oil balance for your skin, making it delicate and smooth.

7. Bioderma Hydration Serum

Light-weight serum that provides dehydrated skin with a burst of hydration.
Provides instant and lasting hydration. Helps to visibly smooth skin. Provide skin radiance
Morning and evening. Apply Hydrabio Sérum on your face and neck, after cleansing and toning. Gently massage until fully absorbed.

8. COSRX 6X Peptide Collagen Booster Toner Serum

Skin Booster Serum: Skin Boosting Serum with 6 Peptides that improve skin elasticity, fine lines, pores, and radiance. Boost your skin’s condition and achieve multiple benefits with this serum.
First Step of Skincare: With a lightweight toner-like texture, the serum is great to use as the first step of your daily skincare routine.
Key Ingredients: 6 Peptides that boost skin elasticity, reduce post hyperpigmentation, control pores, renew skin, calm and alleviate skin, and improve the look of fine lines and wirnkles.
How to Use: After cleansing, apply 2-3 pumps of the Serum on your face. Layer on your favorite moisturizer for additional hydration. Best when used with the COSRX Niacinamide 15 Serum OR the COSRX Vitamin C 23/13 Serum.
COSRX Standards: COSRX Standards: All COSRX products are formulated with skin-friendly ingredients that alleviate irritated skin. Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist tested, Animal Testing-FREE, Parabens-FREE, Sulfates-FREE, Phthalates-FREE

9. Torriden DIVE-IN Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum

[5 SECOND SERUM] Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum focuses on hydrating and soothing the skin from the inside. Its lightweight texture absorbs rapidly and deeply into your skin.
[5D COMPLEX HYALURONIC ACID]: 5 types of molecules of HA allows moisture to absorb immediately, deeply, and densely inside your skin to by building 3D networks in the layers of the skin to maintain hydration and moisturization to plump your skin.
[ALL DAY HYDRATION] Dive-In Serum has a watery and transparent texture which absorbs instantly into the skin, leaving no stickiness or greasiness. Dive-In skincare line is ideal for dry and dehydrated skin type.
[SAFE & HYPOALLERGENIC] Free of artificial fragrance, colorants, parabens, mineral oils, isopropyl alcohol, and other ingredients. They’ve been tested to be not irritating for skin, and the formula is hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types including sensitive and acne prone skin.
[CLEAN BEAUTY] Our goal is to pursue clean, safe, and sustainable beauty for the future, and so we made our products certified VEGAN and use FSC Certified packaging. All of our products include no animal-derived ingredients or animal testing (cruelty-free).

10. GOODAL Green Tangerine Vitamin C Serum

[TARGET DARK SPOTS AND POST-ACNE HYPERPIGMENTATION] Our Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum is packed with a powerful blend of 70% fresh green tangerine extract, 4% niacinamide, and arbutin. Green tangerines are potent in antioxidants and have 10x more vitamin C than lemons. Powered by this fruit, our formula improves dark spots and post-acne hyperpigmentation while tackling the formation of new ones that have yet to surface.
[MINDFULLY HARVESTED ORGANIC TANGERINES] Our organic green tangerines are nourished with fermented soybeans (natural fertilizer) to produce the healthiest ingredients for your skin. They are hand-picked during a small window in July (4 weeks out of the entire year) when levels of vitamin C are the highest. Only the freshest tangerines are infused into our formula to create the perfect skin-boosting fruit water serum!
[SKIN-BOOSTING FRUIT WATER SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN] This is a safe and gentle vitamin C serum that will hydrate and nourish your skin to reveal a fresh and glowing complexion. It visibly revitalizes skin while avoiding irritation commonly associated with harsh vitamin C serums.
[CALM AND SOOTHE SKIN BARRIER] Infused with calming ingredients like Centella Asiatica (Tiger Grass), this restorative serum soothes skin, inhibits inflammation, and improves your skin barrier hydration.
[STABLE, NON-OXIDIZING FORMULA] Our serum is a stable formula that can be used both AM and PM. It’s UV coated bottle and airless pump protect the formula and prevent oxidation.