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Best Hydrating Toner: I’m From Rice Toner

This K-beauty bestseller also made our list of best Korean rice toners. Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York, previously told Glamour that this hydrating toner “contains 77.78% rice extract, which is rich in amino acids, antioxidants and vitamins to brighten and nourish the skin. It also contains niacinamide, a well-researched antioxidant beneficial for brightening, sebum regulation, and repairing oxidative damage.” Cho also swears by this milky toner for instant dewy hydration. “It’s like a tall glass of nutrient-rich rice water for dry, parched skin,” she says. “It’s incredibly calming and gives an instant plumping effect. I love it for layering hydration when I’m chasing that juicy, radiant glow.”

The bottle I’m using here is the brand’s mini travel size, which I picked up during my K-beauty research trip to Seoul last year. Make sure you shake it up before use; while the dual layers aren’t immediately visible in the bottle, shaking allows them to fully combine and deliver the full range of their moisturising, brightening benefits. I’ve tested plenty of rice toners and remain impressed by how moisturising this one feels without leaving any greasy residue behind.

Best Essence: Mixsoon Bean Essence

This hydrating essence is all over K-beauty TikTok, with hundreds of fascinated reviewers showing how the formula makes your skin naturally slough off as you rub it in. The secret: It’s made with fermented soybean and fruit extracts that create a natural exfoliating effect. “This essence is packed with fermented ingredients and amino acids that truly transform skin texture,” says Cho. “It leaves my skin cushiony and glassy, and it’s so innovative that it can be used as both a hydrating essence and a physical exfoliator in one.”

For the full exfoliating effect, you’ll need to work it in for at least a few minutes before your dead skin cells start clumping up. I focus on my nose area where I get clogged pores, rub until I see tiny specks of skin, then gently wipe it off with a toner pad. It also works great as a fast-absorbing, glow-boosting serum if I just apply a thin layer and don’t massage it in. When I visited the Mixsoon headquarters in Seoul last year, I learned that applying a layer of Bean Essence under foundation and concealer ensures an extra-smooth base, and I’ve been following this glass-skin tip ever since.

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Best Serum for Day: Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum

If your vitamin C serums feel sticky or smell like hot dog water, swap them out for this K-beauty favourite. This lightweight formula is formulated with Hippophae rhamnoides fruit extract, also known as sea buckthorn berries, which studies show contain high levels of vitamin C. It’s blended with cica, or Centella asiatica, a popular ingredient in Korean skin care with proven soothing properties. Together, they create a powerful vitamin C serum that’s watery, lightweight, and effective.

This is the most frequently emptied product in my current Korean skin care routine. Ever since I discovered it two years ago, I’ve gone through a bottle every two months. This reformulated version contains an even higher concentration of Hippophae rhamnoides fruit extract (63%) yet doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, absorbs in seconds, and visibly brightens dark spots from healed breakouts with regular use. Whether you want to target hyperpigmentation or boost overall brightness, this is a must-have.

Best Serum for Night: Laneige Perfect Renew 3x Signature Serum Advanced

This all-in-one serum is one of the best Korean retinols I’ve tried. The unique triple-chamber bottle houses an encapsulated retinol, a firming peptide, and a brightening flavonoid. Once you twist the bottle upward to release the applicator, all you have to do is pump once to combine all three into a retinol-spiked rainbow. Part of the fun is admittedly in how it looks and applies, but the formula is also packed with dermatologist-loved ingredients for firming, smoothing, and brightening. Along with retinol capsules, it contains peptides, ceramides, tranexamic acid, and ferulic acid.

I like that the three serums have been designed for simultaneous use, so I can apply multiple formulas without worrying about whether they can be used together. In testing, I found the formula to be lightweight and fast-absorbing. It also delivered a visible brightening effect on my overall complexion with regular use, all without unwanted irritation. Since it contains retinol, which can cause skin to be more sensitive to UV exposure, I keep this serum in my nighttime routine only.

Best Serum for Acne-Prone Skin: Abib Glutathiosome Dark Spot Serum Vita Drop

Whether you’re dealing with active breakouts or post-pimple dark marks, this brightening serum will help soothe and fade both. It contains “brightening powerhouse ingredients glutathione and vitamin C, the top two trending and more effective brightening ingredients in Korea,” says Cho. “It’s become one of my go-to recommendations.” Along with the duo of brighteners, the formula also features niacinamide to help calm redness, soothe, and brighten – as well as barrier-friendly ceramides. Cho loves “the suspended capsules that break down easily once you spread it across your skin” and “how the finish is not sticky at all.”

I’m currently on my second bottle of this capsule serum, and I originally had doubts, since I usually gravitate toward pure vitamin C serums. But after emptying the first bottle, I get the appeal. The formula delivers a noticeable brightening effect with lasting hydration that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. Plus, the melting capsules add a fun element if you’re into that kind of thing (I am).

Snail mucin is one of K-beauty’s most popular ingredients. Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm, previously told Glamour that snail mucin (or snail secretion filtrate) is “rich in amino acids and hyaluronic acid,” giving it hydrating, repairing, and brightening benefits. This iconic moisturiser is one of my favourite ways to get the benefits of snail secretion filtrate. It’s formulated with additional hydrating, soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and allantoin to create a cream that’s intensely moisturising. The texture is slightly bouncy yet lightweight and non-sticky.

It has an immediate, subtle plumping effect and feels beautifully refreshing. I usually layer it over the brand’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence for a double dose of snail mucin (and skin that’s visibly dewy and plump). “The lush, cushiony texture comforts my skin instantly,” says Cho of the barrier-friendly formula. “This cream is my slugging shortcut. The snail mucin locks in moisture, repairs skin, and gives that reflective, dewy finish.”

Best Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Day Dew Sunscreen

Korean sunscreens are elite, and K-beauty brands have now begun innovating with FDA-approved sunscreen filters to sell in the UK. One of the best I’ve tried this summer is from Beauty of Joseon, the brand that made Korean sunscreen go viral on TikTok. This lightweight, moisturising formula is packed with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol, and rice extract for a finish that feels much creamier and more comfortable than you’d expect from your SPF. And it makes skin look impressively glowy. “Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the skin and plumps the surface, creating the smooth, luminous effect associated with glass skin,” says Dr. Hwang. “It also supports barrier function, making the skin appear healthier and more reflective.”