These 16 High-Tech Korean Moisturizers Give You Glowy, Glass Skin (and I Have Receipts)

Do you struggle with chronically dry skin? Let me introduce you to this gold-standard Korean moisturizer. It's thick and cushiony yet sinks into the skin without leaving residue behind (translation: It plays nice with sunscreen and makeup). Thanks to a patented barrier-boosting ceramide blend, capsule technology, and a triple lipid complex, it drenches the skin in moisture that lasts up to 120 hours after application (yes, really!). It's *the* formula to use if your skin is stubbornly giving Sahara Desert vibes.

Pros: Thick, moisturizing, noncomedogenic, fragrance-free, good for dry and/or damaged skin

Cons: None

Customer review: "My skin has been really dehydrated lately, and this cream made a noticeable difference almost immediately. What I love most is how gentle it is. I have super sensitive skin, and this didn’t cause any irritation or redness. Instead, my skin feels calmer, softer, and more hydrated each day."

This is a light, watery gel moisturizer that hydrates and plumps the skin without clogging pores, exacerbating breakouts, or creating blackheads. Not only is it noncomedogenic, but it's also fragrance-free. It's all thanks to concentrated moisture capsules that melt into the skin, as well as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glyceryl glucoside, and birch sap. The latter is a popular Korean ingredient that's ultra-hydrating and rich in amino acids and minerals.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, noncomedogenic, fragrance-free, good for oily/acne-prone skin types

Cons: Dry skin types might prefer a thicker, richer formula

Customer review: "I'm literally obsessed with this moisturizer. It's the best for my oily skin, and it doesn't clog my pores. Not only is it amazing for my skin, but I swear it pairs so beautifully under my makeup. I don't even need a primer. Obsessed and recommend 10/10!!!!"

I have a mild case of rosacea. Unfortunately, that makes me intimately familiar with irritation. Whenever I'm having a flare-up (from heat, cold, rigorous exercise, eating spicy foods, you name it), I know I can count on Hanyul's Artemisia Soothing Gel Cream. It contains the skin-soothing trio: Korean artemisia (better known as the anti-inflammatory ingredient mugwort), centella asiastica, and B vitamins. Apply it to red, stressed-out skin, and it will provide instant hydration and irritation relief. If there was ever a moisturizer that could "put out the fire," so to speak, it's this one.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, plumping, soothing, good for multiple skin types, especially sensitive skin

Cons: None

Customer review: "I’ve been using this cream for a few days and really like how soothing and hydrating it feels on my skin. The texture is lightweight, absorbs well, and leaves my face feeling calm and refreshed. I appreciate how gentle it is and how comfortable my skin feels after applying it."

I had combination skin up until I turned 30, and let me tell you, it can be incredibly frustrating. If I found a moisturizer that worked for the dry areas on my forehead, chin, and cheeks, then it made my T-zone look oily. If I found a moisturizer that worked for my T-zone, it left the perimeter of my face tight and dry. This, my friends, is the fix. Purito's Hydro Wave Deep Sea Cream contains deep-sea water, which supplies lightweight hydration and minerals essential for skin health. It's formulated specifically for oily and/or combination skin, and works to maintain oil balance throughout the day. (It's clinically proven to reduce oil by 32% while boosting hydration by 78.5% after one use.)

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, plumping, glow-boosting, oil-controlling, good for multiple skin types, especially combination skin

Cons: None

Customer review: "I love this moisturizer. It is very great for putting water and moisture back into your skin. Not greasy AT ALL! It falls right in line with my Korean skin care routine. I put this moisturizer on before my sunscreen and it does not feel heavy at all. I have had hormonal acne also my whole like and this product along with a few others help clear and keep my skin clear."

Recently, I got back on my retinol game after taking a break throughout the summer (yep, even I, a beauty editor, struggle with consistency sometimes). It took a month or so for my skin to readjust. During that time, I was dealing with redness, irritation, and sensitivity. In other words, I had a damaged barrier, so I did what any K-beauty obsessed editor would do and reached for Dr. Althea's 147 Barrier Cream. It contains guaiazulene to strengthen the skin barrier, seven types of hyaluronic acid for hydration, four types of ceramides for moisture retention, and botanical extracts that soothe inflammation and irritation. It only took a couple of days to soothe my skin. I've been obsessed with it ever since.

Pros: Thick, buttery, moisturizing, barrier-strengthening, soothing, good for sensitive and/or damaged skin

Cons: Some people might prefer a thinner texture

Customer review: "I got hives from wearing a necklace that had nickel in it and I am allergic. It led to really bad contact dermatitis and I had to use a steroid cream to berid myself of it. After, as you can imagine, my neck and face were fragile and enflamed. I still had itchiness and puffiness/redness on my cheeks a week later so I bought this. Wow! After one usage that I put on at night and combined it with Eucerin's ezsema lotion, my skin was instantly calmer, smooth, and moisturized. Love the metal tube. Love the baby blue tint. Pleasant scent. Wish it were bigger!"

This is one of my most-recommended moisturizers of all time. I can't even begin to guess how many people I've told to try it, simply because I love it so much. It's packed with antioxidants from matcha—the ingredient that gives the cream its light-green hue (I swear it helps alleviate my rosacea). There's also brightening niacinamide, soothing lilac, and firming peptides. Plus, it has a luxe pudding-like texture. I've said it a hundred times before, but I love this moisturizer.

Pros: Thick, moisturizing, antioxidant-rich, good for stressed and/or redness-prone skin

Cons: Some people say it didn't work for their oily/acne-prone skin.

Customer review: "I originally bought this as a sample but I loved it so much I got a larger size! I'm picky about what skincare I use, but this had clean ingredients and my skin had no weird reactions. I've definitely seen improvement in my skin since I started using it and now I use it every day. Love this product!!!"

There's only one Korean brand that harvests, extracts, and formulates ginseng-infused skincare products like no other: Sulwhasoo. The brand's products are luxe and effective, and this moisturizer is no exception. It's packed with Korean ginseng as well as peptides and vitamin C. Together, these ingredients target dryness (duh), fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness and elasticity. I recommended this moisturizer to my mom when she asked me for a good anti-aging formula.

Pros: Thick, buttery, moisturizing, anti-aging, good for mature and/or dull skin

Cons: It's pricey.

Customer review: "Okay, I have never tried a high-end skincare, but wow, I can see the hype. This is possibly the best cream I have ever tried. I’ll start off by saying that it smells extremely natural, almost like grass or flowers in the dirt. You can tell the ingredients are high quality and put together in a way that works. The texture is honestly like butter without the greasy feeling. This cream absorbs so quickly and leaves my skin feeling as soft as a baby’s bottom. I can also already tell that it really is going to lift my skin and has already provided me with some brightening benefits. I’m not sure if I will ever be able to go back to my cheaper skincare! If you can afford the splurge on this skincare, I highly recommend."

Beauty of Joseon is one of the Internet's favorite K-beauty brands, and for good reason. The Dynasty Cream is a cream-gel moisturizer that's packed with rice bran water, ginseng root water, and squalane to provide deep, antioxidant-rich moisture. The best part? It gives the skin a nice glow without looking shiny or greasy throughout the day, thanks to an oil-balancing technology.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, plumping, glow-boosting, antioxidant-rich, good for multiple skin types, especially dry or mature skin

Cons: Some people say it has a tacky, sticky texture before it dries down.

Customer review: "The beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream has become a staple in my routine. As a lover of Korean skincare, I can attest that this cream went beyond my expectations. My skin is always hydrated and smooth, and I absolutely love the smell of this cream!"

Fun fact: Meghan Markle recommends this moisturizer. Yep, it's true—here's proof. If it can make my skin glow like hers, then count me in. It's chock full of freeze-dried, hydrolyzed collagen and elastin to improve skin plumpness, firmness, and volume. Meanwhile, niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, and squalane prevents moisture loss. The cooling, jelly texture is a sensorial delight, and makes the skin glow beyond belief—think "glass skin."

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, firming, plumping, glow-boosting, good for multiple skin types, especially mature skin

Cons: Some people say it has a tacky, sticky texture before it dries down.

Customer review: "I use this every day, morning and night. My skin has never looked better."

Belif's The True Cream Aqua Bomb is an iconic Korean moisturizer that was first recommended to me by my boss and Who What Wear's beauty director, Erin Jahns. The best-selling formula features hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and special, herbal ingredients that hydrate and refresh the skin. The brand says it instantly boosts skin hydration levels by 231% and can penetrate as deep as 10 layers of the skin.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, plumping, good for multiple skin types

Cons: Dry skin types might prefer a thicker, richer formula

Customer review: "This moisturizer has seriously saved my skin! It makes my skin look so plump, smooth, and hydrated. I’ll never leave this brand alone — I’m obsessed. It’s lightweight but super effective and gives my skin that healthy, fresh glow every time I use it!

If a velvety matte complexion isn't your thing, and you crave the "glass skin" look, then Standard Seoul's Barrier Glass Gel Moisturizer is your best bet. It's formulated with panthenol, five ceramides, and 9.7% aloe leaf water, so it's basically like a tall glass of water for the skin. Add azulene into the equation, and you have a moisturizer that cools, soothes, and hydrates in one fell swoop. It gives the skin an instant glow, and thanks to its lightweight, residue-free formula, it works like a dream under makeup.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, glow-boosting, good for multiple skin types

Cons: It might look too "shiny" on people who prefer a matte or natural-looking finish.

Customer review: "This moisturizer feels like a small luxury! It comes in a sturdy, heavy glass jar that gives it a nicer, high-quality feel than your typical plastic containers. It looks lovely on my bathroom shelf. The cream itself has no noticeable scent, which is great for sensitive skin or for anyone who prefers fragrance-free products. It spreads easily across the skin and feels smooth going on. My skin feels soft, hydrated, and nourished afterwards, which makes it great for nighttime use or for days when my skin needs a little extra moisture. That said, a little really goes a long way. When I used my usual amount of moisturizer, it left my skin feeling a bit oily afterward. Using just a small dab, however, gives all the hydration without the shine. Overall, this is a well-formulated cream in lovely packaging that feels both gentle and effective. I’d happily recommend it to anyone who likes rich, unscented moisturizers."

This moisturizer is the companion to May Coop's iconic Raw Sauce Essence ($35), which has been around since before I became a beauty editor. The Raw Sauce is used by one million people worldwide because it's packed with maple sap and rice bran extract to deeply hydrate the skin and prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The moisturizer version is no different. It contains 69% maple sap sourced from wild maple trees in South Korea. According to the brand, this ingredient not only hydrates the skin but also tightens pores and offers long-term anti-aging benefits. As for the texture, it's a bouncy gel formula that sinks into the skin and gives it a light-reflecting glow.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, plumping, glow-boosting, good for multiple skin types, especially oily/acne-prone skin.

Cons: None.

Customer review: "I was running low on my favorite moisturizer. The brand is in the process of reformulation and I needed a moisturizer. I decided to try this one. Total game changer, it is a gel cream (my preferred formula), no scent, hydrating, cooling sensation, easy to apply, lightweight and a super smooth texture. It feels heavenly when you glide it on your complexion, neck and decolletage. Great for combination and acne prone skin. It absorbs slowly, but nicely leaving your skin hydrated to the gods. Yes, you will not regret this purchase."

If you want soft, supple skin, this is the moisturizer for you. True to its name, it's formulated with vitamin C-rich hallabong extract, ceramides, and squalane to improve hydration and elasticity for skin that quite literally bounces back. Remember the "mochi skin" trend that went around the Internet a while back? It reminds me of that—soft, bouncy skin inspired by the appearance of (you guessed it) mochi.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, plumping, glow-boosting, good for multiple skin types

Cons: Some people say it has a tacky, sticky texture before it dries down.

Customer review: "I love this moisturizer!!! It’s the best moisturizer I’ve tried. It feels fresh and gives you a glowy glass look 🩷 Works best as a primer under makeup!!!!"

Innisfree's Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Cream is a light, bouncy, gel-like moisturizer packed with antioxidants from...you guessed it! Green tea. There are also five types of hyaluronic acid for moisture saturation, as well as squalane and ceramides. Since this moisturizer has a lightweight texture, I only use it in the summer (my redness-prone skin requires a thicker formula in the winter). However, if you have oily and/or combination skin, it's the perfect year-round formula, and I highly recommend it.

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating, antioxidant-rich, good for oily/acne-prone skin types

Cons: Dry skin types might prefer a thicker, richer formula

Customer review: "I really like this moisturizer! It’s lightweight but still gives deep hydration thanks to the green tea and hyaluronic acid. It absorbs quickly, layers well under makeup, and leaves my skin soft, plump, and not greasy. The texture feels refreshing and the natural green tea scent is nice—not too strong. It’s perfect for everyday use if you have normal, combo, or slightly dry skin. If your skin gets super dry in winter, you may still need a thicker cream at night. Overall, great hydrating moisturizer with a clean, soothing feel. Would definitely repurchase!"

Here's another excellent moisturizer to use if your skin barrier has seen better days. It's formulated with five ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier, panthenol to prevent moisture loss, and glycerin, an effective humectant. It's a good, no-frills moisturizer that works for all skin types, from oily and acne-prone to dry and damaged. Oh, and it makes my skin look smooth and plump under makeup.

Pros: Thick, buttery, moisturizing, good for all skin types, especially dry and/or damaged skin

Cons: It's pricey.

Customer review: "This is one of my favorite moisturizers. My skin tends to dry out pretty quickly, but this moisturizer is keeping my skin glowing through the cold weather. Perfect for sensitive skin."