23 Best Korean moisturizers for every skin type

Are you using the right face cream for your skin? This is a useful guide on how to choose the best fit for your skin types and concerns.

The Ultimate Moisturizer Guide

Are you overwhelmed when looking for the perfect moisturizer for your skin? There are many options, from moisturizing gels, creams to lotions and emulsions, all at different price points - from drugstore names to luxurious high-end brands.

We know this can be very confusing and you may even be spoiled for choice. According to psychologist Barry Schwartz, the more choices you have to choose from, the less satisfied you will be with your results.

Don't worry—we’re here to make it a breeze for you, with everything you need to know to make a happy choice and simplify the complicated world of skincare products.

What is a moisturizer?

Face moisturizers are designed to increase the water content of the skin, softening it and creating a skin barrier to keep your skin healthy and youthful.

However, if you use the wrong products for your skin type, it can cause your skin to deteriorate. It causes breakouts, dry, flaky patches, and even wrinkles.

It's important that you understand how all the ingredients work, because each formula contains different moisturizing agents that are formulated for different skin types and problems. Let's dive in and find the best products to complete your skincare routine!

(Related blog post: How to do a 10-step Korean skin care routine right?))

3 Different Types of Moisturizing Agents

Humectants

Humectants are hydrophilic, water-loving ingredients that bond with water molecules and draw water from the air and dermis (deep in the second layer of skin) into the epidermis (top layer of skin).

It is made up of thin molecules and common humectant ingredients inlcude hyaluronic acid, glycerin, AHA (alpha hydroxy acids - glycolic acid, lactic acid), salicylic acid, urea, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose, honey), amino acids, panthenol (vitamin B), sodium PCA, elastin and collagen.

Some have exfoliating properties that slough off dead skin cells by breaking down the proteins that hold the cells together. Many are used in conjunction with occlusives to seal in the moisture that humectants draw into the skin.

Emollients

Emollients help fill in the cracks, softening and smoothing the skin, which reduces the dry, rough patches of skin - common emollient ingredients include ceramides, butters, lipids, fatty acids, dimethicones and other plant oils (coconut, jojoba, grapeseed and more).

Many facial moisturizers contain both emollients and humectants to maximize moisturizing benefits. Emollients provide some occlusive properties (dimethicone is a good example), while many humectants also contain emollients.

Occlusives

Occlusives are usually made up of large molecules and are oil-based, which makes it harder for them to penetrate the skin, which is why they sit on the surface of the skin and form a physical barrier that locks in moisture and prevents water loss.

Think of thick ointment products like Vaseline. This type of ingredients is zinc, beeswax, butter, petrolatum, stearic acid, allantoin, mineral oils.

Dimethicone and cyclomethicone are silicones that act as occlusive agents. When some products are labeled "oil-free," they usually contain dimethicones instead of mineral or vegetable oils.

They generally work well in body care products and are ideal for very dry skin - face, hands, elbows, knees and feet.

How do I choose the right moisturizer for my skin type?

⭐️ Face moisturizers for normal skin

You're lucky if your skin is neither dry nor oily, but that doesn't mean you don't need moisturizer or that it will always stay that way.

The good news is that finding a face cream for this skin type is relatively easy. Try choosing products that target your current skin problem. Or find functional moisturizers like facial peeling with AHA BHA PHA or SPF creams for sun protection.

Some ingredients can be beneficial for any skin type, such as antioxidants, vitamins and hyaluronic acid. Remember, balance, hydration and protection of the skin are the keys to keeping your skin healthy and glowing.

You can choose according to your specific skin problems:

For anti-aging benefits

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask

Illuminate and nourish your skin with the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask. This multifunctional mask is enriched with powerful antioxidants like vitamin E to protect your skin from environmental damage and brighten your complexion.

Its unique pudding-like texture transforms into a rich essence upon application, delivering deep hydration and a radiant glow. Perfect for use as a mask, sleeping pack, or daily moisturizer, it enhances the efficacy of your vitamin C products, providing anti-aging benefits and leaving your skin smooth, supple, and revitalized.

Cosrx Refresh AHA BHA VITAMIN C Daily Cream

Revitalize your complexion with Cosrx Refresh AHA BHA Vitamin C Daily Cream. This multi-functional cream features AHA and BHA to gently exfoliate, while vitamin C brightens and evens out skin tone. Lightweight yet deeply nourishing, it hydrates and renews your skin, giving you a fresh and luminous glow every day.

For nourishing and moisture barrier repair

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-cica Enrich Cream

Discover the soothing and restorative power of centella asiatica with Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream. Formulated with highly concentrated centella extract, this cream repairs and strengthens your skin barrier, providing deep hydration and calming sensitive skin. Perfect for those with irritated or compromised skin, it leaves your complexion soft, supple, and balanced.

Ma:nyo Bifida Biome Aqua Barrier Cream

Experience intense hydration and barrier support with Manyo Factory Bifida Biome Aqua Barrier Cream. Infused with bifida ferment lysate, this cream enhances your skin's natural defense mechanisms, locking in moisture and protecting against environmental aggressors. Its lightweight texture absorbs quickly, providing long-lasting hydration and a healthy, resilient complexion.

⭐️ The best face moisturizer for dry skin

Does your skin feel tight or flaky? You probably have dry skin. If you have a dry complexion, it's often because the skin barrier isn't working effectively. A damaged barrier can lead to dry skin, itching, patchy and inflammation, which can only be remedied by restoring the skin's balance.

The best moisturizer for dry skin will likely be a heavier, oil-based moisturizer that will not only hydrate and protect the skin, but also strengthen the skin barrier. Look for products that contain a humectant, which can draw moisture into the stratum corneum, the top layer of the skin, either from the environment or from deeper layers of the skin.

Some examples of humectants include hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, honey, seaweed, amino acids like urea, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol, aloe vera gel, Alpha-hydroxy acids such as lactic acid.

You also need to lock in moisture and heal compromised barrier function. Use a product with a suitable pH, and use a face cream that contains not only a humectant but also occlusive emollients, such as shea butter, ceramides.

Korean hydrating moisturizers for dry skin

Beauty Of Joseon Dynasty Cream

Indulge in timeless beauty with Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream. Inspired by ancient Korean skincare secrets, this luxurious cream combines nourishing ingredients like ginseng and orchid extract to improve skin elasticity and radiance. Rich in moisture, it smooths and plumps the skin, giving you a youthful, glowing appearance.

TIRTIR Ceramic Cream

TIRTIR Ceramic Cream is formulated with ceramides to reinforce your skin's natural barrier, locking in moisture and preventing dryness. Its creamy texture provides deep nourishment and leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and protected throughout the day.

Torriden SOLID-IN Ceramide Cream

Fortify your skin with Torriden SOLID-IN Ceramide Cream. Packed with ceramides and hydrating ingredients, this cream repairs and strengthens the skin barrier, delivering lasting moisture and protection. Ideal for dry and sensitive skin, it soothes and revitalizes your complexion, leaving it healthy and resilient.

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cream

Hydrate and soothe your skin with Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cream. Formulated with deep sea water and hyaluronic acid, this cream provides intense hydration and nourishment. Its lightweight, non-greasy texture absorbs quickly, making it perfect for all skin types, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and supple.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is a highly moisturizing cream enriched with ceramides to reinforce the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. Suitable for sensitive and dry skin, it calms irritation and provides long-lasting hydration, ensuring your skin stays soft and comfortable.

⭐️The best moisturizer for oily, acne-prone skin

If you have oily skin, you may be hesitant to moisturize your face for fear that it will only make it oilier, but all skin needs moisturizing and it's true that if you don't, you risk dehydrating and triggering increased sebum production and making your skin oilier.

For those with oily, acne-prone skin, opt for a light, oil-free moisturizer over a heavy, thick one, but it's important that it's still hydrating. The best moisturizer for oily skin is a light lotion or gel moisturizer containing humectants and alpha hydroxy acids that help dissolve excess oil, exfoliate pores and remove dead skin cells.

Kaolin is another great ingredient for this skin type, which aims to detoxify the skin and cleanse the pores, absorbing any excess surface oil while gently exfoliating to prevent clogged pores.

If you're prone to acne, also look for "non-comedogenic" on the label to prevent clogged pores. Try to find a product with soothing, acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil, green tea, niacinamide and centella asiatica.

Lightweight Korean moisturizers for oily skin

Cosrx Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap

Cosrx Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap is a lightweight lotion infused with birch sap to deliver deep hydration without clogging pores. Perfect for all skin types, it soothes and refreshes your skin, leaving it smooth and nourished.

Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel

Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel is a cooling gel formulated with red bean extract to control excess sebum and provide lightweight moisture. Ideal for oily and combination skin, it leaves your complexion feeling cool, calm, and perfectly balanced.

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream

Infuse your skin with moisture using Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream. This refreshing gel cream is packed with hyaluronic acid to deliver deep hydration and lock in moisture. Its lightweight formula absorbs quickly, leaving your skin plump, smooth, and revitalized.

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

Soothe and nourish your skin with Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel. Combining the healing properties of aloe vera and propolis, this gel provides intense hydration and calming relief for irritated skin. Its lightweight formula absorbs quickly, leaving your skin feeling cool, hydrated, and rejuvenated.

Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream

Transform your skin in just 30 days with Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream. This powerful formula combines three types of chemical exfoliants—AHA, BHA, and PHA—to effectively remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve skin texture. Enriched with tea tree extract, this cream soothes irritation and controls sebum production, leaving your skin clear, smooth, and radiant.

⭐️ The best facial moisturizer for combination skin

Not sure what type of skin you have? If your cheeks are dry but your forehead and nose are oily, you probably have combination skin. How do you manage this tricky skin type? You need to moisturize the dry areas of your face without making the oilier areas greasy—I know that sounds too complicated.

The best way to care for it is to use a light moisturizer for your entire face and apply a thicker cream to the dry areas. In other words, apply an oil-free formula to your T-zone and an oil-based formula to dry areas.

Combination skin can be a bit of a minefield because it really takes some trial and error to see what works best for you. Just remember that combination skin needs to rebalance itself. If you work at it, I'm sure your skin will be fresher and more radiant.

Balancing moisturizers for combination skin

Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream harnesses the power of 92% snail mucin to deeply hydrate, repair, and rejuvenate your skin. It helps improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and enhance overall radiance, giving you a smooth and youthful complexion.

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Lotion

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Lotion is lightweight formula enriched with deep sea water and hyaluronic acid to provide lasting moisture and nourishment. Its gentle formula absorbs quickly, making it ideal for daily use, leaving your skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Anua Heartleaf 70% Daily Lotion

Balance and hydrate your skin with Anua Heartleaf 70% Daily Lotion. Infused with heartleaf extract, this lotion soothes and calms irritation while providing lightweight hydration. Its refreshing formula helps control excess sebum and maintain a clear, healthy complexion.

Purito Deep Sea Pure Water Cream

Dive into hydration with Purito Deep Sea Pure Water Cream. This ultra-hydrating cream is formulated with deep sea water and marine ingredients to deliver intense moisture and nourishment. Suitable for all skin types, it revitalizes and refreshes your skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and radiant.

Isntree Green Tea Fresh Emulsion

Isntree Green Tea Fresh Emulsion is enriched with green tea extract to provide antioxidant protection and balance sebum production. Perfect for oily and combination skin, it hydrates and soothes your complexion, leaving it fresh and revitalized.

⭐️ The best facial moisturizer for sensitive skin

If your skin is not only dry, but also itchy, red, rashy and blotchy, your skin may be too sensitive. The good news is that the right moisturizers can protect sensitive skin from inflammation and other symptoms of conditions like atopic dermatitis.

Look for moisturizers that are hypoallergenic, dye-free and fragrance-free, not just unscented. Unscented products may contain fragrances to cover the scents of other ingredients in the product.

Also, fewer ingredients means fewer potential interactions with sensitive skin. Try to find a product with a minimal number of ingredients, and consider all-natural products if they meet your needs. Here are some ingredients to avoid for sensitive skin: alcohol (or ethanol), essential oils, benzoyl peroxide, sulfates, harsh exfoliants like glycolic acid, lactic acid.

Gentle soothing moisturizers for sensitive skin

Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream is a hypoallergenic moisturizer formulated with panthenol and madecassoside to repair and fortify the skin barrier. Ideal for sensitive skin, it provides deep hydration and calming relief, ensuring your skin stays healthy and resilient.

iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream is a soothing gel cream enriched with centella asiatica extract to reduce redness and inflammation, while delivering lightweight moisture. Perfect for sensitive and irritated skin, it leaves your complexion feeling refreshed and comforted.

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

Soothe and repair your skin overnight with Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream. This gentle cream contains guaiazulene and centella asiatica extract to calm irritation and promote healing. Perfect for sensitive and troubled skin, it provides deep nourishment and rejuvenation, leaving your complexion calm and refreshed.

I'm from Mugwort Cream

I'm From Mugwort Cream is enriched with mugwort extract to reduce redness and inflammation while providing lasting hydration. Its gentle formula is perfect for sensitive and irritated skin, leaving your complexion balanced and comforted.

( If you're not sure what your skin type is, how to know which product is right for you, please read our blog post ”How to determine your skin type and how to take care of it?”)