Key ingredients: five types of hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin, ceramide NP | Fragrance-free: yes
Allure Korea Best of Beauty Winner: Mixsoon Soybean Milk Serum
Why we love it: Mixsoon’s Bean Essence may be TikTok viral, but don’t let it overshadow the nourishing and brightening magic of the beloved K-beauty brand’s Soybean Milk Serum. This ultra-milky formula received an Allure Korea 2024 Best of Beauty award in the moisturizing serum category because it “contains highly concentrated fermented soybeans, so you can feel a moisture layer building up on your skin, improving elasticity and giving it a radiant glow,” editors shared.
Key ingredients: galactomyces ferment filtrate, fermented soybean extract, rice ferment, ginseng root ferment filtrate, ceramides, peptides | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Brightening: Numbuzin No. 5+ Vitamin Glutathione Ampoule
Why we love it: Numbuzin’s No. 5+ Vitamin Glutathione Ampoule is a staple in the skin-care routine of Yanghee Paik, the co-founder of Rael Beauty, for healing breakouts. “Recently, glutathione [a combination of amino acids glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid] has gained a lot of popularity in K-beauty for targeting blemish scars and hyperpigmentation,” says Paik. The trending ingredient teams up with vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid to ensure your skin is on the fast track to a more even tone and more luminous finish.
Key ingredients: glutathione, vitamin C, niacinamide, tranexamic acid | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Plumping: Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
Why we love it: Anua has taken over Amazon’s best sellers with its Allure-favorite Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil and dermatologist-recommended Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner. Now, it has another product taking over the top spots on Hwahae and at Korea’s go-to beauty store, Olive Young. The Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum combines the powers of PDRN, glutathione, and 11 different forms of hyaluronic acid to plump, brighten, and hydrate skin. It has a water-like consistency that blends well with foundation and primer, so you can add it to either step in your makeup routine to give your base makeup a glassier finish.
Key ingredients: PDRN, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glutathione | Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between serums and ampoules?
Ampoules are typically more concentrated and “deliver results slightly faster than serums,” David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says. However, many Korean ampoules are starting to be labeled as serums these days to make them more approachable and accessible for American K-beauty lovers.
How to incorporate Korean serums into your skin-care routine
Like any serum, you should use these after putting on toner. Once you layer it on, you can reach for your favorite eye cream and moisturizer. “Serums have more active ingredients in higher concentration, and they are formulated to either brighten, hydrate, or calm the skin,” Dr. Kim previously explained. “Then a moisturizer goes on top to lock in the moisture and to repair the skin barrier.”
Meet the experts:
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.