When choosing the best Korean skin care for dry skin, you’ll discover formulas that not only provide instant moisture but also work to keep your skin gloriously hydrated all day long. Rather than relying solely on heavy occlusives or thick creams, K-beauty skin care often takes a layered, barrier-first approach that prioritizes water-based hydration, reinforces the moisture barrier, and then locks everything in without leaving skin greasy or overloaded.
That approach is especially helpful for dry skin (which lacks oil) and dehydrated skin (which lacks water) alike. In both cases, the barrier isn’t doing a great job of holding onto moisture, so hydration escapes faster than you can replace it. Popular Korean beauty ingredients like Centella asiatica (cica), ceramides, and collagen show up again and again because they help dry skin stay calmer, stronger, and better at holding onto moisture over time. And while you don’t necessarily need a multi-step routine to make this work, we pulled together standout picks across each category that make dry skin feel softer, smoother, and a lot less tight.
Our Top Korean Skin Care for Dry Skin
- Best Serum: Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum, $17
- Best Cleanser: Banila Co. Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm, $21
- Best Sunscreen: Laneige Hydro UV Defense EX Sunscreen SPF 50+, $30
- Best Moisturizer: Dr. Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream, $29
- Best Toner Pads: Mediheal Daily Collagen Ampoule Toner Pads, $24
- Best Mist: Aestura AtoBarrier365 Cream Mist, $21
- Best Toner: I’m From Rice Toner, $24
- Best Eye Cream: Sulwhasoo The Ultimate S Eye Cream, $270
- Best Essence: Amore Pacific A.O. Reboot & Renew Essence, $130
- Best Mask: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Gel Face Mask, $25
- Best Exfoliator: Dr. Jart+ Pore.Remedy PHA Exfoliating Serum, $46
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Serum: Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum
Why it’s worth it: Every serum promises immediate glow, but dry skin requires hydration that sticks around. Beauty of Joseon’s Glow Serum leans on that idea by pairing hanbang herbal ingredients with modern actives that help skin hold onto moisture, rather than just looking glassy for a few minutes. There’s gentle exfoliation courtesy of betaine salicylate, a mild beta-hydroxy acid that buffs away little flakes and rough patches dry skin tends to collect. Then the comfort kicks in: Propolis, the resin bees make to seal and protect their hives, brings calming, antibacterial, and barrier-supporting benefits, helping prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin. Niacinamide and turmeric add a clarifying, brightening effect without irritation.
“I’m always on a quest to find products that will boost my skin’s glow and this niacinamide-based serum has been a great addition to my arsenal. I love how the jelly texture sinks into my skin without leaving a sticky residue. Plus, it pairs great with my moisturizers and Beauty of Joseon SPF—it never pills.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor
- Key ingredients: propolis extract, niacinamide, betaine salicylate (BHA)
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Cleanser: Banila Co. Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm
Why it’s worth it: We know you have your pick when it comes to Korean cleansers—and TBH, our favorites seem to change every week—but Banila Co.’s Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm is the one we keep coming back to. You’ve probably seen the pink tub make a cameo on TikTok, scooped like sherbet, and melt makeup like magic. For those with dry skin, the comforting formula is powered by nourishing jojoba and olive oils that dissolve dirt and SPF without stripping away the good stuff. Cranberry, pomegranate, and acerola extracts add antioxidant bonus points—and best of all, it rinses off without a filmy aftermath. “I love the soft, milky texture of the balm and how it leaves the skin feeling smoother and more hydrated,” says Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, who finds that it does a great job at removing even the most stubborn of eyeliners and mascaras.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“You never forget your first cleansing balm. Like many, Banila Co’s Clean It Zero was my formal introduction to the superior method of double-cleansing, and the results were real. My skin cleared up so fast once I started using this balm. (This is also around the time I finally started taking sunscreen seriously—hey, post-college isn’t that bad—and we should all know by now that oil-based cleansers do the bulk of sunscreen removal, so less clogging and debris = clearer skin. Yay!) Not to mention, I started actually liking cleansing my face more; this sherbet-y balm is extra satisfying to spread and massage in.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, madecassoside, olive oil, jojoba oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Sunscreen: Laneige Hydro UV Defense EX Sunscreen SPF 50+
Why it’s worth it: Korean sunscreens really are in a league of their own—they’re light, elegant, and make you forget you’re wearing SPF at all. There’s no shortage of great K-beauty sunscreens, but Laneige’s Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen manages to stand out from the pack. It has a silky, fluid texture with glycerin and the brand’s hydro-ionized minerals to pull water into the skin, so you get that hydrated, healthy sheen without veering into slip-and-slide territory. And because it doesn’t pill (even over makeup, according to our tester), it makes it much easier to reapply SPF every two hours.
“The Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen has that perfect in-between texture—not so watery that it slips through your fingers, but not thick or greasy either. It feels amazing on bare skin, and surprisingly, it layers really well over my tinted moisturizer when I reapply throughout the day—just a little bit of glow that shows off healthy skin.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Key ingredients: avobenzone (2.5%), homosalate (7%), octisalate (4.5%), cctocrylene (9%), cica, glycerin, hydro-ionized mineral water
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Moisturizer: Dr. Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream
Why it’s worth it: By now, you’ve probably heard of PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), and while the traditional version is derived from salmon DNA, Dr.Althea’s PDRN Reju 5000 Cream opts for a plant-based, probiotic-derived vegan alternative that works just as well in your skin, all without any animal ingredients. The appeal for dry skin is pretty straightforward—instead of just sitting on top and making you look dewy for a couple of hours, it helps your skin hang onto moisture longer by supporting repair and barrier strength. Three types of hyaluronic acid and Centella asiatica provide instant relief from tightness and flakes. The lightweight, non-greasy texture makes it an ideal daily moisturizer for both day and night.
“With dry sensitive skin, I’m always on the hunt for a new moisturizer to get me through the winter months. I have a few non-negotiables when I’m making a selection; it must be lightweight, wear well under makeup, and be easy to pack for travel (I have no interest in changing my skin-care routine on the go). Two months into using the Dr.Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream, and I have no notes. It has left my skin hydrated and glowy every morning.” —Kassidy Silva, social director
- Key ingredients: ceramides, fatty acids, tea tree leaf water, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Toner Pads: Mediheal Daily Collagen Ampoule Toner Pads
Why it’s worth it: Is it an ampoule? Is it a toner? Is it a mask? Mediheal’s Daily Collagen Ampoule Toner Pads are all of the above—a.k.a. a built-in shortcut for nights when your skin-care patience taps out after cleansing. Each pad is soaked in a silky, essence-y formula that plumps on contact with humectants like glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea, and betaine. Collagen extract joins soothing allantoin and hydrogenated lecithin to soften fine lines and temper irritation, while a peptide blend adds that extra firming bounce. Ceramides and olive oil round things out with light barrier support. As we learned from our tester, you can leave them draped on your cheeks like mini masks for extra payoff, or swipe them on like a classic toner pad—just peel, press, and glow.
“On my last trip to Seoul, I was gifted some Korean toner pads by the EIC of Allure Korea. Since then, I have been hooked. Imagine if your favorite cotton pads were dunked in soothing serum and super-sized. That is how these toner pads work. I like to put three on my face (one on each cheek and one on my forehead) while I brush my teeth. These collagen ones from Mediheal are especially helpful in the winter, when I feel my skin is driest on my cheeks. You’re probably thinking, ‘Why not just do a sheet mask?’ Well, these patches keep me from being incapacitated from moving my face. The size also allows you to mix and match different actives at one time. You could do moisture on the cheeks with blemish-fighting tea tree on your forehead.” —Jessica Cruel, Allure editor in chief
- Key ingredients: collagen, ceramides, peptides, olive oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Mist: Aestura AtoBarrier365 Cream Mist
Why it’s worth it: There’s a time and a place for your 10-step glass skin ritual, and other moments where you just need to mist and go. But Aestura’s AtoBarrier365 Cream Mist isn’t your average spritz; the 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner delivers an ultrafine cloud of ceramide-rich hydration that helps reinforce your skin’s barrier and relieves midday tightness or dryness on the fly. What sets it apart is its unique emulsified formula—the ceramides stay evenly suspended so there’s no shaking required, and you get the same nourishing mist from the first pump to the last. It feels weightless, layers effortlessly over makeup, and calms parched, irritated skin with a soft, breathable finish.
“This face mist has not left my bag since the day I got it. I can’t tell you how many times (and in how many public places) I’ve whipped it out for a quick dose of cooling hydration. I love Aestura because the entire line is very sensitive skin-friendly and this mist is no exception. No matter how often I use it, it never irritates or over-saturates my prone-to-clogging pores.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: ceramides, squalane, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Toner: I’m From Rice Toner
Why it’s worth it: It feels like every time we’ve tried to categorize this toner, it outdid itself: First, we called it our favorite milky toner, then our favorite rice toner, and then we just went for it: It’s our favorite Korean toner, period. “This best seller uses rice extract, rich in natural starches and proteins, to brighten and soften, and gives me that lit-from-within glow,” says Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam based in New York City. It also features ferulic acid to help fend off environmental stressors (bonus: ferulic acid also stabilizes other actives along the way). The supporting players are just as solid: adenosine for repair and bounce, niacinamide for brightness and tone, and enough humectants to keep hydration going all day without stickiness or shine. It plays nicely with most skin types and improves texture, clarity, and comfort in just a few swipes.
“A hydrating toner or essence is a non-negotiable step of my daytime and nighttime routines. I’m From Rice Toner instantly plumps my skin, giving it a brighter, refreshed look and prepping it for the serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens to follow. Now that we’re in the office four days a week, I can’t be bothered to wear makeup every day—but at least my skin looks nice and glowy.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: goami rice extract, adenosine, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Eye Cream: Sulwhasoo The Ultimate S Eye Cream
Why it’s worth it: You might not even be convinced you need eye cream in your life—and yes, this is the priciest product on our list. But Sulwhasoo’s The Ultimate S Eye Cream makes a compelling case for taking eye care seriously. Featuring Ginseng Berry SR, a proprietary extract derived from the rare ginseng berry that’s harvested for just one day after 1,000 days of cultivation. Only one gram (!) of extract comes from every 600,000 grams of fruit, yielding syringaresinol at 200 times the concentration of untreated berries. Syringaresinol is a plant-derived antioxidant that helps defend against oxidative stress while supporting elasticity—essentially a firming, smoothing, and anti-inflammation triple play that shows up nicely on thin, delicate undereyes. The texture seals the deal: “It’s thick and creamy, yet completely melts upon skin contact to nourish and smooth the delicate, dry undereye area,” says Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Peptides, shea butter, and meadowfoam oil add hydration and bounce.
- Key ingredients: ginseng berry SR, peptides, shea butter, meadowfoam oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Essence: Amore Pacific A.O. Reboot & Renew Essence
Why it’s worth it: Are essences essential? In K-beauty, the answer is a resounding yes. They sit between toner and serum—lighter than the latter, more concentrated than the former—and their whole job is to prep skin so the rest of your routine works harder with less effort. Amorepacific’s A.O. Reboot & Renew Essence takes that prep step and also makes it protective. Its proprietary antioxidant is almost four times stronger than vitamin C, which helps defend against the everyday stressors (UV, pollution, and other environmental damage) that break down collagen and speed up visible aging. Protease, a gentle enzyme, smooths texture and helps strengthen the moisture barrier so skin stays bouncier, less reactive, and better hydrated. “This serum has a light, watery texture and is designed to absorb deeply,” says Dr. Yoo. The bigger promise: Glow today and slow the look of aging over time.
- Key ingredients: A.Oxinol, protease, camellia sinensis leaf extract, panthenol
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Mask: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Gel Face Mask
Why it’s worth it: If you’re already a fan of Illiyoon’s beloved Ceramide Ato Lotion, Ceramide Ato Concentrate Gel Face Mask takes those same barrier-strengthening powers and puts them into a bouncy hydrol mask to nourish your face while you sleep. The ceramides in these masks help fill in the teeny “gaps” between skin cells so moisture doesn’t escape and your barrier stays calm, cushy, and unbothered. Meanwhile, a slow-release delivery system keeps sending hyaluronic acid and nutrients into your skin throughout the night, so the payoff is extra plumpness by morning. “This gel mask feels so cooling and soothing and is deeply hydrating without feeling heavy,” says Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington.
- Key ingredients: soy-ceramide and low-molecular weight collagen, hyaluronic acid–infused blue capsules, madecassoside
- How to use it: leave on for 1-4 hours or overnight
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Exfoliator: Dr. Jart+ Pore·Remedy PHA Exfoliating Serum
Why it’s worth it: Strolling through the streets of Seoul, you might start to wonder where everyone’s pores went. Dr. Jart+’s Pore·Remedy PHA Exfoliating Serum gets you a little closer to the answer. “It’s a gentle, water-light formula that uses 7% polyhydroxy acid (PHA) to resurface and smooth skin without irritation,” says Dr. Yoo. Because PHA consists of larger molecules than alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids, they don’t dive as deep—which, according to Dr. Yoo, “makes it more suitable for dry and sensitive skin.” Beyond exfoliation, panthenol, adenosine, and glycoproteins help hydrate and add a little bounce back, while macadamia seed oil keeps the finish cushioned rather than tight. There’s no added fragrance, but a blend of spearmint, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils brings a subtle, fresh scent that gently wakes up skin.
- Key ingredients: polyhydroxy acid, macadamia seed oil, panthenol, spearmint, peppermint, eucalyptus
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular K-beauty ingredients for dry skin?
K-beauty skin-care routines lean hard on ingredients that don’t just moisturize the surface but help the skin hold on to hydration long-term. Centella asiatica is a big one. Dr. Yoo notes that cica compounds like asiaticoside and madecassoside are “associated with calming inflammation and supporting skin repair,” which is why they show up so often in products for dry and sensitive skin. There’s also evidence that cica “improves barrier function and reduces transepidermal water loss,” helping skin stay hydrated instead of leaking moisture out.
Ceramides are another K-beauty staple for dryness. They’re lipids that naturally make up part of the skin barrier. As Dr. Yoo explains, ceramides “fill in the gaps between skin cells to prevent moisture loss and strengthen the barrier,” which can leave dry skin feeling smoother, more comfortable, and less reactive over time.
Do I really need multiple steps if my skin is dry?
Short answer: not necessarily, but a couple of steps can make dry skin a lot happier. Dr. Yoo explains that dryness is often tied to “a weakened skin barrier,” so fixing it usually takes more than one product. Layering can be helpful because “hydration needs to be delivered into the skin and then sealed in,” which is why a toner or essence plus a moisturizer tends to work better than either alone. Sunscreen also earns a spot, since “UV exposure can further damage the skin barrier and worsen dryness over time.” That said, you don’t need a 10-step routine: “A simple, consistent regimen with well-chosen steps is more effective than using many products incorrectly,” says Dr. Yoo.
Are toners and essences necessary for dry skin?
Toners and essences aren’t mandatory Korean skin-care products, but can be very helpful for people with dry skin. Hydrating toners, in particular, can take the edge off that tight, squeaky feeling that sometimes follows cleansing. For dryness, Dr. Yoo emphasizes that these steps are most useful when they include “hydrating and barrier-supportive ingredients rather than exfoliating acids or astringents,” which can worsen dryness. And there’s no universal rule here. “Everyone tolerates products differently,” she says. Some people with dry skin thrive with a hydrating toner or essence layered in, while others do perfectly well skipping them and focusing on cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Meet the experts
- Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam based in New York City
- Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Refinery based in Washington
- Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best korean skin care for dry skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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