Best Korean Face Serum, Essence & Ampoule

Top-rated Korean Serum/ Essence/ Ampoule

Best Overall: COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence

• COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
• 100ml
• $14 ~ $22
• Skin Type: All Skin Types

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #essential Oil-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #cruelty-free #vegan-friendly

Key Ingredients :

• Brightening: Niacinamide
• Hydrating: Sodium Hyaluronate
• Soothing: Allantoin, Panthenol
• Anti-aging: Adenosine

Cautions for Use :

None (All green level ingredients)

How to Use :

After toner, place 1 – 2 pumps onto hands and pat into the face until absorbed.

The main ingredient of Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence is the same as SK2’s signature product, Facial treatment essence. Galactomyces Ferment works on hydrating, brightening, and soothing all at once. Besides, It has Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate all for moisture benefits and brightening, while Adenosine helps prevent wrinkles and adds elasticity. The concentrated essence glides onto your skin and absorbs easily, making it perfect for day and night. As it is not sticky oily skin types might like it as well. Also, if you had a good experience using SK2’s essence but the price was a burden, Cosrx can be the perfect substitute to achieve flawless and even complexion

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Best Anti-aging: iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum

• iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum
• 50ml
• $14 ~ $17
• Skin Type: All Skin Types

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #essential oil-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #cruelty-free

Key Ingredients :

• Brightening: Niacinamide
• Hydrating: Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine
• Soothing: Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Witch Hazel Extract
• Anti-aging: Adenosine

Cautions for Use :

None (All green level ingredients)

How to Use :

After toner, place 4 – 5 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum professes to calm, sustain, and light up skin while lessening wrinkles. This serum is comprised of an incredible 70% propolis and 12% Hippophae Rhamnoides a.k.a. Ocean buckthorn organic product. This is flimsy and lightweight, which settles on it a decent decision for oily skin, and we unquestionably know it’s useful for the skin to break out prone skin. Still, It’s an exceptionally adjusted serum, so it’s ideal for dried-out skin and will help address oily and dry patches on combo skin with Sodium Hyaluronate and Witch Hazel Extract.

The best part of the serum is that it has different types of active ingredients like Niacinamide for brightening and Adenosine for wrinkle care. 

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Best Brightening: Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop

• Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop
• 35ml
• $20
• Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #cruelty-free #vegan-friendly

Key Ingredients :

• Brightening: Ascorbic Acid 5.0% (Pure Vitamin C), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
• Hydrating: Sodium Hyaluronate
• Soothing: Centella Asiatica Extract
• Anti-aging: 5 types of Peptide

Cautions for Use :

Vitamin C, Essential oils

How to Use :

After toner, place 3 -4 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

This is a popular Vitamin C serum from Klairs that helps brighten up the complexion. It is formulated using a hybrid stabilization technology, which lets your skin absorb the L-Ascorbic acid even better. This means that even oily skin won’t get greasy or produce excess sebum while using it. You can expect a more even skin tone, tightened pores, plus an overall brighter complexion once you incorporate this serum in the skincare regimen. This Klairs best-selling product with tons of amazing reviews absorbs into the skin nicely and gives you a pretty glow. Unfortunately, like a lot of Vitamin C serums, it can be irritating on sensitive skin and does contain a number of essential oils.

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Korean Face Serum, Ampoules, and Essences for Dry, Oily, and Acne-prone Skin

Honestly, face serum, essence, and ampoule all have different names but their roles are not much different. They are slightly heavier in texture than the toner but lighter than a moisturizer. The best Korean face essence, serums, and ampoule have active ingredients to effectively help add brightening, prevent wrinkles, and others. For more details of actives ingredients for your skin concern, check THIS POST.

Where to put face essence in your skincare routine

First, use a toner or toner pad to organize your skin texture, and then put on face serum, essence, or ampoule that matches your skin type. Afterward, move on to adding moisturizers. During the summer, when it is less dry, I like to put on an all-in-one serum, with moisture and the active ingredient that is enough for my skin. Before you buy, check what kind of active ingredients are in the products to see where you would like your skin to improve.

Best Whitening: MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule

• Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule
• 50ml
• $24 ~ $33
• Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free

Key Ingredients :

• Brightening: Niacinamide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bifida Ferment Lysate
• Anti-aging: Adenosine
• Rejuvenating: Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Squalene

Cautions for Use :

Essential Oils

How to Use :

After toner, place 4 – 5 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

This is one of Missha’s best-selling products and it is also compared to Estee Lauder’s Night Repair product. Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule is a double functioning product using Niacinamide as the main ingredient to add whitening, and Adenosine to prevent wrinkles. Moreover, this ampoule’s name Probio is used to show that Bifida Ferment Lysate and Lactobacillus fermented extracts, were added for skin elasticity, strengthening of the skin barrier, and long-lasting moisture. The fermenting ingredients are also used in many of Estee Lauder’s skincare products.

The ampoule is a thin liquid type, so using a pipette and dropping 2-3 drops will help your skin absorb better. Also, there’s natural Sugar cane as a brightening and natural exfoliator in this ampoule. Thus you can feel your skin tone even out and glow in the morning. However, some skin types might not match the fermented extracts. So if it’s the first time with it, it will be best to test before using it.

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Best Calming: BE PLAIN Cicaful Ampoule

• Be Plain Cicaful Ampoule
• 30ml
• $15 ~ $27
• Skin Type: All Skin Types

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #essential oil-free #clean-beauty

Key Ingredients :

• Soothing: Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomile Flower Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
• Hydrating: Sodium Hyaluronate

Cautions for Use :

None (All green level ingredients)

How to Use :

After toner, place 4 – 5 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

Just like the name of the cosmetic brand, the ingredients in this ampoule are quite minimal but effective. The main ingredient part of the Cica used to repair your skin is highly contained in Be Plain Cicaful Ampoule. Nearly 82% of Centella Asiatica Extract is concentrated to repair skin sensitivity, calm dullness, and blemishes. It also has Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) and Glycerin to keep your skin soft and moisturized during the day.

Moreover, I applied this ampoule in the morning and evening when the weather turned my skin red and pimply. After a couple of days, I saw my skin even out and soothe. In addition, I felt at ease putting the ampoule on as there’s Lactobacillus in small amounts and it is aroma oil and fragrance-free. I highly recommend it, especially for sensitive skin types as a clean beauty item.

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Best Hydarating: The Lab by Blanc Doux Oligo Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Ampoule

• The Lab by Blanc Doux Oligo Hyaluronic Acid Ampoule
• 30ml
• $14 ~ $25
• Skin Type: All Skin Types

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #essential oil-free #clean-beauty

Key Ingredients :

• Hydrating: Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate(10,000Ppm), Glucose
• Soothing: Allantoin

Cautions for Use :

None (All green level ingredients)

How to Use :

After toner, place 4 – 5 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

Oligo Hyaluronic Acid Ampoule fills your skin with the added benefits of Sodium Hyaluronate and Allantoin. Hyaluronic Acid is composed of the big, middle, and small molecules, and this product is made from the finest molecules to penetrate deep within your skin for full moisture. Furthermore, if you feel that a moisturizer is not sufficient in giving moisture for those with heavy dryness, I would recommend putting this hydrating ampoule on first, then the moisturizer afterward. It will solve the dryness from within giving you moisturized skin throughout the day. Also, the texture is light and thin so it is good for oily skin types as well without a sticky and greasy feeling. But because the absorption is slightly slow, tap slowly for faster results. Best yet, it is all-green-level ingredients!

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Best for Dry skin: Torriden Dive-In Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid face Serum

• Torriden Dive-in Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
• 50ml
• $15 ~ $24
• Skin Type: All Skin Types

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #essential oil-free #clean-beauty

Key Ingredients :

• Hydrating: 5 types of Sodium Hyaluronate
• Soothing: Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Allantoin
• Rejuvenating: Ceramide NP, Cholesterol

Cautions for Use :

None (All green level ingredients)

How to Use :

After toner, place 4 – 5 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

With over 4.6 million reviews, this serum has won the hearts of Korean consumers in the Face serum/essence/ampoule category from the Hwahye Beauty Awards. The biggest feature of Torriden Dive-in Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum is its use of the big, medium, and small molecules of the Hyaluronic Acid for a moisture extravagance. The medium and small molecules penetrate deep into the skin to moisturize the inner dryness, while the big molecules prevent moisture from escaping.

In addition, Panthenol and Allantoin help soothe the skin, while Madecassoside and Madecassic Acid help to restore the collapsed skin barrier. Also, this face serum is pH 5.5 in acidity, so it adjusts to your skin pH well. Because it’s fragrance-free I recommend it for sensitive skin. Lastly, it is a sky blue gel-type serum, made of pure natural extracts. So don’t let the color worry you.

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Best All-in-One: Manyo Factory Bifida Complex Ampoule

• Manyo Factory Bifida Complex Ampoule
• 30ml
• $24 ~ $31
• Skin Type: All Skin Types

Ingredient Callouts :

#alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #essential oil-free #clean-beauty

Key Ingredients :

• Brightening: Niacinamide, Caffeine, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
• Hydrating: Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Squalane
• Anti-aging: Peptides, Adenosine

Cautions for Use :

None (All green level ingredients)

How to Use :

After toner, place 4 – 5 drops onto the face and pat until absorbed.

This Manyo Factory Ampoule has all the same main ingredients as the famous Estee Lauder’s Night Repair complex. But even better with no harmful ingredients and only one-third of the cost. Fermented ingredients such as Bifida Ferment Lysate and Lactobacillus in the product contain lots of natural minerals and vitamins, which soften skin texture. And It is a Total Anti-aging ampoule with both Niacinamide and Adenosine, which allows for both whitening and prevents wrinkles. Moreover, It has Sodium Hyaluronate for a watery but moist texture for fast absorption. But keep in mind that this product has fermented ingredients that might react to some skin types. So please test it before using it.

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K-beauty TIP:

If you want your skin to look beautiful like the commercials you see, try dropping one drop of the ampoule to your foundation. You’ll be able to express Korean makeup’s flawless skin! Also, you can use the essence or ampoule for a face toner pack with toner pads or soaked cotton pads.

I made the list of the best Korean serum and essence based on hydrating, calming, whitening, and anti-aging. Before purchasing, don’t forget to check skincare ingredients on labels and where to look for information, EWG Skin Deep ratings could help you as a reference point. For details, head EWG (Environment Working Group) official website.

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